January 30, 2025
NOAH DAVIS
When Jordan Morris broke through with the US Men’s National team, still an emerging college star at Stanford, soccer fans wanted to know more about the kid from the Seattle area. They wanted to know, specifically, how he beat the odds to break through on the senior national team as a college player, which hadn’t happened in decades. Reporters sought out his story and began hearing about the near-mythical goal he scored when the Cardinal scrimmaged the national team in a pre-World Cup training camp.
Noah Davis was one of those reporters. In April of 2015, after Morris became a fan favorite scoring his first international goal against rival Mexico, Davis delivered a profile on the player for ESPN’s Grantland. It shared the story of his conversations with USMNT coach Jurgen Klinsmann leading to the call-up. Stories like that one, revealing the player’s humility and work ethic, further stoked the Morris-mania that would come when he led Stanford to an NCAA title.
January 25, 2025
Brett BEBBER
When NBC won the rights to broadcast the Premier League starting in 2013, it seemed like just another TV contract for a professional sports entity with a new broadcast partner. But there were unique attributes of that deal and the the way NBC approached the partnership gave Americans a better platform on which they could invest in and become attached teams in the Premier League. By earning exclusive rights to show all 380 games, it became possible for fans in the US to spend enough time with each team truly understand the nuances of their cultures and histories and find ways to identify with teams authentically.
Brett Bebber has spent his professional life studying various elements of historical British culture. As an American that grew up playing soccer, he was always fascinated by the Premier League, but fell in love with it differently like so many when NBC’s coverage began. He has a unique understanding of why based on his academic research. Bebber joined Founding Fubtol to talk about how the culture of leisure and the intersection of British and American histories truly accelerated with when the partnership between NBC and the PL began.
January 23, 2025
ROBBIE MUSTOE
After a long and successful professional career in England, Robbie Mustoe came to the United States to coach college soccer. He found his way to Bentley University and then Boston College, on a trajectory to becoming a college head coach. Along the way, however, he decided to try his hand at television and landed a gig at ESPN covering the sport he played for so long in England.
When NBC won the rights to the Premier League, the expressed an interest in adding Mustoe to the studio team being assembled to support the partnership. Mustoe was chosen, along with Robbie Earle and Rebecca Lowe. He and Earle have become known as “The Two Robbies” and, along with Lowe, continue to anchor the league’s coverage over a decade later.
January 18, 2025
CARI ROCCARO
Cari Roccaro was a standout college player at Notre Dame before establishing herself as a rookie on the Houston Dash, the National Women’s Soccer League’s first expansion team. She then won two NWSL championships with the North Carolina Courage and was part of Angel City FC’s first season before settling in most recently as a key player for the Chicago Red Stars.
Roccaro has also had an impact off the field. Her efforts to ensure mental health support for NWSL players as part of the first collective bargaining agreement became a critical part of the resources provided for players. She joined Founding Futbol to share her story.
January 16, 2025
YAEL AVERBUCH WEST
Yael Averbuch West has an unmatched impact on women’s soccer in America. She had a outstanding career at North Carolina, winning national championships with Anson Dorrance and the Tar Heels. She then emerged on the professional women’s soccer scene and earned time as part of the US Women’s National Team.
And while her playing career was outstanding, West’s most notable contributions may have come off the field. She was a driving force behind the National Women’s Soccer League Player’s Association (NWSLPA) and has become the general manager of Gotham FC.
January 9, 2025
BRITTANY CAMeroN
Brittany Cameron is known by youth soccer players hoping to take the field for Wake Forest one day. A staple on the Demon Deacons sideline, Cameron has made a trailblazing name for herself in the coaching ranks, also acting as the goalkeeper coach for the US Youth National Teams (U19 and U20).
Before Cameron helped make Wake a perennial collegiate power — including a trip to the NCAA Championship finals in 2024 — she was a college and professional standout at a time when women’s professional soccer was anything but an obvious career choice. She played in the WPS and then the NWSL, suiting up for Sky Blue FC in the league’s first three seasons.
She eventually followed professional soccer opportunities to play in Japan before fully dedicating herself to what has become a fruitful coaching career. Cameron joined Founding Futbol to share her story — including how soccer opened doors for her and why she believes its important to represent underserved communities and help give them access to the beautiful game.
January 9, 2025
ASHLEY PHILLIPS
When the NWSL was founded in 2012, four of the founding teams were former members of the WPS (Women’s Professional Soccer) — including the Boston Breakers. One Breakers player that had been with the team between 2009-2011, and rejoined the team in 2013 initial to coach, was Ashley Phillips , who ultimately ended up playing as well.
Phillips had starred at Clemson University, then graduated at the awkward time in the sport when the best American female players didn’t have a top flight domestic professional league to play in. That realization helped Phillips, who already had an interest in coaching, realize the need for options. During her time with the Breakers when they played in the WPS, she began coaching to help pay the bills. Eventually, she walked away from the game and became the head coach of the women’s soccer team at Northeastern.
She joined Founding Futbol to share her story — one that reflects how hard a generation of players had to fight to stay in the game when options were limited.
January 2, 2025
LEIGH ANN BROWN
While the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) has emerged as the best women’s professional soccer league in the world, it took years to achieve that status, striving first for stability. Early successes, such as the fan support for the Portland Thorns and on-field performance of FC Kansas City, gave the nascent league showcase moments, players and teams.
FC Kansas City rostered the likes of Becky Sauerbrunn and Lauren Holliday of US Women’s National Team, and combined them with young talents like Erika Tymrak. Meanwhile, players like Leigh Ann Brown had significant professional experience in the then defunct WPS (Women’s Professional Soccer), and made FC Kansas an even more formidable force. The team had the league’s second-best record in year one, then won back-to-back championships in years two and three.
Brown joined Founding Futbol to talk about her journey to the NWSL, how persistence landed her on the FC Kansas City roster, why she ultimately left the game after three successful season in the league, and so much more.
December 26, 2024
JONATHAN WILSON
Jonathan Wilson and his book, Inverting the Pyramid, became popular in America due to the television show Ted Lasso. Despite never having seen the show, Wilson has noticed an increased appetite for his work in the United States, which is reflective of both the show and a growing soccer culture. He joined Founding Futbol to talk about how he got into covering soccer, his books and how they are similar (and different).
Founding Futbol is a year-long exploration of the critical moments that have led to soccer’s emerging popularity in America. Extra Time is an additional weekly episode that shares reactions and reflections from the chapters, and brings additional guests into the fold.
DECEMBER 19, 2024
PETER MELLOR
Peter Mellor had a successful goalkeeping career in England, playing for Fulham, Burnley, Portsmouth and more. He later moved to North America to play in the North American Soccer League, before retiring. He moved to Florida and, ultimately, began life after soccer. However, Mellor was pulled back into the coaching ranks and ultimately become a critical influence in goalkeeping development within the ranks of US Soccer.
In that role, Mellor coached many of the best young players in the game. One of those players was Tim Howard, who he first met during an ODP camp where the New Jersey native stood out among older, more established players. Mellor joined Founding Futbol and shared his memories of Howard, how their relationship evolved, what made the US Soccer legand special, and so much more.
Founding Futbol is a year-long exploration of the critical moments that have led to soccer’s emerging popularity in America. Extra Time is an additional weekly episode that shares reactions and reflections from the chapters, and brings additional guests into the fold.
DECEMBER 12, 2024
LORI LINDSEY
Lori Lindsey was a mainstay of both the US Women’s National Team and the three women’s professional soccer leagues founded in the United States during the early and mid-2000s. She has also built a successful broadcast career in her post playing days working for ESPN, SiriusXM FC, Apple TV and other networks covering a variety of soccer events.
She was an important part of the 2011 World Cup squad, having made her USWNT debut in 2005 and solidifying her place on the squad leading up to that pivotal tournament. Lindsey joined Founding Futbol to talk about her memories of the World Cup Qualifying process, the miracle header by Abby Wambach, how quickly fans latched onto the game thereafter and so much more.
Founding Futbol is a year-long exploration of the critical moments that have led to soccer’s emerging popularity in America. Extra Time is an additional weekly episode that shares reactions and reflections from the chapters, and brings additional guests into the fold.
DECEMBER 5, 2024
ANDREW BUCKHOLTZ
Men in Blazers helped grow soccer in America at an important time in evolution of sports analysis and entertainment through new channels. By betting on the growth of podcasts they were early in the adoption curve. By aligning with Grantland, Roger Bennett and Michael Davies were on the leading edge of new approaches to merging short and long form sports stories. In other words, Men in Blazers wasn’t just an early litmus test for the changing appetite around soccer in America, but also for the rapidly changing sports media landscape.
Andrew Bucholtz has been covering sports media and MIB for Awful Announcing since 2012. He joined the show to share his perspective on how Men in Blazers’ rise mirrored key changes in the media landscape. Bucholtz talked about the growth of podcasts and new media, reflected on the importance of aligning to Grantland and more.
Founding Futbol is a year-long exploration of the critical moments that have led to soccer’s emerging popularity in America. Extra Time is an additional weekly episode that shares reactions and reflections from the chapters, and brings additional guests into the fold.
NOVEMBER 28, 2024
EDDIE ROBINSON
Eddie Robinson was a Major League Soccer “one club loyalist” having spent his entire career with the same team, in two locations. He began play with the San Jose Earthquakes in 2001 and only changed locations and team names, when the Quakes relocated to Houston and became the Dynamo. Robinson remained with the team through 2011. Along the way, he won four MLS Cups and established himself as one of the league’s top defenders.
He had the unique situation of playing with Landon Donovan in San Jose, then against him in Houston, when Donovan moved on to the LA Galaxy. Robinson joined Founding Futbol to share his memories of playing with Donovan, then what it was like to face off against him. He shared memories of Donovan’s maturity, reflects on how Donovan “saved” MLS before David Beckham did and so much more.
Founding Futbol is a year-long exploration of the critical moments that have led to soccer’s emerging popularity in America. Extra Time is an additional weekly episode that shares reactions and reflections from the chapters, and brings additional guests into the fold.
NOVEMBER 23, 2024
NANCY ARMOUR
Nancy Armour is a sports columnist for USA Today who frequently covers the intersection of sports, culture, politics and how they influence each other. Her evolution in that role parallels the evolution of Alex Morgan on the national and international soccer scene. She has extensively covered the USWNT star over the years and, upon Morgan’s announced retirement, wrote about the impact she had on the game.
Armour joined Founding Futbol to talk about the California-natives rise to stardom. The impact she had on the field and the bigger impact she had off it.
Founding Futbol is a year-long exploration of the critical moments that have led to soccer’s emerging popularity in America. Extra Time is an additional weekly episode that shares reactions and reflections from the chapters, and brings additional guests into the fold.
NOVEMBER 21, 2024
TOM SERMANNI
Tom Sermanni is one of the most accomplished coaches in the history of world women’s soccer. Currently in his third (though, interim) stint as the head coach of the Australian Women’s National Team, Sermanni also coached the US Women’s National Team from 2013-2014 and then the Orlando Pride in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). In both settings, Alex Morgan was the team’s star. When Sermanni entered the USWNT picture in 2013, Morgan was at the top of her game having starred at the 2012 Olympics the Americans won, and receiving numerous awards and accolades. In Orlando, Morgan was one of the faces of the NWSL and the star used to market the expansion Pride. It’s fair to say, Sermanni had a chance to know Morgan at two unique points in her career.
He joined Founding Futbol to share his memories of coaching Morgan both on the USWNT and when she was the face of the NWSL during her time on the Pride. Sermanni also shares his journey to Australia to build the women’s national team, how he connected with American coaches during that tenure and how it ultimately landed him coaching jobs in the US.
Founding Futbol is a year-long exploration of the critical moments that have led to soccer’s emerging popularity in America. Extra Time is an additional weekly episode that shares reactions and reflections from the chapters, and brings additional guests into the fold.
NOVEMBER 14, 2024
JIMMY CONRAD
At the same time players like Clint Dempsey were building the game overseas — scoring legendary goals for the likes of Fulham in the Europa League — a group of players were making their mark on the game domestically. One such player was Jimmy Conrad. The California native made his way to UCLA, where he wasn’t guaranteed a spot on the team, bet on himself and became a standout. Then when Major League Soccer passed on drafting him, he bet on himself again. Ultimately, Conrad worked his way into MLS stardom and the US Men’s National Team.
Jimmy Conrad joined Founding Futbol to talk about his journey and how he thinks the game has evolved. He talks about life after playing, including coaching, and so much more.