World Cup News

Xherdan Shaqiri sits down with Alexi Lalas to discuss the upcoming MLS season and his goals for the Chicago Fire. We also take a look at his expectations for Switzerland at the 2022 World Cup. Finally, Shaqiri breaks down some of his favorite movies, music, and answers if he is going to get a new pet and if it will be a cat or dog? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week we talk about the unceremonious sacking of Atlanta United's head coach Gabriel Heinze after her violated player safety protocols (among other things). We also talk about Chicago Fire's rough day, the Cincinnati-Montreal goal blowout, and catch up on some Olympic and Gold Cup action.

This week we take a look at TFC's shocking loss to DC, their immediate dismissal of Chris Armas, and their huge result against Eastern Conference leaders New England. We also look at the big upsets of the week and spend some time talking about a much rejuvenated Chicago Fire and what's next for the Whitecaps, who are their own worst enemy.

In this episode of the Designated Players Podcast, the guys take a deep dive, and no we have not become an ocean podcast, if that's even a thing. We are taking a more detailed look into each team in MLS for the upcoming season, with a breakdown of nine teams per episode. The teams for round 1 are; NYCFC, LA Galaxy, Chicago Fire, Philadelphia Union, Minnesota United, FC Dallas, RBNY, LAFC, and finally Toronto FC. For each team in the episode, and yes even for FC Dallas even if one host refuse...

Last night was Election Day! Did your candidate win? We hope he did if and only if your candidate is not Donald Trump. We discuss the election, the Hudson River Derby, and we are joined by Micheal Azira of the Chicago Fire to talk about his journey coming from Uganda to become a professional in MLS. Sponsors: Pick up a Cooligans face mask at Upper 90! All proceeds go to South Bronx United! https://u90soccer.com/cooligans-stay-gully-mask-163426.html Gully Squad: If you'd like to support the podcast, you can do that by joining Gully Squad at soccercooligans.com and click on the menu to join. Get access to the Gully Squad slack channel + exclusive content + the official Cooligans pin! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today we are joined by Chicago Fire Homegrown Player Mauricio Pineda! Mauricio talked to us about scoring his first MLS goal, meeting Bastian Schweinsteiger for the first time, and what's his favorite pizza in Chicago! Sponsors: On The Volley Apparel: Get all your Cooligans merch at onthevolleyapparel.com/cooligans Gully Squad: If you'd like to support the podcast, you can do that by joining Gully Squad at soccercooligans.com and click on the menu to join. Get access to the Gully Squad slack channel + exclusive content + the official Cooligans pin! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Marc Dos Santos; Theo Bair; MLS is Back tournament chat and audio

CJ Sapong of the Chicago Fire joins us today to talk about the upcoming tournament in Orlando. He also shares his thoughts on former teammate Aleksander Katai's recent release after Katai's wife posted racist comments about the recent protests. Needless to say, he keeps it very real. Ways to help the Black Lives Matter movement: https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today we are joined by Head Coach of the Philadelphia Union, Jim Curtin! We get some Chicago Fire Bob Bradley stories, how he's coaching his players during the quarantine, and discover that Jim is quite the sneakerhead. #DOOP Sponsors: On The Volley Apparel: Get all your Cooligans merch at onthevolleyapparel.com/cooligans Gully Squad: If you'd like to support the show, you can do that by joining Gully Squad at soccercooligans.com and click on the menu to join. Get access to the Gully Squad slack channel and get the official Cooligans pin! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the season's 2nd episode, Steve Zakuani and Brad Evans digest the Sounders' Concacaf Champions League exit, the club's shifting priority to Supporters' Shield and what’s up next with the Chicago Fire. Tv commentator Keith Costigan stops by to talk state of MLS and debate Supporters' Shield vs MLS Cup.

The MLS off-season is always wild and so are our podcasts during the offseason. We start with another interview from the United Soccer Coaches convention. We talk to David Copeland-Smith of Beast Mode Soccer. He's a trainer who has trained nearly every elite player you've heard of. We then talk to Paul Tenorio of The Athletic to talk some MLS CBA and get some other league updates. And finally we are joined by retired MLS superstar Mike Magee. Mike Magee won titles with the LA Galaxy, an MVP trophy with the Chicago Fire, and learned some hard lessons with Bruce Arena. This is a hot pod! Enjoy! Today's Sponsors: OTVA: Get official Cooligans merch at onthevolleyapparel.com/cooligans and use promo code COOLIGANS for 20% off your entire order! Gully Squad: If you'd like to support the show, you can do that by joining Gully Squad at soccercooligans.com and click on the menu to join. Get access to the Gully Squad slack channel and get the official Cooligans pin! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We are back in town from Minnesota to regale you with stories of all the nice people we met in the Twin Cities! We're also getting spicy with former Chicago Fire player Drew Conner of 1.SC Znojmo FK from the Czech Republic's 2nd division! He'll talk to us about his thoughts on the Chicago Fire rebrand rumors and possible move to Soldier Field. Segment 1: The Allianz Field bathrooms are exquisite. Segment 2: Talking with Drew Conner all the way from the Czech Republic about life away from home and his beloved Chicago Fire. Sponsors: SeatGeek - Download the SeatGeek app today and use the promo code "COOLIGANS" to get $10 off your first purchase. On The Volley Apparel - Go to onthevolleyapparel.com today and pick up our latest T-shirt. The PopoTee! Use promo code "COOLIGANS" for 20% off your entire order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Really wild show today covering a host of topics but most importantly, Tommy McNamara of the Houston Dynamo joins us on the show! Tommy went out for pizza with us last year and we got to catch up with him after his move to Houston and ask him what is was like playing in CONCACAF Champions League. Part 1: How badly do the Chicago Fire fans want to keep their name? Part 2: Interview w/ Tommy McNamara / @tommy_mc15 Spnosored by: On The Volley Apparel - Go to onthevolleyapparel.com/cooligans today and pick up our latest T-shirt. The PopoTee! Use promo code "COOLIGANS" for 20% off your entire order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Alexi and Mosse break down the 1999 World Cup-winning USWNT in the State of the Union (4:02). Also, the Premier League's power to sink plans for a European "super league" is unpacked in Mosse Makes the Case (20:52). Then, rumors surrounding the Chicago Fire, MLS competing with the EPL and Alexi's favorite formation to play in are looked at in Ask Alexi (30:17). Finally, Der Klassiker, Carlos Vela and the Champions League all headline The Back Three (40:25). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Who's up for some Whitecaps action on the day of two World Cup quarter-finals? Well there's a World Cup winner coming to town as Bastian Schweinsteiger's Chicago Fire head to BC Place. Gideon and Nick look ahead to the match. Can the Whitecaps bounce back after their disappointing defeat to Colorado? Will Yordy Reyna come straight back into the team? What threat do an inconsistent Chicago pose the 'Caps? All that and more, plus a some World Cup chat thrown into the mix as well. Have a listen!

America is not going to the World Cup in Russia. We can't believe we are even typing that. Summer 2018 will not be very lit in America. It's a shame this happened on what was otherwise a very fun episode as we are joined by DJ Step, who is the Chicago Fire DJ and music director. We have a great talk about the effect of music on soccer matches. Step is one of the homies and is one of the good people doing great work to make soccer in America a memorable experience on match day. Segment 1: The USMNT is playing Trinidad & Tobago in the final match of the Hex so let's book the flight to Russia! Segment 2: Interview with DJ Step of Chicago Fire (@Callme_Step) Segment 3: WTF HAPPENED? This episode is brought to you by Mack Weldon. Go to mackweldon.com for the highest quality men's underwear available. Use the promo code "COOLIGANS" FOR 20% off. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today we are joined by Drew Conner of the Chicago Fire! Drew is a midfielder/right back for the Fire. Drew is a Chicago native and came up in the Chicago Fire academy, but he was a fan of the Fire before he became a player, so we discuss what it's like playing for your childhood club! We also have a big fight about Chicago vs NY pizza. It's a saucy bloodbath! Segment 1: We all have to give Jay Heaps the bad news. Segment 2: Interview with Drew Conner of the Chicago Fire (Instagram: @DrewConner1) Segment 3: Minnesota ain't that bad, y'all! Matches: CHI v DC MTL v MIN COL v NYC ATL v NE ATL v ORL VAN v CLB COOLIGANS T-SHIRTS AVAILABLE NOW AT ONTHEVOLLEYAPPAREL.COM! USE PROMO CODE "COOLIGANS" FOR 20% OFF ON ALL GEAR!! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Vancouver Whitecaps headed east to face the best team in MLS right now, Chicago Fire, and they got their asses handed to them. We look back at the highs and lows from the game, some individual performances, and we hear from coaches Carl Robinson and Veljko Paunović Our players interviews this week are with two Canadian Whitecaps, Brett Levis and Marcel de Jong as we talk recovery, the Gold Cup, and the Canadian Premier League. All this plus Billy Bragg is featured in this week's Wavelength section. Here's the full episode rundown:04.30: Chicago v Vancouver analysis25:40: Carl Robinson and Veljko Paunović audio29.59: Individual performances35:11: New York City FC preview52.39: Brett Levis interview60.41: Canadian all-time Top Ten men's players71.57: Canada Gold Cup chat76.33: Marcel de Jong Interview82.50: More Gold Cup chat90:51 Whitecaps U16s95.37: Wavelength - Billy Bragg The AFTN Soccer Show is brought to you in partnership with BCsoccerweb.com, your one stop site for all your BC, Canadian, and North American soccer news and links. Have a listen!

Vancouver Whitecaps are on the road again, taking their injury and international call up ravaged squad to an in-form Chicago Fire side. Well in-form in the league, if not the Cup. After a gruelling 120 plus minute US Open Cup loss to FC Cincinnati, what state with the Fire be in? They're also missing some key players, but then so are the 'Caps. We preview the match with Chicago Fire beat reporter Shane Murray and have a pregame chat with 'Caps coach Carl Robinson. All this plus Thousand Yard Stare are featured in this week's Wavelength section. Here's the full episode rundown:04:21: Carl Robinson09:04: AFTN's Chicago Fire v Vancouver Whitecaps preview23:53: Chicago Fire beat writer Shane Murray39:30: Wavelength - Thousand Yard Stare The AFTN Soccer Show is brought to you in partnership with BCsoccerweb.com, your one stop site for all your BC, Canadian, and North American soccer news and links. Have a listen!

Bastian Schweinsteiger is coming to MLS! He will be joining the Chicago Fire and some people are saying this is a bad decision because he's too old and those people are right. Some people are also saying he won't help the team, and they would be wrong. It's going to be great for the Fire and the MLS to have Basti out there. Let's just hope he can keep up with David Accam during training. ATL v CHI, 4-0 - Josef Martinez is the best player in MLS, soft red card on Johan Kapelhoff COL v MIN, 2-2 - Minnesota gets a point! SEA v RBNY, 3-1 Joevin to Nico to Jordan, VAN v TFC, 0-2 - Brek Shea red for dissent, Victor Vazquez first goal for TFC POR v HOU, 4-2 - Two handballs from Beasley & Chara, Romell Quioto, Another Valeri header Brek Shea **We have a new weekly series on Youtube called "FIFA The News" which you should watch on our channel youtube.com/soccercooligans. New episodes every Friday. @notalexis @chrispolanco @soccercooligans Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rog talks with midfield pugilist Dax McCarty about his return to the USMNT setup under new manager Bruce Arena, the shock trade that sent him from New York Red Bulls to Chicago Fire, and the small-sided football match before his recent wedding. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Dax McCarty is leaving the New York Red Bulls and going to the Chicago Fire. The Red Bulls have parted ways with their captain for $400,000. This was a very surprising decision and all of the MLS was stunned. So were we! All the teams have more TAM and GAM and they are ballin outta control. Segment 1: MLS Draft Recap! Segment 2: Is Pep gonna be okay? **We have a new weekly series on Youtube called "FIFA The News" which you should watch on our channel youtube.com/soccercooligans. New episodes every Friday. @notalexis @chrispolanco @soccercooligans Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Chicago Fire Won't Make The Playoffs Segment 1: USMNT v StV&G, NYCFC comeback, Portland losing to dominant FC Dallas. Break: Use Promo Code 'Cooligans' for 20% on MackWeldon.com Segment 2: @PaulTenorio tells us how the Chicago Fire won't make the playoffs and who they will buy next season. Break 2: Use Promo Code 'Cooligans' for 20% on MackWeldon.com Segment 3: Winner of the On The Volley Free t-shirt giveaway is announced and Cooligans Corner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Vancouver Whitecaps chat after a nine point week of games. We look at all the key talking points.

Vancouver Whitecaps preseason chat with Sam Adekugbe, Tim Parker, Carl Robinson, and Callum Irving

As Vancouver Whitecaps win back to back Portland tournaments we speak with Carl Robinson, Darren Mattocks and Chicago Fire coach Frank Yallop ahead of Saturday's final game. We also look at why South Americans are so successful in MLS with Robinson and 'Caps captain Pedro Morales.

Soccer podcast covering Vancouver Whitecaps, MLS and the game of football in North America and beyond.