The Football Show

Why USA Isn't #1 Yet... And Who's Trying to Fix It

1 h 22 min · 9 de jun de 2026
Portada del episodio Why USA Isn't #1 Yet... And Who's Trying to Fix It

Descripción

There should be no reason why the USA isn't the best in the world. We have the culture. We have the people. We have the diversity... so why aren't we?  Today I sat down with a pro playing at altitude in Bolivia and two coaches who walked away from the money machine to build something different. We talked about what nobody in American youth soccer wants to say out loud. Today we sit down with three people who've lived American youth soccer from every angle... Julian and Alex, two coaches who walked away from the pay-to-play machine to build a club the right way in Daytona Beach, and Darwin, a pro striker calling in live from Bolivia after signing with The Strongest. This one gets honest. Why does a "travel season" cost some families a fortune? Why do kids chase shirts and status instead of minutes? Why isn't the USA the best in the world yet... and who's actually trying to fix it? We talk tough-love coaching, street soccer, the coaches who changed our lives, and the knowledge of the game nobody's teaching here. If you're a soccer parent, a player, or a coach, this is your conversation. Join the movement at https://www.thefootball.show Connect with Darwin: https://www.instagram.com/darwinlom14/ Connect with Julian & Alex: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julian-botella-3486b487/ Chapters:  00:00  New format, who we are 01:16  Meet Julian, Alex & Darwin 01:41  Julian's road: NY to Colombia to UNF 02:58  Alex's road: Palm Coast, Colombia, the ACL 05:54  Darwin live from Bolivia (altitude is hectic) 07:03  Darwin's story: started playing at 15 14:19  The 2% problem 16:27  How the club idea was born 18:51  Coaching the person, not just the player 26:18  Telling parents the truth 30:18  The coaches who changed our lives 31:50  Everybody needs a Nestor 37:24  "Kids are soft now" 38:37  A system built to make money 40:15  Luca and the Goku moment 42:41  D1 isn't everything 44:14  Chasing status vs. just playing 49:42  The world is bigger than MLS 52:24  What the system gets wrong 60:56  Two fixes: culture and investment 62:22  The missing piece: knowledge of the game 67:07  Street soccer makes players 69:32  How they really built the club 76:26  Why grades matter 79:33  A seed: pros sponsoring kids 81:32  Wrap The Football Show is part of Break FC - Global Club & Community Come join the Global Club Break FC (@offricialbreakfc). This is a project from a place of love to the sport, would love your feedback! Watch the show - Check out our Youtube Channel [https://www.youtube.com/@TheFootballShowBreakFC] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/thefootballshowbfc/] Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/officialbreakfc] TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@thefootballshowbreakfc]

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Portada del episodio USA Proving Everyone Wrong & The Azteca Advantage Nobody's Talking About

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The USA just did something they haven't done since 1930... back-to-back World Cup wins on home soil, and their first win over a European team in 24 years. Today we breakdown why this USA team finally has an identity (and why he's becoming a fan). Then... Belgium's heart-attack comeback against Senegal, and why it might've been lucky. Spain hasn't conceded a single goal all tournament... are the silent killers the real deal? Plus the coaching bloodbath (seven gone already, one fired after a single game), the Azteca altitude edge nobody's talking about, and a Maradona prediction from 2018 that's going viral for being way too accurate. Bold takes, real stories, no corporate filler. Join the newsletter and be part of the show at thefootball.show. Chapters: 00:00 — Welcome back (+ shout-outs) 00:50 — Today's headlines 02:42 — USA is for real (2-0 over Bosnia) 05:19 — Belgium survives the Senegal scare 07:46 — Spain, the silent killers 10:29 — The coaching bloodbath: 7 gone 12:48 — The Azteca altitude problem 16:30 — Was Maradona right? 17:45 — Wrap-up The Football Show is part of Break FC - Global Club & Community Come join the Global Club Break FC (@offricialbreakfc). This is a project from a place of love to the sport, would love your feedback! Watch the show - Check out our Youtube Channel [https://www.youtube.com/@TheFootballShowBreakFC] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/thefootballshowbfc/] Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/officialbreakfc] TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@thefootballshowbreakfc]

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Portada del episodio Two Giants Out in One Crazy Night (World Cup Round of 32)

Two Giants Out in One Crazy Night (World Cup Round of 32)

The Round of 32 just turned into a horror movie for the big names. Germany and the Netherlands both went home on the same night... both on penalties.  We break down the VAR call that wiped out Germany's winner (foul or robbery?), Paraguay keeper Orlando Gil turning into a wall, and Morocco's last-minute header over Van Dijk that proves they're nobody's dark horse.  Then we get into "Dictator Mbappé," the meme taking over the internet... and why every meme has a little truth in it. And the one everyone's arguing about: Ecuador's coach says a 3.5-hour flight became 9 hours right before facing host Mexico at the Azteca. Mind games or sabotage?  Plus a prediction for tonight that did not age quietly.  Where do you land? Join the conversation and be part of the show at thefootball.show. Chapters: 0:00 — Germany AND the Netherlands are out 1:21 — Japan broke my heart (Brazil 2-1) 2:13 — Bracket check + the live games 3:42 — The VAR call that sent Germany home 4:56 — Orlando Gil: Paraguay's wall 5:26 — Paraguay's "chispa" and the red-dirt story 6:20 — Morocco's last-minute header sinks the Dutch 8:06 — Morocco is NOT a dark horse 9:00 — Is football losing its identity? 9:57 — The Dictator: Mbappé takes over the internet 13:34 — The 9-hour flight + Mexico vs Ecuador tonight 17:06 — My prediction and wrap The Football Show is part of Break FC - Global Club & Community Come join the Global Club Break FC (@offricialbreakfc). This is a project from a place of love to the sport, would love your feedback! Watch the show - Check out our Youtube Channel [https://www.youtube.com/@TheFootballShowBreakFC] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/thefootballshowbfc/] Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/officialbreakfc] TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@thefootballshowbreakfc]

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Portada del episodio Japan's OUT, Canada Makes HISTORY... and a World Cup Fixing Scandal?

Japan's OUT, Canada Makes HISTORY... and a World Cup Fixing Scandal?

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Portada del episodio You're Wrong, Dave Portnoy... Football Doesn't Need Fixing

You're Wrong, Dave Portnoy... Football Doesn't Need Fixing

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Portada del episodio Harry Kane’s Curse & France's Secret Weapon Is a Factory in a Forest

Harry Kane’s Curse & France's Secret Weapon Is a Factory in a Forest

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