The Blueprint: What should the MLS All-Star Game be?

Matt Freese looking like a United States starter as the World Cup arrives

It's finally World Cup [https://www.nysoccerjournal.com/tag/fifa-world-cup/] week and that means the podcast is in full-on World Cup mode. Hosts Mark Radigan and John Baney and producer Andrew Leigh begin with the United States men's national team and their final pre-World Cup friendly, which revealed some noteworthy things about the USMNT [https://www.nysoccerjournal.com/tag/usmnt/] heading into their World Cup opener against Paraguay. The main intrigue again lies at the goalkeeper position, where New York City FC's Matt Freese [https://www.nysoccerjournal.com/matt-freese-nycfc-reacts-to-making-2026-usmnt-world-cup-squad/] started and played all 90 minutes of the USMNT's 2-1 loss to Germany [https://www.nysoccerjournal.com/usmnt-vs-germany-analysis-world-cup-2026-friendly-soldier-field-2026/] at Soldier Field. Freese's performance didn't silence the ongoing debate over whether Mauricio Pochettino should start Freese or go back to New England Revolution keeper Matt Turner, but we have our own debate over if there is really a goalkeeper competition, or if Freese has the position locked up and fully his heading into the World Cup. Freese gets the most focus, but the broader conversation about the USMNT continues to be one of concern over defender Chris Richards' health, and concern over the performances of each center-back who has tried to replace the Crystal Palace FC regular as his status and availability for the World Cup remains uncertain. Before a deeper USMNT preview, we take a brief detour from the United States and the start of the World Cup to discuss a different World Cup competitor spending time at New York City FC's training facility: The Netherlands, who came to Orangeburg, New York [https://www.nysoccerjournal.com/netherlands-training-at-nycfc-facility-before-2026-world-cup/] last week to train on the NYCFC practice fields ahead of a friendly against Uzbekistan at Icahn Stadium on Randall's Island. There are plenty of interesting angles [https://www.nysoccerjournal.com/netherlands-training-in-new-york-pascal-jansen-white-plains-2026-world-cup/] to the Dutch squad's visit, including Pascal Jansen of NYCFC's role as facilitator, their accommodations at a hotel in scenic White Plains, New York, and their unique move to play behind closed doors at the also-scenic Randall's Island track-and-field stadium that now serves as a soccer venue thanks to NYCFC's generous 2024 donation to bring a new grass playing surface to the venue. This episode wraps up with a preview of the first United States match at the World Cup against Paraguay, and a bigger-picture discussion of what success will look like for the USMNT at this tournament. How far should they be expected to make it through the knockouts, given the United States is one of the co-hosts playing matches at home, and given the talent up and down Pochettino's roster? Some say quarterfinals, some say semifinals, but we've got our own opinions on it all. Listen to the full episode, then find more of our coverage at nysoccerjournal.com [https://www.nysoccerjournal.com/], or on Twitter @nysoccerjournal [https://x.com/nysoccerjournal] and @NYSJPodcast [https://x.com/NYSJPodcast], on Bluesky @nysoccerjournal.com [https://bsky.app/profile/nysoccerjournal.com], and on Instagram @newyorksoccerjournal. [https://www.instagram.com/newyorksoccerjournal/] Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Blueprint: Is NYCFC getting its loan strategy wrong?

In a very on-brand move for the topic of this episode of The Blueprint, host John Baney brought in a guest co-host on a short-term loan, as he’s joined by Andrew Leigh, usually of The Soccer Journal Podcast. John and Andrew tackle one of the more persistently confounding parts of New York City FC's approach to building a squad: Their loan strategy. With four first-team players currently out on loan and incoming first-team loanees not a thing since the 2023 season, John and Andrew dig into exactly how NYCFC are using this roster mechanism, and whether or not they're really using it to their advantage. The conversation starts with a focus on the current loan headlines, including the murky future of James Sands after his injury-plagued spell on loan with FC St. Pauli came to an end [https://www.instagram.com/reels/DY7Nah6D7Se/]. Then there’s the legal dispute that emerged from Talles Magno's loan spell at Corinthians, after the Brazilian club triggered a loan extension to keep Talles, but never paid the agreed $850,000 fee [https://www.nysoccerjournal.com/corinthians-nycfc-talles-magno-loan-dispute-fifa-rules-in-new-york-city-fc-favor/], requiring a whole big fight in front of FIFA. Both cases serve as entry points to discuss how the club approaches players they want to move on: Too often defaulting to loans rather than outright sales, kicking difficult decisions down the road at a cost of roster clarity and financial certainty. To fully understand the club's loan approach and how it has evolved, your hosts go back in time as far as NYCFC's expansion era, when they brought in promising youngsters from the Manchester City FC youth system, like defenders Shay Facey and Angeliño. John and Andrew also examine the Taty Castellanos model that NYCFC have tried, and failed, to replicate, and explain why that particular pathway for players has been so hard to recreate. Jovan Mijatović, who signed for a club-record transfer fee but who has been loaned out twice without ever delivering at NYCFC, is brought up as a sort of anti-Taty, a symbol of how the club’s loan strategy can go wrong when it involves a high-priced youngster not hitting their potential ceiling either in New York or elsewhere while on loan. On the incoming side, the hosts wonder why NYCFC is so reluctant to use loans as a squad-building tool in MLS to fill obvious gaps, like the glaring one at striker since Alonso Martínez's knee injury. In the end, the hosts render a verdict: Yes, NYCFC is getting the loan strategy wrong, but it’s still possible to change course and actually make these moves beneficial for players and for NYCFC alike. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

NYCFC with a World Cup trio, plus lots of loan intrigue

As the World Cup fast approaches, hosts Mark Radigan and John Baney and producer Andrew Leigh begin this episode focused on the United States men's national team and their next-to-last friendly before the real tournament action begins. The conversation starts with some highs and lows from the 3-2 USMNT win over Senegal, but the real heart of the conversation: What Mauricio Pochettino has planned for the USMNT at goalkeeper [https://www.nysoccerjournal.com/gotham-fc-picks-up-another-shutout-win-as-jordynn-dudley-goal-beats-houston/]. Matt Freese of New York City FC made the final 26-man roster for the World Cup, but he was an unused substitute in what was an experimental, 11-substitutes-allowed friendly. What does that mean for Freese's chances to start at the World Cup? Whether he's the starter or not might still be up for debate, but what is certain: Freese will have two other club teammates joining him on the world's biggest soccer stage, as both Aiden O'Neill and Kai Trewin made the final 26 for Australia. There's talk of relief to see Aiden O'Neill back healthy and playing, after he went 67 minutes in Australia's most recent friendly against Mexico following a spell of absences for NYCFC after he went off injured on May 3 against DC United. There's also the simple fact that NYCFC will have three members of their team at the World Cup, a first considering only one previous active NYCFC player has ever seen the pitch at a World Cup. This episode wraps up with three different NYCFC loan situations that had recent news pop up [https://www.nysoccerjournal.com/new-york-city-fc-tracker-all-2026-news-and-rumors-nycfc-mls/]. First, there's Mitja Ilenič, who got buried at Raków Częstochowa and is now reportedly drawing transfer interest from the champions of the first division in his homeland of Slovenia, NK Celje. Then there's James Sands, officially departing a relegated FC St. Pauli, and with his next destination unclear. Might we realistically see him back with NYCFC this summer? Finally, there's the bizarre situation where Corinthians owes NYCFC [https://www.nysoccerjournal.com/corinthians-still-reportedly-owes-new-york-city-fc-millions-for-talles-magno-loan/] lots of cash over the Talles Magno loan deal, a discussion that eventually leads back to wondering over the future and plan for Talles Magno, with fresh calls for it to finally be time to move on from the Brazilian Designated Player. Listen to the full episode, then find more of our coverage at nysoccerjournal.com [https://www.nysoccerjournal.com/], or on Twitter @nysoccerjournal [https://x.com/nysoccerjournal] and @NYSJPodcast [https://x.com/NYSJPodcast], on Bluesky @nysoccerjournal.com [https://bsky.app/profile/nysoccerjournal.com], and on Instagram @newyorksoccerjournal [https://www.instagram.com/newyorksoccerjournal/] Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Double NYCFC disappointment amid injury crisis, USMNT World Cup roster likes and dislikes

New York City FC [https://www.nysoccerjournal.com/tag/nycfc/] finally reached the two-month break in MLS action for the FIFA World Cup, but not before losing twice in one week while also losing more important players to injuries. First, hosts Mark Radigan and John Baney and producer Andrew Leigh review the anticlimactic end to NYCFC's run in this year's US Open Cup, a 1-0 loss in Columbus [https://www.nysoccerjournal.com/new-york-city-fc-vs-columbus-open-cup-match-report-highlights-analysis-2/] that showed how hard it will be for Pascal Jansen's team to replace what they've lost in the injured Maxi Moralez. It's a loss that your hosts attribute to nonexistent squad depth, exhaustion, and a return to form for the Crew as they looked rejuvenated while playing under a new head coach. The vibes didn't get better from there, as NYCFC followed up their midweek Cup quarterfinal loss with a frustrating defeat to Nashville SC [https://www.nysoccerjournal.com/nycfc-vs-nashville-match-report-mls-matchday-15-2026/] to close out the 15-match slate of MLS games they played before the league hit pause for the World Cup. The chances were there for New York City to get something positive, and they did enjoy a few positive moments thanks to the continually-impressive Nico Fernández Mercau and the resurgent Malachi Jones. Yet this was another game defined by a set-piece goal conceded, an injury-depleted lineup, and a failure to take full advantage of the few key chances that were present while facing the current leaders in the race for the Supporters' Shield. We also take stock of where NYCFC stands now as the league reaches this midseason break, and how our views on this year's squad have changed after 15 MLS matches. That conversation can't happen without providing an update on the many injured NYCFC players, including Maxi Moralez (ACL) and Kevin O'Toole (abdomen/groin) each needing surgery, Keaton Parks getting scratched during warm-ups before the Open Cup match, the list goes on. After going deep on NYCFC in the first half of the show, we touch on New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani securing 1,000 $50 World Cup tickets for New York City residents, and the significance [https://www.nysoccerjournal.com/timothy-weah-mauricio-pochettino-fifa-world-cup-tickets-opinion/] of Mamdani enlisting New York native, Olympique de Marseille winger, and Brooklyn FC co-owner Timothy Weah to announce the discounted ticket offer. The show wraps up by diving into the leaked United States men's national team roster [https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/may/23/usmnt-world-cup-roster-alejandro-zendejas-tanner-tessmann-gio-reyna-diego-luna] for the World Cup, which includes NYCFC goalkeeper Matt Freese, and also includes a handful of other surprising or discussion-worthy inclusions and omissions. That means we're talking Diego Luna snubs, the value of Gio Reyna and Alejandro Zendejas, the importance of Tyler Adams's health to the midfield, and more. Listen to the full episode, then find more of our coverage at nysoccerjournal.com [https://www.nysoccerjournal.com/], or on Twitter @nysoccerjournal [https://x.com/nysoccerjournal] and @NYSJPodcast [https://x.com/NYSJPodcast], on Bluesky @nysoccerjournal.com [https://bsky.app/profile/nysoccerjournal.com], and on Instagram @newyorksoccerjournal [https://www.instagram.com/newyorksoccerjournal/] Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Brooklyn FC's Taimu Okiyoshi on his journey from Japan to college soccer to the pros

In a special edition of The Soccer Journal Podcast, Brooklyn FC [https://www.brooklynfootballclub.com/] midfielder Taimu Okiyoshi [https://www.instagram.com/taimu_okiyoshi/] joins Andrew Leigh [https://www.nysoccerjournal.com/author/andrew-leigh/] for a wide-ranging conversation about Taimu's remarkable path to being a professional soccer player with New York's newest expansion team. From growing up in Japan to making the move to the United States on his own to play college soccer and chase his pro soccer dream, Taimu walks us through his unique route, beginning with a stint playing at a junior college in Utah, to then starring for Marshall University as The Thundering Herd made a run to the 2024 College Cup. We discuss what he learned from his first professional season, which was split between Rhode Island FC and Westchester SC, and how that difficult year helped prepare him for the challenges and opportunities in front of him as he tries to establish himself with Brooklyn FC and in the USL Championship. After living in Japan, Utah, West Virginia, Rhode Island, and now New York, Taimu has seen a lot, and he's candid, compelling, and honest when discussing topics like living in New York City, the state of American and college soccer, emulating the legendary Yasuhito Endō, and his long-term MLS ambitions. He also sheds valuable light on playing under Brooklyn head coach Marlon LeBlanc and GM Brian McBride, what it means to have a coach who trusts him to play freely and without fear of mistakes, and what Brooklyn is collectively focused on as the club tries to turn their form around following a slow start to life in the USL Championship. Listen to the full conversation, then be sure to find more of our coverage at nysoccerjournal.com [https://www.nysoccerjournal.com/], or on Twitter @nysoccerjournal [https://x.com/nysoccerjournal] and @NYSJPodcast [https://x.com/NYSJPodcast], on Bluesky @nysoccerjournal.com [https://bsky.app/profile/nysoccerjournal.com], and on Instagram @newyorksoccerjournal [https://www.instagram.com/newyorksoccerjournal/] Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.