The Section 1904 Podcast

World Cup '26: Three Weeks Out

Looking for a World Cup themed podcast, just three weeks from the opening match between Mexico and South Africa? We got you. Today, our friend Eric Gomez [https://x.com/EricGomez86?s=20] stopped by the show to talk about some top storylines as we inch closer to “United 2026”. Before diving into National Teams and their unique roster reveals (here’s France's [https://www.instagram.com/reels/DYWgqXRoozx/]), we discussed the Liga MX Clausura Final between Cruz Azul and Pumas UNAM - two clubs from the Mexican capital, both led by Mexican managers, which hasn’t happened since 2013. (If you’re a San Diego FC fan, you might remember the Azul y Chrome eliminating Pumas from the CONCACAF Champions Cup earlier this year.) Speaking of managers, we marveled at the recent successes of Basque-born coaches in Europe and what - if anything - is next for Pep Guardiola after he walks away from Manchester City this weekend. We then talked about the different roster reveals and how the World Cup will be the final one for legends like Neymar, Messi, CR7 and James Rodriguez. Is it even possible to NOT feel happy for Neymar after seeing his reaction [https://www.youtube.com/shorts/gmKH6W_236o]to getting called in? Finally, is there a country that hasn’t previously won the World Cup who might be a first time winner in 2026? We agree on a few. Thanks for reading! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dsmithshow.substack.com [https://dsmithshow.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Padres Beat LA

(This is the audio-only version of Tuesday’s MartyTimeTV / Section 1904 joint venture. You can find and subscribe to this podcast on Apple [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-section-1904-podcast/id1878517518] and Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/6qK7rBdrzbifPjLMSSlqya?si=cc4982d3d50f4937] and right here on Substack by clicking the button below. To watch this episode, click here [https://www.youtube.com/live/nxdEV05ZdCU?si=qq1cmNkZGyVWYgjd]) Michael King was brilliant. Mason Miller got the job done. The Padres defeated the Dodgers 1-0 on Monday night. While one of us was watching Victor Wembanyama doing his best Steph Curry impression [https://x.com/NBA/status/2056576119759859933?s=20], the other two were focussed on a memorable pitching duel at Petco Park. We discussed the start from King, Miller’s unique save, the backstory of Rodolfo Durán and other details from the first game of the regular season between the NL West rivals. AJ also had thoughts Lucas Giolito’s first start as a Padre and if optimism for the offense is fading. Predictably, there were a few detours in this conversation to discuss coffee, San Diego FC dropping more points late and if anyone still scores baseball games. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dsmithshow.substack.com [https://dsmithshow.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

San Diego vs FCC Preview

San Diego FC snapped its 10-match winless streak on Wednesday night against Austin FC and bossed the match from start to finish. We saw one of the most dominating performances of the season, in which every player in the starting XI contributed to the win and to the team’s first clean sheet since March 7th against Sporting KC. There were some interesting moments from Wednesday’s win and some random player notes which are discussed in this episode. What does Marcus Ingvartsen’s 9th goal of 2026 mean in context of the Club’s history? How significant were the goal contributions from David Vazquez and Pedro Soma? A rotated backline for SDFC produced a clean sheet for the 4th time this season. Causation or correlation? Also in this episode, a preview of Saturday’s match against FC Cincinnati — the first ever meeting between the two sides. (Random note - SDFC is 11-5-5 when facing MLS teams for the first time) Our guest is FCC play-by-play man Tommy Gelehrter, who has been calling games for the Orange and Blue since their USL days at Nippert Stadium. Tommy has great insight on the club, its history and what type of form the team is in for Saturday’s East vs West showdown. Both sides are 4-5-4 heading into the penultimate matchday before the World Cup break. SDFC and FCC are amongst the highest scoring teams in MLS with 25 and 27 goals, respectively. FC Cincinnati, though, has allowed 32 goals in 13 games - third highest in Major League Soccer. There’s also the subplot of former teammates Anders Dreyer and FCC’s Evander, who are opponents on the pitch for the first time. The pair played together from 2020-2023 at Midtjylland in Denmark, combining for 58 goals and 43 assists (per FBRef.Com). Not betting on the scoreless draw in this one. Injury report: : You can listen to the match on San Diego Sports 760, the IHeartRadio App [https://www.iheart.com/live/san-diego-sports-760-8528?app=listen] or on AppleTV by locating the “Home Radio” option in the lower righthand corner of your screen. I’ll be on the call with Adrian Garcia Marquez, pregame coverage at 6PM. If you’re going to the match, don’t forget it’s Anders Dreyer Bobblehead Night for the first 20,000 through the gates. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dsmithshow.substack.com [https://dsmithshow.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

"That's Rude"

(This is the audio-only version of Monday’s MartyTimeTV / Section 1904 joint venture. You can find and subscribe to this podcast on Apple [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-section-1904-podcast/id1878517518] and Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/6qK7rBdrzbifPjLMSSlqya?si=cc4982d3d50f4937] and right here on Substack by clicking the button below. To watch this episode, click here [https://www.youtube.com/live/vgTUeDOLIi4?si=zXNJ50sZKPs20Pvd]) The Padres were off on Monday but we were talking about the series split with the Cardinals and the many subplots from the 2-2 homestead. San Diego and Los Angeles are tied atop the NL West but with wildly different looking run differentials. We talked about how the Padres are defying their pythagorean number and how sustainable this winning percentage is in the future. There were also subplots! Lots of subplots: -Did Fernando Tatis Jr jog after a ball that got through him on Friday? [https://x.com/Cardinals/status/2052948799551639974?s=20] Were people booing him? -Should Don Orsillo have been more of a homer with his HR call on Saturday [https://x.com/MLB/status/2053291075691786534?s=20]? -Did Marty throw her media brethren under the bus by posting this exchange [https://www.instagram.com/reel/DYLX6FetL3y/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==]with Nick Castellanos? We chatted about all that and more, including Castellanos’s AB against St. Louis, his new role and how he gave us the meme of the season. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dsmithshow.substack.com [https://dsmithshow.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Bartolo Colon Day

(This is the audio-only version of Tuesday’s MartyTimeTV / Section 1904 joint venture. You can find and subscribe to this podcast on Apple [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-section-1904-podcast/id1878517518] and Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/6qK7rBdrzbifPjLMSSlqya?si=cc4982d3d50f4937] and right here on Substack by clicking the button below. To watch this episode, click here [https://www.youtube.com/live/UQcQZecnUJ0?si=gtRZpUQnJRoNlJnr]) Do you rememebr where you were when this happened? [https://x.com/SNY_Mets/status/2052380789602451916?s=20] It May 7th, 2016 - 10 years ago Thursday - Bartolo Colon hit his first Major League HR off Padres pitcher James Shields. It was a moment that literally changed the Padres forever. Marty and I discussed that moment and how the dominoes fell into place, which resulted in Fernando Tatis Jr and some other guys being traded to the Padres for Shields. We also remembered Ron Fowler’s radio lambasting of Shields and how that outburst may have cost the team millions in the trade. We also talked about Golden State Warriors Governor Joe Lacob, who told Sportico [https://www.sportico.com/business/team-sales/2026/joe-lacob-padres-bid-no-mlb-games-2027-sportico-invest-west-1234892035/] about the process of bidding on the Padres and how he was prepared for there to be ZERO baseball played in 2027. Yikes. Lacob also talked the $3.9 billion sale (valuation) and why it was a good investment, despite some thinking it was an “overpay”. Finally, I had the chance to visit the Tijuana Toros [https://torosdetijuana.com] on Tuesday night. They signed an infielder you might remember. Yup, that’s longtime MLB infielder, World Series champion, and notorious “Padres killer” Justin Turner, who’s still playing at 41 years old - just a stone’s throw south of the border. I had the chance to go 1-on-1 with Turner about his decision to join the Toros, the peak Padres-Dodgers rivalry, and it all ended with a great story about Hall of Fame announcer John Sterling, who passed away earlier this week. Be on the lookout for out next Friar Territory [https://youtube.com/@friarterritory?si=NSDcmUKQs7b99Z-W], when we’ll talk to Padres 1B Ty France. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dsmithshow.substack.com [https://dsmithshow.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]