The United States of Soccer
The United States of Soccer Podcast
Podcast Overview: This podcast explores America's past and current relationship with soccer and the components factoring many Americans' disinterest in the sport. The series features five episodes that include a panel of college soccer coaches, academic scholars, sports reporters, college students, soccer fans and spectators through a series of interviews based on topics such as the American sports space, youth soccer in the U,S, American exceptionalism; American media's soccer coverage in comparison to European and Latin American media; different regions in the U.S with higher disinterest in soccer than others, America's nonexistent soccer culture, the pay-for-play model and the lack of a soccer presence in the inner cities and rural areas of the United States. Enjoy!
Episodes I-VI
Episode I: "The U.S is hosting the FIFA World Cup. You're joking right!?"
Prior to the 1994 FIFA World Cup, a tsunami of animosity and criticism was unleashed by the international community on the U.S for being selected by FIFA as the hosts for the global soccer tournament. The international disdain for this decision was displayed in numerous foreign publications and networks which argued that the selection was baffling due to America's nonexistent soccer culture and not even having a professional soccer league at the time. Many suggesting that the U.S being chosen as hosts made it evident that FIFA was looking for a large cash grab. Despite these criticisms, the 94' World Cup went on to be a big hit in the U.S in terms of ratings and marketing dollars, however the jury is still out if American media provided any coverage on the World Cup that year and if the tournament was successful in cultivating the sport into the American sports space?
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The first installment of the podcast is based on a discussion of how American media coverage of soccer differs in the way European and Latin American media cover the sport. In addition, the episode touches on whether the 1994 World Cup was successful or unsuccessful in cultivating the sport into the American sports space. Sports reporters Cynthia Lemus, Carlos Revelo, and Jose Romero share their expertise on how the sport is covered by American media in comparison to European and Latin American media outlets; provide their opinions on whether the 1994 World Cup was successful or unsuccessful in cultivating the sport into the American sports space and potentially altering America’s relationship with the sport.
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Episode I Guests:
Cynthia Lemus: Former sports reporter for Telemundo Oklahoma and currently a Bilingual Communication Coordinator for the City of Arlington
Carlos Revelo: A contributing Sports Anchor and Multimedia Journalist at Telemundo 39 Dallas
Jose Romero: Sports Beat reporter at the Arizona Republic
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Music Credit:
Title: Old Friends
Author: Ketsa/https://freemusicaechive.org/music/ketsa
Source: Free Music Archive/https://freemusicarchive.org/music/ketsa/1000/old-friends
License: CC BY-NC-ND/https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.01
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Title: Chargedup
Author: Makaih Beats/https://freemusicarchive.org/music/MakaihBeats
Source: Free Music Archive/https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Makaih Beats/1000/ChargedUP
License: CC-BY-NC-ND
Episode II: "Why can't America embrace soccer?"
Soccer is undoubtedly one of if not the most popular sport in the world as it is deeply rooted in the world consciousness. It is practically perceived as a religion in many cultures in Europe, Latin America, and parts of Africa to an extent. However, the same cannot be said for the U.S as a soccer culture is still nonexistent in the country. What could be contributing to this phenomenon? How is that the world's game never became America's game?
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The second episode of the podcast series focuses on my hypothesis in which I attempt to uncover for my project. What are the components that lead to many Americans’ disinterest in soccer and why has soccer struggled for years to carve out its own niche in the American sports space? This episode features a panel of academic scholars that include Dr. Robert Rodriguez, Jeffrey Kassing, and Zack Blumberg. Each guest provides their expertise and insights on what may be contributing to many Americans’ lack of interest in soccer and why the sport has struggled for generations to earn a seat in the American sports space.
Episode II Guests:
Dr. Robert Rodriguez: Professor and Interim Associate Dean at Texas A&M University Commerce.
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Jeffrey Kassing: Communication professor at Arizona State University.
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Zack Blumberg: Student researcher at the University of Michigan
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Episode III: Pay-for-Play: A broken system in American youth soccer
It's rather strange how the U.S lacks a soccer culture and a great degree of interest amongst many Americans and U.S mainstream media, yet arguably its most prominent and profitable sport at the youth level is soccer. How could this be? Why isn't there more interest amongst Americans when it comes to collegiate and professional soccer in the U.S?
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The third episode of this podcast series delves into the topic of youth soccer in the U.S. Have you ever wondered why soccer is so prominent at the youth level in America, yet the interest level tends to decline amongst many young Americans once they enter high school and college? What could potentially be factoring into this? A panel that features academic scholars Dr. Yuya Kiuchi, Benjamin Dettmar, and Major League Soccer Next coach Rob Stoutenberg attempt to uncover this question. Furthermore, they will provide their expertise on how the pay-for-play model is hurting U.S soccer as a whole and discuss Americans’ general perception of the sport.
Episode III Guests
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Dr. Yuya Kiuchi: Professor at Michigan State University and an Assessor for referees in U.S Soccer
Benjamin Dettmar: Professor at Salt Lake Community College and U.S Soccer Federation referee.
Rob Stoutenberg: MLS Next Coach and National Premiere Soccer League Coach
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Episode IV: "What's your deal with soccer?"
It’s evident that there are various areas throughout the U.S that don’t embrace soccer and are just not as interested in it compared to other places. It’s unlikely that you will stumble across a soccer field or a pick-up game in the plains of Idaho or the Mississippi Delta, where in contrast, if you drive around Southern California or the Washington D.C area, you don’t have to travel far to find a soccer game going on. What could be leading to higher disinterest levels in the sport in different regions of the country?
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The fourth installment of the podcast series revolves around the disinterest levels of different geographical regions in the U.S. and if there is a potential socio-political disconnect in soccer in the U.S that may be contributing to the levels of disinterest in certain regions. The episode features commentary from current college soccer coaches that share their insights and opinions on if there are higher disinterest levels in soccer in different regions of America and if there is possibly a sociopolitical disconnect that may explain why there are Americans who are more disinterested in the sport than others. The panel of coaches include University of North Carolina Women’s Soccer Head Coach, Albert Anson IV, University of Lehigh Men’s Soccer Head Coach, Dean Koski, and the University of Washington Men’s Soccer Head Coach, Jamie Clark.
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Episode IV Guests:
Albert Anson IV: Current University of North Carolina Women’s Soccer Head Coach
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Dean Koski: University of Lehigh Men’s Soccer Head Coach
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Jamie Clark: University of Washington Men’s Soccer Head Coach
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Music Credit:
Title: Old Friends
Author: Ketsa/https://freemusicaechive.org/music/ketsa
Source: Free Music Archive/https://freemusicarchive.org/music/ketsa/1000/old-friends
License: CC BY-NC-ND/https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.01
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Title: Chargedup
Author: Makaih Beats/https://freemusicarchive.org/music/MakaihBeats
Source: Free Music Archive/https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Makaih Beats/1000/ChargedUP
License: CC-BY-NC-ND
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Episode V: "So.....Tell me about your relationship with soccer?"
The fifth installment of the podcast series involves the commentary from students at the University of Arizona, soccer fans, and spectators pertaining to their perspectives of soccer in the U.S, their personal playing and viewing experiences of the sport, and if they see themselves having any kind of involvement in soccer in the future. Their commentary is a result of “Man on the Street” style interviews (think Billy Eichner without the humor) that I conducted throughout different locations of the University of Arizona campus and several UA Women’s soccer games that I attended in which I spoke with several fans/spectators.
Episode V Guests:
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University of Arizona students
Soccer fans
Soccer spectators
Episode VI: "Soccer Relationship Status: It's Complicated"
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The sixth and final episode of Season I features sports reporters Carlos Revelo, Cynthia Lemus and Jose Romero once again as they share their perspectives on the components that are influencing many Americans' disinterest in soccer, the general perception of soccer in the U.S, and the various disinterest levels in soccer in different regions of the U.S.
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Episode VI Guests:
Cynthia Lemus: Former sports reporter for Telemundo Oklahoma and currently a Bilingual Communication Coordinator for the City of Arlington
Carlos Revelo: A contributing Sports Anchor and Multimedia Journalist at Telemundo 39 Dallas
Jose Romero: Sports Beat reporter at the Arizona Republi
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*This episode was conducted in Spanish
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Music Credit:
Title: Old Friends
Author: Ketsa/https://freemusicaechive.org/music/ketsa
Source: Free Music Archive/https://freemusicarchive.org/music/ketsa/1000/old-friends
License: CC BY-NC-ND/https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.01
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Title: Chargedup
Author: Makaih Beats/https://freemusicarchive.org/music/MakaihBeats
Source: Free Music Archive/https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Makaih Beats/1000/ChargedUP
License: CC-BY-NC-ND
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