U.S. Soccer Podcast

Step inside the heart of soccer in America with the U.S. Soccer Podcast. Every Wednesday, host and Women’s World Cup winner Meghan Klingenberg sits down for honest, uplifting conversations with voices from across the soccer landscape. We'll be introducing you to the people working to grow the game at every level from the U.S. Men’s and Women’s National Teams to the Youth and Extended National Teams and beyond. The conversations bring you closer to the players, coaches, and personalities shaping the game in communities across the country, exploring the moments, ideas, and the influencers driving the sport forward. This is where soccer stories live. New episodes drop every week wherever you get your podcasts. Join us.

  1. 2d ago

    Paxten Aaronson on Returning to MLS, Open Cup Semifinals & Brother Brenden

    Paxten Aaronson signed his first pro contract at 16, won the Golden Boot AND the Golden Ball at the 2022 U-20 Concacaf Championship, played a German Cup final in front of 100,000 people in Berlin, and represented the USA at the Paris 2024 Olympics — all before turning 24 years old. Now he's the man in the middle for the Colorado Rapids. And he wants the pressure. Host Meghan Klingenberg sits down with the Rapids midfielder for a wide-ranging conversation about the journey to this point. Paxten also opens up about growing up as Brenden Aaronson's "annoying little brother," what it felt like to watch his brother live out a home World Cup dream this past summer, and the one story he'll never let him forget — beating him at golf on his wedding day. Paxten and the Colorado Rapids take on St. Louis CITY SC in the U.S. Open Cup Semifinals on Wednesday, Sept. 16 at DICK'S Sporting Goods Park. Kickoff is 7:30 p.m. MT on CBS Sports Network and Paramount+. 01:25 - Meghan Klingenberg opens the show 02:35 - Growing up with Brenden: the annoying little brother 06:10 - Watching his brother play a home World Cup 07:03 - The wedding — and beating Brenden at golf 09:03 - Leaving home at 13 for the Philadelphia Union Academy 16:45 - Playing with Alejandro Bedoya and the club's brand of belief 20:50 - 2022 U-20 Concacaf Golden Boot & Golden Ball 25:24 - Paris 2024: France in Marseille with the U.S. crest on the chest 29:11 - Culture shock in Frankfurt: 100 degrees and no AC 31:25 - Why he came back to MLS 33:14 - Denver Summit, Mile High and a growing soccer city 34:52 - Downtime isn't free time: recovery, hikes and video games 37:41 - Open Cup semifinal vs. St. Louis — what has to change 44:42 - When do you trust a young player in a knockout game? More info: http://www.ussoccer.com/podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    Paxten Aaronson on Returning to MLS, Open Cup Semifinals & Brother Brenden
  2. Sep 9

    Daryl Dike’s Grit, Growth & Coming Home to Orlando City

    From Edmond, Oklahoma to England and back to Orlando, Daryl Dike has lived the full roller coaster of a modern striker’s career. In this episode of the U.S. Soccer Podcast, host Megan Klingenberg interviews Dike to unpack his career journey: growing up as the youngest of five in a tight-knit Nigerian-American family, breaking out with Orlando City, and making a dream move to England where he faced top-tier clubs like Chelsea, Newcastle, and Brentford. Dike and Orlando City SC take on Columbus Crew in the U.S. Open Cup Semifinals on Wednesday, Sept. 16 at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field. Kickoff is 7:00 p.m. ET on CBS Sports Network and Paramount+. Chapters: 00:45 – Growing up Dike: Oklahoma, big family, Nigerian roots 03:10 – Family of footballers & Courtney Dike World Cup story 08:00 – Drafted by Orlando City & the weirdness of the 2020 bubble 11:30 – Idols and influences: Big brother & Didier Drogba 14:30 – Loan to Barnsley & living the English Premier League dream 25:00 – Resilience from injury; learning how much he loves the game 31:00 – “The Mummy” nickname & iconic celebration 40:00 – Open Cup, being the team to beat & chasing trophies 43:00 – Playing with Griezmann; lessons from a World Cup winner 47:00 – TikTok humor and showing his unfiltered personality 50:00 – What does the USWNT's 2027 forward battle look like? More info: http://www.ussoccer.com/podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    Daryl Dike’s Grit, Growth & Coming Home to Orlando City
  3. Aug 19

    How Three Americans Officiated Argentina-England at FIFA World Cup 2026

    On this episode of the U.S. Soccer Podcast presented by Henkel, host Meghan Klingenberg is joined by the referee trio that officiated the Argentina-England Semifinal match in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Ismail Elfath, Corey Parker and Kyle Atkins made history this summer as the first all-U.S. Soccer referee crew in the men's tournament to referee a World Cup Semifinal. The three link up to recount their incredible experience this summer, including that intense Semifinal match between Lionel Messi's Argentina and Harry Kane's England at Atlanta Stadium. Then, they talk more about their journeys to refereeing, how the three gained trust to work together as a team, including bringing pastries, and how refereeing education makes a difference on the pitch. Chapters: 02:26 - All about that Argentina-England Semifinal 09:02 - How are referees selected for knockout stage matches? 21:24 - How do they know what defines a handball? 28:01 - Ismail gets spicy about VAR 32:02 - What drew the trio to refereeing 39:00 - Should 26-player rosters be expanded? 42:30 - What they would tell young referees 49:00 - What separates players who make a National Team roster? Read More: https://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2026/07/federation/all-american-referee-crew-argentina-england-fifa-world-cup-semifinal-atlanta More on Ismail Elfath: https://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2026/07/federation/all-american-referee-crew-argentina-england-fifa-world-cup-semifinal-atlanta More info: http://www.ussoccer.com/podcast Subscribe to U.S. Soccer on YouTube! http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=ussoccerdotcom Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    How Three Americans Officiated Argentina-England at FIFA World Cup 2026
4
out of 5
60 Ratings

About

Step inside the heart of soccer in America with the U.S. Soccer Podcast. Every Wednesday, host and Women’s World Cup winner Meghan Klingenberg sits down for honest, uplifting conversations with voices from across the soccer landscape. We'll be introducing you to the people working to grow the game at every level from the U.S. Men’s and Women’s National Teams to the Youth and Extended National Teams and beyond. The conversations bring you closer to the players, coaches, and personalities shaping the game in communities across the country, exploring the moments, ideas, and the influencers driving the sport forward. This is where soccer stories live. New episodes drop every week wherever you get your podcasts. Join us.

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