Soccer Explained

The 2026 World Cup kicks off on June 11, and this episode of Soccer Explained walks through how the whole tournament works. It is bigger than ever: 48 teams instead of 32, three host countries instead of one, and a new round added to the knockout stage. So even if you have watched the World Cup before, this format will be unfamiliar. Below is a summary of what we covered. For the stories, banter,...

On this episode of Soccer Explained, we tackled something every casual viewer needs: the words. If you’ve ever been confused by commentators throwing around terms like nutmeg, xG, or closing the angle, this post is a cheat sheet for the stats and gameplay terminology you’ll hear during broadcasts. For stories to illustrate these terms, some soccer history, and our answer to a listener question abo...

If you’ve ever watched a soccer match and wondered why a referee whipped a brightly colored card out of their pocket, you’re not alone. On this episode of Soccer Explained, we break down sanctions (the official term for the discipline players receive for breaking rules) and the officials who keep the game running. This post covers the highlights, but the episode also has stories, tangents, and the...

In this episode of Soccer Explained, we walk through the basics of the rules you need to know to enjoy a game. This is part one of a two-parter. Next time we’ll get into the punishments for breaking these rules, plus the referees who enforce them. Listen to the whole episode for the laughs and stories, including one of the greatest goals in soccer history , and another that might be the most contr...

On this episode of Soccer Explained, we break down the basics of how a soccer game proceeds, from the opening kickoff to the final whistle, extra time, and penalty shootouts. Below is a summary of what we covered, but as always, listen to the full episode for the stories, laughs, and passion that make the beautiful game so fun! If you need a refresher on the different parts of a soccer pitch, chec...

On this episode of Soccer Explained , we broke down the three main position groups on a soccer team, how formations work, and the numbering system people use to talk about players. This post gives you the information in the episode, but the episode itself has a lot more color, stories, and our Pitch Side segment where we share something that caught our eye in the soccer world recently. Give it a l...

-        For a labeled diagram of a soccer pitch, click: Soccer Explained Labeled Pitch Diagram.png Introduction The soccer field, officially called a pitch,  contains a lot of structure that helps organize and direct game play. In the first regular episode of our new soccer podcast, we help casual viewers and people curious about soccer understand the layout of the markings, areas, and equipment...

Welcome to Our New Show! In our first episode, we introduce ourselves, explain how we got into soccer after growing up watching American sports, and tell you what’s coming in season one of this show, leading up to this summer’s World Cup and beyond. Then we talk about two ways soccer contrasts with the big four American sports: it’s global, and games can end without a winner and loser. We’ll tell...

A New Soccer Podcast for Casual Viewers and the Soccer Curious. Learn the essentials, and maybe fall in love with the beautiful game Visit us at soccerexplainedpod.com . First two episodes drop Thursday, March 19! Hosts: Treencee Russell: https://www.instagram.com/treencee1/ Sy Hoekstra: https://syhoekstra.com Production and editing by Sy Hoekstra Podcast Logo by Riley Quarders Get in contact: soc...