Humans United FC

SURPRISE! Just when I thought I had wrapped the Miami Fusion project up, I discovered something new! I'm thrilled to be able to bring you the story of the FIRST head coach of the Miami Fusion, Carlos "Cacho" Cordoba, in this bonus episode of the podcast! Additionally, I'm turning this content into a book about MLS' first Miami franchise! More to come, but for now, enjoy th...

Coming soon, Season 3 of Humans United FC Once Upon a Time in South Florida This  is the story of the Miami Fusion!

There have been multiple men to wear #9 in FC Dallas/Dallas Burn history but NONE of them are as iconic as  Jason Kreis . Through 9 seasons in Dallas Jason accumulated a grand total of 91 goals across 247 appearances. Jason finished his MLS career as the all-time goal scoring leader in MLS at the time with 108 total goals.  Despite starting his Dallas career as a central midfielder back in 1996, D...

In 2012, Hayworth’s founder discovered that seventy percent of all the world’s soccer balls (three million balls per month) were made in one city in northern Pakistan, in a place called Sialkot. He knew he had to go there, he had to see it with his own eyes. There, he explored the phases of ball making, the factories, the layers of production. He went to the homes of stitchers, and he listened to...

Matty Slinger, Phil Barton and Steven Simpson want to recapture their childhood memories of playing cuppy. But it’s not as simple as that. They also want to create a safe space for people to talk about anything that is troubling them. And now, Moray Mental Health Football Club has now been launched . The three men want to make a difference in the community after losing friends to mental ill health...

1985. Yes, we need to go back in time! Back, to a time when the USWNT didn't exist. Back to a time when the entire soccer landscape was radically different. Back in time, to appreciate where we were, so we can rocket back to the present time! Kim Wyant has participated in  a lot of 'firsts' in her career: - First US Women's National Team Goalkeeper - First US Women's Natio...

"Fa'afafine is such a part of our culture we don't feel the need to explain it. It's a coming of age story as opposed to a 'coming out' story others in the rainbow community have." These are the words of Jaiyah Saelua as she details what it means to be fa'afafine and the first ever transgender athlete to play in a World Cup Qualifying match back in 2011 for...

31-0 Australia set a world record for the largest victory in an international soccer match when they defeated American Samoa on April 11, 2001 as part of the 2002 World Cup Qualifying campaign. 10 years later, Thomas Rongen was asked to coach the American Samoa national team and do 2 things for them: Move them up from the bottom of the FIFA World Rankings Have them win a World Cup Qualifying match...

Mike Geddes has always loved the beautiful game but it wasn't until he started covering the game as a journalist that he discovered his true purpose. Mike's passion for making the world a better place led him down the path towards what would ultimately become Oakland Roots SC, a United Soccer League (USL) Championship club (US's 2nd professional soccer tier).  Oakland are  much more...

Humans United FC is a multimedia storytelling brand committed to sharing the human experience through the lens of sport. We’re a multi-talented collective of people elevating stories of the beautiful game which often go overlooked. From the bright lights of Miami, Florida to the quiet streets of Saginaw, Michigan folks are playing soccer. Whether you’re using a makeshift or a handstitched ball, fo...

Happy Holidays! I hope your end to 2023 has been fantastic! Even though this series  technically wrapped up with Chapter 25, it  still felt as if there was one more episode which needed to be released. At the end of every episode, I asked my guest 2 questions: 1. What is the legacy of the Miami Fusion, to you? 2. What do you want new fans of MLS to know about the Fusion? For this "epilogue&qu...

In Chapter XXV: "You're asking me to be Blackbeard". Legendary announcer, player, and former coach of the Miami Fusion: Mr. Ray Hudson sends us off in style! For this whole year, we've been charting the good, the bad, and the unbelievable stories of this magical club in South Florida that existed from 1998-2001. We told the oral history of the Miami Fusion from those who actual...

In Chapter XXIV: "This was heaven". Legendary announcer, player, and former coach of the Miami Fusion: Mr. Ray Hudson sends us off in style! For this whole year, we've been charting the good, the bad, and the unbelievable stories of this magical club in South Florida that existed from 1998-2001. We told the oral history of the Miami Fusion from those who actually lived it, speaking...

Chapter XXIII: "...and then there's Eric Wynalda" former Miami Fusion staffer Derek Workman shares his perspective on working for the Miami Fusion 20+ years ago. Derek was heavily involved in the local South Florida soccer scene. His involvement afforded him the opportunity to play against that famous Bradenton Academy team, and his involvement got him to the field of Lockhart Stadi...

'25 for 25' was a finalist in the category of "Best Football Podcast - International" at the 2023 Football Content Awards.  I traveled to Liverpool, England to attend the award ceremony at Anfield Stadium and while I didn't end up winning, I  was ultimately able to spread the story of the Miami Fusion far and wide. While I was in town, I took the opportunity to attend a lo...

In Chapter XXII: "It was painful" former Miami Fusion owner Ken Horowitz shares his side of the story. Ken shares how he came to own & start the Fusion 25 years ago and what caused him to make the decision to fold the Fusion after the 2001 season. Ken takes care to set the record straight about why the Miami Fusion folded, what led up to the folding, and how some of those issues stil...

In Chapter XXI: "The Reunion" we FINALLY had our first ever Miami Fusion reunion event! Held at Mickey Byrnes Irish Pub in Hollywood, FL on Friday, October 6, 2023 there was a LIVE podcast recording of '25 for 25' as part of the Miami Fusion Reunion Event festivities! Former players, coaches, staff, and fans all congregated in their Fusion gear to drink beer, swap stories, cry,...

In this bonus episode of the podcast, Alexi Lalas, former USMNT & MLS player (New England, Kansas City, LA & the MetroStars) shares his perspectives on the early days of MLS. Alexi reflects on where we've been and where we're going. He reflects on his own experience with the 'Beckham Experiment' back in the '00's and how it corresponds with what we're wit...

In Chapter XX: "We went out on top" former Director of Marketing Services for the Miami Fusion, Laina DeLima Rosales shares her perspective of working for the Miami Fusion 25 years ago. She shares her memories growing up around the NASL, including being a ball kid for the NY Cosmos! She shares how she took her passions and experience into MLS when she was hired on to work for the Miami F...

- 22 years ago the world came to a screeching halt. - 9/11/01 not only impacted the United States, it had an impact on the entire world. - All active sports leagues, including MLS, suspended play while everyone tried to come to grips with what was happening, in real-time, all around us. In this special bonus episode of the podcast, Al Rooney shares his perspective of being around the Miami Fusion...

In Chapter XIX: "Soccer has everything" Phil Schoen shares his perspective of both the Miami Fusion and the early days of MLS as a whole. Phil had the unique perspective of calling MLS' first ever match 27 years ago in 1996 AND the Miami Fusion's first ever match 25 years ago in 1998! Throughout the years, Phil has continued to broadcast MLS matches including the current Inter...

In Chapter XVIII: "A team that started it", Jeff Bilyk shares his experiences playing for the Miami Fusion under Ivo Wortman and continuing under Ray Hudson. Jeff shares his experiences playing for the Project-40 team back in the 90's, how it was the precursor to the Generation Adidas program we have now, and the overall talent development evolution in MLS. There are also plenty of...

In Chapter XVII: "You had to be sharp" Tyrone Marshall shares his experiences playing for the Miami Fusion from 1998-2001. Tyrone shares what it was like joining the Fusion midway through their inaugural season, how he got along with Carlos Valderrama, and what shifting from Ivo to Ray Hudson was like during the 2000 season. Enjoy! ** Announcing the FIRST EVER #miamifusion reunion and li...

In Chapter XVI: "We just had fun!" Carlos Llamosa shares his experiences suiting up for that magical 2001 Supporters Shield-winning team! Carlos also shares his connection with the World Trade Center, and how he went from working at a cleaning company in NY to the 2002 USMNT World Cup squad (and everything in between!) Enjoy! ** Announcing the FIRST EVER #miamifusion reunion and live pod...

In Chapter XV: "I was a journeyman" former Miami Fusion player and current Tacoma Defiance Head Coach Wade Webber shares his perspective playing for the Miami Fusion in their inaugural season 25 years ago in 1998! Wade shares how his journeyman career took him through various incarnations of the Seattle Sounders organization in the A-league and how he finally joined MLS towards the end o...