San Diego FC: Behind the Flow

For the final time in Year One, Behind the Flow returns to reflect on a season nobody expected and a connection nobody could have predicted. San Diego FC’s inaugural campaign is now complete. We’re joined in this episode by CEO Tom Penn, who reflects on the “20-month sprint” and, in his words, the “innocent rise” of SDFC. A year that began with questions grew in...

San Diego FC’s inaugural season has reached its conclusion. A 3–1 loss to Vancouver in the Western Conference Final brought a tough end to an extraordinary Year One — a season where SDFC finished as the No. 1 seed, set an expansion points record, and came within one step of MLS Cup. Pride, even in heartbreak. With emotions still fresh, Adrian García-Marquez is joined by Ka...

San Diego FC are heading to the Western Conference Final — in their inaugural MLS season. A tense 1–0 win over Minnesota United, sealed by Anders Dreyer’s strike and Ian Pilcher’s extraordinary goal-line clearance, has pushed this expansion side into rare territory. Another sellout. Another statement night. Adrian García-Márquez hosts alongside Katia Castorena...

It’s Semi-Final week and Sporting Director Tyler Heaps joins us to reflect on his first season building San Diego FC from the ground up. Darren Smith caught up with him at the training ground for a candid look at recruitment, identity, lessons learned, and the foundations for Year Two. And yes — we had to ask which current SDFC player most mirrors Tyler’s own playing style. Adria...

Fresh from a statement 4-0 win over the Portland Timbers, San Diego FC has booked its place in the Western Conference semifinals — and the city is buzzing. With an international break giving us a brief pause in the action, Behind the Flow rewinds to where it all began: the final chapter of our behind-the-scenes documentary series, Episode 10: Preseason . In this special re-air, Darren Smith...

Saturday night in Portland was a rollercoaster. San Diego FC led twice through Amahl Pellegrino and Hirving “Chucky” Lozano — only to be pegged back in stoppage time before falling on penalties. Now, with the series level, it all comes down to one last game — a sold-out decider at Snapdragon Stadium this Sunday night. Adrian García-Márquez is joined by Ka...

San Diego FC’s first-ever MLS playoff night was one to remember. In front of 32,500 fans at Snapdragon Stadium, Onni Valakari made history with the club’s first playoff goal before Anders Dreyer doubled the lead in a 2–1 win over Portland — a night that showed just how far this club and city have come. With Adrian García-Márquez on World Series duty, Katia Cas...

Right to Dream has built a global reputation for developing not just footballers, but leaders — from its academies in Ghana, Denmark, and Egypt to its newest home in the United States. Fresh from a 4–0 win away to Portland that sealed top spot in the West, Behind the Flow  shifts focus from the players making headlines to the ones who could follow in their footsteps. Adrian Garc&i...

With Decision Day and the playoffs approaching, Behind the Flow takes a brief pause from the action on the field to explore how San Diego FC are using data to empower decisions — turning raw numbers into real-world results, with people at the heart of it all. Adrian García-Márquez is joined by ESPN’s Katia Castorena and San Diego Sports 760’s Darren Smith to dig int...

Fresh from breaking MLS expansion records for most wins and points in a single season, San Diego FC are in celebration mode — and so are we. This week,  Behind the Flow brings you something special: the full, unedited conversation with Hirving “Chucky” Lozano. A few weeks ago, Chucky featured in our Hispanic Heritage episode — but so many of you asked to hear the whole...

When San Diego FC first unveiled their look, it sparked debate. Some called the badge AI-generated, others dismissed the shirt as a dud. But in just a few months, both have become symbols of a club finding its identity. This week, Behind the Flow dives into the story of the brand. Adrian García-Márquez is joined by ESPN’s Katia Castorena and San Diego Sports 760’s Darren...

From his unveiling at the Shell to his first goal at Snapdragon, Hirving “Chucky” Lozano has quickly become the face of San Diego FC. This week, Behind the Flow goes beyond the headlines to hear from the man himself — the Mexican superstar whose arrival has electrified the city. Adrian García-Márquez is joined by ESPN’s Katia Castorena and San Diego Sports 760...

From thirty strangers to the top of the West, San Diego FC’s debut season has been shaped by one man: Head Coach Mikey Varas. This week, Behind the Flow steps off the pitch and into the dugout to uncover the story of San Diego’s first head coach — his Chilean-American roots, his coaching journey, the inspiration he’s drawn from football’s biggest names, and the philos...

After a week dedicated to goals, Behind the Flow flips the script to spotlight the galácticos who stop them: the San Diego FC defense. Adrian García-Márquez is joined by ESPN’s Katia Castorena and San Diego Sports 760’s Darren Smith to break down the numbers, the partnerships, and the personalities behind one of MLS’s most compelling back lines. We hear from...

From the outset of San Diego FC's season, hope was laid at the feet (and head) of Scandinavian sharpshooter Marcus Ingvartsen. But with him sidelined, the team has had to find alternatives at the number nine position. And with 54 goals so far — tied for the most in MLS this season — it’s clear those alternatives are working. In this episode, Adrian García-Márquez, K...

Behind the Flow turns the spotlight on the lifeblood of the game: the fans. From the blueprint of the Portland Timbers Army to the birth of San Diego’s own Frontera SD supporters’ union, we explore how culture in the stands is shaping the club on and off the pitch. We hear from SDFC CEO Tom Penn, Timbers Army 107 founder Fernando “Nando” Machicado and Frontera SD’s Ma...

San Diego FC’s bold, risk-taking style has taken MLS by storm — but what does it really mean to play the Right to Dream way? Behind the Flow dives into the tactics and culture that have powered SDFC to the top of the Western Conference. Adrian Garcia Marquez, ESPN’s Katia Castorena, and San Diego Sports 760’s Darren Smith unpack the methods behind this “relentless&rdq...

As San Diego FC’s debut season pushes into a crucial playoff race, Behind the Flow dives into a landmark first meeting with the San Jose Earthquakes — and the mentality that’s kept SDFC on top of the Western Conference. Adrian Garcia Marquez is back in the chair, alongside ESPN’s Katia Castorena and San Diego Sports 760’s Darren Smith, as they unpack the “next m...

As San Diego FC pauses at the halfway point of their dream debut season, Behind the Flow kicks off a new run of weekly episodes — discussing every twist of the second half. Adrian Garcia Marquez returns to host, joined by ESPN’s Katia Castorena and San Diego Sports 760’s Darren Smith, as they break down the season’s highs, lows, and landmark moments so far. Plus, CEO Tom Pe...

It’s January 2025, and just weeks before SDFC embarks on its maiden season. The training facility at Singing Hills finally opens its doors — just in the nick of time! But not before pausing to celebrate the land and the people who made it possible. As Tyler puts the finishing touches on his playing squad, we join Mikey and his new players for their very first training session… t...

It’s draft day — and Tyler’s big date with destiny! The SDFC recruitment team braces for a whirlwind 48 hours of wheeling and dealing as they look to lock down the spine of their first-ever team via the MLS Expansion Draft. But after weeks of careful planning, it all goes out the window when the unprotected player list finally goes live. There are some big names on there —...

In this episode, we step inside the Right to Dream Academy: San Diego. With ambitions to be the most advanced facility of its kind in North America, the clock is ticking to get it ready for their first wave of student-athletes in 2025. We meet the club’s team of scouts — the largest in MLS — and learn what they’re doing differently in order to unearth the next generation of...

Right to Dream has landed in Southern California with a bold plan to revolutionize youth development. But is everyone happy to see them? San Diego is known as a hotbed of soccer talent — home to some of the nation's top youth clubs, each with their own way of doing things. We meet the SDFC staff who are out in the community, working to win hearts and minds, preparing the ground for the club&...

It’s November 2024, less than three months until SDFC play their first-ever game — and they only have six players on their roster. But in a few weeks’ time, they’ll have an opportunity to change that with the MLS Expansion Draft and SuperDraft. Tyler and Mikey now focus on how to build a team that can play in the Right to Dream style — while winning games straight out...

Mikey and Tyler start strategizing on how to build a Right to Dream club, true to the organization’s philosophy, while representing the people of Southern California. But before they can start thinking about players and tactics, they set off on a whirlwind world tour of the Right to Dream network. They visit Ghana, Egypt, and Denmark to see what lessons they can bring home to San Diego. See...