We Are Soccer

Ian Barker has spent years training the people who train the players — and he's seen coaching education in the U.S. go through some real changes. In this episode, he sits down with Brooks to talk about what's actually shifted since he started, and what hasn't. They get into the biggest red flag Ian sees in coaching education today (spoiler: it's more common than you'd think), where the system stil...

David Abidor didn't take the easy road to a pro career — he earned every minute of it. Growing up playing youth soccer in the Chicago suburbs, he made the jump to Shattuck St. Mary's in Minnesota for academy ball, then played college soccer at Dayton and Creighton before heading overseas to chase a pro career in Europe. It didn't start well. David talks openly about a rough start to his career abr...

Dan Raben has done pretty much every job that exists in youth soccer — coach, director of player development, director of operations, coaching educator, you name it. In this episode, he sits down with Brooks to talk about something coaches don't discuss nearly enough: taking care of yourself while you're busy taking care of everyone else's kids. They get into how to handle the tough situations tha...

Quorum Sports agents Eddie Hudson and Kal Kieren sit down with Brooks to pull back the curtain on the world of sports representation. From building a client base from scratch to navigating the demanding day-to-day grind of the season and the slower pace of the offseason, Eddie and Kal give an honest look at what life as a sports agent is really like. They also break down what it takes to break int...

The World Cup is delivering chaos we didn't see coming, and we're breaking it all down LIVE! Tonight we talk all things USMNT, react to some of the craziest games of the tournament so far, and dig into the headlines you can't make up — including England getting a pool table, a player allegedly swiping a referee's watch, and some questionable commentary from the announcers. Grab a seat, this one's...

Our good friend Rich Nassif is back! Rich spent 17 years as a Division I collegiate soccer coach and was around when the idea of a two-semester college soccer schedule was first floated, so he's got a front-row perspective on how we got here. The timing couldn't be better: on June 23-24, the NCAA Division I Cabinet meets to decide the fate of men's college soccer's playing schedule. The Division I...

In this episode, Brooks sits down with Brian Bunk, Senior Lecturer at the University of Massachusetts and author of The Shortest History of Soccer: From Ancient Kicking Games to the World's Most Popular Sport. Brian takes us on a fascinating journey through the history of the world's most popular sport — from its ancient roots to the multi-billion dollar global industry it has become today. Along...

Join Craig, Brooks, and Luke of the We Are Soccer crew LIVE at 9 PM EST as we break down the biggest stories from around the world and right here in Detroit. Tonight's Topics: 🇺🇸 USMNT 4-1 Paraguay -Was this the perfect start to the World Cup? -Who impressed the most? -Can the USA keep the momentum going? 🌎 World Cup Headlines -Celebrities spotted at matches -England's gear gets stolen 😳 -Scotla...

It all started with a church league in St. Louis. Now, Daniel Munie is shaking up MLS. From his first touch of a soccer ball at age 5, Munie was destined for something bigger. His path took him through St. Louis Scott Gallagher — one of the nation's elite youth programs — and onto the field at Indiana University, where he sharpened the skills that would catch the attention of the entire league. Bu...

In this episode, we sit down with Chicago Fire FC left back Andrew Gutman for an honest and inspiring conversation about what it truly takes to make it as a professional soccer player. Andrew's journey is anything but ordinary. From facing humbling challenges at the Chicago Fire Academy to betting on himself as a walk-on at Indiana University, he has spent his entire career proving the doubters wr...

Join Brooks, Craig, and the We Are Soccer crew LIVE at 9 PM EST as we break down the biggest stories from around the soccer world and get ready for the biggest sporting event on the planet. 🔥 Tonight's Topics: 🌎 World Cup kicks off in 5 days! 🇺🇸 USA vs Germany reaction and World Cup friendlies roundup 💪 Is the USMNT finally ready for a deep World Cup run? 🏴 England discussion: favorites, squad...

Robbie Mertz never had the typical path to professional soccer. No academy. No guarantees. Just hard work and an unwillingness to quit. The Pittsburgh native sits down with Brooks to share the real story behind his journey — from Pittsburgh to Ann Arbor to Atlanta and back — and why adversity might just be the best thing that ever happened to him. If you loved this episode, drop us a review and ra...

Dr. Joe Machnik has spent more than seven decades shaping and influencing the game of soccer in the United States. In this special episode of We Are Soccer, Craig Hearn sits down with the legendary referee, educator, broadcaster, and author to discuss the beautiful game from every angle. From the evolution of soccer's laws and the challenges facing modern referees, to the impact of VAR and what fa...

🎙️ We Are Soccer LIVE Tonight at 9 PM EST! The countdown is officially on—just 11 days until the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off! Tonight we're diving into the biggest stories in soccer, including PSG's historic Champions League triumph, the latest World Cup preparations, and what this tournament could mean for the future of the sport in the United States. ⚽ Tonight's Topics: -PSG crowned 2025/26 U...

In this episode, we sit down with West Michigan native BJ Snow, the newly appointed Vice President of Sporting Operations and Strategy for MLS Next Pro expansion side AC Grand Rapids. BJ breaks down what his role looks like day-to-day, how he'll collaborate with Darrius Barnes to build a competitive roster and coaching staff, and what fans in Grand Rapids can expect from this exciting new club. We...

The Premier League season comes to an end and we're breaking down all the biggest storylines from the final matchday of the 2025/26 campaign. Who exceeded expectations? Who disappointed? And what does it all mean heading into next season? We'll also dive into the latest 2026 FIFA World Cup squad announcements, including reports that the USMNT World Cup roster may have already leaked 👀. Who made t...

Some players are born into the game — Tommy McCabe is one of them. Raised in New Jersey by a father who coached at the legendary St. Benedict's Prep in Newark, Tommy grew up with soccer in his blood. But it wasn't just local fields that shaped him. A stint living in London, time spent playing for a Portuguese club outside Newark, and years at PDA Academy gave Tommy a cultural richness and soccer e...

Brooks Laimbeer sits down with Skip Gilbert, former CEO of US Youth Soccer, for a candid and thought-provoking conversation about the state of youth soccer in America — and what needs to change. Skip recently authored a bold 5-page document titled "The Future of Youth Soccer: A Call for Structural Change," and in this episode, he breaks it all down. From the fragmented landscape of youth soccer or...

Stan Anderson, founder of Camp Shutout, joins Brooks for a wide-ranging conversation about his lifelong journey in soccer. From his early days as a player to becoming an accomplished coach, Stan shares the story behind Camp Shutout — how it started, and how far it has come. The two also dig into the evolution of the goalkeeper position and how the role has transformed at every level of the game. W...

Kevin Robson is stepping into his first head coaching role — and he's bringing serious pedigree with him. After 12 years as an assistant coach at Indiana University — where he also played from 2003 to 2006 — Robson has made the move to Loyola Chicago to take the reins of the Ramblers men's soccer program. Brooks sits down with Kevin to talk about what this new chapter looks like, why tapping into...

We Are Soccer sits down with Noah Toumert, Executive Director of the Cleveland Sports Group Foundation, for an exciting conversation about the future of professional soccer in Cleveland. Noah and Brooks dive into what this means for the city, covering both the Men's and Women's sides of this landmark announcement. From the buzz surrounding the new soccer-specific stadium and where it will be built...

The 2026 USL League Two season is almost here — and the Flint City Bucks are ready to go! 🦌⚽ We sat down with head coach Paul Doroh for an exclusive interview covering everything you need to know heading into the new season — including a full recap of the Bucks' exciting U.S. Open Cup run, a look at the 2026 roster, and what to expect as the campaign gets underway. Don't miss a moment of the act...

Karen Scholl, author of Surviving Soccer, joins We Are Soccer to talk about the hilarious — and sometimes chaotic — reality of life as a soccer parent. From logging endless miles on the road to soccer tournaments, to hunting down a decent dinner after late-night practices, to doing a last-minute gear check before the big match, Karen gets it. She's lived it — and she wrote the book on it. Literall...

We’re LIVE at 9PM EST breaking down everything happening in the world of soccer 🌍⚽ English Football League — promotion battles & playoff drama Premier League — the title race is heating up… who’s taking it? UEFA Champions League — biggest storylines and what’s next United States men's national soccer team — latest news and reactions Major League Soccer — key matches and takeaways Local Detro...

We’re breaking down everything happening in the world of soccer 🌍⚽ FA Cup — biggest moments and storylines Premier League — title race, top 5, and who’s under pressure UEFA Champions League — key takeaways and what’s next Local Detroit soccer — matches and news you need to know And MUCH MORE! 🎙️ Join us LIVE as we react, debate, and take your comments in real time. 💬 Jump in the chat and be par...