The Men’s World Cup came back to the United States after more than three decades. So we take a deep dive at soccer culture in the U.S. and its underdog roots, told in short narrative episodes and deep dive interviews. Hosted by Fernanda Echavarri.
Maria was watching the Benito Bowl when an unexpected artist came on: the one and only Ricky Martin. He sang one of Bad Bunny’s most political, anti-colonial anthems. Maria knew this was a touchstone moment — the artist who most represented the ‘90s Latin Boom wasn’t performing to a white audience for recognition or acceptance; he was singing a song of resistance, in Spanish. And then Maria’s 11-year-old son said, “Who’s that???”
Today, Maria revisits the importance of the queer icon’s career and life, and how he had to live “La vida loca” so that Bad Bunny could do “Lo que le da la gana.”
Follow Muy Excited with Maria Garcia (https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-muy-excited-with-maria-ga-330484079)for more episodes.
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5 Aug 2026
BONUS: The Future of U.S. Soccer
We look into the question that so many Americans are left asking at the end of every Men’s World Cup: what will it take for the U.S. men’s team to compete with elite teams in the future? Plus, we examine the problems with the way youth development is run in the country, and what many call a flawed “pay-to-play” soccer model.
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29 Jul 2026
BONUS: The Art of Soccer Chants
What would soccer be without fans? And what would a match feel like without them chanting at the top of their lungs? Chants are a way to express joy, patriotism, and frustration. They can also be funny, vulgar, and harmful. We get into the history of soccer chants, the best ones of the 2026 World Cup, and we look into where US fans stand compared to the rest of the world.
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22 Jul 2026
The Best (and Worst) of the 2026 World Cup
Farewell to the World Cup! We sit down with a soccer expert and superfan to discuss this Men’s World Cup’s significance. We get into the “firsts” in a global competition that’s been around for almost 100 years; the controversial moments and most joyful storylines; and Spain’s journey to the coveted trophy.
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15 Jul 2026
One Fan’s Journey to the World Cup
What would you do to attend the World Cup? We follow one Panamanian woman’s journey through the joy and heartbreak of soccer fandom, and to the game’s biggest stage. "Whatever it takes, I'm gonna go,” Danetsy Len tells us. “What do I have savings for if not to do this once in a lifetime thing?" She’s one of hundreds of thousands of fans who’ve had to jump through countless – and unprecedented – hoops in order to make it to this year’s Men’s World Cup.
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8 Jul 2026
Cristo Fernandez: Art Imitates Life
Growing up, Cristo Fernandez dreamed of becoming a professional futbol player. But getting there wouldn’t be so linear. Turns out acting would be key in making his soccer dreams come true. We talk to Cristo about his iconic character Dany Rojas in the series “Ted Lasso,” taking professional risks, and staying joyful.
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1 Jul 2026
Eternal Soccer Rivals: USA v. Mexico
It’s been described as the world’s best soccer rivalry: USA v. Mexico. We look into the hallmarks in an international rivalry that spans decades between two countries that share much more than a border. And we discuss why for the U.S. Men’s National team, every game against Mexico feels like an away game, even in the U.S.A.
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24 Jun 2026
The Ball is Tainted: Iran, FIFA, and the World Cup
There’s long been a shared belief that despite the mistakes and wrongdoings of players, organizers, or world leaders, the game of soccer remains pure – untouched by our sins. In this episode we ask: how can that still be the case today? And we look into one of the countries that exemplifies the political turmoil and contradictions that have come to define this World Cup: Iran.
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17 Jun 2026
Andrés Cantor: The Man Behind "Goooool!"
Andrés Cantor has been a sports announcer for almost 40 years. He’s received eight Emmy Awards for his broadcasting and a place in the National Soccer Hall of Fame. You know his voice. His “Gooooooooool” has been featured everywhere from Late Night to the Simpsons. We get into the nitty gritty of calling a game, why he’s not afraid to cry, and the beauty of the World Cup.
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12 Jun 2026
BONUS: Let the World Cup Begin
It’s here! This World Cup will be unlike many others – with more teams playing than ever before, challenging logistics, and volatile geopolitics – so we brought together two soccer experts to help give us the lay of the land for this tournament. We talk about impressions from the fans, FIFA’s prohibitively expensive ticket prices, the players to watch like Lamine Yamal, and so much more.
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10 Jun 2026
Haiti: The World Cup’s Underdog
Every sport has an underdog story. There are teams and players who go through such insurmountable odds that you can’t help but root for them. This World Cup, that team is Haiti.
In this episode, we look at how a country and a soccer team written off by the world managed to shock everyone. And we go beyond this epic qualification, as Haitian fans at home and abroad navigate through a wave of anti-immigrant sentiment and hostile policies coming from the main World Cup host: the United States.
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3 Jun 2026
Why U.S. Women are the Global Soccer Powerhouse
There has been mounting anticipation for the 2026 Men’s World Cup, but it’s impossible to make a series about soccer culture in the U.S. without bringing up the women’s national team. Because for decades, that team has dominated the sport in the United States and abroad. We're talking a global powerhouse, with four Women’s World Cup titles under its belt. We talk about the making of the U.S. Women’s National Team, how the players fought so hard off the pitch for equal pay, and what’s in store for women’s soccer.
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27 May 2026
Blame Harvard
Why isn't soccer more popular in the U.S.? Turns out the answer to that question goes way back to the 1800s – and one of the biggest Ivy League universities in the country is to blame. Though, as we find out, soccer is more rooted in U.S. history than we think. Some historians go as far as saying it’s “an American game.”
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20 May 2026
Tab Ramos and the Rebirth of U.S. Soccer
When Tab Ramos immigrated from Uruguay as a child, he had no idea he’d play a role in the rebirth of U.S. soccer. “I remember telling my father at the time: dad, out of all the countries in the world that we could move to, why do we have to move to the one that doesn't have soccer?” Tab said. But Tab would grow to become one of the best U.S. soccer players of the 1990s. We hear about his devastating losses, his hard-fought wins, and a cracked skull that nearly ended his career and his life.
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20 May 2026
The Game We Love
The Men’s World Cup is coming to our continent – and to this country. So we’re using this huge event to dive deep into what soccer means in the United States. We hear from immigrants all across the country for whom soccer is a touchstone, but who’ve also woven the sport into American culture and life. And we go back to the 90’s, to the very first time the World Cup came to the United States. There was Oprah, there was O.J., and it changed soccer in the U.S. forever.
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15 May 2026
Introducing: American Futbol
As we gear up for the Men’s World Cup, listen to our new show about soccer culture in the U.S. and its underdog roots, told in short narrative episodes and deep dive interviews. Hosted by Fernanda Echavarri. Out May 20!
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Apple Podcasts (US)
4.5 / 5
29 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
7 ratings
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