(Video of this podcast is available at youtube.com/@thefootymuseum)

This week on The Footy Museum Podcast, we welcome Doug Cress. Doug runs the enormously popular facebook page, 1970s Soccer USA, where he posts daily about the supernova era of the NASL and MISL. This page is a treasure trove of images and stories, and a community where people gather and talk about this unique period of soccer history.

We talk with Doug about his experience as a sports journalist on the soccer beat for the Washington Post, the rise and fall of the NASL, and how MLS echos the past while paving a new way forward. Doug also shares what he thinks is the true lasting impact of the NASL, and how it reshaped global sports.

Find and follow Doug's page 1970s Soccer USA at www.facebook.com/naslisfifty Subscribe the The Footy Museum podcast, and find us on socials @thefootymuseum

Keywords: NASL MISL MLS Pele Messi Chicago Sting Rowdies DiplomatsSoccer American Soccer 1970s Soccer 1970s Soccer USA

(find video of this episode on youtube.com/@thefootymuseum)

The Footy Museum is back with our first podcast of the year, which means we're doing 2025 predictions! (Kindly ignore the fact that we're halfway through January, it's never too late for now!) Justin and Maria each come with their top three predictions for this year, ranging from design to football culture at large, and there are some amazing crossovers. What do they have to say about design trends, AI, new ownerships, soccer bros, gearing up for the World Cup in 2026, NWSL, and of course the Chicago soccer scene.

If you're a fan of design and culture in the world of football (the soccer kind) Subscribe!

Keywords:

Soccer world
Football
Design
Culture
AI Design
Maximalist Design
Tech Bros
World Cup 2026
MLS
Chicago Fire
Chicago Red Stars
Elon Musk
San Diego FC

(video of this podcast can be found at youtube.com)

2024 has come to an end, and we’re looking back at our favorite moments in the world of football (the soccer kind)! Take a listen for our not-at-all biased opinions on the soccer world’s best designs, greatest tifos, and most hilarious jokes played on us by the Universe.

Mentioned in this episode:
Leeds United, Allsvenskan, Columbus Crew, English Premier League, MLS, Throwback Soccer, Throwback Kits, Kits, Jerseys, AC Milan, AIK, Gregg Berhalter, Chicago Fire, USWNT, Olympics 2024, Godzilla, St. Louis CITY SC, Tifos

(find video of this podcast at our youtube)

How did one of football's Founding Fathers end up retiring in a small North Dakota town? On this episode of The Footy Museum Podcast, Justin and Maria take a look of the storied life of Arthur Pember: Mountaineer, stock broker, investigative journalist, and the first president of the Football Association.

Find out more about the design and history of football (the soccer kind) at thefootymuseum.com

#soccer #footballpodcast #footballhistory

(Video of this podcast is available on youtube)

Justin and Maria are back to talk about the world of football (the soccer kind)! This week we talk about their experience at the recent town hall with Gregg Berhalter hosted by this Chicago Fire. We also discuss the USMNT's international break, which was overshadowed by one celebratory dance. Was Christian Pulisic's Trump dance appropriate, or alienating to fans? Plus, why on earth are their so many international breaks!?

(video of this podcast available to stream here: https://youtu.be/CLnQsDmgvgU)

We’re back! After a short break, Justin and Maria are back in studio to discuss all things from the world of football (the soccer kind). This week is all about the great American tradition of “playoffs.” We discuss the various formats used throughout history, from the pre-MLS era to recent changes influenced by star players like David Beckham and Lionel Messi. Is the playoff format still relevant? Has it ever been?

Justin and Maria also spend some time on the recent branding changes made by the Chicago Red Stars, and what that means for fans of the team.

Shownotes:

Introduction (1:00-4:00)
Red Stars Rebrand (4:00-8:00)
The History of Playoffs in Soccer (8:00-11:00)

Early days of playoffs:

American Soccer League playoffs in the 1920s

Unique and sometimes convoluted formats

NASL and the Soccer Bowl:

The creation of the Soccer Bowl as a way to increase interest in soccer

The impact of the NASL's multiple conferences on playoff structure

The 1981 Soccer Bowl and its significance

The Evolution of MLS Playoffs (15:03 - 30:00)

Early MLS playoffs:

Best-of-three series format

Neutral site finals

The impact of international breaks on the playoff schedule

The Beckham era and playoff changes:

Introduction of the wild card round

Home-and-away series format

The 2019-2020 format:

Single-elimination format

Increased excitement and momentum

The 2023 format:

Changes influenced by Lionel Messi's arrival

New playoff structure with wild card rounds and different game formats

Potential drawbacks of the new format

The Problems with the Current MLS Playoffs (30:14 - 33:17)

Frequent format changes make it confusing for fans.

The current best-of-three series with spread-out games disrupts momentum.

International breaks further disrupt the flow of the playoffs.

The emphasis on wild card teams to allow for more games by stars like Messi can lead to undeserving teams advancing.

The long gaps between games, especially for teams that win early, can lead to rust.

The current format does not sufficiently value the regular season.

Possible Solutions (33:17 - 37:02)

Switch to a single-elimination tournament with a smaller playing field.

Emphasize the Supporters' Shield as the regular season trophy and create an inter-conference playoff.

Adopt an international calendar where the season runs through spring and fall.

Eliminate playoffs altogether and determine the champion based solely on the regular season.

Playoffs Around the World (37:02 - 38:19)

In some countries, playoffs have high stakes, like a single-game promotion decider with significant financial implications.

The UEFA Champions League is a separate playoff-style tournament with its own excitement.

Opinions (38:19 - 40:03)

Does the current format effectively determine the best team?

What’s the impact of focusing on star players like Messi on the overall quality of the playoffs?

What’s the problem when the current format is trying to fit an American sports structure to a sport with a different established format.

Additional Notes (00:40:03 - 00:41:37)

Keywords:
MLS playoffs, soccer playoffs, playoff format, MLS, soccer, soccer bowl, NASL, Major League Soccer, David Beckham, Lionel Messi, international breaks, regular season, postseason, single-elimination, home-and-away series, aggregate score, wild card round.

(Stream video of this episode at youtube.com)

Join us on this episode of the Footy Museum Podcast as we dive deep into the age-old question: is it soccer or football? Justin and Maria explore the history of the terms, their origins in England, and how they've evolved in the United States. Discover why this seemingly simple debate has sparked such passionate discussions. From the early days of the sport to the modern-day MLS, we uncover the cultural and historical factors that have shaped the way Americans perceive and embrace the beautiful game.

Timestamps:

1:00 - The Terms "Soccer" and "Football"

2:30 - Origins of Soccer

6:30 - Cuju Football in China

8:00 - Indigenous Football in North America

11:00 - The Soccer vs. Football Debate

16:00 - The Evolution of Soccer in the US, and the changing perception of soccer in the US and the shift towards a more European-style design approach

40:00 - Final Thoughts

Keywords

soccer, football, history, sports, terminology, cultural differences, MLS, US soccer, England, Europe, American culture, global sports, football vs. soccer debate

(Video of this podcast available at youtube.com/@thefootymuseum)

LAFC and Sporting KC will face off in this year's US Open Cup final on September 25. In anticipation, we're looking back at the two teams who are tied for the most ever US Open Cup titles: Maccabee Los Angeles and Bethlehem Steel--both with five titles to their name.

Bethlehem Steel FC, a powerhouse of early 20th century soccer, is a quintessential example of the industrial teams of the period. We cover the early amateur years, the birth of the American Soccer League, their ultimate downfall in the soccer wars, and a scoring record that stood for decades. The

Los Angeles Maccabee Soccer Team was a prominent force in American soccer during the 1970s. The club, founded in 1958, represented the Jewish community in Los Angeles and was known for its competitive spirit and talented players. We take a look at their most successful years in the midst of turbulent times in American soccer, as well as some of their most interesting players and dynamics of a diversifying squad.

Timestamps:

00: intro
2:00 All about Bethlehem Steel FC
13:30 All about Los Angeles Maccabee

#USOpenCup #soccerhistory #soccer