Rivalries live and die by the fans. And in Texas, the three teams—FC Dallas, Houston Dynamo, and Austin FC— compete for the Copa Tejas trophy.  Soccer culture in Texas is big, dense, and diverse—just like the state. So this week’s episode is all about the fans whose happiness depends on winning Copa Tejas.  There’s Paul Fletes, lead trumpet for the supporter band La Murga de Austin, Collin Coovert of Dallas’ El Matador, and Jesus Martinez, co-leader of Houston’s El Batallón, the first...

It’s Rivalry Week. Across Major League Soccer, bitter rivals, old and new, are gearing up for matches that fans have had circled on their calendars since the 2024 schedule came out. Rivalries are a big deal for players too. FC Cincinnati center back Nick Hagglund tells Taylor that when the schedule comes out, the first ones he looks for are the Hell Is Real matchups with the Crew. Born and raised in Cincinnati, Nick talks about the pride and pressure he feels representing his hometown...

On the pitch, Giorgos Giakoumakis comes across as a cocky striker. A bruiser who will do anything to score. An absolute villain. But there’s more to the big man than that.  In a special episode of Offside, Giorgos opens up about his life story, including growing up in Crete, his early struggles in the Greek leagues, his scoring titles in Europe, and finally finding a home at Atlanta United.  Also, Atlanta players Brad Guzan and Brooks Lennon tell Taylor why Giorgos makes such a great...

In MLS, there’s no such thing as a win you can count on.  Rules around roster-building and salary caps mean even a last-place club can give the league’s best a run for their money on any given week—and the playoff system gives everyone a shot at a dramatic turnaround.  This week, we share two of the greatest single-season comebacks in league history: Sporting Kansas City in 2023 and the 2016 Seattle Sounders FC.  Taylor sits down with Johnny Russell, Sporting’s captain, to talk...

Comedian Paul Scheer is known for his roles in The League and Fresh Off the Boat, his long-running podcast on bad movies called How Did This Get Made?, and being a die-hard Clippers fan. But in recent years, he’s also been swept up into the LA soccer scene, going to LAFC and Angel City FC matches.  On this week’s episode, Paul and Taylor talk about the Messi Mania they experienced at LA Galaxy’s home opener, the need for a Bad News Bears–style soccer movie, and why Paul’s new book, Joyful...

Diego “El Maestro” Valeri, less than two years out of professional soccer, is two months into his new job as lead analyst for the Spanish broadcast on MLS Season Pass. On this week’s episode, Diego joins Taylor to talk about the transition to commentary, interviewing Lionel Messi, and his legendary career with the Portland Timbers.  Plus, MLS newcomer Eric Ramsay discusses being a first-time head coach for Minnesota United, experiencing a “Wonderwall” victory for the first time, and early...

John Herdman took over as head coach at Toronto FC late last season, when the club finished in last place. But this year they seem to be turning it around.  On this week’s episode, Taylor and John discuss his philosophy for leading a team through transition, something he’s done for the New Zealand women’s national team and both the Canadian men’s and women’s teams. They also talk about how John struggled with his mental health in the wake of personal tragedy, and why his ultimate goal is...

Just how hard is it for an MLS All-Star to dust off the cleats after two years of retirement and play in a competitive game? On this week’s episode, Taylor speaks with MLS Season Pass colleague Sacha Kljestan about his decision to take the field for semi-pro club Des Moines Menace in the U.S. Open Cup. Sacha explains how the opportunity came about, and just how wrecked his body was after playing 120 minutes. Plus, after an international break that saw almost 100 MLS players represent...

San Diego FC are set to join MLS in 2025 as the 30th club. They’re following a familiar expansion playbook: Find an underserved market, bring investors on board, and get a stadium. But as CEO Tom Penn—who also helped start LAFC—points out, there are a couple things that make this club different.  For one, they’re the first major men’s pro team in the U.S. to have a Native tribe, the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation, as part of their ownership group. Additionally, the club is banking on...

Inter Miami CF have shown us they are unbeatable at their best. The flip side? Every club is giving them their very best shot. This week, The Athletic’s Paul Tenorio and Pablo Maurer join Taylor to talk through how Miami became the most wanted victory in MLS, as well as their upcoming trip to D.C. United—a club that itself was once the league’s “most wanted” and is showing signs of hope after a down year in ’23. Then Pablo and Paul offer their reporting expertise on stories brewing in the...

It seems like every week, the big question for most teams in MLS is: Who’s going to score?

LAFC and the Colorado Rapids are as different as clubs can be. While LAFC won 2023’s Western final, the Rapids finished last in the conference. But both teams were busy in the offseason maneuvering for a more successful ’24.  On this week’s episode, Taylor sits down with club leaders responsible for those prospects. First, Taylor speaks with LAFC co-president and GM John Thorrington—the man behind big signings such as French goalkeeper Hugo Lloris. Then he talks with Colorado’s new coach...

Offside With Taylor Twellman is back, and we’re kicking things off with a big 2024 season preview. Sacha Kljestan and Diego Valeri join Taylor to go through every MLS team—yes, every team—and reveal who they’re buying and who they’re selling. Plus, who has the best kits for 2024? Offside With Taylor Twellman is a Major League Soccer podcast, produced by Apple TV and Rain Delay Media. Follow and listen on Apple Podcasts. Want to talk to Taylor? Call (646) 571-8496 or...

On the final episode of the season, Taylor reacts to the MLS Cup by discussing what this result means for both LAFC and the 2023 champions, Columbus Crew. He then wraps the year with 12 storylines to watch out for in the 2024 season.  Offside With Taylor Twellman is a Major League Soccer podcast, produced by Apple TV and Rain Delay Media. Follow and listen on Apple Podcasts. Want to talk to Taylor? Call (646) 571-8496 or email [email protected] with...

It’s our MLS Cup preview. Taylor chats with Sacha and The Athletic’s Pablo Maurer about their takeaways from the conference finals before breaking down Saturday’s MLS Cup in Columbus between the Crew and defending champs LAFC. Taylor then sits down with MLS Commissioner Don Garber to look back on the historic 2023 season.  Offside With Taylor Twellman is a Major League Soccer podcast, produced by Apple TV and Rain Delay Media. Follow and listen on Apple Podcasts.  Want to talk to...

In this conference finals preview, Taylor checks in with supporters from both FC Cincinnati and the Columbus Crew to understand what will be the biggest edition to date in the “Hell Is Real” intrastate derby. After that, he chats with Houston Dynamo manager Ben Olsen about their surprise playoff run and what he thinks they can do to stop LAFC from reaching their second-straight MLS Cup Final. Offside With Taylor Twellman is a Major League Soccer podcast, produced by Apple TV and Rain...

Taylor hops around the country to preview the conference semifinals with LAFC’s Steve Cherundolo, Seattle’s Brian Schmetzer, Sporting KC’s Peter Vermes, Philadelphia’s Jim Curtin, and MLS' Coach of the Year, FC Cincinnati’s Pat Noonan. Taylor then chats with NFL great Chad Johnson about his love for the beautiful game, why he warmed up on Sundays with a soccer ball, and how he snuck in a Champions League final during a romantic European vacation.  Offside With Taylor Twellman is a Major...

As Round One of the MLS Cup Playoffs comes to a close, Taylor talks with The Athletic’s Felipe Cárdenas about what he saw at Match 2 of Atlanta-Columbus, the remaining matchups, and the clubs that are looking forward to the conference semifinals. They also reflect on how referees are finding themselves unfairly at the center of attention and discuss headlines from around the league. Offside With Taylor Twellman is a Major League Soccer podcast, produced by Apple TV and Rain Delay Media....

This week, Taylor welcomes former Inter Miami CF head coach Phil Neville to discuss what they saw in the Match 1s of the playoffs’ Round One: Sporting Kansas City’s stunning upset of St. Louis, LAFC’s rejuvenated look, FC Cincinnati’s continued dominance, and a whole lot more. Plus, Taylor learns about how Phil’s grandmother named his father in the hospital out of stubbornness. Offside With Taylor Twellman is a Major League Soccer podcast, produced by Apple TV and Rain Delay Media. Follow...

In their first season, St. Louis CITY SC have already made history. With the most wins ever by an expansion club, St. Louis head into the playoffs as the #1 seed in the Western Conference, and they host their first postseason match this Sunday. On this week’s episode, Taylor talks with CEO Carolyn Kindle, head coach Bradley Carnell, sporting director Lutz Pfannenstiel, and president and GM Diego Gigliani about the birth of St. Louis CITY, their journeys to the club, their expectations heading...

In a special extra episode, Taylor sits down with Maurice Edu and Sacha Kljestan to preview and predict the MLS playoffs.  Offside With Taylor Twellman is a Major League Soccer podcast, produced by Apple TV and Rain Delay Media. Follow and listen on Apple Podcasts. http://apple.co/Offside-MLSSeasonPass

Heading into the final weekend of regular-season play, Taylor shares his predictions for MLS season awards, answers listener questions, and chats with SVP of MLS NEXT Pro Ali Curtis on player development and their new “pick your opponent” playoff format. Offside With Taylor Twellman is a Major League Soccer podcast, produced by Apple TV and Rain Delay Media. Follow and listen on Apple Podcasts. http://apple.co/Offside-MLSSeasonPass

In just two seasons, FC Cincinnati went from three straight rock-bottom finishes to their first-ever Supporters’ Shield. On this week’s episode, Taylor talks with head coach Pat Noonan and breakout forward Brandon Vazquez about their journeys to Cincinnati, their expectations heading into the playoffs, and what a trophy means to a city that’s fallen in love with its MLS club. Offside With Taylor Twellman is a Major League Soccer podcast, produced by Apple TV and Rain Delay Media. Follow...

Taylor digs into an MLS story that needs to be heard to be believed: Bernard Kamungo’s long path to FC Dallas. Taylor speaks with Bernard and his brother, Imani, about their relocation to Texas in 2017, how a $90 tryout changed their lives, and how they supported each other as Bernard realized his lifelong dream.  The Kamungos’ journey began at the Nyarugusu refugee camp in Tanzania, where Bernard passed his days kicking makeshift balls in pickup games against men 10 years older. Imani...

After a wild Wednesday night in American soccer, Taylor reacts to the Miami-Houston U.S. Open Cup Final and the Campeones Cup showdown between MLS champs LAFC and Liga MX champs Tigres. Then Taylor chats with the one and only Dan Le Batard and his producer Mike Ryan about Messi’s impact on Miami’s sports culture, the growth of soccer in America, and the smartest athlete they’ve ever seen compete in person. Offside With Taylor Twellman is a Major League Soccer podcast, produced by Apple TV...