Soccer Down Here

Football consultant Jason Stephens joins SDH for the latest news involving the economics of soccer and where they meet... This week, illegal streaming numbers are surprising... So are the sheer numbers of alleged bettors on the field in Turkey... and Atleti has new majority owners to keep an eye on...

On today’s Morning Espresso, we go around the corner from everywhere as World Cup dreams burn bright across the globe. From a solemn and emotional night in Paris as France marks the 10th anniversary of the 2015 attacks, to the electric, combustible atmosphere in Guatemala where a nation chases its first-ever World Cup berth, the stakes have rarely been higher. We break down the clinching scenarios across UEFA, the pressure on Cristiano Ronaldo in Dublin, Italy’s push for momentum, Croatia’s showdown with a fearless Faroe Islands, and the wide-open chaos in Group H. Then it’s over to Concacaf, where Jamaica, Honduras, Panama, Costa Rica, and Guatemala face make-or-break nights with everything on the line — plus the latest from Africa and Asia as playoff paths tighten. We’ll also dive into MLS’ looming structural overhaul, NWSL’s continued expansion with Atlanta’s 2028 club now official, global transfer ripple effects, San Lorenzo’s crisis, and a busy slate of Women’s Champions League action. World Cup roads twisting everywhere — and every dream still alive. This is Morning Espresso.

Corpus Christi FC is in preps to join USL League One on the field for the 2026 season... Comms Director Eran Hami and Operations Manager Marissa Trevino drop by for the update as the first season is just around the corner

With the announcement last night of Atlanta joining the NWSL, SDH AM takes a deep dive into all the different parts of soccer that the new franchise can touch... SnS Tyler Pilgrim drops by in his leadoff spot to discuss all the variables and the news itself...

It is stories that link on your Wall Pass Wednesday and SDH AM We go in depth into the announcement of NWSL to ATL for 2028. We hear from Arthur Blank and NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman Scarves N Spikes Tyler Pilgrim joins to talk about the announcement, the landscape, and what to anticipate going forward... Corpus Christi FC is getting ready for their own maiden voyage in USL League One- Director of Comms, Eran Hami, and Operations Director Marissa Trevino talk about the build and what's left before they hit the ground running for 2026

The USL Championship is down to their last four The USL Show's Kaylor Hodges drops by for the weekly playoff update- surprises and what to expect in the conference finals this weekend

Kacey White drops by after her tour of the ACC Women's Championship to break down the ACC and the Division I bracket plus looking at the NWSL first round- surprises included...

It's a busy Tuesday Thoughts on SDH AM covering a lot of ground... Kacey White drops by to talk about the ACC title game this past weekend and the NWSL opening round- where a big favorite is watching now... We keep an eye on the U17 group stage match with Czechia to close the group stage for the USYNT The USL Show's Kaylor Hodges drops by to talk everything USL Championship as we now are at Conference Finals and the USL League One final plus all the AM news to start your day!

Atlanta’s NWSL dreams could finally come true tonight. Jason breaks down the Empower Her. Inspire All. event featuring Arthur Blank and Mayor Andre Dickens, what the reported $165 million expansion fee means, and why this moment matters for the city’s soccer community. Plus, the latest USMNT roster updates heading into the November friendlies, NWSL Awards finalists headlined by Kansas City Current’s stars, and how investment waves are reshaping Liga MX and Atlético Madrid. We’ll also check in on World Cup qualifiers around the globe and a local Soccer for Good story from Henry County that reminds us why the game keeps growing — everywhere, all at once. The game never stops — and neither do we. ☕⚽ Brought to you by Oglethorpe University, Atlanta’s premier undergraduate learning experience and soccer powerhouse.

Gabe Schray drops by to look at the MLS NEXT PRO final where Red Bulls II come out on top- we also have some of the story lines that stuck from the 2025 season in MLS MEXT PRO Plus, a look at the USL League One Final- and the teams left behind in the semis by One Knox and Spokane...

Atlanta United's Cooper Sanchez is representing the US at the U-17 World Cup in Qatar He joined SDH from the tourney to recap the first two matchdays and talk about the experience half a world away

It's a big Reaction Monday on SDH AM There's reports of a Team 17 in the NWSL... MLS Opening Round best-of-threes are done with varying results and most favorites going through... 929TheGame's Abe Gordon drops by to discuss... The USYNT U-17's are at the World Cup in Qatar, ATLUTD's Cooper Sanchez joins from there to talk about the first two matches in Group stage. SoccerForUSPod's Bart Keeler looks at the U17's and the November USMNT camp Gabe Schray drops by to talk MLS NEXT PRO's new champ and the USL League One Final...

Atlanta steps boldly into a new frontier as the NWSL prepares to plant its next flag in the city — a move that connects decades of “Forward Atlanta” energy with the next generation of the game. Jason Longshore breaks down what Arthur Blank’s expansion project means for women’s soccer in Georgia and how it strengthens the city’s growing footprint in the sport. Then, we hit rewind on a wild MLS weekend: Messi leads Miami past Nashville with another masterclass, Cincinnati closes the chapter on Columbus and Darlington Nagbe’s career, and expansion side San Diego FC marches on in front of a packed Snapdragon Stadium. Across the pond, Pep Guardiola celebrates his 1,000th match with a dominant Manchester City display, while Luis Díaz delivers a moment of pure genius in Germany. From Atlanta’s next step to Europe’s biggest stages — the game keeps moving, and so do we.

Powered by NoFo Brewing The eight conferences in the red clay footprint are either running right into the post-season or are figuring out whose heading to the national tournaments... We take stock of where everyone is and what may be next in college soccer in the state of Georgia... From Dahlonega to downtown and Mercer to Montgomery, we get you caught up...

The city of El Paso joins th NPSL in 2026 in the form of Sun City FC President Manuel Chavez joins with some surprises and some breaking news about the build of the team sprinting toward a 2026 debut

Powered by NoFo Brewing The US Deaf Women's National Team is chasing a fifth Deaflympics Gold medal, but it will be the end of an international career for both coaches and three stars. Atlantan Kate Ward is one of those stars heading to that last tournament. We look at Kate's career and look at deaf soccer's growth... We also stop and check on AC Boise in USL League One. Their first-ever head coach is Nate Miller, coming into the franchise from Real Salt Lake. We ask why now and what Miller sees as the challenges and getting ready happens quickly before the 2026 season debut.

One of the five Match Day 3's this weekend is the late game Saturday as Nashville and Messi and Friends go at it in Fort Lauderdale Lucas Panzica recaps the first two matches in the series and previews the third- as Jon sides with Lucas on an important issue back in Nashville

Breaking down everything from the five matchday threes in the opening round of the MLS playoffs to what it's like to follow Collin Sexton hammering the golden spike in Atlanta... AppleTV's Calen Carr breaks them all down and a preview of the MLS NEXT PRO title game between Red Bulls II and Rapids 2 All on SDH AM

Will drops by SDH AM on Match Day 3 for Charlotte and NYC to break down Match Day 2, preview the match tonight, and look at the effect Wilf Zaha has on the Charlotte approach

It's a full Freestyle Friday on SDH AM 104.5 TheZone's Lucas Panzica leads off discussing Latin (the language) and Nashville and Messi and Friends AppleTV's Calen Carr looks at the weekend in MLS and MLS NEXT PRO and Charlotte FC PBP voice Will Palaszczuk previews tonight's game with NYCFC Plus, we look at the matches this wekend to keep an eye on and look at ATLUTD's appointment of Tata Martino