MLS Now Podcast

Russell, David, and Gavin react to a fun week of 2026 MLS action Timestamps 0:00 Intro 04:15 MLS Season Kickoff Highlights 12:43 Analyzing Orlando City's Performance 23:39 Patience in Early Season Evaluations 27:32 Philadelphia Union's Struggles 33:36 Analyzing the Game: DC United vs. Philadelphia Union 39:11 The Walmart Saturday Showdown: LAFC vs. Miami 49:56 LA Galaxy's New Dynamics and Challenges 55:36 Portland vs. Columbus 01:08:14 Nashville's Promising Start and Key Player Signings 01:12:19 Houston's Victory and Player Recognition 01:24:02 Looking Ahead: Upcoming Matches and Expectations

Russell, Beau, David, and Gavin make their golden boot draft picks ahead of the 2026 MLS season

Russell, Beau, and Gavin create a vibes-based tier-maker heading into the 2026 MLS season Timestamps 00:00 Intro 08:04 Analyzing Sporting Kansas City and Minnesota United 13:09 Atlanta United's Coaching Changes 18:09 San Jose's Challenges and Future 22:45 LAFC and Inter Miami's Dominance 27:37 San Diego's Potential and Conclusion 35:04 Charlotte FC: Potential and Challenges 42:07 New York Red Bulls: A Team in Transition 48:41 FC Dallas: Struggles and Future Prospects 57:25 Chicago Fire: Vibes and Potential 01:07:05 Columbus Crew: Transition and Competitiveness 01:14:40 Philadelphia Union: System-Based Challenges 01:24:52 Houston Dynamo: New Faces and Expectations 01:37:28 Vancouver Whitecaps: Competitors or Just Happy to Be Here? 01:51:20 Evaluating DC United's New Additions 01:56:33 New England Revolution: Where Do They Stand? 02:03:00 Assessing LA Galaxy's Potential 02:09:42 St. Louis City: A Team in Transition 02:20:52 League Dynamics and World Cup Impact

Russell, Beau, and Gavin give a quick preview of this week's CONCACAF Champions Cup action before discussing the latest MLS offseason topics Timestamps 00:00 Intro 11:59 CONCACAF Champions Cup Predictions 31:09 Offseason Transactions Discussion 36:36 Player Transfers: Love and Hate 01:14:34 Assessing Underwhelming Signings

Russell, Beau, and Gavin discuss all the latest news around MLS Timestamps 00:00 Intro 03:33 Transfer Rumors and Player Movements 06:20 Analyzing Joao Klauss' Move to LA Galaxy 17:51 Austin FC's Strategy and Player Roles 32:35 Creative Strategies for Fan Engagement 34:39 Columbus Crew's Rebuilding Phase 41:46 Overhyping Inter Miami: A Critical Analysis 01:01:08 Discussion on Designated Players (DPs)

Russell and Beau give their thoughts on the latest MLS offseason news Timestamps 00:00 Intro 05:43 MLS Kit Leaks Discussion 21:30 Sporting Kansas City Valuation and Financial Insights 26:39 Ownership Changes in MLS 28:16 Teams That Need New Management 29:52 The Impact of Ownership on Team Dynamics 33:37 Upcoming CONCACAF Champions Cup 39:10 Challenges for MLS Teams in International Competitions 58:51 Facundo Torres and MLS News 01:06:04 Player Transfers and Their Impact 01:15:37 The Psychology of Penalty Kicks 01:22:19 Northern Lights and Final Thoughts

Russell and Gavin discuss the latest offseason MLS news Timestamps 00:00 Intro & Nonsense 12:07 MLS Player Transfers and Team Strategies 18:01 Nashville's New Offensive Dynamics 25:18 Coaching Changes and Team Morale 27:17 Future Prospects in European Football 31:41 Roster Rules and Player Amortization 38:11 The Impact of U22 Slots in MLS 47:14 Vancouver Whitecaps: Retaining Core Players 52:41 Minnesota's Offseason Challenges 59:55 LA Galaxy's Need for a Striker 01:02:05 The Final Match Controversy 01:02:30 Timo Werner's New Identity in MLS 01:06:43 Hector Herrera's Return to Houston 01:08:12 Defining Star Players in MLS 01:12:44 The Future of Star Players in MLS 01:20:07 Preseason Expectations and Panic Buttons

Russell and Gavin discuss all the latest news and who our way too early offseason winners and losers are Timestamps 00:00 Intro 08:19 Analyzing Team Signings and Offseason Winners 56:51 Teams Off the Radar: Portland and San Diego 01:04:45 The U22 Initiative and Center Back Signings

Beau and Gavin cover all the latest news from the start of the MLS offseason before giving their thoughts on the 22 under 22 list released a few months ago. Timestamps 0:00 Intro 02:02 Inter Miami's Offseason Moves 12:11 New York Red Bulls Coaching Changes 17:45 Orlando City Goalkeeper Acquisition 29:29 Montreal's Player Transfers 37:24 Dante Sealy's Transfer to Colorado 45:26 Glesnes Joins LA Galaxy 48:22 Baribo's Move to DC United 54:20 Philadelphia's Record-Breaking Transfer 56:10 Walker Zimmerman's Impact on Toronto 01:00:19 Cincinnati's Player Departures 01:13:41 Coaching Changes and Their Implications 01:17:09 22 Under 22: Surprises and Controversies 01:19:29 Evaluating Player Rankings and Snubs 01:29:10 Final Thoughts on Player Development and Future Prospects

Russell, Beau, and Gavin recap the 2025 MLS Cup Final and make some predictions for the upcoming offseason Timestamps 00:00 Intro 01:22 MLS Cup Recap and Miami's Victory 03:42 Analyzing Vancouver's Performance 09:24 Debating Miami's Championship Legitimacy 21:03 Playoff Records and Player Performances 24:12 Retirement of Legends 25:44 Offseason Changes and Free Agency 43:45 SuperDraft Insights and Future Prospects 52:14 Youth vs Experience in Player Selection 53:12 Contract Negotiations and Player Retention 55:14 Predicting Trades and Free Agency Moves 56:43 Off-Season Strategies and Future Prospects

Russell, Beau, and Gavin recap the 2025 MLS Playoffs Conference Finals Timestamps 00:00 Intro 04:59 MLS Playoffs Overview 07:40 Miami's Playoff Performance 16:34 Vancouver vs. San Diego Match Analysis 19:22 Vancouver's Team Depth and Performance 22:16 Coaching Talent in MLS 28:30 Vancouver's Tactical Approach Against San Diego 30:44 The Effectiveness of Pressing in Soccer 32:48 Midfield Mastery: The Role of Andres Cubas 34:30 Vancouver's Cinderella Story in MLS 35:35 Predicting the MLS Cup Winner 42:32 Discussion on Conference Changes in MLS 50:03 Concerns Over Travel and Player Fatigue

Russell and Beau recap the 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs conference semifinals Timestamps 00:00 Intro 02:39 Cincinnati's Disappointing Performance and Fan Reactions 30:50 Injuries Impacting Team Performance 33:44 Philadelphia's Energy Drink Soccer vs. NYCFC's Strategy 38:06 NYCFC vs. Inter Miami: A Tactical Analysis 40:07 San Diego vs. Minnesota: A Tactical Chess Match 47:42 Wilfred Nancy's Move to Celtic FC 50:34 Vancouver vs. LAFC: Controversial Decisions and Outcomes 01:01:16 Predictions for Upcoming Matches

Russell, Gavin, David, and Beau recap round three of round one of the 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs Timestamps 00:00 Intro 02:52 San Diego vs. Portland: A Playoff Analysis 05:49 Minnesota's Comeback Against Seattle 08:58 Miami's Dominance Over Nashville 14:27 The Future of Miami's Roster 30:35 Roster Decisions: The Future of Walker Zimmerman 37:41 Charlotte's Home Fortress Falls: NYCFC's Counterattack 44:12 Wilfried Zaha: A Disappointing Performance 47:59 Columbus Crew vs. FC Cincinnati: Star Players and Game Dynamics 59:27 Cincinnati's Unique Sports Culture 01:00:47 Comparative Analysis of Team Management 01:02:57 The Pressure of Expectations 01:15:45 Closing Thoughts and Future Expectations

Russell and Gavin recap round two of round one of the 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs Timestamps 00:00 Intro 01:57 Round One Game Analysis 10:13 Vancouver's Resilience and Strategy 16:25 Upcoming Matchups and Predictions 19:45 Chicago's Struggles and Philadelphia's Strength 24:06 Penalty Shootout Psychology 30:21 Nashville vs. Miami: A Clash of Titans 34:52 Portland's Dramatic Comeback 53:26 Seattle vs. Minnesota: A Tense Showdown 57:10 Final Predictions for Game Three

Russell and Gavin react to round one of round one of the 2026 MLS Playoffs Timestamps 00:00 Intro 03:00 NYCFC's Upset Victory Over Charlotte 05:49 Playoff Scheduling Oddities 08:21 The Best of Three Playoff Format 10:58 Chicago's Dominance Over Orlando 13:57 Portland vs. RSL: A Close Encounter 16:44 Miami's Victory Over Nashville 19:25 Future Prospects for Miami and Nashville 25:20 Creative Approaches to Penalty Training 29:43 Vancouver's Dominance in Playoffs 30:41 San Diego vs. Portland: A Closer Look 32:58 The Best of Three Format Debate 35:44 Attacking Woes: Cincinnati vs. Columbus 37:28 Wilfred Nancy's Coaching Prospects 41:42 Rivalry Predictions: Cincinnati vs. Columbus 42:16 Analyzing the Matchup: Seattle vs. Minnesota 46:03 Minnesota's Defensive Strategy and Penalty Shootouts 50:35 LAFC vs. Austin: Surprising Outcomes and Player Reactions

Russell, Beau, David, and Gavin review the preseason golden boot draft and standings predictions before discussing talking points for some teams coming out of Decision Day. Timestamps 00:00 Introduction and Team Ownership Dynamics 00:49 The Impact of Lionel Messi on MLS 03:25 Golden Boot Draft Overview 06:16 Analyzing Predictions and Performance 08:58 Value Picks and Flops in the Draft 11:43 Final Thoughts and Season Wrap-Up 20:28 Predicting the Season: A Recap of Picks 23:35 Awards and Recognition: Celebrating Predictions 23:57 Analyzing Predictions: Hits and Misses 26:23 Messi's Impact: MVP Predictions and Controversies 27:36 MLS Cup Predictions: Who Will Take the Trophy? 34:34 Decision Day Drama: Surprises and Outcomes 39:41 San Diego's Historic Road Wins 40:22 Concerns for Orlando City 43:01 Toronto's Surprising Performance 45:15 Greg Berhalter's Coaching in Chicago 46:43 Atlanta's Coaching Changes 52:10 Atlanta's Future Direction 01:02:23 Nashville's Playoff Prospects 01:07:52 LAFC's Dominance in the West 01:12:31 LAFC and the Whitecaps: A New Era 01:14:41 Injury Concerns and Upset Potential 01:16:05 Playoff Predictions: Who Will Advance? 01:17:43 MLS Cup Winner Predictions 01:20:10 RSL vs. Portland: A Clash of Styles 01:21:53 Dallas vs. Vancouver: A Battle of Injuries 01:22:50 LAFC vs. Austin: The Favorites 01:22:58 Minnesota vs. Seattle: A Tough Matchup 01:24:36 Final Predictions: Who Takes the Cup?

Russell and Beau recap the last set of MLS games before Decision Day Timestamps 00:00 Intro 02:15 Referee Decisions and Controversies 05:21 Impact of Refereeing on Playoff Chances 08:14 International Break and Its Effects 09:52 Wrap-Up and Final Thoughts 10:18 Where Did It All Go Wrong? 12:34 Analyzing SKC's Downfall 15:08 LA Galaxy's Key Player Losses 17:59 St. Louis: A Case of Mismanagement 20:49 Concerns for Colorado's Future 23:51 Atlanta United's Directionless Struggles 45:21 Atlanta United's Challenges and Future Prospects 46:57 The Impact of Christian Benteke on DC United 49:26 Ownership Issues at DC United 51:42 The State of MLS and Promotion/Relegation Debate 55:24 Comparing Montreal and Toronto's Strategies 01:00:53 New England Revolution and New York Red Bulls Analysis 01:09:43 MLS Player Contracts and Team Decisions 01:12:11 Coaching Perspectives and Team Management 01:14:29 Houston Dynamo's Roster Challenges 01:16:51 Goalkeeper Decisions and Team Strategy 01:19:18 The State of MLS Coverage and Future Prospects 01:24:28 Free Agency and Team Needs for Next Season

Russell, David, Beau, and Gavin react to week 33 of the MLS regular season Timestamps 00:00 Intro 01:36 Supporters Shield vs. MLS Cup Debate 04:14 Coaching Strategies and Team Dynamics 07:07 Golden Boot Race: Messi vs. Bouanga 09:43 Surprise of the Week: St. Louis vs. Austin 12:25 Austin's Struggles and Future Prospects 29:38 NFL References and Austin's Hipster Culture 31:02 Open Cup Hangover and Nashville's Performance 33:32 Nashville's Playoff Prospects and Open Cup Impact 36:09 RSL's Impactful Win and Playoff Implications 37:19 Rivalry Trophies and MLS Traditions 41:23 Colorado Rapids' Struggles and Coaching Concerns 48:06 Darlington Nagbe's Retirement and Legacy 53:24 Sebastian Berhalter's Future and World Cup Prospects 01:02:08 Roster Decisions and Player Evaluations 01:03:10 MLS as a Competitive League 01:06:08 Player Performance and League Comparisons 01:08:44 The Unique Structure of MLS 01:09:57 League Rankings and Prestige 01:10:32 Vancouver's Scoring Streak 01:12:50 Teams in Form for Playoffs 01:14:05 Chicago's Playoff Potential 01:16:32 Impact of Injuries on Teams 01:19:19 Key Matchups Before International Break 01:20:58 Player Absences and Team Dynamics 01:23:40 Final Thoughts on MVP Candidates

Russell, Beau, and Gavin react to all the action from week 32 of MLS regular season Timestamps 00:00 Intro 02:57 Ref Cam Revelations: The Orlando vs. Cincinnati Match 05:38 Orlando's Missed Opportunities and Player Performances 08:38 Dallas vs. Portland: A Draw and Tactical Concerns 11:19 Minnesota's Struggles and Injury Impacts 13:59 RSL vs. Austin: A Trap Game Analysis 16:50 Vancouver vs. Seattle: Playoff Implications 19:32 Philadelphia's Dominance Over DC United 33:40 DC United's Uncertain Future 37:03 Surprising Results in MLS 42:20 The Hudson River Derby 53:46 Chicago Fire's Playoff Potential 01:01:23 Coaching Excellence: The Top Contenders 01:05:08 The Battle for the Supporters Shield 01:08:14 San Diego's Missed Opportunities 01:11:36 Toronto's Future: A Glimmer of Hope 01:15:02 Defensive Blunders: A Costly Mistake

Russell, Gavin, and Beau breakdown week 31 of the MLS regular season Timestamps Chapters 00:00 Intro 04:31 LAFC's Rising Form and Key Players 09:32 Real Salt Lake's Playoff Chances 16:55 Colorado's Struggles and Coaching Concerns 22:14 Dallas' Playoff Prospects and Team Performance 27:54 Seattle's Recent Decline and Future Outlook 32:32 Seattle's Playoff Prospects 37:14 Austin's Unconventional Style 47:22 Chicago's Surprising Performance 57:47 San Jose's Struggles and Future 01:02:09 San Jose's Turnaround and Coaching Changes 01:02:58 San Diego's Missed Opportunities 01:03:55 Coaching Changes and Team Performance 01:07:43 Lightning Round: Eastern Conference Insights 01:11:22 Miami's Defensive Concerns 01:14:53 Cincinnati's Offensive Potential 01:17:17 Charlotte's Playoff Aspirations 01:22:35 Red Bulls' Playoff Streak in Jeopardy 01:24:11 Celebrating Birthdays and Surprising News 01:26:25 Skyline Chili and Culinary Curiosities 01:30:44 Soccer Stats and Player Rankings 01:34:55 Fun Food Challenges and Trivia