Planet Fútbol With Grant Wahl

The Planet Fútbol Podcast goes to two episodes a week! On Mondays, Grant and SI's Luis Miguel Echegaray will give their takes on the soccer weekend that was, and on Thursdays Grant will continue to interview the most intriguing people in fútbol. In this episode, they break down Norwich's stunning victory over Man City, whether Sadio Mané has replaced Mo Salah as Liverpool's most important attacking player, why Chelsea brought Christian Pulisic back early from the international break and then didn't use him, the remarkable breakthrough of Barcelona 16-year-old Ansu Fati, Neymar's chilly reception from PSG fans (and his phenomenal goal), yet another Zlatan Ibrahimovic hat trick in MLS, why MLS's ban on "political" signage is the league's biggest mistake since Precourt/Columbus, NYCFC's 5-point lead in the MLS East, Atlanta's second straight loss (and potential volatility), Jesse Marsch's big UEFA Champions League opportunity, and Heather O'Reilly's classic golazo for the North Carolina Courage, which is droppin

Grant speaks to Asif Kapadia, whose terrific new documentary film, Diego Maradona, opens in New York City theaters on September 20 and on October 1 on HBO. Kapadia, who also directed the films Senna (on the legendary Formula 1 driver Ayrton Senna) and the Academy Award-winning Amy (on Amy Winehouse), discusses why he chose Maradona as a subject and focused on his Napoli years, how he got connected to so much never-before-seen archival video, what it was like interviewing Maradona and the process of making the film. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Grant has an in-depth discussion with Ed Malyon, the managing director of The Athletic UK, about the website’s sweeping efforts to hire dozens of writers and editors and disrupt soccer coverage in the UK. Malyon, whose fiancée is American, also talks about his recent move across the Atlantic to Chicago and his fascination with American sports other than soccer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Grant has a rollicking conversation with Daryl Grove and Taylor Rockwell, the hosts of the popular Total Soccer Show and Soccer 101 podcasts. They discuss how they met each other and started their podcast, their shared humor and chemistry, how they have made soccer podcasting their full-time job, their thought process behind launching Soccer 101 and organizing a podcast episode, and the remarkable support of the American soccer community following Daryl’s recent cancer diagnosis. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Grant has a fun conversation with Aaron West, who co-hosted Fox Sports' nightly digital show during the women's World Cup and is currently hosting the Crossroads series of Premier League "What-Ifs" on the NBC Sports YouTube channel. West tells how he got into soccer, his college playing career at Davidson and how "pivoting" modern media downsized him at not one but two jobs (as a writer at FoxSports.com and as a video content host at Copa 90). He also has helpful advice for any students who want to get into the sports and soccer journalism business. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Grant has a conversation with Crystal Dunn, the reigning World Cup champion with the US and NWSL champion with the North Carolina Courage. They talk about what she’s hoping for in the next USWNT coach, whether that might include her moving away from her unnatural left back spot, how her life has changed since winning the World Cup, this week’s ICC tournament and how she thinks the NWSL can make its post-World Cup bump sustainable. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Grant interviews Simon Bruty, a legendary sports action and portrait photographer who has done work for Sports Illustrated (and with Grant) for more than two decades. They go into detail about Bruty's rise as a photographer, how he approaches the details of action and portrait photography, how he got some of his favorite shots, suggestions he'd have for aspiring sports photographers, and what makes shooting soccer different from other sports. You can find Bruty's work at SimonBruty.com and on Instagram at @SimonBruty.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Grant and SI's Laken Litman reconnect to discuss the main post-World Cup developments in women's soccer: USWNT coach Jill Ellis's decision to step down, U.S. Soccer's claim that it has paid the WNT more than the MNT over the past 10 years, the post-WC bump for the NWSL and Megan Rapinoe's big book deal, among other things.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Grant and Laken break down the U.S.'s 2-0 victory in the World Cup final against the Netherlands, completing the Americans' run to a record fourth World Cup title in the women's game. They talk about Megan Rapinoe's tournament masterclass, the rise of Rose Lavelle, the U.S.'s first back-to-back titles and the potential futures of U.S. players and coach Jill Ellis. Sports Illustrated is conducting an audience survey to better serve all of our listeners. It will only take a few minutes of your time and it really helps us improve our shows. Please take our survey here: si.com/pfsurvey Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Grant Wahl is joined by SI staff writer Laken Litman to preview the 2019 Women's World Cup Final between the US and Netherlands. Grant and Laken discuss Megan Rapinoe's likelihood to play, the potential impact of a US win back home, and Dan Wetzel's ability to twist Grant's arm into doing this podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Grant and Laken go deep on the U.S.'s 2-1 semifinal victory against England: The extremely well-taken goals, Alyssa Naeher's career-defining game in goal, the highs and lows of VAR, and, ultimately, a berth in a third straight World Cup final for the USWNT. Next up for a fourth star: Sweden or the Netherlands. Sports Illustrated is conducting an audience survey to better serve all of our listeners. It will only take a few minutes of your time and it really helps us improve our shows. Please take our survey here: si.com/pfsurvey Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Grant and Laken break down the U.S.'s stirring 2-1 victory against France, eliminating the hosts in the World Cup quarterfinals. They discuss Megan Rapinoe's big-game performance, scoring both U.S. goals, and look ahead to the USA-England semifinal in Lyon as the Americans continue their push for a fourth World Cup title. Sports Illustrated is conducting an audience survey to better serve all of our listeners. It will only take a few minutes of your time and it really helps us improve our shows. Please take our survey here: si.com/pfsurvey  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Grant and Laken discuss the U.S.'s difficult 2-1 win over Spain in the World Cup Round of 16, including the soft penalty call that decided it. They also look ahead to the monster quarterfinal showdown on Friday between the U.S. and France in Paris, and they break down Marta's emotional message after perhaps her final World Cup game with Brazil. Then Grant interviews Donald Wine of the American Outlaws supporters group about his fan experience in France and some of his favorite and hairiest trips over the years as an Indiana Jones of American sports fans. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Grant and Laken break down the U.S.'s 2-0 group finale victory over Sweden and discuss other aspects of the women's World Cup, including the spate of VAR-influenced penalty retakes, their look at the Round of 16 matchups and who they think will win the Golden Boot. Then Grant interviews Alex Curry, who's the embedded reporter with the USWNT for Fox Sports. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Grant and Laken discuss the U.S.’s 3-0 win over Chile, and Grant interviews former FIFA president Sepp Blatter about his legacy in women’s soccer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the latest episode of their women's World Cup podcast, Grant and SI's Laken Litman discuss the U.S.'s 13-0 win over Thailand—which broke the record for the most lopsided game in World Cup history—and break down whether scoring that many goals (and celebrating the last ones as much as the first ones) shows sportsmanship. And now that every World Cup team has played once, they talk about their most surprising results, tournament trends they're seeing, and standout players they hadn't known of before. New World Cup episodes will come out after every U.S. game in France. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

SI’s Grant Wahl and Laken Litman look ahead to World Cup 2019, which starts Friday in France. They look at the six groups, break down the US’s chances and make predictions for Golden Ball and Boot, biggest surprises and flameouts, most entertaining teams, and the bracket itself. https://www.si.com/soccer/2019/06/03/uswnt-equal-pay-gender-fight-us-soccer-uswntpa-nflpa-wnba  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With the World Cup starting on June 7, Grant sits down with USWNT starters Rose Lavelle and Abby Dahlkemper to talk about their stories and how they approach the sport. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Grants chats with Canada’s Victor Montagliani, the CONCACAF president and a FIFA VP, about women’s soccer in CONCACAF, the men’s Gold Cup and his work as chair of the FIFA stakeholders committee—including his views on solidarity payments, possible changes to FIFA’s rule preventing transfers of minors and how FIFA approaches the regulation of promotion and relegation in the United States. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Grant has two interviews this week. One is with Tab Ramos about his U.S. team at the upcoming Under-20 World Cup and his future as a coach. The second is with Monterrey’s Jonathan González about his team’s recent CONCACAF Champions League title and his journey with Sueño Alianza. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices