Cincinnati Soccer Talk

Highlights from this week's show. Back-to-back home wins for FCC as the season starts to heat up. Cincinnati gets a big statement win under their belt while Matt Miazga shares wise words about not rushing into picking winners this early in the season. We can't help but take in the moment as we dive into this match and touch on the good and bad. Bryan, Brian, and Boston are joined by the rare Coach Gough appearance this week. Check it out Cincinnati Soccer Talk is sponsored by Apollo Home! Click that banner at the top of our site for all your home improvement needs. We love supporting local companies and are lucky enough to have partners that care about local soccer. Join us! #MLS #FCCincinnati #soccer Become a Patron! Special thanks to this week's newest Patrons Subscribe to Cincinnati Soccer Talk Don't forget you can now download and subscribe to Cincinnati Soccer Talk on iTunes today! The podcast can also be found on Stitcher Smart Radio now. We're also available in the Google Play Store and NOW ON SPOTIFY! As always we'd love your feedback about our podcast! You can email the show at feedback@cincinnatisoccertalk.com. We'd love for you to join us on our Facebook page as well! Like us at Facebook.com/CincinnatiSoccerTalk. The show's RSS feed is https://cincinnatisoccertalk.libsyn.com/rss

What's better than one Jersey Swap? Two of them in one week! That's how meaty this matchup between Cincinnati and Orlando is. To kick off a special "Sunday Night Soccer" version of the pod, we chat with MLS Season Pass on AppleTV's very own Andrew Wiebe to talk soccer in the Queen City. It's been over six years since Andrew attended the first march to Nippert Stadium in the FCC MLS era, so we reminisce a little before chewing the fat and biting through this exciting matchup. All this talk of food reminds us--perhaps there is a Cincinnati chili parlor we could recommend to Andrew? Tune in and trade threads with us for this special podcast! #MLS #FCCincinnati #soccer Become a Patron! Subscribe to Cincinnati Soccer Talk Don't forget you can now download and subscribe to Cincinnati Soccer Talk on iTunes today! The podcast can also be found on Stitcher Smart Radio now. We're also available in the Google Play Store and NOW ON SPOTIFY! As always we'd love your feedback about our podcast! You can email the show at feedback@cincinnatisoccertalk.com. We'd love for you to join us on our Facebook page as well! Like us at Facebook.com/CincinnatiSoccerTalk.

It's time for the MLS Cup playoffs to come into form, and the top of the table is getting crowded. Your Orange & Blue are nipping at the leaders' heels, but they need to look over their shoulder to see the peloton looming close, including a solid Orlando City SC team wanting silverware. FC Cincinnati rode an Evander brace to take the away leg, but Orlando's still performed well at TQL. We bring Luis from Loud & Proud Orlando to talk about the Wingless Lions and their typically strong push for the postseason. Can Orlando aim higher than last season's finish? Does head coach Oscar Pareja have the talent in their high-risk-high-reward roster build? Who will play the role of spoiler to capture all three points? Tune in and trade threads with us! #MLS #FCCincinnati #soccer Become a Patron! Subscribe to Cincinnati Soccer Talk Don't forget you can now download and subscribe to Cincinnati Soccer Talk on iTunes today! The podcast can also be found on Stitcher Smart Radio now. We're also available in the Google Play Store and NOW ON SPOTIFY! As always we'd love your feedback about our podcast! You can email the show at feedback@cincinnatisoccertalk.com. We'd love for you to join us on our Facebook page as well! Like us at Facebook.com/CincinnatiSoccerTalk.

It took a few attempts, but FC Cincinnati finally punched their ticket to the playoffs for the fourth time under Pat Noonan. There are still some obstacles along the way to the MLS Cup, including the team that won the entire hill of beans last season. The public was sufficiently amazed when the Los Angeles Galaxy tiptoed around the competition and beat the Red Bulls for their sixth cup. However, their rough stumble out of the blocks this season was perhaps even more shocking. Still, is it wise to dismiss this year's Galaxy squad as being inefficient and toothless? We sit down with Edgar from News Across the Galaxy to ask what has gone wrong this season, but also what could go very right under the right conditions. Could the Galaxy be the first Western Conference squad to beat the Orange & Blue this season? Just how can Greg Vanney get his team to pull off a big win on the West Coast? Tune in and trade threads with us! #MLS #FCCincinnati #soccer Become a Patron! Subscribe to Cincinnati Soccer Talk Don't forget you can now download and subscribe to Cincinnati Soccer Talk on iTunes today! The podcast can also be found on Stitcher Smart Radio now. We're also available in the Google Play Store and NOW ON SPOTIFY! As always we'd love your feedback about our podcast! You can email the show at feedback@cincinnatisoccertalk.com. We'd love for you to join us on our Facebook page as well! Like us at Facebook.com/CincinnatiSoccerTalk.

It's been a while since both teams have had similar levels of playoff fever, but FC Cincinnati and Nashville SC are both in positions to qualify for the MLS Cup playoffs. The big question then becomes...which team qualifies first? While Pat Noonan's branch of the Philadelphia coaching pipeline has produced repeated dividends, let's not forget that B.J. Callaghan was coaching aside Jim Curtin first with the Union. Callaghan has Nashville on the brink of returning to the playoffs after missing it in 2024. We chat with Wes from Club & Country to dissect the Nashville squad and ask if the recent swoon is a cause for concern. On the heels of a 12-match undefeated streak and a deep U.S. Open Cup run, was the team wise to not bring in new talent during the transfer window? And when the rubber hits the road—we both loved that tire pun—which team will leave TQL with the better result? Tune in and trade threads with us! #MLS #FCCincinnati #soccer Become a Patron! Subscribe to Cincinnati Soccer Talk Don't forget you can now download and subscribe to Cincinnati Soccer Talk on iTunes today! The podcast can also be found on Stitcher Smart Radio now. We're also available in the Google Play Store and NOW ON SPOTIFY! As always we'd love your feedback about our podcast! You can email the show at feedback@cincinnatisoccertalk.com. We'd love for you to join us on our Facebook page as well! Like us at Facebook.com/CincinnatiSoccerTalk.

It's time to travel the globe for another Jersey Swap! With the international break upon us, the podcast also strays over the borders to talk FIFA World Cup soccer. With the world's biggest soccer event less than 300 days away, how prepared are the national teams getting? The United States have been notable for their chaos during the preparation stages, but what about their next friendly opponents? South Korea and Japan have already qualified, so the United States will be seeing teams that could be close to the finished product. We bring in our friend across the globe Dan Orlowitz after the jet lag to discuss the upcoming match between the United States and Japan. Head coach Hajime Moriyasu has Japan equipped for 2026, but does Mauricio Pochettino have the same command of the United States roster? What sort of play could we see out of Japan's own "golden generation" of superstars? How big of a result do both teams need in their Tuesday night matchup at Lower.com Field? Tune in and trade threads with us! #MLS #FCCincinnati #soccer Become a Patron! Subscribe to Cincinnati Soccer Talk Don't forget you can now download and subscribe to Cincinnati Soccer Talk on iTunes today! The podcast can also be found on Stitcher Smart Radio now. We're also available in the Google Play Store and NOW ON SPOTIFY! As always we'd love your feedback about our podcast! You can email the show at feedback@cincinnatisoccertalk.com. We'd love for you to join us on our Facebook page as well! Like us at Facebook.com/CincinnatiSoccerTalk.

FC Cincinnati fell flat against the Philadelphia Union earlier this season, but both teams are in solid position to get a home match in the playoffs. While the Orange & Blue have tested the transfer window for help, the Union have only put their eggs into one basket. Can Bradley Carnell pilot his team to a #1 seed in the East? We talk with Todd from The Free Kick to answer some of the lingering questions. Did the Union need to do more before the transfer window closed, or are any voids left in the roster? Can the defense hold firm without some of the old guard? Does the rivalry still exist without the master-student dynamic? Tune in and trade threads with us! #MLS #FCCincinnati #soccer Become a Patron! Subscribe to Cincinnati Soccer Talk Don't forget you can now download and subscribe to Cincinnati Soccer Talk on iTunes today! The podcast can also be found on Stitcher Smart Radio now. We're also available in the Google Play Store and NOW ON SPOTIFY! As always we'd love your feedback about our podcast! You can email the show at feedback@cincinnatisoccertalk.com. We'd love for you to join us on our Facebook page as well! Like us at Facebook.com/CincinnatiSoccerTalk.

Last time, the Big Apple took a large bite out of the Orange & Blue. This time, the winged lions look to claw and bite back. But how much has NYCFC changed since that loss at Citi Field in May? Cincinnati has managed to hurdle some of the competition, while the Pigeons from the 5 Boroughs have treaded water, especially on the road. Then again, NYCFC rode the hot gloved hands of Matt Freese to win the last time at TQL Stadium in the 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs. We sit down with Michael from Blue City Radio to turn the volume up on this rivalry between Cincinnati and New York. Can this NYCFC squad subsist on two guys for offense? Does head coach Pascal Jansen have reinforcements on the way? (And can we get through this episode without any baseball-field jokes?) Tune in and trade threads with us! #MLS #FCCincinnati #soccer Become a Patron! Subscribe to Cincinnati Soccer Talk Don't forget you can now download and subscribe to Cincinnati Soccer Talk on iTunes today! The podcast can also be found on Stitcher Smart Radio now. We're also available in the Google Play Store and NOW ON SPOTIFY! As always we'd love your feedback about our podcast! You can email the show at feedback@cincinnatisoccertalk.com. We'd love for you to join us on our Facebook page as well! Like us at Facebook.com/CincinnatiSoccerTalk.

Needed any more pressure in your MLS season? FC Cincinnati is one of about a dozen teams still in the running for the Supporters' Shield. While they have played well on the road, the final three away trips all look difficult on paper. Take, for example, the Portland Timbers, a team FC Cincinnati has not visited yet. Providence Park isn't impenetrable, but a late-night tilt against the Timbers isn't easy. We sit down with Alex Barnes from Stumptown Footy to learn a bit about the team Evander once called his own. The fans couldn't be that bitter about exchanging their star #10 for another one, right? And on the matter of exchanges, how is the Kevin Kelsy experiment going? Does Phil Neville have a squad that could join their fellow Cascadians in the MLS Cup playoffs? Tune in and trade threads with us! #MLS #FCCincinnati #soccer Become a Patron! Subscribe to Cincinnati Soccer Talk Don't forget you can now download and subscribe to Cincinnati Soccer Talk on iTunes today! The podcast can also be found on Stitcher Smart Radio now. We're also available in the Google Play Store and NOW ON SPOTIFY! As always we'd love your feedback about our podcast! You can email the show at feedback@cincinnatisoccertalk.com. We'd love for you to join us on our Facebook page as well! Like us at Facebook.com/CincinnatiSoccerTalk.

With the Leagues Cup appetizer digested, it's time to focus on the real meat and potatoes of the soccer season. Nine teams are within ten points of each other atop the standings, and Charlotte is hoping to make the argument that there should be ten by week's end. After all, they had taken the crown earlier this season with a 2-0 home win over Cincinnati. Cincinnati fans would probably argue that they have improved, while Charlotte stumbled with a midseason swoon. We talk with Danny from the Charlotte Soccer Show podcast to acclimate once again with a very different Carolina team. Is the defense still strong despite some rearrangement? What can spark the offense with one striker dealt and an MVP candidate on the mend? Can Charlotte defend their Queen City Cup during FCC's alumni weekend? Tune in and trade threads with us! #MLS #FCCincinnati #soccer Become a Patron! Subscribe to Cincinnati Soccer Talk Don't forget you can now download and subscribe to Cincinnati Soccer Talk on iTunes today! The podcast can also be found on Stitcher Smart Radio now. We're also available in the Google Play Store and NOW ON SPOTIFY! As always we'd love your feedback about our podcast! You can email the show at feedback@cincinnatisoccertalk.com. We'd love for you to join us on our Facebook page as well! Like us at Facebook.com/CincinnatiSoccerTalk.

The road to the MLS Cup has been surprisingly navigable. However, it's time to swerve right and exit the MLS highway for a pit stop in the Leagues Cup. Last season, FC Cincinnati got further into the knockout round than the season before. As much as that momentum is positive, this reiteration of the Leagues Cup has a completely different format. To get tho the smaller knockout rounds, the Orange & Blue have to go through three Liga MX squads and hope they can do so without many hiccups. So what can we expect from C.F. Monterrey, FC Juarez, and Chivas Guadalajara? We invite Jaime from Cantina MX to give us the lowdown on Chivas and Eddie from Rayados90 to reintroduce us to the Vazquez-less version of Monterrey. Juarez? Well, we can at least try to narrow down what MLS team they would be. Can this new format please everyone? Are Columbus or Inter Miami able to dominate the competition again? Does Geoff sincerely think Cruz Azul could win it all?? Tune in and trade threads with us! #MLS #FCCincinnati #soccer Become a Patron! Subscribe to Cincinnati Soccer Talk Don't forget you can now download and subscribe to Cincinnati Soccer Talk on iTunes today! The podcast can also be found on Stitcher Smart Radio now. We're also available in the Google Play Store and NOW ON SPOTIFY! As always we'd love your feedback about our podcast! You can email the show at feedback@cincinnatisoccertalk.com. We'd love for you to join us on our Facebook page as well! Like us at Facebook.com/CincinnatiSoccerTalk.

On paper, FC Cincinnati fans may have approached this next game with some confidence. After all, keeping Lionel Messi off the scoring sheet is no small feat. Despite losing Kevin Denkey for a prolonged spell, the Orange & Blue rode Evander's brace to silence the Herons 3-0 at TQL Stadium. However, the confidence this weekend could be harder to measure. The news could focus on Evander and Messi again testing each other's MVP chances. However, Messi's absence from the All-Star Game on Wednesday has ruffled feathers in the Winged Lions' fans. That should lead to a suspension if history dictates anything, but can we honestly expect the G.O.A.T. to miss another match against Cincinnati? That possibility still exists, so we ask Alex from Bleacher Report and The Heron's Nest about such a threat. Did Pat Noonan play his cards correctly last time? Can the Orange & Blue pull another fast one against South Beach's Super Squad? What could Javier Mascherano drum up to resume Miami's defense of the Supporters' Shield? Tune in and trade threads with us! #MLS #FCCincinnati #soccer Become a Patron! Subscribe to Cincinnati Soccer Talk Don't forget you can now download and subscribe to Cincinnati Soccer Talk on iTunes today! The podcast can also be found on Stitcher Smart Radio now. We're also available in the Google Play Store and NOW ON SPOTIFY! As always we'd love your feedback about our podcast! You can email the show at feedback@cincinnatisoccertalk.com. We'd love for you to join us on our Facebook page as well! Like us at Facebook.com/CincinnatiSoccerTalk.

(Bonus episode! Relive the live RSL episode of Jersey Swap in audio form.) With their biggest win in the past, FC Cincinnati focus again on the present with a suddenly-mammoth three-point challenge at Real Salt Lake Saturday. The hunter now becomes the hunted, as RSL have gone five matches unbeaten. Another change of pace—Mr. “No Days Off” took PTO this week, so Jason Ashcraft steps in for a special Jersey Swap with Scott Omer from Designated Pundits. While the primary focus will be on Diego Luna after his USMNT breakout, can the Orange & Blue return to their away form without any letdowns? Tune in and trade threads with us! #MLS #FCCincinnati #soccer Become a Patron! Subscribe to Cincinnati Soccer Talk Don't forget you can now download and subscribe to Cincinnati Soccer Talk on iTunes today! The podcast can also be found on Stitcher Smart Radio now. We're also available in the Google Play Store and NOW ON SPOTIFY! As always we'd love your feedback about our podcast! You can email the show at feedback@cincinnatisoccertalk.com. We'd love for you to join us on our Facebook page as well! Like us at Facebook.com/CincinnatiSoccerTalk.

The hype train finally pulls into Union Terminal this week. David Beckham brings his band to TQL Stadium for a midweek performance between FC Cincinnati and Inter Miami. However, as much as The Herons have dominated headlines and jersey sales, the Orange & Blue still stand (slightly) ahead of Miami, and a win over the hottest team in MLS can stave off the oncoming wave. As much as we'll try to not mention LM 10 (and make a drinking game about it), this week we invite Daniel from Arriba Bolso to talk about the Argentinian G.O.A.T. Can the team fully function if Messi (DRINK!) manages to have a bad game? Does Javier Mascherano have the defense to keep Cincinnati away from the scoreboard? How does Rodrigo de Paul fit into this system, both physically and financially? Tune in and trade threads with us! #MLS #FCCincinnati #soccer Become a Patron! Subscribe to Cincinnati Soccer Talk Don't forget you can now download and subscribe to Cincinnati Soccer Talk on iTunes today! The podcast can also be found on Stitcher Smart Radio now. We're also available in the Google Play Store and NOW ON SPOTIFY! As always we'd love your feedback about our podcast! You can email the show at feedback@cincinnatisoccertalk.com. We'd love for you to join us on our Facebook page as well! Like us at Facebook.com/CincinnatiSoccerTalk.

It comes home only once a year—twice if we're lucky—and each time, the "Hell Is Real" derby fails to disappoint. Ohio's biggest soccer rivalry returns to the confines of TQL Stadium Saturday evening. When FC Cincinnati and Columbus Crew clash for possession of the soul of Ohio, pride is on the line. However, the perspective of the radio booth may paint a different picture—how does the voice of The Crew see this rivalry? We spend some time with Chris Doran, the play-by-play broadcaster for Columbus Crew on 105.7 FM, to talk about the evolution of the Crew and "Hell Is Real". What was once a team that shied away from investment in Columbus soccer has become a squad that prioritizes success in the face of their younger brother. How does Chris see Saturday's crucial matchup pan out, and what do the Crew need to do to escape the Queen City with three points? Tune in and trade threads with us! #MLS #FCCincinnati #soccer Become a Patron! Subscribe to Cincinnati Soccer Talk Don't forget you can now download and subscribe to Cincinnati Soccer Talk on iTunes today! The podcast can also be found on Stitcher Smart Radio now. We're also available in the Google Play Store and NOW ON SPOTIFY! As always we'd love your feedback about our podcast! You can email the show at feedback@cincinnatisoccertalk.com. We'd love for you to join us on our Facebook page as well! Like us at Facebook.com/CincinnatiSoccerTalk.

You're going to need FIRE for an explosive Fourth of July holiday, and we could be seeing that with the Chicago Fire coming to TQL Stadium. Last time against Chicago, FC Cincinnati escaped with another one-goal win on the road, but needed three goals to pull it off. Since then, Chicago has been the most potent offense in the East, but have only a +4 goal differential to show for it. What should we be aware of the second time with a half-season processed under head coach Gregg Berhalter? How has the likes of Philip Zinckernagel snuck his way onto the All-Star Game roster? We ask the host of the "Danny T Radio" YouTube channel if the Fire are a legitimate threat to the Eastern Conference this season. (While we're at it, let's look at our soccer kit collections.) Tune in and trade threads with us! #MLS #FCCincinnati #soccer Become a Patron! Subscribe to Cincinnati Soccer Talk Don't forget you can now download and subscribe to Cincinnati Soccer Talk on iTunes today! The podcast can also be found on Stitcher Smart Radio now. We're also available in the Google Play Store and NOW ON SPOTIFY! As always we'd love your feedback about our podcast! You can email the show at feedback@cincinnatisoccertalk.com. We'd love for you to join us on our Facebook page as well! Like us at Facebook.com/CincinnatiSoccerTalk.

It's time for the winged lions to take on the wingless variety. FC Cincinnati rides a mini-streak to take on Orlando City SC in the Magic Kingdom. This weekend's match could be the must-watch on Saturday, as both lurk atop the table. However, head coach Óscar Pareja has Orlando riding high behind a cohesive attack that boasts the most goals in the East. We talk with Nic from The Mane Land to get his thoughts on Orlando's life after Facundo Torres's departure, the instant rise of Alex Freeman to USMNT starter, and how defensively stout both teams could be this weekend. (Perhaps we also get an early weather report with all that humidity down there.) Tune in and trade threads with us! #MLS #FCCincinnati #soccer Become a Patron! Subscribe to Cincinnati Soccer Talk Don't forget you can now download and subscribe to Cincinnati Soccer Talk on iTunes today! The podcast can also be found on Stitcher Smart Radio now. We're also available in the Google Play Store and NOW ON SPOTIFY! As always we'd love your feedback about our podcast! You can email the show at feedback@cincinnatisoccertalk.com. We'd love for you to join us on our Facebook page as well! Like us at Facebook.com/CincinnatiSoccerTalk.

Canada and the United States may not face each other yet in Gold Cup competition, but the North and Great White North will still face each other. FC Cincinnati tries to make it a winning streak against CF Montréal this Wednesday evening. The last time the Orange & Blue traveled to Stade Saputo, they came back with a 2-1 loss, but some distant Orellano magic quelled any thoughts of an away win later on. The first half of the season has been a struggle for Le CFM, but some hope still exists. We talk with Justine from the 1642 MTL supporters' group to get her thoughts on the "buy low, sell high" strategy and the coaching change early in the season. How can Montréal make an impact against a Cincinnati squad looking for momentum? Tune in and trade threads with us! #MLS #FCCincinnati #soccer Become a Patron! Subscribe to Cincinnati Soccer Talk Don't forget you can now download and subscribe to Cincinnati Soccer Talk on iTunes today! The podcast can also be found on Stitcher Smart Radio now. We're also available in the Google Play Store and NOW ON SPOTIFY! As always we'd love your feedback about our podcast! You can email the show at feedback@cincinnatisoccertalk.com. We'd love for you to join us on our Facebook page as well! Like us at Facebook.com/CincinnatiSoccerTalk.

The international break could not have come at a better time. Momentum tends to shift at extended pauses, and FC Cincinnati could use that to get back onto the winning track. Perhaps it could also help cool down our opponents on Saturday--the New England Revolution have not lost in MLS play since the Orange & Blue took them down at home in April. So what's in the clam chowder these days in New England? How has Caleb Porter gone from the hot seat to the driver's seat? The Revs have had some difficult injuries to play through, so why is the team undefeated since April? We get Sam from the Blazing Musket to talk about New England's change to a familiar formation and major performances from new faces. Let's not forget that it's not all Massachusetts up there--perhaps we can talk about what's going on in the other five states? Tune in and trade threads with us! #MLS #FCCincinnati #soccer Become a Patron! Subscribe to Cincinnati Soccer Talk Don't forget you can now download and subscribe to Cincinnati Soccer Talk on iTunes today! The podcast can also be found on Stitcher Smart Radio now. We're also available in the Google Play Store and NOW ON SPOTIFY! As always we'd love your feedback about our podcast! You can email the show at feedback@cincinnatisoccertalk.com. We'd love for you to join us on our Facebook page as well! Like us at Facebook.com/CincinnatiSoccerTalk.

The international break finally gives us some time to stretch and recollect our bearings, but we at the Jersey Swap podcast never rest. The laundry always needs to be done! With the Club World Cup occupying TQL Stadium for a few weeks, we're focusing on this revised tournament with an expanded field of podcasters. We've invited Daniel Solana from Arriba Bolso!, Nate Janulis from We Are Soccer, Kenta Hagiwara from the Asian Futbol Show, and CST's own Jose Guerra to tackle all six global soccer confederations. What teams are treating this club tournament as a serious competition? What teams have the best shot at getting the lion's share of 1 billion FIFA bucks? Hell, do we really think this competition should have been expanded at all? The biggest Jersey Swap to date in scale and land coverage will cover all of the continents! Tune in and trade threads with us! #MLS #FCCincinnati #soccer Become a Patron! Subscribe to Cincinnati Soccer Talk Don't forget you can now download and subscribe to Cincinnati Soccer Talk on iTunes today! The podcast can also be found on Stitcher Smart Radio now. We're also available in the Google Play Store and NOW ON SPOTIFY! As always we'd love your feedback about our podcast! You can email the show at feedback@cincinnatisoccertalk.com. We'd love for you to join us on our Facebook page as well! Like us at Facebook.com/CincinnatiSoccerTalk.