In 2026, the World Cup will return to North America for the first time since 1994. The festival of football watched by nearly half the world's population will be hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada and is projected to be the most profitable tournament of all time.  Will the US Men's National Team be ready to compete for glory on  home soil? And how did the United States end up a partner in hosting a tournament whose parent organization they had sent to the courthouse just four years prior? All that and more on this episode of Win, Lose, or Draw.  Music for this episode was provided by Soundstripe.  You can find us on social media on Twitter and Facebook at @WLODShow. You can also reach us privately at the wlodshow@gmail.com.

Win, Lose, or Draw

014 The Road to 2026

The United States Women's National Team have taken home the World Cup Trophy on three separate occasions. Still, the Men's National Team comes home with more money. The recent lawsuit filed against the United States Soccer Federation on International Women's Day is just another step in a long line of fighting back by female athletes. Fighting for equal pay and equal treatment.  Today, we dive into the some of women's soccer's most recent history and how time and again they've outperformed their male counterparts and taken home very different paychecks.  Music for this episode was provided by Soundstripe.  You can reach the WLOD Show at wlodshow@gmail.com or find us on Twitter and Facebook at @WLODShow.

013 Level Playing Field

Soccer teams can buy their players via the transfer market, but that's expensive work. How do teams find youth players, sign talent, and develop them until they eventually start playing with the first team? That is...if they ever do.  Around the world, teams manage academies that are developing the next generation of soccer talent. How many kids make it out? What happens when they don't make it? And how is America flipping this illustrious and proven system into a money-making scheme that's only working for the rich kids?  Music for this episode was provided by Soundstripe. As always, you can find the Win, Lose, or Draw show @WLODShow on Facebook and Twitter, or email us at wlodshow@gmail.com. 

012 Kids Today

Rule 5: The Referee. Unlike most American sports, the referee can have a significant impact on the game of soccer. How they choose to manage players, call fouls, and issue cards can vastly shift a game one way or the other. To make matters more significant, where most American sports have 2-3 referees and in the case of American Football, 10-12, typically only one referee serves as the focal point of a soccer match. This episode will explain the position of the referee, the rules of the game, their responsibilities, and their role in a match through the story of one of the worst refereed matches in World Cup History.  Music for this episode was provided by Soundstripe.  As always, you can find the Win, Lose, or Draw show @WLODShow on Facebook and Twitter, or email us at wlodshow@gmail.com.

002 Three Yellow Cards for Josip Simunic

In the 1960s, Liverpool had evolved from an industrial port city to the music capital of the world. The launching point for Merseybeat and the "British Invasion," it's no surprise that the city would also play host to one of soccer's most legendary songs. Gerry and the Pacemaker's cover of "You'll Never Walk Alone" became an instant hit and permanently latched on to the local Liverpool FC.  How did the song evolve into the anthem of the club and why are songs so tied to the identity of soccer? Tune in to find out. Music for this episode was provided by Soundstripe.  Special thanks to our guest this week, Brian Walsh. As always, you can find the Win, Lose, or Draw show @WLODShow on Facebook and Twitter, or email us at wlodshow@gmail.com.

011 You'll Never Walk Alone

When people say they don't like soccer, a common reason why is because of all those nasty draws. How can you be happy without a winner and a loser? Even worse...a draw without any goals.  This episode, we're joined by Dr. David Kilpatrick, former president of Arsenal America as we take a deep-dive into the 2006 Champions League match between Arsenal and Real Madrid, with a spot in the quarterfinals on the line. 90 gut-wrenching minutes later the scoreline read...0-0.  Music for this episode was provided by Soundstripe.  As always, you can find the Win, Lose, or Draw show @WLODShow on Facebook and Twitter, or email us at wlodshow@gmail.com.

001 Nil-Nil

We've received a couple of hodgepodge questions from listeners. For the tenth episode of the WLOD Show, I've decided to spend some time answering the ones that don't seemingly fit into a larger episode or went unanswered in a previous episode. If you have questions for the show, send them to wlodshow@gmail.com. Music for this episode was provided by Soundstripe. As always, you can find the Win, Lose, or Draw show @WLODShow on Facebook and Twitter, or email us at wlodshow@gmail.com.

010 Mailbag

In 2014, the Mexican National Team were waylaid by two erroneous offside calls. What could have been a 2-0 lead at halftime in the second game of the 2014 World Cup was a 0-0 draw thanks to the oft miss-called and misunderstood rule. This week, we break down the two plays and describe what went wrong for linesman Humberto Claviho that day. What does it mean to be offside? How do defenders capitalize on the rule? And why was Giovanni Dos Santos robbed of a would-be brace that rainy day in June 2014? Music for this episode was provided by Soundstripe and @BrokeForFree. As always, you can find the Win, Lose, or Draw show @WLODShow on Facebook and Twitter, or email us at wlodshow@gmail.com.

009 Just a Bit Offside

Christian Pulisic is the American soccer hope for a number of reasons. If the United States is going to win a World Cup in my lifetime, it'll probably be riding Christian's coattails. Aside from that, he's also the most expensive American soccer player ever after his recent transfer to Chelsea for $73 million. The transfer market is rife with complications and big money. I mean BIG money. What does it mean to the casual fan and how does it all work? Tune into the WLOD Show to find out. Music for this episode was provided by Soundstripe. As always, you can find the Win, Lose, or Draw show @WLODShow on Facebook and Twitter, or email us at wlodshow@gmail.com.

008 The 73 Million Dollar Man

What young kid doesn't want to own their own sports franchise? To many, it can seem impossible. Until this podcast starts turning a profit, I certainly don't have that kind of money. For Alex Lubyansky and his brother, though, they saw an opportunity. A chance to own a team in the very league he once claimed a championship trophy in. What does it take to start a semi-professional soccer team, what lessons have they learned, and what's next for "Roons?" All that and more on this week's episode. Music for this episode was provided by Soundstripe and Broke for Free. As always, you can find the Win, Lose, or Draw show @WLODShow on Facebook and Twitter, or email us at wlodshow@gmail.com.

007 Come On You Roons

In December of 1914, the space between the trenches, No Man's Land, became a soccer pitch. For a brief period of time, the fighting ceased, the shelling ended, and war was put aside in honor of the Christmas holiday. While the validity of the grandeur and significance of the Truce and its kickabouts are debated to this day, the impromptu matches are another in a long line of stories of the significance of sport and soccer.

006 The Christmas Truce

In May of 2018, Fulham won at Wembley Stadium for the first time in 139 years. In doing so, they secured promotion to the Premier League and the nearly $180 million that accompanies a spot in the English top flight. What is promotion and relegation and why is it mysteriously absent from soccer in the United States? Plus, how can I possibly watch a sport without playoffs?! Well, have no fear. Find out all about how you can catch playoff soccer across the pond on this episode of the Win, Lose, or Draw. Music for this episode was provided by Soundstripe. As always, you can find the Win, Lose, or Draw show @WLODShow on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram or email at wlodshow@gmail.com.

005 Promoted

The English Premier League is one of the top leagues in the world. It’s what a lot of new fans get hooked on. When they ultimately turn to Major League Soccer, it can be different animal. Unique style of play. Strange team names. Playoffs. But not too long ago, the MLS was significantly more non-traditional. Bizarre team names and Americanized rules adopted in the league’s infancy almost lead to it's demise in 2001. So what went right for the MLS and where does it stand now? For a great oral history of the 1996 MLS season, check out this piece by Complex: https://www.complex.com/sports/2015/05/oral-history-major-league-soccer-first-season Music for this episode was provided by Soundstripe and Wistia. As always, you can find the Win, Lose, or Draw show @WLODShow on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram or email at wlodshow@gmail.com.

004 35 Yards From Goal

Neymar is racing up the flank. Just one man to beat. That man sticks his leg out and sends Neymar flying to the turf, screaming in agony. It makes it hard to believe when he's up and playing 2 minutes later. Whatever you call it, the dive is a part of soccer. It's a tried and tested method of gaining an advantage, but it's also a calling card for soccer haters. Why should it matter and why do players do it? Tune in as we hit on just a few memorable dives in the sport's storied history. Dissect more of the numbers behind why soccer players are so prone to diving from the studies mentioned in this episode: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0026017 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090915202242.htm Music for this episode was provided by Soundstripe. As always, you can find the Win, Lose, or Draw show @WLODShow on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram or email at wlodshow@gmail.com.

003 Anatomy of a Dive

A podcast where we break down soccer's most frustrating elements for new fans framed alongside the game's most legendary (and mundane) tales.

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Win, Lose, or Draw

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