SportSpyder - The Latest FC Dallas Podcasts

Catching Up on All the FC Dallas News

Thu, 09 Jul 2026 14:32:02 GMT

Petar Musa was named an MLS All-Star. graphic image courtesy of FC Dallas and Major League Soccer.

Welcome back, FC Dallas regulars, and welcome to those who are curious about Major League Soccer, MLS Next Pro, and all the other wonderful leagues in this country that deserve our cash and support.

It’s a great time to be a soccer fan in this country with brand new stadiums opening every year, more and more access to professional matches all over the place, and talented players getting their chances.

FC Dallas is back in practice, and over the next couple of weeks, the team will get the second half of the season into gear. It’s going to be an exciting one. And as usual, there are rumors of all kinds to pay attention, as the team keeps trying to improve and capitalize on the anticipated World Cup bounce.

Here is what we are tracking:

Petar Musa Is an All-Star and Probably Here to Stay?

The big news this week is that Petar Musa will represent FC Dallas in the upcoming Major League Soccer All-Star game. The prolific striker is having another fantastic season, and he deserved to both get a chance to show his stuff at the World Cup and now get mixed in with the best of the best in North America. A worthy honor for the international!

Speaking of the World Cup, while Musa bagged himself a crucial goal for Croatia, his play and usage by the national team fell off pretty quickly. It had to be disappointing for the striker to not get more opportunities, especially when Croatia were pushing late for equalizers. Whether something happened in the locker room or he picked up a nagging injury, he did not feature in the final Croatian game.

Musa returns to FC Dallas in fine form, likely deserving a break before getting back into rhythm with the squad.

But the even bigger news is that the market has likely cooled for the striker. No doubt, there are teams out there keeping an eye on him, but it’s not likely his World Cup appearances raised his stock high enough to justify the price tag it will require to get him out of Frisco. Fans, while gutted for him not making a bigger impact with Croatia, can breathe a little sigh of relief. The Moose is likely going to be here longer.

Truth, I think this raises the expectations for the rest of the season. If Musa stays in fine form, FC Dallas will continue to stay in contention.

Of course, never say never. Who knows what happens in the coming transfer windows.

FC Dallas Stadium Is a Work-in-Progress

The other interesting news was some flurry of photos showing a temporary press box on the east side of Toyota Stadium being damaged during the continued construction and demolition of parts of the venue. Unfortunately, I can’t find the image, but it marks how the return to action in Frisco will continue to be a very much “work-in-progress” experience. Fans should pay attention to the changed seating charts and be as patient as possible. We won’t see the true Frisco experience for a while.

You can argue that the timing for these important upgrades could have been better planned, with a World Cup in town and all, but permitting, financing, and planning are what they are.

Meanwhile, FC Dallas will be playing at least one Leagues Cup game on August 5 down in Mansfield in the new Texas Health Mansfield Stadium. That should be a special experience to get a look at North Texas SC’s new venue and environment.

New Starting Goalkeeper On the Way?

Tom Bogert is reporting, that with San Jose signing Scottish international keeper Angus Gunn, Daniel is on his way to FC Dallas in a trade.

The move is an interesting one. FC Dallas came into the year pretty confident in Michael Collodi as the leader and starter between the posts, but after being benched due to some choppy play, Jonathan Sirois, acquired in a trade with CF Montreal, got a couple of starts. Daniel is a very solid goalkeeper and offers an immediate upgrade. Rumor is that he was on the outs with Bruce Arena recently, so he gets a fresh start.

Goalkeeper was not a position we thought the team was worried about, but this could be a very shrewd move. FC Dallas can claim excellent depth in the position, and the three will really push each other for that starting spot. I expect Daniel is going to win the position and help stabilize a defense that at times has given up too many mistakes in big moments.

This also likely means that Brooks Thompson, who the team loaned in from Lexington SC until June as a third option, will return to his team.

Is the Team Still in Play for Other Moves?

My other hope out of this World Cup was for Deedson to show well in the tournament and get an intriguing offer to depart the team, as his minutes have not materialized and his profile doesn’t quite fit where the team is headed. Maybe FC Dallas can find a trade suitor for a rebuilding team like Sporting Kansas City, open up that spot, and look to deepen their roster. It’s probably wishful thinking.

A left-footed player who can offer competition at wing back would be nice, though Bernard Kamungo should be getting healthy and back in the mix soon.

We plan to do another live show soon and break down these stories and more as Major League Soccer play begins to kick off in just a couple of weeks.

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Another Disappointment for the USA

Tue, 07 Jul 2026 04:34:04 GMT

We really needed Captain America, dude.

I’ve listened now, at this late hour, to multiple takes from US Soccer fans and tactical gurus to celebrities and journalists on what went wrong for the USMNT, as they fell quite confidently to Belgium, 4-1.

The one through line? We weren’t good enough.

Of course, from the opening whistle, this team WAS NOT good enough. Despite a few days of hype, with a matchup that seemed somewhat favorable, Belgium looked in control within five minutes. Their opening goal against the run of play was a profoundly simple disaster and deflated the energy of the stadium and most importantly the team. Despite Malik Tillman’s miracle free kick goal, our national squad appeared passive to the moment, giving up a score that answered squarely what the rest of the game would amount to - rolling over in front of a raucous record crowd and millions of fans.

How do you not take this moment and seize it? How do you not at least show that the US are not going to go down without a fight?

Instead, the entire match, despite a few subs that provided momentary boosts, felt like a whimper.

What do we learn from this disaster?

The loss is not shocking; the manner of the loss is!

Honestly, Belgium were the favorites even before the weird narratives around Balogun’s suspension plopped in their laps. Were they the “out and out” favorites? No. The US were expected to score a goal, maybe two, compared to similar odds for Belgium. If the hard fought match had ended 1-2 to the visitors, it would have met those expectations. If it had gone into extra time, we all would have been satisfied. This was supposedly an even bout.

In truth, Belgium were a class above. Way above.

The fact that the USA could hardly manage to control the ball, despite boasting a strong home field advantage, undermines so much of what we thought about this team. Was it maybe just one bad game? Sure. But at this stage of the tournament, at this moment? A huge disappointment.

The two later goals, including a shocking goalkeeper error, add to the embarrassment of the day. None of this should have happened.

Politics did not help.

I imagine the United States were prepping to start Ricardo Pepi all week long. Or maybe it was Haji Wright? Or some other tactical lineup?

We will never know.

Learning that Balogun would be reinstated, perhaps due to some arcane FIFA rules process or perhaps due to political pressure by an unpopular, sports-killing President or both, changed everything. It may have given Belgium that cohesive purpose they had missed earlier in the tournament. Now, they felt like the underdogs against a system that was aligning against them and against fair play. You can argue all you want whether that is justified or not, but the US players had to answer questions about it and throw out their game plans. It changed the narrative, too.

That was a huge distraction for this team, who, no doubt, had to go back to the drawing board. Maybe they felt like they could just roll out what worked before and expect to win. Sorely, sorely, sorely… mistaken. They looked unprepared. The narrative did not work in their favor.

Ultimately, there was no savior for the US.

Yes, Folarin Balugon got the start, but he hardly contributed (beyond earning a key foul). Ricardo Pepi got some minutes, but what difference did he make? No one on the United States Men’s National Team offered brilliance in this game, beyond Malik Tillman and maybe some late energy from Reyna and Berhalter.

In truth, this was a game where one coach simply out-classed another, and there was no answer. Pochettino, who had rumors swirling that he could be re-signed for another four year contract, put to bed his future with the US program. In the one game where you really need to put your team in its best possible position, he had no answers. This is the kind of game you are hired to prepare for. Sure, you lose some in the group stages — you lose some in the Gold Cup lead up. And maybe you even lose in this moment. But this is the game you are paid big bucks to at least make sure your squad is ready for.

The USA were not ready; Pochettino was not ready.

It is time to move on, be thankful for what was developed, and find the next name who can help this team prepare for the next four years, with fresh faces and opportunities ahead.

Is the sky falling?

No. This was a historic tournament for the US. The expanded field helped. Winning the group was an important step for this program. The future, though, is uncertain. However, there is talent and a continually expanding soccer structure in the United States that opens the door to growth. So many eyes and ears were exposed to the beautiful game and more will come.

Even from four years ago, the competitiveness and quality in Major League Soccer, USL Championship, and MLS Next Pro is vastly improved.

The best thing you can do as a potential soccer fan is to support lower tier soccer. Support these young people who love the game and want to shine on the biggest stage. You never know who you might see take that next step to stardom.

We can still enjoy the rest of this tournament. There are amazing games to be played and world class stars who will show us what we only hope will one day to see on a regular basis for the US. Tonight hurts, but the future is still bright.

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Historic: North Texas SC Opens Mansfield Era With a Dominant Win

Sun, 05 Jul 2026 04:16:45 GMT

Credit to the great FC Dallas/North Texas SC social media team.

Can you imagine a better start to the Mansfield era for North Texas Soccer Club?

In a gleaming new stadium and in front of a spirited, joyful crowd, North Texas SC burst back into the playoff mix with a 3-0 dominant, celebratory win at home.

From kickoff, you could tell there was extra energy and enthusiasm in the home side, as they looked to both turn the page on an up-and-down first half of the season and start writing fresh storylines for what this season can mean for the young squad.

The win was marked by a massive clean sheet from goalkeeper Eryk Dymora, who marshaled his back line expertly. Slade Starnes and Alvaro Augusto did not put a foot wrong. Whatever burden and weight or miscommunications the defense had been dealing with in previous matchups was not evident on the night. Yes, North Texas hadn’t won in four recent bouts with St Louis City 2, but you could hardly tell as they lined up against by all accounts a superior opponent.

“Don’t worry, it wasn’t overshadowed by me,” Slade Starnes told media after the match. “I think our biggest change over the last four or five games has been defending as a unit. During the first half of the season, we struggled at times and gave up goals because of our own mistakes. That became a big point of emphasis from the coaching staff. When we shift, we shift together. When we step up, we step up together. The spacing between us has to stay consistent because those little details can decide games. I think we’ve done a much better job of that recently.”

The offense was even better. While it took some time for the goals to get started, the promise was there from the opening whistle. Edouard Nys and Natty James zipped around the field to find space and create combinations. The final third didn’t click until Ricky Louis replaced Nicholas Simmonds at half (and probably a pep talk from head coach John Gall).

From then on, North Texas SC ruthlessly exploited space and chaos. Caleb Swann, once again transforming the midfield with a captain-like performance, dribbled into a dangerous spot to create a chance and then stayed with the play to slot home his first goal of the season. He earned an assist for the opening goal too. Late subs brought on two high potential players in Da’Vian Kimbrough and Benjamin Flowers. Rather than see out the win, they pushed, and Kimbrough came away with his first assist of the season through a dummy by Flowers to add a nice exclamation point to the victory.

“We made a few adjustments at halftime, changed some things tactically, and they worked really well. I’m really proud of the players for the way they competed in front of our home supporters,” Gall told media after the match. “From the day we knew we were coming to Mansfield, we talked about building a community. I grew up in the U.K., where many clubs are deeply connected to their communities, and this reminds me of that. It feels like the start of something special.”

Big Picture?

Credit to Chris Winters for the shot.

The stadium is gorgeous. And like I wrote yesterday, tighter crowds closer to the action is going to feed into the energy that this young team needs. I don’t know if St Louis City felt rattled a bit by the moment, but there was a marked difference in the atmosphere even on the livestream.

There is so much potential to grow the entire experience going forward.

“The atmosphere tonight was outstanding,” head coach John Gall said after the match. “It was the first time many of these players had performed in front of a crowd like this, and seeing them interact with the fans was part of their development. It was a special night, and no one can ever take away the fact that we’re 1-0 at Texas Health Mansfield Stadium. I’m proud of the players, proud of the club and proud of the work our staff puts in every day. We push these players hard because moments like this make it all worthwhile. Seeing the celebration in the locker room afterward reminded us exactly why we do it.”

Youth Shining

North Texas SC are well-stocked with talent. We’ve talked about Nys and James and Swann and Newman and others before. It was amazing to Kimbrough (on his debut) and Flowers make instant impact. Both are high ceiling youngsters who need to develop. Part of that development is putting them in a situation, even if they come off the bench, to take risks and grow. Look for more.

“Da’vian is a player with a very high ceiling. There’s been a lot of expectation and excitement around him since he arrived, but he’s a kid who has stayed grounded, and I know he’ll continue to do that. Tonight, he showed what he does best. He gave us some really good hold-up play, used his physicality well, got into good positions and picked up an assist. I’m really proud of him, and we’ll continue to help him develop and get the most out of his potential,” Gall told media about the youngsters. “The same goes for Benji Flowers. He came on late and might even claim a half assist for the dummy that led to Ricky’s goal. I’m really happy for all of our young players, especially those who have been moving between the first and second teams. That’s not an easy situation for young players, but they continue to handle it well. Overall, I’m pleased with the group and with the way the individuals took care of their business tonight.”

North Texas SC are still on the outside looking in for the final playoff spot in MLS Next Pro, but this result could be the beginning of a nice run to push them up the standings and gain ground with a couple of games in hand.

May this new era flourish!

Next Era Begins: North Texas Soccer Club Starts the Next Chapter in Mansfield

Fri, 03 Jul 2026 17:09:52 GMT

Something big is happening on Saturday.

No, I’m not talking Canada taking on Morocco or Paraguay taking on France in the darn World Cup.

North Texas Soccer Club will play their first match at their brand new stadium in Mansfield, Texas, a project years in the making.

What a day it will be.

North Texas SC is, of course, a premier development club, part of FC Dallas’ storied academy system. When you see Ricardo Pepi play for the US in the next match of the World Cup, know that North Texas was part of that development journey. And so were other players populating lower leagues and upper leagues and all kinds of leagues. This is not a mere development team for FC Dallas — it’s an environment that can produce stars.

I admit I am a soccer sicko. Lower tier squads in the United States of America are where the future lies — a first chance to see the next national team regular ply their trade and emerge. The more you watch MLS Next Pro or USL Championship, the more you see the competitive nature of soccer and how a slight bit of speed, determination, and smarts can separate a player from one level to another. Pepi showed it. Nolan Norris displayed it. Michael Collodi lived it.

If you love soccer, truly love it, you go to lower tier games.

The economics are great — it’s a bargain in this economy. The truth is that you get to watch youngsters from all walks of life live their dream. That’s so special.

Saturday is massive for North Texas Soccer Club and massive for MLS Next Pro beyond just player development. Mansfield marks a more focused opportunity for marketing and widening the academy system’s reach outside of Frisco. They have a chance to build a stronger brand identity going forward. Next Pro can also add to its growing list of stadium venues to showcase their rising stars, making the experience of this league unique.

North Texas SC has been using Choctaw Stadium, former home of the Texas Rangers, over the past few years. It’s a solid and historic stadium. I loved watching baseball there. North Texas even won a championship in Choctaw in 2024, so it will forever have a special place in the hearts of fans.

But it’s cavernous for a lower division soccer club. Even when there are a solid number of fans in attendance, it can feel empty. This is a challenge not just for NTSC but for many lower tier soccer squads. You want an environment that can, yes, bring in some cash but can also create the intensity and support for home field advantage. You want young players who can thrive under the lights and atmosphere of a raucous crowd. You want fans feeling like their presence and voices matter, close to the action.

With Texas Health Mansfield Stadium and its 7000 seating capacity, North Texas has the right fit to build an amazing soccer experience.

For the club, I also believe it gives them the opportunity to develop some real home field advantage, something that they often lacked at Choctaw. Visiting teams need to fear playing at Mansfield in front of raucous crowds. There needs to be some tradition to offer character to the fan experience. I’m excited to see it develop.

Of course, I have big questions about the future.

Will North Texas SC consider rebranding to embrace Mansfield?
What will this day mean for the rest of the season? Will North Texas SC shift gears and start a run deep into the playoffs?
Are recent rumored signings like Benji Flowers (who may eventually head to Chelsea) and loanee Da’vian Kimbrough just the beginning of attracting more talent to this squad and giving them a platform for success in a first class stadium experience? How easier will it be to entice promising talent like Edouard Nys to take their next professional steps in this organization?

I’m excited to see.

Even if you can’t make it this opening match, you can watch North Texas SC welcome St Louis City SC 2 at 7:45 PM CST over on YouTube. Just a heads up - it’s going to be a tough match for this young side against one of the better teams in MLS Next Pro. But maybe this is the moment the squad needs. Maybe this is the day to shift the narrative. Maybe the next era begins tomorrow.

They did it.

Thu, 02 Jul 2026 15:24:39 GMT

My dog, a miniature black poodle, has anxiety, and it’s been something we have been working on slowly. He goes nuts frequently, especially when another dog shows up on the TV screen or any of us get excited about anything. We have him medicated now to deal with the rampant anxiety. It makes family movie nights a little challenging, though.

All of this is not an aside - it was the riveting problem I faced as I watched Malik Tillman confidently slot home a stunning free kick to confirm the United States Men’s National Team ticket to the next round.

I screamed. I jumped. I danced.

And my dog, who I had been trying to keep calm most of the day, scrambled up in panic. Was it fear? Was it agony? Or, as I think back, was it joy alongside my own? Is my dog sick with World Cup Fever too?

Three hours later, as I write these words, I still feel ready to party.

It’s true - this United States Men’s National Team feels different. They aren’t perfect and will need to grow into the next match. However, this group of guys found a way, even after the set back of Balogun getting a harsh red card. (No chance it will be rescinded.) Down a man, facing a Bosnian team growing in confidence, the US held their own, and more importantly, took advantage of a precious free kick to stun their opponents and seal the win.

In years past, the red card would have been the first domino in a result we know all too well, disappointment and resignation to defeat.

But this squad found a way. They did it. They stayed together and fought through surmounting odds, scrapping and clawing to a defensive shutout and a crucial free kick that shifted the narrative.

I add to others who find this midfield particularly impressive, three world class midfielders in McKennie, Adams, and Tillman who complement each other well in their movement and sets of tools.

I honor a back line that was competent and disciplined.

The challenges away in the next matchup. Belgium is beatable, but that team has experience and found their way through despite struggling against Senegal. Ricardo Pepi doesn’t need fill Balogun’s shoes, but he needs to be dangerous and help create the chaos that others can fill. The next man must step up.

When the final whistle blew, I could hear the roar of neighbors in a nearby backyard in celebration as the Southern California sun set.

This unbridled emotion is what the World Cup is all about, turning strangers into sudden friends, morphing a crowd from silence into rapture. I’ve hit my preferred pub multiple times this week, ordering a Diet Coke and a half salad (yeah, trying to be a good boy), and each time, I find a motley crew gathered around TV screens, most of them still trying to understand why a certain goal was offside and another wasn’t. It’s so much fun.

After a heated conversation about who the real contenders in the tournament are and why some nations do better than others, I recommended Inverting the Pyramid to a lawyer standing next to me. He promptly looked it up on Amazon and added it to his wish list.

A couple came in as I was finishing the final minutes of the Belgium/Senegal match, grabbing a spot next to me. The wife was decked out in American colors from head to toe. They spoke with Indian accents, but it was clear, they felt at home. We had a brief, friendly chat, and when I started to leave, she seemed surprised.

“Aren’t you going to stay and watch the game?”

I felt a little pang of guilt - I’d love to stay, but I had an anxious dog to take for a long walk first.

An anxious dog who is as invested as I am apparently.

What a tournament.

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Why the World Cup Matters

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 14:15:48 GMT

I am back from some needed vacation time, and it was awesome to be in Tokyo and Seoul and watch South Korea and Mexico play in a fierce bout amidst thousands of fans.

Truth be told, I was on the fence about how plugged in I was going to be during this World Cup. Sure, I’d catch the US and a few other teams, especially charting Petar Musa’s progress on this big stage. Now, I am hooked. It’s hard to sit at my desk and get all of my important work — and I do have important work to do — with the tantalizing livestream (in Spanish) of whatever current matchup a finger tip away.

The World Cup is hugely important for the future of soccer in the US, despite a lot of deep-seated problems facing our nation. Many of my neighbors are afraid to go down to the grocery store. A core idea like birthright citizenship, so simple and so important to what this multi-racial democracy/economic national powerhouse has become, was nearly on the chopping block. If the decision had gone another way, it’s possible our USMNT star striker, who is only American because a plane got turned around, wouldn’t be American anymore.

And that decision won’t stop the hollowing out of so many vibrant neighborhoods, with good people just going to work and loving their families… and often producing a bunch of good soccer players, because people in power want this country to be less diverse and more… white.

Which sounds pretty boring to me.

I can’t help but notice that the better teams at the World Cup are looking more and more diverse, because producing good players isn’t a science. You don’t just grow them. They are shaped by their circumstances, by luck, and by having a growing society. You need people from all walks of life, with different ideas and ways of thinking and physical abilities.

And most importantly, you need strong domestic leagues.

On a larger scale though, the moments of drama and heroism that define the individual performances during a World Cup have the potential to inspire all kinds of young people to try out for a sport they may just dabble with. Yes, there are structural barriers that make soccer not so accessible at times. I live in the heart of Southern California’s pristine suburbia, where everything is expensive, including trying out for the highly competitive soccer clubs in the area.

Back in Maryland, I was a coach and helper with a community-based soccer club that had dues of like $70 for a season, where the purpose was just to get the kids on the field to enjoy the game. The fees covered the field rentals. Sure, we had some good players come through, lots of kids from French-speaking Africa, and after they dominated, they’d matriculate to a more competitive setup. For the majority of kids, it was just about getting them out there under the lights with a ball and a few goals and have fun. I wasn’t a great coach, but it was so much fun. Those kids were awesome.

When we moved to California, I was sort of excited to get my son to try out in something more competitive. We showed up for a couple of try-outs, including for some sort of Liverpool-connected outfit, and while he worked his butt off, he also didn’t impress the coach when he reached up and caught a ball rocketing toward him with his hands. He is now a starting offensive lineman for his high school football team, a sport that he really loves and better suits his skills and instincts.

Developing the next generation of superstars, however, is not what a good soccer culture is even about. It’s about community. It’s about a game that is fun and can be played with just a ball, some cones, and a field. It’s about fans who live and die with bated breath on every pass, every shot, every gritty tackle.

More than players, fans are made during these World Cups. I became an FC Dallas fan, because Landon Donovan stunned everyone with that late goal against Algeria in 2010. I was living in Dallas at that time, watching a sketchy, blurry feed in hopes that the United States Men’s National Team would do something special. I think I closed my browser window in frustration in extra time, resigned to defeat. And then was stunned when I saw the final score.

I made a commitment to support Major League Soccer that day and the growth of a sport I loved even when I didn’t get to play it beyond my youth years in Oklahoma. Initially, I chose to watch the Los Angeles Galaxy because of Landon Donovan’s heroics, but when I found a broadcast game of the Galaxy against FC Dallas, this player named David Ferreira enchanted me. Heck, the way Schellas Hyndman had his motley squad playing, including a handful of young and promising talents, was far more entertaining than whatever the Galaxy were trying to do.

That led to my first FC Dallas game tickets.

And then a first ever playoff match.

And then writing way too many comments on Big D Soccer’s website as I tried to understand the game, the league, and the intricacies of salary caps and roster rules.

And then contributing a few articles, since I love to write words about stuff I was only beginning to grasp… and now to even working my fledgling side gig as a sports journalist.

These days, I’m especially loving MLS Next Pro and USL Championship for the young talent who are given a chance to keep playing and dreaming of something greater.

It’s been fun… certainly not about the money… but a gift to see the growth of MLS, the rising stars like Ricardo Pepi, and the potential for special moments to manifest in a singular kick.

Today, the US will face off against Bosnia & Herzegovina, and while the US should win, I admit a lot of hesitation. A part of me is ready to be disappointed — the USMNT have disappointed me plenty in the past. But there is also the chance someone else will be inspired - someone returning to this sport, experiencing it for the first time, or watching with wide eyes and imagining themselves suiting up in the Stars & Stripes. There is a chance for coach volunteers and former players and others to be inspired to give back to their communities and help young people experience a game that is simple in ways and profoundly complicated. There is a chance for the next superstar to start their journey or for one of our local clubs to get a season ticket holder.

So, yeah, the World Cup matters — for a nation that wants to win it all someday, for future talent, for FC Dallas and Major League Soccer and the National Women’s Soccer League and MLS Next Pro and high school sports and youth leagues, for journalists and writers, and even for an image of how society could be better and more diverse and more joyful. We need that, more than ever.

3rd Degree the Podcast #365

3rd_Degree — Wed, 01 Jul 2026 06:03:45 GMT

It's an emergency episode of 3rd Degree the Podcast! Your hosts - Buzz Carrick and Dan Crooke take a break from watching the World Cup to discuss the news that Atlético Dallas has purchased the Dallas Trinity FC USL Super League franchise. Buzz and Dan give you the facts. Then, is this a good move or not? And finally, it's time for some speculation and prognostication. It's an all-Dallas Trinity and Atlético Dallas podcast.

Music by Pappy Check.

Watch Party in Seoul: South Korea vs Mexico

Fri, 19 Jun 2026 07:59:10 GMT

Here’s a short video with a glimpse of the energetic and massive crowds gathered near the statue of King Sejong in Seoul to watch South Korea take on Mexico.

Unfortunately, my little wireless microphone didn’t work as great as I wanted, but the noise from the speakers, live band, and crowd was pretty intense. Talk about a multi-generational experience. Because of the crowds and the excellent crowd control by Seoul police, I was not able to wander around and interview fans like I had hoped. Quite a number of Mexican fans and a smattering of jerseys from around the world.

But, yes, the home crowd lit up with every attacking moment from South Korea.

Obviously, in these tight World Cup games, one mistake is all that your opponent needs for a breakthrough, and Korea’s single goalkeeping error gave Mexico the lone goal. The margins are super thin at this level, but both teams played pretty conservatively. Curious to see if Son Heung-Min can actually get healthy and turn a corner on his play as the tournament progresses.

Enjoy!

Watch Party in Seoul: South Korea vs Mexico

Nathan J. Hill — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 07:59:10 GMT

World Cup Scenes from Tokyo

Wed, 17 Jun 2026 13:42:14 GMT

The Japanese National Team have an anime mascot featured in pop-ups around major sites in the city.

My plane landed in Tokyo last Wednesday, and while I wasn’t sure how the national buzz would resonate around the Samurai Blue, aka the Japanese National Team, it didn’t take long before the enthusiasm would become extremely evident.

I could have bought a Japanese national team jersey before leaving the airport, in fact.

That’s really cool.

Before we even got on the plane to Tokyo, we noticed that Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) certainly had a few meager displays up in the gift shops with soccer balls and general World Cup gear. Maybe there were one or two jerseys, but I don’t remember seeing many.

Vancouver International Airport had more buzz with some gear and advertisements around, including in the duty free section. My son grabbed a cold Coke, and inside the label, he came away with a sticker featuring a Colombian World Cup player. Nice.

But in our excursions around Tokyo, there were numerous pop-ups, one at almost every major subway station, featuring a variety of cool items including jersey collabs with brands like Thrasher. The slogans were confident and encouraging - “YOU GOT THIS!” This was national and cultural pride for a team that smart soccer nerds think can make some noise, something they already did with their opening 2-2 come-from-behind draw against Netherlands.

We turned a corner, noticing a crowd gathered for snapshots around an anime character chilling on a soccer ball, with a mural overhead.

More than a few folks, increasingly so with each day of our visit, were wearing their national team jerseys with pride.

I wondered what it might have been like to see a coordinated campaign like this across the States. Maybe there is, and I missed it? Imagine pop-ups in every major city, in every soccer hub. Anyway…

As we wondered through the Shibuya area, with its famous crossing nicknamed the Sibuya Scramble, a mall/garden complete with Taco Bell, Panda Express, skate shop, and more welcomed us with a ground floor Japanese National team shop. They had anime figurines as well as the normal assortment of scarves, banners, flags, keychains, and jerseys for purchase. But first, we hit a World Cup hype event where we enjoyed a photo booth as a family, played a little foosball, and earned stamps by visiting stalls by various sponsors. Those stamps led to swag - free stuff - like fans, stickers, and player cards.

Kind of like a church children festival but for soccer!

My two favorite things - a life-size pitch and wax figure of Japanese National Team head coach Hajime Moriyasu. I pretended to suggest they should score more goals as a winning strategy. And look to the FC Dallas academy for potential national team recruits.

Second best was this Japanese National Team beef curry that my son is going to really enjoy.

Courtesy of some Reddit post since I think my son already ate it.

Of course, this Japanese National Team does have some American roots. Their starting goalkeeper, Zion Suzuki, was born in New Jersey. Small world.

I came away with some fun stuff and a scarf to add to my meager collection and a bit more hype for this World Cup.

Will I be getting up at 4 AM to watch the US against Australia? Likely not. That is the downside of being out of the country in a different time zone, but look for a post about watching the South Korea - Mexico match in the heart of Seoul in a couple of days.

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Review: Sam Sarver now hangs out on my desk.

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 23:57:42 GMT

Last week, a small nondescript white package landed on my front step, and before I let my wife see what terrible expenditure I had made, I whisked it away to my home office and recording studio, unpacking with excitement.

What greeted me was Sam Sarver, albeit a “brick-style” action figure, complete with trademark hair line and cold Modelo in his hand.

The Sarver figure was actually larger than I anticipated. For sure, this was going to just be a cute and over-priced Lego-style figure, but instead, the dude is a bit larger than life. The texture, if you care about such things, is fine. See the photo below for reference.

The Sam Sarver figure is courtesy of 1996NYDesign, an Etsy shop featuring custom-printed soccer “block or brick” style figures that just ooze with fun and trips down memory lane. The designer, Bill Reese, has pleasantly been working a bit extra to keep up with demands on these fun novelty pieces of soccer nerds like us. You’ll find some other fun ones in the shop, including a New York Red Bull era Dax McCarty that I almost added to the cart.

You can even order your own custom figures if you want.

But Sarver? I had to have this one to highlight the remarkable journey of our team’s unlikely talisman, a SuperDraft pick turned MLS Next Pro Golden Boot winner turned FC Dallas late game magic maker. It’s only a shame that Sarver didn’t make the cut with the 2026 World Cup. If he did, I imagine these collectives would skyrocket in price.

In short, it’s a fun memento to cap what is quickly becoming a memorable year of soccer in the US.

I recommend giving 1996 NY Designs a follow on BlueSky to see what else they have printing down the line.

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Can you build an FC Dallas-only USMNT squad for the World Cup?

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 21:03:31 GMT

The US Men’s National Team just played to a decent 3-2 win over Senegal in their first warmup ahead of the biggest sporting event in the world. No surprises but our very own Ricardo Pepi was key to the opening two goals.

With the World Cup on our mind, I always like to have a little fun as an FC Dallas supporter. Imagine this pointless scenario: a future USMNT head coach irrationally believes that only FC Dallas developed players with American citizenship should be called up to the national team.

Could one build a roster for the 2026 World Cup? Yes.

Could such a roster win it all? Very, very unlikely.

Could the roster be competitive, like winning a few games or even escaping its group? Maybe, but it would need to be a favorable group.

My rules are pretty simple. To be chosen by this delusional head coach, the player needs to have an FC Dallas academy connection or have been a draft pick developed through the FC Dallas system. Guys like Paul Arriola would not make the list. In the future, you could imagine someone like Kaick qualifying, who joined FC Dallas as an 18 year old) if he were to gain citizenship in the US. But really, the key is development — I want guys who were formed in the Frisco way.

Below is my proposed 26 man squad.

Attackers (7): Ricardo Pepi, Alejandro Zendejas, Jesús Ferreira, Logan Farrington, Bernard Kamungo, Sam Sarver, Dante Sealy

Headlined by Pepi, Zendejas, and Ferreira, the top of that lineup would put this mythical FC Dallas-saturated squad in a better position than lots of national team programs. Ricardo is a true star and goalscorer. Alex is dynamic star for one of the best Mexican teams. Jesus has had a decent national team career, even if he hasn’t quite gotten back to the form that earned him a spot on the 2022 World Cup squad. I don’t mind this attacking trio to start most games and give the team at least a shot to bang in some fun goals.

It’s the depth that gives us pause. Yes, we love Logan Farrington for his work ethic. Sam Sarver would be a joy to watch on the international stage as a late game sub and hype machine (also Modelo sponsorship money). Bernard Kamungo is oft-injured but did have his moment in the national team not long ago. In this thin group, he’s fine.

Closing out with Dante Sealy, who did have a great 2025 campaign with Montreal and is now with Colorado, doesn’t inspire much enthusiasm. But we need bodies.

There are simply not enough attackers. I’d love one or two more proven guys, but FC Dallas hasn’t quite developed those marquee talents in this area of the pitch recently. I am sure I could dig around at a few other former North Texas guys, but that’s just wishful thinking. I like Nicholas Simmonds, for example, but it’s way too early for him at this stage of his development.

Midfielders (8): Weston McKennie, Tanner Tessmann, Edwin Cerrillo, Christian Cappis, Matthew Corcoran, Kellyn Acosta, Brandon Servania, Caleb Swann

Again, the top end of this talent pool isn’t bad at all. We love Weston, and I’ve been beating the drum for FC Dallas to spend a lot to bring the jack-of-all-trades back to Frisco. It will never happen. Tanner Tessmann continues to rise after another good year in France. They form a solid pairing in the middle of the park.

Edwin and Christian are both good MLS guys, who give you some flexibility in midfield. Add in Matthew Corcoran, still developing here in MLS with Nashville despite making his debut with North Texas a few years back.

Beyond that it’s a bit more of a gamble. I chose a veteran near the tail end of his career, Kellyn Acosta, who is contributing to a good Polish team and would be a veteran leader with international experience, and then Brandon Servania, who has carved out a solid MLS career and has a single cap to his name. Youngster Caleb Swann gets the nod just for the fun of it, but you could argue Diego Garcia would give this group more attacking flair. It’s a toss-up between the two.

But, yeah, the drop off after the first couple of names is significant.

Defenders (8): Chris Richards, Nolan Norris, Shaq Moore, Reggie Cannon, Nkosi Tafari, Bryan Reynolds, Nico Carrera, Josh Torquato

The situation here gets more complicated. I tried not to worry too much about position needs but ended up with four central defenders and four guys who can give you minutes at outside back.

Obviously, Chris Richards is one of the best defenders the academy has ever-produced and is a lock. I think Nolan Norris has the potential to ascend into that status too and love that he can play on the left side. He just got called up to the U21s again. Bryan Reynolds is a regular at Westerlo in Belgium, so he likely becomes a lock starter too. Shaq Moore and Reggie Cannon have international experience and would be fine veterans to mix in.

Nkosi Tafari, now starting regularly with LAFC, is a good rotation piece, and as we know, sometimes he can be stellar.

Nico Carrera (at Atlante in Liga MX) and Ryan Hollingshead (at LAFC) round out the depth. Hollingshead has, of course, dipped a bit in his play late in his career, but he gives you flexibility and leadership.

I did have the luxury of leaving a couple of guys off, like Walker Zimmerman (at Toronto now), Justin Che (one appearance for New York Red Bulls), and Josh Torquato, who would be a nice left-sided option but needs a bit more seasoning.

Goalkeepers (3): Michael Collodi, Julian Eyestone, Antonio Carrera

This would be the toughest category. If we were talking late 2025 Collodi, we could feel some confidence that we had at least one in-form keeper to throw in goal and give the team a shot. Collodi has had a rough season and may have lost his starting job. Who knew that would happen?

Julian Eyestone is the next best option, signed to a deal with Brentford but yet to make his English debut. Maybe he starts over Collodi at this point? He too just got called into the US U21s, so maybe this is a timely article.

Beyond that, the pickings are slim, unless you really want to go super young or take a swing on some former North Texas SC guy. Antonio Carrera is with Tigres, and he has US citizenship. I will go with him over Nico Montoya at North Texas. Nico just got the nod for the Colombia youth national team, by the way.

And there it is — an FC Dallas 26 man World Cup roster that needs work but could make Frisco natives proud.

Who did I miss?
Who would you swap out?
Which FC Dallas alum are you expecting to have a great tournament?

How the World Cup Can Change FC Dallas

Fri, 29 May 2026 16:27:10 GMT

FC Dallas media team are building the hype around a US Men’s National Team that features four legit starts and academy products.

Due to scheduling issues and work conferences, there will be no usual Afterburn Soccer Show this week. Look for a makeup soon to celebrate that nice road win for FC Dallas over the weekend, a super gritty performance that has feeling optimistic about the season.

Right now, the 2026 World Cup is on my mind, and I can’t help but think about the scenarios that could impact FC Dallas’ season ahead through this unpredictable global tournament.

There are two FC Dallas players who are due to earn some key minutes for their nations starting in June, and depending on their performances, their trajectory could shift our hopes and expectations for the Burn. Could this roster get stronger after the World Cup? Sure. Could we also be heading toward a departure or two? Maybe.

First Scenario: Petar Musa stays in strong form, and FC Dallas gets an offer they cannot refuse.

It’s been talked about to death, but there is a strong possibility Petar Musa has played his last game in an FC Dallas kit. The Croatian international is one of Major League Soccer’s top goal scorers and, really, FC Dallas’ best striker ever. He is prolific and has produced even when the total product around him isn’t as good as it could be. Musa is a fan favorite - he is marketable and a joy to watch.

In short, we don’t want his time with FC Dallas to end so soon.

But strong possibility does not mean it is a foregone conclusion. Musa may not get a ton of playing time for Croatia during the World Cup. He could feature off the bench. He could bang in some goals, and he could also have a quiet performance. So much depends on the game state in this tournament.

Of course, if he does bang in some goals and guides Croatia to a deep run, the flip side of a potential departure for Musa is that FC Dallas will get paid. World class strikers don’t grow on trees, and big teams will be lining up to bid for an in-prime goal scorer. That return on investment will be nice, even it will be tough to say goodbye to a guy who is in contention for the golden boot in Major League Soccer.

If Musa leaves, expect FC Dallas’ contender status to take a hit. How the heck do you replace that many goals, that lethal of a striker, a guy who has elevated this team? As much as we love Logan Farrington, is he ready to be the guy who can replace Petar Musa? Can the team go out and find someone who can provide the same offensive output in the summer transfer window? It will be tough.

It will be a win for Musa and for the bank account - but not necessarily for the expectations this season. A Musa departure doesn’t close the door on a playoff run, but it does lower the ceiling. I am not looking forward to this change, even if I want Petar Musa to get the payday he deserves.

Second Scenario: Deedson gets hot and also gets sold.

I wish I could go back in time and head off whatever forces brought Don Deedson Louicius to FC Dallas. The guy isn’t the worst ever FC Dallas signing. As a regular Haitian international and with solid clubs like OB, he has banged out a decent career for himself and definitely has some quality. The problem is just that he doesn’t fit. He’s not a wing back, and Dallas, through other unfortunate circumstances (aka the Lucho debacle), had to shift to a more practical formation that doesn’t rely on wingers.

He’s just an odd man out at the moment.

Since his summer signing, he’s featured in 274 minutes with just 3 starts and a single goal to his name.

That is not good enough for the cap hit, the international roster spot given up, and the rest of the roster needs.

The good news is that Deedson has a chance to shine at the World Cup, to go out and score a goal or two and guide his country to a decent showing. If he does so, maybe some other teams will be interested. Could he move somewhere else in Major League Soccer? Perhaps a Mexican club will be interested in the Haitian winger? Maybe FC Dallas could open this roster spot and have room to bring in another face who does fit the current project.

In short, I want him to do well, because I think the Deedson experience should come to a close. That roster spot could then create room to grab a breakout star whose stock is on the rise… or heck, bring Edouard Nys up to the senior team.

Third Scenario: FC Dallas’ brand continues to rise.

With guys like Ricardo Pepi, Weston McKennie, Chris Richards, and Alejandro Zendejas expected to play key roles, FC Dallas is going to get plenty of love from announcers and analysts. Their rise will only highlight that Dallas/Ft Worth has a talent pipeline to pay attention to.

And, who knows, maybe there is a chance Tanner Tessmann gets the call-up if someone is injured.

Add in the focus on games in Dallas — there will be international eyes and ears on Frisco throughout the tournament.

All of that will boost the FC Dallas brand as a destination and producer of talent. It’s a great moment for the club, and hopefully, it will boost attendance after the World Cup and lay the seed for the next golden talent to start making their way through the academy. It’s up to FC Dallas to make the most of this moment, and their social media work shows they are.

Shout out to the amazing media crew for being ready to highlight these stories. I highly recommend the work they are doing right now, with academy photos to highlight the long and winding path for guys like Weston, Ricardo, and Zendejas to rise to stardom. Let’s be ready for the next twist and turn on their journeys and the journey of this club.

3rd Degree the Podcast #364

3rd_Degree — Tue, 26 May 2026 09:14:00 GMT

This week on a Memorial Day episode of 3rd Degree the Podcast, Dan Crooke is missing. So your hosts - Peter Welpton and Buzz Carrick - go it alone as many things come to an end.

FC Dallas ends the opening phase of the 2026 season with a road win at Colorado. A horrible, boring, awful, road win of a game. Missing Peter Musa and Osaze Urhoghide, the collective team was poor. Still, a win is a win. Now we move to Musa-Sale-Watch as the team goes into World Cup hiatus. The summer window opens before the club plays again.

Dallas Trinigy fell in the playoffs, ending their 2025-26 season. The Golden Girls got handled pretty easily by Lexington, the #1 team in the league. Now, after Trinity's second season has ended, we expect a relatively high rate of turnover this summer. A Super League team just went under, and frankly, the health of the entire league is a worry.

North Texas SC tied San Jose 2, but then lost in the shootout at the final game at Choctaw Stadium. They have two more games before they too go on hiatus.

And since everyone is going on hiatus, we will too. See you on the other side.

Music by Pappy Check.

FC Dallas Stay Hot; North Texas Settle for Home Draw

Sun, 24 May 2026 15:24:25 GMT

Well, I love writing about both FC Dallas and North Texas Soccer Club after strong performances. It just makes life easier. We aren’t having to dwell on what choices the staff need to make to correct course. We don’t have to deal with players who aren’t contributing. We can feel pretty good about things.

Of course, this weekend wasn’t perfect, but FC Dallas went on the road and saw out a big 2-1 away win at Colorado.

North Texas SC closed out their Choctaw Stadium era with a disappointing home draw, but, as usual, there were positives for this young club.

Let’s get into some key points from both results.

FC Dallas Ride Out 2-1 Win at Altitude

Playing away games at Colorado has to be one of the trickier tasks in Major League Soccer. I don’t remember many years when the Rapids were at the top of the league as contenders but damn if they don’t have some great home field advantage playing up near the Rockies. Certainly, the Rapids have had some good years, buoyed by that home field advantage, and as Jose mentioned on the podcast, they can be streaky. I will always hate the team for that lucky bounce that put away Dallas in the 2010 MLS Cup, so a win on their home turf is always a sweet thing.

This season, the Rapids are no different — they look like a team that have talent and could go on a roll to carry them into playoff contention.

They also look like a team that could falter and disappear into the Western Conference morass.

On Saturday night, FC Dallas found a way. More importantly, they found a way against the kind of team they should be able to beat if they want to be contenders. I’ve moaned about this team’s disappointment at home, losses and draws that don’t mark the Burn to be in contention for any hardware. To go on the road and get the needed win, even if it was scrappy, even if it relied on two penalty kicks, makes up for dropped points in a big way.

Suddenly, those home losses aren’t season-ending. Just a bump in the road.

And with so many away games looming, FC Dallas is building a really solid resume for what they can achieve.

No Musa? No Problem - I didn’t make the World Cup availability press call in time to speak with Petar Musa and his call-up to the Croatian national team. My question would have been his role for the coming weekend. Is he available but hoping to be come off the bench? Are they going to rest him completely? Maybe he answered that question to the media on the call, but regardless, I don’t think any of us thought his national team duty would have already begun. Surely, he would have been available for some role on Saturday?

It makes sense, though to let him travel early. He is in excellent form. Why risk an injury ahead of one of the biggest moments of his career?

Logan Farrington took the start and got his career high sixth goal of the season, surpassing last year’s total. The striker is in good form. He’s hardly been at his best yet for FC Dallas, kind of up and down from game to game, but to make improvement over last year’s tallies is massive. If he can get to ten goals, watch out!

Penalty Kicks for the Win? - FC Dallas are too often on the negative end of penalty kick shouts. The whistle goes against our squad. Remember back in 2023 when Steve Davis did the math and tallied the last time FCD even earned one? Those were bleak days. Last night, Dallas got the benefit on two calls, and they have been long overdue.

Yes, you could argue the second one was a bit light, but there was contact. Binyamin went down in the box after getting into a dangerous position, and it was pretty clear that the defender made contact on his back foot. Thank you for the whistle, ref.

I love a team that is improving in its positioning and knows when to go down on contact. The margins are razor thin in the Western Conference - let’s take every advantage we can.

We deserve a bit of a lucky bounce for a change.

Rotated Squad and Sirois in Goal - I mentioned on the pod this week that this wasn’t a bad game to rotate some guys, to get minutes to some players who need to get on the field. Eric Quill chose to do just that, and while the result wasn’t perfect — that defensive performance still deserves shade for its inability to form into something cohesive — it was good enough. I like how we have a mix of guys, including Patrickson Delgado, who can do some damage. The challenge is figuring out how and when to deploy them, since they can also disappear.

I love Caleb Swann, Sam Sarver, and Nicholas Simmonds all getting minutes tonight. More, please.

The other key curiosity from our conversation this week was the future of Jonathan Sirois. The French-Canadian keeper got his first start in a massive road win at San Jose. He wasn’t perfect, but he came up big in a couple of moments to garner the three points. And in short, he did the same at altitude last night.

Was it a perfect goalkeeping performance? No.

But did Sirois do enough to keep getting an opportunity? Yes.

FC Dallas will return to action with a road game at Portland, another match that will tell us a lot about this team, after the World Cup break.

North Texas Disappoint With Draw at Home to Quakes II

When the final whistle blew and the shift to the penalty kick shootout began, we knew something pretty clear about this young, growing North Texas SC team — they have two potential golden boot contenders this year. Edouard Nys and Natty James are legit. These are talented kids who can lead this team forward. That gives room for serious optimism.

Yes, they could be disappointed for a final home draw at Choctaw Stadium, closing out an era at a quirky but historic stadium, but both goals clawed the team back from a loss.

Compare that to last year when Sam Sarver essentially provided the entire offensive output, North Texas SC have every reason to stay the course. Nys and James are capable of scoring against anybody. There are talented pieces, like Diego Garcia and Ian Charles, to complement them. Yes, the goalkeeping and defending is not there yet. John Gall and company need to coach these guys up, and if they can’t, look for mid-season reinforcements.

But while a home draw is disappointing, North Texas have avoided defeat in three games after a disappointing dip. Keep building. Keep growing.

Fun note - Natty James’ rebound goal was the first goal he has scored against a team other than Sporting Kansas City.

Goalkeeping Is Still an Issue - We’ve seen three goalkeepers get minutes for North Texas SC. Eryk Dymora got another tonight, and we have anticipated the Duke product to lock down the spot at some point. He hasn’t. And maybe his defense hasn’t been as good as needed — passive is the right word — but someone needs to make the big saves for this team. Who will?

I’m not trying to be harsh - Dymora had his moments on Saturday, in particular a clutch save after the missed penalty kick by San Jose. And a super late extra time save that preserved the point.

But it seems like the back line needs consistency in every position.

Augusto Alvaro? - I like typing question marks because they saw a lot in a tiny package, and really, we have a lot of question marks about Alvaro. The senior team player had a great debut with the first team, but he either hasn’t been able to build on it or just needs more seasoning. There is no indication that his minutes with North Texas SC are a sign that FC Dallas is giving up on the young defender, but he should be a leader, a rock, for this team.

But the defensive performances need a jolt. Can he prove his quality in the matches ahead? Can he make a case for more time with the senior team? What will light a fire in the Brazilian’s performances? Can he be the leader this young side is desperate for?

I’m not stressed about the result. It was the kind of setback we have expected from a young team against a good foe. North Texas SC can take the positives as they move forward.

What did you like about both performances this weekend?

Afterburn Soccer Show - May 20, 2026

Thu, 21 May 2026 14:01:46 GMT

Our latest podcast was recorded on a Wednesday night, but we dive right into a rollercoaster week for FC Dallas (loss at home versus Vancouver, road win at San Jose). We highlight Petar Musa’s performances, the unlucky bounce at home, a sudden goalkeeping battle, and, of course, the viral sensation that is Sam Sarver. We also touch upon North Texas SC’ beatdown of Sporting Kansas City 2. Closing out the show, we highlight the World Cup on the way and one more match for FC Dallas at Colorado.

Thanks for listening and subscribing. Your support makes a difference!

Afterburn Soccer Show - May 20, 2026

Nathan J. Hill — Thu, 21 May 2026 14:01:00 GMT

Live: Afterburn Soccer Show Breaks Down Big Wins for FC Dallas and North Texas

Wed, 20 May 2026 23:56:03 GMT

Welcome back to another live edition of our show, 7 PM CST.

You can watch us on YouTube right there above and bring your comments and questions as we look back at rollercoaster weeks for our clubs.

For FC Dallas, here are the big questions:

Midweek home loss at Vancouver was a disappointment, despite a decent performance (3-2).
Petar Musa with another fantastic goal in a big win at San Jose, 3-2.
Patrickson Delgado continues to have a decent season (when he clicks).
Is this Sam Sarver’s world, and are we just lucky to live in it? Viral sensation gets some love from Modelo.
Jonathan Sirois with first start - does he have a shot at the starting job?
Another marquee win for the club

For North Texas, here are the things we will look at:

Has this team turned the page with a big 5-1 win at home over SKC 2?
Natty James with a hat trick, all of his goals coming from matches against SKC.
Second win in a row gives us optimism.

We close out with match predictions for what lies ahead, one more game before the World Cup break.

3rd Degree the Podcast #363

3rd_Degree — Tue, 19 May 2026 09:14:00 GMT

It's a doozy of a session this week on 3rd Degree the Podcast, cause it's a triple win (and a loss) episode. First, your hosts - Peter Welpton, Dan Crooke, and Buzz Carrick break down two FCD games against the best of the West, Vancouver and San Jose. The good and bad of both, and there was both in both. Collodi vs Sirois. Delgado at the 9? Musa rolling. Kacik/Ramiro up and down. Stone Cold Sam Sarver is a national treasure. Lots of mids, lots of good parts, and a strong collective. The Rapids are up next. Plus, the MLS PA dropped the salary numbers for 2026.

Then, Dallas Trinity put up a 4-0 beatdown in the final league game of the season to take the last playoff spot. DTFC will be at Lexington now in the playoffs. The Golden Girls won their final two by a combined 6-0, riding their best player, a teenager playing for free. Buzz says they need to do something about that.

North Texas SC stopped Sporting 2 with Nys and Natty James rolling.
Athetico Dallas has a reserve team already playing and rolled out teasers of their Cotton Bowl plans.
Rodeo SC is taking another year before they launch on the field. That's a good thing.
Finally, Peter and Dan got a tour of the AT&T surface for the World Cup.

Music by Pappy Check.

Big Wins: FC Dallas Saved by Sarver; North Texas SC Dominates Kansas City

Mon, 18 May 2026 19:53:49 GMT

Yes, friends, Sam Sarver gave fans the euphoric moment we needed from the weekend, especially as FC Dallas came off a disappointing home loss against Vancouver on Wednesday.

Sarver’s late goal was the kind of goal we saw him score last year at North Texas SC, getting up field and in space and letting his teammates drop him the ball.

Watch it on repeat. This team will need a lot more of those moments on the long road trips ahead.

Here is what the weekend meant for FC Dallas and North Texas Soccer Club, both squads getting big wins.

FC Dallas 3 - San Jose 2

Add another marquee win for FC Dallas on the road at league leading San Jose Earthquakes.

Yes, that midweek match against the Vancouver Whitecaps was super disappointing, enough that Michael Collodi, who has not yet lived up to the form he showed at the end of last season, got benched. Jonathan Sirois stepped into goal, and while he wasn’t perfect, his clutch penalty save kept FC Dallas in control. This goalkeeping battle was not the story we thought we were going to see this season, but the front office looks smart to get a guy like Sirois who has oodles of experience.

Don’t write off Collodi just yet - he’ll get a chance to earn a starting spot again. It’s fair to say though that something does have to change. Could this personnel adjustment be a wakeup call for the sophomore keeper?

We didn’t write up the loss to Vancouver, especially with a busy personal week for me, but it highlights the challenges this FC Dallas squad face. For once, they are capable of scoring in bunches. We’ve seen different editions of this team in the past who could defend but not get the ball into the back of the net. Musa is in amazing form. Logan Farrington remains dangerous, already hitting last season’s marks. There are attacking minded players all over the midfield. It’s fun to know this team is going to cause team fits however they line up.

Now, though, the defense remains a work in progress. Some of it is just unfortunate luck. That Beau Leroux goal to equalize in the first half was insane, a one of a kind moment. We’ve witnessed too many bangers like that, and while I think the team needs to find a way to defend those and close them out, sometimes, your opponents score big goals.

FC Dallas had bangers of their own thought, with Petar Musa making a case for his inclusion in Croatia’s World Cup squad. By the way, he did make the final cut. What a massive moment for the veteran striker.

The new wrinkle is the depth of this team. Having a guy like Sam Sarver who can come in and help you find a magical moment, something he has done three times now in four games, is just a blessing in this sport. I don’t know why some bottom dweller team isn’t sniffing around Frisco on what a trade for Sarver would look like. I don’t want to see the guy gone — he is a huge locker room presence. But would some MLS team overpay a bunch of funny money to make Sarver a building block of a rebuild?

With a bunch of road games ahead, expect FC Dallas to continue to compete well and find points. They may not all be wins, but fans should feel really bullish about this team solidifying some postseason plans before home games arrive again.

Despite that Wednesday loss, where really the team was let down by some goalkeeping and tough moments, FC Dallas is in good form. We like what Eric Quill and company are cooking. The confidence and belief in this team is growing, and if they can just sharpen some details and keep finding the right formations to deploy, this team can be a force.

“We know we can play with anybody and win every game,” Quill said after the match. “Coming on the road against a top team like San Jose and getting this result changes the psychology of the group for the better. These are the kinds of marquee wins you look back on if you reach your goals at the end of the season or make the playoffs. They give you belief, and that belief is powerful. This result should give us confidence that we can beat anybody.”

North Texas 5 - SKC II 1

Moments before FC Dallas took the field, North Texas SC welcomed Sporting Kansas City II to Choctaw Stadium. Buoyed after a big win on the road at Minnesota United, one where maybe North Texas managed a clean sheet, we circled this one just because the rollercoaster of results haven’t been great for this young side. Too often, this group of guys follow a big result by letting off the gas.

On Saturday, they didn’t, crushing Sporting Kansas City at home with five goals.

Natty James had his first professional hat trick. Hilariously, all seven of Natty’s goals this season have come against Sporting Kansas City II. Seriously, the guy needs to diversify.

Nys also got on the scoresheet again. What a solid season for the rookie.

Brooks Thompson also made his debut for North Texas, another young talent and playing against his former academy.

Head coach John Gall was very pleased with the result and the continuation of the work in Minnesota. We know this roster has talent, but we talk about it on the podcast time and time again that this squad needs to develop and grow. Some of that is just figuring out how to be a team and find consistency. Some of it is also about talented players taking the next step as professionals.

This win was important to keep them trending in the right direction with a huge July 4 opening weekend at the new stadium on the way.

“That result in Minnesota was important for us to snap a four-game winless run. We went there, put in a strong performance, and the focus this week was to build on that, which we did tonight,” Gall told media. “Overall, I’m pleased with the performance. I am a bit disappointed with the goal we conceded. It’s something we’ve talked about in terms of box defending when the ball goes wide, and we were in the wrong spots. We responded well, though, and I’m really happy for Natty to get his first NTSC hat trick. I’m also pleased for Brooks Thompson on his debut, and for young Liam at the back, making his first start and doing very well. Overall, it’s a positive night, another step forward in our process as we continue to move ahead.”

We’ll be going live on Tuesday evening to break down all the results and get a glimpse of what lies ahead for both squads.

Afterburn Soccer Show - May 12, 2026

Wed, 13 May 2026 15:30:10 GMT

Thanks for listening and subscribing to our little FC Dallas podcast!

Nathan, Jose, and Chris look at FC Dallas’ home win over Real Salt Lake, the first marquee win of the year for the club, and we get excited about North Texas SC’ surprise victory on the road at Minnesota.

Are we feeling optimistic? Yes.

Are there still questions about both squads? Yes!

We even touch a little on salary numbers that have been released.

We close out the show with match predictions.

As usual, we keep tweaking and making adjustments to the audio, so keep looking for some improvements in the weeks to come!

Afterburn Soccer Show - May 12, 2026

Nathan J. Hill — Wed, 13 May 2026 15:30:10 GMT

Live Tonight: Afterburn Soccer Show Celebrate Some Big Wins

Tue, 12 May 2026 23:28:47 GMT

When the lights go down, we go live.

And what a show we have to talk about, as FC Dallas and North Texas Soccer Club both rebounded after some disappointing recent weeks with big time victories.

For FC Dallas, with their home win over Real Salt Lake, did they get the big victory that has eluded them? Can they build on this performance and do more?

For North Texas SC, their win on the road was excellent, a strong performance all around. Can they take the next step as a team?

We have a lot to get into, including match predictions and salary figures for our guys.

See you at 7 PM CST!

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3rd Degree the Podcast #362

3rd_Degree — Tue, 12 May 2026 09:27:00 GMT

This week on 3rd Degree the Podcast, it's a triple win podcast!! Your hosts - Peter Welpton, Dan Crooke, and Buzz Carrick - have three DFW wins to talk about!

First, it's FC Dallas with a second straight strong performance in the new flex 4, this time over Real Salt Lake in Frisco. FCD shut down RSL and Luna, Santi Moreno got his first goal. Kaick (who was amazing) got the second. And after some brain poo, Sam Sarver put it to bed. What a showing.

Dallas Trinity took care of business in Tampa with Sealy Strawn leading the way. Captain Wisner was the standout in midfield again. She's got one home game left in a stellar career. Catch her before she's gone!

And North Texas SC got a road win up in Minnesota. Newman and Nys got on the score sheet as the little Burn continue with the 4-4-2 as well. An Ospina red card leaves a hole in the midfield for next weekend.

Music by Pappy Check.

A Good Weekend: FC Dallas and North Texas SC Find Crucial Wins

Sun, 10 May 2026 04:21:48 GMT

CULT HERO! Huge credit to the FC Dallas media team.

What a weekend for FC Dallas and North Texas Soccer Club!

Just when both teams needed to answer some questions, they each found a way.

Here are our highlights and threads to follow from these fun matches.

FC Dallas 3 - Real Salt Lake 1

Home form for FC Dallas has been a vexing issue in 2026, just as it was in 2025. Dallas has either struggled to generate the kind of offense needed to break through some very good teams or dropped points despite solid enough performances. After another away win, the Burn knew they needed to shift the narrative in Frisco.

On Saturday night, behind goals from Santiago Moreno, Kaick, and Sam Sarver, the narrative did shift.

FC Dallas got the big win at home over a MLS Western Conference opponent that they needed.

What a nice statement it was!

I’ll say it plainly: FC Dallas have not beaten anyone of note so far in 2026. Yes, FC Dallas has had some solid wins. They are playing really well overall. Though it has taken some time and formation adjustments to find the right mix of personnel, the defense and offense are in good shape. Facing quality opponents though, they have dropped points all over the place. That Nashville draw early in the season particularly hits, as it was a chance to hang their hats on a marquee win against a Sam Surridge-less team. Whether it was bad luck or a lack of quality, I don’t think anyone would suggest this team was actually flirting with hardware.

On Saturday night, Dallas did show the ability to get it done, even if it wasn’t always pretty. Real Salt Lake are an excellent offensive team led by Diego Luna. Expect them in the playoffs.

But this is a game that FC Dallas should win.

For the first half, Dallas came out with the right intensity, the right grit, the right lethality in the run of play to have fans feeling confident. Really, Shaq Moore, Osaze Urhoghide, and Nolan Norris, supporting Michael Collodi in goal, played a complete half. Real Salt Lake had a lot of possession, but every time they looked to create something dangerous, Dallas’ defense held strong.

In the second half, we witnessed an FC Dallas team that was content to hold on for the win. Maybe a little passive? A little disconnected? Did they take their foot of the gas just a bit? Real Salt Lake had nothing to lose, so as the game wore on and the possession stats sky-rocketed, the visitors kept probing for a way back into the match.

Eventually it came, as a scintillating run by Shaq Moore led to a catastrophic turnover. RSL sprang on the break. Diego Luna, with Dallas on their heels, took the space he needed to lace a great goal to get his side back in the mix.

I told my son, watching the game with me, that I could sense an equalizer on the way for Real Salt Lake. It’s not that I wanted that to happen, but we have seen it happen way too often this season. Substitutes came on with a little less intensity. The quality on the ball lacked. Dallas could not possess and relieve the pressure, not that they may have wanted.

And then, well, Sam Sarver did Sam Sarver things. Receiving the ball on the counter as RSL pushed for an equalizer on a corner kick, Sarver did what he did last year for North Texas SC time and time again, using his speed and skill to outpace the defenders and slot the ball into the back of the net. The joyous Sarver, with his second goal in as many games, whipped off his jersey and climbed into the crowd, arms aloft.

Was a new tradition just born?

The win was a delight for the crowd and a huge lift to this team who has struggled to finish things out. They did tonight. They can keep working on correcting the mistakes, but they silenced that little voice of doubt for a moment… at least until the Vancouver Whitecaps roll into town on Wednesday night.

“My thoughts on the game were that we started really bright. We were on the front foot, organized behind the ball and scored two great goals. We knew in the second half they were going to push numbers forward and become aggressive trying to find a goal, which they eventually did late. Sam’s goal to restore the two-goal lead was outstanding. It was an incredible individual play and showed the qualities he has. He’s incredibly fast, and to bring that ball down and go coast to coast the way he did was special,” head coach Eric Quill said after the match. “Overall, I thought we were excellent defensively. The guys were blocking shots and working together collectively. We really didn’t give up much. Salt Lake has a dynamic attack and they’re very well coached, so if you’re not compact and working together, they can score a lot of goals. I thought our guys did a beautiful job with the details defensively and staying compact throughout the match. And obviously, getting three points in front of our fans was huge for us with a massive week ahead.”

What threads will we be watching in the coming weeks?

If you want to be concerned, FC Dallas has got to find a way to hold the ball and kill the game. It may not be the way Quill wants the squad to play, but there has to be an alternative to defending for their lives. It just invites disaster to allow teams to work themselves into dangerous situations over and over again, even as confident as we are about this defense.

Sam Sarver too remains a delight and has quickly played himself into contention to be a force on this team. I want to see him more — I want to see him get a start again soon, just to enjoy the unpredictability that he brings. His best role is off the bench, but why not let him grow in the limelight?

Santi Moreno got his first FC Dallas goal of the season, and it was a splendid goal at that. A commenter in the super secret FCD chat asked, “When was the last time this team scored from outside the 18?” I am excited to see his confidence grow along with his fitness.

Kaick got a goal after being unfairly denied a couple of weeks back, and we say congrats on the baby! With rumors that Chelsea and Real Betis are scouting the young midfielder, what a moment for him to shine. Will this increase interest?

North Texas SC 2 - Minnesota United FC 0

Yes, we’ve been disappointed by the young North Texas SC, a heavily transformed roster but one with talent. Edouard Nys and Natty James can score. There are midfield and defensive pieces that bring quality. So far in 2026, though, there hasn’t been enough cohesion or quality.

After four winless, North Texas SC faced steep odds traveling into Minnesota and facing a good side. Back on the podcast, we did not hold a lot of hope. I believe in this young team, so a draw was possible if they correct mistakes and keep improving. Most of our crew thought a loss was on the cards.

But, well, North Texas SC proved us wrong with a confident, feisty performance and goals from Enzo Newman and Ricky Louis. That it took two first team guys to help this young side turn things around should be no surprise - NTSC needs quality. They need some guys who are a little older and a little more seasoned.

On Saturday, Louis and Newman, in particular, helped.

A first MLS Next Pro shutout from Nico Montoya also helped, as goalkeeping has been a big part of North Texas’ issues as of late.

The away win gets North Texas SC back on track with an opportunity to build something special.

“I’m really pleased with our effort tonight. We have gone through a little bit of a patch of not getting results, and we spent a lot of time this week in training trying to tweak things a little bit and we made it difficult for Minnesota. We knew that we were going to create some chances with the way that we inverted our fullbacks,” head coach John Gall said after the game. “Enzo's goal came a little bit from that inverted from the right hand side, and a ball in the box, and he got on the end of it. I am really happy with the performance of the team today against a really good Minnesota team to come here and get a shutout.”

What will I continue to watch for?

North Texas SC needs help — they need quality from the first team. Caleb Swann, Ricky Louis, Nicholas Simmonds, and others can provide that help and need some fitness too. Let’s keep that flow of players going while North Texas SC’s young guys gain confidence.

What did you like about the two performances this weekend?

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