SportSpyder - The Latest St. Louis CITY SC Podcasts

(Road to '26) Jozy Altidore, Former USMNT Striker & Chief Strategy Officer at Sogility

Ball Watching, LLC — Sun, 31 May 2026 01:00:00 GMT

Ball Watching hosts, Jake Koenig and Justin Graham, wrap their "Road to '26" interview series with a true icon of the modern American pitch: Jozy Altidore.

With 115 caps, an MLS Cup title, and an MLS Cup MVP on his mantle, Jozy stands alone as one of the most dominant forces in national team history. As the third-highest goalscorer in USMNT history with 42 goals, he has summited the highest peaks of the sport and carries a rare, elite understanding of what it actually takes to win on the world stage.

Now navigating the boardroom as the Chief Soccer Officer of our show partner, Sogility, Jozy is leveraging state-of-the-art, data-tracked training technology to fundamentally revolutionize how this country develops youth talent.

We sit down with the absolute legend to dive deep into his legacy and look ahead to the home crucible of 2026, covering:

The CSO Mandate: Unpacking his transition from scoring headlines to corporate leadership. Jozy explains how data and sensory tracking tech are designed to close the global development gap and fix America's historical training deficiencies.
The Art of the No. 9: A masterclass on the pure, instinctual mechanics of elite finishing. Jozy details the fine line between clinical execution and overthinking in the box, and breaks down his absolute favorite international career goals.
Handling the World Stage: What does it actually feel like to walk onto a pitch with the emotional expectations of an entire nation on your back? Jozy shares the mental adjustments required to handle the pressure cooker of multiple FIFA World Cups.
The Pochettino Formula & 2026 Mandate: With the tournament arriving at our front door, Jozy issues a direct, filterless reality check for the current player pool. He reveals the exact baseline trait Mauricio Pochettino’s squad needs to adopt to ensure 2026 is a success.

Whether you want to hear from one of the greatest strikers to ever wear the crest or see the technological blueprint changing the sport's future, you cannot miss this grand finale.

Follow the show on X and/or Instagram (@BallWatchingSTL)!

Find our guest interviews and all episodes in video form on YouTube by searching https://www.youtube.com/@ballwatchingSTL. Be sure to hit subscribe and turn notifications on!

Hoffmann Brothers is the 2025 presenting sponsor of Ball Watching! Headquartered right here in St. Louis for over 40 years, Hoffmann Brothers is a full-service residential & commercial provider, providing Heating, Air Conditioning, Plumbing, Drains, Sewer, Water Heaters, Duct Cleaning, Electrical and Appliance Repair services. Visit them online at hoffmannbros.com!

Make The Pitch Athletic Club & Tavern (thepitch-stl.com) your St. Louis CITY SC pregame and postgame destination for all your food and drink needs! Tell them your friends at Ball Watching sent you...

Shop in-store or online at Series Six (seriessixcompany.com) and receive a 15% discount on all orders storewide using code "BALLWATCHING" at checkout!

CITY SC at the Break: A Look at 2026 So Far + DfL & USMNT as the World Cup Looms!

Bleav + Flyover Footy — Fri, 29 May 2026 09:00:00 GMT

The 1st portion of the 2026 MLS season is done and dusted. Where does St. Louis CITY SC sit at the break and how 'real' was their May run? We break down the season so far w/looks at every player and position look at Dueling for Lincoln's TST7v7 run + discuss the USMNT roster heading into the World Cup and what realistic expectations we have for the group!

Flyover Footy has been covering St. Louis soccer since 2019. Subscribe to this feed to hear podcast episodes about St. Louis CITY SC, STL college soccer, academy programs, and amateur/semi-pro soccer in the area. This show is broadcast on The Big 550 KTRS on Saturdays at 6pm. Be sure to follow us on Bluesky and X @FlyoverFooty.

You can follow the show hosts to get all of their hot takes (let them know what you think):

Matt Baker – @MattBakerSTL
Santiago Beltran – @SantiBeltranSTL
Phill Grooms – @phillgrooms
Stuart Hultgren – @StuartHultgren

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

(Road to '26) Mike Sorber, Former USMNT Midfielder & Assistant Coach for Red Bull NY

Ball Watching, LLC — Thu, 28 May 2026 01:00:00 GMT

Send us Fan Mail

Ball Watching hosts, Jake Koenig and Justin Graham, continue their "Road to '26" interview series with St. Louis soccer royalty and a true pillar of the American game—Mike Sorber. Mike didn't just witness the 1994 soccer revolution; he was the tactical anchor and engine room for it. From his legendary days as a SLU Billiken to becoming the first American to play in Mexico’s top flight with Pumas, he has navigated some of the toughest, grittiest environments in soccer history. With the World Cup returning to the U.S. in 2026, he joins us at the perfect moment to bridge his historic playing days with his elite coaching career across the USMNT, New York Red Bulls, and St. Louis CITY SC.

We get "on the grass" with the mastermind himself to cover:

The 1994 Crucible: We dive into what the internal vibe was like in the locker room when players felt they were playing for the literal survival of the sport in the U.S.. Mike breaks down Bora Milutinović’s specific tactical mandate for him as the squad's quiet anchor.
The St. Louis DNA & Liga MX Trailblazing: We discuss how growing up in the unique St. Louis soccer ecosystem prepared him for a professional career before MLS even existed. He shares how a Midwestern "chip on the shoulder" helped him navigate Mexico's top flight.
The Coaching Blueprint: We look at his transition to the tactical board and how much of the high-intensity Red Bull pressing philosophy he injected into the foundation of St. Louis CITY SC. He reveals the behind-the-scenes non-negotiables required to establish a club's expansion identity.
The Road to 2026 & Legacy: We ask whether the return of the tournament feels like a true "mission accomplished" moment for his generation. Plus, he reveals the exact trait the current 2026 USMNT roster needs to "steal" from the 1994 squad to achieve real success.

Finish With a Bang

Ball Watching, LLC — Wed, 27 May 2026 01:00:00 GMT

Send us Fan Mail

Ball Watching hosts, Jake Koenig and Justin Graham, break down St. Louis CITY SC's 3-0 win over Austin FC at home!

(Road to '26) Paul Tenorio, Senior Writer at The Athletic for USMNT & MLS

Ball Watching, LLC — Mon, 25 May 2026 01:00:00 GMT

Send us Fan Mail

Ball Watching hosts, Jake Koenig and Justin Graham, continue their "Road to '26" interview series with the undisputed "Dean of the Press Box"—Paul Tenorio, a senior writer for The Athletic. Paul doesn't just report on soccer; he explains the complex machinery, roster rules, and boardroom politics that actually make the sport move in this country. With his highly anticipated book, The Messi Effect, set to hit shelves on June 2, 2026, he joins us at the ultimate moment to dive into his reporting.

We challenge the insider with some analytical rigor just days ahead of the high-stakes May 26 roster reveal to cover:

The Messi Effect & The Business of Soccer: Has the arrival of Lionel Messi permanently rewired Major League Soccer's financial ecosystem, or are we operating in a temporary bubble that risks bursting post-retirement? Paul shares behind-the-scenes boardroom insights from his upcoming book.
The Soccer Paradox: We take a hard look at soccer's perception both domestically and globally. Are we really looking at a "golden generation"? Do others see it that way?
Defining Success & The Post-World Cup Horizon: Is a Round of 16 exit an objective failure for this generation? We explore where the line sits between a respectable run and a missed opportunity, Poch’s future past July, and whether U.S. Soccer infrastructure is genuinely prepared for the post-Messi reality.

Fallout: CITY SC Cruises to a 3-0 Win Over Austin FC

Bleav + Flyover Footy — Sun, 24 May 2026 14:03:38 GMT

St. Louis CITY SC ends the 1st part of MLS play the year in tremendous fashion by disposing of Austin FC 3-0 at home. Fallou Fall and Daniel Edelman star for a CITY team that has rounded into form and begun climbing the standings as we enter a 2 month hiatus of matches. Our full recap of the match, what it means and everything in between!

You can follow the show hosts to get all of their hot takes (let them know what you think):

Matt Baker – @MattBakerSTL
Santiago Beltran – @SantiBeltranSTL
Phill Grooms – @phillgrooms
Stuart Hultgren – @StuartHultgren

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Road to the World Cup Ends Here. Fallout: Open Cup WIN + Matchday 14 Preview: CITY vs Austin

Bleav + Flyover Footy — Fri, 22 May 2026 09:00:00 GMT

St. Louis CITY SC defeats the Houston Dynamo in the US Open Cup Quarterfinals & moves on to play the Colorado Rapids in the Semis. History was made this week and we look at every big moment and the pomp and circumstance surrounding the match. Then, it's a quick turnaround as we also have our preview of CITY v Austin FC to close out MLS play before the World Cup and it's a quick rematch with a foe we should have taken 3 points from last time!

You can follow the show hosts to get all of their hot takes (let them know what you think):

Matt Baker – @MattBakerSTL
Santiago Beltran – @SantiBeltranSTL
Phill Grooms – @phillgrooms
Stuart Hultgren – @StuartHultgren

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

(Road to '26) Sunil Gulati, Former President of U.S. Soccer

Ball Watching, LLC — Fri, 22 May 2026 01:00:00 GMT

Send us Fan Mail

Ball Watching hosts, Jake Koenig and Justin Graham, continue their "Road to '26" interview series with the ultimate insider—the longest-serving President in the history of U.S. Soccer and current Senior Lecturer of Economics at Columbia University, Sunil Gulati. Known as "The Leader" of the modern American soccer infrastructure, Sunil's reign saw the sport take its most significant strides in our nation's history. From the "soccer in a desert" era to spearheading successful World Cup bids, he has quite literally lived it all.

We challenge the professor with some analytical rigor and dive deep into his legacy, covering:

The 1994 vs. 2026 Contrast: How the global "sales pitch" changed from an era when the American soccer market was purely theoretical to the reality of the upcoming World Cup.
The Economist’s Lens: The exact economic hurdles and incentive structures that had to be cleared during the early days of MLS and the professionalization of the USSF.
Highs & Lows of the Presidency: The proudest moments watching the USWNT reach legendary status, the true directive behind hiring Jurgen Klinsmann, and a candid look back at how the trying times of the 2017 collapse in Trinidad changed his view on player development.
Aspirations for 2026: What a "successful" tournament actually looks like for this country on July 20th, 2026, beyond just the performance on the pitch.

Whether you want to understand the business behind the beautiful game or get a masterclass in where American soccer has been and where it’s going, this is an episode you cannot miss.

We Can Be Heroes

Ball Watching, LLC — Fri, 22 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Send us Fan Mail

Ball Watching hosts, Jake Koenig and Justin Graham, break down St. Louis CITY SC's defeat of Houston Dynamo in the quarterfinals of the US Open Cup, and preview the upcoming Austin FC match at home!

For the Cup

Ball Watching, LLC — Tue, 19 May 2026 01:00:00 GMT

Send us Fan Mail

Ball Watching hosts, Jake Koenig and Justin Graham, break down St. Louis CITY SC's 1-1 draw at DC United, and preview the upcoming US Open Cup Quarterfinal at home to Houston Dynamo!

(Road to '26) Francisco Carlos, Founder of the USL

Ball Watching, LLC — Sun, 17 May 2026 23:00:00 GMT

Send us Fan Mail

Ball Watching hosts, Jake Koenig and Justin Graham, kick off the "Road to '26" interview series with a foundational figure in American soccer, Francisco Carlos. As the founder of what became the United Soccer League (USL) and a 2024 National Soccer Hall of Fame inductee, Francisco provides a masterclass on how the "machine" of the American game was built from the ground up.

In this conversation, we dive into:

The $15 Investment: How a simple idea and a trip to City Hall in 1986 birthed the Southwest Indoor Soccer League (SISL), the precursor to today’s USL.
The Architect's Journey: From arriving in the U.S. from Portugal at 16 to his time at Hartwick College, where he balanced the pitch with student journalism and radio, shaping his future in sports PR and publishing.
Building the Pyramid: Francisco discusses his role in creating a multi-tiered league system, including the first national youth leagues (Super Y) and the W-League for women, and why the "pyramid" is essential for soccer to thrive in cities like Des Moines and Boise.
1994 vs. 2026: Reflections on how the 1994 World Cup redefined the sport's trajectory and what he anticipates for the 2026 tournament, including concerns about ticket prices and the "sheer magnitude" of the event.
The Business of "Soccer Wars": Candid thoughts on the friction between competing leagues (MLS and USL) in the same markets, citing examples like St. Louis and Austin, and the need for a unified "soccer family" in the U.S.
Lamar Hunt and Legacy: Stories from his time working with Lamar Hunt and the importance of instilling a "24/7 football culture" across the country.

Whether you're a tactical nerd or a business-of-sports enthusiast, this episode traces the legacy of American soccer through the lens of one of its most influential builders.

Fallout/Preview: CITY Draws DCU 1-1 in a Disappointing Finish + US Open Cup Quarterfinal vs Houston!

Bleav + Flyover Footy — Sun, 17 May 2026 14:04:31 GMT

St. Louis CITY SC experiences a deflating draw away to DC United 1-1 while deploying a rotated XI ahead of the US Open Cup this Tuesday. We have a full Fallout on the DCU match before turning our attention to the fast approaching US Open Quarterfinal matchup vs the Houston Dynamo. We have a full preview to round out another busy episode!

You can follow the show hosts to get all of their hot takes (let them know what you think):

Matt Baker – @MattBakerSTL
Santiago Beltran – @SantiBeltranSTL
Phill Grooms – @phillgrooms
Stuart Hultgren – @StuartHultgren

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

#133 - We Like Old Music (and wins)

Sat, 16 May 2026 17:32:17 GMT

Fallout & Preview: CITY Defeats LAFC 2-1 + CITY Goes to the Capital vs DCU & Salary Talk!

Bleav + Flyover Footy — Fri, 15 May 2026 14:35:39 GMT

A celebratory Fallout on a big 2-1 win. CITY's 1st ever win vs LAFC before previewing our weekend matchup vs DC United - an intriguing matchup tactically, and finishing w/a look at CITY's recently released salary information. Justin from Talkin Soccer & STL Mag joins Matt for this super sized episode!

You can follow the show hosts to get all of their hot takes (let them know what you think):

Matt Baker – @MattBakerSTL
Santiago Beltran – @SantiBeltranSTL
Phill Grooms – @phillgrooms
Stuart Hultgren – @StuartHultgren

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Get the Word Out... We Back Up

Ball Watching, LLC — Fri, 15 May 2026 01:00:00 GMT

Send us Fan Mail

Ball Watching hosts, Jake Koenig and Justin Graham, break down St. Louis CITY SC's 2-1 win over LAFC, and preview the upcoming match away at DC United!

Matchday 12 Preview: CITY SC hosts LAFC in a Midweek Rematch

Bleav + Flyover Footy — Tue, 12 May 2026 09:00:00 GMT

St. Louis CITY SC hosts LAFC in a midweek clash where St. Louis isn't the team dealing with fixture congestion the most. After being bounced from Concacaf Champions Cup last week, LAFC is in their 12 match in just over a month. Matt looks at their style of play, qualities to watch for and how St. Louis can approach them, plus the latest player updates and Starting XI talk on the CITY side!

You can follow the show hosts to get all of their hot takes (let them know what you think):

Matt Baker – @MattBakerSTL
Santiago Beltran – @SantiBeltranSTL
Phill Grooms – @phillgrooms
Stuart Hultgren – @StuartHultgren

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Robbed CO, Back Home to MO

Ball Watching, LLC — Tue, 12 May 2026 01:00:00 GMT

Send us Fan Mail

Ball Watching hosts, Jake Koenig and Justin Graham, break down St. Louis CITY SC's 1-0 win @ Colorado Rapids, and preview the upcoming match against LAFC at home!

Fallout: CITY WINS 1-0, taking down Colorado on the road

Bleav + Flyover Footy — Sun, 10 May 2026 13:34:28 GMT

St. Louis CITY SC defeats the Colorado Rapids 1-0 to earn Yoann Damet his 1st road win in league play as CITY head coach. Sangbin's goal from Bürki & Becher was the difference maker in an otherwise mundane match that didn't see a lot of other action on net. The Starting XI had plenty of storylines and 2 red cards made sure this match had fireworks regardless though - and we cover it all!

You can follow the show hosts to get all of their hot takes (let them know what you think):

Matt Baker – @MattBakerSTL
Santiago Beltran – @SantiBeltranSTL
Phill Grooms – @phillgrooms
Stuart Hultgren – @StuartHultgren

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

#132 - Three Eds and an Ed

Sat, 09 May 2026 02:36:57 GMT

Matchday 11: CITY v Rapids, Edu Speaks + CITY2 on a roll!

Bleav + Flyover Footy — Fri, 08 May 2026 09:00:00 GMT

St. Louis CITY SC travel to face the Colorado Rapids and Matt is joined again by Justin Horneker of Talkin' Soccer & STL Mag to preview both sides, their styles and tactical matchups. We start the show looking at Edu Löwen's emotional words at Thursday's press conference and later on, give CITY2 their flowers after Riley Lynch was named as the MLS NEXT Pro Player of the Month!

You can follow the show hosts to get all of their hot takes (let them know what you think):

Matt Baker – @MattBakerSTL
Santiago Beltran – @SantiBeltranSTL
Phill Grooms – @phillgrooms
Stuart Hultgren – @StuartHultgren

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

STL vs SJ,CHI,ATX "Playing Catch Up"

Erik Cole, Dave Wykoff, & David Hecht — Wed, 06 May 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Send us a message!

New Episode of South End Supporters is Up! We play a little catch up being off last week, but we talk about City’s past three games and give our thoughts. We also answer your South End Submissions so give it listen anywhere you get your podcasts!
If you like what you hear, please remember to like, subscribe, leave a review or simply rate the podcast.

Instagram - @southendsupporters
Twitter - SES_PodcastSTL
Facebook - South End Supporters Podcast

Hand of God, Feet of Lead

Ball Watching, LLC — Wed, 06 May 2026 01:00:00 GMT

Send us Fan Mail

Ball Watching hosts, Jake Koenig and Justin Graham, break down St. Louis CITY SC's 2-0 loss @ Austin FC, and preview the upcoming match against Colorado Rapids!

Fallout: CITY Falls 2-0 to Austin FC. Finishing Fails CITY Once Again

Bleav + Flyover Footy — Mon, 04 May 2026 17:50:28 GMT

St. Louis CITY SC drops another, this time a 2-0 loss at Austin FC. What feels different about this is the universal thought that CITY had this game - or at least the lead - and squandered it so badly. We recap THAT miss, the overall issues this team showed despite doing enough to have earned the win, talk on Damet's "lack of freshness" comment & more!

You can follow the show hosts to get all of their hot takes (let them know what you think):

Matt Baker – @MattBakerSTL
Santiago Beltran – @SantiBeltranSTL
Phill Grooms – @phillgrooms
Stuart Hultgren – @StuartHultgren

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

CITY's Open Cup Fallout & ATX Preview: The Vibes are High!

Bleav + Flyover Footy — Fri, 01 May 2026 09:00:00 GMT

St. Louis CITY SC defeated the Chicago Fire 2-1 in the US Open Cup to move to their 1st Open Cup Quarterfinal, but the time to celebrate is short as they have a match this Sunday at Austin FC. Q2 Stadium has been kind but these are two different teams. We recap the fallout to Chicago and preview Austin in full... plus some weird MLS NEXT Pro news & Don Garber (or his staffer) forgets to log into his burner account...

You can follow the show hosts to get all of their hot takes (let them know what you think):

Matt Baker – @MattBakerSTL
Santiago Beltran – @SantiBeltranSTL
Phill Grooms – @phillgrooms
Stuart Hultgren – @StuartHultgren

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Open Cup Dreams Live On

Ball Watching, LLC — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 17:00:00 GMT

Send us Fan Mail

Ball Watching hosts, Jake Koenig and Justin Graham, break down St. Louis CITY SC's 2-1 win @ Chicago Fire in the US Open Cup Ro16, and preview the upcoming match against Austin FC in MLS league play!