This year marks the 40th anniversary of the 1985 NCAA Men's College Cup final between UCLA and American University that took EIGHT overtime periods to decide the winner.  It is usually referenced as the longest soccer match in college history.  However, that 1985 final was NOT the longest match in college soccer history but rather the longest match in *NCAA* history.

The longest match in college soccer history happened nine years earlier during a  semi-final match of the 1976 NAIA men's soccer tournament at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena.  That match went nearly an hour longer and required FOURTEEN overtime periods before the match winner was scored.

Tonight, as the 2025 college soccer tournaments are about to wrap up, John and Dylan recap both of these historic events - and the San Diego ties to the 1985 UCLA match.

. . . and, as always, we'll kick off the show with any of the latest cup, lower league, pro/rel, soccer history, and San Diego specific news.

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Do you want more stories about San Diego, California, and/or general soccer history?

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EPISODE HOSTS:
Host: John Cross (john@bigpinedigital.com).  John is the founder of Big Pine Digital (a digital media company that specializes in preserving family history) and Soccer Shorts (a YouTube Channel that specializes in short form documentaries about local, grassroots, soccer culture.

Co-Host: Dylan Wilson

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The 2026 FIFA Men's World Cup is approximately 200 days away.  Forty-two teams have qualified.  Six additional berths will be determined in March 2026.  The draw will take place on December 5, 2025 in Washington D.C.

Tonight John and Dylan attempt to look beyond the Trump/Infantino headlines and dig deeper into the sporting stories that are taking shape for this edition of the World Cup in order to remind us why we all love this beautiful game.

. . . and, as always, we'll kick off the show with any of the latest cup, lower league, pro/rel, soccer history, and San Diego specific news.

. . . and, as always, we'll kick off the show with any of the latest cup, lower league, pro/rel, soccer history, and San Diego specific news.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU

What are your thoughts about the upcoming 2026 MWC?

Use the SEND US A TEXT link at the top of the description to send us any questions, comments, or feedback you have about the show.

EPISODE HOSTS:
Host: John Cross (john@bigpinedigital.com).  John is the founder of Big Pine Digital (a digital media company that specializes in preserving family history) and Soccer Shorts (a YouTube Channel that specializes in short form documentaries about local, grassroots, soccer culture.

Co-Host: Dylan Wilson

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After years of internal discussion, the MLS Board of Governors has voted to more closely align their calendar with many of the major European leagues.  While much of the discussion this past week has been laser focused on the pros and cons of this move for MLS proper, this change will undoubtably create a seismic shift in the entire US soccer ecosystem.

Tonight, John and Dylan look beyond MLS to see what the knock-on effects might be for the rest of American soccer and try to predict how each of the other professional and pre-professional leagues could be impacted by this calendar shift.

. . . and, as always, we'll kick off the show with any of the latest cup, lower league, pro/rel, soccer history, and San Diego specific news.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU

What are your thoughts on the MLS calendar shift?  How do you think this change will impact the US soccer ecosystem?

Use the SEND US A TEXT link at the top of the description to send us any feedback, questions, or comments you have about this episode or our series.

EPISODE HOSTS:
Host: John Cross (john@bigpinedigital.com).  John is the founder of Big Pine Digital (a digital media company that specializes in preserving family history) and Soccer Shorts (a YouTube Channel that specializes in short form documentaries about local, grassroots, soccer culture.

Co-Host: Dylan Wilson

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The last few years have seem dramatic growth in women's professional sports. The NWSL and the USL Super League are growing and adding more teams.  The lower leagues of women's soccer (USLW, WSPL, UWS, UPSL) are all adding teams.  Will the women's game chart a new path forward and become the model for professional soccer in the U.S.? Or, is it more likely that the women's game is destined for decades of the same soccer wars that have plagued the men's game for the last 100 years?

Tonight, John and Dylan get out our crystal balls and do our best to answer these questions and more as we try to predict where the women's game might be in the next 5, 10, 15 years?

. . . and, as always, we'll kick off the show with any of the latest cup, lower league, pro/rel, soccer history, and San Diego specific news.

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What are your thoughts on the future of WoSo in the US?

Use the SEND US A TEXT link at the top of the description to send us any questions, comments, or feedback you have about the show.

EPISODE HOSTS:
Host: John Cross (john@bigpinedigital.com).  John is the founder of Big Pine Digital (a digital media company that specializes in preserving family history) and Soccer Shorts (a YouTube Channel that specializes in short form documentaries about local, grassroots, soccer culture.

Co-Host: Dylan Wilson

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Last week, John presented his Vision 2050 for the USL: four independent regional pyramids—East, Midwest, South, West—linked by a national, Champions League style tournament featuring the top first division teams across each of the independent pyramids . . . and why an independent pyramid approach could better satisfy our soccer needs over a more traditional single national pyramid.

Tonight, in PART 8 of our Pro-Rel Series, we'll dive deeper into Vision 2050 and review:
1. The structure of a regional pyramid: tiers, divisions, pro-rel, trophies/cups, and entry into national tournaments.
2. How USL could begin to transition to this new system.
3. How the independent regional pyramid model can scale and adapt for growth.

. . . and, as always, we'll kick off the show with any of the latest cup, lower league, pro/rel, soccer history, and San Diego specific news.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU

What are your thoughts on how USL is handling the move to D1 and pro/rel?

Use the SEND US A TEXT link at the top of the description to send us any questions, comments, or feedback you have about the show.

LINKS FROM THE EPISODE

SOCCERNOSTALGIA TALK PODCAST:
Website 

USL:
USL Names English Premier League Executive Tony Scholes President of New Division One Men's League 

MATADOR NETWORK:
This Map Shows How Many European Countries Can Fit Into the Continental US

THECUP.US:
Graphic: USASA Regions Map

MAPHUB:
US Men's Soccer by zackleishner (interactive map of all the adult men's teams in the U.S. - amateur through professional)

MORNING KICKAROUND VIDEO:
YouTube Channel: Morning Kickaround
Video: The HUGE Questions Facing USL Ahead of Promotion and Relegation

EPISODE HOSTS:
Host: John Cross (john@bigpinedigital.com).  John is the founder of Big Pine Digital (a digital media company that specializes in preserving family history) and Soccer Shorts (a YouTube Channel that specializes in short form documentaries about local, grassroots, soccer culture.

Co-Host: Dylan Wilson

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SOCCER SHORTS:
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Morning Kickaround (https://www.youtube.com/@MorningKickaround) asked and we delivered!

On Oct. 1, the crew at Morning Kickaround published this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8l14J079nyQ&t=2s.  In it, they pose several "critical questions that USL must answer to successfully implement Pro/Rel in American soccer."  John and Dylan (well, John mostly) decided we would take up the challenge of answering those questions.

In the U.S., we have a large landmass, diverse geography, diverse climate, large pockets of open space, and uneven population distribution.  Therefore, our bigger country needs a smarter promotion-relegation ecosystem.  So, it's time to think outside the box.

Tonight, in PART 7 of our Pro-Rel Series, John presents his Vision 2050: four independent USL regional pyramids—East, Midwest, South, West—linked by a national, Champions League style tournament featuring the top first division teams across each of the pyramids . . . and why an independent pyramid approach could better satisfy our soccer needs over a more traditional single national pyramid.

. . . and, as always, we'll kick off the show with any of the latest cup, lower league, pro/rel, soccer history, and San Diego specific news.

Next week we will continue the conversation and dig deeper into the plan and review:
1. The structure of a regional pyramid: tiers, divisions, pro-rel, trophies/cups, and entry into national tournaments.
2. How partnerships with other leagues could help round out this new soccer ecosystem - from amateur to professional - tied together by promotion and relegation.
4. How USL could begin to transition to this new system.
5. How the independent regional pyramid model can scale and adapt for growth.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU

Pro-Rel and/or any conversation about fundamentally changing the soccer ecosystem in the U.S. is always a polarizing endeavor.  Now that you've heard John's plan, it's time for you to give us your thoughts.

Use the SEND US A TEXT link at the top of the description to send us any questions, comments, or feedback you have about the show.

LINKS FROM THE EPISODE

THE ATHLETIC:
NWSL's lack of gender eligibility policy leaves players vulnerable - just not in the way you think. Meg Linehan 

SIXONEFIVESOCCER:
2025 End-of-Season Survey (survey for MLS fans) 

MORNING KICKAROUND VIDEO:
YouTube Channel: Morning Kickaround
Video: The HUGE Questions Facing USL Ahead of Promotion and Relegation

EPISODE HOSTS:
Host: John Cross (john@bigpinedigital.com).  John is the founder of Big Pine Digital (a digital media company that specializes in preserving family history) and

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Last week, the NextGen College Soccer Committee in partnership with US Soccer dropped its new white paper: Ensuring College Soccer Thrives in the Modern Era of College Athletics and the Changing U.S. Soccer Landscape.  In it, the committee proposes some radical recommendations for the college calendar and the competitive structure of college soccer in the U.S.

Tonight, John and Dylan will give an overview of the recommendations, debate some of the pros and cons of the recommendations, and give their thoughts on what the future might hold for college soccer in the U.S.

. . . and, as always, we'll kick off the show with the latest cup, lower league, pro/rel, soccer history, and San Diego specific news.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU

Use the SEND US A TEXT link at the top of the description to send us any questions, comments, or feedback you have about the show.

LINKS FROM THE EPISODE

NEXTGEN COLLEGE SOCCER COMMITTEE WHITE PAPER:
Ensuring College Soccer Thrives in the Modern Era of College Athletics and the Changing U.S. Soccer Landscape 

MORNING KICKAROUND VIDEO:
YouTube Channel: Morning Kickaround
Video: The HUGE Questions Facing USL Ahead of Promotion and Relegation

EPISODE HOSTS:
Host: John Cross (john@bigpinedigital.com).  John is the founder of Big Pine Digital (a digital media company that specializes in preserving family history) and Soccer Shorts (a YouTube Channel that specializes in short form documentaries about local, grassroots, soccer culture.

Co-Host: Dylan Wilson

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JOIN US LIVE!
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SOCCER SHORTS:
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BlueSky: @SoccerShorts.BigPineDigital.com

Check out the Soccer Shorts YouTube channel
YouTube: @BPDSoccerShorts

PARTNERS:
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BlueSky: @SanDiego.Futbol
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Last weekend, was the premier of the brand new D2 Australian Championship (men only). Tonight (as we record our live stream) the USMNT take on AUS in a friendly.  This weekend marks the start of the A-League Men season.  At the end of the month the A-League Women will kick off their season.

In many ways, Australia and the U.S are similar.  They each have closed leagues sitting atop the pyramid on both the men's and women's sides.  They each have another type of football (AFL in AUS and the NFL in the U.S.) that dominate the sporting news and headlines.  And each is trying to improve its standing in world football.  However, in the last couple of decades, Australia has been working to bring Australian football more in line with the rest of the world.

Tonight, in PART 6 of our Pro-Rel Series, John and Dylan dive into the Australian soccer league system to review the progress that has been made in developing a unified soccer pyramid tied together with pro-rel.

. . . and, as always, we'll kick off the show with the latest cup, lower league, pro/rel, soccer history, and San Diego specific news.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU

Use the SEND US A TEXT link at the top of the description to send us any questions, comments, or feedback you have about the show.

EPISODE HOSTS:
Host: John Cross (john@bigpinedigital.com).  John is the founder of Big Pine Digital (a digital media company that specializes in preserving family history) and Soccer Shorts (a YouTube Channel that specializes in short form documentaries about local, grassroots, soccer culture.

Co-Host: Dylan Wilson

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SOCCER SHORTS:
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At the close of the 2012-2013 winter season, soccer was picking up in San Diego. Games were well attended and three locals teams dominated the adult scene: San Diego Soccer Football Club, the Nomads, and the team from Foster (the Fosters).  The San Diego champions (SDSFC) even took on the LA Champions, LA Rangers (comprised of several former Glasgow Rangers players) in a battle for the champion of Southern California.  Unsurprisingly, San Diego's team ended up on the losing side of that match (LAR 6-1 SDFSC).

Even with the loss to the LA Rangers, per newspaper accounts from the San Diego Sun, there's seems to be excitement around soccer in San Diego as teams and local civic leaders look toward the 2013-2014 winter season - specifically how to better complete against our neighbors up north. There's talk of forming a new soccer league and local businesses are willing to commission a trophy to award to the winners.  However, what these leaders do not yet know is that San Diego is about to embark on some significant economic and civic challenges for the rest of this decade - primarily the opening of the Panama-California Exposition (and renaming of City Park) along with the US military preparation and involvement in WWI.

Will the nascent San Diego soccer scene be strong enough to survive these challenges?

Tonight, in PART 3 of our San Diego Soccer History series, John and Dylan will investigate those questions and more as they share what they've learned from their most recent research into our local soccer history.

. . . and, as always, we'll kick off the show with the latest cup, lower league, pro/rel, soccer history, and San Diego specific news.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU

Use the SEND US A TEXT link at the top of the description to send us any questions, comments, or feedback you have about the show.

LINKS FROM THE EPISODE

BBC
'Now I'm part of the crowd' - the tech helping visually impaired football fans

EPISODE HOST INFORMATION:
Host: John Cross (john@bigpinedigital.com).  John is the founder of Big Pine Digital (a digital media company that specializes in preserving family history) and Soccer Shorts (a YouTube Channel that specializes in short form documentaries about local, grassroots, soccer culture.

Co-Host: Dylan Wilson

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SOCCER SHORTS:
Follow on socials:
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Check out the Soccer Shorts YouTube channel
YouTube: @BPDSoccerShorts

PARTNERS:
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A 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup match night in San Diego isn’t a fantasy—it’s a math problem.

Tonight, John and Dylan break down exactly how teams qualify for the 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup and why the SDFC matches over the next couple of weeks will define whether or not continental football comes to town.

 . . . and, as always, we'll kick off the show with the latest cup, lower league, pro-rel, San Diego, and soccer history news.

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Use the SEND US A TEXT link at the top of the description to send us any questions, comments, or feedback you have about the show.

LINKS FROM THE EPISODE

THE BLIZZARD
The Blizzard Football Quarterly: Greatest Goals - Round 2 

JOHN'S FAVORITE FOOTBALL SEQUENCE . . . EVER!
YouTube Channel: Super 6
Video: "Her's Hogg... DEENEY!" | Best end to a football match EVER!

USL
United Soccer League, Riverside Pro Soccer Announce Intent to Bring Professional Soccer to Riverside

EPISODE HOST INFORMATION:
Host: John Cross (john@bigpinedigital.com).  John is the founder of Big Pine Digital (a digital media company that specializes in preserving family history) and Soccer Shorts (a YouTube Channel that specializes in short form documentaries about local, grassroots, soccer culture.

Co-Host: Dylan Wilson

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SOCCER SHORTS:
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Check out the Soccer Shorts YouTube channel
YouTube: @BPDSoccerShorts

PARTNERS:
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BlueSky: @SanDiego.Futbol
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In regards to soccer, and specifically in regards to promotion and relegation, Canada is a country in transition.  For most of it's professional sporting existence, many Canadian professional teams have participated (or continue to participate) in American professional sports leagues - which, of course, do not have pro-rel.  However, the last couple of decades have seen a push for Canada to build out their own professional leagues (for both men and women) as well as building out a regionalized pre-professional soccer pyramid tied together by promotion and relegation.  

Tonight, in Part 5 of our Pro-Rel Series, John and Dylan dive into how Canada is progressing in its early attempts to build out a regionalized soccer pyramid tied together with promotion and relegation.

 . . . and, as always, you'll get the latest cup, lower league, pro-rel, San Diego, and soccer history news.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU

Use the SEND US A TEXT link at the top of the description to send us any questions, comments, or feedback you have about the show.

LINKS FROM THE EPISODE

CANADA SOCCER
The Easton Report

THE BLIZZARD
The Blizzard Football Quarterly: Greatest Goals - Round 1 

EPISODE HOST INFORMATION:
Host: John Cross (john@bigpinedigital.com).  John is the founder of Big Pine Digital (a digital media company that specializes in preserving family history) and Soccer Shorts (a YouTube Channel that specializes in short form documentaries about local, grassroots, soccer culture.

Co-Host: Dylan Wilson

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SOCCER SHORTS:
Follow on socials:
BlueSky: @SoccerShorts.BigPineDigital.com

Check out the Soccer Shorts YouTube channel
YouTube: @BPDSoccerShorts

PARTNERS:
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On the heels of the 1998 Men's World Cup, US Soccer launches a bold initiative called Project 2010: an attempt to give the U.S. a realistic shot at winning the 2010 Men's World Cup. An ambitious vision for American soccer that never fully materialized.

Tonight, the LGS Pod begins a new series called, "Project 2010." Over the course of this series, John and Dylan will dive deep into history and legacy of Project 2010.

Our conversation will attempt to illuminate the connections between past decisions and current challenges. For example, how did Allen Rothenberg's simultaneous leadership of US Soccer, the World Cup organizing committee, and MLS create conflicts of interest that still echo today? And most critically—what can we learn from Project 2010's successes and failures as we approach the 2026 World Cup?

 . . . and, as always, we'll kick off the show with the latest cup, lower league, pro-rel, San Diego, and soccer history news.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU

Use the SEND US A TEXT link at the top of the description to send us any questions, comments, or feedback you have about the show.

LINKS FROM THE EPISODE

PROJECT 2010
https://computingbiology.github.io/docs/Project2010.pdf

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SOCCER SHORTS:
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Check out the Soccer Shorts YouTube channel
YouTube: @BPDSoccerShorts

HOST & SHOW INFORMATION:
Host: John Cross (john@bigpinedigital.com).  John is the founder of Big Pine Digital (a digital media company that specializes in preserving family history) and Soccer Shorts (a YouTube Channel that specializes in short form documentaries about local, grassroots, soccer culture.

Co-Host: Dylan Wilson

PARTNERS:
SanDiego.futbol
Website: https://www.sandiego.futbol/
BlueSky: @SanDiego.Futbol
YouTube: @SanDiego.Futbol

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SOCCER SHORTS:
Follow on socials:
BlueSky: @SoccerShorts.BigPineDigital.com

Check out the Soccer Shorts YouTube channel
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PARTNERS:
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Last week, in Part 3 of our Pro-Rel Series, John and Dylan looked at how Japan went from ZERO professional football teams in 1990 to (in 2025) a fully functioning 7+ tier football pyramid, tied together by pro-rel.

Tonight, the boys continue the discussion from last week and look at what the US might be able to learn from Japan.  Along the way they will look at some of the common counter-arguments to pro-rel and see if Japan was able to overcome those perceived obstacles.

And, as always, you'll get the latest cup, lower league, pro-rel, San Diego, and soccer history news.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU

Use the SEND US A TEXT link at the top of the description to send us any questions, comments, or feedback you have about the show.

LINKS FROM THE EPISODE

THE INDEPENDENT
Uefa must not betray its principles by approving games abroad (Miguel Delaney) 

THE ATHLETIC / NYT
If NWSL wants to keep USWNT players such as Rodman and Wilson, it needs to review its salary cap (Jeff Reuter)

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SOCCER SHORTS:
Follow on socials:
BlueSky: @SoccerShorts.BigPineDigital.com

Check out the Soccer Shorts YouTube channel
YouTube: @BPDSoccerShorts

HOST & SHOW INFORMATION:
Host: John Cross (john@bigpinedigital.com).  John is the founder of Big Pine Digital (a digital media company that specializes in preserving family history) and Soccer Shorts (a YouTube Channel that specializes in short form documentaries about local, grassroots, soccer culture.

Co-Host: Dylan Wilson

PARTNERS:
SanDiego.futbol
Website: https://www.sandiego.futbol/
BlueSky: @SanDiego.Futbol
YouTube: @SanDiego.Futbol

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SOCCER SHORTS:
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Who says you need 100+ years of culture to build an effective football pyramid that links your local leagues to the top tier professional league?  Don't tell that to Japan. They have managed to go from ZERO professional football teams in 1990 to (in 2025) a fully functioning 7+ tier football pyramid, tied together by pro-rel . . . in just 35 years.

Tonight, join John and Dylan for Part 3 of our Pro-Rel series - where we take a deep dive into Japanese football.  A developing footballing community that mirrored the U.S. for much of the 20th century only to have the two countries diverge sharply when it came to developing their professional leagues (in the 1990's) and their vision for the future of football in each of their respective countries. With strong leadership and a 100 year vision, the JFA turned a scattered system of semi-professional and regional leagues into a robust soccer pyramid - and elevated its national teams from regional players to regional powerhouses.

And, as always, you'll get the latest cup, lower league, pro-rel, San Diego, and soccer history news.

*****PROGRAMMING NOTE: At around 56:32 (just after the start of the chapter on the J-League) the audio cuts out for about 30 seconds (due to a network connection error.

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LINKS FROM THE EPISODE

FOURFOURTWO / YOUTUBE
Video: Inside Japan's Football Obsession
Channel: @FourFourTwo 

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HOST & SHOW INFORMATION:
Host: John Cross (john@bigpinedigital.com).  John is the founder of Big Pine Digital (a digital media company that specializes in preserving family history) and Soccer Shorts (a YouTube Channel that specializes in short form documentaries about local, grassroots, soccer culture.

Co-Host: Dylan Wilson

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What happens when your *community* is not recognized by FIFA, the IOC, or the UN?  Where do you play your international football?

Recently, the Marshall Islands played their first international men's football match.  However, it was not played in the Republic of the Marshall Islands but rather in Springfield, Arkansas - home to about 15K members of the Marshallese diaspora.  But what about other diasporas around the world - especially those without a country to call *home*?  Is there a place for these teams to play their international football matches?

Tonight, John and Dylan take a deep dive into the world of non-FIFA international football.

And, as always, you'll get the latest cup, lower league, pro-rel, San Diego, and soccer history news.


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LINKS FROM THE EPISODE

USA TODAY
World Cup draw will be held at Kennedy Center, Trump and FIFA announce (Jason Anderson)

NISA
NISA Announces Key Dates For 2025 Pro Cup.

THECUP.US
2026 U.S. Open Cup Qualifying: 146 teams will enter qualifying tournament, smashing records. (Jake Sillick)

YOUTUBE
Channel: Route None
Video: The Rebel World Cup & The Teams FIFA Forgot

CONIFA
Website: https://www.conifa.org/en/. 

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HOST & SHOW INFORMATION:
Host: John Cross (john@bigpinedigital.com).  John is the founder of Big Pine Digital (a digital media company that specializes in preserving family history) and Soccer Shorts (a YouTube Channel that specializes in short form documentaries about local, grassroots, soccer culture.

Co-Host: Dylan Wilson

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SanDiego.futbol
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Tonight, John and Dylan bring you Part 2 of our Pro-Rel series where we focus on the bottom half of the English football pyramid: the National League System.  We'll start in 1959 and highlight key events in the development of the (now) six STEPS of non-league pyramid and eventually wrap up our discussion with the 2024-2025 season.

Like with PART 1 of this series, this is our attempt at reviewing the history of pro-rel and the the development of major footballing pyramids around the world so that we (at the LGS pod) can have fruitful future discussions about the development of pro-rel and an open(?) pyramid in the United States.

And, as always, you'll get the latest cup, lower league, San Diego, and soccer history news.


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LINKS FROM THE EPISODE

FOOTBALL HERITAGE
Before the Franchise (David Proudlove)
The Ballad of Brick Kiln Lane (David Proudlove)

USL.COM
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC announces Planned Expansion of Stadium. 

MAPHUB
US Men's Soccer by zackleischner (a map of all the men's teams in the US - all levels)

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HOST & SHOW INFORMATION:
Host: John Cross (john@bigpinedigital.com).  John is the founder of Big Pine Digital (a digital media company that specializes in preserving family history) and Soccer Shorts (a YouTube Channel that specializes in short form documentaries about local, grassroots, soccer culture.

Co-Host: Dylan Wilson

PARTNERS:
SanDiego.futbol
Website: https://www.sandiego.futbol/
BlueSky: @SanDiego.Futbol
YouTube: @SanDiego.Futbol

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SOCCER SHORTS:
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As we all know by now, the USL looking to become the first professional soccer league in the USA to implement promotional and relegation.  Over the next few years we imagine their will be much discussion, debate, and disagreement regarding pro/rel and what system would work best for the USL . . . and maybe the USA as a whole.

If we (here at the LGS Pod) are going to make an attempt at a serious discussion about pro-rel in the USA (and what an American soccer pyramid could look like) we decided that it would be best for us to first take a deep dive into the history of promotion and relegation.  So we decided to start a series devoted specifically to that topic.  Along the way we also plan to explore the many variations of league systems in use around the world and see what the US can learn from those systems in trying to bring pro/rel to the US.

Tonight, John and Dylan bring you Part 1 of our Pro-Rel series: The (English) Football League.  This podcast will cover the nearly 140 year history of the top for divisions of the English Football Pyramid.

And, as always, you'll get the latest cup, lower league, pro/rel, San Diego, and soccer history news.


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LINKS FROM THE EPISODE

THE BUREAU OF INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM
Leaked documents reveal Abramovich is still connected to Vitesse (Simon Lock, Jacob Steinberg)

BEYOND THE '90
WPSL Pro Delays Start to 2027 (Calum Ewing) 

USL.COM
Detroit City FC announces new home to be named AlumniFi Field, releases renderings. 

GOAL.COM
They're all wearing that crest (Tom Hindle)

THECUP.US
Dominic Oduro's late goal gives Tennessee Temp UPSL spring title, spot in the 2026 US Open Cup. (Kathryne Padilla)
TheCup.US want to pay their volunteer US Open Cup reporters and you can help (Josh Hakala)

SAN DIEGO SIRENS (San Diego Wave SG)
Website

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HOST & SHOW INFORMATI

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Tonight, John and Dylan look at world football over the past three decades (post-Bosman), the consolidation of money and power at the top of the global football pyramid (mostly in Europe), and what affect that is having on the teams/countries downstream from the global elite - those in the immediate lower leagues and those at the grassroots level.

And, as always, you'll get the latest cup, lower league, pro/rel, San Diego, and soccer history news.



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LINKS FROM THE EPISODE

ATTITUDE
Gay owners of Keighley Cougars rugby club buy football club Ecclishill United FC (Dale Fox)

AS
Spain's first transgender team is looking for a coach (Alejandro Soto)

TALKSPORT
Seaford Town have set a new FA Cup record for the longest period of time between appearing in the competition. (Alejandro Soto)

THE GUARDIAN
NWSL says it has 'no duty of care' for women suing San Diego Wave over assault claims

BBC SPORT
How 'Wrexham effect' is transforming non-league football (Ben Bloom) 

UNMODERN FOOTBALL
The football you love is not dead.  It's just somewhere else. (Misah Verollet-Dahncke)

BUZZSPROUT
Podcast: An American Game. (Kirk Rudell and Tim McCabe)

GOFUNDME
Support the SASH Historical American Soccer Footage Campaign. (S.A.S.H)

YOUTUBE
Tifo Football by The Athletic. (@Tifo YouTube Channel)
Playlist: The Entire History of Football

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HOST & SHOW INFORMATION:
Host: John Cross (john@bigpinedigital.com).  John is the founder of Big Pine Digital (a digital media company that specializes in preserving family history) and Soccer Shorts (a YouTube Channel that specializes in short form documentaries about local, grassroots, soccer culture.

Co-Host: Dylan Wilson

PARTNERS:
SanDiego.futbol
Website: https://www.sandiego.futbol/
BlueSky: @SanDiego.Futbol
You

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John is flying solo tonight . . . so it's time for another deep dive into soccer history.

After musing over the complicated MLS player acquisition rules surrounding the Müller, Vancouver, Cincinnati Discover Rules triangle (travesty?), John goes on a a deep dive into the history of player transfers in world football.

And, as always, you'll get the latest cup, lower league, pro/rel, and San Diego news.


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LINKS FROM THE EPISODE

THCUP.US
2026 US Open Cup: Which Open Division teams teams will get direct entry in Round 1? (Jake Sillick)

USL.COM
Kasey Keller joins Athletic Club Boise ownership group
United Soccer League awards League One franchise to USL Eugene
New York Cosmos return to North Jersey, set for 2026 USL League One debut

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HOST & SHOW INFORMATION:
Host: John Cross (john@bigpinedigital.com).  John is the founder of Big Pine Digital (a digital media company that specializes in preserving family history) and Soccer Shorts (a YouTube Channel that specializes in short form documentaries about local, grassroots, soccer culture.

Co-Host: Dylan Wilson

PARTNERS:
SanDiego.futbol
Website: https://www.sandiego.futbol/
BlueSky: @SanDiego.Futbol
YouTube: @SanDiego.Futbol

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JOIN US LIVE!
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Check out the Soccer Shorts YouTube channel
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Tonight John and Dylan share their thoughts on the new media platform, "Kickback Soccer," and how it could change the soccer media landscape in the U.S.

And, as always, you'll get the latest cup, lower league, pro/rel, San Diego, and soccer history news.


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LINKS FROM THE EPISODE

PORTLAND TIMBERS (YouTube Channel)
Watch the raising of the largest painted tifo in MLS history

ROLLINGSTONE.COM
Soccer Fans are Revolting as MLS Teams Stay Silent on ICE Crackdowns (Tomás Mier)

GOAL.COM
Transformational for the Sport of Soccer - How Annapolis Blues rallied community, shattered attendance records to prove that USL League Two can blossom in America (Tom Hindle)

NISASOCCER.COM
NISA Unveils New Brand Identity Reflecting Transformation
Matt Morse Appointed CEO of NISA
Chandler Hoffman Appointed Commissioner

BEYONDTHE90.SUBSTACK.COM
USL League One Expansion Updates: Summer 2025 (Alex Ashton)

USLCHAMPIONSHIP.COM
Where every team stands ahead of the USL Jägermeister Cup Knockout Draw

THCUP.US
2026 US Open Cup qualifying tournament expands; El Farolito qualifies as first John Motta Trophy winner (Josh Hakala)
2026 US Open Cup: Which USL League Two teams could directly enter in the First Round? (Jake Sillick)

KICKBACKSOCCER.COM
KickbackSoccer.com

VARIETY.COM
Kickback Soccer Media Aims to Become Central Hub for Soccer Conversations (Brian Steinberg)

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Check o

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