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Scuffed | USMNT, World Cup, Yanks Abroad, futbol in America

Adam Belz and Greg Velasquez
World Cup
US Men's National Team
U.S. Men's National Team
Soccer
Mauricio Pochettino
Christian Pulisic
USMNT
MLS
Copa America
Gold Cup
Gio Reyna
US Women's National Team
Tyler Adams
Youth Soccer
Olympics
US Soccer
Emma Hayes
Weston Mckennie
Malik Tillman
US Men's National Soccer Team

An in-depth show about the U.S. men's national soccer team, the players who could one day make it better, and American soccer in general.

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes600Founded8 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
SoccerSports

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Scuffed

Latest Episodes

Folarin Balogun gets an 11th-hour reprieve from FIFA's vaunted judicial system, he'll play against Belgium. Vince, Sanjay and Belz talk through that bombshell news, its impact on the game, and how we might stop Doku.

Skip the ads! Subscribe to Scuff... more

Belz, Sanjay and Charlie Boehm recap the big win from Wednesday night. Full timeline, Malik and Wes once again shine bright, everybody's bought in, the TV audiences are massive. Now we look to Monday.

Skip the ads! Subscribe to Scuffed on Patreon an... more

Mike Guardabascio in southern California, of the Jenkins and Jonez podcast and one of the founders of of 562.org, joins Vince and Belz to talk about how the USMNT is hitting in Long Beach during this home-soil World Cup, what stands in the way of soc... more

Vince and Belz recap the dead rubber, buzzer beater loss to Türkiye, and Sanjay comes on for the last 20 minutes to talk about what Poch said after the game.

Clip Notes for patrons: www.patreon.com/scuffed/posts/clipnotes-wc-162197059?utm_me... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Recent Guests

Sanjay Sujatha Kumar
Sanjay contributes postgame analysis and interviews as part of Patreon segments
Episode: #704: USA v Türkiye recap
Sergiño Dest
Professional soccer player for the USMNT; discussed position evolution and World Cup experience
US Men's National Team
Episode: #703: Sergiño Dest joins the pod
Andrew Jones
USMNT beat reporter
USMNT/US Soccer media relations
Episode: #701: Long-time freelance USMNT beat reporter Andrew Jones
JT Batson
CEO and Secretary General of US Soccer
US Soccer
Episode: #692: J.T. Batson joins the pod
Leander Schaerlaeckens
soccer journalist, journalism professor, author of The Long Game
The Long Game
Episode: #689: Leander's back to talk WC run-up, roster cuts
Anees Merzi
Founder of 703 Warriors; West Point graduate; military veteran
703 Warriors
Episode: #687: The science of quality, accessible youth soccer with Anees Merzi
Wolfgang Heilmann
Head of the International Borussia Monchengladbach Academy
Borussia Monchengladbach
Episode: #684: Chatting youth soccer with the head of Gladbach's international academy
Adam Elder
Author and writer/editor who authored New Kids in the World Cup (2022)
Author of New Kids in the World Cup
Episode: #683: The 1990 World Cup team with author Adam Elder
Ricardo Pepi
USMNT striker, PSV forward
PSV Eindhoven
Episode: #678: Ricardo Pepi joins the pod

Hosts

Vince
Host of the show and regular co-host.
Adam Belz
Co-host, analyst, covers USMNT and broader US soccer topics.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 1.5k ratings
  • The best

    Such a great podcast! I look forward to international breaks just so I can listen!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    GB__Lee
    United States7 months ago
  • Nuanced and Thorough

    The most objective, nuanced, and thorough analysis of the USMNT available. Their work on grassroots and youth development is commendable and provides concrete ways to push the game forward in your community.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    CPinMT
    United States9 months ago
  • The Definitive USMNT Podcast and Community

    Easily the best show for following and understanding the emotional roller coaster that is supporting the USMNT. Scuffed covers all the angles: lineup and player analysis, game recaps, drama, culture, and the status of the game in America. Adam, Vince, Greg, and Chris are plugged into it all so you don’t have to be and cover it with aplomb.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Nathanhoward44
    United Statesa year ago
  • 5 stars

    Something nice

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Lawman12334
    United Statesa year ago
  • Honey for the ears.

    The only American soccer podcast with no shouting.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Edible Ghost
    Australiaa year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Production quality and consistent vibe are repeatedly highlighted as strengths.
Many appreciate the blend of tactical depth with accessible storytelling.
Guests and hosts are described as insightful, with strong US soccer coverage across both men's and women's game.
Listeners praise nuanced, thorough analysis and real-world relevance for US soccer.
Some feedback notes controversy or strong opinions, but overall positive engagement and community.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#19
United States/Sports/Soccer
Apple Podcasts
#201
United States/Sports
Apple Podcasts
#109
Australia/Sports/Soccer
Apple Podcasts
#35
South Korea/Sports/Soccer
Apple Podcasts
#47
China/Sports/Soccer
Apple Podcasts
#107
Singapore/Sports/Soccer

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

#689: Leander's back to talk WC run-up, roster cuts
Q: What will people learn from your book about the Donovan roster decision?
The guest explains that the Donovan cut was a surprising, widely-criticized move that reflected deeper tensions and decisions within the federation, illustrating how leadership choices can have outsized effects on a team's World Cup trajectory.
#684: Chatting youth soccer with the head of Gladbach's international academy
Q: What was the process like with Joe Scally, who made the move from MLS?
Scouted him early for his potential, saw quality in him playing for NYCFC's first team, and brought him into the academy path where he continued to develop and eventually became a first-team regular; the move reflected the academy's philosophy of identifying talent early and integrating them into their system.
#673: Bruce Arena joins the pod
Q: What are your thoughts on homegrown territories and the balance between local clubs and opportunities for players?
He argues competition is good and that restricting movements too tightly would not be fair; players should have options to choose where they play, which benefits development.
#673: Bruce Arena joins the pod
Q: What do you think is easier about the national team setup given the limited time with players compared to a club?
Arena explains there is nothing easy; the main advantage is the higher quality of players in some top environments, but coordination and cohesion remain challenging due to limited camp time.
#673: Bruce Arena joins the pod
Q: Has playing young Americans become more of a priority over time, or is it a function of how teams are built now?
He emphasizes belief in American players and highlights the current mix including many domestic players, while acknowledging the league has internationalized; the goal is to balance opportunities for Americans with the evolving MLS landscape.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Scuffed

What is Scuffed about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show provides in-depth analysis of the USMNT, World Cup prospects, and the broader American soccer ecosystem, with a consistent emphasis on development pathways, domestic growth, and the club-to-national-team pipeline. Episodes typically feature roster scrutiny, youth‑development discussions, and behind‑the‑scenes storytelling about governance, funding, and partnerships that push the sport forward in the United States. A notable strength is blending rigorous tactical talk with accessible storytelling and candid banter, often drawing on guest perspectives from federation leadership, journalists, and youth programs to illuminate how grassroots and elite levels connect. This mix makes it especially useful for listeners who want actionable ... more

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How many episodes of Scuffed are there?

Scuffed launched 8 years ago and published 600 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Scuffed?

Recent guests on Scuffed include:

1. Sanjay Sujatha Kumar
2. Sergiño Dest
3. Andrew Jones
4. JT Batson
5. Leander Schaerlaeckens
6. Anees Merzi
7. Wolfgang Heilmann
8. Adam Elder

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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