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

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

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

Vince and Belz talk through the official roster release, which is exactly the same as Saturday's leak. Vince makes a strong case that Tanner Tessmann is a miss from Poch, and we agree we have too many centerbacks, but we're backing this 26 all the wa... more

Sanjay, Belz, Charlie Boehm and Greg V compete for the strongest teams, with all U.S. men's national team World Cup players from '94 to '22 on the draft board. You decide who did the best.

Skip the ads! Subscribe to Scuffed on Patreon and get all ep... more

Greg joins Belz to give his 26 for the World Cup, his starting XI, and acknowledge that in both cases it could go several acceptable ways.

Skip the ads! Subscribe to Scuffed on Patreon and get all episodes ad-free, plus any bonus episodes. Patrons a... more

The CEO and secretary general of US Soccer himself, hailing from Augusta and stationed south of Atlanta, joins Vince and Belz to discuss World Cup impact, the state of the game in America, the fateful train station run-in with Sunil Gulati, fundraisi... more

Key Facts

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Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

JT Batson
CEO and Secretary General of US Soccer
US Soccer
Episode: #692: J.T. Batson joins the pod
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
Adam Belz
Contributor/analyst on Scuffed
Scuffed
Episode: #676: It's Belgium Week! Balo, Pulisic & Pepi saga headline things
Bruce Arena
San Jose Earthquakes Head Coach and Sporting Director, a legendary figure in US Soccer history
San Jose Earthquakes
Episode: #673: Bruce Arena joins the pod
Marcus Chairez
Youth development expert discussing MLS NEXT and the MLS youth cohort
MLS academies / US soccer ecosystem
Episode: #671: Marcus Chairez on this exciting youth cohort in MLS
Greg Velasquez
Soccer analyst and host (guest on the episode)
Scuffed
Episode: #669: A spring roster check-up with Dr. Velasquez

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 States6 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 States8 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
#17
United States/Sports/Soccer
Apple Podcasts
#248
United States/Sports
Apple Podcasts
#26
South Korea/Sports/Soccer
Apple Podcasts
#49
Japan/Sports/Soccer
Apple Podcasts
#110
Saudi Arabia/Sports/Soccer
Apple Podcasts
#160
South Korea/Sports

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. JT Batson
2. Anees Merzi
3. Wolfgang Heilmann
4. Adam Elder
5. Ricardo Pepi
6. Adam Belz
7. Bruce Arena
8. Marcus Chairez

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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