Urban Pitch Podcast - The Beautiful Game Of Life

The Ballon d'Or shortlists are out, and the debates on who should win football's most prestigious award are raging. From our picks to win it to egregious snubs left off the lists, we get into it all in the latest episode of the Urban Pitch Podcast. In addition, we also discuss the legendary career of Alex Morgan, who just announced her retirement and played in her final match last Sunday. Timestamps (00:30) The Overtime FC x Kappa x Klarna kits we're rocking (07:20) The Ballon d'Or shortlist and our picks to win it (19:17) Kylian Mbappe's early struggles with Real Madrid (29:46) The women's Ballon d'Or (36:56) Alex Morgan's retirement from soccer (44:08) Don Kennedy's LA concert and our favorite LA artists Cast Hosts: Ramsey Abushahla, Julio Monterroza, & Brigitte Flores Producer: Roy Cho Subscribe to our newsletter for more interviews and latest news on street football, freestyle, and urban culture, read more about soccer culture on our website, and follow us on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook.

The summer's coming to a close, and that means a wild stretch of footy is now behind us. But the soccer world doesn't rest, and we're already into a new European season, while MLS and the NWSL sprint to the finish of their respective seasons as well. On the latest episode of the Urban Pitch Podcast, the crew discusses the potential announcement of Mauricio Pochettino as USMNT manager, in addition to the polarizing new slate of third kits from Nike and CR7's venture into content creation. Timestamps (02:19) Thoughts on the summer of footy (09:32) Mauricio Pochettino's potential USMNT manager position (26:14) The new Nike third kits (34:35) Cristiano Ronaldo's YouTube channel Cast Hosts: Ramsey Abushahla, Julio Monterroza, & Brigitte Flores Producer: Roy Cho Subscribe to our newsletter for more interviews and latest news on street football, freestyle, and urban culture, read more about soccer culture on our website, and follow us on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook.

We've got new season fever. With every new year comes a fresh wave of optimism and hope, and with a new EPL campaign underway, there wasn't anyone else we'd rather chat with than Jessica Black! The SheKnowsArsenal star discusses her thoughts on the 2024-25 season, and where the Gunners' priorities should lie after two straight second-place finishes. But first, we dig into the new collective bargaining agreement in the NWSL, and the historic implications that it could bring across American sports. Timestamps (00:01:25) The new NWSL collective bargaining agreement (00:13:50) The return of the NWSL and Angel City FC's strong Summer Cup (00:23:58) The start of the English Premier League season (00:38:20) Our favorite kits across Europe for the 2024-25. season (00:55:34) Puppy corner Cast Hosts: Ramsey Abushahla, Julio Monterroza, & Brigitte Flores Producer: Roy Cho Subscribe to our newsletter for more interviews and latest news on street football, freestyle, and urban culture, read more about soccer culture o

Over the past few years, Megan Reyes has emerged as one of the most engaging voices in sports, covering everything from women's soccer and basketball to the X Games and Olympics. A first generation Filipino-American, her four-part audio documentary "Between Two Worlds" covered the Philippines women's national soccer team's journey to the 2023 World Cup, and she is currently the host of "The Good Follow Show" on DraftKings Network. From her love of the beautiful game to her passion for the culture that surrounds it, Megan was a perfect fit for the Urban Pitch Podcast, and our conversation ranged from how she found her love for sports, to her Filipino background, to the growth of women's sports in recent years. We hope you enjoy this episode as much as we did! Timestamps (00:02:04) Megan's background in sports and her journey into working in the sports industry (00:09:30) Fashion's growth in sport, specifically soccer (00:12:00) Her Filipino background and covering Filipino athletes (00:31:3

Every four years, we're treated to the Summer Olympics — a three-week span of pomp, circumstance, and national pride. This year's games in Paris were among the best in recent memory, and featured countless jaw-dropping moments, including on the football pitch. From a USWNT gold medal to another crash out from a United States men's team, we recap the footy that took place across France over the past few weeks, in addition to a few of our other favorite moments from other sports. We also get into Olivier Giroud's arrival in Los Angeles, and how both LA MLS teams are looking dangerous as the season ramps up for its final quarter. (02:37) The Olympics and soccer's history at the games (27:06) How concerned should U.S. men's soccer be after a disappointing summer? (36:37) Olivier Giroud's aura and the final stretch to the MLS season Cast Hosts: Ramsey Abushahla, Julio Monterroza, & Brigitte Flores Producer: Roy Cho Subscribe to our newsletter for more interviews and latest news on street football, freestyle, a

After finishing last in the Western Conference last season, the Colorado Rapids have made a major turnaround in 2024, and find themselves comfortably in the playoff hunt three quarters through the season. A major part of the turnaround has been the stellar play of midfielder Cole Bassett, a homegrown product and one of the bright young talents across MLS. The 23-year-old playmaker already has hit career high marks in goals and assists this season, and will be key if the team wants to make a deep playoff run. He drops by the Urban Pitch Podcast to discuss the Rapids' newfound success in 2024, the team's dynamic, as well as his loan spell to Feyenoord and Fortuna Sittard in the Dutch Eredivisie. Timestamps (01:40) The Rapids' massive turnaround from last season to this season (06:50) The attacking quality across MLS, and how Djordje Mihailovic and Zack Steffen have affected the locker room (12:11) Coming up through the Rapids Academy as a homegrown player (16:31) Getting an opportunity to play for Feyenoord in

Most sports fans grow up rooting for their hometown teams. But few ever get to actually play for them. Max Ornstil is part of that select few. The Oakland, California native got a chance to play for the Oakland Roots, and ended his eight-year professional career with the club in 2022. In the two years since, he's been busy establishing his brand, Neighborhood Sports Club. In addition to some of the coolest merch and apparel out there, Neighborhood Sports Club is about building community through the beautiful game and various art forms. The latest NSC project was 'Dare to Dream,' a short film recounting Ornstil's journey through pro soccer, visualized in a letter to his younger self. We sit down with Ornstil to discuss his love for the game, life after retirement, and all the things he's working on with Neighborhood Sports Club. Timestamps (01:33) Max's journey over the past two years after retiring from pro soccer (16:30) What it's like growing up playing soccer in the Bay Area, and the personal connection to

With the Copa America and EUROs now over, we're in the backside of the summer of footy — but that doesn't mean things are slowing down. From all the chaos that took place both before and after the Copa America final in Miami to potential USMNT managers coming out of the woodwork, there's been plenty to discuss in the football universe. We get into it all on the latest episode of the Urban Pitch Podcast! Timestamps (01:30) The chaotic conclusions to the EUROs and Copa America (19:45) Argentina's controversial post-match celebrations (28:34) The USMNT manager situation (41:00) The state of El Tri (43:32) Kylian Mbappe's introduction to Real Madrid Cast Hosts: Ramsey Abushahla, Julio Monterroza, & Brigitte Flores Producer: Roy Cho Subscribe to our newsletter for more interviews and latest news on street football, freestyle, and urban culture, read more about soccer culture on our website, and follow us on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook.

The 2024 Copa America saw yet another disappointing performance from the USMNT, not making it out of a favorable group draw. Getting grouped out of the tournament led to the team parting ways with head coach Gregg Berhalter, something a staunch group of fans have been calling for for years now. But how much will actually change with a new coach? We also dive into Cristiano Ronaldo's tough EURO 2024, and examine how much he was holding back the team he has carried for so long. In addition, we got outfitted by our friends at Icarus Football, who held their annual 2024 Icarus Cup in Philadelphia over the weekend. The new kits might just be our favorite yet. Timestamps 00:44 The Icarus Cup and the fire Urban Pitch Icarus kits we're wearing 06:54 The USMNT's disappointing run at Copa America and finding a replacement for Gregg Berhalter 32:30 Cristiano Ronaldo's miserable EUROs and the youth movement in the tournament Cast Hosts: Ramsey Abushahla, Julio Monterroza, & Brigitte Flores Producer: Roy Cho Subscribe

Footy fever has fully hit, and we're waist deep in a summer chock full of international goodness. As the EUROs and Copa America continue to unfold, we break down the vibes in each tournament, and pick a winner for each competition that has its own specific brand of chaos! Timestamps (00:30) The PUMA x Neymar 'Forever Brasilero' event (06:05) Does Neymar have enough juice in the tank to make a return? (12:52) The vibes around Copa America and EURO 2024 (18:53) Why have there been empty stadiums in Copa America? (31:40) Our picks to win each tournament

We've seen plenty of footy-inspired fashion brands pop up over the last few years as the beautiful game's influence in the sartorial world has increased. But one of the labels that has been around for quite some time is Live Breathe Futbol, which was founded in 2011 by Ebun Olaloye. From a college passion project to a full-fledged brand coming off a major partnership with Major League Soccer, Olaloye's dedication to his craft and willingness to take risks has paid off handsomely. On the latest episode of the Urban Pitch Podcast, we sit down with him to discuss some of those risks, his vision for the brand, and the music he currently has in rotation. Timestamps (01:04) How Ebun stays organized during incredibly busy stretches and rapid growth (09:45) The origins of LBF, and landing a collection with MLS (24:47) The growth of fashion in football (27:00) Urban Pitch's origins (33:20) The music Ebun currently has in rotation Cast Hosts: Ramsey Abushahla, Julio Monterroza, & Brigitte Flores Producer: Roy Cho S

The 2024 Copa America is upon us! On the latest episode of the Urban Pitch Podcast, Ramsey and Julio sit down to discuss the chaos surrounding the United States and Mexico following a pair of less-than-stellar friendly tuneups against CONMEBOL opponents. Timestamps (02:08) The vibes surrounding the USMNT entering the 2024 Copa America (27:10) Mexico's frustrations and El Tri's chances at Copa America (34:09) The fan disparity at USMNT home matches Cast Hosts: Ramsey Abushahla, Julio Monterroza, & Brigitte Flores Producer: Roy Cho Subscribe to our newsletter for more interviews and latest news on street football, freestyle, and urban culture, read more about soccer culture on our website, and follow us on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook.

He's a former pro footballer turned corporate pro with the product creation team for global football at Nike. But above all, AJ Ajeakwa is a storyteller. His brand Mahwa Studios has adopted the motto "All We Have Are Memories," and Ajeakwa has done his best to illustrate his life experiences through each release. We sit down with the talented creative to discuss his pro soccer journey, transitioning to Nike, and the challenges and rewards of creating your own brand. Timestamps (01:23) The Nike Mercurial Superfly "SoCal" boot (07:52) AJ's journey growing up in LA and playing soccer (23:00) Getting a chance to work at Nike and his own brand, Mahwa studios Cast Hosts: Ramsey Abushahla, Julio Monterroza, & Brigitte Flores Producer: Roy Cho Subscribe to our newsletter for more interviews and latest news on street football, freestyle, and urban culture, read more about soccer culture on our website, and follow us on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook.

A new women's soccer league is coming to the United States this summer, and we couldn't be more pumped for it. The USL Super League has made waves over the past few weeks with announcements of schedules, celebrity owners, and new player signings. Kicking off in August, the league has earned Division I status from U.S. Soccer and will compete at the same level as the NWSL. We discuss the new league's ambitious plans, and what we can expect when it kicks off in a few months. Elsewhere, we get into the Kylian Mbappe move and the star power that he commands, which is a rarity in today's football landscape. The mega-star footballer isn't quite what it used to be, but in Mbappe's case, he still has the juice. We get into all of this and more on the latest episode of the Urban Pitch Podcast! Timestamps (00:59) The 2nd Annual Urban Pitch Golf Invitational (08:12) The USL Super League kicking off (29:28) Kylian Mbappe and the death of the superstar footballer (42:17) Our Champions League Picks Cast Hosts: Ramsey Abush

Last week, we dove into the upcoming summer of footy, featuring among other tournaments, the EUROs and Copa America. This week we stay in that zone, but shift our focus onto the kits we'll be seeing on the pitch. From some absolutely stunning designs to those that could use another go around, we take a look at the best and worst EURO/Copa America kits on the latest episode of the Urban Pitch Podcast! In addition, we discuss the latest mental health-centered collection from our friends at Forward Madison, who were nice enough to send us over some pieces. Timestamps (00:30) The Forward Madison Mental Health collection (10:41) Our favorite kits at the 2024 EUROs and Copa America (27:20) Mexico's roster controversy Cast Hosts: Ramsey Abushahla, Julio Monterroza, & Brigitte Flores Producer: Roy Cho Subscribe to our newsletter for more interviews and latest news on street football, freestyle, and urban culture, read more about soccer culture on our website, and follow us on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Faceb

As the temperatures in the northern hemisphere rise, so does the anticipation for what is sure to be a fantastic summer of football. Between the Copa America, EURO 2024, and the Paris Olympics, we have a packed slate of international tournaments that we can't wait to take in. On the latest episode of the Urban Pitch Podcast, Ramsey and Julio sit down to discuss the highly anticipated competitions, as well as a certain French superstar who'll be making his way to LAFC later in the summer. Timestamps (04:05) Olivier Giroud coming to LAFC (07:27) The "MLS is a retirement league" narrative (18:32) Which neighborhood in LA would Giroud fit in best? (21:53) The summer of footy Cast Hosts: Ramsey Abushahla, Julio Monterroza, & Brigitte Flores Producer: Roy Cho Subscribe to our newsletter for more interviews and latest news on street football, freestyle, and urban culture, read more about soccer culture on our website, and follow us on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook.

Since we last spoke to Sam Fisher in August 2022, a lot has changed. The biggest update: She was called up to the El Salvador National team, and made her debut at the Gold Cup, where she scored the team's first goal in the competition. Then came the not-so-good news. After returning from international duty, she was released from the Chicago Red Stars, and is currently in the market for a new club team (although she said there are a few options looming). Such is the life of a pro athlete. One moment you might be celebrating your biggest accomplishment, only to turn around and face a setback. But Fisher has her eyes ahead to the future, and has been training non-stop since she's returned to Southern California. She re-joins the show (in person this time!) to discuss her experience with the Salvadoran national team, bouncing back from getting released, and what her goals are over the next few years. Timestamps (01:45) Sam's selection to the El Salvador national team (10:57) Making her debut at the Gold Cup (16:2

With a multitude of hosts and a vast breadth of topics covered, The Shirtless Plantain Show has been one of our favorite podcasts and platforms in the soccer space for some time now. So when we heard they joined the BLEAV network, we had to link up. Tosin and Coach join Ramsey and Julio for a discussion about American soccer culture vs. European football culture, the global spread of the game, and our favorite kits of all time. Timestamps (02:13) The global nature of the Shirtless Plantain Show, and keeping up with all of the top leagues (18:40) How soccer culture has grown in the United States (21:50) How the Shirtless Plantain Show network came to be (28:50) Is the push to capitalize on the US soccer market becoming overdone? (40:42) What's on our current playlists (48:30) Our favorite kits of all time Cast Hosts: Ramsey Abushahla, Julio Monterroza, & Brigitte Flores Producer: Roy Cho Subscribe to our newsletter for more interviews and latest news on street football, freestyle, and urban culture, read m

It's been another busy week in the soccer culture-verse. From Sergino Dest's devastating injury to Angel City FC's big moves, we cover some of the biggest stories in American soccer, in addition to what's been dominating the headlines in the hip-hop world: The Drake vs. Kendrick beef. Timestamps (01:34) Angel City's big moves (16:53) Sergino Dest's injury and the USMNT's chances at Copa America without him (32:44) LA Galaxy: Contenders? (35:27) The Kendrick vs. Drake beef Cast Hosts: Ramsey Abushahla, Julio Monterroza, & Brigitte Flores Producer: Roy Cho Subscribe to our newsletter for more interviews and latest news on street football, freestyle, and urban culture, read more about soccer culture on our website, and follow us on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook.

Starting a new pro sports team is never easy, no matter the level. But minor league clubs can be especially tough, as margins become smaller. The Town FC, which recently announced it would become the San Jose Earthquakes' MLS Next Pro affiliate, is all too aware of these challenges. Teaming up with the Earthquakes gives The Town FC some stability in its early days, and it also allows the Earthquakes to have a fully-focused operation for its second team, rather than having to split the work with the first team. The Bay Area has also seen a fair share of its sports teams depart, so early stability is especially important for fans looking for new teams to support. The Town FC co-founder Min Park joins the latest episode of the Urban Pitch Podcast to discuss how the team is looking to establish itself in the Bay's sports landscape, creating a culture and identity, and becoming as sustainable as possible, so that the club will be here 30-plus years from now. Timestamps (01:30) Min's journey to becoming successful