Dummy: Interviews with smart people about soccer

Last week, an uproar by gamers over the new Star Wars video game may have reduced EA Sports’s stock value by $3 billion. The crux of the issue was that in order to unlock certain aspects of the game—characters like Darth Vader, for instance—players would have to spend weeks playing the game or pay thousands of dollars in microtransactions. But microtransactions, also known as “loot boxes,” have been a feature of EA’s FIFA franchise for years, and is credited with boosting the company’s profits by hundreds of millions of dollars. George discusses all of this with Jamin Warren, founder of the excellent video game arts and culture company Kill Screen. You can now support Dummy for as little as $3 per month. Go to fifa.wtf/supportdummy. And thanks! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ken Bensinger of Buzzfeed spent last week in a Brooklyn courtroom observing an absolutely BANANAS case against three senior South American soccer executives who are at the center of the huge FIFA trial. There were tears on the stand. Not one but two death threats IN THE COURTROOM. A suicide in Argentina hours after a huge revelation. And a murder that may be linked to testimony. George and Ken also discuss the possibility that Nike and Fox Sports could become involved as the trial continues. Ken’s Twitter is a great place to go for further reading. Support Dummy at fifa.wtf/supportdummy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The US men’s national team drew 1–1 with Portugal on Tuesday in the first of many meaningless friendlies in the team’s near future. George and Travis Clark of Top Drawer Soccer discuss some of the young players who are getting their first chances with the national team, including McKennie, Tyler Adams, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Ethan Horvath, Josh Sargent, and (maybe) Jonathan Gonzalez. Thanks to the 29 people who now support Dummy on a monthly basis! If you’d like to join them in supporting the show, please visit fifa.wtf/supportdummy.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

George speaks with three candidates for U.S. Soccer president—Paul Lapointe, Steve Gans, and Kyle Martino—and dives deep on the answers they supplied to a 13-item questionnaire that we asked all candidates to complete. (We recommend you check that out before listening, but you don’t have to.) Who the Hell Votes in the US Soccer Presidential Election? by Anthony DiCicco Please consider supporting Dummy for less than $1 per episode Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

UCLA law professor Steven Bank is back to discuss today’s hearing in a Brooklyn courtroom as the NASL seeks an injunction against the U.S. Soccer Federation’s decision to re-classify the league as division three. We learned some new things, including details about Soccer United Marketing’s relationship with both MLS and the USSF as well as where the judge might be leaning in this case. Listeners can now support Dummy with as little as $3 per month. If we reach 50 monthly supporters, a generous listener has pledged $1,000 for the year. Help us reach that goal at fifa.wtf/supportdummy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Qatar recently announced that it will begin to reform the Kafala labor system that keeps migrant workers essentially powerless in the face of abuse. James Dorsey joins the pod to discuss what this means, why it came about, and the role of geopolitics and the World Cup in sparking this change. For the first time, you can now support Dummy directly. Many people have asked us if this is possible (thank you). If you would like to support Dummy for as little as $3 per month, please visit fifa.wtf/supportdummy. (And seriously, thank you.) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today, two very emotional interviews about the prospect (possibility? probability?) that Anthony Precourt, owner of the Columbus Crew since 2013, will move the team to Austin, Texas. First, George speaks with lifelong Crew supporter Morgan Hughes. Then he discusses the possible relocation with Josh Jackson, a member of MLS to Austin. Enter our annual full kit wanker contest to win a free jersey from SoccerPro.com. Send a picture of yourself wearing the socks, shorts, and shirt of any team. You must be holding a copy of Howler and use the hashtag #fullkithowler. (Here are some of our submissions from last year.) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Howler editor George Quraishi is joined by Bobby Warshaw and Cole Grossman (former player for Real Salt Lake and Stabaek) to work through the USMNT’s loss to Trinidad and failure to make the World Cup. They discuss the short- and long-term failings of the US Soccer Federation and how they could be fixed. There is some foul language in this episode. You've been warned. George’s more considered take for Quartz is here. It begins like this: “With one half of the United States on fire and the other under water, I’m trying to avoid the use of words like “catastrophe” and “disaster” to describe what is going on in the realm of American soccer right now. But the United States men’s national team failed to qualify for the World Cup for the first time since 1986, and every fan is currently coping with some degree of cognitive and emotional meltdown.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Clarence Goodson was a center back for the U.S. men’s national team during two World Cup qualifying cycles. He joins to discuss his compatriots trying to make it to Russia, his career, his work with the MLS players union, and why he built a 5-aside soccer court at his old elementary school. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The U.S. Soccer Federation recently demoted the North American Soccer League from division two to division three status, and now the NASL is suing the USSF not only over this designation but over the governing body’s right to designate pro leagues at all. UCLA law professor Steven Bank joins to discuss the suit. Save 15% on your Howler subscription with code PODSUB15 at fifa.wtf/gethowler. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How did a Columbia econ professor become the most powerful American in world soccer? Noah Davis discusses his profile of Sunil Gulati from the new issue of Howler. Then, La Familia is possibly the most hateful and violent ultras group in the world. They have been known to attack fans and even members of their own club, Beitar Jerusalem, and they are proud to call their team Israel’s “most racist.” And in July of last year, 64 members were arrested in a massive sting operation by Israeli police. Sam Patters joins to discuss his feature on La Familia. Please consider supporting the magazine by becoming a subscriber. Right now, save 15% on a subscription with the code PODSUB15 at fifa.wtf/gethowler. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When Martin Jacobson became the coach of soccer team at Martin Luther King Jr. High in Manhattan just over 20 years ago, the program was a disaster. So how has he won 15 city-wide championships in that time? Actually, that's the least interesting question you can put to the recovered heroin addict, Hepatitis C survivor, and man who has taken in transformed the lives of hundreds of kids from the U.S., Africa, the Caribbean, and South America. It’s really a remarkable story—and it’s subject of a new documentary film that will be premiering at a festival in New York. More information. The audio from the beginning of the episode is with Keith Rados, owner of Cinco Soccer in Tampa. Subscribe to Howler using code PODSUB15 and you’ll save 15% PLUS we’ll send you a very cool patch featuring the new issue’s cover art. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

First up, Mapate Diop discusses his article on Red Bull, PSG, MLS and the phenomenon of soccer as branded content, a simultaneously simple and profound way of viewing modern soccer. Then, Michael Krumholtz on Costa Rica and Vancouver Whitecaps winger Christian Bolaños, who at 33 has enjoyed a late-career resurgence. Costa Rica plays the US tonight in an important World Cup qualifier. Subscribe to Howler with code FIFANATOR15 to save 15% AND get a free Fifanator patch! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode, four 10-minute interviews on four stories from whatahowler.com this week: 1. How Target’s switch from NASCAR to soccer sponsorships could help transform the American game (with Amadi Thiam) 2. Why ultras from Bayern Munich and many other Bundesliga clubs have declared “war” on the German football federation (with Travis Timmons) 3. Chelsea and England striker Eni Aluko claims she has been blackballed from international soccer after complaining about treatment by the Three Lions coaching staff (with James Bridget Gordon) 4. Morocco’s bid for the 2026 World Cup may lead to increased scrutiny of the country’s decades-long occupation of Western Sahara (with Aubrey Bloomfield) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Tuesday, Top Drawer Soccer staff writer and Howler contributor announced that he’s leaving the industry altogether. So George called him up to talk about why he got into sportswriting, the forces that are shaping the industry, and why the lack of investment by major outlets is bad for all soccer fans. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices