Soccer 101

How did the Premier League become the dominant league in the world?

This week, we dive into the dominance of the Premier League: when did it take the top spot in terms of global popularity and league strength? What factors allowed it to b

What happened to Paul Pogba?

Paul Pogba went from teenage wonderkid to World Cup winner to a doping ban that nearly ended everything. And now, out at Monaco but battling fresh injury setbacks, his ca

Ted Lasso returns! What are the origins of the show, how did it become so beloved, and what comes next?

Graham and Taylor are together again on the 101 feed to discuss the return of Ted Lasso! How did the show go from NBC ad to beloved series? What role has it played in hel

Three Flags, One Badge: The Story of Bosnian Football

The Premier League of Bosnia was born in 2000 out of the wreckage of a brutal civil war, and served as a deliberate attempt to unite three separate ethnic football cultur

The 21st-century talent pipeline: domestic football in Ecuador

This week, we head back to South America to do a little World Cup previewing... and this week, it's Ecuador! How have they risen to such prominence so quickly? Where does

Bohemia, Communism and Petr Cech: Football in Czechia

We spend some time in the country that has been several other countries in its footballing history: Czechia. From uncommon German roots to the impact of The Iron Curtain

Chiefs, Pirates and Sundowns: soccer in South Africa

This week, we're spending some time in a nation with a complicated soccer history that mirrors its own complicated history: South Africa! From apartheid pitches to match

Artificial Intelligence and Soccer: problems solved vs problems created

This week, we spend some time on a topic that seems absurd but is actually already widespread: Artificial Intelligence in modern soccer. What are its present applications

From the Ottoman Empire to Osimhen: football in Turkiye

Disclaimer - This is Taylor. I edited this episode. I talk A LOT. Even by my standards. But it's the first time I've gotten to talk about Turkiye in detail in a very long

Xhaka, Shaqiri and 128 years of footballing history: soccer in Switzerland

We're traveling to a land that tends to fly under-the-radar when it comes to the hype machine, but has been quietly influential in world soccer since the mid-19th century

A tale of two clubs... 81% of the time: domestic football in Uruguay

This week, we're talking about THE dark horse candidate at every World Cup since 2010... it's Uruguay. The four-time world champion has one of the oldest leagues in South

What are the best World Cup balls, mascots and anthems?

In an effort to not only be depressing when discussing the World Cup, Graham and Taylor take a look at the lighter side of the tournament, and weigh in on the best balls,

Kings, ultras, and unrest: Egyptian football explained

This week, Graham and Taylor spend some time trying to scratch the surface of the complicated history of soccer in Egypt: how did the sport rise to prominence, which club

An abbreviated history of World Cup disruptions: teams withdrawing, changing hosts and more!

On this week's episode, inspired by the latest chaos surrounding the 2026 World Cup, we take a look at the history of upheaval at the tournament: when have teams withdraw

Youth development, colonialism, match fixing, and golden eras: a history of professional football in Belgium

This week, it's the country for whom De Bruyne, Hazard, Lukaku and Courtois have all played... just not in terms of the domestic league: Belgium! We trace the full arc of

Wrexham: America's Team, Capitalism's Posterchild, or both?

On this week's show, we spend probably way too much time discussing the Rise of Wrexham (TM). Just kidding. They've probably already got that trademarked. How have they s

American managers in Europe: why haven't there been many and why aren't there more?

In honor of Pellegrino Matarazzo's strong start to life with Real Sociedad, Graham and Taylor spend some time discussing American managers in Europe's top five leagues. H

Small nation, big results: How Croatia became football’s ultimate overachiever

How does a country of under four million people keep churning out World Cup semifinalists and all-time great midfielders? In this episode, we break down the history of Cr

Why is the World Cup expanding? The positives and negatives of FIFA's shift for 2026

With the World Cup looming in the distance, Graham and Taylor discuss the decision to expand the tournament from 32 teams to 48. Who led the campaign? Is it all just for

Balance and dominance: a brief history of Jordanian football

Graham and Taylor continue to preview the 2026 World Cup by taking a look at the domestic leagues of the participating nations, and this week it's Jordan's turn! How long