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The Athletic FC Podcast

Why have the USA never produced a truly global superstar?

6/12/202640 min

The 2026 World Cup is underway!

Join Adam Leventhal, Art de Roché and Cerys Jones as they reflect on an eventful opening day before asking why the USA have never produced a truly global superstar.

Jack Lang was at Estadio Azteca and recounts Mexico’s 2-0 victory over South Africa that saw him showered in beer, while Henry Bushnell looks ahead to the USMNT’s opener against Paraguay.

Plus, we hear from Joshua Kloke on Canada’s first game, in what he describes as ‘the biggest in Canadian soccer history'.

Acc...

Clips

Jiménez Comeback Tears
America’s Missing Soccer Culture
Stop The LeBron Comparisons

Transcript preview

First 90 seconds

  1. Henry Bushnell0:00

    [gentle music] The Athletic FC.

  2. Jack Lang0:03

    [upbeat music] Jiménez wants it in the middle. He's there. It's 2-0. He's had a super game.

  3. Adam Leventhal· Host0:12

    Hi there, and welcome to The Athletic FC podcast with me, Adam Leventhal. So the Mexican party has started with red cards galore in that opening game. And later, both the USA and Canada get their tournaments off and underway as well. So today, we're gonna be reacting to the day one drama and ask why the USA have never produced a truly global superstar. And joining me in the studio, Cerys Jones is back. How are you?

  4. Cerys Jones· Panelist0:45

    I'm good, thank you. How are you?

  5. Adam Leventhal· Host0:47

    You've got fans, you know.

  6. Cerys Jones· Panelist0:48

    This is hilarious. [laughs] It's so funny.

  7. Adam Leventhal· Host0:50

    What would we call Cerys Jones fans? Do we call them Cerys- Oh, I don- ... Cerysites?

  8. Cerys Jones· Panelist0:55

    ... I don't think- Ceres- I don't think- Ceresines? ... we need to do that at all.

  9. Adam Leventhal· Host0:58

    [laughs] Jonesies? I don't know.

  10. Art de Roché· Panelist1:01

    Jonesies is good.

  11. Adam Leventhal· Host1:02

    Jonesies.

  12. Cerys Jones· Panelist1:02

    No, I don't think it is.

  13. Art de Roché· Panelist1:03

    Yeah.

  14. Cerys Jones· Panelist1:03

    What, what really made me laugh was someone, like, commenting, like, "Cerys Jones returns- Yeah ... under the podcast," but then, like, 20 minutes later, someone just reacted with a thumbs down. [laughs] [laughs] But that was after they'd had time to listen to the episode, so I was like, "Oh."

  15. Adam Leventhal· Host1:16

    [laughs] Don't take it personally. Art De Roche is here.

  16. Art de Roché· Panelist1:20

    I am.

  17. Adam Leventhal· Host1:21

    What you wearing, Art? For the people just listening- [laughs] ... what are you wearing?

  18. Art de Roché· Panelist1:24

    For those who can't see, I'm wearing a Bosnia shirt.

  19. Adam Leventhal· Host1:27

    Jeepers creepers.

  20. Art de Roché· Panelist1:27

    I, I wanted to go kind

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