This week on Soccerish, Christina and Lori are joined by former USMNT striker, CBS analyst, and “Call It What You Want” podcast host Charlie Davies for a fast, honest look at a pivotal moment in American soccer.
They preview the NWSL Championship between Gotham and Washington — two very different teams with clear strengths and real questions. Can Gotham handle Washington’s physicality? Will Ann-Katrin Berger steal the spotlight again? And is Trinity Rodman healthy enough to change the match on her own?
Charlie also breaks down the USMNT’s evolving identity and why the real tests come in March against Portugal and Belgium, not in November friendlies.
And they dig into the seismic changes reshaping the domestic game:
• MLS preparing to shift to a fall–spring calendar
• USL pushing ahead with promotion and relegation
• Why these moves finally put U.S. soccer in step with the global game
Plus: the origin of Lori’s “Shut Up, Steve,” and a brief detour into her Tony Meola hair era.
Soccerish at full speed — big matches, big changes, and a national program growing up in real time.
New episodes every Thursday.
Chapters (mm:ss)
00:00 Cold open — Christina and Charlie bond over North Andover and ice cream spots
00:43 Welcome — “1-2-3 go vs 3-2-1 go” and show preview
01:32 NWSL semis — Lori on Gotham/Washington momentum and the Yellow Brick Wall
02:39 VAR chat — the razor-tight offside in Washington’s match
03:24 Gotham’s heroics — Ann-Katrin Berger’s “matrix save”
07:12 Travel panic — Christina freaks out about flights; everyone is flying into SFO
09:01 Picks — Christina leans Washington for the NWSL Championship
10:31 Gotham case — defensive strength vs. season-long inconsistency
10:56 Charlie arrives — “I finally made it to Soccerish!”
11:22 Coaching life — freezing practice, kids’ tournaments
12:11 Career intro — USMNT, Olympics, MLS clubs
14:25 Broadcasting — working with Jimmy Conrad & Tony Meola
14:57 Meola mullet lore — Lori modeled her hair after Tony
15:36 USMNT Paraguay recap — transition into Uruguay preview
16:27 Identity shift — Pochettino’s system, wide-player spacing, Balogun support
18:17 Summer 2026 — belief, injuries, and what’s needed for a run
19:25 Mentality — Charlie on the 2010 underdog mindset
20:10 Confederations Cup — Egypt win, beating Spain, belief they could win a World Cup
22:53 The belief — “We can beat the very best.”
23:11 Statement wins — why Mexico wasn’t enough
23:47 Uruguay — is it a statement win or not?
24:11 Portugal & Belgium — March matches as the real tests
25:25 Shut Up Steve — the Wake Forest backstory and what the USMNT needs
26:28 The brawl — fighting for each other as maturity
27:10 MLS shift — calendar vote and domestic impact
28:26 MLS realignment — why it finally makes sense
31:05 Weather reality — cold markets and scheduling
31:55 Right timing — MLS couldn’t do this before
32:24 Stadium economics — moving beyond NFL dependency
33:42 Fans vs cold — growth vs comfort
34:18 USL pro/rel — intent and pathways for players
36:42 Development — advice for young players and parents
38:00 Coaching kids — foundational ages 6–12
39:10 Writing — how Charlie joined The Athletic
40:20 The book — paused but coming
42:11 Topics — what he writes and why
43:05 Suggestion box — how listeners can pitch ideas
44:31 Final Q — Who wins the NWSL Championship?
45:00 Charlie’s pick — Gotham
46:18 Wrap — US vs Uruguay preview and sign-off
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