POSTS & PODS

Here you’ll find our Unsolicited and Under-Informed Opinions, as well as our longer deep dives into the history and design of crests, clubs, and tifos from teams all around the world.

Maria Li Maria Li

Doug Cress, 1970s Soccer USA

This week on The Footy Museum Podcast, we welcome Doug Cress. Doug runs the enormously popular facebook page, 1970s Soccer USA, where he posts daily about the supernova era of the NASL and MISL.

We talk with Doug about his experience as a sports journalist on the soccer beat for the Washington Post, the rise and fall of the NASL, and how MLS echos the past while paving a new way forward. Doug also shares what he thinks is the true lasting impact of the NASL, and how it reshaped global sports.

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Maria Li Maria Li

Father of Football, Arthur Pember: the Man, the Myth, the Mustache

How did one of football's Founding Fathers end up retiring in a small North Dakota town? On this episode of The Footy Museum Podcast, Justin and Maria take a look of the storied life of Arthur Pember: Mountaineer, stock broker, investigative journalist, and the first president of the Football Association.

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Podcast Maria Li Podcast Maria Li

A Brief History of Playoffs in American Soccer

Justin and Maria are back in studio to discuss all things from the world of football (the soccer kind). This week is all about the great American tradition of “playoffs.” We discuss the various formats used throughout history, from the pre-MLS era to recent changes influenced by star players like David Beckham and Lionel Messi. Is the playoff format still relevant? Has it ever been?

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Podcast The Footy Podcast The Footy

Is it Football or is it Soccer? Unraveling the Origins and Cultural Clash

Join us on this episode of the Footy Museum Podcast as we dive deep into the age-old question: is it soccer or football? Justin and Maria explore the history of the terms, their origins in England, and how they've evolved in the United States. Discover why this seemingly simple debate has sparked such passionate discussions. From the early days of the sport to the modern-day MLS, we uncover the cultural and historical factors that have shaped the way Americans perceive and embrace the beautiful game.

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Maria Li Maria Li

The ‘Ole Ball Games: what did people play before soccer?

While soccer is a relatively modern sport, its origins can be traced back to much earlier times. Indigenous cultures in North and Central America, as well as ancient China, had their own unique style of games that feel familiar. These ancient games show the enduring appeal of sport, both social and spiritual, across cultures and time periods.

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Maria Li Maria Li

Why I’m Thinking About 19th Century Women’s Sports

It’s been one week since the US Women’s National Team won their Olympic gold medal. For all the fun of The Games, I can’t help but feel that a 130 year old script is about to repeat itself. I’ll share my thoughts in a second. First I’m going to tell you a story about soccer:

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Justin Witte Justin Witte

Don’t Forget About The Open Cup!

Instituted as the National Challenge Cup by the United States Football Association in 1913, Open Cup matches immediately became the pinnacle of US soccer. While the teams and leagues from this early part of US soccer history have faded, the Open Cup remains one of the strongest connections to a sporting history that is often ignored.

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Podcast Maria Li Podcast Maria Li

Designs of Olympics Past, US Soccer Updates, and a Special Soccer Quiz!

Welcome to the Footy Museum Podcast, where we talk about culture and design in the world of football (the soccer kind!). On this week's episode Justin and Maria talk about past and present of soccer in the Olympic games, giving an update on where the US stands in the soccer tournament, and also taking a look back at designs and visuals from Olympics past. Justin also prepares a special set of riddles all about the European teams touring the US right now. Can you do better than Maria?

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Maria Li Maria Li

U.S. Soccer at the Olympics, A Visual History

The 2024 Olympic Games offer something unique to American soccer fans: an underdog mentality for the women’s game, and a hopeful one for the men’s. To celebrate our team’s success in these Paris Games, we’re taking a look back at U.S. Soccer in past Olympics.

And just as the players change, so does the visual world around them. Using posters, logos, pictograms, and photos, the Olympics offer a unique record of design across the decades. Below is a brief history of the United State’s participation in the Olympic Games, and glimpse into the tournament through designs.

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Maria Li Maria Li

Bad Rebrands of History

This episode we're taking a look at six bad football crest rebrands from history, and discussing the obvious and subtle reasons of why we think the changes don't work.

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Podcast Maria Li Podcast Maria Li

Tifo Talk with Kristi Kivi from The Pride, an FC Cincinnati Supporters Group

This week we welcome Kristi Kivi to the Footy Museum podcast! Kristi is a member of the Pride, a FC Cincinnati supporters group. She serves on the board, and is also a member of The Forge, the group of FCC SGs dedicated to designing, making, and organizing tifo displays. Kristi talks to us about some of the recent tifos they've produced, and gives a peak behind the scenes of their processes.

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Podcast Maria Li Podcast Maria Li

Chicago Soccer History Part 2: 1900-1939

This week, we continue our exploration into the history of the beautiful game in Chicago. This episode is part of an ongoing series focused on the rich history of soccer in the United States, with a special look at the game's long and fascinating journey in the Windy City.

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Maria Li Maria Li

Alan Królikowski from Men In Red 97

Today we welcome special guest, Alan Królikowski from Men In Red 97 (MIR97), a podcast and media group dedicated to covering all things Chicago Fire. Alan geeks out with us about the Fire, supporter culture, and what he's looking forward to this coming season.

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Maria Li Maria Li

What is a Liver Bird Anyways?

On this week's Unsolicited and Under-Informed Opinions, Justin and Maria dive into everything from golazos at AFCON to answering the question "what is a liver bird?" They also talk about Ivan Toney's controversial free kick, dish on Man City's year of the dragon kits, fan actions from Crystal Palace and Sporting KC, and the return of the Reign.

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Maria Li Maria Li

The Footy Museum, A History

You've been asking for it, and we're ready to deliver: The Footy Museum history. Did you know that we've actually been around for over a hundred years? (wink wink). From grocery stores, to basements, to astro domes, and now the modern Footy Era. Sit back and hear the (enormously fabricated) tale.

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Maria Li Maria Li

Three Very Thirsty Lions

Welcome back to the Footy Museum for this week's Unsolicited and Uninformed Opinions about the world of football. This episode Justin and Maria talk about La Liga's broadcast graphics and the inevitable AI takeover, why the Turkish Super Cup was suspended, and Justin's new favorite club badge of all time.

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