Girls Wanna Play: How a Latino Soccer Club in LA Fights Despite Recent Threats

Girls Wanna Play: How a Latino Soccer Club in LA Fights Despite Recent Threats

Author: My Cultura, Futuro and iHeartPodcasts August 8, 2025 Duration: 28:09

Professional men’s soccer or “futbol” has always had great Latino players, but only 7% of female professional soccer players are Latinas. That’s not how things look at the Downtown LA Soccer Club. Most of the girls playing for this non-profit are Latinas and that’s intentional. The club is trying to overcome the barriers young Latinas often face: like financial burdens and gender stereotypes. In this episode, we meet their star player and her coach, as they fight for their club to remain a safe space. Their rent is up nearly four times, and some of the club’s families have been affected by the increase in ICE raids.

Latino USA is the longest-running news and culture radio program in the U.S., centering Latino stories and hosted by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Maria Hinojosa.

Follow the show to get every episode. 

Follow us on TikTok and YouTube. Subscribe to our newsletter. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.


For decades, Latino USA has offered a vital and nuanced soundscape, chronicling the multifaceted lives of Latino communities across the United States and beyond. Guided by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Maria Hinojosa, this Peabody Award-winning program digs deep, moving beyond headlines to share intimate narratives and investigative reports that reveal the cultural, political, and social currents shaping our world. As the longest-running radio show of its kind, it has built a legacy of trust and depth, exploring everything from personal identity and family legacy to immigration policy and artistic innovation. Each episode feels like a necessary conversation, one that illuminates the hearts and minds of a dynamic population whose stories are often filtered through someone else's lens. Here, those stories are told with authenticity and care. Produced by My Cultura, Futuro and iHeartPodcasts, this podcast is an essential listen for anyone seeking to understand the complex tapestry of contemporary society. The weekly installments are more than just reporting; they are documentary pieces that capture the ongoing impact of Latino voices. For those who wish to engage further, the Futuro+ membership offers additional content and behind-the-scenes perspectives, supporting the independent journalism at the core of this essential program.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Latino USA
Podcast Episodes
Chisme: Intergenerational Bonding Over Gossip [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:30
Chisme is the Spanish word for gossip. It happens when you speak about someone in their absence, sharing information that’s supposed to be private and not necessarily factual. But foremost, it is an ancestral tongue that…
Remembering Legendary Latino Jazz Icon Eddie Palmieri [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:03
Eddie Palmieri’s genius couldn’t be categorized. His music was a mix of salsa, rumba, guaguanco, and jazz, and made anyone who listened to it get on the dance floor. Eddie was the first Latino artist to win a Grammy awar…
Latinas and The Ancient Power of Intuition [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:51
Light your candles and schedule your limpia because today's episode is all about the power of intuition. First, we talk to scientist Galang Lufityanto about his research into intuitive decision-making. Then, we head to t…
Latinas Take Over 'Love Island USA': Bringing 'Real' to Reality TV [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:26
Latinas took over the latest season of "Love Island USA" and one won the hearts of millions: “Amaya Papaya.” The massively popular show had many Latina contestants, some found love, and others found themselves in hot wat…
The Rise and Fall of ‘Real Women Have Curves’ on Broadway [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:28
The musical adaptation of "Real Women Have Curves" was praised by the Tony Awards and across the country for its timeliness as it leaned heavily on one major topic: immigration. Still, the show closed after just two mont…
Trump Supports This Climate Solution: Is That A Bad Thing? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:43
As the planet hits record-breaking carbon emissions, the race is on to slash CO2 levels. A controversial technology —called carbon capture and storage— is getting pushed as a solution by politicians and private companies…
Lost in Queer Translation: From Gay Slurs to Colombian Slang [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:44
When Andrés tried translating Colombian slang to his American boyfriend, he stumbled into a deeper question: what do these words really mean? In this episode, Andrés traces the roots of everyday slang in Colombian Spanis…