Meet cerebral palsy soccer legend Adam Ballou

Meet cerebral palsy soccer legend Adam Ballou

Author: US Soccer | Cumulus Podcast Network April 8, 2026 Duration: 44:44
Adam Ballou first started kicking a soccer ball when he was just 3-years old. And after that, he never looked back: Adam was first called into the U.S. Men’s Cerebral Palsy (CP) National Team when he was 14. Since then the midfielder has amassed almost 100 caps and represented his country in two Paralympic Games. Adam was also a part of the CP team that won the 2025 Copa America for the first time.   In this episode of the U.S. Soccer Podcast presented by Henkel, Adam down with host Meghan Klingenberg to discuss his joining the CP National Team, his proudest achievements representing team USA, and what soccer means to him.   2:25–  Meghan Klingenberg interviews Adam Ballou  6:03 – Adam discusses playing soccer in Spain  10:16 – Adam explains how he qualifies for the CP team  16:55 – Joining the team at just 15  25:19 – Adam’s proudest moment 31:18 – Adam discusses what soccer means to him  32:39 – Kling breaks out her story meeting Taylor Swift in 2015  36:33 – Ask the Pros presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts    The U.S. Soccer Podcast presented by Henkel is a production from U.S. Soccer hosted by David Gass, former USWNT star Meghan Klingenberg and USMNT great Alejandro Bedoya. The podcast brings you in-depth interviews with U.S. Soccer stars of the past, present and future. Episodes drop weekly on Wednesdays.  Hosts: Meghan Klingenberg, David Gass  Guest: Adam Ballou  Producer: Matthew Nelson  Tickets are available now for the SheBelieves Summit presented by Deloitte in Seattle, Wash. on April 15! Key speakers include Haley Rosen, Emma Hayes, Domo Wells, and more. Get your tickets to the Summit and the USWNT vs. Japan match presented by Allstate at https://events.ussoccer.com/shebelievessummit.  To learn more, visit http://www.ussoccer.com/podcast  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Each week, the U.S. Soccer Podcast opens up a direct line to the individuals shaping the sport across the country. Host David Gass guides these Wednesday conversations, which are less about formal interviews and more about genuine discussions with coaches, staff, and players from every corner of the American game. You’ll hear from figures connected to the senior national teams, of course, but the dialogue consistently extends to the youth setups and the broader ecosystem dedicated to development. This approach provides a unique, ground-level perspective on the efforts to advance soccer in the United States. These are honest and often uplifting chats that go beyond scores and tactics to reveal the personal stories and professional philosophies driving progress. Tuning into this podcast means getting a clearer sense of the people behind the programs, from emerging talents to the seasoned minds guiding them. It’s an ongoing series of conversations that collectively map out the present and future of U.S. soccer, delivered through a partnership between U.S. Soccer and the Cumulus Podcast Network with support from Henkel.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 49

U.S. Soccer Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Live in Portland! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:56
This week on the U.S. Soccer Podcast presented by Henkel, we’re live in Portland! Host Meghan Klingenberg caught up with former teammates Becky Sauerbrunn, Bella Bixby and Morgan Weaver. In front of a packed crowd, the g…
Sip Happens: World Cup Hydration Breaks Explained [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:15
Last year, FIFA announced that every World Cup game will pause for three minutes in each half for a hydration break. The policy was tested in the last international window, and many observers said that the breaks have fu…
Kling Goes to Referee Camp [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:22
World Cup winner Meghan Klingenberg played soccer at the highest level, but can she cut it as a referee? Find out on this special episode of the U.S. Soccer Podcast presented by Henkel, when Kling embeds at National Matc…
Jaedyn Shaw talks family, food, and fashion [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:15
Jaedyn Shaw made history when she became the first Vietnamese American to represent the USWNT. In 2022 the forward was named US Soccer’s young female player of the year. And despite being just 21 years old, she’s already…
Jozy Altidore: From the pitch to the pitch deck [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:06:32
In his storied USMNT career, forward Jozy Altidore earned over 100 caps and appeared at two World Cups. Jozy scored his first professional goal at just 16 and this knack for finding the net sent him around Europe’s top l…
Tobin Heath: Prodigy, Artist, Architect [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:06:23
They called you Tobin Heath the ‘Queen of the Nutmeg’ because throughout the forward’s storied soccer career she left defenders trailing in her wake. Tobin was also a true winner: She won two Women’s World Cups, three Ol…
100 Days Until the World Cup with Mauricio Pochettino [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:39
There’s now less than 100 days to go until the World Cup! In this episode of the U.S. Soccer Podcast presented by Henkel, host Meghan Klingenberg catches up with US men’s national team head coach, Mauricio Pochettino, to…