The Extended National Teams You Need to Know + Head Coach of the ‘Sand Squad’

The Extended National Teams You Need to Know + Head Coach of the ‘Sand Squad’

Author: US Soccer | Cumulus Podcast Network July 30, 2025 Duration: 1:16:32
You’ve heard of the U.S. Men’s and Women’s National Teams, but did you know that U.S. Soccer has nine extended national teams? They include beach, futsal, cerebral palsy, deaf and power soccer. Stuart Sharp, Head of Extended National Teams at U.S. Soccer, joins this week’s show to provide a comprehensive overview of the program, including the cerebral palsy team he also manages, world rankings, major competitions and how to get more involved.   Later, our hosts enjoy a conversation with the technical director behind one of these Extended National Teams (45:05). Morgan Church, head coach of the U.S. women’s beach soccer national team details the sport’s unique rules, the Acapulco Cup and where to sign the petition to start a Women’s World Cup for beach soccer. (There is one for men’s beach soccer, after all.)  Become a U.S. Soccer Insider into greater detail with our two guests as they discuss tactics, how players qualify for the team and where you can go to play beach soccer.   The U.S. Soccer Podcast is a production from U.S. Soccer hosted by David Gass, Meghan Klingenberg and Alejandro Bedoya. The podcast tells stories in service to soccer and the people who live it, amplifying player voices and the stories behind the game. Episodes drop weekly on Wednesdays.  Click here to learn how you can support U.S. Soccer’s ENTs.  Hosts: David Gass, Meghan Klingenberg  Guests: Stuart Sharp, Morgan Church  Producer: Brad Fosler  To learn more, visit ussoccer.org/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…
Meet cerebral palsy soccer legend Adam Ballou [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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 t…
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…