PODCAST

Soccer by 3four3

3four3

Soccer Education for the Serious

All Episodes

1:27:13

#414 – Why MLS Academies Exist: Power, Control &...

Soccer by 3four3 ·

2026/02/03

We dive deep into the structure and incentives behind Major League Soccer in this episode. We explain why MLS academies exist primarily to maintain monopoly control over the elite youth pipeline rather than to develop first-team talent, how homegrown rules provide cheap labor while designated players serve as the real attraction for casual fans, and […]

en-US

1:13:33

#413 – Why MLS Coaches Fail Overseas: Wilfred Nancy,...

Soccer by 3four3 ·

2026/01/23

We unpack three critical current events that mainstream media continues to misrepresent or ignore. First, we analyze Wilfred Nancy’s short and unsuccessful stint at Celtic, why Celtic fans saw the writing on the wall immediately, and what it teaches us about the massive gap between MLS coaching environments and genuine high-stakes European football. Next, we […]

en-US

52:03

#412 – The Futsal Scam in America: Hype vs. Reality...

Soccer by 3four3 ·

2026/01/20

In this episode, we tackle the heated debate around futsal in US soccer. We affirm that futsal is a fantastic tool for building technical skills and tight-space play, but we’ve seen it morph into a grift where it’s sold as the magic fix for America’s systemic issues. We address backlash from figures like Eddie Johnson, […]

en-US

1:36:10

#411 – Have You Been Brainwashed? Dispelling American...

Soccer by 3four3 ·

2026/01/13

American Youth Soccer and the Road to World-Class Players In this episode, we dive deeper into why the US hasn’t produced world-class soccer players, despite massive participation numbers. We address misguided views from Instagram comments, debunking myths like pay-to-play, athlete preferences for other sports, and cultural differences. We explain how the lack of an open […]

en-US

1:13:44

#410 – US Soccer’s Big Questions: Why No World-Class...

Soccer by 3four3 ·

2026/01/05

We off the new year with a variety show driven by listener questions from Instagram. Key discussions include the failure of the US to produce a world-class player despite its large population, issues with US soccer and MLS, and the importance of promotion and relegation. The episode explores how suburban soccer culture impacts player development, […]

en-US

2:02:16

#409 – Building a Youth Soccer Club in America:...

Soccer by 3four3 ·

2025/12/29

Building a Youth Soccer Club from Scratch: Challenges and Triumphs In episode 409, we bring on Alec Lemmon, founder of Toca FC, a youth soccer club based in Kansas City. Alec shares his journey of starting the club from ground zero, the challenges faced, and the importance of values like faith, family, and football. We […]

en-US

1:16:16

#408 – World Cup 2026 Draw: USMNT Reactions, Media &...

Soccer by 3four3 ·

2025/12/16

In Episode 408, we react to the 2026 World Cup draw, highlighting the USMNT’s manageable group and debating home-field edges. Discussions turn to media missteps, like Jimmy Conrad’s flip on Pochettino, and how American soccer commentary often lacks nuance. The USL Players Union’s take on promotion/relegation gets called out for hurting player interests. Finally, insights […]

en-US

1:12:04

#407 – 12 Lesson From Pochettino You Must Not Ignore

Soccer by 3four3 ·

2025/12/08

In this episode, we highlight an important interview with Mauricio Pochettino by Andres Cantor, which outlines critical insights often ignored by English-language media. We break down Pochettino’s key points on how the US can aspire to be a top-tier soccer nation, addressing issues of player entitlement, cultural differences, and systemic challenges. We also share our […]

en-US

1:23:32

#406 – I TOLD YOU SO! A Foreigner as Coach for the...

Soccer by 3four3 ·

2025/12/03

In this episode, we dissect Mauricio Pochettino’s game-changing approach with the USMNT, from their pressing prowess in beating Paraguay and Uruguay to his bold press conference challenging media disrespect and player entitlement. We examine fan and media U-turns, the benefits of a foreign coach in reshaping US soccer culture, roster insights including surprises like Max […]

en-US

1:10:50

#405 – How to Train an Organized High Press in Youth...

Soccer by 3four3 ·

2025/11/25

Mastering the Art of Pressing in Soccer In this packed episode we pull back the curtain on exactly how we teach teams to press with lethal organization instead of random effort. We share the cone/flag method Brian used from the youngest ages, live training footage breakdowns, pressing triggers we stole from Bielsa and Pep, how […]

en-US

1:25:14

#404 – The Dark Arts of Soccer: Why Gamesmanship Wins...

Soccer by 3four3 ·

2025/11/17

In Episode 404 we went full savage on the dark arts of soccer. We explained why diving, time-wasting, shirt-pulling, ref manipulation, and mass confrontation aren’t cheating — they’re the actual game. We broke down how South American street culture creates winners while American soccer culture produces soft, naive players terrified of “unsportsmanlike” behavior. We showed […]

en-US

1:26:03

Ep 403: “Winning at all Cost” is ESSENTIAL for...

Soccer by 3four3 ·

2025/11/05

In this episode, we continue our conversation about coaching development in the U.S., addressing the intense pressure to win and its impact on coaching effectiveness. We emphasize the importance of winning to provide coaches with breathing room to focus on player and team development. We discuss real-life scenarios, from dealing with star players and managing […]The post Ep 403: “Winning at all Cost” is ESSENTIAL for Coaching Development! appeared first on 3four3.

en-US

1:24:25

Ep 402: EPIC Rant on the USMNT – Pochettino’s Culture...

Soccer by 3four3 ·

2025/10/28

In this explosive episode, we kick off with Gary’s no-holds-barred rant on the USMNT’s performance against Australia, highlighting Pochettino’s culture-over-strategy mindset and why our players lack true differentiation or winning nastiness. We break down the entitlement era’s end and draw lessons from Argentine grit. Shifting to coaching development, we explore building a philosophy modeled on […]The post Ep 402: EPIC Rant on the USMNT – Pochettino’s

en-US

1:16:09

Ep 401: WTF Happened to Youth Soccer in America? What...

Soccer by 3four3 ·

2025/10/20

In this episode of the 3four3 podcast, we take a hard look at the evolution of American youth soccer, reflecting on its past and critiquing its present. We discuss how the competitive, merit-based Coast Soccer League once set a high standard for youth soccer, producing top talent through a promotion-relegation system. Fast forward to today, […]The post Ep 401: WTF Happened to Youth Soccer in America? What You Need to Know and Nobody Tells You appeared first on 3four3.

en-US

54:43

Ep 400: Why US Soccer Sucks – Balon d’Or Nonsense,...

Soccer by 3four3 ·

2025/10/10

In this episode of the 3four3 podcast, Gary Kleiban and Benny Rogers expose the ongoing “brain rot” in American soccer. They go over MLS and US Soccer’s outdated dismissal of rondos, the impossibility of “playing the right way” at youth, college, or pro levels, and the national team’s struggles under coaches like Berhalter. Kicking off […]The post Ep 400: Why US Soccer Sucks – Balon d’Or Nonsense, Rondos for Youth, and Brutal Fan Roasts

en-US

55:54

Ep 399: Breaking Barriers in American Soccer – Oscar...

Soccer by 3four3 ·

2025/09/24

In this powerful episode of the 3four3 Podcast, Gary Kleiban hosts Oscar Reyes, a Santa Ana native, former soccer player, and visionary club operator. Oscar, who grew up in the vibrant Latino soccer community of Santa Ana, shares his story of playing in competitive local leagues and training in Europe, only to return with a […]The post Ep 399: Breaking Barriers in American Soccer – Oscar Reyes on Elevating Latino Talent in Santa Ana appeared first on 3four3.

en-US

1:03:56

Ep 398: Unpacking Pochettino's USMNT Strategy and How...

Soccer by 3four3 ·

2025/09/16

In this episode, we discuss Mauricio Pochettino's tenure with the USMNT, exploring how his bold approach--calling up MLS players and challenging the entitlement of A-listers--is shaking up the squad ahead of the 2026 World Cup. We go into why his strategy to test depth and foster competitive fire is critical, even if it ruffles feathers […]The post Ep 398: Unpacking Pochettino's USMNT Strategy and How Coaches Climb the Soccer Ladder appeared first on 3four3.

en-US

1:17:06

Ep 397: LEARN from Luis Suarez, Tryout Strategies,...

Soccer by 3four3 ·

2025/09/08

In Episode 397, we unpack the Luis Suarez spitting controversy post-Leagues Cup final, diving into the hypocrisy of public outrage and what it reveals about soccer culture. We also provide actionable strategies for coaches conducting tryouts, sharing tips on identifying players suited for a possession-based system, drawing from our experiences at 3four3. Finally, we passionately […]The post Ep 397: LEARN from Luis Suarez, Tryout Strategies, and the Pro/Rel Debate appeared first on 3four3.

en-US

1:07:25

Ep 396: MLS Next Initiatives EXPOSED - Playing Time,...

Soccer by 3four3 ·

2025/09/01

In this episode, we dive into MLS Next's newly announced initiatives aimed at reshaping youth soccer in America. We break down the four key changes: 1) a scholarship requirement mandating one player per club, 2) an extension of the "Pro Player Pathway" adding U15 teams, 3) a Talent ID weekend for scouting, and 4) new […] The post Ep 396: MLS Next Initiatives EXPOSED - Playing Time, Talent ID, Scholarship Myths, and More appeared first on 3four3.

en-US

27:59

Ep 395: The Corrupt Pathway to the US Youth National...

Soccer by 3four3 ·

2025/08/25

We tackle two audience questions. First, we explore how players get selected for youth national teams and discuss the challenges posed by the monopolistic control of MLS academies. We highlight the importance of MLS academy affiliation, coaching recommendations, and the limited pathways for non-MLS players. Second, we provide guidance to a parent coach on choosing […]The post Ep 395: The Corrupt Pathway to the US Youth National Teams and Beyond appeared first on 3four3.

en-US

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