• 079: Everyone be scoring goals like crazy. Was the 2022 World Cup Final a sign of what we see today?
    May 1 2026

    You get a goal, you get a goal, we all get a goal!

    The offensive output across competitions has been a topic of conversation the last few months and this week it was in full motion as Paris Saint-Germain F.C. defeated FC Bayern Munich 5-4 in the 1st leg of their Champions League match.

    Allen reflects on his time connected to the LA Galaxy early in his career as he attended the Cobi Jones Statue Unveiling this past week. Not gonna lie, Cobi's statue is better than David Beckham and Landon Donovan's.

    We get into:

    • Can Jalil become elite at pickleball?
    • Allen at Cobi Jones Statue Unveiling
    • Champions League 1st leg of Semifinals
    • San Jose best in the league
    • 2nd best Whitecaps needs to stay in Vancouver
    • San Diego FC need to take it one at a time to turn it around
    • FLOWERS: Siblings & Maxi Moralez

    - - -

    If you want real conversations from inside MLS and all things global footy, follow New Ground and SHARE this episode with someone who lives and breathes the game.

    Show More Show Less
    50 mins
  • 078: USMNT & MLS Legend Cobi Jones has always been larger than life
    Apr 25 2026

    Southern California legend Cobi Jones will be immortalized by the LA Galaxy with a 9' statue outside of the stadium he helped build at Dignity Health Park.

    Whether it was his dominances at UCLA, launching a franchise and league in the MLS, or becoming the most capped player in USMNT history, Cobi Jones made an impact on and off the field.

    We get into:

    • The Statue Unveiling in LA
    • Becoming the hated LA Galaxy
    • Then vs Now - Comparing the state of the league
    • Olympic Festivals and USMNT Experience
    • Cobi gets flowers for his impact on Black community

    - - -

    If you want real conversations from inside MLS and all things global footy, follow New Ground and SHARE this episode with someone who lives and breathes the game.

    Show More Show Less
    35 mins
  • 077: Ousseni Bouda ditched school and set up his path to the MLS
    Apr 17 2026

    Do you ever think about those moments in your life where you made a choice that set you up the rest of your life?

    San Jose Earthquakes attacker Ousseni Bouda had that moment at 11-years old where he cut class and set him up on his path to becoming a professional footballer.

    We get into:

    • Javier Mascherano sacked in Inter Miami CF
    • Matt Crocker Leaves US Soccer for Saudi Arabia
    • Ousseni Bouda's life at the top of the MLS Table
    • Playing for Bruce Arena
    • Right to Dream Academy Pathway
    • FLOWERS: Carbral Carter, Marie-Louise Eta, Jeremy Hall
    Show More Show Less
    50 mins
  • 076: Pelé, Ronaldo, Zidane: Who is the best right-footed players of all-time?
    Apr 10 2026

    Left-footed strikes just look better. We know this. We also know you can probably get away with not having a great right foot. With that said, who makes your Mount Rushmore for best right-footed players of all time?

    We get into:

    • Craziest recovery speed Jalil has seen
    • GA Cup, US Development is closing the gap
    • Allen can stop Lamine Yamal
    • Best right footed players
    • Inverted Wing position
    • Bottom of the table MLS
    • Wild, wild west
    • FLOWERS & PRAYERS to Patrick Agyemang

    - - -

    If you want real conversations from inside MLS and all things global footy, follow New Ground and SHARE this episode with someone who lives and breathes the game.

    Show More Show Less
    50 mins
  • 075: Sounders' Antino Lopez says he'll take 3 straight clean sheets over a hat trick
    Apr 3 2026

    Antino Lopez's story highlights the power of staying true to your grind, embracing the process, and trusting that perseverance pays off.

    Tino made some noise with a remarkable goal line clearance to keep a clean sheet in a recent match against the San Jose Earthquakes. He was a last-minute call up and his efforts this season and over the last two years earned him a contract with the first team. His grind, humility and hunger for more have us cheering him on.

    We get into:

    • The growth of GA Cup
    • USMNT casting doubt
    • Tino Lopez goal line clearance against San Jose
    • Getting signed to the first team
    • A Vegas underdog story
    • FLOWERS: DeJuan Jones & All Families at GA Cup

    - - -

    If you want real conversations from inside MLS and all things global footy, follow New Ground and SHARE this episode with someone who lives and breathes the game.

    Show More Show Less
    50 mins
  • 074: Pochettino’s USMNT Roster Nearly Set for World Cup?
    Mar 27 2026

    Hosts Allen Hopins Jr. and Jalil Anibaba talk about USMNT March camp as they prepare for friendlies against Belgium and Portugal. With so few matches before the World Cup on home soil, everyone will see where this team stands against tough opponents.

    We Get Into:

    • The State of USMNT ahead of friendlies with Belgium and Portugal
    • Balancing communication with Players
    • Arsenal's Loss Ends their bid for "Quadruple"
    • Nashville SC's Sam Surridge MLS Player of the Month
    • Impact of Antoine Griezmann to Orlando City SC
    • "Rich Motzkin" calls Jalil about coming out of retirement for TST
    • FLOWERS: Oakland Roots and Nashville SC Goalkeeper Brian Schwake

    - - -

    If you want real conversations from inside MLS and all things global footy, follow New Ground and SHARE this episode with someone who lives and breathes the game.

    Show More Show Less
    50 mins
  • 073: Congrats to the GOAT as Messi Scores His 900th Goal
    Mar 20 2026

    Can you wrap your head around scoring 900 goals as a professional footballer?

    On this episode of New Ground, Allen Hopkins Jr. and Jalil Anibaba look at Lionel Messi's latest achievement during Inter Miami CF's latest match against growing rival Nashville SC – unfortunately his efforts weren't enough to push his team through the next round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. Allen and Jalil discuss his effortless magic that elevates his teammates and what makes him unlike Cristiano Ronaldo who represent the best of their era.

    Also, as the March Madness heats up, Allen talks about his personal relationship with the Legendary Coach John. Wooden. .

    We get into:

    • Fixing College Soccer and Build Their Own Yearly Tournament
    • Messi Scores 900th Goal
    • Nashville eliminates Inter Miami CF
    • Allen On His Relationship with Legendary Coach John Wooden
    • USMNT Rosters are Shaping Up
    • Taking US Open Cup Seriously
    • The Importance of Veterans Supporting Young Players
    • FLOWERS: College Student Athletes & Academy Players

    - - -

    If you want real conversations from inside MLS and all things global footy, follow New Ground and SHARE this episode with someone who lives and breathes the game.

    Show More Show Less
    50 mins
  • 072: Champions League Always Delivers the Drama
    Mar 13 2026

    Unravel the magic of the Champions League, where legends are born and every match is a clash of titans.

    Miami Heat's Bam Adebayo just dropped 83-points in an NBA game and hosts Allen Hopkins Jr. and Jalil Anibaba explore what would be the equivalent achievement in the world of soccer. Hours after Bam's game, Real Madrid's Federico Valverde dropped a first half hat-trick during a round of 16 Champions League clash against Manchester City. But are those two things the same?

    We also get a wild story about the time Jalil volunteered - yes, he asked for it - to play Goalkeeper as a member of the Houston Dynamo.

    We get into:

    • Soccer's Equivalent to 83 points in the NBA
    • Champions League is Like a Yearly World Cup
    • Who Was Elite at Neutralizing a Bad Ball
    • Jalil Subs In for Goalkeeper?!
    • Oscar Pareja's Out in Orlando City
    • Nashville / Inter Miami Rivalry
    • The Rise of LAFC's David Martinez
    • Philadelphia Union Winless without Key Players
    • FLOWERS: Brooklyn FC's HC Marlon LeBlanc & New England Revolution II's HC Pablo Moreira

    - - -

    If you want real conversations from inside MLS and all things global footy, follow New Ground and SHARE this episode with someone who lives and breathes the game.

    Show More Show Less
    50 mins