In the debut episode of Chasing the Game, co-hosts Liron Unreich and Matt Tartaglia set the stage for the series. They share their personal journeys as soccer parents, reflect on the challenges of navigating clubs, leagues, and academies, and explore why youth soccer in the U.S. can feel like a maze. Across nearly an hour of conversation, they compare American and international approaches, highlight the impact of pay-to-play, and preview the themes and guests to come this season. (00:00) - Introduction – Welcome to Chasing the Game (01:45) - Too Many Leagues, Too Little Clarity (06:30) - Matt’s Stats Corner – Fragmented System by the Numbers (09:50) - Liron’s Story – The Soccer Labyrinth at Home (13:10) - The MLS NEXT Shift (17:20) - The Pay-to-Play Paradox (21:00) - Expert Perspective – Finding Your Path (26:40) - The End Game – What Success Looks Like (29:10) - Closing – What We’ll Tackle Next

Ask this episode

“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.

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