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Episode Description
Paul Kennedy has been covering American soccer for 55 years, from the days when finding a game on TV was nearly impossible to the 2026 World Cup. He joins Open Mic to share the stories from his career, the people and games that stuck with him, and his perspective on American soccer today.
0:00 Intro
0:46 How Paul Kennedy Became a Soccer Writer
9:22 Finding the Game Through College Soccer
13:24 From Law School to Soccer America
16:13 Covering Soccer in the 80s
21:08 Career Highlights, Favorite People & Games
27:17 The Great “What If?”
33:05 Unsung Heroes of Soccer in the U.S.
36:17 The USMNT Before the 1990 World Cup
39:54 Has Soccer Made It in America?
44:39 The Future of American Soccer
51:48 55 Years of Soccer America & Paul’s Favorite Story
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