On the premiere episode of The Away End, Daniel and John reminisce on over 30 years of friendship, discuss some of their favorite World Cup memories, and dissect the 2026 World Cup Draw. Will the USMNT get out of the Group Stage? Which of the World Cup debutantes will do the best? Which team is poised to break through in a surprising way? Start your tournament journey here, as Daniel and John set the stage for the 2026 World Cup!

On the premiere episode of The Away End, Daniel and John reminisce on over 30 years of friendship, discuss some of their favorite World Cup memories, and dissect the 2026 World Cup Draw.&nbsp;Will the USMNT get out of the Group Stage? Which of the World Cup debutantes will do the best? Which team is poised to break through in a surprising way?&nbsp;Start your tournament journey here, as Daniel and John set the stage for the 2026 World Cup!

Two novelists, Daniel Alarcón and John Green, friends since they were teenagers, tackle questions big and small around the World Cup and international football more generally. The only soccer podcast that regularly name checks Toni Morrison, The Away End is about much more than sport: it's about politics, literature and culture, with an eye toward those moments and spaces where our collective love of soccer reveals something unexpected about who we are.

Two novelists, Daniel Alarc&oacute;n and John Green, friends since they were teenagers, tackle questions big and small around the World Cup and international football more generally. The only soccer podcast that regularly name checks Toni Morrison, The Away End is about much more than sport: it's about politics, literature and culture, with an eye toward those moments and spaces where our collective love of soccer reveals something unexpected about who we are.

The Away End with Daniel Alarcón and John Green

Episode 1: The 2026 World Cup Draw

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/d5da1a3d-7e40-4894-bafc-b3d90000b038/transcript

On Episode 10, John and Daniel break down the World Cup Playoffs and discuss which teams have the best chance to advance. Daniel does a deep dive into the French National Team, and John regales us with the origin story of AFC Wimbledon, a team close to his heart.

Plus, John and Daniel read listener emails, one of which comes with a special song!

If you're enjoying the show, please rate and review us, and you can email us at awayendpod@gmail.com.

On Episode 10, John and Daniel break down the World Cup Playoffs and discuss which teams have the best chance to advance. Daniel does a deep dive into the French National Team, and John regales us with the origin story of AFC Wimbledon, a team close to his heart.
Plus, John and Daniel read listener emails, one of which comes with a special song!
If you're enjoying the show, please rate and review us, and you can email us at <a href="mailto:awayendpod@gmail.com">awayendpod@gmail.com</a>.

Episode 10: World Cup Playoffs, France Deep Dive, and the AFC Wimbledon Origin Story

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/dbc0dff3-a4d2-4084-9a8b-b41700e75aae/transcript

On Episode 9, Daniel and John break down the latest news with Iran's national team, Daniel points and laughs gleefully at the misery of Arsenal’s crosstown rivals, Tottenham Hotspur, John does a deep dive into the Netherlands, and Daniel tells the powerful story of Chilean legend Carlos Caszely, whose greatest achievement may have come off the pitch, and the infamous 1973 match against the  Phantom Team. 

If you’re enjoying The Away End, please rate and review the show, and send us an email at awayendpod@gmail.com.

On Episode 9, Daniel and John break down the latest news with Iran's national team, Daniel points and laughs gleefully at the misery of Arsenal&rsquo;s crosstown rivals, Tottenham Hotspur, John does a deep dive into the Netherlands, and Daniel tells the powerful story of Chilean legend Carlos Caszely, whose greatest achievement may have come off the pitch, and the infamous 1973 match against the&nbsp; Phantom Team.&nbsp;
If you&rsquo;re enjoying The Away End, please rate and review the show, and send us an email at <a href="mailto:awayendpod@gmail.com" data-linkindex="0">awayendpod@gmail.com</a>.

Episode 9: Iran, Netherlands Deep Dive, and the Story of Carlos Caszely and the Phantom Team

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/90fcb3ed-dc2f-4082-b932-b411000a8493/transcript

On Episode 8 of The Away End, we have our first guests! Miguel Salazar and Alex Shephard are the creators and founders of a new print magazine about football called Golden Goal, and they join John and Daniel to talk about their new journalistic venture and how it ties into the World Cup. Daniel takes a look at Japan's national team and asks: what is it about this team that sparks joy? And John regales us with a story about a financial battle brewing around the cost of security at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts.

Email us at awayendpod@gmail.com. 

Check out and support Golden Goal here: https://goldengoal.world/

On Episode 8 of The Away End, we have our first guests! Miguel Salazar and Alex Shephard are the creators and founders of a new print magazine about football called Golden Goal, and they join John and Daniel to talk about their new journalistic venture and how it ties into the World Cup. Daniel takes a look at Japan's national team and asks: what is it about this team that sparks joy? And John regales us with a story about a financial battle brewing around the cost of security at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
Email us at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:awayendpod@gmail.com">awayendpod@gmail.com</a>.&nbsp;
Check out and support Golden Goal here:&nbsp;<a href="https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fgoldengoal.world%2F&amp;data=05%7C02%7CKurtGarin%40iheartmedia.com%7C1d6ad32fbfda4629ea5f08de7eeb5f01%7C122a527e5b714eba878d9810b495b9e3%7C0%7C0%7C639087746526335017%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=Gae2Hafv9DHGyEaL4NDY9%2FY54zOfX2SHnf2RSdEvF5I%3D&amp;reserved=0" data-outlook-id="23a7a2b4-092b-48af-91d3-ad2f69caa0fa">https://goldengoal.world/</a>

Episode 8: Creators of Golden Goal Magazine join The Away End, Daniel talks Japan, and Storytime with John

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/32b24b99-b974-4e08-9492-b409015a9c52/transcript

Episode 1: The 2026 World Cup Draw

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