Urban Pitch Podcast - The Beautiful Game of Life

As Los Angeles prepares for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, we sit down with City Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martinez to discuss making the game more accessible for everyone, the challenges that come with such a massive event, and what makes LA so special. Timestamps (01:47) How he became an LAFC fan (08:00) Interacting with the LA soccer community from his work as a LA City Councilmember (17:40) How LA is preparing for the 2026 World Cup (29:27) The USMNT and Mexico: Who'll do better at the World Cup? Cast Hosts: Ramsey Abushahla, Julio Monterroza, & Brigitte Flores Producer: Roy Cho Subscribe to our newsletter for more interviews and latest news on street football, freestyle, and urban culture, read more about soccer culture on our website, and follow us on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

We took an away days trip for this special episode of the Urban Pitch Podcast with our good friends at LatiNation FC! Shot at their TV studio under the bright lights, we chop it up with Marcelino, El Chiva Mayor, and Cami, discussing everything from the World Cup qualifying playoffs to the new kits and looming issues surrounding this summer's massive tournament. 01:00 World Cup qualifying playoffs: Who's in, who's out? Timestamps (13:57) Our favorite World Cup kits (18:00) NWSL thoughts: the league's growth and the new kit drops (28:37) The issues looming around the 2026 World Cup (42:30) What to expect from the World Cup: How LA will be as a host city and what the US and Mexico will accomplish on the pitch (49:20) Players to make the biggest impact at the World Cup Cast Hosts: Ramsey Abushahla, Julio Monterroza, & Brigitte Flores Producer: Roy Cho Subscribe to our newsletter for more interviews and latest news on street football, freestyle, and urban culture, read more about soccer culture on our website, and follow us on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Kids of Immigrants has long been a brand that has inspired us. Its authentic messaging, eye-catching design, and collaborations with vaunted brands has led it to become one of the most recognizable streetwear labels out there, and a major part of that is co-founder Daniel Buezo. Ahead of Kids of Immigrants' soccer-inspired collaboration with Buchanan's Whisky, Buezo sits down with us to discuss his soccer background, the connection between sport and fashion, and how the The First FIFA World Cup 26 Spirit Collection with Buchanan's Whisky came about. Timestamps (01:27) The connection between Kids of Immigrants and soccer (09:20) Collaborating with Buchanan's Whisky for a limited edition collection (19:20) Hype for the World Cup (37:21) Blind ranking: Items at the carne asada Cast Hosts: Ramsey Abushahla, Julio Monterroza, & Brigitte Flores Producer: Roy Cho Subscribe to our newsletter for more interviews and latest news on street football, freestyle, and urban culture, read more about soccer culture on our website, and follow us on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In honor of women's history month, we break down the best in women's soccer, from the start of the 2026 NWSL season to the recent SheBelieves Cup. In addition, we check in with Julio, who spent a week in the Dominican Republic on vacation, to get all the island vibes. (02:00) Women's history month and the SheBelieves Cup (13:26) The 2026 NWSL season (29:22) Atletico Madrid's partnership with "Peaky Blinders" (38:40) Checking in with Julio in the DR Cast Hosts: Ramsey Abushahla, Julio Monterroza, & Brigitte Flores Producer: Roy Cho Subscribe to our newsletter for more interviews and latest news on street football, freestyle, and urban culture, read more about soccer culture on our website, and follow us on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Two years ago, we bestowed the title of Angel City FC Director of Vibes to Paige Nielsen. Now in a new city on a new team, we catch up with her to get her candid thoughts on the NWSL CBA, life in Houston, and how she's become quite interested in the business side of sports. Timestamps (02:00) The challenges and rewards of moving from LA to Houston (12:06) The new generation of NWSL players (22:00) Thoughts on the trade approval clause in the NWSL CBA (37:07) Her relationship with Ali Riley and her impact on soccer Cast Hosts: Ramsey Abushahla, Julio Monterroza, & Brigitte Flores Producer: Roy Cho Subscribe to our newsletter for more interviews and latest news on street football, freestyle, and urban culture, read more about soccer culture on our website, and follow us on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The NWSL kit drop was another success...or was it? We name some of our favorite and least favorite designs on the latest episode of the Urban Pitch Podcast! Timestamps (01:00) An eventful soccer weekend in Los Angeles (08:37) Does the wave belong at sports games? (15:12) Our thoughts on the new NWSL jerseys Cast Hosts: Ramsey Abushahla, Julio Monterroza, & Brigitte Flores Producer: Roy Cho Subscribe to our newsletter for more interviews and latest news on street football, freestyle, and urban culture, read more about soccer culture on our website, and follow us on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

It's that time of year again. With MLS fully back, we share our thoughts on the new jerseys as a whole, and name our three favorite designs from the bunch. In addition, we discuss the fallout from the recent Real Madrid-Benfica UCL match, where Vinicius Jr. was once again allegedly subject to racist taunts. Timestamps (02:15) Adventures with Coach Brigitte (05:45) MLS is back: Our favorite new kits of the year (34:11) Vinicius Jr. and more racism in football Cast Hosts: Ramsey Abushahla, Julio Monterroza, & Brigitte Flores Producer: Roy Cho Subscribe to our newsletter for more interviews and latest news on street football, freestyle, and urban culture, read more about soccer culture on our website, and follow us on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Tristan Bowen was one of the earliest guests on the Urban Pitch Podcast, dropping by the show back in 2017 to talk about his pro career and what was next in store for him. Nearly a decade later, and he's back! We catch up with the former LA Galaxy homegrown product, discussing everything from his venture into the world of media, his thoughts on the USMNT's chances at the 2026 World Cup, and hanging out at house parties in South Central LA as a teenager. Timestamps (01:13) Tristan's childhood in Los Angeles growing up in Koreatown (09:23) Being the LA local on the Galaxy and giving tips to his teammates (26:20) The current MLS academy system compared to when he played (36:44) Thoughts on the USMNT and expectations for the 2026 World Cup Cast Hosts: Ramsey Abushahla, Julio Monterroza, & Brigitte Flores Producer: Roy Cho Subscribe to our newsletter for more interviews and latest news on street football, freestyle, and urban culture, read more about soccer culture on our website, and follow us on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

From the reports of parking for World Cup matches in LA costing between $250 and $300 to the latest jersey releases, we get into the latest happenings in the soccer culture-verse on the latest episode of the Urban Pitch podcast! Timestamps (00:37) Buchanan's and the impact in the Hispanic community (05:47) Crazy prices for World Cup parking in LA (24:47) Super Bowl weekend and Bad Bunny's takeover (36:30) The adidas x Bape collaboration and other new jersey releases (45:04) Trinity Rodman as the future of marketable athletes Cast Hosts: Ramsey Abushahla, Julio Monterroza, & Brigitte Flores Producer: Roy Cho Subscribe to our newsletter for more interviews and latest news on street football, freestyle, and urban culture, read more about soccer culture on our website, and follow us on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

It's been a viral trend all over social media, so we hopped on it and took a look back at 2016 — where we were personally as well as where the world of soccer and culture were too. From our favorite moments in soccer to our favorite albums from the year, we throw it back to 10 years ago on the latest episode of the Urban Pitch Podcast! Timestamps (03:20) Looking back at the year of 2016: Who we were 10 years ago (17:35) 2016: The year in football (38:22) 2016: The year in music Cast Hosts: Ramsey Abushahla, Julio Monterroza, & Brigitte Flores Producer: Roy Cho Subscribe to our newsletter for more interviews and latest news on street football, freestyle, and urban culture, read more about soccer culture on our website, and follow us on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Born from their love for soccer and dual national experience, Ray An, Josh Lee, and Emmanuel Hahn created "Korea, Away," an upcoming docu-series that recently hit its fundraising goal on Kickstarter. Despite the name, "Korea, Away" tells the story of many dual nationals in the United States, and how they balance their identities with their soccer fandom. An and Lee join the latest episode of the Urban Pitch Podcast to discuss the project, the Korean-American soccer fan experience, and how Son Heung-min brought a new wave of soccer fever both in Los Angeles and beyond. Timestamps (00:01:40) Pouring up some somaeks (00:08:27) The Korea, Away project and Korean fan culture (00:23:00) The LAFC TSG supporters' group experience and American soccer culture as a whole (00:41:27) The origins of Korea, Away (00:48:20) The Son Heung-min effect in LA Cast Hosts: Ramsey Abushahla, Julio Monterroza, & Brigitte Flores Producer: Roy Cho Subscribe to our newsletter for more interviews and latest news on street football, freestyle, and urban culture, read more about soccer culture on our website, and follow us on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

"If you don't celebrate your wins, then no one else will." Longtime friend of the podcast Favian Renkel returns to drop some gems like the quote above, and he also shares the major moves he's been making. Renkel recently moved from the Bay Area to New York City, and is now with Kickbase USA in addition to freelancing for The Athletic. He shares some insight into what went into his success, and also some of the biggest MLS moves this offseason that caught his eye. Timestamps (00:53) Getting acclimated to NYC lifestyle (09:00) New roles at Kickbase and The Athletic and tips for young journalists (28:16) The MLS offseason: Big moves and storylines to follow Cast Hosts: Ramsey Abushahla, Julio Monterroza, & Brigitte Flores Producer: Roy Cho Subscribe to our newsletter for more interviews and latest news on street football, freestyle, and urban culture, read more about soccer culture on our website, and follow us on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Wine and Sprite? Don't knock it 'til you try it! Lionel Messi moved the wine and spirits market when he revealed his favorite drink: tinto de verano. Naturally, we had to see what the GOAT was onto for the latest Urban Pitch Podcast, and turns out, it's pretty dang good. We also discuss the recent USMNT kit leak, and give some bold predictions for the rest of the year. (00:49) Drinking Messi's favorite drink, tinto de verano (04:15) Brigitte's recap of her trip to Peru (14:45) Our thoughts on the USMNT kit leaks and how they compare to Mexico's released jersey (29:00) Our bold predictions for 2026 Cast Hosts: Ramsey Abushahla, Julio Monterroza, & Brigitte Flores Producer: Roy Cho Subscribe to our newsletter for more interviews and latest news on street football, freestyle, and urban culture, read more about soccer culture on our website, and follow us on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

We're starting the new year off strong with Ashley Niveth, a soccer content creator who's quickly burst onto the scene. In addition to getting her soccer background, we discuss her upcoming Niveth Futbol Fest in Los Angeles, and what it was like working for Jordan Belfort. Then, we check in with Urban Pitch co-executive director of vibes Brigitte Flores, who took in the new year in Rio de Janeiro, to see how they really do things in Brazil. (02:39) Ashley's background in soccer and how she started creating soccer content (23:29) What we're looking forward to in 2026 outside of the World Cup (29:50) Checking in with Brigitte Flores in Brazil Cast Hosts: Ramsey Abushahla, Julio Monterroza, & Brigitte Flores Producer: Roy Cho Subscribe to our newsletter for more interviews and latest news on street football, freestyle, and urban culture, read more about soccer culture on our website, and follow us on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.