After the Whistle with Brendan Hunt and Rebecca Lowe
Rebecca Lowe (Fox Sports) and Brendan Hunt ('Ted Lasso') team up to cover the 2026 World Cup. They will ride an emotional roller coaster as 48 teams play 104 matches across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. The podcast brings joy, drama, hope, and heartbreak while helping listeners understand matchups and personalities. It is an Apple News Original podcast presented by Verizon.
Episodes
Bold predictions for World Cup champions and crash-outs
With the World Cup about to kick off, it’s time for Brendan Hunt’s and Rebecca Lowe’s predictions: Who are their dark horses? Which surprising team is going to crash out early? Which young star will break out? And of course: Which team will go all the way? Plus, everything to watch for in all 12 groups, and the rule change that could change how we watch and talk about soccer. After t
Will the U.S. surprise everyone at this World Cup?
Rebecca Lowe and Brendan Hunt reunite after three years away from the mic — this time, recording together in person for the first time, in a studio with real walls (and fake grass). Just ahead of the biggest World Cup in history, they discuss how the USMNT is looking after a 2-1 loss to Germany in their final friendly, and why they might exceed expectations on home soil. Plus, the hosts g
104 Matches to Go
Rebecca Lowe (Fox Sports) and Brendan Hunt (‘Ted Lasso’) are back for the 2026 World Cup. Forty-eight teams will play across the U.S., Mexico, and Canada this summer until one is named champion. Will it be Argentina (again)? Or early favorites, like Spain or France? And how far will the U.S. go on home soil? We’ll help you to understand the tournament and all the excitement right here.
Spain’s unlikely road to victory, plus the heartbreak of loving the beautiful game with Men in Blazers’ Roger Bennett
In the aftermath of Spain’s World Cup win, Brendan and Rebecca marvel at the squad’s total dominance and wonder what went so wrong for England. Then, they get into the controversy between the Spanish players and coach Jorge Vilda, why you still can’t buy Mary Earps’s jersey, and the utter absurdity of the postgame trophy presentation. ‘Men in Blazers’ co-founder Roger Bennett joins the sh
A Q&A on USWNT’s next coach, the power shift in women’s soccer, and the secret to Lindsey Horan’s ponytail
It’s a listener mailbag! Brendan and Rebecca take questions on who should be the USWNT’s next coach, their picks for goal of the tournament, male coaches in the women’s game, netball basics, the new power centers of women’s soccer, and the secret to Lindsey Horan’s swishy ponytail. Then they look ahead to the World Cup final, and Rebecca offers up her take on whether Lauren James should s
Unfiltered joy and overwhelming emotions as England advances to the World Cup final
Brendan and Rebecca dive deep into the Lionesses’ cheeky, spectacular semifinal win over Australia and shed a tear for Sam Kerr, who finally got her World Cup moment in front of a boisterous home crowd. Then the pair take a look at England’s ensuing showdown with Spain. ‘After the Whistle With Brendan Hunt and Rebecca Lowe’ is presented by State Farm®
Spain reaches the final amid conflict — as the England-Australia rivalry heats up
Brendan and Rebecca recap the exhilarating finish that sealed Spain’s trip to the World Cup final — and sing the praises of the team’s breakout star, 19-year-old Salma Paralluelo. Then, Brendan pens a love letter to Australia as he and Rebecca look ahead to the other semifinal matchup. Plus: a reflection on how this World Cup is contributing to a sea change for women’s sports. ‘After the
The longest penalty shootout in World Cup history, plus New Zealand ex-PM Jacinda Ardern!
Brendan and Rebecca catch up on the Lionesses’s cheeky quarterfinal win, the Matildas’ epic penalty-shootout victory, and the England-Australia matchup that awaits. Then, former New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern joins Brendan in person in Auckland to talk about bringing the World Cup Down Under, and to explain the intense Australia-New Zealand sporting rivalry. ‘After the Whistle
Mia Hamm on what went wrong for the USWNT — plus, another tournament favorite’s stunning downfall
Brendan watches his World Cup winner prediction come crashing down in Auckland as Japan falls to Sweden in a stunner. But Sweden’s victory doesn’t make the U.S.’s loss any easier to bear for him or guest Mia Hamm. The legendary soccer player joins to discuss the remarkably entertaining gameplay of this World Cup — and what really went wrong for the USWNT. Plus: Brendan and Rebecca reflect
Silver linings for the USWNT, England’s red-card controversy, plus special guests JJ and Kealia Watt
The Round of 16 has concluded, and Rebecca’s cheeky Lionesses have squeaked through to the quarterfinals — but not without major controversy. And after having had a few days to properly process the USWNT’s loss, Brendan and Rebecca muse over Alex Morgan’s performance, the pain and promise of penalty kicks, and why Vlatko Andonovski should be fired immediately. Football-soccer power couple
Heartbreak Down Under: watching the USWNT lose by millimeters, with U.S. soccer royalty Michelle Akers
Immediately after the final whistle of USA-Sweden, Brendan and Rebecca reunite across the international date line to debrief about the devastating defeat. Brendan sets the scene at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, where a dramatic penalty shoot-out sealed the worst World Cup finish in USWNT history. U.S. soccer royalty Michelle Akers joins the pod to help process the loss — and to possibly
What the U.S. needs to do to beat Sweden — plus, the knockout bracket no one could have predicted
No bloomin’ Germany?! Brendan and Rebecca recap the major upsets that concluded the group stage, then offer up their new predictions for the knockout rounds. And with the pivotal USA-Sweden showdown just days away, the pair give their takes on what the U.S. will need to change in order to avoid an untimely elimination. Plus: Brendan makes the trip Down Under and gives his first impression
Concern and controversy over the U.S.'s ugly 0-0 draw with Portugal, with Brandi Chastain
Still reeling from the stunning USWNT result, Brendan and Rebecca wonder how everything went so very wrong — and discuss the team’s controversial celebration at the end of the match. Two-time World Cup winner Brandi Chastain joins to diagnose the U.S.’s numerous issues and to give her unfiltered take on coach Vlatko Andonovski. Plus: Australia’s epic group winner, an update on Rebecca’s c
Is the U.S. in trouble? Former USWNT coach Jill Ellis weighs in after last night‘s disappointing result.
In the aftermath of the USWNT’s 1-1 draw with the Netherlands, Brendan and Rebecca lament some confounding lineup decisions and extol the heroics of captain Lindsey Horan. Jill Ellis, who coached the U.S. to its 2015 and 2019 World Cup trophies, joins to give her take on the team’s performance and what she’d change ahead of a pivotal matchup with Portugal. Plus, still in search of a new U
Group-stage surprises, stunners, and skew-whiffs with soccer insider Meg Linehan
This World Cup is well underway, and not everything has gone quite as predicted. Brendan and Rebecca recap the most unexpected moments of the tournament so far, including (of course) England’s 1-0 squeaker over Haiti. Plus, The Athletic’s Meg Linehan joins from New Zealand to give an insider’s take on the USWNT’s performance vs. Vietnam and their chances to three-peat as champions. ‘After
What to make of the USWNT’s sloppy start, with World Cup legend Julie Foudy
A win is a win … right? Brendan and Rebecca break down a clunky and frustrating opening performance from the USWNT — as well as some curious roster decisions. World Cup legend Julie Foudy joins to offer perspective on why the match was closer than anyone expected. Plus: the magic of Sophia Smith, Alex Morgan’s crushing missed penalty, and an update on the “dark-horse race” happening in Gr
The Women’s World Cup, from A to (New) Z
Brendan and Rebecca are back to preview everything you need to know before the Women’s World Cup kicks off on July 20. They share hopes and dreams for their beloved USWNT and England Lionesses, pick dark horses and make winner predictions, and mull some new nickname options for the U.S. And with 32 teams in the tournament for the first time ever, Brendan and Rebecca offer up a primer on e
‘After the Whistle’ is headed Down Under!
They’re back! Join Brendan Hunt, who plays Coach Beard on ‘Ted Lasso,’ and Rebecca Lowe, host of NBC Sports’ Premier League coverage, as they team up again to celebrate the 2023 Women’s World Cup. They’ll talk about all the superstars, the drama … and, of course, the Team USA women, who are hoping to secure their third World Cup win in a row. Plus, Brendan and Rebecca will have a few spec
If this World Cup final had been scripted, it would’ve been too unbelievable to be true
If ever a match lived up to the hype, today’s match was it. Immediately after the whistle, Brendan and Rebecca relive the most incredible World Cup final of all time: 80 minutes of Argentine dominance, two Kylian Mbappé goals in two minutes, a nail-biting extra-time period with goals on each side, and a penalty shoot-out to decide the winner. And how else could it end but with Lionel Mess
Why the third-place World Cup match is secretly awesome. Plus, answering listener questions!
From a ninth-minute equalizer to Croatian swim caps, today’s third-place match had it all. Brendan and Rebecca briefly recap the day before jumping into listener questions, including: What rules would they change for the next World Cup? Which USMNT player’s stock went up the most? And how does one choose a Premier League team to follow? After that, they look ahead to tomorrow’s Argentina–
The end of a historic World Cup Cinderella story — and the makings of an epic Argentina–France final
Brendan and Rebecca react to the end of a historic Cinderella run as Morocco falls to France 2-0. Then they briefly preview an unpredictable France–Argentina final and wonder: Will the Messi–Mbappé showdown bring complete chaos, or a nil-nil draw? Later, with Rebecca back across the pond, the two talk through how this strange midwinter World Cup could have a massive ripple effect on the P
“Messi magic” sends Argentina to the World Cup final. Plus: all about the Gio Reyna controversy, and special guest Seth Meyers!
Brendan and Rebecca react to Argentina’s decisive win over Croatia and revel in Lionel Messi making the World Cup final, which just feels so right. Then, they break down the major controversy swirling around Gio Reyna and the USMNT, as coach Gregg Berhalter airs out the team’s dirty laundry just days after its elimination. Plus, Seth Meyers joins to talk about his love for the Dutch (not
A “diabolical” referee and a shocking missed penalty kick: What went wrong for England at the World Cup?
A despondent Rebecca podcasts through the pain of England’s 2-1 loss to France in the quarterfinals. She and Brendan dissect how it all went wrong, from Gareth Southgate’s questionable game management to Harry Kane’s crushing missed penalty and a “joke” of a referee. They then celebrate Morocco becoming the first African team ever to make the World Cup semifinals (and wonder why Cristiano
Recapping the wildest day of the tournament so far with special guests Abby Wambach and Glennon Doyle
Rebecca and Brendan recap a stunning day at the World Cup as two quarterfinal matches end in penalties: Underdog Croatia took out star-studded Brazil and Brendan’s beloved Netherlands fell to Lionel Messi’s unrelenting Argentina. Plus, power couple Abby Wambach and Glennon Doyle join the podcast to share the emotional roller coaster of newfound soccer fandom (Glennon) and give an expert’s
One World Cup Cinderella story ends in heartbreak, another continues — off one of the gutsiest plays ever
Brendan and Rebecca go around the grounds on the latest Round of 16 results: Why are World Cup Cinderellas so rare? Are Brazil’s goal celebrations just too much? And is there anything more badass than a Panenka to win a penalty shootout? Then, they preview all four quarterfinal matches, and Rebecca has an unexpected change of heart about her beloved England side.
‘Ted Lasso’ star Brett Goldstein on England’s delightfully angry goalkeeper and how lasagna can ensure victory over France
A 3-0 victory over Senegal wasn’t enough for Rebecca, who has some quibbles for England’s manager, Gareth Southgate. Plus, Brendan and Rebecca recap all of the day’s action, delighting in Harry Kane finally scoring a goal and marveling at the magic of France’s Kylian Mbappé. And Brett Goldstein, who plays Roy Kent on ‘Ted Lasso,’ joins the pod to share his favorite thing about watching En
What went wrong for The Guys in USA’s crushing World Cup exit
Minutes after the U.S.’s heartbreaking loss to the Netherlands, Brendan and Rebecca talk through where The Guys went wrong: an uncharacteristic flub from Tyler Adams, questionable lineup decisions from Gregg Berhalter, and above all else … youth. And after this “naive but brave” performance, Brendan and Rebecca can’t help but be hopeful for 2024 and 2026. Then they briefly look ahead to E
The end of a totally unpredictable group stage, plus knockout-round predictions with Steve Nash
Brendan and Rebecca put a bow on the group stage of this entertaining, bizarre, and totally unpredictable World Cup. Then basketball legend (and footy superfan) Steve Nash joins them to discuss his global World Cup allegiances (Canada, England, Wales, AND the U.S.), his thoughts on why Gio Reyna is on the bench, and to make some knockout-round predictions. Steve shares Rebecca’s afflictio
Making sense of an utterly chaotic World Cup day. Plus, special guest Steve Kerr.
Brendan and Rebecca break down some stunning results no one could have predicted, as Morocco and Japan win their respective groups and Germany and Belgium are both eliminated. Then, Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr joins to share how he became a soccer superfan later in life (thanks, Mo Salah), explain why he shows soccer videos to his NBA team, and go on the record about an iconic
Reliving USA’s nail-biting victory — and wondering whether England is actually any good
A joyous Brendan and Rebecca breathe sighs of relief as the U.S. and England both advance to the knockout rounds. Brendan complains about not sitting down for an hour and a half, while Rebecca complains about which players rested the final 30 minutes in a 3-0 win. They cover Christian Pulisic’s thrilling goal (and painful injury) and the harrowing final minutes of the U.S.–Iran match, and
Recapping a dramatic weekend and previewing a pivotal “feast of footy”
Coming off an action-packed weekend, Brendan and Rebecca recap the tournament’s biggest headlines: Has Belgium wasted a golden generation of talent? Will Germany somehow win it all despite opening with a loss and a draw? Is Lionel Messi actually coming to MLS? And ... is it cool to blow the final whistle right before a corner? Then, they touch on rising Iran–U.S. tensions before offering
Bewilderment, frustration, and big question marks after USA and England’s 0-0 draw
In the aftermath of a stunning USA–England result, Rebecca has a serious case of the Southgate flu and Brendan is disappointed by the USMNT’s failure to emerge victorious. They discuss Southgate’s baffling personnel decisions, Tyler Adams’s star turn, and a surprisingly great performance from ... Harry Maguire? Then, Rebecca and Brendan give their optimist’s and pessimist’s takes on both
USA–England anxieties and predictions with Jason Sudeikis
Brendan and Rebecca team up for a special episode before the whistle to preview what could become the most watched soccer game in U.S. history: the impending USA–England showdown on Black Friday. ‘Ted Lasso’ co-creator Jason Sudeikis joins the show to discuss his time living in England, his nerves about Friday’s match, and to give a bold prediction on the final result. Plus, a lightning-r
Instant reactions to USA-Wales and England-Iran
Minutes after the final whistle, Brendan and Rebecca air out their thoughts on Group B’s first day of World Cup action. Brendan is not in a great place after the U.S.’s 1-1 draw with Wales, but Rebecca thinks there’s actually much to love about The Guys’ performance. Meanwhile, Rebecca is giddy over England’s six (!) goals against Iran and in awe of Jude Bellingham. Plus: Rebecca and Bren
World Cup 2022 Preview: Part 2
We’re officially two days out from the start of the World Cup, so it’s time for Brendan’s and Rebecca’s predictions: Who will be the dark horses? The underperformers? The breakout stars? The most fun to watch? And of course: Who will go all the way? Plus, hear Brendan and Rebecca discuss what could be Messi’s and Ronaldo’s last rides and educate everyone on the do’s and do nots (… mostly
World Cup 2022 Preview: Part 1
In this inaugural episode, Brendan Hunt (who plays Coach Beard on ‘Ted Lasso’) and Rebecca Lowe (who covers the English Premier League for NBC Sports) gear up for the World Cup. Hear them battle out their national allegiances to the U.S. and England, reflect on the human-rights abuses taking place in Qatar, and share the story of how ‘Ted Lasso’ brought them together eight years ago.
‘Af
Introducing ‘After the Whistle with Brendan Hunt and Rebecca Lowe’
Join Brendan Hunt, who plays Coach Beard on ‘Ted Lasso’, and Rebecca Lowe, presenter for NBC Sports, as they celebrate, mourn, laugh, and cry during the World Cup. They’re teaming up to talk about all the dramatic moments, the favorites and the dark horses, the stars and the flops ... with a few special guests stopping by along the way. It’s the beautiful game, as experienced by two of th
