The Flyin Lion: FC Cincinnati Podcast

The MLS season is back! We wrap up the 2026 FIFA World Cup, break down FC Cincinnati's dominant friendly win, discuss the biggest storylines for the second half of the season, and debate what it will take for the Orange and Blue to make an MLS Cup run.
Plus, we preview two massive matches against the Vancouver Whitecaps and Columbus Crew, breaking down the tactical matchups, transfer news, predicted lineups, key players to watch, and our score predictions for both showdowns.

Back to FC Cincinnati as we recap the Orange and Blue's 3-1 win over Burnley, discuss Evander's MLS All-Star selection, reset the MLS season, preview the road ahead, dive into transfer rumors, Buy or Sell predictions, the latest on Cincinnati's NWSL ambitions, and everything else happening around the club. The USMNT's World Cup run is over after a 4-1 loss to Belgium, and we're breaking down what went wrong, whether the tournament should be viewed as a success or disappointment, Mauricio Pochettino's future, standout performers, and the biggest storylines from the World Cup knockout rounds.

The USMNT are through to the World Cup Round of 16 after a 2-0 win over Bosnia & Herzegovina, and the biggest news is that Folarin Balogun has been cleared to play against Belgium after FIFA suspended his automatic ban. We react to Balogun's return, break down the Bosnia victory, recap an incredible Round of 32, and preview the USA's biggest match in years against Belgium. Plus, FC Cincinnati news and transfer rumors, the latest from around TQL Stadium, and a full preview of FCC's international friendly against Burnley FC. Can the USMNT reach their first World Cup quarterfinal since 2002, and what should FCC fans expect against Burnley?

The USMNT's World Cup path is set. We react to the 3-2 loss to Türkiye, discuss Sebastian Berhalter's breakout performance, Auston Trusty's historic goal, and preview the Round of 32 showdown with Bosnia & Herzegovina.
Plus, we predict every knockout-round matchup, debate the biggest stories from the group stage, break down Uruguay's shocking collapse under Marcelo Bielsa, and discuss the latest FC Cincinnati news. How far can this USMNT team go?

The USMNT is headed to the Round of 32 after a 2-0 win over Australia, clinching Group D at the 2026 FIFA World Cup and making history with back-to-back group stage wins for the first time since 1930. On Episode #154 of The Flyin Lion Podcast, we break down the Australia victory, World Cup group stage storylines, FC Cincinnati news, Round of 32 opponent scenarios, and preview the USA's final group match against Türkiye.

The USMNT delivered a statement 4-1 win over Paraguay, and we're breaking down Balogun's brace, Reyna's stunning late trivela, the Pulisic injury concern, and the debate over whether this was the best World Cup half in USMNT history. We also recap our packed live show at Molly Malone's and want to thank everyone who came out and made it an unforgettable World Cup atmosphere. Plus, we cover the biggest results from around the tournament, new World Cup rules, MLS Player of the Week, transfer rumors, and the storylines shaping the road to the knockout rounds.

FC Cincinnati legend Justin Hoyte joins the Flyin Lion Podcast to discuss his journey from Arsenal to FC Cincinnati, representing Trinidad & Tobago, and his transition into coaching and player development.
We also react to the USMNT's 2-1 loss to Germany and give our full 2026 FIFA World Cup preview, including predictions, dark horses, and the United States' road to the final.

 
The USMNT kicked off its 2026 World Cup preparations with a 3-2 win over Senegal behind goals from Sergiño Dest, Christian Pulisic, and Folarin Balogun. We break down the biggest takeaways from the match, Miles Robinson's difficult outing, and what it means for the U.S. heading into the World Cup.
Plus, a busy international window for FC Cincinnati as Pavel Bucha is left off Czechia's World Cup roster, Andrei Chirila earns a U.S. U18 call-up, and FCC Academy prospects continue to impress at MLS NEXT Cup. We also dive into Trivia of the Week, Cards of the Week, and another edition of "If FC Cincinnati Were a National Team."

The USMNT’s official 26-man roster for the 2026 FIFA World Cup is here, and there is a lot to unpack. Mauricio Pochettino’s squad blends experienced veterans from the 2022 World Cup with a new generation of talent, and in this episode we break down the biggest surprises, roster omissions, projected starting XIs, and what realistic expectations should be for the United States heading into a home World Cup.
We also dive into the FC Cincinnati angle with Miles Robinson’s potential role in the tournament, compare this roster to the 2022 squad in Qatar, and discuss whether this is the strongest USMNT group of the modern era. With the World Cup officially here, this roster announcement gives us our clearest picture yet of how the United States plans to compete on home soil in 2026.

FC Cincinnati head into the World Cup break after a massive 6-2 win over Orlando City at TQL Stadium, powered by a historic night from Evander with 2 goals and 3 assists as he set a new FCC record with five goal contributions in a single match. Kenji Mboma Dem added his first MLS brace, Denkey stayed red hot, and FCC extended their streak to seven straight matches with multiple goals scored as the attack continues to roll.
But even in a dominant win, the same concerns remained: FCC conceded first again, looked vulnerable defensively for stretches, and still feel like one of the most dangerous yet unpredictable teams in MLS. We break down the Orlando match, Evander’s unreal form, Roman’s huge late saves, Pat Noonan’s comments, and then dive into a full FC Cincinnati first half of season breakdown with expectations, concerns, standout players, and what still needs to improve heading into the second half of the year.