Radio Free CONCACAF

[CONCACAF NL Nov 2024] USA vs Jamaica

USA and Jamaica face each other in the @concacafnationsleague QF in two weeks, with a spot in the @goldcup and the Nations League Finals on the line. Pochettino's first elimination matches, and a key moment for the @jamaicamnt to avenge their bitter loss in last year's edition.Your faithful co-hosts return from their hiatus to dish on the footy, history, and footy history involving these two nations.We'll look deeper into a few topics in this episode:The interactions between the two nations when they were both under British rule.The unique journey of Jamaica-born "Honest John" Brown Russwurm, an abolitionist publisher who ran the first Black-owned newspaper in the USA, and later ended up moving to Liberia.Similar ideas resurfaced 70 years later when another Jamaica-born leader also proposed resettlement as a solution to race relations in the Americas - Marcus Garvey.On the footy front, we'll fill you in on the latest with both national teams, the overall League A and League B setup, and of course predict the outcome!Check out our episode on Jamaica v Brazil from the Women's World Cup for more on Jamaican history (https://open.spotify.com/episode/4EEq8J1RjWnx23ZxrgOA2w)For more on the USA, our episode from earlier this year on USA v Panama in the 2024 @copaamerica covers that ground. (https://open.spotify.com/episode/5N2LjzZdfRJv9Z7jJAjvQR)

[2024 Copa America] Canada v Chile

Les Rouges vs La Roja!!The teams have limited but fascinating history inside the lines, with Chile twice competing in one-off Cups in Edmonton and at U of Toronto's Varsity Stadium, along with a 2007 U-20 meeting in Toronto which would foreshadow Chile's golden generation.Off the field, Fernando chats with Dra. Berenice Villagómez, scholar of Latin American history, on the diverse relationships that emerged between Canada and Chile during the latter's coup d'etat in 1973, While Canadian civil society orgs assisting those fleeing the new Pinochet regime, the Canadian government delayed their resettlement through cautiously scrutinizing their political ideologies.With a Chile team in transition away from their golden generation (only Bravo, Vargas, Bravo, and Isla remain), and Canada's prospects looking brighter than ever, this match could represent a defining moment for the Copa América's CONCACAF edition.

[2024 Copa America] USA v Panama

As you prepare to watch the USA v Panama, Radio Free CONCACAF's latest episode is here to prepare for fully experiencing the match!
USA vs Panama is an emerging regional rivalry on the footy front, but the fascinating history between the two nations that predates Panama's nationhood makes this matchup even more intriguing.
Fernando chats with our esteemed guest and scholar of Latin American history Professor Luis van Isschot to riff on US imperialism in the Western Hemisphere, its role in Panama's "independence" from Colombia, and predict the match!
Meanwhile in the studio, Cullen covers the recent footy intrigue, including Hexagonal WC Qualifier drama from 2013 (San Zusi), 2017 (Historic qualification via a late winner vs Costa Rica), and the 2023 Gold Cup where Panama finally knocked out the USA in a competitive fixture.

2024 Concachampions Semifinals!!

Time for the Champions League semifinals!! Real Ma-what?? Descolonízate!!We're talking about the Champions League in our part of the world - the ConcachampionsAmerica v PachucaColumbus Crew v MonterreyIn this episode, Fer and Cullen delve into the Concachampions lore - who owns it, who has scored the most goals, who has the most titles, and why are the answers to that all Mexican clubs??We also delve into this edition's matchups. Monterrey has owned this competition, winning all of its 5 titles in the last 15 years, and they knocked out the Crew in the QF in 2021. Ohio-based regiments assisted in the Siege of Monterrey in the Mexican American War, and you can be sure it's on everyone's mind!!Pachuca has some pedigree as Liga MX's oldest club, but America has the edge as by far the most dominant club in @concacaf , as well as their recent Liguilla titles. We take the rivalry between these two regions back to the Pre-Classic period, when the Chichimecas negotiated their niche on the periphery of the Mexica/Aztec empire.Episode available on Spotify and Podbean

2023 Caribbean Cup - Robinhood (SUR) v Cavalier (JAM)

Our next episode offering covers the 2023 CONCACAF Caribbean Cup! We delve into the strongest Caribbean clubs in history, and their records in the CONCACAF Champions League/Cup.The final will be contested between SV Robinhood of Suriname, who entered the tournament as the second-lowest seed after winning the lesser Caribbean Shield, and is one of the most successful domestic clubs. They have lost five CONCACAF Champions League finals, all coming during their golden era (70s-80s) when they would tour Holland and face off with Eredivisie teams.The opponent is Cavalier FC of Jamaica, who overcame traditional power @harbourviewfc to make the final, especially thanks to Golden Boot leader Shaniel Thomas.In addition to these two teams, we highlight a topic we also covered in our @womensworldcup2023 episode on Jamaica v Brazil - Maroons! Suriname has a parallel population descended from African people who escaped enslavement and formed their own societies.Thanks for listening, and please share with your footy-minded friends!CB & FML

[Nations League QF] Panama v Costa Rica

Welcome back CONCAfición!
Always a treat when two neighboring states confront each other, especially when the stakes are high. Panama and Costa Rica cross swords in this CONCACAF Nations League QF, with the winner qualifying directly to the Copa América. Jamaica v Canada, Mexico v Honduras, and USA v T&T round out the other quarter-finalists.
Outside of the lines, these two countries navigated a tricky border dispute in the early 1900s that led to a diplomatic stalemate for over a decade, despite both the USA and France attempting to mediate. That political rift did not prevent Los Ticos from inflicting Panama's largest-ever defeat though!
We also cover notable matchups between these two teams, including the final in which the son of a coach who has managed both national teams missed a key penalty...while facing his father's team! Tune in to find out more.
Finally, we predict the outcome of this home-and-home series. Costa Rica is hitting the reset button in the twilight of their 2014 golden generation, and Los Canaleros are ascending to new heights in their footballing history. 
Thanks for listening, and we look forward to seeing you soon for our coverage of upcoming confederation-wie club tournaments!
Cullen & Fernando

[2023 WWC] PAN v FRA / JAM v BRA

To close out our coverage of the 2023 Women's World Cup group stage, we focus on the deciding day for Group F, which saw some surprises after we recorded!
In this double-header we cover France's role in the creation of the Panama Canal, including one Fernando de Lesseps whose links to the Suez Canal also show up in the historical record. We also cover the various meanings of the word "Panama".
Secondly, Jamaica and Brazil have both been home to sovereign polities founded by people of African descent who escaped slavery. We focus on the "quilombo" of Palmares in northeastern Brazil and the Maroons of Jamaica, examining how the people who were brought from Africa to the Americas implemented their traditions of governance as they explored their freedom.

[2023 WWC] Canada vIreland

Céad míle fáilte to our aficionados! The latest episode in our series on the 2023 Womens' World Cup covers the July 26 Group B faceoff between the Dominion of Canada and the Republic of Ireland.
Two nations with a complex common history with England, as well as some interesting conflicts between them...but not really between each other.
We delve into the Irish diaspora in Canada's Maritime provinces (and feature some related music), the Fenian Raids, where Irish independence advocates invaded Canada, as well as of course the footy matchup.
Thanks for tuning in, and we look forward to watching the game with you!
Song - Excursion Around the Bay by Great Big Sea

[2023 WWC] Haiti vs England

Hey team we are back with the first episode in our series on the 2023 Womens' World Cup, held in AUS and NZ!
This edition focuses on the matchup between Haiti and England. While this will be their first matchup on their field, their battle on Hispaniola during the Haitian Revolution drastically altered the course of both countries, as well as the global sentiment towards the abolition of slavery. 
Subsequently, we help fill you in on the prominent players and storylines behind this amazing matchup, specifically the dominant performances by each team in qualifying rounds.
Watch this space for our next episode on Canada v Ireland

[2023 Gold Cup] Costa Rica v El Salvador

Hola hola!!
We are back for the 2023 Gold Cup covering this group stage matchup between Costa Rica and El Salvador, taking place June 30 at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, NJ.
As a prelude to our live coverage of the match, we delve into the footy, the history, and the footy history as per usual!
- Francisco Morazán, the Central American liberal, who touched the history of both countries in his pursuit of a united Centroamérica. We also delve into some parallels with the 2024 US election.
- Ricardo Saprissa, born in San Salvador to Spanish parents, who went on to found the most successful Costa Rican club team
- Examining the head-to-head history between these two famed squads, and predictions for the match.
Tune in, and join us in NJ if you can!!
 
Fernando & Cullen