After years of raising its profile, Austin Rise is taking steps to become a professional women's soccer team by next spring. As their current 2026 season kicks off, Jimmy Maas and Juan Garcia talk with team co-founder Bethany Cyrtmus-Davaul, head coach Mykell Bates, and ex-Texas and McCallum High School player Katie Gernsbacher about taking the next step in the evolution of women's soccer in Austin.

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Jimmy Maas and Juan Diego Garcia talk with Christian Ramirez about his first minutes of action with Austin FC, with his game-winning goal in week two against DC United. Ramirez, a prolific goal scorer, was once known as "Superman" with Minnesota and won the 2023 MLS Cup with Columbus. He talks about what it's like to be waived in Major League Soccer, his surprise call from Austin FC, and what he sees his role on the team will be.

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Jimmy Maas and Juan Diego Garcia dive into one of the biggest questions for many North American soccer fans' this spring: Can I actually go to the World Cup? We start with memories of the care-free days of 1994, when the last World Cup held in the U.S. The arts editor for KUT News, Stephanie Federico, takes us down sorta-memory lane. Then we get the perspective a current college student hoping somehow to get to see Mexico play in Mexico this summer. And then we turn to an expert, Jason Daley, who has put his knowledge gained from going to the last five tournaments into one spot for you, The World Cup Guide.

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Facundo Torres achieved more in the first year of his career than many professional soccer players achieve across their whole career. Austin FC’s new designated player tells us about his early success in Uruguay, making the hard choice to move to MLS (twice), and how becoming a girldad has changed his life.

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Songwriter Lindsey Mackin, frontwoman of Austin band Annabelle Chairlegs talks with Jimmy Maas and Juan Diego Garcia about the group's new album, her roots in "Soccer Town USA" (Kearny, NJ), and the power of the cowbell. Also, we talk what's new for Austin FC with team president Andy Loughnane. The kickoff episode of the 2026 season for Austin FC and ¡Vamos Verde!

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Jimmy Maas and Juan Diego Garcia will get to know some new faces on and off the pitch as Austin FC looks to build on a year that featured a return to the MLS Cup Playoffs and an appearance in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final.

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Major League Soccer announced a big change this week. The league is shifting its calendar to align with the top leagues in the sport. Instead of playing matches from January to November, the 2027-28 season will begin in late July with a champion crowned in May.

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Austin FC will get a new away shirt next season, set to replace the “Amadillo” shirt introduced ahead of the 2024 season. The shirt paid homage to the legendary Armadillo World Headquarters, the Austin music venue at the epicenter of the cosmic cowboy music wave. The shirt also gave Austin FC a mascot: an armadillo named Speed Bump. ‘Dillo handler Swift Sparks tells us all about Speed Bump’s celebrity, what it takes to care for him, and what the future holds for their partnership with Austin FC.

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