After the Whistle with Brendan Hunt and Rebecca Lowe

Apple News

Rebecca Lowe (Fox Sports) and Brendan Hunt (‘Ted Lasso’) are teaming up again to take on the 2026 World Cup! They’ll ride an emotional roller coaster together as 48 teams play 104 action-packed matches across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. They’ll bring you all the joy and the drama, the hope and the heartbreak — and help you understand the matchups and personalities that will make this the biggest sporting and cultural event of our lifetimes

‘After the Whistle With Brendan Hunt and Rebecca Lowe’ is an Apple News Original podcast presented by Verizon.

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53 episodes
Updated July 20

Episodes53

Newest first

Aug 18, 2023 · 32 min
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 start for the Lionesses post-suspension. ‘After the Whistle with Brendan Hunt and Rebecca Lowe’ is presented by State Farm®
Aug 16, 2023 · 24 min
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®
Aug 15, 2023 · 27 min
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 Whistle with Brendan Hunt and Rebecca Lowe’ is presented by State Farm®
Aug 14, 2023 · 34 min
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 with Brendan Hunt and Rebecca Lowe’ is presented by State Farm®
Aug 11, 2023 · 32 min
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 on that record-breaking penalty shot from England’s Chloe Kelly, an unfiltered moment from the Dutch, and whether there’s any appropriate time to do the Wave. ‘After the Whistle with Brendan Hunt and Rebecca Lowe’ is presented by State Farm®
Aug 8, 2023 · 35 min
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 JJ and Kealia Watt join to discuss their new Premier League minority ownership and give their takes on the future of soccer in America. ‘After the Whistle with Brendan Hunt and Rebecca Lowe’ is presented by State Farm®
Aug 6, 2023 · 35 min
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 settle the team-nickname debate, once and for all. ‘After the Whistle with Brendan Hunt and Rebecca Lowe’ is presented by State Farm®
Aug 3, 2023 · 26 min
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 impressions of Australia!
Aug 1, 2023 · 38 min
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 cheeky Lionesses, and Brendan’s surprising new pick for tournament champion. ‘After the Whistle with Brendan Hunt and Rebecca Lowe’ is presented by State Farm®
Jul 27, 2023 · 38 min
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 USWNT nickname, Brendan and Rebecca round up some of the best audience submissions.
Jul 26, 2023 · 33 min
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 the Whistle with Brendan Hunt and Rebecca Lowe’ is presented by State Farm®
Jul 22, 2023 · 36 min
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 Group B. ‘After the Whistle With Brendan Hunt and Rebecca Lowe’ is presented by State Farm®
Jul 19, 2023 · 41 min
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 every squad, from A to (New) Z. ‘After the Whistle With Brendan Hunt and Rebecca Lowe’ is presented by State Farm®
Jul 10, 2023 · 1 min
‘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 special guests stopping by along the way. Join us this summer for an all-new season of ‘After the Whistle.’ Presented by State Farm®
Dec 18, 2022 · 34 min
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 Messi lifting the trophy and cementing his place in football history?
Dec 17, 2022 · 37 min
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–France showdown and make some final predictions.
Dec 15, 2022 · 31 min
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 Premier League. And finally, Rebecca shares the one thing she’s most looking forward to in London … the supermarket.
Dec 14, 2022 · 36 min
“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 in 60 seconds) and why neither Messi nor Ronaldo bring him joy, and to fondly (?) remember Brendan’s “weird apartment” in Amsterdam.
Dec 11, 2022 · 33 min
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 Ronaldo couldn’t do the same). Finally, Brendan and Rebecca pay tribute to the incomparable American soccer journalist Grant Wahl, who died Friday at age 48 while covering the tournament in Qatar.
Dec 10, 2022 · 41 min
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 take on penalty kicks (Abby). Note: Hours after recording this episode, we learned that soccer journalist Grant Wahl passed away while reporting on the World Cup in Qatar. We will have more to say about Grant as a writer and as a person in tomorrow’s episode.

After the Whistle with Brendan Hunt and Rebecca Lowe

A Q&A on USWNT’s next coach, the power shift in women’s soccer, and the secret to Lindsey Horan’s ponytail

Unfiltered joy and overwhelming emotions as England advances to the World Cup final

Spain reaches the final amid conflict — as the England-Australia rivalry heats up

The longest penalty shootout in World Cup history, plus New Zealand ex-PM Jacinda Ardern!

Mia Hamm on what went wrong for the USWNT — plus, another tournament favorite’s stunning downfall

Silver linings for the USWNT, England’s red-card controversy, plus special guests JJ and Kealia Watt

Heartbreak Down Under: watching the USWNT lose by millimeters, with U.S. soccer royalty Michelle Akers

What the U.S. needs to do to beat Sweden — plus, the knockout bracket no one could have predicted

Concern and controversy over the U.S.'s ugly 0-0 draw with Portugal, with Brandi Chastain

Is the U.S. in trouble? Former USWNT coach Jill Ellis weighs in after last night‘s disappointing result.

Group-stage surprises, stunners, and skew-whiffs with soccer insider Meg Linehan

What to make of the USWNT’s sloppy start, with World Cup legend Julie Foudy

The Women’s World Cup, from A to (New) Z

‘After the Whistle’ is headed Down Under!

If this World Cup final had been scripted, it would’ve been too unbelievable to be true

Why the third-place World Cup match is secretly awesome. Plus, answering listener questions!

The end of a historic World Cup Cinderella story — and the makings of an epic Argentina–France final

“Messi magic” sends Argentina to the World Cup final. Plus: all about the Gio Reyna controversy, and special guest Seth Meyers!

A “diabolical” referee and a shocking missed penalty kick: What went wrong for England at the World Cup?

Recapping the wildest day of the tournament so far with special guests Abby Wambach and Glennon Doyle