The Away End with Daniel Alarcón and John Green

On Episode 10, John and Daniel break down the World Cup Playoffs and discuss which teams have the best chance to advance. Daniel does a deep dive into the French National Team, and John regales us with the origin story of AFC Wimbledon, a team close to his heart. Plus, John and Daniel read listener emails, one of which comes with a special song! If you're enjoying the show, please rate and review us, and you can email us at awayendpod@gmail.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On Episode 9, Daniel and John break down the latest news with Iran's national team, Daniel points and laughs gleefully at the misery of Arsenal’s crosstown rivals, Tottenham Hotspur, John does a deep dive into the Netherlands, and Daniel tells the powerful story of Chilean legend Carlos Caszely, whose greatest achievement may have come off the pitch, and the infamous 1973 match against the  Phantom Team.  If you’re enjoying The Away End, please rate and review the show, and send us an email at awayendpod@gmail.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On Episode 8 of The Away End, we have our first guests! Miguel Salazar and Alex Shephard are the creators and founders of a new print magazine about football called Golden Goal, and they join John and Daniel to talk about their new journalistic venture and how it ties into the World Cup. Daniel takes a look at Japan's national team and asks: what is it about this team that sparks joy? And John regales us with a story about a financial battle brewing around the cost of security at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. Email us at awayendpod@gmail.com.  Check out and support Golden Goal here: https://goldengoal.world/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

John's back! We're less than 100 days out from kick off in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, and on today's episode, John and Daniel start things off by breaking down their hierarchy of loyalties with the teams in this year's World Cup. Then, John leads the way on a deep dive of the USMNT. Could this finally be their year? And Daniel tells a story about how he ended up with some sweet purple sneakers with a questionable team's name on them. Got a question? Email us at awayendpod@gmail.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Daniel and producer Sean go through the listener mailbag while John is away this week. We'd love to hear from you. Email us at awayendpod@gmail.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A lively debate on whether national team coaches should be cycled regularly and the tradeoffs of contract extensions before major tournaments. A deep dive into Uzbekistan's World Cup run, its dramatic near-misses, and standout players shaping their tactics. A wild true-crime sports tale about a Brazilian con man who faked a pro football career. Plus listener mail and coaching anecdotes.

They debate effortless talent versus work through James Rodríguez’s rise and wanderlust club career. They map Côte d’Ivoire’s football history, golden generation, and its role in national unity. They recount a tense Buenos Aires street scene where youthful invincibility met intense fandom. They answer listener notes and recommend books that connect football, politics, and culture.

On the third episode of The Away End, Daniel and John highlight Uruguay and their coach, Marcelo “El Loco” Bielsa while exploring Uruguay's chances of advancing to the knockout round and beyond. They also discuss the possibility of a World Cup boycott, and John recounts the unbelievable events of the 1994 Caribbean Cup match between Barbados and Grenada.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

They unpack the AFCON final's chaos and its ripple effects for the World Cup. They debate conflicting loyalties between rival players and praise leadership moments on the pitch. Politics around visas and how geopolitics seeps into football get a sharp discussion. A late-game miracle score from lower-league lore and a meditation on why hope matters in sport round things out.

On the premiere episode of The Away End, Daniel and John reminisce on over 30 years of friendship, discuss some of their favorite World Cup memories, and dissect the 2026 World Cup Draw. Will the USMNT get out of the Group Stage? Which of the World Cup debutantes will do the best? Which team is poised to break through in a surprising way? Start your tournament journey here, as Daniel and John set the stage for the 2026 World Cup!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.