Jon Nelson brings you the best of SDH AM from the week of August 7, 2026. Three conversations worth your time heading into the weekend.
First, Kacey White joins to break down Houston Dynamo's win over Sporting Kansas City, walking through Guilherme's opening goal, a costly turnover from Calvin Harris that turned into Houston's second, and what a second half red card meant for Sporting Kansas City down the stretch. She also previews her stacked Leagues Cup week across Dallas and Austin, touches on the NWSL's growing transfer market, and reacts to new fan rules at Como under Cesc Fàbregas.
Then, Guardian senior soccer editor Alex Abnos joins for a look inside the sourcing and verification behind his and Pablo Mauer's investigation into the youth academy at Austin FC, currently under review by police and the FBI. Abnos walks through the difference between off the record, on background, and on the record reporting, and what it takes to get a story like this over the line responsibly.
To close, Santiago López of El Farolito checks in after the club won back to back NPSL national titles, this time beating Bristol Rhythm FC in the final, while also making a run to the semifinals of the Amateur Cup with a rotated roster. López talks the logistics and toll of fielding two teams at once, what he learned about himself as a coach, and what it means to carry on the legacy his father started with El Farolito in San Francisco's Mission District.
Soccer Down Here covers the beautiful game from a Southern perspective. Find the Morning Espresso newsletter, SDH AM, podcasts, features, and more at soccerdownhere.net and on social media at @soccerdownhere.
