By Brian Simpkins
AFRO Intern
Morgan State University’s School of Global Journalism and Communication (SGJC) has a new show, “Goalkeepers,” an international-focused soccer podcast and video cast series with weekly episodes broadcast on Fridays. The show began on June 14 and will go through July 13.
Each episode is produced by Morgan State’s Black SoccerLab, a African diasporic soccer think tank formed via partnership with Concrete2Green, a strategic non-traditional sport media and development company in 2020.
Students merge their long-form storytelling skills with analysis and fan engagement by highlighting the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup operating in 12 U.S. markets and CONCACAF Gold Cup tourney which headlines the U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team (USMNT). Goalkeepers features interviews with members of the USMNT, which has co-hosting privileges with Canada and Mexico in FIFA World Cup 26, automatic bid tournament status and unique player storylines.
Black SoccerLab’s mission involves housing a media outlet that cultivates African diasporic soccer perspectives, history and world-class talent. The program prides itself on research, media programming and service skills that stretches beyond the classroom. With versatility, Morgan State’s SGJC’s scope spans local to national and international news beats.
Professor Edward G. Robinson III serves as director of Morgan State’s SGJC Center for the Study of Race and Culture in Sports and reflects on the pillar of community within soccer advocacy.
“We often find that people question whether Black people like or play soccer,” Robinson said. “We emphatically answer, yes they do. Our community looks to us for truth in journalism and reporting to provide information that helps them live in the best ways possible. We wanted to spotlight the achievements of those who dedicate their lives to the game in a variety of ways.”
During the pandemic, the partners anticipated FIFA World Cup 26’s arrival stateside and developed a coverage list of matches leading to the event.
In Episode One, anchored by Brandon Henry and Peytn-Omaree Smith, Goalkeepers highlighted frustrations expressed over the USMNT’s 2-1 friendly loss to Turkey on June 7, a FIFA Club World Cup prospectus and analysis on Major League Soccer’s growth from a 1994 FIFA World Cup offspring in 1996 to a respected global peer.
The Goalkeepers hosts spoke with Alex Freeman, an Orlando City SC and USMNT defender from Baltimore. He remained optimistic despite a close defeat.
“I feel like it’s too early to worry as a team,” Freeman told the hosts. “We have so much new talent to show and I feel that fans shouldn’t go off one loss and have their heads down. They need to have their heads up and look at new opportunities for players to show out and represent their country.”
After the USMNT’s undefeated Group D campaign, they beat Costa Rica (2-2, 4-3 penalty kicks) in the quarterfinals. On July 6 at 7 p.m., the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup Final graces NRG Stadium, home of MLS’ Houston Dynamo FC and broadcasted on FOX.
In Episode Two, Goalkeepers covered the USMNT’s 5-0 rout over Trinidad and Tobago in their CONCACAF Gold Cup opener on June 15. They also covered FIFA’s 1.5 million ticket sale announcement, D.C. and Miami fan testimonials and Pele’s impact as the greatest footballer of all time.
During the FIFA Club World Cup’s opening night on June 14, the Black SoccerLab traveled to Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens to cover Inter Miami CF and Leonardo Messi’s goalless draw against Al-Ahly SC, Egypt’s most winningest club with 45 domestic titles. The starstudded event drew 60,927 fans as the venue boasts a capacity of 65,300.
“You could feel the intensity throughout the town,” Robinson said. “It wasn’t quite a sellout in that large stadium, but it felt enormous. It was a tremendous experience for our students to see how that major event was put on.”
On June 18, Black SoccerLab visited Audi Field for Juventus’ 5-0 drubbing of Al Ain FC in front of 18,161 DC fans. Both franchises boast domestic championship records as Juventus has 36 Italian titles as Al Ain FC has 14 UAE crowns. On July 13 at 3 p.m., the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup Final kicks off at MetLife Stadium, home of the NFL’s New York Giants and Jets.
For more information on Morgan State’s Center for the Study of Race and Culture in Sports, please visit: https://www.morgan.edu/sgjc/centers/csrcs.
For Episode 1 of Goalkeepers, click below.
For Episode 2 of Goalkeepers, click here.