Philadelphia Sports Congress Executive Director Larry Needle, a key player in Philadelphia’s campaign to host World Cup games, is the featured guest on KYW’s Philly Soccer Show this week. In a podcast recorded Thursday night, Needle talks with co-hosts Greg Orlandini and Dan Walsh about the U.S. missing out on the World Cup, what it means to Philadelphia, and the prospects for future soccer events in the region.

Greg and Dan also trade conspiracy theories — err, intelligent analysis — about FIFA’s decision to award the 2018 and 2022 World Cups to Russia and Qatar, respectively, and then move on to talk about Philadelphia Union’s recent personnel moves and other things to look for during the MLS offseason.

KYW split the podcast into two halves this week.

Click here for part 1, which focuses on Thursday’s World Cup announcements.

Click here for part 2, which focuses on Philadelphia Union and Major League Soccer.

(No, it’s not that long that we really need two halves. It symbolizes the two faces of FIFA voters. Yeah, that’s it.)