San Diego FC: Behind the Flow

For the final time in Year One, Behind the Flow returns to reflect on a season nobody expected and a connection nobody could have predicted.

San Diego FC’s inaugural campaign is now complete. We’re joined in this episode by CEO Tom Penn, who reflects on the “20-month sprint” and, in his words, the “innocent rise” of SDFC. A year that began with questions grew into belief, and ended with a playoff run that captured a city.

Adrian García-Márquez is joined by Katia Castorena and Darren Smith to look back on the moments that defined this first chapter: the rise from “tipped to struggle” to Western Conference contenders, the postseason growth, and the nights from Galaxy to LAFC to Vancouver that showed what this club has already become.

And to close out Year One in style, we present the inaugural Behind the Flow Awards: five categories celebrating the players, moments, and identity that shaped San Diego’s first season in MLS.

Now that we know how the story ends, for anyone who doesn’t yet know how it began, we invite you to revisit the first ten episodes of this series: the definitive origin story of how this football club was built from scratch.

ROLL CALL
Executive Producer — Jake Warren
Series Producer — Macalister Bexon
Producer — Mark Kendrick
Assistant Producer — Tiago Dias
Field Producer — Rebecca Waer
Sound Editor — Lizzy Andrews
Production Coordinators — Tiago Dias & James Cox
Music Composition — Tom Biddle

A Message Heard & COPA90 production for iHeart.

San Diego FC’s inaugural season has reached its conclusion.

A 3–1 loss to Vancouver in the Western Conference Final brought a tough end to an extraordinary Year One — a season where SDFC finished as the No. 1 seed, set an expansion points record, and came within one step of MLS Cup. Pride, even in heartbreak.

With emotions still fresh, Adrian García-Marquez is joined by Katia Castorena and Darren Smith to reflect on Saturday night — the early setbacks, the fight, and the supporters who carried this team throughout the year.

In next week’s episode, we’ll do a full deep-dive into the playoffs, the season and recall our favourite memories. Whilst we pull ourselves together after the final, we thought this week that we’d take you back to the beginning of Behind the Flow. We’re rewinding to the story of 33-year-old rookie Sporting Director Tyler Heaps, and the monumental task of building San Diego FC from scratch in the summer of 2024.

Rookies (Part 1) explores the club’s foundations — the recruitment strategy, the cultural blueprint, the Right to Dream influence, and the decisions that shaped one of the most successful expansion seasons in MLS history.

And if you want to continue the story, we recommend revisiting our follow-up episode on the appointment of Head Coach Mikey Varas — a choice that defined the identity we saw throughout 2025.

A moment to step back.
A look at where the journey began.
And the blueprint that made San Diego believe.

San Diego FC are heading to the Western Conference Final — in their inaugural MLS season. A tense 1–0 win over Minnesota United, sealed by Anders Dreyer’s strike and Ian Pilcher’s extraordinary goal-line clearance, has pushed this expansion side into rare territory. Another sellout. Another statement night.

Adrian García-Márquez hosts alongside Katia Castorena and Darren Smith, as the team relive Monday’s playoff drama — the control, the composure, and the rookie defensive unit that continues to play beyond its years.

Joining them is San Diego’s own Ian Joy, who offers his perspective on the win, the unfolding identity of this SDFC side, and why Snapdragon already feels like a true football ground. He reflects on his journey from San Diego to St. Pauli, life in the MLS commentary booth, and what makes this club so compelling in Year One.

Ian also looks ahead to Saturday’s Western Final: Vancouver’s evolution under Thomas Müller, the threats San Diego must prepare for, and the tactical battles that could decide who reaches MLS Cup.A rookie back line rising to the moment.

A city surging behind its club.
A sell-out Blue Out inside 24 hours — with a chance to reach MLS Cup in Year One.

Playoff football. A Western Final.
A moment San Diego will never forget.

It’s Semi-Final week and Sporting Director Tyler Heaps joins us to reflect on his first season building San Diego FC from the ground up. Darren Smith caught up with him at the training ground for a candid look at recruitment, identity, lessons learned, and the foundations for Year Two. And yes — we had to ask which current SDFC player most mirrors Tyler’s own playing style.

Adrian García-Márquez hosts alongside Katia Castorena and Darren Smith, as the team look back on a Year One that’s already exceeded expectations.

MLS journalist Charles Boehm returns with insight on the club’s identity, the influence of Right to Dream, and why this project is turning heads across the league.

Plus, the authority on all things MLS — Callum Williams — sends a voice note breaking down how Monday’s matchup may unfold.

The regular-season meetings between San Diego and Minnesota were pure chaos — a halfway-line goal, a red card, an own goal, and big performances at both ends. Now they meet again, with everything at stake.

All roads lead to a sold-out Snapdragon Stadium — a Murph Dragon ready to breathe fire as 32,000 fans push San Diego FC toward the Western Final.

Playoff football. A city rising. The moment is here.

Fresh from a statement 4-0 win over the Portland Timbers, San Diego FC has booked its place in the Western Conference semifinals — and the city is buzzing.

With an international break giving us a brief pause in the action, Behind the Flow rewinds to where it all began: the final chapter of our behind-the-scenes documentary series, Episode 10: Preseason.

In this special re-air, Darren Smith opens the show with reflections on that emphatic win against Portland, looks ahead to next week’s semifinal clash at the Snapdragon against Minnesota United, and sets the stage for a look back at how the story started.

Originally released in July 2025, Preseason captured San Diego FC just weeks before their debut match — when the new training facility at Singing Hills opened its doors, Mikey Varas led his first sessions with the team, and Tyler Heaps put the final touches on the inaugural roster.

From those first touches at training to the playoff push that’s followed, this episode is a reminder of how far San Diego’s journey has come — and how much further there is still to go.