Hi, I'm Grant Wall. And welcome to the Planet Football Podcast, where I go in-depth with the most intriguing people in the world of soccer.

Just a quick reminder, it's a huge health if you subscribe rate and review the podcast. Today

Merritt Paulson, the vocal owner of the Portland Timbers and Thorns, joins me

to discuss why he wanted to become a soccer owner,

whether he considers himself a soccer expert,

his controversial Twitter persona, we recorded this before his Twitter outverse

during Orlando, Portland, and his contention that there aren't any

MLS owners who would be open to promotion and relegation. The idea that

U.S. men's national team or U.S. player pool would be better if we had

promotion and relegation, which is an argument I hear some of the people in this

sort of pond that's about an inch deep but makes a lot of noise and pushes for that

makes is is also a complete farce. All that and more coming up.

Our guest today is the owner of the Portland Timbers of MLS and the Portland Thorns of the NWS L.

Merit Paulson became a soccer owner in 2009 and now he owns two

teams and arguably the most fervent soccer city in America. He's also the first MLS owner to come on our podcast.

Merit, thanks for joining me.

Is that true? I'm the first MLS owner on your podcast?

Let's just say Bob Craft hasn't come on yet.

Should I be scared?

That might not be a good thing for me.

No, this is a very good thing.

I think we're going to get Rob Heineman on at some point.

...