Alexi Lalas’ State of the Union Podcast

Alexi Lalas and David Mosse are back with a new episode of State of the Union! In today’s episode, the pair covers Pulisic’s goal drought continuing, Pepi hitting a brace for PSV, Manchester City and Chelsea booking their spots in the FA Cup final, and some breaking news involving the Vancouver Whitecaps and a potential move to Las Vegas. In #AskAlexi, Alexi and Mosse debate if the USA should heavily alter their lineup for the first World Cup match vs Paraguay and what kind of impact this summer’s tournament will have on leagues around the world. Finally, in One for the Road, Alexi ranks his 5 biggest x-factors for the USA in the World Cup.Presented by Zillow #Zillow

(0:00) Intro(4:19) U.S. Abroad: Pulisic vs McKennie(11:26) Pepi on FIRE(12:36) Alex Freeman, Joe Scally & Max Afsten rounding into form(16:58) Who will be the shock add to U.S. Roster by Pochettino?(26:23) Cobi Jones statue unveiled(33:16) #AskAlexi: U.S. WC Warmup, MLS in U.S. Starting XI & more(44:58) One For The Road: U.S. World Cup X factors
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Alexi Lalas and David Mosse are back with a special episode of State of the Union. To celebrate being 50 days out from the 2026 FIFA World Cup™, Alexi power ranked all 48 teams in this summer’s tournament. Additionally, Alexi and Mosse preview the AC Milan – Juventus match this weekend that will see Christian Pulisic and Weston McKennie square off. In #AskAlexi, the guys are hit with a shocker: should Pulisic be starting for the USA in the World Cup at all? And in One for the Road, Alexi and Mosse go over the newest valuations of clubs around the world including some BIG numbers attached to numerous MLS clubs.

Presented by Zillow #Zillow

Power Rankings 48-41: CONCACAF HATE? (3:41)Power Rankings 40-36: AUSSIE, AUSSIE, AUSSIE (6:21)Power Rankings 35-31: Mo Salah and Co underrated? (7:53)Power Rankings 30-26: Scotland run incoming? (9:58)Power Rankings 25-21: Watch out for Türkiye (11:43)Power Rankings 20-16: Norway darkhorses no more... (13:30)Power Rankings 15-11: Should USA be in top 10? (15:15)Power Rankings 10-6: Estevao OUT (17:57)Power Rankings 5-1: Yamal... also OUT? (21:09)U.S. Abroad: McKennie vs Pulisic (33:35)USA Coaches Roundtable: MLS Quota for a U.S. Roster? (35:01)#AskAlexi: Bench Pulisic? (43:24)One For The Road: MLS teams ranked among most valuable clubs in world (49:02)
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As the United States prepares to co-host the 2026 FIFA World Cup, former USA managers Jürgen Klinsmann, Bob Bradley and Steve Sampson, join host Stu Holden for an unprecedented look behind the curtain of the American soccer machine. The crew dives into the all-time U.S. moments at the World Cup, the high-stakes recruitment of dual nationals, and the heavy burden of making roster cuts that define a nation’s legacy.

0:00 Intro2:42 Getting the call to manage the U.S. Men's National Team7:12 How did Steve Sampson scout players for the national team leading up to the 1994 World Cup?10:19 How important is MLS to developing American players for Bob Bradley?12:38 How did Jürgen Klinsmann juggle being USA manager, technical director and trying to improve MLS?15:26 How did Jürgen Klinsmann manage the USA players leaving Europe for more money in the MLS?17:50 Steve Sampson explains how MLS impacted his player selection for the 1998 World Cup19:10 Bob Bradley sets the record straight on whether a number MLS players are mandated by the federation to be on the roster20:49 How did Jürgen Klinsmann evaluate the talent of the USA player pool?24:14 Bob Bradley describes how the USA can start developing world class talent26:12 Jürgen Klinsmann’s take on how the American soccer mentality and culture has to change to be more successful31:47 Steve Sampson addresses how important the USMNT's history of scheduling tough opponents before a World Cup34:17 Bob Bradley explains the team mentality and composition leading up to the upset of Spain in the Confederations Cup semifinal in 200938:29 Jürgen Klinsmann breaks down how he built out his USMNT rosters41:02 How did Jürgen Klinsmann manage dual nationality players and how they fit into the roster?42:44 Steve Sampson talks about bringing in dual national David Regis on the 1998 World Cup team43:56 Steve Sampson on how Gio Reyna is a difficult decision for the USMNT roster44:26 Bob Bradley’s observations on a player’s character and how they fit the roster45:17 Stu Holden and Bob Bradley discuss how hard roster decisions are45: 54 - Bob Bradley’s hardest roster decisions47:04 Jürgen Klinsmann’s hardest roster decisions48:17 How did Jürgen Klinsmann make the hard roster decisions?49:00 Steve Sampson’s hardest roster decisions and how his assistants helped out50:39 Bob Bradley on how an in-form player can sneak onto the USMNT roster52:46 Jürgen Klinsmann’s expands on how he selected his team for Brazil55:13 “The night before” speech from Bob Bradley and Stu Holden’s reaction57:13 Steve Sampson’s “The night before” speech58:30 Jürgen Klinsmann’s “The night before” speech1:00:15 Franz Beckenbauer’s speech to the German team, Jürgen Klinsmann ahead of the FIFA World Cup Final1:01:34 Bob Bradley’s reaction to Landon Donovan’s goal against Algeria at the 2010 FIFA World Cup1:04:01 Jürgen Klinsmann’s reaction to Clint Dempsey's goal vs Ghana in the 2014 FIFA World Cup1:05:44 Steve Sampson’s reaction to Eric Wynalda’s free kick goal against Switzerland in the 1994 FIFA World Cup1:07:10 Steve Sampson’s reaction to the game against Brazil before the 1998 FIFA World Cup1:07:51 Steve Sampson vs Jurgen Klinsmann at the 1998 FIFA World Cup1:12:15 Bob Bradley’s expectations for the USA at the 2026 FIFA World Cup1:14:25 Jürgen Klinsmann’s psychology behind whether the USA can win a World Cup and what it takes1:18:55 Steve Sampson’s take on the psychology to win the World and expectations for this cup1:20:29 Bob Bradley’s key USA contributors for this World Cup1:23:21 Jürgen Klinsmann breaks down the USA forwards1:25:41 Bob Bradley’s most influential coach in his career1:27:19 Jürgen Klinsmann’s most influential coach in his career, including Phil Jackson1:29:53 Steve Sampson’s most influential coach in his career
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Alexi Lalas and David Mosse are back with a new episode of State of the Union! The guys begin with the Copa Del Rey final where Real Sociedad, managed by American Pellegrino Matarazzo, upset Atletico Madrid and in turn making Matarazzo the first ever American manager to win a trophy in one of Europe’s top 5 leagues. After, Alexi and Mosse break down Flo Balogun scoring for Monaco again, Christian Pulisic not scoring for Milan again, Bayern winning the Bundesliga again, and Arsenal potentially bottling the Premier League again. In #AskAlexi, we plug Alexi’s most recent big screen cameo and debate a potential surprise addition to the USA’s World Cup GK corps. In One for the Road, Alexi shouts out the running Lalases who partook in the Boston Marathon.Presented by Zillow #Zillow

0:00 Intro 3:28 US Abroad: Pelligrino Matterazzo makes history8:30 Does Matterazzo want to be the US National Team coach?10:24 Fox Sports FIFA World Cup Roundtables announcement13:51 Balogun extends his scoring record in League 115:04 PSG-Lyon - Tessmann & Co dent PSG title bid16:05 Pulisic’s scoring drought continues17:37 McKennie bags an assist against Bologna19:01 Haji Wright makes team of the year and Coventry secure promotion21:08 Brenden Aaronson assist helps Leeds avoid the drop22:24 Tyler Adams comes off the bench for Bournemouth24:18 Man City tops Arsenal to tighten the EPL race31:32 Bayern Munich clinch the 13th Bundesliga title in 14 years32:47 MLS Recap: Diego Luna scores off a keeper blunder for RSL34:43 Cristian Roldan vs. Johnny Cardoso36:44 Messi brace helps new manager in Miami to settle in38:45 Bruce Arena and San Jose shock LAFC41:35 Ask Alexi: Are you going to be a movie star?49:00 One for the road: The Running of the Lalases
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Stu Holden is BACK and joins David Mosse for a new episode of State of the Union! On this show, the duo reacts to Matt Crocker leaving U.S. Soccer for a leadership role with Saudi Arabia so soon before the World Cup. After, Stu and Mosse recap a WILD Champions League week that saw Bayern, PSG, Arsenal, and Atletico Madrid advance to the semi-finals. Stu asks if Mbappe is the best player in the world despite Real's loss and gives his pick for the UCL winner. Back stateside, Nashville made history by becoming the first MLS side to win in the mighty Azteca in the CONCACAF Champions Cup, knocking off Club America. In #AskAlexi, Stu and Mosse debate if Mexico or the U.S. utilize their domestic league better and in One for the Road, the guys dive into the sudden departure of Inter Miami boss Javier Mascherano.

Presented by Zillow #Zillow

Stu's Reaction to Matt Crocker leaving U.S. Soccer (1:36)The UCL semifinals are set (6:34)U.S. abroad weekend preview (29:31)Nashville SC pulls off historic CCC upset (35:25)#AskAlexi (45:32)One for the Road (56:41)
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