Alexi Lalas’ State of the Union Podcast

Alexi Lalas and David Mosse are back with a LIVE episode of State of the Union! Prompted by a string of tweets from former US International, Jermaine Jones, Alexi and Mosse discuss what it means to be the face of the USMNT and what kind of players have all the right attributes necessary for that designation. After a thorough discussion, Alexi reveals his power rankings for the face of the USMNT as we currently stand and the likes of Cavan Sullivan and Julian Hall have already made the list. After, we discuss Alex Freeman’s strong showing vs Real Madrid before getting into the latest with the goalkeeper position for the USMNT. Matt Freese had another tough showing in a loss to Chicago while Brian Schwake and Nashville continued their excellent season against Austin. In #AskAlexi, we discuss Man City’s thrashing of Liverpool and where the Premier League as a whole stands in light of City’s many charges. We then talk the 2028 Olympics that will be hosted in Los Angeles and if it’s medal of bust for the USA. We finish the show recapping Spain’s 2-0 win over the USWNT and Alexi gives his state of the Women’s squad in One for the Road. CHAPTERS:0:00 - Intro2:09 - Jermaine Jones starts debate: Who is the face of USMNT?11:53 - Did Alexi feel resentment for being face of USMNT?12:54 - Can a dual-nat be the face of U.S. Soccer?17:44 - Alexi's Face of USMNT Power Rankings44:31 - #AskAlexi: Rooting for the villains & Manchester City?55:05 - One For the Road: State of the USWNT Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Alexi Lalas, David Mosse, and Stu Holden are back with a LIVE episode of State of the Union! The USA completed a perfect 4-0-0 international window with a 1-0 win over Canada. The guys break down everything from the game, including strong performances from Alex Freeman, Justin Ellis, and goalkeeper Brian Schwake. After discussing the game, the guys react to recent comments made by Canada’s manager Jesse Marsch. Marsch invoked the Folarin Balogun incident from this summer’s World Cup and said it is “why everyone around the world hates America.” After talking Marsch’s comments, we look ahead to the CONCACAF Nations League quarters in November where the USA will face Haiti. Next, we talk the latest from the UEFA Nations League where Germany and Jurgen Klopp are still having growing pains, Michael Olise and Harry Kane are carrying France and England, and believe it or not there is even more Ronaldo drama. CR7 might actually NOT be retired from international play and he MIGHT be called in during the next international window. In stark contrast, Messi played his last game for Argentina and collected two assists and a goal in the process. Alexi, Mosse, and Stu discuss Messi’s legacy and what he has meant for the game as a whole. In #AskAlexi, we ask if it’s possible to overplay the youngsters, where Sebastian Berhalter fits in a USA starting XI, and do a bit of trivia. Finally, in One for the Road, we unveil the State of the Union pregame playlist. CHAPTERS:0:00 - Intro1:14 - USMNT beats Canada 1-0: Instant Reaction6:19 - Justin Ellis scoring with a knock: The people love it13:27 - Who is the leader to start in goal for the USA?16:14 - Who should start at CB with Chris Richards?18:33 - MVP of the window and why is it Cavan Sullivan?29:52 - Did we like the 4-game international window?32:57 - Alexi’s Jesse Marsch Rant36:56 - Is USA vs Canada a true rivalry?42:42 - UEFA Nations League: Michael Olise a top-5 player in the world?44:23 - UEFA Nations League: Harry Kane the best English player of all-time?48:25 - Did Ronaldo release his statement on Messi's final matchday on purpose?52:45 - Messi the GOAT with one final act58:31 - #AskAlexi: Should Sebastian Berhalter start?69:20 - One For The Road: SOTU or Cavan Sullivan’s pregame playlist? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Alexi Lalas, David Mosse, and Stu Holden are back with a LIVE episode of State of the Union! The USA picked up their 2nd straight win of the international fall window, defeating Chile 4-2. Sebastian Berhalter, Julian Hall, Chris Richards, and Mathis Albert all got on the scoresheet for the USA in the big win. With his goal, Mathis Albert became the youngest goalscorer in the history of the US Men’s National Team. Alexi, Mosse, and Stu break down all the action including which of the youngsters stood out the most and if any progress was made in our great goalkeeper hunt. We then look ahead to Saturday’s match with Mexico and give some love to Cavan Sullivan who starred in a substitute appearance. After wrapping up the USA win, the guys recap action from the CONCACAF Nations League that saw Curaçao and Haiti build off their World Cup appearances with wins. Then we recap the UEFA Nations League that saw Jürgen Klopp’s Germany fall to Greece, Michael Olise give France a winner over Belgium, Lamine Yamal star for Spain, and Harry Kane bag another goal for England. In #AskAlexi, we discuss what impact Manchester City’s recent controversy could have on Cavan Sullivan joining the club and debate which of these young USA players is most likely to make an impact in the CONCACAF Nations League. We finish with One for the Road, where Alexi poses the question: which position has the smartest soccer players? CHAPTERS: 0:00 - Intro1:48 - USA defeat Chile 4-2 in 2nd straight fall window win6:30 - Sebastian Berhalter USMNT MVP?9:05 - Is Gio Reyna a pillar of this team?10:15 - Who do you start vs Mexico in goal?21:15 - Has Julian Hall been the most impressing youngster?23:51 - Cavan Sullivan looking Messi-esque27:50 - Buying stock in Cavan Sullivan OR Gilberto Mora?31:13 - CONCACAF Nations League: What is wrong with Costa Rica?36:04 - Olise, Yamal and Kane star in UEFA Nations League57:25 - #AskAlexi: What should be Man City's punishment & impact on Cavan Sullivan65:50 - #AskAlexi: What young USA players can start in the Nations League71:52 - One for the Road: Who are the smartest soccer players? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Alexi Lalas and David Mosse are back with a LIVE episode of State of the Union! We start today’s show with a Stock Up and Stock Down from USA internationals around the world. Christian Pulisic finally got back on the scoresheet for Milan in a 3-0 win, Cavan Sullivan continued his ridiculous form with a goal in 4-3 comeback win for Philadelphia and in the process broke the record for most regular season assists by a teenager in a single MLS season. On the negative side, Ricardo Pepi went down with an injury once more for PSV and was taken off the international roster for the fall window. Tim Weah saw red for Marseille as they fell 2-1 to PSG and down to 17th in the Ligue 1 table. We then reveal Alexi’s projected USMNT starting XI for the coming fall window which features MANY young stars including Cavan Sullivan, Adri Mehmeti, and Julian Hall. In #AskAlexi, Alexi and Mosse debate which current dual-nationals on the USMNT roster would feature for their *other* country. And in One for the Road, the guys go through the pros and the cons of the USA having such a young roster for this international window. CHAPTERS:0:00: Intro2:46 - USA Weekend Stock Watch3:18 - USA Stock Up: Pulisic finally scores, Sullivan breaks a record13:18 - USA Stock Down: Weah sees red, Pepi hurt again21:09 - Alexi's USA fall window starting XI27:37 - What would we consider a successful window for Pochettino and Co?29:50 - Messi's swan song and the UEFA Nations League34:44 - #AskAlexi: The other side of USA dual-nationals, Johnny playing for Brazil?46:17 - One for the Road: Pros and Cons of a young roster Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Alexi Lalas and David Mosse are back with a LIVE episode of State of the Union! We begin the show with burning questions surrounding the USMNT as the first post-World Cup international window is rapidly approaching, and we start with the question on everyone’s mind: Will Cavan Sullivan be called up? Furthermore, how many young players overall will we see on this next international roster and what are we going to do at the GK position? We then move to Christian Pulisic who, in the face of comments from both USMNT manager Mauricio Pochettino and AC Milan manager Ruben Amorim, provided a key assist as Milan came back from a 2-0 deficit to draw Lazio 2-2 on the weekend. Malik Tillman, Sebastian Berhalter and Jack McGlynn also had strong performances this past weekend while stateside, Lionel Messi and Antoine Griezmann continued their scorching forms. In #AskAlexi, we discuss why MLS still sees some less than ideal crowd sizes despite the abundance of talent and in One For the Road, Alexi brings us along on his journey to a college soccer match. CHAPTERS:0:00 - Intro1:59 - U.S. Soccer Burning questions4:39 - Burning Questions: Are we calling up Cavan Sullivan?15:16 - Burning Questions: What do we do with our goalkeepers?17:53 - Burning Questions: What's going on with Christian Pulisic?24:49 - U.S. Abroad: Pulisic and Tillman assist, Berhalter and McGlynn score34:24 - Controversy in the Manchester Derby43:08 - #AskAlexi: MLS crowd sizes & Antoine Griezmann MVP push49:08 - One For The Road: Alexi's college soccer night out Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

BREAKING NEWS: Alexi Lalas and David Mosse react to USMNT coach Mauricio Pochettino inking a new contract extension through the 2030 FIFA World Cup. The duo grades the re-hire while also listing a few concerns for the next cycle. Will he stay the full four years and what has to change? Up next, Alexi and Mosse dive into Jurgen Klopp to Germany, Zinedine Zidane to France, and Roberto Mancini going to Italy. Would Pep Guardiola have worked on the national teams stage? To wrap the show, we talk the reports of PSG signing Folarin Balogun, Sebastian Berhalter and Max Arfsten joining Middlesbrough along with Gio Reyna signing with Strasbourg. Chapters: 0:00 - Intro3:26 - Mauricio Pochettino contract extension reaction24:40 - Coaching Roundup: Klopp, Zidane and more45:56 - Grading MLS debuts: Antoine Griezmann, Robert Lewandowski, Casemiro53:32 - One For The Road + What Are We Watching? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices