SoccerWise - U.S. Soccerwise | USMNT European Watchlist & USWNT 2027 World Cup Roster

Episode Date: August 19, 2026

The USMNT’s next chapter is already taking shape. David Gass and Brian Dunseth take a look at the Americans abroad to keep an eye on as the new European seasons get underway, examining their performances, development and what could be next for them with the USMNT.On the women’s side, David Gass and Jordan Angeli begin building the USWNT’s 2027 World Cup roster. They break down the depth chart position by position, examine the biggest position battles and look at the players who could force their way into the conversation.Welcome to U.S. Soccerwise, our new weekly show covering the biggest stories and conversations across the U.S. men's, women's, and youth national teams.0:00 Intro2:38 Building the USWNT's 2027 World Cup Depth Chart6:08 Who Should Start in Goal?8:45 Defenders: Centerbacks & Outsidebacks 13:38 The Midfielders 18:45 The Attackers27:01 Brian Dunseth joins the Soccerwise family 29:28 USMNT Under Pochettino36:14 Folarin Balogun’s Next Step?44:20 Seb Berhalter’s Big Move to Boro47:15 Max Arfsten’s Opportunity50:29 Gio Reyna to RC Strasbourg56:16 Alex Freeman’s Challenge1:01:51 The Next Players to Emerge1:06:09 The Subs BenchFor the sharpest coverage of American soccer, we’ve got you covered:https://linktr.ee/soccerwisehq

Hey everybody, welcome to Soccer Wise, a big one for us here today. This is the U.S. Soccer Wise show that we're going to be doing every single Wednesday. We had our first ever episode with former World Cup player Walker Zimmerman and US Youth International, Brianna Pinto, which was great. We have some big interviews lined up to come over the next few weeks, some big topics to talk about. But this is our spot every single week to dig into the biggest stories around the national team. whether they're news, whether there are camps coming out, big transfers happening, coaches getting moved, fired, whatever it is, those will be the conversations we'll be having, we'll be analyzing the games as they come, big set of friendlies coming up for the U.S.

men's team in September and October. And then, of course, the women's team with the two friendlies against Spain. So we will talk about all of those, but we're also going to have the bigger conversations that we want to talk about. So whether it's around youth development, whether it's around the structure of the U.S. Soccer Federation, sporting. directors, the culture of the game, where games should be played, what stadiums, what countries they should be played in, how the Gold Cup should be treated, all these conversations around

the national team. This is our place to do it. So we've got a great start for you. We have one of our own, one of our favorites, Jordan Angeli, who's going to join me. We are going to set the depth chart for the 27 Women's World Cup for the U.S. Women's National Team right now. Where it stands, what we think Emma will do in the next year, we will be working off of that. So, So as players improve, as players have good runs of form, if players struggle, they make transfers. Unfortunately, injuries happen, that will be the depth chart that we will be working off of, but we want your input as well. So we'll put it out there on social media.

But Jordan's going to talk through that with me. And then we've got a first episode for Brian Dunstaff who's going to be joining us here. You know his voice very well. He has covered Major League Soccer as a broadcaster, both at RSL and at Apple TV for two decades. And he is one of the voices of the U.S. national team coverage. for TNT. So he's going to be with us consistently on this show, filling in as well on some of our MLS coverage. He's one of our favorites. He sees the game very similar to us. So we love his background. We love his experience. We love having him on. And he's going to be part of the rotating

cast that we're going to have here on this U.S. soccer-wise show. So a lot to dig into. Let's get started. Let's jump into a little women's national team with Jordan Angelie. We talk NWSL every week. Jordan. We needed a little more time this week. Obviously. We always need more time. I mean, this is the point of the shows. We did an hour about NWSL earlier today and we don't hit the national team. And often it's call-ups, it's camps, there's games, and we want to cover it, but it's hard to cover with the other news that's going on. And that's why we needed a second show to be able to do this.

And this year is going to go by really quickly. So we felt that this last year headed into the World Cup for the men's side. And we know that that's going to be the same for the women in not even a year. So we are going to go through where our depth chart stands right now. We are going, one, to talk about how many players will be available for that depth chart, which is a bit of an unknown, and then we are going to talk about the players on it. So at the World Cup in 2023, it was 23 players for every team that was allowed on the roster. At the 26th, men's World's Cup, it was 26.

because of the expansion, there was an added game, and that was considered part of the safety mechanisms to help players so you could rotate a little bit more. We don't know what 2027 will look like. So the list we have here will be between 23 and 26 players. The conversations we have will be the players that we would add, obviously, if it ends up being more. And if we ever get official news,

we will both talk about it across all of our shows, and we will potentially tweak what we do. The other thing is, because we're in the time, line we're in now. We are in the long-term injuries, you kind of know. And short-term injuries, we don't. But unfortunately, some players, it feels like, are already probably off the list that would have been here, like an Olivia Moultrie, who we talked about last week on our NWCEL show, potentially like an Emily sonnet as well, who went down two weeks ago within the injury. So those players are not on our depth charts. For those reasons, they are in this sort of injury

conversation, but we'll be part of what we talk about as we do this. But I think this gives us sort of a level set for everyone of what are the battles to look for? What are the opportunities? And then when you're watching on weekends, what are the players that have shots to make it into some of these depth chart positions? It's going to be a lot different than the Olympics. The Olympics was 18 players on the roster. And I went back and looked because I thought so, and I reminded to myself in the knockouts there was basically it was 10 of the same 11 players over and over for Emma Hayes. When you were just saying that in the knockouts I was like yeah the same players played it was there was one rotation each it was center mid uh-huh yeah so I I feel like with where the roster

is at right now and some of these players and how much they've played together on the national team I doubt that that is going to be the same when it comes to the World Cup. 27 and I think Emma Hayes is going to feel a lot more comfortable utilizing rotations because we've seen her do it in these games leading up to qualification this this fall it will be emma's first world cup so reminder we don't have like a oh this is this is her background this is what she likes to do type thing um all we know is what we learn from the olympics which was her big international opportunity they won so that was pretty positive as a way to start but this will be the first ever 32 team women's World Cup

and will be her first World Cup as well. So I've got a depth chart. I have our team set up in a 433. We can start in goal and this is one of the big debate points and it's one that Jill Lloyden will be coming in here at some point over the next few weeks and she can weigh in on and

maybe guide us a little bit better. But I think where things stand right now it feels like is it's a battle between Claudia Dickie, Fallon, Tulloch, Joyce, and Mandy McGlynn. Does that feel right? I think so. This is the wildest time in, I would say, U.S. national team history on the women's side where there hasn't been an out-and-out number one.

So I don't know what the order of those three are. And I also don't know. It all depends on how well they're playing. Because right now it does feel like to me, maybe Claudia Dickey has a slight edge. But then you throw in Jane Campbell there who has one of the best XG against. NWSL, I think it's negative 11 goals, 11 goals she has saved from the back of the net, which is crazy. And Jordan Silkwitz is having a good year too. So this is one of the most difficult positions, which is, I don't know if that's a good thing, Goss, of saying like who the top three are even

in this spot right now. Yeah, it's one that's in flux and it's one where I think the stat on Jane Campbell's really interesting because if Emma Hayes just wanted to say, I want the best shot stopper, it's a pretty good chance Jane Campbell's starting World Cup games for the U.S. Or it could be Claudia Dickey. If Emma Hayes says my goalkeeper needs to come off their line and be comfortable in possession, then is it Mandy McGlynn? Is it Fallon Tulles' choice? And I think we're going to learn over the next year if it feels like the second piece of this

is something that Emma Hayes feels really strong about. She wants a goalkeeper who can be connected to the back line. And I think it's going to fall to who can combine the two the best. So who is most comfortable in possession and can be the elite shot stopper. And if no one can claim the possession side of things, then you might turn and say, all right, well, let's make sure that our floor is high and that we are at least not giving up soft goals. And that means the door might open for Jane Campbell, who at this point of her career, she knows who she is, she's really good at what she does.

She's not really going to change the way she plays. But that's the big opportunity for her to break in. or Jordan Silkowitz continuing. Yeah, or you bring in Jane Campbell because she's at least been there before, right? Had these types of experience where she understands what it takes

to be a goalkeeper in those situations. So may you feel really comfortable with one and two? And number three is a depth piece when it comes to experience on the national team. One of the things that all these keepers will feel good about is the pool of players in front of them.

So at centerback, I have left center back, Tierna, Davidson, right center back, Naomi Germa. I have a best. backup for both of them pretty much across the board in this step chart we've got three goalkeepers two at every other position and then one sort of flex attacker midfielder the backups at right center back are tara rudd and at left center back i have kennedy wesley in right now let's start with the fact that ternad diana and i only germ might be the best center back bearing in the history

soccer and then we can talk about the death well that's what we saw too and the it's got to be the last Olympics, right? Is Tierna Davidson driving with her left foot into the space, cutting through, like having line breaking passes? And these two, you would feel really comfortable with Davidson, left footed, Germa, right footed, play next to each other, have experience doing that. The question is who's behind them, right? Who has found themselves in those two spots?

And I think, unfortunately, the United States don't have another left-footed player to play in that depth chart underneath Tiana Davidson as a left-center back. It could be Lily Reel. It could be, you know, because then you could pick a player like Real who then flexes back and forth between the left back position and the center back position. And then you bring another left outside back who maybe is a little bit more attacking. And we can talk about some of those players that could potentially be in there. But I think that that is, I feel comfortable with Rudd as a right center back as the depth in that. But it's that left center back depth that I'm like, I don't.

I don't know how that's going to look, but that's what we're kind of thinking right now. And I have a laundry list of players who are playing really well week in a week out in NWSL that could be in this step chart. Emily Sam's probably at the top of it who's been called in already. But Jordan Bug, Kate Del Fava, who I think finished pretty high on our defensive player of the year so far, defender of the year, so far an NWSL list that we did last week. Eva Gaitino, who's been called up in the past playing at PSG. and then two that haven't been called up in Sarah Gordon and Kristen McNabb, who I always have these, this player is a game winning player in NWSL. And in a pinch, if you end up in a situation where one of the players in your depth

chart, you don't have an option for, like you're not going to lose games because you bring those two in, but they might be able to play themselves into a legitimate role over the next year if they get opportunities. Especially McNabb in just having conversations with Idaval, the head coach, at San Diego Wave, every time he's shocked that she hasn't gotten a shout just to at least be in some of these rotations that Emma Hayes has had. So I like that. The consistency there, especially from a left-footed player is spot on. And it'll be interesting to see what does happen over these next couple of windows. So at right back, this is the easiest one maybe in the

entire pool. It's Emily Fox. Fox's second all-time in appearances under Emma Hayes so far. So has been a locked in piece, whether it's at centerback or fullback, different conversation. I have Giselle Thompson starting at left back right now. The two backups to those spots, I have Avery Patterson at right back and Lily Reel at left back. Do you feel about that depth? I feel good about it. I think just the performances this season of I-Oakka from the Denver Summit would maybe quickly insert herself in that right back depth chart.

And we've seen her play at the national team. But it has been Avery Patterson as of late there. On the left side, I would say the comments that I said earlier about the centerback situation and maybe Lily Real is a depth piece there. You can use her as a left back, but then you bring in a little bit more of an aggressive outside back player like Izzy Rodriguez or Kate Wiesner from the Washington spirit as she's been playing really well in that more of an advanced role. But I think Thompson and Fox, as of right now, have shown,

or even Shores could be in that left back conversation as well. But those two have shown that they have the trust of Emma Hayes. And I would say would be the top of those depth charts as both left back and right back. It's fascinating because Jiselle Thompson starts at right back and Evelyn Schor starts at left back on their club. And we're talking about Jaze Thompson being the starting left back. but she's shown her ability to be flexible. You mentioned Izzy Rodriguez, three assists, a little over four, expected assist.

One of the top fullback creators in NWSL has gotten sort of half looks under Emma Hayes, as all these players pretty much have in all sort of that's where it feels like they have a chance to fight in a little bit. Let's go to midfield. And this, again, is one of the easiest ones. Sam Coffey is number one all-time in appearances under Emma Hayes and is now playing at Manchester. which Emma loves because she loves to watch the English League, the WSL when she gets a chance.

Sam Coffey, my starter at defensive midfield. I have Lindsay Heaps and then Rose LaVelle sort of playing in the two spots in front of her. The depth behind them. Claire Hutton as defensive midfielder, Lily Johannes, who can kind of play both under Emma Hayes, but I have her behind sort of Rose LaVelle and Lindsay Heaps. And then Jaden Shaw and Croy Bethune as the group.

Does this feel like it's where Emma sits right now? Yeah. I would say the one that I would maybe put in a different position is Jaden Shaw. Like if you took her and put her as a left winger, then you maybe you get another piece that you could put in that central midfield position, whether that would be a player that we've talked about a lot with the NWSL and Jalen Howell, just depth there because you could move Claire Hutton a little bit into an advanced position or even another player that I feel like would sit in that position underneath heaps and Bethune is like a Riley Jackson

and how well and quickly she's come on the scene and helped play in that advanced half space as a chance creator for the North Carolina courage. But to me, especially when you're looking at this team and what we've seen from the U.S. Women's National team over the years, it does feel like they always have the experience. And with heaps, Lavelle, and coffee, to me, that feels like you're getting the most bang for your buck, right? The most experience, but also Lavelle's creativity, coffee's ability to hold it down, and then you have heaps roaming around that depth, starting from that point, then you bring in these other players who can really be game changers and a Lillianos and we'll start games. But this is a hard position because they're all.

are so many good central players. Then you include Jaden Shaw in that as well, but she can play a little bit multiple of multiple positions along those front four, I would say. Yeah, you have flexibility. You have a player in Liliohannis who can play across a couple of different spots. And as you said, Jaden Shaw or Caw, or Croy Bethune, who could play out on the wing, who can play as a second forward.

I think from one of the things, just looking back at the Olympic roster is I think Emma will trust young players because Riley Jackson's going to be 20 at the World Cup. So are you looking at things in saying, oh, I don't know how much we can get from Sam Coffee to bring Riley Jackson into play alongside Claire Hutton, who's going to be 21. Emma Hayes is one of the few managers, I think, in the world who's like, yep, they're good enough. It's their spot and they'll get opportunities. And I say that also in saying most of the depth we have here, even Jalen Howell doesn't really have national team experience. Sam Meza, a player we've talked about in NWSA.

two caps. Even Lola Banta, for all the experience she has, hasn't really been around the national team. And so there's kind of a bit of an unknown after this group of if someone struggles with injury or something, whoever is coming next is sort of going to be breaking in for the first time over the next few months,

except for Andy Sullivan, who I hadn't thought about in a national team sense for a while, was out for a year on maternity leave, was a locked-in starter at the 20th. 23 World Cup, I think took a lot of flack and blame for a team that wasn't fully prepared outside of her and sort of got some of the blame because it's such a position that's crucial and has history with the U.S. Women's National Team. But if she can reach peak performance again, she does a lot of the things that outside of

Sam Coffee, no one else really does in this group and has been to a World Cup. Right. And she does have that one aspect that when you look at this group of just, kind of holding it down. It doesn't really care about getting into the attack. Well, she can at times, but she is most comfortable letting the players in front of her cook and then saying, all right, when we lose the ball, I'm going to help my defense know how predictable it's going to be by delaying a transition, shuttling it to one side and almost

shepherding them into a good defensive position. So it's a good shout. I think it would be a stretch, but anything's possible. it really is anything could be um one other name to bring up here to think about uh is yesmean ryan who she is a swiss army knife she could play in a deep role she could play an attacking role she can play out wide and she's doing a lot of it for denver but is mainly played as what a wide attacker a 10 yeah right winner i would say yeah so that's one where if jaden shaw is considered a winger yes mean ryan could be as well or is ryan and shaw both brought because it gives you flexibility

and you can flex them around. Because now we get to our attacking position. So I have an attacking front three from left to right, right now of Alyssa Thompson, Sophia Wilson, and Trinney Rodman. Obviously, triple espresso was the story coming out of the last Olympics in the gold medal. I don't have Mel Swanson in this team right now just because we haven't really gotten to see her play. If she's healthy and available, she clearly will be part of this group. But outside of that, does it feel right that I have Alyssa Thompson as the next starter in?

I think right now just and with what Alyssa Thompson has done over the last year, it makes sense that she would be the starting left winger with Wilson and Rodman. But I do think that from what I've already seen from Swanson and what she's been able to do with Chicago, even last weekend, Goss, she was dangerous. The three times she got the ball on the dribble, she's beating. for Seattle players on the dribble. And so to me already, I'm thinking she's in this depth chart. Like I would put her ahead of who you currently have in that second spot,

which you haven't talked about, but it's Emma Sears in that second spot as, as left winger. I would put Mal Swanson over her just because she's so clutch. Swanson is is so clutch and she can play as a left winger, but also when those three are together and Wilson, Swanson, and Rodman, we've already seen that they can pretty, much occupy all three spaces, any one of them. And that's a nightmare for defenders. So I would just give her that little benefit of the doubt from her past experience, but also from just how fit she looks coming off of being pregnant this year. So Mal Swanson, working her way back in with Chicago, Elizabeth Thompson will start the year with Chelsea. She had seven goals, three assists in 16 starts

last year after arriving from Angel City. And then you mentioned the names behind it. So I have MS Sears on the left wing. I've Ali Sentonor at center forward. And I have Michelle Cooper on the right wing. So if we want to put Mal Swanson in here, that's fine because that would give us 25 players overall, which potentially we're just allowed to do. Or it could mean someone else comes out.

Right. Emma Sears has been, I don't want to call it a pet project, right? But it's been someone that Emma Hayes has leaned on, maybe more than we thought she was ready for when she came into the national team when she wasn't really performing a ton with Louisville yet but she's got 21 appearances under Emma Hayes so far so that puts her right behind Trinney Rodman, Ali Sentinor, Roosevelt like players who have been consistently used. Sentinor as well is a player that Emma Hayes has leaned on and I get it with both of them which is they both have very specific skill sets that in this type of pool,

you can use as a weapon where it's not, who's the most complete player in this role? It's if I need speed, I have Sears. Yeah. If I need someone to take shots. If I need to be able to play to someone up top, I can use Allie Centonor.

Right. And I think because you have the speed of Rodman, Cooper, Thompson, it's nice to have a player that could play almost as a false nine in times too with Centaur. But I think that's where I'm just like, yes,

we've the hard thing about Ali Settinor and she's coming off a banger and Nubuosl so but that's her first goal of the year and for her to fill that role the consistency has for some reason been there for the national team and not on the club level so you can count her on her in these national team situations because the players around her I feel like set her up really nicely but I would I would say right now the two players that I would feel like are also pushing to get into this front line would be Pietra Torden and especially with how she plays off of Sophia Wilson. I would really like that if I was Emma Hayes. And then you can't not mention Ashley Sanchez. And when you're talking about depth as a left winger, if you have players like

Thompson and Swanson, very different than Sanchez. She wants the ball at her feet. She wants to drive up players she likes where the other two can stretch a little bit more so you you could almost play sancho's as a pocket player get your attacker your outside back in a little bit more into the attack i don't know those two in tordin and sancho's to me have to be top of the list of like these would be the next ones that would get a look if something were to happen or just the right combinations come calling yeah i think tordn's going to be a fascinating one because she's going to be one of the leaders in assists in NWSL from like a pure stats point of view, the connection with Sophia Wilson's huge.

And she's a different flexibility because she played as a center forward for large stretches last year. Now she's playing on the wing. Very few of the players that I named here are wingers and center forwards. So rather than having someone like a Jayon Shaw who could play on the wing or center mid, Tording gives you a different level of flexibility in a different way. And that's where it'll be a question of like, what's the health of the depth charts in these different positions?

for her to get a chance to get in. She's probably the best soccer player of all the players we name that aren't starters. Although I did have an injured list. Michelle Cooper is injured right now. She's slowly coming back. She seems to be ready to go like literally this week. And I think she's done enough under Emma Hayes

to prove that she's a locked in part of this when healthy. She played center forward in college. She's played out on the wing at Kansas City. So she gives you some flexibility there as well. You mentioned Sanchez and Torden. I think there's a number of, like, fun young players, Jordan Dudley, Katratter, who we talk about Leah Godfrey, who are going to be sort of rookie of the year conversations as probably a step too far at this point of their career.

I think Kennedy Fuller has a huge national team future. She is very similar to Olivia Moultrie in the way they attack, the connections they make. But I would be surprised if she's able to jump any of these players between now and then. And one of the ones I'm going to bring up, I think, for the next year is going to be Maddie Deline. Because if you want speed and you mentioned, if you, let's say, took Kennedy Wesley off this roster and you said Lily Reels, my backup left center back and an option at left back, Maddie Deline has played at wing back, she's played out fullback, she's played on the wing. Her game has clearly taken steps this year, understanding final touch, spacing, the ability that she has at speed to not slow up into finishes. And if I'm looking at a tired team in the 75th minute and I want to make their lives hell, that would be the player that I would turn to.

Throw on Dahlene. And she's learning how to defend from one of the best tactical defensive coaches in NWSL with Laura Harvey. So I do think that that's just a versatility there. I hadn't thought of that. And it's a really good shout for Dahlene on that left side. Now, we saw Emma really lean into versatility because she only had 18 players at the Olympics. So her options expand here and it could be a little bit different. But luckily, we talk like twice a week on a microphone about this stuff.

So we are in no rush to lock it in. But we're going to put out our roster as of now. On injury list, I had, Caterino Macario, who would obviously be inserted right into the conversation among the front line, if healthy. Emily Sonet, obviously, as I mentioned, and Olivia Moultrie. And then another one was Ashley Hatch, who's just coming back from, eternity leave a different style of center forward has gotten call-ups though has been around the national

team in the past we're going to put this out let us know what you think where are we wrong where are we right what tweaks would you make i'm really excited about the spain camp coming up we'll have a show here to talk about the roster we'll have shows to break down the games we'll have shows to react to what emma hay says about the group but jordan it's always fun thanks for joining me thanks gosh well every show we're going to be talking u.s women's national team us men's national team, youth national teams, everything going on around U.S. soccer. And I am so excited for our next segment because it's with one of the new members of the soccer wise larger family, but not a new member of our soccer family at all. Mr. Brian Duncef, Dunny. Thanks for being on with me.

My man, I'm so excited to be a part of this. You know how much I love you and Doyle and Bogart and being a part of this family and what you guys have created. Very, very, very excited to be here, my man. Does Tom get a FaceTime from the from the broadcast booth? Every week. He's been he's been he's been he's been uh he's been flirting out there huh? We were on a live show together.

I think it was Decision Day last year. I forgot about this until just yeah. And then he's like oh sorry I got to take my face time. I'm like I'm sorry. What? Well so listen we we all go back right and we've had so much fun over the years of getting together and sharing an adult beverage and shooting ish left and right. But yeah there's moments where we'll get a text message max and i call him teo max lovingly uncle max uh because we've been together since 2006 we've done over a thousand games on different platforms

together uh so we have a ton of fun and every once in a while we'll get text messages during matches and for those that have kind of been a part of my broadcast journey whether it was like dunny bingo or yeah the interactions on social drinks with donnie when i when i had twitter when twitter was fun um i've since divested of twitter uh four years ago i think but anyway Anyways, we'll get like messages from people. And so, you know, Tommy B is one of those guys that he's up late on the East Coast. And, you know, here Max and I are putting people to sleep over on the West Coast. So every once in a while we'll get a message and we'll do like a quick little FaceTime and just a quick little shout out.

But yeah, it's always fun being able to connect with guys. Well, I know Tom, I wake up to the 1.45 a.m. Oh, how did this happen? And you're like, man, I'm pretty into this stuff. And you are on another level, which is why we. love Tom and he's one of the best ever. That's after dark, right? It is. It is the dream.

But we're so excited to have you on love the commentary that you do, love the way that you talk soccer. And you're going to continue to do so with us. Here, you're going to be on the MLS shows with us as well. So you're going to get to talk about the league that you cover. But you've also been covering the national team. And obviously, you were a member of it back in the day, big time Olympics in 2000, which we always love to talk about.

and you've been covering the national team with TNT over the last year plus. You've been close to this group. Like what have you learned about now as Pocitino comes back? What is the U.S. men's national team right now? Yeah, I think if I go back to the time of showing up down in Austin, Texas for the very first time that Misa Pucatino and his coaching staff met with this group of players, it felt as if there was kind of this grace period of everyone kind of getting to know each other. But within that, there's a couple non-negotiable.

and the non-negotiables is the preparation, the expectation, the attitude, and then ultimately the execution. And how I think he's compartmentalized all these different pieces. I think sometimes it gets lost in the equation of the conversation of thinking about from Southampton to Tottenham Hotspur to PSG to Chelsea and then to the U.S. men's national team, you're talking about a coaching staff that has dealt with like the elite of the elite. And whether that's, you know, bringing on a Deli Ali or a Sun Jung Men development kind of in the younger 20s or an elite goal score like Harry Kane or then going to PSG and dealing with the lights of Messi and Namar and Mbap and all of these huge cultural phenomenons, you know, they're become, I think there became that moment where all the players walked through the door and there was such an important like, and I know we weaponized this vibe, right? There was a vibe. There was an expectation. There was an impression period where I think the coaches want to do impress upon the players

what they thought about and what their non-negotiables were. And then the players having to step inside and how do I treat my teammates? How do I stay on time? You know, am I the last to leave outside of the training facility? Like all of those little data points. And what I can tell you is that Mauricio and his staff, they don't miss a beat. They are complete sponges when it comes to the perception of what's happening. And obviously, you know, you go back a couple of times.

summers ago and the idea of accepting a call up or declining a call up, how do we prioritize certain games, international friendlies or tournaments, all of those. I think we found out very clearly where the definitive line stood for Marisa Pocitino and his coaching staff. So now that we're on the backside of this World Cup, I think in some ways it's a surprise that he's re-upped his deal when thinking about the domestic football and the idea of having his boots in the grass every single day versus every couple of months or every other month, only having a couple training sessions and right back in it. And then it's like, okay, I'll see you next month. But in also the midst of this, I look at the global scale of job availability. And at this point,

it felt like all of the big jobs that would be first in line for he and his coaching staff right now are occupied. So not surprised that in a way that he's come back. And when I kind of maybe try in my mind to utilize his position versus Emma Hayes' position, maybe this shouldn't be a surprise. Isn't the opportunity, along with Steve Trundler being announced as the Olympic team head coach, the US Under 23s, that there's going to be this new synergy and new direction, you know, after Matt decided to leave early before the World Cup and head over to Saudi Arabia, what does this now look for Gucci on Yew? I think there's a lot of variables in place.

So I'm excited about what the future looks like, but I'm even more excited about what this first international roster looks like when we start to get into Peru, Chile, Mexico, and Canada. Yeah, there's fascinating pieces of this. I think as you talk about that global sort of landscape, it's like there, he's in this space where there's 14 jobs. There's 20 jobs. There's like, you could pick the number and you could, you could debate a couple of them. But like, it is not just, he is not going to LinkedIn. Yeah, he's not going to LinkedIn and finding the next opening. Yeah. And so in that space, then it becomes, well, what interests you? And I do think on top of all the work he's done, that World Cup experience is as good as anyone's really

ever had it. And he's, I think he saw to an extent like, oh, this is what I could accomplish. If I can be good here, it's different than being good at other places where I will be the next in line. I mean, if you go and win at Milan, it's amazing. But like, you're never going to be the greatest manager in Milan history. You're not going to have changed the club. Like, you know, there are these opportunities here that are different, which he stepped into when he originally. decided to take the job. So clearly there's an interest level there from him. But one of the big things is going to be,

it felt like he ran some of the announcements around the national team roster for the World Cup, like it wasn't going to be his problem afterwards. Like it was going to be someone else to rebuild relationships with some of these guys or to bring them back in. And, you know, they're all professionals. But that feels like part of what he's going to have to deal with over the next few weeks, especially in that September game.

Yeah, listen, I think to your point, and I think you laid it out really, really well. In the back of my mind, I'm also wondering when I think about his renegotiation of a long-term contract through whatever the next cycle looks like. And is there jeopardy about potential departure? Yeah, there always is going to be that conversation. And I think that's something that's everyone has every right to at least point out as a data point as something to keep an eye on down the road.

But I also wonder, and it might just be me. I wonder how much of a bad taste in his mouth, the way that the last, last game went against Belgium at the World Cup, that that's an even more of a burning desire to take whatever these theoretical next steps are of development. And to your point, whether we're talking about a Diego Luna, or we're talking about a Jack McGillan or a Tanner Testman, or even an Aidan Morris, guys like that, I can only use my own kind of perspective of, like, if Clive Charles would have been the head coach of the national team when I was captain the Olympic team, I would have had a runway into a lot more caps as opposed to with Bruce Arena

and the way that he looked at the game in a couple of cycles in, like I was never going to be able to break through that glass ceiling of, you know, the Carlos Hemos and the Eddie Popes and the Greg Burrhalters, the Guchianuos, Carlos Spokanegro's, all those things. So, you know, in a way, the players that were left out have every opportunity to work themselves back in and prove to the manager, again, theoretically, that there was a mistake made and they should have been on that roster. But there is always ego that comes along with both the manager and the player because we're all human beings.

And I wonder how much like Ricardo Pepe being left off of the roster heading into guitar, how quickly can you turn that page and get over the disappointment of what is arguably the biggest opportunity these players are ever going to have, which was playing a World Cup in the United States? We have a lot of those players to talk about the ones who have an opportunity. to get back in. They're going to do so with their club form. So what we're going to do here is we're going to take a little look across the pond at the Yangs abroad because the European seasons are kicking off for the most part. I think Spain's already started. Italy's about to start.

England's about to start. The championship has begun. So there's a lot of players who are going to have their opportunity now. And that's going to be our focus for the next six weeks, two months, about what they're doing with their club teams, some that have moved teams and some that are trying to sort of reestablish themselves or increase their spots. So we're going to go through sort of a couple to make sure to watch out for a couple that we're interested in and sort of help you set your weekend schedules when you're looking at and saying, all right, who's worth watching? I know there are many people out there like me who sort of watch European leagues from a

USM&T point of view. And this is the things to know and the people to watch out for. Let's start with a little bit of an unknown. Florian Bolligan, he's the story coming out of the World Cup for reasons that weren't his fault. He was the story on the field up until that point. And we kind of always knew that lurking behind the World Cup experience for him was, what does the next year look like? He went to Monaco to get playing time. It's become a bit more normal of a move to leave England, to reestablish yourself in Germany or France,

and then try and figure out what the next move is. So Florian Bolligan, last season at Monaco had 19 goals and 45 appearances across all cops. he right now is a Monaco player at the moment of recording this and I say that and how quickly it could change the reports were that Tottenham was the most likely destination for him since that Newcastle has come into the conversation there have been some Spanish clubs that have been connected as well and the reports are that the transfer would be somewhere in the realm of 60 million euros what do you make of what this year should be for Balagan and and where a guy like this falls

and then what he has to do once he sort of lands at a new club. A player, unlike any other player that we have in the quote unquote U.S. men's national team system. And I mean that with all due respect. And a lot of times we talk about player profiles. We talk about speed, athleticism, agility, as important as a conversation about the intelligence

because without his intelligence, he doesn't get in these incredible goal scoring opportunities. He creates for himself, he creates for others. His holdup play, I thought, was on display. from the opening whistle to the final whistle. The way he creates half a yard, a little bit extra of a window, is completely different than the other players.

And again, I say this with all due respect because I'm not trying to compare and contrast because what Haji Wright is, what Patrick Ajiman is, what Ricardo Pepe is, they're all different profiles. And that's the same with flow. He has a killer mentality.

And what I've been really impressed with is there's been, and this was the game in Charlotte, against Senegal, you can actively hear Hazus Perez screaming, come on, Balo, come on Balo, come on Balo, come on Balo. Bad impression. But it was more about like closing down space and applying the pressure because these were like the non-negotiables. There was like an intensity, like an urgency that was being manufactured.

And I saw him continue to rise to the occasion. And again, the political aspect and being dragged into that, it had to have been gut-wrenching, mystifying, disappointing, and exhilarating somehow in all ways, because at least he did get that opportunity. But I don't know what his glass ceiling is. I know it's incredibly high, because you can't go from effectively scoring,

what was it, like 29 goals and 31 games for RIM, or RIM, or however you pronounce it correctly, to the outpour of goals and consistency or performance, even with incredible injuries that he dealt with at Monaco, and still be a guy that you look at and you say, well, if I think about Conference League football, if I think about Europa League football, if I think about Champions League football,

he kind of checks all of these boxes. Is he elite of the elite of the elite? Obviously, no. But if you're saying Newcastle's interested, wouldn't be surprised. If you start thinking about what's happening at Aston Villa right now, wouldn't be surprised.

And then I also think about kind of like, quote unquote, the mid-table teams. Anywhere from like seven to 12th, could you see him with a run? Like, would he fit in with a Crystal Palace? those type of things. So I think to your point, the interpretation for where he ends up landing

is open until that window slam shut. But in the meantime, I'm not surprised based on what we saw at the World Cup that that valuation is effectively double than what Monaco paid arsenal for him a couple of years ago. I mean, the reports right now are Mancite's asking from Tottenham for Savino like a similar number, a little bit more.

And I just don't know, like you mentioned, the glass ceiling, like what the scale is there of where Bolligan's ceiling is and therefore the value in that. Now, I understand that you shouldn't look for value anymore in big European transfers, right? Like all of that stuff is broken. None of the numbers make sense. Teams sell guys who are good in bringing guys who I feel like are worse at the same age for more money. Like, so a bunch of that stuff doesn't make sense. I think if Florian Mulligan ends up at Totum, he's going to score double-digit goals this year in year one. I think that's probably the same at Newcastle. I think he's that good. Now some of that's BKs, but like you mentioned all the things he does well. All of that stuff

means he's transferable because whatever team you end up on, one of those skill sets is going to be utilized. So we need you to stretch the line more. Okay, fine. I can do that. Well, actually, rebuild to the end lines. It's all pullbacks. Okay, I can find the space. Or we're going to play into you towards the top of the box. You create your own shots. You can do that. as well. So I don't worry about it. I just think Tottenham and Newcastle are two clubs that are in flux is not a great

feeling going into the season. Tottenham maybe a little bit better just because it was so bad last year that you're on the upswing. But all of this I think is really tough where I do wonder if he scores goals for four more months till January. What does a bidding war look like when you're

the guy who's available? Because Monica will want to cash in at some point no matter what. Well, that's the most fascinating. GASPA, because you're thinking about a couple different things. Now, the programming that the clubs use to identify who they feel checks all of these boxes, and it could be sprint to recovery ratio, it could be generating shots by themselves, it could be to your point, operating between the six and the penalty area for cup. All of these, it's like boop, boop, boop, boop, and it like spits out a list of like,

oh, and by the way, they've got to be 24 or younger, and they have to have this experience. And so you get into these, these, these profiles. files that are being printed. And okay, this makes sense. And now it doesn't talk about agent fees. It doesn't talk about acquisition costs. It doesn't talk about is the player married with children or is he single, like ready to mingle?

Like all like, have you like, did you talk to the strengthening coach? Did you talk to the trainer? Did you talk to the team admin? Like did you get a real feel for their personality as opposed to just taking them as the footballer? So every interaction I've had with flow has been. I've walked away impressed every single time. I've really walked away impressed with body language,

communication skills, and the competitive fire that you see on the field is incredibly evident the moment that you're around him, whether that's on training or kind of warm enough for matches. One little note, which I think is funny, and then this is the nature of the world that it's set up in. If the Newcastle stuff is real, they are also looking at Lemmeen-Kamara,

great young Senegalese center made at Monaco. and the reports are Monaco only wants to sell one. So if Newcastle wants to buy one of them, they make the decision of which one it is and potentially the other is staying. But all stuff to watch out for on that side of things. Let's talk, Seth Burrhalter and Middlesbrough,

because this is one of the big transfers that happened out of Major League Soccer. He's in the last year of his contract. And so for Vancouver, it was get something now or not get something at all. And he has stepped in immediately at Burrow. So he had an assist in his debut and a win. in the Carabal Cup over Wrexham

and assists as well in his debut for the club overall in an exhibition match. He started both games so far and this is the perfect fit for him. He is naturally not covering ground, not athleticism, but on the ball, one of the best players in the U.S. pool.

And this is a team that averages 60, 65% possession in big games where he can do what he does best. I just had a really fascinating conversation with Yes, for Sorensen, Vancouver's head coach. And it was really interesting because, you know, Tio and I asked a couple of questions about Seb. And he, he basically came back to a really relative point to mentality. Like as much, you know, every player is limited in some way, shape, or form physically with something that they quote unquote don't do well. But it felt as

though the training habits being around Ryan Gall, Brian White, Thomas Mueller, even a Tate Johnson, like all of these guys, there was like this band of brotherhood that whether you're going out in the, you know, in the sound and, you know, ice, ice bathing at like 6 a.m. Or you're doing extra free kicks after training. There was like a culture of mentality that was created. And this is just a subplot for me. You know, we do this thing where we kind of villainize the career of Michael Bradley at times because of his dad, Bob Bradley. You know, I kind of saw it happening in Austin when Josh Wolf was the manager and Owen was playing significant minutes. What I love about this is that despite Greg being head coach of the U.S.

men's national team, that Sebastian, I think in particular with this move, the performance at the World Cup, and listen, his consistency of performance at Vancouver after that change from Austin FC, I kind of believe, like, I don't know if I'm wrong in this, but like Vancouver seems like the perfect landing spot, quote unquote, out of sight, out of mind for an opportunity to just develop, develop, develop. And what I think you've seen in such a short amount of time is obviously the variables, the set pieces and the service and the corners and all that, separated him from a Tanner Testament or an Aden Morris or whoever else we're trying to,

I guess, compare and contrast. But then he gets over there. Hockey assist, regular assist, so influential in the commitment of possession, the final third. And I use it. it's a weird word, but like the thrusting and breaking of the lines when he wins the ball and kind of like immediately drives forward a good 10 yards to like cause havoc and panic. He's really built for the championship.

So that's what I'm excited for him to see, you know, the Fott Mob ratings and all of that, to see the glimpses on social. That's certainly one of the teams that I wake up at the weekend and say, okay, where's Middlesbrough playing? What time are they playing? And now you got the opportunity to support the trifecta. And I'm, yeah, exactly. I'm probably not putting on a ton of champo games,

except the breaking point is probably the third American that made it on the team. So it's Aidan Morris. We know last year who was a fantastic player of the year. They went to the playoff final. There was the whole SpyGate thing. So they were eliminating the semis. SpyGate brought them back in.

They go and lose the hole in the final. And then I think what we understand now is Aiden was told before that that he wasn't going to make the World Cup roster. Yeah. And then he went and played in that final. knew he wasn't going in the Premier League the next year. So he is recovering from injury and coming back. But he's there and then Max Arfston gets sold as well.

So as of now, we are told that Arfston and Seb Burhalter are living in Adam Morris's house while they look for their own place. It's a lot of guitar playing. They're speaking Spanish. They're doing duolingo and playing the guitar every day. Making dinners apparently cooking for Aiden while he recovers. And Arfson's an interest. By the way, they still have to do that epic TikTok that they did down in Orlando.

I have a feeling. I have a feeling after all the reaction that they're not putting another thing out on the internet that they have to talk about again. It's too bad. In three years. And then Arvston's the interesting one. I love Max Arvston. I called him the show like two weeks before he got sold because when you tune in, it's a party.

Everyone knows he can attack. People think he can't defend. And like, we're going to learn. All the things people think are deficiencies in his game should be exposed in the championship. and we're kind of going to find out whether or not he can sort of hang in the deep at. I would equate him. Listen, he's not, I don't think he's Jedi Robinson, right? I mean, just the physicality and the player profiles are completely different.

And I wonder if in this system, he's more like a Sergenio desk, where he just has the freedom to get forward, create, a couple stepovers, variation of service, all of those things. But the ask is so intentional when you're thinking about the champion. and every couple of days having another game and the physicality. And I don't mean to like under like undersell it. But like almost like the old like late 90s type of feel where it's a little bit more like pomp and circumstance, a little bit blustery with some of the challenges.

So it'll look and feel a little bit different. But from a development and a culture side and like an atmosphere side, all three of these players I think are going to be an unblower. And to your point about Aiden, listen, I'm unapologetic about a couple of players. is up there with one of the guys that I just love watching. I was actually, I actually thought that this summer was going to be an Ipswich town or was going to be a whole city or was going to be like the Crystal Palace type of move for him because I thought

in the last 18 months he certainly proved that he's more than capable of playing at that level. It is going to be sort of him driving this thing to try and get promoted so that he doesn't have to make that move and they end up being the ones going up to the Premier League next year. Let's talk about one of the other big ones. Anytime Giorana comes up is a big story. He is headed to France. He's playing with R.C. Strasbourg. This is, of course, one of the teams owned by Chelsea's Blueco or not, as of the moment of recording.

We don't know who owns what and where it's going. But this is a club that is built on development. And this is kind of the type of project that they love, which is a ton of talent and the potential is high and the buy-in is low. So he comes over from Gladbach last year. He only played 500 minutes total with one goal, one assist. It was $3.5 million transfer. He signed a new deal through 2031, which means not that much. But for a team that just sold Julio and Ciso for $30 million,

Diego Morera for $50 million, there's opportunity. There's opening for a team that played in Europe last year and hopes to be in the top 10, at least in France. But I think I see. said this last year so i don't know i could say it again but like it kind of feels like this is it for georina yeah listen i um cladio rena having been around the national team he and tab and johnny o'brien were like the three players for me and that group that uh you know kind of with landin and clint following up were just extraordinarily talented with the ball they just different level like

they were not american players i think is what people would have said back then. Yeah, just couldn't get the ball off them. And then when Gio was coming through, having had the opportunity to kind of watch him and cover some of the youth national team setups and to see his move. You know, once he got to Dortmund,

it was basically that next phase of what happened with Christian, what happened with Erling Holland, what happened with Jude Bellingham, like what happened with it was Montembele, just to name a few, Pierre Emmerich Alba, Balmian, obviously not in that same order.

I screwed the timeline up in that description. But that's what we thought, right? That was the extension because that's how good geo is at times. And that's been the struggle is similar to Johnny O'Brien. There feels like these small little niggling injuries has completely upset what we had kind of procrastinated and argued about what his future could be or would be. we could never wrap our head around what happened with Nottingham Forrest

considering quote-unquote the conversations about the agent and the agent and the manager and the manager and the ownership and the ownership and it just never with Morgan Gibbs White never really panned out the way we thought it was going to be in that position. And then came the move to Munchin Glabach and everyone was kind of saying,

well, him and Joe were homies and they're close and that'll help. And it certainly did help. But again, there were still these little niggling injuries and there wasn't a lot of uses. And you had the manager coming out and saying at the time, Listen, he's training well.

I just have other options. And when you're not an absolute starter, then you're at the mercy of game preparation, game execution, the inevitable chess match of substitution patterns. So all of these things, I think, are at least understandable within the collective of the conversation

surrounding Gio. I still think there's not another player like Gio in the pool. And that's just the way he plays the game. It's the way he sees the game. It's the way he kind of interprets space. And I think that's the one where we're kind of always holding our breath. And everyone says, okay, it's time to move on, time to move on. Like, I get it, but he's too talented to move on.

Like I can understand the conversation, but it's just for me, he's too talented to move on. So like anybody, my hope is that he can bet in, find his rhythm, continue to elevate his game. And in the meantime, stop thinking about the future, just think about the presence and work himself into an undeniable starter every time he's in the national team camp with Marisa. Pochitino. Yeah, he when he plays, he is productive, right? Part of this contract is probably because of what he did around the World Cup.

So for him to play at a World Cup and show himself well enough that he's getting an option to come to a league on top 10 league on side, but like normally this is the opposite where your club production is the move in the World Cup sort of this cherry on top experience. You don't

normally play more at a World Cup. It feels like than you do in your club team. Rain is an outlier for all these things because he's so good at soccer. Yeah. He cannot, anybody can't stay on the field. And that's the thing, man. It's, it was interesting. I was in a conversation not too long ago about, and this is more of an example.

And I thought it was a very fascinating analogy slash example. It was somebody telling me that the conversations about players always really does come down to the foundation of ego and the self-belief. And it's the players that you. absolutely want because you know they're completely bought in. And at the same time, you're trying to, you're trying to either justify or understand where their mindset is at. Because when you go from such incredibly top tier, quote unquote, football and with the skies the limit, at some point ego gets involved and you're like, not that club, not that club,

not that club, because you're so used to Champions League football and, you know, for traveling for trophies and all that. So I would be intrigued to be flying the wall with Geo and his family and his representatives about why Straussberg is the right landing spot because I do think it has some tremendous benefits. But again, I think at the end of the day, it comes down to his availability. And that's going to be the determining factor throughout the rest of his career, unfortunately. Let's talk about the brightest spot from the World Cup, which was Alex Freeman.

He emerged as sort of the breakout star for the U.S. He scores the goal against Australia. He already made his move. Like he called his shot last year, and he was like, I'm going to go to Europe now. I'm going to earn time. It's going to keep me in the World Cup team. I'm going to become a better player.

And he went to Villarreal. They finished in third in La Liga. He ends up making nine appearances after signing in January. And he found minutes at right back. They don't play in a back five, the same the U.S. does. So there's not that right centerback position. But he found genuine minutes there where I was worried he would never get a start. He did get a couple.

And now he returns. And now it's sort of, okay, like you had the taste of it. You showed big. Can you be an every week player at a top level for a team that has massive expectations? Yeah. Finishing third in La Liga last year. The big notes are a new coach. So Marcellino was the coach that helped sign him.

Enigo Perez, who comes over from Rio Viacano, is now the head coach after Marcellar, retires. What is he like 37? Yeah. He's a young, up-and-coming coach who put Ryo in a great spot. It's a bad club. So he wants more resources. He goes to Villarreal. And now Alex Freeman has to sort of go back to work earning his spot.

But for me, this is the like, this might be number one each weekend of like, fought mob check if I'm not watching the game. Oh, yeah. I want to see how Alex Freeman's progress. Well, and not just that. You think about a new manager, so a new mentality, a new tactics, new identity, everybody's open. You're subjected to full competition. And the one thing I thought that years ago, Carlos Bokenegro and I were talking about when he was at Wren.

And we were talking about him having to fly back, play for the United States. I say have to, but coming back, obviously the honor. But then going back and basically landing, going straight in the training facility, and all of a sudden he's got some 18-year-old with his tail feathers on fire that's been in front of the manager for the past four days, five days, two weeks while he's gone. And he's like, you know, you go to this mentality where you're like in recovery mode. And then all of a sudden you're like, nope, straight to competition. So that'll be the evolution, a part of this for Alex Freeman.

I believe is Marino, the Oduguine, that right now has been the right back. He didn't go to the World Cup. He's the quote unquote starter in these first couple of matches. This is what I love about Alex. you go back in the past 24 months and see the progression of his career has been incredible as has been as stratospheric

as any young dynamic player has come through the U.S. system and then has gotten his opportunity to make a World Cup roster spot. I actually, in a weird way, I kind of equated to the Gozo situation in that if Gozo was a year previous with his, it would have been very Alex Freeman-like.

I think he would have been in that conversation or at least in the competition for that spot. Alex's mentality, his temperament, his presence, like he's just a good kid. You can tell like he's a good kid anytime you're around him. But then he checks every box. Like when I look at like a player like Alex, the first, like where's his weakness? Yeah. Is it just an experience?

Because it feels like that's the only thing that you can really like, well, he hasn't played enough. Like to your point. Like, oh, no, only nine games last year. What was the reason behind that? It's like, well, hold on a second. The guy's competing with came through Athletico Madrid that was, you know, is already embedded in the Spanish culture

and the identity and the style of La Liga football and all. So, you know, these are, do we need to be as critical in the early phase of the season? Or the way I look at it is once he gets his opportunity, however that comes, whether that's suspension, poor performance, or coach's decision, about anybody who else is quote unquote in his spot. If Alex plays anything close to the Senegal, the Germany, the Paraguay,

you know, any of those, like going through the entirety of the World Cup, he's not perfect, but he's trustworthy. And I think that's a huge statement. And if Marisa Poititino, who's coached some of the best players in domestic football, comes out and says, the sky is the absolute limit, we should probably take that with more. just a grain of salt.

So I'm incredibly excited to see him get his opportunity because I think when he grabs a hold of it, I don't think he lets go. He subbed on in the opening game against Rossing late on the 87th. As you said, he's coming back now. But his next match is against Athletico Madrid. So a great opportunity if he gets on the field to show what he can do at the highest levels. Okay. We could talk about this stuff forever.

There's a million names we didn't say. We're going to be covering this stuff on social. on the Soccer Wise channels on First Touch. We're going to be putting out graphics to help you keep up with things. Unfortunately, Haji Wright announced a little while ago from Frank Lampart. He'll miss the beginning of the season. But two huge pieces of news, John Luca Bousseo and George Campbell have been named captains of their sides.

So Bousseo will be captain of a Syria team in Venetia. And George Campbell will be captain of a West Brom team looking for a turnaround for a guy who couldn't get minutes at Atlanta United two years ago. Now he's captaining a team in the championship. There's some other big names to watch for. Ricardo Pepe's already scored a goal. Noa Kai Banks, of course, is one that many people have an eye on in terms of recruiting. Who do you look at over the next few weeks that you want to see pop because you think

they have a shot to get into the September camp or you want to, you know, do well because you want Pachitino to be able to bring them in? Yeah. To your point about No Kai Banks, it sounds like he's still kind of in that hesitation mode because I would assume that you're going to. Klop taking over Germany becomes a huge factor at some point, if there is interest involved. A reintegration of Diego Luna, that's obvious. What kind of role does the list he have?

I know I'm going to sound like an R.S. Homer for these first two, but Zavirigoso, after his move to Crystal Palace, I think it only makes sense, especially now that he's got a big brother and Chris Richards. Nico Chkaris coming back. I thought he was excellent in the first, whatever, 10, or 10 or so games before he got injured. I think there's something there that's a little bit different. And anytime we're creating number 10s,

we got to take a look at it. Obviously, Mometti and Julian Hall over at Red Bull, New York, those are the two guys. But I would say those are like, what I named five, those are kind of like the rotational five that immediately I'm starting to think about, only because, like, I want to see, I want to see, I want to see style, I want to see substance, right?

I want to see the team in dominant form with the ball where it's passing the eyeball test, but I want swagger, man. I want to see these young kids with the opportunity to cook. I, you know, is, is it now the chance that Kevin Sullivan gets the opportunity to get sucked in so early? Yeah. Because I feel like now there's this chance that, and I don't know, similar to Emma Hayes coming in, I don't know how the cycling phase of players going out, you know, at, okay, you're, we appreciate

you, your tenure with the national team, everything you've done. we are going to head into a different direction. That is inevitably going to happen during this cycle. But I want to see the young guys almost get, I don't know, bled is the correct way to say it nowadays. But like I want to see them bloodied in a way that now, you know, when you go against Peru or Chile or Mexico or Canada, like I want to see how you react.

I want to see like the maturity in the performances. I want to see you moving the ball around and pinging it and showing something a little bit extra. Because, you know, if you're not inspired, as a player to try to replicate what just happened, what 30, 45 days ago. Man, I don't know if I want you in the team because, I mean, all these guys, they got to be thirsty, hungry. I want to be a part of that, man.

I just saw these are my, I mean, I know that was what it was like in 94 when you watch all the iconic, you know, the Lexis and Balboas and Harc's season, Wynaldas and Tabs and Ernie's like Clay Coyman was my coach when I was 12. Like, that's who I aspired to be. So I hope that the inspiration of this next crew sets. themselves up to be like, dude, I'm going to be, whether that's Argentina or Uruguay or Paraguay or Spain, Portugal, Morocco, like, I'm going to be there. I'm going to be wearing that jersey and that crest is going to be on my chest. It's a huge opportunity that four games and a huge camp is interesting

because it's a chance for potch to be around these guys way longer than we're used to. And then you've got competitive games and you've got road games because you've got Nations League qualifying. Then you've got, if you can handle it correctly, you've got a Nations League semi-final in March. So there's some really big chances for Potch to test guys and be around them. And it'll be interesting to see who he lands on. One last name I want to mention is Tanner Testament. But one of the heartbreaks got left out. He is starting now his third straight Champions League game for Leone, a club that's in an odd spot before he heads into French League action this weekend. And he's played centerback and he's played center mid. So there are a lot of questions around

his career. He's a special player. I thought he was a shoe in to make the World Cup. So did I. I think he thought he was a shoe in to make the World Cup. And watching these players react to that is going to be really big. But luckily, we've got a show to talk about this stuff all the time. Dunny, so glad you're here with me. Super excited. And we're going to do it again soon. I appreciate you, my man.

Thanks for having me. Well, this has been an incredible episode talking through the Women's World Cup depth charts with Jordan, talking through all these big stories for the Yanks abroad coming up with Brian Duncef. But we've got a little bit more for you. We have. what are we going to be calling to close out each of these episodes, the suspect where we're going to bring in late, but with energy,

a couple extra little stories for us to touch on. But I am not going to be the host for this. To do this, we have someone who, if you think I have a sickness with my love for MLS and the national team and everything else, then you haven't met a DC United fan. We have Gregory Roach,

who is our producer here at this show, has been a part of Soccer Wise for a little while with me. And you are going to lead here, and I'm going to follow. Yeah, so I'm your Tony Riali, I guess, is how we'll set it up. And so what we'll do here is this will happen every week. I'll just throw you a couple of topics that don't get into the main conversations, but are kind of things that if you're plugged in or you want to be plugged in,

here are some things that I think the insiders are thinking about or people who really are sickos or who are looking ahead to what's coming up, just kind of like little nuggets. And I want to throw some things out of you. You're just going to give me one or two lines, and then we're going to wrap it up. So we're in and we're out, like a late game stop. Let's do it. Let's do it.

So first one is the news that broke this week, which is Tommy Scoops broke it. It's Mark McKenzie coming back to MLS, back to Union as a DP. I assume you guys will be unpacking all of that on the next soccer wise later this week. But for U.S. men's national team purposes, which is what this show is about, what does this mean for McKenzie? his future. He didn't play hardly at all in the World Cup. He was kind of a vibes guy. Does this move him

outside the peripheral or does this make him even more of a guy that Potch might be looking towards as we enter the next cycle? I think it entrenches him as the next Walker Zimmerman, Tim Ream type guy where the assumption is Mark McKenzie's going to play 90 minutes every single week over and over again for Philadelphia, but you're not really going to see him expand his ceiling as a player. And so I think the reality is he is now a piece of the national team when it's felt it's needed for a veteran presence for someone who can be a vocal leader or an emotional leader. But he is not going to have a chance, I don't think, with his club soccer, to prove he's better than the guys in front of him.

But we have seen now over two cycles of more veteran domestic-based centerback in Tim Riem, Walker Zimmerman be needed. And I think Mark McKenzie kind of entrenched himself as that guy over the next four years. So you're looking at maybe Gold Cup, especially if they don't send an A team, what just occurred to me is, which is kind of going to be his role with the union, maybe an overage Olympian for a U-23 team, something like that. Could be. Although I think this Olympic team, they are going to try and win a gold medal. And so Mark McKenzie might be the guy to help them get there. Now,

other piece of that is not every team has to release guys so can you convince a Philadelphia maybe over a crystal palace probably there's probably a better relationship there so there's a potential to do that but yeah I think that that's all going to be a place he's going to be and then the other side is going to be I think Neil Pierre is going to be a guy on this roster right so when you're looking for a partner for him over the next four years does mark mackenzie get elevated because of that does Austin trustee step in for more minutes now he's a guy he grew up with as well and played with so I think there's a place for him still but I would be surprised if he's a starter, you know, again in his career for the national team.

Let's talk leftbacks. Landon I Menalo is a up-and-coming left-back who is in the Chelsea system, but is about, if reports are correct, to be loaned out to Celtic, which, of course, already has Austin trustee on the team. What are your thoughts on that move? And does that move him into play to be one of probably a number of, probably a number of? of guys who are vying for that backup left back role behind Jedi. I think it's a great move for him.

I think it's been proven for guys coming from some of the bigger clubs in Europe to go to Celtic on loan is a really good move. We saw Timothy Wade do it a million years ago. Roger Van Dyke got his start there and moved on. It's kind of a laundry list of players now. It is a good level internally to train at and be challenged at. It's a good proving ground and it gives you an opportunity to play first team minutes. and play under pressure,

which I think is what a lot of a lot of teams like to see from their young players. And so I think it's a great move for him. I don't know if you remember watching his dad plays. Dad was a 94 World Cup veteran for Nigeria. And he ended up as one of the first MLS signings as the like, oh, how do we take advantage of people knowing about the World Cup? And he was one of the guys that MLS signed to be like, remember Nigeria?

Now he's here. And then he had a kid while he was here. Right. kid now is eligible to play for the U.S. men's national team. So that part of the plan of the let's get good soccer players to have kids in the U.S. so they can play for the U.S. later on is finally starting to come to fruition. 2046, there will be this generation of kids who will then be making their U.S. men's national team. Exactly. The Iguine's each having kids and then we'll have five of them on the national team.

Let's talk about the current starter and that will be Jedi Robinson. And I want to ask you, because we're talking about national team reasons or purposes of having this conversation, what's the best club situation for Jedi over the next few years, staying at Fulham or he is a guy that comes up almost every transfer window? He probably wouldn't be at Fulham anymore if he didn't get injured about 18 months ago. Is staying at Fulham the best where you know he's going to be the locked in 90-minute starter moving forward or making the move to a bigger club where he's going to have to fight for his minutes better for the national team. I think for a guy with his injury issues, I think staying at Fulham is better because when you come in and out and in and out, it's going to be hard to win a spot.

And I think there are some clear issues with Jedi's body in which I think he pushes himself so hard physically that it's hard for his body to keep up. Tyler Adams is a similar one like this. and if that's the case, you need to be at a club that's going to manage you. And for Fulham, he is such an asset that they're willing to do that. What if he takes the step up and Newcastle or Assonville is like,

okay, well, if you can't play every week, we'll just find someone who can. And you're not really our problem. So I think that there's an opportunity there. Also, Arbeloa coming in is a fullback himself. Like, can you learn from that guy? Can he expand your game? I think Jedi has more he can do

in possession coming inside. I think he can still grow as a player and I would like to see him do that with 2,000 minutes played at full. It's interesting. He's an interesting figure with the national team because he is really, really important,

but you don't think of him on that Policic Adams kind of tier. But his club, his club form and his club career is kind of vital to where the team is going to be, the national team, because of what we just talking about. We're talking about an 18-year-old of maybe a possible backup.

It's not a lot behind him right now. Although Max Arfston at Middlesbrough, who we talked about a little in that segment, is an interesting one. Because if he can grow, if he can grow from playing in the physicality at the championship, and that links into he was the best attacking player on Columbus when he left, he could be a difference maker,

but he's a very specific player right now where Jedi can play in any type of game because what he does, he can do against any opponent. And then the hope is that there's more young pieces coming up who get some opportunity. But I think if you, for some reason going to the World Cup, I read back some of the 2022 stuff that Paul Tenoria and Sam Stage Call had written.

And coming out of that World Cup, Jedi was like the most believed in the thing. It was like, we don't know anything about the 2026 World Cup, but Jedi will be the starter at left back. But because of the injuries over the years, I think he's kind of skewed off that conversation like you said, where you don't mention him as quickly, but also he's less reliable because you don't get him as often.

His performance level is high. It's just whether or not he can play. And you hope while the kids are maturing that Arfston takes a step forward defensively playing in the championship, and then you have competition for that place today and then hopefully sowing the seeds for tomorrow. Let's talk about Liga Eméhi

and Alejandro Zendez, who, who was, well, he's a peripheral figure in this World Cup squad. Is this a player that we need to keep monitoring if we are fans of the national team and we're coming off of World Cup and we're starting a new cycle? Is this someone that is going to have to be monitored as anything more than a peripheral figure or even that? No, and it's odd to me because he's the most important player for what I would say is the

biggest club in the region. I think it's one of the three or four biggest clubs on this side of the Atlantic Ocean. Like you're talking flaflu, you're talking river and boka, and underneath that club America, I think, is as big as all of them. And he is the piece that like makes it all go. But it's very clear from the players who have gone from major league soccer to league MX that there's a different style. And I think the style in league MX doesn't translate as well to the international game. And so it's not physical and athletic in the same way that the international game is, especially the game states the U.S. chooses to play in. And I think that makes him struggle a little.

And he's not able to create special moments because he can't burst. He can't pull away from guys. And at 28 years old, he's a solid piece. I thought he was going to get a chance at World Cups. Are you going to give him the opportunity at a gold cup next year if it's not the A team? Or are you going to give it to Quinn Sullivan? or Kevin Sullivan, right? And I think Zendayaas is probably going to struggle to get into teams.

You also had an opportunity for him where he grew up with Tyler Adams and Christian Pulisick and West McKinney. And I think you were trying to build a culture in a microwave under Maricio Pochitino. He helped that. It's not their culture anymore, right? Potch is building a new one. And I think he's going to try and build it away from feeling overly loyal to Pulisic and a West McKinney. And I don't know that Zendaz really has that in as much anymore. We have two subs left on the bench.

We had a Yank abroad ladies edition, which is rare coming home. And that's Jenna Nyswanger who made her in a WSL debut. What are your thoughts on her return to the States? She's a fascinating story. She was an elite college attacker who as a rookie got converted to fullback and was a game-changing fullback for Gotham and immediately got balled by Arsenal and got there. And they were like, oh, you don't know how to defend. and it was like, well, I'm not a defender, but she was playing at the fullback position.

And she just basically hasn't played since, which is incredible because in doing the research for the opening segment, I remember that she was on the Olympic team. Only 18 players made the Olympic roster for the gold medal in 2024. Jenna and Isoonger played minutes on that team. That's how far she's fallen over the last two years. So I think it's big for her to come back. I would be surprised if Bay plays her as a fullback. I think they'll play her in an attacking position.

And she is good enough to be a national team player at those positions. So I think this is an opportunity for her to get back on the field, play consistent minutes, show that she's capable of doing it a little bit higher up the field. And maybe in the back pocket, a reason she makes a roster later is, well, I could play you in a pinch at this left back position. But you have to change the way you play if you use her because she plays in one direction. She's a game changer in that way. And that's not bad for the U.S. to have because they're going to dominate possession in most games at the international level.

Last one. And it's about keepers. You saw in the World Cup, there is no number one who is rock solid for the men's national team. But there is hope or promise in the young keepers. Can't ever tell, though, with a young keeper. There are a number of yanks abroad who are young keepers. Which one would you say is, in the best club situation to put their hand up. And I don't want to say lockdown number one because we're a long way from that. But who's in line to go? I'll take first crack at that.

It's hard to pick any of these, but I'm going to go with Julian Ice Stone. I think the Brian Schwacky example for us is, I think there's a life experience you get getting blooded at these lower divisions where it's not all easy and things aren't sort of spoon fed to you and you can like really grind and learn. And I think there's a,

level of humility then in taking the next move. Like Gaga-Slonina and Cochin, they're still kind of like managing the like, I don't want to be seen as a player less than this, right? I'm a Chelsea player. I'm a Barza player. Now Cochin's obviously left and and Gagas had to go out and find loans. But I think there's one way of operating where the other side is what Istone's going through, which is, you know, I'll take any opportunity. Like I've already played in the lower divisions. I've already grinded. He's also a freak. You know, he's gigantic. Yep. I, I seen in play in person. He's super athletic for a guy his size. So I think he has great potential. And I think the the path he's taken is a tough one. But we've seen now for a guy like that,

you'll always get a chance on a roster in MLS, at least that first shot. If you come back, if not, you can find another deal in Europe before you do that. And a lot of the players who come out of those situations have clearly honed their skills. And I think he's on he's on the path to do that. The only person you didn't mention in the run that I had in the rundown was Nizawa, who technically is a Japanese international right now. However, Japan, embarrassment of riches at the goalkeeper position, have Zion Suzuki, who is their number one is very young. So is it also American. He's also American, right? I don't know what's going on. It's an interesting situation. So Nizawa is, is Japanese who has American citizenship and

could represent the U.S. and is of the the keepers we're discussing is the one with the most credentials at this moment. Yeah. It's just that one you're talking about. Can you convince him to play? And is he in the right place to play? Which feels like two steps

to overcome rather than one. We're out of subs, Goss. We are playing with what we got on the field. Nice. We've used all seven. If Gianni and Fentino gets what he wants, maybe we'll add another two and it will be nine subs. for the 48th game of the World Cup.

But Gregory, thanks for joining me for this one. Yeah, looking forward to doing this every week and kind of digging into some under-the-radar stories. And we're having fun with the show. We had great conversations this week. We've got some big convos lined up. This is going to be a place to talk about news around both U.S. men, women, youth national teams,

but then also some of the bigger conversations around the sport and the structure of the sport and the development of players, the culture that we live in, We've got a great cast of people to do it with, and we're really excited to continue doing it going forward. So big thanks to Jordan and Dunny for taking the time to join me on this one. Always big shout out to you, Gregory, for putting this all together. And we'll do it again next week.