Futbol Americas: CONCACAF Friendlies Look Ahead + FIFA Says: No Bottles! + World Cup Predictions + 1994 Flashback

25:48I don't really think about that. It just happens. But when you make a big deal out of it because you go back on the decision that you've made previously, well, no wonder that in the entire X or Twitter or us, everybody's talking about water bottles. It just feels one after another. It feels like first it's the ticket sales. Then it's how you get to the stadium. Then it's the up cost in charge of public transportation. And then it's the hotels. And then it's this and that. It just feels like it's one after the other for the consumer in this World Cup. And that's where I feel for them. Yeah, they try to promote it as the biggest World Cup ever.

26:17They can also promote it as the most expensive World Cup ever. There's a handful of friendly matches on Saturday. You can catch them on ESPN Unlimited starting at 3.55 p.m. Eastern. Bolivia will face Scotland followed by Brazil versus Egypt. And headlining it, Argentina playing Honduras. Catch it live on the ESPN app as well. And everything you need to know leading up to the World Cup, find it on ESPN FC. Catch the show daily on ESPN+.

27:14O 'Reilly stand apart. The professional parts people. Oh, oh, oh, O 'Reilly. Auto Parts.

27:29Avoiding your unfinished home projects because you're not sure where to start? Thumbtack knows homes, so you don't have to. Don't know the difference between matte paint finish and satin? Or what that clunking sound from your dryer is? With Thumbtack, you don't have to be a home pro. You just have to hire one. You can hire top-rated pros, see price estimates, and read reviews, all on the Thumbtack app. Download today. It is time to book it right here on Football Americas, our predictions for the World Cup, and we will start with who will be CONCACAF's leading scorer. Options. Christian Pulisic, Follarin Balagon, Raul Jimenez, Weston McKinney, who scored a lot for Juventus this year.

28:15Jonathan David, maybe not as in good form as in recent years. Ricardo Pepi and, yes, Santi Jimenez still there. Let's go to our goal scorer, Hercules Gomez. All right, so an all-time World Cup goal scored. The leaders Landon Donovan for CONCACAF with five. So it goes to show you that he played three World Cups. Majority of the times these goal scorers are two, maybe three max. I'm looking for a player who's got something to prove. I'm looking for a player who's going to be involved always, in or around the box, finishing off plays, but also takes set pieces and penalty kicks and has somewhat of an accessible group.

28:53I think that's going to be Jonathan David. Jonathan David at Juventus didn't have himself a good season. That's a reality. Jonathan David is a good nine. That's another reality. Jesse Marsh and this team have the potential to surprise. And there's also a weak link in that group. There's an ugly duckling. And that ugly duckling is Julian Lopetegui's Qatar. That's the game they have to win. And that's the game he's going to get his goals. Yeah, win and score big. Score big. Janos. Follarin Balogun. I have to think about that. Yes, Christian Pulisic, obviously, maybe not the greatest of seasons so far.

29:29But he always plays well for the national team. We saw that against Senegal, but we also saw another goal from Balogun against Senegal. When I think Paraguay, when I think Australia, two low-lying defenses, right? Somebody's going to break them. Yes, Balogun sometimes likes his pace, but we saw against Senegal that in that traffic, he's very, very much capable. And as I've said, I mean, nine goals in 26 games for the United States so far. That's pretty good. Had a very, very good season for Monaco. If I remember, 19 goals in all competitions this season. I think he's in tremendous form. He's being pushed by Pulis, by Ricardo Pepi, who's been scoring for PSV, and also Haji Wright, who at Coventry, who are going to the Premier League right now, had a wonderful season, scoring so many goals as well.

30:17But I think Balogun will take that pressure on. He's going to be the starting player in the first game against Paraguay at that number nine. And I think he'll score. If he does, I think that momentum and confidence is going to go forward. I hope at least. One of the final things you said actually led me to pick Christian Pulisic because I believe that Balagun, Hadji Wright, Ricardo Pepi are going to be splitting minutes. Christian Pulisic is going to play 90 minutes every game. He will take the penalty kicks for the U.S. men's national team. Every once in a while, he takes free kicks as well, although he's not necessarily Roberto Carlos at this point or even David Beckham.

30:56But I think the game against Senegal reboosted his confidence with the national team. And that is massive leading up to the World Cup. He is the leader of this squad. And the best opportunity that the U.S. has to move far in the World Cup has to do with the quality of Christian Pulisic. I am confident that he will have a great World Cup and I think he will score a lot for the team. No Raul Jimenez for you? No Raul Jimenez for me. Wow. All right, let's move on to our next prediction. Who will win the Golden Boot at the 2026 World Cup? We have a lot of options, really good options, including Hurricane, Erling Haaland, Mikel Oyarzabal, who, by the way, is not certain he will be fit for the first game.

31:44And of course, Kylian Mbappe, Cristiano Ronaldo, La Miña Mal, Rafinha, Beanie Jr., Lautaro Martinez, and Lionel Messi. You go first. Yeah, this one is fairly easy for me. There's one player who sits on the brink of history this World Cup. He's already got 12 World Cup goals, too. His name had eight last World Cup, three in the World Cup final. And he's four away from Miroslav's closest World Cup record. That is Kylian Mbappé. Yeah, it's a fairly easy one here because of the group, because I think he's going to go out in front because he's the leader, because he has something to prove, because he's coming off of the abysmal season with the Real Madrid where Francis is everything.

32:25I'm all in on Kylian and what he's going to do in this World Cup. This is an easy one for me. I mean, you have to put both things together. Great individual performances, but also a team that goes far. Very true. And it'll make a lot more sense when you see other categories in this as well because they sort of go hand in hand. You know, you're right. I mean, Hattrick in the World Cup final, I picked him because I felt bad for him because he said that he's four choices around Madrid. You know, so I said, you got to pick him, right? But I mean, he's the man, obviously, that I think, you know, individually can score.

32:58He's got the candidates in this World Cup too. He's got a team around him that can do it. If you believe that France have a little bit of a chip on their shoulder because of what happens against Argentina Argentina in the final in Qatar, where he was absolutely outstanding. I think he is the man. So you're quite right. It was easy. So you want to do it? You want me to do it? You can do it yourself. I can do it. Like the previous one? Look at that. There you go. I'm going to emphasize what you just said. Oh, wow. Come on. Comparing the supporting cast for Kylian Mbappe, what he had in 2018. He was 18 years old.

33:37What he had around 2022. this is probably the best squad that he's going to have around him. Now, does that maybe mean that the goals are going to be split among other players? Could also be the case. But I feel like playing alongside someone like Ryan Cherky. Yes. Olise. Desiree Due. Current golden glove. Dembélé. Golden ballon. Ballon d 'Or winner, Dembélé. Yes. this is the go-to guy for France. They're going to make it far. Just so we're not just doing it on Kylian, but just think about the field for a second. I mean, Messi and Argentina, everybody's kind of waiting to see if they can disappoint.

34:20It's very difficult to repeat. Let's see if they go far. Vinny Jr. and Rapina have never really been proven. La Minha Ma is going to be injured for the first game. Let's see what his health is going to be. Cristiano Ronaldo, that's a wild card. You already mentioned Spain. Well, Erling Haaland and Harry Kane. Who knows what they're going to be like in this summer? I would just feel more comfortable if I had a chance to chat with Didier Deschamps. Who's going to be taking the penalties? Ousmane Dembele or Mbappé? I think it's Mbappé. I think we know the answer. But that is going to affect a little bit of that we're talking about.

34:51Mbappé's going to let that happen. Yeah. Let's go to the next category. All right, next up, who will win 2026 World Cup Golden Bowl? Who will be the best player in the upcoming World Cup? Some options that we have already spoken about some players. Goal scorers like Kane, Haaland, Mbappé, Ronaldo, Laminya Mal. We're going to include some playmakers as well, like Florian Wirtz, Vitinha, Dembélé. Herc, who you got? Yeah, so at the beginning of the tournament, whenever he was still healthy, I had this man, Laminya Mal. He's going to be the best player in this tournament. He's going to be the guy that everybody is talking about.

35:36He's going to be the guy that you say, oh, my goodness, I'm seeing this in real time. How lucky am I? But then he got injured. And we don't know what his health is going to be like. We don't know if he'll be available for the second game, third game, and what he will be like when he gets on the field. So you've already mentioned you've got to be, one, good individually, and, two, your team's got to go far. I'm still on the French train. I'm with Kylian Mbappé. I think this man's going to be on a mission. You get the goals. My goodness. You get the goals. You're 90 % there. He's going to have the goals.

36:06This is going to be very easy. This feels like a deja vu. I mean, I hope it's not going to be boring. We're going to make it exciting because, again, I'm going to right away go here with you. Yes, Yamal would have been a strong choice. For some reason, I don't know why, Leo Messi, something tells me that he's going to do something special here. And who knows? It may very well happen for Leo Messi. Economy of play, the way he plays for Argentina as well. He's going to have an incredible impact. but you know i mean you know logic tells me that if you're going to be the best goal scorer in a tournament chances are you're also going to be the best player i mean you know it usually happens that way i'm not saying it has to be that way but if again you see a even performance even close to that what we saw in qatar and the number of goals scored by kilian mbappe i think we're going to see you know that a little bit of selfishness in terms of scoring goals and in the end a player that can certainly carry the entire team.

37:02And you've mentioned, rightfully so, you know, everybody around him is going to help him with that. But I do believe there is a massive chip on his shoulder. I think he's going to remember what happened in Qatar. He's going to want to make it right. He's going to want to make it right because of what happened at Real Madrid or did not happen. Although he's been scoring goals left and right. So I'm betting my house as you can tell. Wow! Well, you wanted to make this a little more interesting. not boring, I'm going to help you out with that. I'm not going to pick Kylian Mbappe. I do believe that one of the most underrated players on the planet the last couple of years belongs to a country that I think will make it very, very far in this World Cup.

37:46Nobody speaks a lot about him, but those who know Boho understand that Vitinha has been one of the greatest players in the last two years. Certainly had the credentials to win the Ballon d 'Or last year instead of Ousmane Dembélé. And certainly, after what he did for Paris Saint-Germain in this Champions League run, winning it back to back, he was the best player on the field. When Portugal beat Spain in the most recent UEFA Nations League, he should have won the award. In the end, it went to Bernardo Silva, and we've all seen the clip of Cristiano Ronaldo, not liking that decision. Well, he's not going to like it either this year.

38:31I feel like Bitinha has what it takes to control tempo. Vindi, as they call it in Italian, tutto campista, the regisseur, if you will, for one team that will make it far. I believe Bitinha finally is going to have his moment, and he will win World Cup Golden Ball as the best player in the World Cup. Next up, who will be the biggest surprise in the World Cup. Every World Cup, we have one team that makes it far that nobody thought they could make it that far. Sometimes, there are a lot of, you know, questionable decisions like South Korea did in 2002. Oh, good run. But Turkey, Turkey as well. 20 years later, Morocco.

39:18Morocco was a big surprise in Qatar in 2022. Who will be that squad But for this world, we have options. Japan, the U.S., Colombia, Switzerland, Ivory Coast. They just beat France. No, tied, no? No. Oh, they tied in the end? Well, it felt like a defeat for France. Algeria, Morocco, Turkey, Senegal, and Paraguay. Herk, what's your pick? You know, I am so tempted to take Japan, but they got some injuries up front. I think it really doom them into the special run they were thinking about. Switzerland is that perennial second round team. They probably do. Morocco, would it really be a surprise? I just saw Seneca play the U.S.

40:01I'm going to pass on this one. You know what I'm going to go with? I'm going to go with Gustavo Alfaro's team. And they're actually in the group with the U.S. men's national team. And this is why I'm taking Gustavo Alfaro's team. Costa Rica beats Paraguay in Copa America. And Paraguay goes, our team is terrible. Who's the coach who just beat us? It's Gustavo Alfaro. They fire their coach. In comes Gustavo Alfaro for World Cup qualifying. The rest of it. And they go on a ridiculous run. A nine-game unbeaten run. They only lose once in 12 games. They only receive six goals. And they beat the likes of Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay.

40:40They defend like crazy. A few special players up top in transition. And they are overly physical. This is a tournament team. And they don't need to score many goals. They just need to grind out games. I think this team has the potential to grind out a lot of games at the World Cup and surprise a lot of people. By the way, Ivory Coast beat France. They did. Today. I don't know why I doubted myself. I will never doubt myself anymore. I stopped watching with 10 minutes to go. Paraguay, 2-0 United States in the first game against Paraguay. So there goes that theory for you. That happened? What happened?

41:16No, I'm telling you what's going to happen. Oh, no, but, you know, we've talked about Morocco and the darlings of the last World Cup, you know, this African Cup of Nations. I'm not sure who I think, you know, who, you know, who won that whole thing. We talk about the Senegal. We talk about Morocco. But let's forget that. I'm going to go with Algeria. And I'll tell you why. I mean, you know, to be quite honest, just watch them against Holland and they beat the Netherlands just the other day. But, you know, as you get closer, you sort of always know a little bit about everything. right? But sometimes you need to take a look.

41:49There's so many teams in this World Cup and I wrote it down. I'm saying to myself, Riyad Mahrez, whom I still love. I don't care where he plays. I remember him from Manchester City. Outstanding players. Ben Sebaini in Dortmund. Bentelab in Lille. Now Bentelab, that's first fans probably. Yeah, I don't know if they remember. It's been a while, but you know, they're an experienced team. They love playing with each other and for each other. Awar, of course. Ain't Nuri, who had a great season at Wolves. obviously moving to Manchester City, you know, didn't play a ton. When he played, he played well.

42:21When he did play, very, very versatile as well. And, you know, the youngster, Ibrahim Maza, absolutely outstanding. Eintracht Frankfurt, our producer, Costa. And they have another from Eintracht Frankfurt touch, Aibi, as well. This is for our producer, Costa Karapides. That's his team, Eintracht Frankfurt. But Maza, anyway, a future star, if not already. And I'm thinking, okay, Argentina, Austria, and Jordan in the group. I think they're capable of coming second and who knows, maybe spring in a surprise. I just feel that they will be a very good, steady tournament team. Now, the VAR is kind of high in terms of what we define as being a surprise during the World Cup.

43:03We usually make it all the way to the semifinals. We'll see if Algeria can make it that far, but they definitely do have the talent to be one of those squads. Group first. Group first. Step by step. So, my surprise will be the host nation, the U.S. men's national team. I have said on this very same show, ever since Mauricio Pochettino signed to be the head coach, I thought this team will make the semifinals. They do have the talent. They have a lot of talented players. Granted, not all of them are reaching the World Cup at the peak of their qualities, at the peak of performance. But what we saw over the weekend leads me to believe that Mauricio Pochettino finally nailed it.

43:52And I feel like when you play at home, some refereeing decisions eventually are going to go your way. So I will stand wherever I've been standing for the past 18 months. The U.S. will make the semifinals. I will be the surprise team in the World Cup. Anulo Mufa. Good man. We hope so, right? Our team? Of course. Time to make the most important pick. This is our prediction for who will win it all. Who will be champions at the end of the World Cup, July 19th. Not that life stadium. New Jersey Stadium, according to FIFA regulations. And I don't want to go against what FIFA stated in the rulebook. All right.

44:40Hurt? Who's going to win it all? Listen, I'm already all in here, right? I might as well keep it going. The French national team is the most important national team in my footballing adult lifetime. Since 1998, they've been to seven, seven major finals. I'm talking about World Cups, Euros, Nations League. And I'm not even going to add the other two, the Confederations Cup, that they won. This is the most important footballing nation of my adult life. and they're coming off a back-to-back World Cup Finals. And one of their players is in prime, prime moment with the chip on his shoulder, as you mentioned.

45:18And the others, Ballon d 'Or, actual winner today, Dembele. Michael Lise, who's due for a Ballon d 'Or in his future, I could see. And Douay, who's one of the most dynamic players out there. Top to bottom, every single line, they are the richest roster in world football. And not only are they pragmatic when they need to be, I think there's a different layer to them up front that they've never had before. I'm all in on the French. I feel like there's another prediction for France coming up. But I need you, Janis, to tell me, give me the most important reason. One big reason. Why do you, if you eventually pick France, why is that your pick?

45:58Well, first and foremost, it would be silly to pick Mbappe as, you know, the best player of the tournament. and then go against it. But, you know, Hey, it happened to Messi. Remember in 2014? Yeah, right. It happened to Messi. Herc has said almost everything. What I would add and one of the most important reasons is Didier Deschamps. The swan song. The swan song of Didier Deschamps who's been with them through everything that you've just said. And by the way, he's done it as a player and as a manager as well. He's got that experience. Yes. Can he be pragmatic? Of course, tournaments like this and to win them, sometimes you have to be pragmatic.

46:39It's not always about playing beautiful football, although he showed that or his team showed that in the final against Argentina and Qatar as well, that this team can open up. Like I always say, you know, that's an incredible add to that team, right? Because, I mean, there's some that are talking about him as best player of the season he's had with Bayern Munich. It's quite incredible. And if he continues to play that way, forget about Mbappé. Maybe we got to talk about what he says. So I think the chip on the shoulder, of course, you got to be careful in the Netherlands and France, right? In terms of colors, at least.

47:13But you know, Didier Deschamps, I think that sort of fearless leader that over the years, we're talking decades now, everyone on that team respects and listens to. I've been on this for also 18 months at this point. I'm picking Portugal. I'm going to give you three big reasons, and I'm going to make this quick. Number one, I think they're the, after France, I think they're the most talented squad in the World Cup. Goalkeeper to number nine, bench. I love the Portugal roster. I do like the manager, Roberto Martinez. He already has the experience after managing Belgium to good results. And I'm not going to say Cristiano Ronaldo as my number three counts, but that's not the most important.

47:58The bracket, if they're finished first in their group, either they could face Argentina in the quarterfinals. At this stage, I think Portugal would be favorites facing Argentina. From then on, maybe England can be on their way, but they won't have to face either France or Spain until the final. I think the bracket is open. They have the talent. They have the players. They have Cristiano Ronaldo. That's why my pick is Portugal. Okay, those are our predictions for the world.

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50:51We move on to this. Red, red, white, and clueless. This is the untold story of the U.S. men's national team at the 1994 World Cup. A team that ignited a fire in American soccer. The FIFA World Cup is the biggest prize in soccer and maybe all of sports. Like the Olympics, it comes every four years, and only one team can win. Fans in the U.S. are ready to get behind the home team this summer as they go up against the world's best. But it wasn't always like that. Welcome to paradise. When the U.S. last hosted the Men's World Cup in 1994, with grunge ruling the airwaves and seven strangers picked to live in a house on MTV's The Real World, soccer felt like a secret society.

51:49The sport treated more like a punchline for comedians or a foreign, indecipherable language. And so our story begins with a history lesson for coach Mauricio Pochettino and his 2026 squad as they prep for their first game, getting a visit from leaders of the 94 squad for a little motivational speech. The 1994 team wasn't filled with superstars, with glittering pro careers, it was built from the ground up. A ragtag bunch of ex-college players and unsung pros, misfits and journeymen. Yet over that magical summer, the likes of Kobe Jones, Tony Miola and Alexi Lalas became legends, laying the foundation for everything that followed.

52:39That team did more than compete in the World Cup. They were the spark that ignited the soccer fire in America.

52:50The U.S. lost all three games at the 1990 World Cup, an unmitigated disaster, and those in charge decided the team needed a wake-up call, a new manager who could make the U.S. greater than the sum of its parts. The coaching search covered the globe, including legends like Franz Beckenbauer, who won two World Cups with Germany. He said no, And so up stepped this wiry guy with a big smile and even bigger energy. His name was Bora Milutinovic, and his mission seemed simple. Build a squad worthy of the World Cup, one that could play with style or guts against any of soccer's heavyweights.

53:33Initially, the players didn't get Bora, finding him hard to understand. A Yoda in aviator sunglasses. Trying out for the U.S. men's national team was a surreal gauntlet. Only Bora knew the right path. There were tests of focus. Bora would hide in the back of the team van to hear them gossip, only to pop out from between the bags, scaring his players. He would film them everywhere they went with a giant video camera, pushing them just to see how they handled the pressure and if they'd crack. Take a simple game of soccer tennis. Think pickleball, but with your feet. If you wanted a shot at joining Bora's team, you had to literally beat him at his own game.

54:19Except nobody ever could. He never lost, said goalkeeper Tony Miola. He cheated every single game he would play. These battles were never about the result, but whether his players could keep their cool in the crucible of competition. Who was on this Motley Crue team? Around 100 men tried out over a two-year search. Some had already made their way in Europe, but the rest played only for the USA, signed by the Federation on rolling contracts for as long as they could hang in Bora's regime. Alexi Lalas came from Michigan, having played his college ball for Rutgers. Marcelo Balboa, a Chicago native, grew up in California and bounced around small semi-pro teams on the West Coast after graduating from San Diego State.

55:09Tony Miola was a soccer goalkeeper and moonlighted as a third baseman at the University of Virginia, but played only for the USA after leaving his club team, the Fort Lauderdale Strikers, in 1991. The mix didn't make sense on paper, but the guys were determined to try. Borah would find a way. Their journey started in an unlikely place, the beaches of Mission Viejo, California. The first six weeks of Borah's camp, all cardio in the sand. This group would run and run under Borah's watchful eye, the misery and monotony helping forge those early bonds. They lived in college-style apartments in a sea of dirty laundry and pizza boxes.

55:58It took months to finish the locker rooms, so U.S. soccer rented an empty storefront in a strip mall next to a fast-food schnitzel restaurant on La Paz Road, where, with newspaper over the windows to keep out prying eyes, they suited up. Players played a real-life game of Frogger across four lanes of traffic just to get to practice. Said Lalas, if the stars had aligned in the most evil sense, a truck could have taken out an entire generation of American soccer players. For Bora, repetition was everything. If the players weren't running on the sand, they were engaged in one of his favorite drills.

56:41One player, one ball. Run with it, shoot it, collect it, and do it again. The guys who played in Europe were confused, but over time, they realized Bora's goal was building discipline and endurance. Every day was Groundhog Day, a grind. Train or run in the morning, go home, eat lunch, maybe some soccer tennis, and then do it all again in the afternoon, five days a week, with one session on Saturdays and their Sundays off if they weren't scheduling games. This team wasn't going to blow opponents away with skill or dazzle, but by committing to laying their bodies on the line. After training came the film room, except this group had to debrief in an Irish bar.

57:28Hennessy's in San Juan Capistrano was the spot for talking tactics because Bora knew they had satellite TVs. And so, with Bora holding court over a table or two, the team would just sit, watch soccer, and learn. Every game was a chance to talk tactics and strategy the way Bora wanted them to. Instead of whiteboards or X's and O's, Bora commandeered the condiments. See how they do this, he'd point out. Along the way, their confidence grew. And so, after winning the Gold Cup in the summer of 1991, the U.S. hit the road with a new-look team, taking on opponents up and down the FIFA rankings. They made the Harlem Globetrotters look like homebodies, spending 250 days on the road in 1992 and playing 34 games in 1993.

58:22At first, they racked up heavy losses as easily as air miles. But somehow, amid all those red-eye flights, they got better. Bora's side drew with 1988 European champions Denmark and beat England. They defeated Norway, then number five in the world. These were small boosts, but important ones. A month before their opening World Cup game was really the first time players realized they'd made the team. The one thing Bora didn't really have was a process for cutting guys. Some found out not with a quiet word, but by being handed an envelope at the training facility. Bora's version of a pink slip. The remaining players didn't realize what was happening until they got on the bus after a day of training.

59:13They were bound for Los Angeles, ready for the snaking drive through snarling traffic, when someone spoke up. Hey, there's only 22 of us here. Sure enough, that's how many are in a World Cup squad. The day after the World Cup's opening ceremony in Chicago, the U.S. would begin play against Switzerland in Detroit. But Bora had one more surprise for his team. They drove to the Pontiac Silverdome and did a walkthrough while it was still empty. But then, up on the Jumbotron, there was Team USA. heroic and in full pomp as Van Halen, Queen and U2 rang out over a highlight reel. Every player from 1 to 22 was represented.

59:58The footage taken from game tape or Bora's VHS camera. On game day the stifling heat and humidity became an additional opponent. So did the temporary grass surface but none of that mattered at kickoff. The deafening roar of nearly 75 ,000 fans gave them chills. The Swiss scored first. Eric Winalda answered six minutes later, and the U.S. hung on for their first point at a World Cup in over 40 years. Up next was a trip to the Rose Bowl and a date with Colombia. Pelé himself, the only man to win three World Cups, picked Colombia to win it all. The U.S. were clearly underdogs, but defeat against Romania had put Colombia under intense pressure back home, and the U.S.

1:00:49struck first when Hark's cross was flicked in by Colombian defender Andres Escobar. The goal pushed the hosts on, and seven minutes into the second half, Ernie Stewart made it 2-0. Colombia would pull one back, but the U.S. got their first win since beating England 1-0 in 1950. They began to dream.

1:01:13The U.S. was close to reaching the round of 16, but their inexperience showed against Romania, and they lost 1-0. However, the 24-team format meant the U.S., with four points from three games, made the cut. Their reward? A date with Brazil on July 4th. Brazil struck first, but not with a goal. midfielder Leonardo clashed with US playmaker Tab Ramos near the touchline on the verge of halftime and boom the game turned with one swing of Leonardo's elbow connecting with Ramos's head and sending him to the ground taking US hopes with him winning felt impossible without Ramos who didn't even remember being carried to the locker room with 20 minutes left Alexi Lalas lost track of Bebeto.

1:02:04And as Balboa put it, that's all she wrote. One mistake, game over. Brazil would go on to win their fourth World Cup two weeks later. Losing hurt. Major League Soccer was still two years away from launching, and over half the U.S. squad didn't have a club team to go back to. Normally ready with some motivational speech, Bora had nothing. He couldn't find the right message, even though he'd never been shy of a soundbite before. That night, Team USA went for a quiet team dinner. The late, great Robin Williams came to visit, telling jokes and trying to lighten the mood around the players and their families.

1:02:45Robin said he was proud of us, said John Harkes. So, what happened next? In the months that followed, everyone wanted a piece of Team USA. Morning TV shows like Regis and Kathie Lee were filled with profiles. Alexi Lalas appeared on late-night talk shows, even letting David Letterman trim his iconic flame-red goatee. Players were linked with moves to big leagues in England, Brazil, and continental Europe. Miola's ability to boom long balls down the field earned him a full tryout for the New York Jets as their place kicker. But it turns out football is a lot different from football, and he was cut in preseason.

1:03:28And then there was Bora. He left for Mexico and later became just the second coach of all time to coach five different teams at a World Cup. And he's still the only one to take four of those teams past the opening round. When the USA hired Bora, they called him Miracle Worker. It's hard to argue. With roughly$50 million in profit, the 1994 World Cup helped seed the sport's growth in the United States. Major League Soccer exploded into life in 1996, and the stars came with it. Colombia's Carlos Valderrama joined on day one, the Tampa Bay Mutiny's first player. In 2007, global soccer icon David Beckham arrived and won two MLS Cups with the LA Galaxy.

1:04:12His one-of-a-kind contract with the league gave him the rights to start his own franchise, Inter-Miami, who won the 2025 MLS Cup with a guy you may have heard of, Lionel Messi. The U.S. women's national team soon got the same chance to invest in and build a team that could win the Women's World Cup on home soil, having won the first ever edition in 1991. On July 10, 1999, in front of 90 ,000 people at the Rose Bowl, they won it all again, defeating China in a penalty shootout. The men had some moments, too. The 2010 team wrote their own chapter in U.S. soccer lore with a string of gutsy performances in South Africa, culminating with Landon Donovan's epic goal against Algeria.

1:04:59The 1994 boys helped set the course for the men's national team. Goalkeepers Tony Miola, Juergen Sommer, and Brad Friedel. Defenders Mike Lapper, Mike Burns, Clay Koiman, Marcelo Balboa, Paul Caliguri, Fernando Clavijo, and Alexi Lalas. In midfield, Thomas Dooley, John Harkes, Hugo Perez, Tab Ramos, Kobe Jones, Mike Sorber, Claudio Reyna. Forwards, Ernie Stewart, Roy Wegerly, Eric Wijnelda, Frank Klopas, and Joe Max Moore. Which brings us back to the 2026 World Cup. With Mauricio Pochettino at the helm, the pressure is on this group of players to write their names alongside all the greats to wear the red, white, and blue.

1:05:47Who will write history this summer? Christian Pulisic, a hero and vanguard from Hershey, Pennsylvania? How about Tyler Adams, the midfield metronome from Wappingers Falls, New York? Weston McKinney, the pride of Little Elm, Texas? It's time for them to write their story. The world is watching.

1:06:13What a great picture. a trip down memory lane that I'm sure Janus for you is both familiar and well you tell this story. You were a part of the process of the process in the end what happened? Tell us the story. I loved all four years of being on that team with the exception of maybe that moment when Bora had a discussion with a couple of us at the very end about I don't know a week or 10 days before the World Cup actually started. But it's all good. know, it happens in life, all the good memories. And, you know, I mean, we've all benefited, right? I mean, I see all the guys, you know, Alexi, and I think everybody's benefited over that.

1:06:55You know, we're here, you know, maybe part of your journey was being part of national team. And we're fortunate enough to talk about the team that's going to be playing in about 10 days, whatever. So it was great. You know, it was different. I definitely think that team, We were the pioneers of it all. And because of the team, a lot of good happened in U.S. soccer, right? You know, Major League Soccer and everything, you know, after that. So it was an important time. A great result, I think, in those years when you think about it, when you look at the group in 94, right, in terms of Switzerland, Colombia, I mean, those results were tremendous.

1:07:31And then even against Brazil, one nil loss against the eventual world champions, it was very good. So much, much different than the teams after that that Herc was part of and the team that we're going to support pretty soon. But great feature. I loved every minute of it. Just a couple of seconds in the end there that I choose to forget. I bet. I bet. But that team, that era, even Boramilutinovic, the head coach at the time. What's the meaning? What's their legacy in terms of what came after them for the U.S. men's national team? They're the pioneers, Janusz and the 94 crew, those who represented the U.S.

1:08:14Men's National Team at the World Cup and those before that represented to try to build something. We today stand on their backs. We today, you know, are allowed to run because they were walking. They sacrificed in a moment where the game was nothing in this country. And today you have players playing in some of the best setups in the world. You have players who at an early age make that leap. That 1994 team was a bunch of unproven kids. You had very few, a handful of professionals that actually were part of that World Cup team. That's how much they had to sacrifice. That's how much I can't begin to explain to a layman, to somebody who's never experienced or seen what they experienced, and try to explain it as if they want to compete against the best in the world, yet they are not professionals.

1:09:05and they did it in a dignified manner. And because they did it that way, you saw the domestic league of major league soccer. And today you have the Christian Pulisic's. In my area, you had the Landon Donovan's and the Clint Dempsey's. And then maybe tomorrow, there'll be a player who watches these players, a Clint, or excuse me, a Christian Pulisic or a Western McKinney and is inspired. And the day tomorrow, that's a future Ballon d 'Or candidate. That's how this goes. So today, everything we have, our program is owed to those guys in 1994. And also the way it opened the door for American players to make the jump and play in Europe.

1:09:51Look at the roster. You see the players that are highlighted, played abroad shortly before or right after the World Cup. Because we keep saying, hey, the key to make progress as a national team, go compete at the highest of levels. And that's European soccer. When you see that list and how the World Cup allowed these players to make that jump, how crucial was that for them just being a part of that group? I mean, look, I mean, there's quite a few guys that played abroad, but different level of football, right? Different level of club. And you saw it. He was in Holland where he regularly was at QPR.

1:10:25You know, Eric played in the Bundesliga, you know, after that. You have to say, Tab Ramos, obviously, back then, I think, was in Spain, but in the second division, of course. And, you know, Clay Coleman was in Mexico. Lexi went to the Liga for a bit. You know, so we have players with some experience, but obviously you can't compare that to Juventus, Milan, Aston Villa. You know, the big teams that our players are playing on right now. So, yes, it was important, you know, in all of it. I mean, we have different views and we're sometimes critical, but we should acknowledge Major League Soccer, right?

1:11:05Because, you know, that group, we had nothing. We were a club team based in Mission Viejo, as that set piece shows. I mean, it wasn't something that all of a sudden, oh, let's go to Mission Viejo. Why? I mean, there was thinking about that, right? For the last two years, we had to be together and we had to train as a team because we couldn't, after an international game, go back to a club that we played because there were no clubs to prepare for that. So I think it was important. Because of that, we have Major League Soccer, which I remember, you know, in 96, first season of Major League Soccer, I remember being away for preseason.

1:11:41There was only 10 teams in Major League Soccer. We were, I think, in full ladder there, most teams, if not all teams, We're training, getting ready for that season. And I remember open conversation with everybody. It's like, yeah, this is not going to last. I mean, I've been part before that. I've been part of, you know, we had this conversation. Two, three, four leagues that folded. I mean, it was always something, right? I mean, I'm thinking to myself, you know, when is the next paycheck coming? If it's coming, because they give you one. But if you don't go to the bank, you know, you might not be able to realize.

1:12:12So, I mean, you know, I've been a champion. and two days later the team folded. I mean, national champion. So the difference is tremendous. That's usually what happens. But I think, you know, and you're right in mentioning we were pioneers, but the 1990 team played a massive role in qualifying for the World Cup in Italy. And, of course, the teams before that as well, even though it seems amateurish. When we look at that from now to the teams previous, right, before 1990, it's just a different story. This is 32 years ago. At the time, players during camp, this two-year camp, were encouraged not to sign for clubs.

1:12:52Yeah, they were discouraged. Stick training with the national team. There are examples of that. And I was one, and I decided to stay. I wonder if I made the right environment. How was that conversation? I wonder. And here's why I'm asking, because now, and you've probably heard this discussion in Mexico. Can we give it context? Yes. So back then, correct me if I'm wrong, Janusz, but the federation held your guys' contracts. The head of federation paid you. For me, we were like a club team. We were signed with the U.S. soccer for that. So you had a pool of players, and you were literally a traveling club team.

1:13:22In two years, you guys could have accumulated something close to, like, 50 cast, 50 international appearances, and you had the opportunity to go play in England, but it was sort of an unwritten rule. Like, if you go, it could cost you. It did. A couple of players. One was Captain America. You guys do your homework. Was a sure thing. As sure as one gets. Peter Vermes. As sure as one gets, Peter was, I mean, when it all started on the very first day that we met in Colorado Springs, and that was the first training camp for Boromir Tinovic, Peter was the captain. He was there for a number of years, chose to go abroad.

1:14:02And there was a couple other players that did. And, you know, and, you know, they weren't there. So I had an opportunity. I had a conversation. World Cup to me was more important. But you know in the end it didn't go my way But you know that's those are the decisions that you have to make course and you have to live with that So I don't hold it against anybody because I consciously made a decision others did it otherwise But yes, I mean it was as competitive as you see in this piece We've seen now a couple documentaries have come out in general about that team and you know And the present team as well and you know, you have to make those tough decisions.

1:14:36You know if I just could very quickly sometimes people fail to realize because we are the United States of America and they think that sporting wise and sometimes in other aspects of global happenings in the world that you're supposed to be the best. Winner's mentality. And sometimes they forget that in a game that's been played for over a hundred years there are traditional powers with a massive head start. And here you are talking about a team that 32 years ago was compiled with majority of amateurs, a team that was trying to gain relevancy without a domestic league. And 32 years have passed.

1:15:22And you're asking for them to compete with the world's best. And win with the world's best. 32 years compared to 100 years. And given the resources, the United States has gone, I think, above and beyond. But given the resources, many still feel you could do more. And I think that's a good thing that you haven't reached that ceiling yet. The difference, the big difference quickly is that we had no expectations. There are expectations right now. Now, some will say realistic or unrealistic. But after so much time, after what we saw in that piece, where the players play. And we all understand that, you know, a lot of these players play at the highest level of football.

1:16:01Right. You know, it's been 30, you know, 32 years, whatever it was. Now, I think, you know, this team has that pressure that perhaps we didn't have. But, you know, pressure is good. They also have the rewards. Right. But pressure is good. It's good. Right. I mean, the competition is much better. You know, we can see that, you know, at least for our team and our reality, we're, you know, one or two, too deep in every position, right? But, you know, you have to deliver. And they shouldn't shy away from that pressure. I think Pochettino, if he's doing one thing right, is obviously trying to create that culture because he understands.

1:16:37There's always – there's still that piece missing, right? As competitive as maybe these players think they are, you have to answer it now. It's going to be very interesting. Progress is not always a straight line. No. And that's been the case for the U.S. Mets national team. Ups and downs, not only for this team, it's basically a rule all around the world. But the work you guys did, even if you didn't make that 94 World Cup roster, Giannis, you should feel very, very proud of what a part of that squad. Great memories. Great memories. That makes it for us. Not a regular show on Monday, but make sure to catch all the programming.

1:17:18World Cup starts next week. We'll be a part of that. Thanks for watching. We'll see you next time. Welcome.

1:17:38Ryan Reynolds here from Mint Mobile. I don't know if you knew this, but anyone can get the same premium wireless for$15 a month plan that I've been enjoying. It's not just for celebrities. So do like I did and have one of your assistant's assistants switch you to Mint Mobile today. I'm told it's super easy to do at MintMobile.com slash switch.