Futbol Americas: Weston McKennie Exclusive Interview+Who keeps their spot in USMNT XI+Mexico kings of Concacaf+ UEFA/Concacaf/AFC against FIFA+Leagues Cup action+LA Galaxy signings

27:06Now you have a Diego Cochin who's playing as well. I don't think this is cut and dry. And there could be a situation right before the window where Matt Freese makes another mistake. And people are like, hey, hey, we've got to rethink this. So I just don't think it's a lock. Even before the World Cup, it wasn't set that he was going to be the starter. Herc, same with you. Alex Freeman about to start his first full season with Villarreal at 22 years old. Yeah, I don't see how he's not a lock for the U.S. Men's National. He may not be a lock for Villarreal because we've seen that in the past. It was a midseason loan, and we know how those take time.

27:38But I do see him as a player that Mauricio Pochettino is going to look not only in the present, but for the future. I don't think anybody is moving him in that right back spot unless it's him due to suspension or injury. He's a lock. All right. So for Herrick, he's a lock. Casey, Alex Freeman, lock or in play? Yeah.

27:58Herculez Gomez:Yeah, no, I think it's all about, you know, how much playing time. Is he going to get at Villarreal? Is he going to be loaned? Is he going to be, you know, what that situation is. But it still doesn't change the fact that what he's done in that right back spot, it's his position to lose. Yeah. Shaq? Yeah, I agree. I think Alex Freeman is a lock. Yes, questions as to how many minutes he'll get at Villarreal. But we're talking about November. And I don't think there's enough of a gap there to suggest that he loses his spot. We're having the same conversation, and he doesn't feature regularly for Villarreal come March.

28:34Then that's a very different conversation we're having around Alex Freeman. But right now, I think, or in November, I don't think there's any question he starts. And Shaq, what about Chris Richards? He showed up to camp, still nursing an injury, started playing right when the World Cup started. But he's one of the best players in this squad. Easily the best defender that the U.S. have. I think it's a lock in terms of defense and defense stability. You build a round, Chris Richards. I don't see that as being much of a question as to whether he's in play or a lock. It's a lock. One of the easiest locks, not Herk?

29:08CB1. Yeah, simple as that. All right, so let's move on, Casey, to Team Ream. What do we do with Team Ream? because he's the experienced player, captain, but maybe the level that he showed was not what was expected from him.

29:26Herculez Gomez:Well, it's not just that. It's, you know, father time's undefeated. And Tim is, you know, in that situation where you're now building towards the future. And, you know, what I would love to see is a great farewell game for Tim at some stage. but I think Tim's the guy that's going to step aside and somebody and then you're going to start looking for that new partnership with Richards. So it is in play, right, Jack? Absolutely, it is in play. I'll be very surprised if Tim Ream starts come November. To Casey's point, 38 years old, at some point you've got to move on. I'll be honest, I was surprised that he featured as heavily as he did during the course of the World Cup, But surely the time has come for Tim Ream to move on or, more to the point, somebody else to fill that spot.

30:16Yeah, I think it's definitely not an in play. I think it's a farewell, as Kay said. I see a scenario where Tim Ream maybe stops playing football in the very near future and somehow steps into a role with Marisa Pochettino. He seems to be of the confidence of Marisa Pochettino. He offers a lot in terms of tactical stability and know-how and leadership to this group, something like that. But his days of being a starting center back to the U.S. men's national team, I think, are long gone. All right, Herk. Sergino Dest, 25 years of age, already nine World Cup games in his back. But as we know, injuries have always been an issue for him.

30:52And we're looking forward to November. So is his spot locked or in play? I don't think it's locked. I like Sergino Dest and I like him a lot. I like what he did offer in the World Cup in that position. but Tim Weah wasn't a guy who got a lot of opportunities and when he did, he didn't necessarily play well down the left-hand side. That right-hand side, that's his side. I could see a situation where who's ever the hottest hand come November will get that confidence. He's not necessarily a lock for me in that wing position. I think it all matters of who's healthy, whether it's Pulisic, whether it's Dest, whether it's Awea, which one comes in in one of those positions, but he's not necessarily a lock for me, no.

31:31So not a lock for Herc, Casey. What about for you?

31:37Herculez Gomez:Yeah, I think again, I think he's probably favored, particularly against teams where you're not necessarily going to need a big defensive presence from that position. So, but I agree with with Herk that that I think when we look at kind of that wide midfield, wide attacking midfield role, it's one of our deepest positions. And so it could easily be a situation where who's in the most form and who's been playing more, who's not dealing with some sort of injury. And so, yeah, I think there's some possibilities there. Is it kind of the same? So it's already two to one, Shaq. Yeah. Right. No, yeah.

32:18They outnumber you already if you were going to go for a lock. Yeah, no, he's in play. What about Anthony Robinson, the other side of the field? Same position, other side of the field. What do we make of Anthony Robinson, four years older than Serginio Dest? Listen, I am sold on Anthony Robinson. I admit I'm not that sold on Serginio Dest. I am sold on Anthony Robinson. He keeps fit and he plays. I think he offers an upside almost like any other in this U.S. men's national team, particularly in the back four. Alongside Chris Richards, I think easily the two most talented defenders that the U.S.

32:53can call on. As long as he avoids injuries, I'm picking Anthony Robinson. That's a lock for you, Herc. I think Shaq just said it best. If he's fit. Yeah. I think that's the caveat. That's the asterisk you have to put on any decision with Anthony Robinson. A fit Anthony Robinson is one of the best left backs in the Premier League. And Anthony Robinson dealing with some injury, there are a lot of doubts there, including the start in 11, but he's a lock for me. All right. So he's a lock. Casey, I'm guessing you agree with this one, right? Yep. All right. So let's move on fast. Weston McKinney. We just heard from Weston McKinney.

33:26in the beginning of the show, about to start his seventh season in Serie A with Juve. Herc, you take it away. No, he's a lock. He's been one of the best players in Serie A in the last season, especially for Juventus, obviously for Juventus. He's one of the best players the U.S. Miss National League has. He can play a bunch of different positions, gets you out of a lot of different things, adds a presence, aerial presence defensively and offensively. I think it'd be very difficult to move a player like Wesley McKinney out of this XI. How crucial is he for Pochettino, Casey?

33:58Herculez Gomez:Well, I think he's really crucial. I mean, I think what we saw was there was a question mark early on in Pochettino's tenure. Just kind of what was the commitment level? And I think clearly there was, I don't know about a conversation, but we saw a different Weston McKinney in those, you know, that last year. So if that attitude continues, continue Locke, no question. And it's also a question of depth. Are there any other players that can fulfill the things that Weston McKinney does for the U.S. men's national team? That's an easy answer for me. Not at all. Weston McKinney, far too talented. There are no other options for Pochettino that offer the experience and the high-level experience that Weston McKinney does.

34:47He's an easy lock for me. Is there any competition for someone like Tyler Adams, Casey, or is he also one of the easiest locks in this dynamic?

35:00Herculez Gomez:Well, the biggest question we've had with Tyler over the last several years is just injuries. Can you count on him? And he was obviously fit for the World Cup and was a huge bonus. Again, I'd go a little bit what Herc said earlier with Anthony Robinson. and if he's fit, he's a lock. No question. And I hope he has one of those seasons where there isn't 10 weeks here, eight weeks here, six weeks there that he's on the sideline. I hope he has one of those great consistent seasons where he's playing week in and week out and playing the way we know he's capable of playing. For Shaq, Sebastian Berhalter made a name for himself during the World Cup.

35:42The minutes that he saw, he played really well. Now he's made the jump and playing at Borough. already saw some minutes. Could he be the player? I'm not going to say just to compete against Tyler Adams, but at least, you know, make Mauricio Pachutino wonder. Is it a spot for him? And maybe not having Tyler Adams as such a luck as we think he is. I still see Bear Holter as a squad player if it's up against Tyler Adams. And the only question here, similarly to Anthony Robinson, is about Tyler Adams, his fitness, his injuries. the way Tyler Adams plays the game, he goes at it 100 miles an hour. He doesn't know how to play in any other style.

36:20That means he picks up a few more injuries than other players would. He has no brake pedal. As long as he stays fit, I pick him, and that is no disrespect to Berhalter in the slightest. That is all about how talented, how highly irate Tyler Adams, particularly his leadership qualities in this team. Yeah, the like for like for Tyler Adams isn't a Sebastian Berhalter. It's two guys who didn't make the World Cup, and an Aiden Morris and a Tanner Tessman. They weren't part of the World Cup. That's potentially the next one up, next man up, if you will. But Tyler Adams, if healthy, hasn't allowed the next man up for almost eight years.

36:55And what about Malik Tillman? He's a very special player. When you think about this World Cup and per 90 minutes played, I'm not saying that he was one of the best in the U.S. Men's National League. He was one of the best players in the World Cup per 90 minutes played. When you look at his progressive passing, when you look at his movement, when you look at the type of player he was in the midfield, he was as good as anybody per 90 minutes played. He's a special player that I think Marisio Pochettino leaned on early on in his tenure. They condemned him to, now I'm forgetting the name of the Spurs player that he compared him to early on in his tenure.

37:31Oh, Dele Alli. Dele Alli, thank you, sir. Which shows you the special talent. Maybe Dele Alli didn't fulfill the potential one would have hoped, but he was a special player for Pochettino, and he thought of him that way, and he turned out being that player at the World Cup. I think this is one of the easiest locks. Casey, has he done enough to be considered a lock on this team?

37:53Herculez Gomez:Yeah, I mean, I think what he really did was he ingratiated himself to the coaching staff by not taking a summer off, and coming and playing in tournaments, and playing matches, and proved himself. And he then continued to grow in status, And, you know, he's been one of the most consistent players under Pochettino. And so, yeah, I mean, unless something crazy happens, yeah, he's a lot. All right. So, so far, we have just Team Ream, who we all understand is about to retire. He has an illustrious career. And Serginio Destin played. The rest seemed like luck. So, and I think I got to start adding Christian Pulisic as well as a luck.

38:35Anybody would disagree with this? You would. All right, Shaq. Here we go. And I say this. A fit Christian Pulisic is a no-brainer in terms of him being in a lock. Yeah. But injuries all year long, coming into the workup. Injuries during the course of the workup, to the point that Pochettino has to figure out how to play without a Christian Pulisic. And I think that's the issue here. Given the year he had, given the calendar year he had, particularly for club, but also for country, I'm not sure how much he features to start this season, this European season and how good he is, his form he has to focus on his club career as much as anything and Pochettino has to think about what do I do without a Christian Pulisic so as a result for November I think that's in play Eric?

39:28I also think it's in play and I don't just feel it's in play for Marisa Pochettino I feel it's in play for Christian Pulisic Casey will remember John O 'Brien, the special talent that John O 'Brien was. He's given me these type of vibes, Casey, where it just feels like the player himself may take himself out of the equation for his own, maybe mental state or benefit or whatever he thinks is necessary for himself. I really get this type of vibe with them. Casey?

39:55Herculez Gomez:Well, I think we're going to find out in the friendlies and kind of does he do take himself out or is he 100 % committed for the friendlies in September, October? Now, what I would say is I would say, I think Shaka talked about it a little bit earlier, when if November might be too early, I think you were talking about Freeman, where I think he's a lock for November. I think if the friendlies don't go well and November doesn't go well, then I think he may come into play, particularly if his form at AC Milan is not where it was at the start of last season. All right, and finally, Follard in Balagun.

40:34Three goals at the World Cup. That number nine spot was always in play, not only during Mauricio Pochettino's stint, but going back to Gerber Halter as well. How important is it going to be for Follard in Balagun to have a hot start at club level? Yeah, just stay away from Spurs, and I think that may be possible. So do what you need to do, Flo, But keep yourself healthy and keep yourself going. So is he a lock right now? Honestly, if anybody's a lock in this team, it is a follower in Balogun. He's done something that no other forward since 1930 has done. Lock. Lock. Casey, lock? Yep. Yeah, this used to be the big element of conversation and debate on this show, the number nine spot.

41:24It was never a lock. But it seems that what he's done recently. For November. Yeah, we're talking about 4 November. People didn't realize that. We're not talking about three, four years from now. 4 November. Casey, you're always a lock on this show, but sadly we have to let you go for now. Thank you, Josh. I'm going to go ahead and lie and say it's always good to see you. Put Casey in. Let's put Casey in. Thank you, Casey. That's Casey Keller joining us in Football Americas. Let's run it back. Speaking of Sebastian Berhalder, Herc. first official game with Boro and first assist for Sebastian Berhalter.

42:04Yeah, Sebastian Berhalter, look, normally it's with his foot that he's playing supplier, but very nicely brought down with his head. He's fitting it quite nicely. It's only been a couple appearances, but the man is putting up assists already. All right, you can catch the Community Shield this Sunday. Arsenal Premier League champs against Mountain City. FA Cup champs. That's this Sunday, 10 a.m. Eastern on ESPN, ESPN Plus, and ESPN Deportes.

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44:13Eric Lira could be on his way out from Liga MX Al Jazeera of the United Arab Emirates has reportedly made a significant offer for the 26-year-old with Cruz Azul, set to be considering the proposal around$14 million for his transfer. Lira, though, has made it clear that his priority has been a move to Europe. So, Herc, if you were in Lira's ear, what would you suggest he does? If you want to go be a reporter at Al Jazeera, you can be a reporter after you finish playing football. You don't need to go now to, this is not, by the way, but it happened for Julián Quiñones and it was great for Julián Quiñones.

44:53There's a difference between Emirates and the Saudi Pro League. There are different leagues. And from what I saw of Eric Lira, he was so good at the World Cup, albeit at his level, whatever case you want to make there. But he was one of the best players on the Mexican national team and had very good football. But for the rest of the world, six months ago, they didn't know Eric Lira. And now he's a player who's 26 years of age. It's the price tag here that scares me. Cruz Azul is entertaining an offer for$14 million from Al Jazeera. They see the price tag there. Maybe his market value is not$14 million.

45:28Maybe a 26-year-old with limited international experience for the rest of the world isn't worth that. Doesn't mean that he's not that good of a player, but you're not going to get$14 million in the open market. The reports are Monaco. I would love for him to go to a team like Monaco. I would love for him to go anywhere else in Europe and test himself because I think he's that good of a player. But the reality is he's 26 years old and this needs to make sense, not only for the club who's purchasing them, but for Cruz Azul and Eric Lira. I'm glad that he, per reports, said no to Al Jazeera. He's got time to go make more money.

46:03He's a rich man already. Go make even more money later if he wants. But it sounds like he wants Europe. And to me, that's where he should be. Now, Shaq, it's not always that the club priorities and player priorities are aligned. This would be a record sale for Cruz Azul,$12 million for a Mexican player. But obviously, as Hurst said, Lita has a different plan. Make the jump to Europe. How hard sometimes it is to have both ideas on the same path. Well, a player will take priority, of course. in his own affairs. He wants to play in Europe. That's his ambition right now. I think that opportunity right now does not get any better, given the workup that he had, given the fact that he's 26 years old.

46:49And the further we go from those workup performances, obviously the older he gets and the less attractive he is to European clubs to take that gamble on Eric Lear, who has not played in Europe before. So you recognize how tight this window is and to her point you go to europe you play in europe you do well those options to go out to the middle east um only increase as a result so those options to finish off your career making a whole lot of money um they they'll be there if you perform on the european stage now here's the thing people like me said after the world cup these would be a big opportunity for Mexican players to show their talents to the world and make the jump to Europe.

47:41Because we keep saying the only way to improve and be more competitive is try yourself at that European level. Isn't it worrisome that there's no really a market for Mexican players to make the jump to Europe? I think there is a market. Is there? Where is it? It's just not the market that the Mexican press wants. But we haven't even heard from other offers. And other times we have heard from offers, let's say, I'm just going to give you a whatever example. This European club is interested in this whatever player. But we have now. But the price tag is too high. Now we haven't heard that a lot. I'll give you an example very quickly.

48:23Israel Reyes, I think, is a very good center back. And he's a player who can play as a right back. He plays as a right back in this World Cup as well. And he can play as a defensive midfielder. He's a good stability player. Solid player. Solid player. Roma was interested in him. There was never an offer. But that's the thing. The offer that Roma would give you would be around$5 million. Yeah. $6 million. Same for Lira with Monaco. $5 million. Exactly. And Club America is saying, oh, not a second. I could sell them to Cruz Azul or to Monterrey or to Tigres for$12 million. Why are we talking about this?

48:56That's where you price yourselves out. There's an internal market within Mexico that the rest of the world sees, and it's not like, well, I gave you an offer and you didn't like it. Its starting point is how much? Okay, we're good. We're good. That's a problem here. It's not that Mexican players aren't talented. It's not that they don't have good development within Mexico. It's that the rest of the world knows about these prices. And there's also a body of work behind those prices. Chucky Lozano, Diego Lainez. There are players who haven't exactly blown the doors off a European competition for them to keep coming back the way they did with Argentines, the way they did with Uruguayans or Brazilians.

49:37They're still an unproven commodity within Europe. And it's not that clubs are even now bothering to ask, go knock the door and ask for a player. Speaking of talent, let's go to what happened in Mexico over the weekend. This is the CONCACAF Under-20 Championship, And this is the game for the title, and it's at Estadio Azteca. 50 ,000 to see el Clásico de la CONCACAF, México-Estados Unidos. 28-minute Camberos with a cross and the second header hurt by Atlante player Carlos Hernandez, Mexico's leading. Yeah, Carlos Hernandez, the center back with the header. There's some questions. Does it go over the line?

50:16Does it not? I think it goes over the line. Even if it's not, it's a handball right there. They would have gotten a penalty kick. It's 1-0, Mexico. So I have a set piece in the worst possible moment for the U.S. youth national team. Set piece, you said. All right, Shaq, let's move forward to the 42nd minute. The goal was given, even the goalkeeper and the defender with a clash at the goal line. There's the confirmation of the goal. Now, let's see what happens. This is Christopher Applewhite, poor control, and then brings Hugo Cameros down. The referee originally says yellow card, goes and checks on VAR check, and then changes his decision to straight red.

50:54Thoughts? As a foul, I did not think that was a straight red. I think the uncertainty comes around whether it's De Nava goal scoring opportunity, whether the defenders around Applewhite were in position to make cover on Camberos. That's where I think the decision was made. As a challenge, as a red card challenge, stand-alone challenge, I'd yellow is fair if it was a foul if it's denying the goal is called an opportunity that we're having a different conversation yeah Shaq then this is what I think you're right on the money here and if this tackle isn't there he goes on in a 1v1 and probably scores second half Shaq I'll leave you to this Oh, why do you leave Shaq to that?

51:39It happens. You know it happens. It's a low sun. It's a low sun in Azteca this time of year. And it's a brace for Cristóbal Alfaro, the Atlante player. But, yeah, he knows. He knows, Shaq. Yeah. He knows. And Mexico lifts the trophy under the rain at Estadio Azteca. They win the CONCACAF Under-20 Championship. And with this, they basically complete the CONCACAF challenge. They've won it all. They won the under 15, the under 17, the under 20, and a club-level Champions Cup, and at a senior level, CONCACAF Nations League and CONCACAF Gold Cup. So the fact that Mexico has regained its position as El Gigante de la CONCACAF, dominating, as you said before, on the show, the region, What would we make of this?

52:34What has changed with Mexico that they're now in possession of every single trophy available in CONCACAF? I think one of the biggest changes for Mexico is Andres Lilini, who is the director of football operations for the Mexican national team, excuse me, third federation. And the dual recruitment or excuse me, the recruitment of dual nationals and how aggressive they've been with that. They've retaken the region. You can see throughout all their categories, the amount of dual nationals will help them do that. But they're just a better team when it comes to youth national teams historically in this region.

53:07Make what you will of youth national teams. This U-20 CONCACAF championship, which should showcase some of the best players, if not just the best players, that are age-elable for this region. That's not the case. And it's not the case at the U-20 World Cup. And it's not the case at the U-23 Olympic level. There's always, because of the alignment of calendar, there are ownership groups within Major League Soccer that think it's more important for them to play a Leagues Cup, their players to play a Leagues Cup, or to be in a preseason with Dortmund, or for whatever the case may be, than them actually competing in a venue like Estadio Azteca.

53:43I kind of understand the sentiment if I'm being honest. You've got one quality game here. Both Mexico and the U.S. steamrolled opposition, and they finally got a game of worth, maybe in the semis, maybe in the final, and that's it. Most clubs don't think it's in the development or best interest of the development of the player to allow them to go here. The United States Youth National Team, it's not an excuse for them. They lost, and it's not Mexico's problem, but the best players in that age group were not there. The best players in Mexico's age group were not there. These processes are for the development of players.

54:19Mexico's U-20 coach said Gilberto Mora has passed this. Obed Vargas is past this. I'll bet he's older. But Gilberto Moniz passed this. There are some players on the U.S. side that are past it, some that aren't, that could have been there to help, but weren't allowed to help. Mexico and the U.S. had already punched a ticket to the Under-20 World Cup, and Mexico is back at playing at the Olympic Games. The U.S. had already qualified being host nation. But when you see the list, Shaq, is there really a gap this big between Mexico and the rest of the field in CONCACAF once you see that one nation has won all the trophies available.

54:57Well, there's certainly a gap between Mexico and USA and the rest of CONCACAF. I don't think that's at all of the debate. It then becomes about U.S. and Mexico and how they compete against each other and to explain how they continue their development cycles at every single level, at every single competition. It's impressive to see Mexico as dominant as they are in every single age group, But ultimately, you're judged on what the senior team does. It's all how it feeds into the senior teams on both the men's and women's teams. And that is all that truly matters. Everything else kind of is an indicator of what that may look like in a few years.

55:39So if you consider that Andres Lillini joined the Mexican Federation at that level in March of 2023, two months later, Mexico was winning the under-17 CONCACAF and then the under-15. And then you move forward all the way to this point. Let me put it in this term. Is it something, nothing, or everything, this sweep by Mexico? Oh, it's definitely something. Listen, if you're a U.S. fan, you can feel embarrassed and maybe you should feel embarrassed about this. But this is a problem within U.Sports in this country that we always talk about. We talk about actual development. And we always hear the, hey, the score doesn't matter.

56:23It's about developing. Worry about how they play, not if they win. Well, here it's a win thing. And one would argue is I think Mexico has very talented players. I see this U-20 team and some of the names on there. and there are a few names that stick out. Santi Sandoval from Chivas and Hugo Camberos from Chivas. And then you look at the numbers of an Hugo Camberos, who was the leading goal scorer of this tournament, and you're like, this kid played 130 minutes one season and the season before that another 136 minutes. And we knew about him two years ago. And we knew about him two years ago, Mel.

56:55So why isn't he playing for Chivas now? And you're like, what's going on here? Why aren't these players graduating to the next level? There's not even the excuse that, well, foreign players are coming and taking their play because it's Chivas. It's only Mexican players. But that's what I'm getting at. So if you're a team like Dortmund, you're like, I have Matis Alba right here. And he's age group eligible, but why am I going to send him to the CONCACAFU 20s? You know, Red Bull, Julian Hall, I'll just let him continue to play with men. What about Mehmedi? I'll let him do the same. Kevin Sullivan scored the other day against Nick Kaxa.

57:31And then, you know, Justin Ellis and then Drew Terry. and there's a list, a laundry list that you could say, why aren't they there? Why aren't they there? Well, because they're playing against grown men, against Liga Mequis players, or whatever the case may be, but they're not playing against kids who still hasn't graduated to that level. Yeah, let's see how that eventually translates to dominate at a senior level. Mexico keeps dominating, or the U.S. now, with Mauricio Pochettino still in charge, they can make a run for Mexico's money. Now, this happened during the medal and trophy presentation.

58:03Listen at the booing. At Mikel Arriola, who's Mexico Soccer Federation president, the people are protesting the no longer existence of promotion and relegation, Shaq. So give it to the people to make the voice being heard by booing the president of the federation. They're absolutely right, in all honesty. Given that story and the history of this no promotion, no relegation dating back to the pandemic and why that hasn't been addressed, I think the fans are absolutely right to ask those questions and to voice their discontent in this way, in the most public of ways. And it's not only promotion and relegation.

58:47That's part of it. It's also a statement from the Mexican Soccer Federation backing Gianni Infantino. Correct. That has caused a big, big – it's both because you saw the video of someone posted on the plane challenging Mikel Arriola wanting promotion and relegation. I'll say a few things. I think it's part of it. Yeah, I'll say a few things here. I think he's a commissioner of a league, essentially. That's what he is. and people have maybe the wrong idea about what a commissioner does. He's a bulletproof vest. He's a shield. They are a shield for the owners. They work for the owners. That's what they do.

59:25Shaq, what if I told you in the Premier League they're going to do something different with promotion and relegation? They're going to make it where it's going to be a three-year process and a percentage. So a percentage off of those three years. And based off those three years, the worst team out of those three years will get relegated every year. And the team that gets promoted goes off the same percentage. So if you win in your first year, you suit straight up. But if you lose, you're right back down. Does that seem right? No. No. That is Mexican football, which is why I sometimes think it's fake outrage.

59:57It's fake outrage. I want there to be a healthy lower division pyramid in Mexico. One year like the rest of the world. Don't protect the big boys. Don't protect the big teams. No, like the rest of the world. If not, all you're doing is you're fomenting more of this mediocrity of owners protecting owners. And I'm not with that. I want an extra promotion relegation with the Mexican football. Yeah, 12 of those players representing Mexico are part of the second tier football that now has no shot at being promoted and playing first tier football. The Gianni Infantino saga doesn't stop, and it doesn't look like it's going to stop anytime soon.

1:00:44UEFA had already made their position very, very clear. Now, alongside CONCACAF, except Mexico and the Asian Confederation, they have joined UEFA in expressing through this joint letter their position on the matter. When trust is broken through deception, when an individual places himself above the collective that entrusted him with authority, that duty has been abandoned. Attempting to sell interest in the FIFA World Cup was a profound failure of judgment, a fundamental breach of trust. It is not the conduct of a custodian of the game, but of the one who believes the game is answerable to him.

1:01:25Those Shaq are strong words. Gian Infantino is looking to be re-elected next year. is Infantino with what we know from CONCACAF minus Mexico, UEFA and Asia. Is he against the ropes right now? Yes, he is. And I think it's a problem of his own making, quite clearly. I think the issue of Gianni Infantino is power is a hell of a drug. And that's what you saw. That's what you've seen during the course of his tenure. And it culminated in what we saw this summer, both during the World Cup and immediately after it. And now there's this, I fully agree with the statement put out by UEFA Konkaf and the AFC about Gianni Infantino, to the point that I think there needs to be certainly an investigation into a lot of what happened during the course of this summer, both during and after the workup, and see what comes of that.

1:02:33while FIFA have said they will have an internal investigation, that is not good enough. That has to be done by a third party, by somebody independent. So everything that can be brought, everything that happened can be brought to light from the FIFA Peace Prize all the way through to where we are today. Without it, I think there's this inherent distrust around FIFA. Now, part of that issue is there has always been an inherent distrust around FIFA, dating back to the Havalanche and then the Sepp Blatter days. This is no different. I think the fans are recognizing their power to change, to create a direction at football's highest level.

1:03:22You saw it with the European Super League, and I think this is a moment for fans to, again, hold FIFA to account, or insist at the very least, that FIFA consider them first and foremost in how they do their business. Are they powerful enough? And by they, I mean CONCACAF, UEFA, AFC. Are they powerful enough? Is that statement powerful enough to make us believe that Gian Infantino will be forced to resign before the election March 2027? Is what we saw powerful enough to make us believe that Infantino could step aside? Absolutely, to make us believe, because we want to believe in the good. We want to believe that evil will always succumb to the light, to the good.

1:04:09Will it actually happen? That's another story. I agreed with everything Shaq said except one thing. This is historic. When have you ever seen open letters implying for the president of FIFA to resign? Now, it's all good and fair. And what these open letters are basically implying is that you don't resign. There could be no vote of confidence. And then once that vote happens, you call into question his ability to properly lead with integrity. FIFA, it'll go to a vote. 106 would be majority vote, the 211 member associations. These elections, these votes don't happen. They don't matter through open letters.

1:04:58They matter through backroom lobbying. And that's where Johnny Fantino would be at his best. With what he has right now, does he have enough? No. But we've already seen CONCACAF said, this is what we believe. And Mexico said, that's not what I believe. And there are Caribbean nations, Central American nations, Asian nations. Every single nation has the same vote, which carries the same weight, regardless of what type of resources you bring to the game. And that right there is powerful. Shaq, you said power is a hell of a drug. He still has power and he has lobbying power. He still has power. the fact that he could not complete, thankfully, the sale of the commercial elements of the World Cup.

1:05:42That means that he was tasked to complete that. He didn't do it. He didn't deliver. Someone who backs him is not happy with Gianni Infantino. We all know who that is. So now he's in limbo. He was not able to fulfill that power act of creating an entity to commercialize the World Cup in a different way by a private entity. And at the same time, he now has created powerful enemies. I would be surprised if Gianni Fantino is FIFA's president by March of 2027. I think this is just the beginning. And I would be very, very surprised if this doesn't cause Gianni Fantino to step aside before the election.

1:06:25I'd be very surprised if he does. I think if FIFA held an election tomorrow morning, Gianni Infantino would win. And while, again, I agree fully with the statement as put out, UEFA are, what, 52, 53 nations. They're unified as CAF, African continent. They are 54 voting members, I believe. So those two cancel each other out. And while CONCACAF signed on to this letter, I'm not sure that it's unified. I think if it came down to a vote, there would be a significant break-off for or against Gianni Infantino. While the letter is signed by Victor Montagliani, CONCACAF president, I'm not sure that that means that CONCACAF are unified around this.

1:07:16And I'm tempted to say the same about about the Asian Football Confederation. While the president signed up on these letters, I'm not sure that 100 percent votes with the with the Confederation presidents. And that's because of the distrust that you've mentioned that we all have had within FIFA. FIFA has not given us a reason to trust it throughout my adult history. I can't think of one. It's self-serving. And this self-serving issue is what got Johnny Infantino into trouble. He went out and tried to literally fast forward, excuse the pun there, and fast track this move with private equity without consulting the members of the association.

1:08:00And that's what that rogue event is what's causing the stir here. And not even his inner circle at FIFA. That's also a cause for concern. if he cannot be longer trusted by his inner circle. Follow NWSL action this weekend. Angel City facing Washington Spirit. That's Sunday, primetime, 9 p.m. Eastern on ESPN.

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1:10:03Leaks Cup on the way. Look at the America fans in Portland. One of the cities with best soccer tradition in America. Fifth minute, Herc. And this is El Rayito, who's back and better than ever. Is this the best League Scope goal so far? Look at that beauty. That's a good one. It's a very good golazo. Listen, it's on turf, and many are going to say, so what? It's so much more difficult to hit that like that on turf. And look at the movement. It's a golazo. Look at that dip. That is some dip. He gets out so high. Not even Shaq can stop that in his prime. 19-minute Cota makes the mistake. Christopher Velde, remember the name, drops two defenders, and then Shaq scores.

1:10:50All tie. That is a really well-taken goal. Nice feet. Nice little shift here. Oh, Ramon Juarez. It was Juarez, wasn't it? Oh, boy. Call the chiropractor for Ramon Juarez. 63rd minute, again, El Rayito. Brian Rodriguez takes his own rebound, takes his shot. There's a deflection, and there it is. Isaias Violante, America leading again. Yeah, Violante, excuse me, with another goal. Very fortunate, but they are leading. And 87th minute, this is the new signing for Club America. 3-1, Oscar Perea would score. America wins. a lot of America fans, that was not good for Christopher Velde. Hey Chris, how was the atmosphere different?

1:11:43The only yellow people in our world. Incredible. I've never seen this in my life. And I don't know if that was possible. That's my answer. Yeah, Chris, shots fired. I want to welcome Chris Velde from Norway to the Club America experience. That's what Club America does, Shaq. You know, the Real Madrid of the Americas doing that thing. That's what happens when you face Club America even at home. It's tough as a U.S. team up against Mexican opposition at a club or international level. Get used to it. Exactly. Get used to it. This is why I always push back when people say that the U.S. isn't a footballing country.

1:12:28No, no, no. It actually has a massive appetite. It's just not an MLS country, and it's not a U.S. men's national team country. But you get Mexican fans. You get Brazilian fans. You get Colombian fans. There's a massive appetite here. And what makes this interesting is Portland is one of those good atmospheres within Major League Soccer. This is not a Major League Soccer game. This is a League's Cup game. So those season ticket holders are not season ticket holders here. And it's open market. And if there's something we've learned about Mexican fans is if you open the market, they will show up.

1:12:59And that they did. Now, for Christian Valdi, if this makes me, maybe makes him feel a little better, I come from San Luis Potosí. That's in Mexico. Big, awesome city. Have you ever met San Luis? No. I got to take you to San Luis. All right. You love it. I'm going to do it. Now, this is the first. Think about Bristol. This is the first division, Primera División, Liga MX, right? Every time, America or Cruz Azul. Or Tigres. Or, no, Tigres, no. Or Chivas. They go and play away at San Luis. it's 95 % Club America fans. So, it happens. Tigres. Tigres have been at points. Roll the tape! It was just a one-time event.

1:13:39It never happened again. Chivas, for example. Chivas playing in San Jose against FC Dallas. Chivas needed to win this game to stay alive in League's Cup. Yes, all Chivas at San Jose Stadium, but it would be hurt all Dallas. 73rd minute, Logan Farrington scores. Farrington with the colossal good cutback on the left foot, but terrible defending. And Chivas, correct me if I'm wrong, producer Beto, but they've not won a single Leagues Cup game in their history? You're right. And apparently it's not going to happen this season. They are out of it. Inter Miami, emotional moment for Lionel Messi. His dad passed away in Argentina.

1:14:22Leo Messi obviously joining his family. and Rodrigo De Paul scoring and honoring his friend Leo Messi-Shaq. Yeah, and I think this is a really nice touch. You know the relationship between Rodrigo De Paul and Lionel Messi. Only fitting, he finds, he opens his scoring and wears that tribute to his good friend. Also, Rayados needed to win to stay alive. And here it is, Hugo Kuypers. Kuypers with the first and then watches Paul Chavez. It bounces and it's going to be, who's this? Oh, so it's all MLS players for Rayados. Ex-MLS players with Rayos scoring the goals. Maybe a handball. No, no handball.

1:14:59It's going to be a goal. 2-1. Monterrey keeps them alive in this tournament. Yeah. Inter Miami loses at home without Lionel Messi. Chicago Fire with Robert Lewandowski facing the worst team in Mexican soccer. That's not true. Santos, that is actually true. Who messes me? No, no, no, no. Santos is the worst. And what is the goalie doing, Shaq? Ezequiel Bullado scores a great goal, but the goalie, what's up? I sympathize with the keeper here. He's waiting for this ball to come straight through. It got deflected. Once the defender gets a touch on it. No. No. If you go all the way out, you got to win the ball.

1:15:33No. The center back deflected that ball. I'm with the goalie here. The equalizer, Herc. How about this? Second minute. Seeker Angel. Seeker Angel. Seeker Angel with the golazo right there. It's very well struck. Near post. Roof sick. Goalkeeper can't do anything about it. Acevedo's looking low. Can't get it low. and then I don't think I ever would have thought that this guy would have scored against me Santos. Do you remember we called his MLS debut for Robin Lott when we used to do MLS games? Yes. No, you don't remember. Of course I remember. That's 2-1. And in the 93rd minute, the man, the myth, the legend, Roman Lewandowski-Shaq.

1:16:11He starts to play off and just, as good players do, never switch off. Just follows in just in case and is rewarded for it. What a finisher. What an instinct. He's okay, right? He can do better. Always. That's a way for Chicago. Tigres advancing 4-2, getting the double against Minnesota on Pence. And Cruz Azul is looking great so far in Liga MX and also League Club. They are one of the candidates, certainly on the Mexican side, to win this tournament.

1:16:49Major League Soccer news. Chucky Lozano has joined the LA Galaxy on a loan deal through the rest of this 2026 season from San Diego FC. Lozano joins the Galaxy as a designated player for the remainder of the season with an option to make the move from San Diego permanent next season. He makes$9.3 million. San Diego will pick up a considerable part of his salary. He's not the only one hurt. Also Sergio Roberto, former Barcelona and Como player. The 34-year-old also joins the Galaxy. 34 years old, plenty of pedigree, vision, passing, technical ability, the whole lot. But he is 34 years of age and he's coming off a couple years where he's been off injured at Como.

1:17:41Now coming into a very physical league with a team that desperately needs results and ASAP. He would, well, he actually joins Ricky Puig. He knows him very well from Barcelona. Ricky Puig obviously recovering from another knee injury. But, you know, the Galaxy really well. That's your club. It's still in your heart. It's still in your heart. Are they going back to their old formula? No. These kind of signings. Chucky Lozano, big attraction for the Mexican fans in the L.A. area. Sergio Roberto, former Barcelona captain in 2023. Correct. Correct. Not a lot of fans are happy with Chucky Lozano signing, regardless of the price tag, because it's nine point almost four million dollars that he's making this year.

1:18:24The LA Galaxy aren't picking up nine point four million dollars. He's still going to be DP. Who knows how much of that price tag they'll pick up. But they were expecting something massive. This is a team that pushed the envelope every year since the existence of the of Major League Soccer from David Beckham to Zlatan to Chicharito to Steven Gerrard. Insert big name here. The LA Galaxy got that type of player. And Chucky Lozano, you're getting a player that you don't really know. It's an enigma. Which Chucky Lozano are you going to get? He's now 31 years of age. By no means long in the tooth. By no means done.

1:18:59But hasn't played in eight plus months. A Chucky Lozano that has a track record of maybe being a little toxic or too toxic for the locker room's liking. But it is a second opportunity. and he is coming at a discount rate and it is a loan option so you're not keeping him so there is upside to Chucky Lozano and for Chucky Lozano. Chucky Lozano has a lot to prove here. I don't believe it's as cut and dry as Chucky Lozano had a bad attitude and told off the coach for taking him off at halftime and that's why San Diego FC is willing to throw 29 million dollars down the drain. If I'm a club owner what did Chucky Lozano do?

1:19:38Well he yelled at me. I don't care. Get him back on the field. There's got to be something there. And in terms of Sergi Roberto, he's a player that has in the last couple seasons with Como muscular injuries that have prevented him from playing more games than one would like and being at his best level. This is an LA Galaxy that's a far cry from a team that a couple seasons ago won MLS Cup that lost, excuse me, their leading goal scorer in Jovalich, that lost Brugman, who was the MLS Cup MVP, that lost Mark Delgado, who was a very good central midfield for them that had Ricky Pooch, who was MVP candidate and MVP of the Galaxy that season.

1:20:15Gabriel Peck, he has gone. Joseph Payne still is half the player he was with this team. And defensively, they are in shambles. So Greg Vanni, Will Koontz, and the LA Galaxy have a lot more to worry about than if these two transfers will work out. This team needs a lot of work. Yeah, because it's five wins in 19 league games, not necessarily by adding Chucky Lozano, who, as Herc said, hasn't played in eight months, and Sergi Roberto, who's been hurt, not only last season, the last two seasons, he's been nursing a couple of injuries. It's not enough at this point. It's not enough, which is why I don't get it.

1:20:53It's not enough by any measure, and then at a cost, that is difficult to justify. So it does not make any kind of either signing does not make any kind of sense to me at all. Sergio Roberto, maybe you could. I cannot make an argument for Chucky Lozano. Kind of given his history, given his toxicity in a team that is struggling for form. That is the last element you want to add to to that volatility. You know what? At least they're trying something. And I say this respectfully. Like, I understand the Galaxy fans are upset, but they're trying something. Because we've had Will Koontz on this show before, and he talks about the salary cap issues with Major League Soccer, how they punish you for winning.

1:21:38So you win MLS Cup, you can't do the performance escalator on certain players and get their contracts in for the next season, so you've got to offload them. That's a problem that nobody wants to hear about. Other teams seem to not have that issue. You have this issue with injuries, but at least they're trying something. And I would rather them try something and fail miserably than try nothing. It is, though, a leap of faith with two players that haven't been regular in the past two seasons. It's a short-term solution. The Galaxy also have to think in long-term solutions to be, again, competitive as they have been for a lot of years in Major League Soccer.

1:22:14The invitation is there. Join Ahora o Nunca. Shaq, this is a great show on ESPN Deportes. You can catch it also on YouTube at Ahora o Nunca ESPN Weekdays. Now or never?

1:22:55I've done this, Shaq. Yeah. I scored a goal. It was in Cockcaf Champions League at that time, not Champions Cup. I got the Houston Dynamics. And I did this exactly. I didn't fall in the moat. But I fell behind and twisted and rolled my ankle. And my teammates were making fun of me. Head coach comes up to me afterwards. What happened? And I had to play it off like nothing happened. Now, Shaq, here's the worst part. I don't want to get fined. Here's the worst part. The goal was disallowed. His goal was disallowed. Mine stood. Yes, sir. And then, look. Team effort, right? And the team, it also includes the doctor.

1:23:29Look at this friend to get to its player. And then pops a girl. Yeah, let's go. Give this man a raise. Did he come back into the game? No, that's a different doctor. No, he didn't come back to the game. Maraniao. Maraniao. No. I think he came back on, but only lasted four minutes or something like that. That is something about something. You know whose fault it was? His wife's. Hey. He's out right in the goal. At least that's something that would never happen to goalkeepers, huh? because we're smart because we're smart is that what you mean yeah that's smart I'll just leave that there alright that's the show make sure to join us on Thursday download the podcast whatever you download your podcast this has been Football Americas thank you for watching

1:24:26Close your eyes, exhale, feel your body relax, and let go of whatever you're carrying today.

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