Trevor Noah on Football, Liverpool and the Premier League, Live at New Jersey's Iconic Stone Pony

26:55Any chance I get, I will go to Anfield. Any chance. So I've watched Liverpool more at other stadiums than at Anfield, just because that's how it works out for me when I'm touring or when I'm doing shows. But I'll always go somewhere. So the last one I went to was actually at Craven Cottage against Fulham. We lost, but it was still a great game. It was great because the fans were just singing there and they're like, we're going to win the league. We're going to, we don't care. Oh, we're still going to win the league. It was great. But yeah, like, how could you not? You know what I mean? Football is weird in that you form this deep connection with human beings you've never met, you've never known, and yet you feel like you understand intimately.

27:39You know what I mean? Like, I was like, I know Jurgen Klopp. I truly feel like I know him. The first time I actually met Jurgen Klopp was in, was, it might have actually been in New Jersey. That is so crazy. We're not just pandering, guys. No, no, no. I'm being serious. I'm actually, now that I think about it, it might have actually been in New Jersey. Because Liverpool was out here and they were doing like a US tour. Yeah, I think it was in New Jersey. And we're, you know, in the change rooms and saying hi to the team and everything. And I was chatting to Daniel Sturridge. You know, we've always gotten along and meeting everyone else.

28:16And then Klopp comes walking down the hallway. And, you know, you have this, you're like, it's him. You know, it's a... And I just stood on the side and he walks by. And he walks by and then he turns around and he's like, I think I know that guy. I think I know that guy. Aren't you the funny guy? That's the funny... Oh, yeah, you're here to make jokes or you're here to watch the game? What are you... Oh, yeah, yeah, okay. I know this guy. Oh, yeah, funny, funny guy. Okay, okay. Now it's a serious affair. Okay, now Liverpool made it big. Now it's a serious affair. Oh, yeah. And he just knew things, and we laughed, and we talked.

28:57And I think what I've always appreciated about Klopp is not just what he did in terms of his successes for the club. It's what he represented for the game, right? he joined a team at a time when I think most people would agree the team didn't have much hope in itself he joined a team that had an amazing legacy but the present that they were faced with didn't seem like one where there was any light you know we're constantly experiencing near misses and hopes and slips and everything and Klopp came in and he just he changed Liverpool the way Liverpool feels as a club the way Liverpool feels as a place to be honest with you and man I don't know I find that so inspiring because I think many people can go to places in their lives and do their job there's few people who can go somewhere and leave the space that they were in feeling better than when they found it do you know what I mean?

30:01I think that's what he did By the way, it's crazy hearing you say this because I interviewed him once and I asked him about what's important in life. And he said exactly what you've just nailed, which is he said to me, he said, it's not winning, which I found kind of crazy because ultimately for Premier League managers, they are judged on that. He said, but he went off on, he should find the interview. It's very fascinating what he said. But ultimately he said, did you leave the place behind you? He actually said this. A better place, yes. Oh, that's crazy. A better place than it was before you were there.

30:37This is a man that every club he'd been through, not just Dortmund, but Mainz before it, lifted it, transformed it. And then Liverpool again, giving it hope, turned it from doubters to believers. I mean, I've got to say, it's like in a world in which leaders, I mean, it's hard to find a leader that you believe in. And I'm a horrible man. But as an Everton fan, even I look at him, I do look at life. Like if you can't learn from Jurgen Klopp, But ultimately, it's sad for you. And I did learn a lot from him. So what do you learn from this human being? I mean, you were with him. You were there on the sideline.

31:10You've chatted to him a lot. What's a lesson ultimately that he left you with? I think the biggest thing he left me with was understanding, you know, that it's... The best way to put it is, you know, to bring it back to the game of football. There's always going to be another game. I love to look at fans and how we define ourselves by the moment that we are always in, and then we quickly forget it. I'm a Liverpool fan. So many of the Liverpool fans that I know already are like, this is terrible, I hate my life, I hate everything. I'm like, we're still the current champions. But it's amazing how quickly that feeling goes away.

31:53You know what I mean? And it doesn't mean like, don't care about the results. No, what I mean is like, it's just remind yourself of the moments. Remind yourself of the elation. You know, I've got Manchester United fans who I'll roast as much as I can. Don't get me wrong. Who are friends. But like, even with them, I'm like, yeah, man, think about Fergie time. You know what I mean? Enjoy those moments. Think about those late winners. Think about that Rooney overhead. Think about like, what an amazing experience to have in life. those unexpected beautiful moments that just like that make life what it is you remember that you know and i think that's what that's what jrgen klopp always makes me think of and makes me feel is it feels like he's actively trying to live life he's not passively moving through it i mean it's ultimately he also i'm annoyed actually because like he said all of this to me and i'm not annoyed did i just watch his interview no i love it i love it maybe that's what i did I'm Polish, this mad bastard, isn't it?

32:52It's a long ride out here to New Jersey. Did he just Google this stuff and watch? The last interview I did with him, I did say to him, like, how do you want to be remembered? And he said, ultimately, it's not by what I won. It's like, I'll drink beers when I'm old, on my rocking chair, please God with my family. And it is by those memories that I make as a human being. Yeah, man, that's it. That's ultimately it. That's it. By the way, the lovely thing you've done, you've nailed them for some Manchester United fans, you've nailed them for Liverpool. But ultimately, it is that episodic connection with the world in those moments.

33:23That is it. Imagine being a Leicester fan when Jamie Vardy was scoring the goals that he was in that epic season. Come on, man. Even now, when I see Sunderland, I don't even think you understand how much I love the Premier League. You know what I mean? I love football, but I don't have enough time to love all of it as much as I do one league. But I'm watching Sunderland and I go, when you know what that city has been through, when you know what that team means to them, when you know what the stadium of light represents, I'm like, yeah, I'm a Liverpool fan, but man, I'm a football fan. You know, every time Mukiele gets that ball and he goes to the line, I'm just like, this is magic, this moment right here.

34:00Like, it feels like it's like another N 'Golo Kante meets moment. You get what I'm saying? It's like, who is this player? What is this moment? What is happening? Who is the city? Who are these people? It's too special for me. It genuinely is too special, week in and week out. So this is, you said at the beginning, you said something that is at risk of becoming a cliche, which is football is life. But then you have delved into the reality of that and made it have deep, deep meaning. I believe it deeply. If you cannot appreciate these things, what Sunderland fans have been through, just this proud, cold, post-industrial city plummeting into darkness.

34:36Their football team, which is the center of the city, plummeting with them, finding the tenacity to rise up again and do this. I do believe, honestly, it is. it is about the memories, it is about the feelings, but it is ultimately, we are very quick to boo, even boo our own team. We've been talking about that a lot recently. If you can't open your heart, Trevor, to these incredible human endeavours, like honestly, at this moment in time, I feel like football is kind of saving us and teaching us things and showing us the pathway of how we should be in the world. Yeah, I think we need to save it as well.

35:09You know, I think that's what I've always loved about Anfield is I go, you know, if you come to Liverpool, we have an extra player. And it's the fans, it's the cop. It's these people who won't leave in the 88th minutes when the team might be three nil down. They won't. They're gonna sing louder than they've sung before. In fact, that's oftentimes when you're gonna feel them even more. And I think that's, man, that's something that's so special. Just gather, think about it. You gather in a space with absolute strangers and in a world where it's fading away, we interact with most people in our lives on a screen.

35:45We don't know their names. We don't know who they really are. We form opinions on them. We hate each other, but we're not even there. And then this is one of the few places where you can be with people physically, vibrating at the same frequency, cheering at the same thing, you know, like the same miss, everyone together. Oh, like 60 ,000 people. Just that moment, that joy. You know how happy I was to be in the fans because I'd watched it my whole life. And just to look at the opposing fans and be like, oh, oh. I was like, I didn't even mean it. But it's like, look at us. We're all doing it. There's a camaraderie.

36:27And maybe that's what I love about it, right? I learn all the wrong things from watching football. But I think that's what I love about it most. We live in a world where so many things are fixed for you. You know, where were you born? Where were you raised? What is the color of your skin? What is this, all of that? But football you can opt into. Do you know what I mean? You can just be a fan. I can look at you. You're wearing a Liverpool top. I can go Liverpool. You can go Liverpool. And all of a sudden, we're brothers and sisters in arms. We don't even know each other. That's probably the magic of the game for me, is the fact that absolute strangers can find common ground in an instant by sharing a colour.

37:11I love everything you've said. And I'll just add to that. Seven out of 10 times, if you are at Anfield, the person standing by you doing the that or the that will be named Big John. But I do want to know, like the Liverpool season, we could go in deep. It's been amazing. On the slot, the new stepdad coming in. Unbelievable. Unbelievable what he did. one of the great transformational leadership actors. It's not gone how you want it to be this season. You've almost had last season, this season. Yeah, yeah. It's confusing. We can talk about it another time. What I want to know is, what do you tell yourself in moments of challenge?

37:47I'm, as you know, an Everton fan. And I told you this backstage. I often look at Liverpool in recent years and I'm like, oh my God, it looks so fun being a Liverpool fan. you've had I said you have the trophies you have the clop hugs you got the Bobby Firmino's teeth I mean I don't understand them you got the stunning salad goals you got the abs reveals you've got the songs you got the thunderous European nights when the team lose or when they seem like they've you know momentarily lost themselves how do you experience it does it make the rest of your life feel dimmer or their recent memories sustain you so again I think of it through the lens of life as an analogy, genuinely.

38:34I always believe in life, every gift is the inverse curse, right? And you're experiencing both whether you like it or not. If you are a supporter of a team that hasn't gone on winning runs, that hasn't always been winning, in a strange way, you're galvanized in your spot in the league and you become toughened by it and you just like roll and And then all you care about is beating Liverpool twice in that season, hopefully. You're looking into my soul. You know what I mean? And you just go like, this is what we're trying to do. And then when Grealish comes in, he gives you that extra little boost.

39:08And you've got Njai on the other side. And you're like, who is this Evertonian squad? Like, what are we doing here? Like, all of a sudden, it's like Moyes with swag. What's happening? You know what I mean? Yeah, it really is, though. But what's interesting is there's a comfort that comes with the position that you're in, even if it isn't the best position, right? You've just described the class system in England in the early 1900s. Oh, well, there you go. Whereas in another team, you get this taste of being at the top. You get used to it in some way, shape or form. And now you are miserable. You are miserable when you are still only like seven points from the top of the table.

39:54But you are miserable. and that's something I find fascinating about the psychology of football as it applies to life is I'm like, man, your perspective can shape everything. Your perspective can literally, because you can be a Liverpool supporter today, you can be a Manchester United supporter, you can hate your life when you're this close from the spot that you believe is rightfully yours. Meanwhile, meanwhile, there's a team comfortably cruising in fifth going, this is the best we've ever performed. Perform, and they're like, what a time to be alive. Manager clapping, walking around the game at the end, fans staying behind to sing the songs.

40:41Like, that for me is everything. So don't get me wrong, I get crazy frustrated. I, you know, if I met Slott today, I would have a list of ideas for him. I'm being genuine. I write the ideas. I have the ideas. I'm like, I think I can help. I want to be those guys on the bench with an iPad leaning in like, let me show you here what I think. If I could get that job, it would be amazing. But beyond that, I go, yeah, I get angry. I get sad. I get depressed in moments. But that's actually why I like the game. Because that's the outlet for it. That's what sports is supposed to be. I think sometimes we forget that maybe.

41:17We act like sports is like a science or it's like this thing that was formed with the universe? It wasn't, we invented it. It was a game and it's a game that's supposed to make you feel. So if you're feeling, you're doing it right. If you're feeling shit, you should be like, ah, what a great thing, I get to feel shit. Do you know what I mean? Think about how mundane life can be somewhere. Go to work, do the thing, come home, do work again, go back to work, do the thing, come back weekend, you gotta go, come back, do the thing, go to... How nice is it to have this moment where you go, I don't know what's gonna happen.

41:47What's gonna happen? What happens after this corner kick? Oh, this is the best day in the world. Oh, we conceded we're shit. Oh, we're back in it, baby. Oh, always bottling it. Tottenham, what's wrong with us? Like, think about how beautiful that is in life. Zero stakes, by the way. You have lost nothing in your own personal life. Your bank balance hasn't changed in that moment. You haven't lost a loved one, and yet you've experienced the ebbs and flows of what it means to be human. How can you not be grateful for that? By the way, can we just hear it, by the way? I really believe it. And I'll say to everybody as an Everton fan, if your football team is the most miserable part of your life, life is amazing.

42:32Yeah, exactly. That's what it's for. It's exactly what it's for. So let me ask you this one quickly. What's your gut feeling? Which team is winning it all this season? And why is it Sunderland? So in this moment in time, right now, when we're recording this, let it be clear. Because I know people are going to clip this and then go back and then go forward. November the 11th. First of all, you can never predict a league. I don't do that. By the way, we're taping this May 27th, 2026. We keep going.

43:06So I'm not a betting man. I don't bet. I don't do any of that. But I think it is hard to not see Arsenal winning this season. No, I'm just letting you know my opinion. That was the Arsenal fans booing. No, no, no. They're like, don't get our hopes up. Don't speak it into existence. It can only place us in the end. I promise you, I hold like a therapy group with all my Arsenal. Every time I'm like, great game, they're like, I don't know, man. I don't know. I'm like, yo, just enjoy it. They're like, I don't know, man. We'll talk about it at the end of the season, man. Hope it's a trap. It really is.

43:41So I would say at this moment in time, I think it's difficult to see Arsenal not winning it. just because of their consistency in defense and in attack. And I know a lot of people will be like, oh, they score from corner kicks. Yeah, it's like scoring. That's what we're trying to do. Do you know what I mean? I wish Liverpool had their set pieces. I'm not going to lie. I wish, you know, so I think it'll be them. Man City, though, Pep has like a different, he's got like a different edge to him. He's scratching his head a little bit less now. He's got like a different look in his eyes. Haaland looks like he actually does meditate.

44:19No, no, no. I think they'll be chasing. And then who knows, maybe Liverpool turns something around miraculously. I feel like right now we're like a team. It's almost like we had a lot of money and then we went out and we bought like a few Ferraris, but we still want to drive off road. And then we're like, this is a shit Ferrari. And it's like, well, maybe we're just using it wrong. Do you get what I'm saying? By the way, I've watched Florian Wurtz. Yeah, that's Wurtz. I don't think we're being fair to Wurtz. I think Wurtz, if you watch the moments he's created, if Coutoie didn't pull a Coutoie on us, Soboslay scores that goal, Wurtz has an assist, right?

44:59If Salah doesn't miss that chance that Florian flicked to him, remember that backflip move that he did? Salah scores that, he's got an assist. So everyone's like, oh, zero goal, zero assist. I'm like, yeah, that can change on a dime. You know what I mean? So I think Wurtz is phenomenal on the ball, and I think he can only get better in the Premier League. I think we need to let Isak run more. I don't think he's like a static striker and he's really fast if you actually let him go. So I think Isak's amazing. I think Eketiki's out of this world. He's phenomenal on the ball. There's hope for us. There's hope for everyone.

45:31I want you to be in the pre-game show. I've got to tell you, this is amazing. I do want you to be in the pre-game show. All managing Liverpool Football Club. I can't manage Liverpool, but I can talk about it. By the way, my favourite manager of Liverpool Football Club is Roy Hodgson, so I would love you to manage. I would love you. I'd love to. To my managers, Italian manager, Arrigo Sacchi, he's the one who originally said something that Jurgen Klopp used to say, which I think is ultimately the moment of tonight. Football is the most important of the least important things. And we all know the world is in a moment of challenge.

46:05We're grappling with it all. For me, I'll be candid, football has actually become the most important, most important thing. It's no longer just a diversion. It is a place where I do feel, I think my truest emotions, I feel like a true gratitude for human connection. I share it with you all tonight. Do you feel like a greater gratitude for football or do you feel like where we are, ultimately, it plays a lesser role in your life? I'm eternally grateful for it because I feel, as I said earlier, that it fulfills the role that it's supposed to fulfill in my life and in our lives, right? There are fewer and fewer opportunities for human beings to get together and share space and share a feeling and share, you know what I mean?

46:50I grew up in a very religious household. I'm not very religious, but the one thing I do miss is church, the community. People coming together in a room, singing songs together, feeling something spiritual, moving them. And I think football still provides that for people. You know, it's something that you look forward to. It's something that you reminisce about. It's something that connects you as human beings. And I think it's important for us to have that, especially in a world where everyone is telling us that everything is ripping us apart you know I think we have more information than we've ever had but we have less context than we've ever had and I think that's a terrible combination to to to live with you know and so when we're going through that one thing that gives me hope is I'll come back to what we said at the beginning Football, for me, is the perfect analogy for life.

47:40If you go back and read through the history books, you will be shocked at how almost every single decade and every single century has had people writing that that is the worst time it's ever been for humankind. I don't care how far you go back. You go back to ancient Greek writers. You go back to reading what the Romans were writing. You go back to England. You go back to the formation of America. there's always someone writing this is the worst time it can never get worse the world is in a worse place than ever before it it seems like that's always and that's how it is like if you're a football fan as well you know it's like oh we've never performed this bad he's never been this shit he's never missed this many and then you win one game and you're like we're second what happened yeah it's just like you know it's it's it's perspective that's that's that's what it is for me i think so i'm i'm i'm appreciative for the game because of this look at how it connects us look at how it connects everybody here right well literally why are we all in this room because of this silly little thing when people kick a round leather object around and then you know like try their best to keep it in between imaginary painted lines what a beautiful experience and then we learned to do long throws it changed everything so you got appreciated the way you describe it makes me realise Peter Drury is like the theological figure that drives all of her life I do want to ask you quickly about the World Cup, you've experienced the pride, the excitement you've experienced the transformation in a moment of your home nation, South Africa one of the most beautiful World Cups of my lifetime 2010, your team Baffina Baffina opening that tournament one of the most ecstatic moments of of the that shabba lala goal he stepped up if you didn't see this this was a gentleman with a whole nation watching stepped up and just turned the football into a flaming comet with his left foot the commentator screamed in that moment goal for all of africa knowing that this was a moment of history for the continent soccer city dance south africa given the world a thunderbolt exclamation point of incredible pride can you tell us because we're about to have a World Cup here in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

50:01The power of this tournament, the power of the moment, what can we expect? You know, I'll be lying to you if I tell you what I think we can expect, because this is going to be a unique World Cup, right? Like a World Cup that is hosted by three countries is unique. And I think that uniqueness is only going to bring with it something unpredictable. You know, it's going down a path that's never been walked before. you're bound to bump into something that's never been bumped into. So I would be lying to you if I said I know what to expect. What I am excited for is what each country brings to the game and what the game brings to each country.

50:38Because if you've been to Mexico, you know that there are few things that are more important than football. It's in the blood. It's deeply entrenched. And then you look at how it's grown in the United States over the past few decades. it is slowly becoming something that, as you said, people wake up at 7 a.m. for 4 a.m. when we're on the West Coast. That's rough. That's why I could never live there. I'm just like, I base part of it just on the Premier League schedule. I'm like, nah. 4.30 a.m.? Oh, no, I'm sorry. I can't do that. Do you know what I mean? And then, like, Simmons gets no shot on target?

51:12No, no, no. So at 4.30 a.m., no shots on target? That's a rough one. But, you know, and then you look at Canada as well, who've been like sleeper giants in that world for a long time. I think it's going to be exciting. It'll be interesting. It's going to be a different format as well. You've got more teams coming in, so more countries are going to be playing. I just hope that everyone is going to be fit enough because I do think we've been playing too much football. You know, Club World Cup and this cup and that cup. So I hope for the players' sake, physically, everyone is still in shape for the World Cup because it's good for them, it's good for the countries, it's good for the game.

51:47but otherwise I mean it's it's gonna be it's gonna be insane man I can't wait to see all the fans in New York riding the subway especially fans who've like come from like Europe or England where they they're used to a certain style of being on the train because there they get to like take over the train and then in New York I'm not sure that that'll happen so easily by the way yep whatever you've got in the world we got much more terrifying things on the train in New York City. We'll have you. We'll have you. Last question. Trevor, I've got to say I've loved every single word that's come out of your mouth.

52:21I really have. I've enjoyed it. It's been worth waiting. Thank you, Rog. Thank you. 12 years for you, beautiful human being. But this World Cup, it's going to be here in 212 days. 104 games, 48 teams, 39 days of football. Please God, an African team will win it. I mean, that would be an amazing thing. That would be insane and amazing. Will that happen I mean, we almost got it if it wasn't for Luis Suarez. Remember Ghana? I was there at that game. Let me tell you something. Whoa. Oh, Luis Suarez, don't ever go to Africa for a vacation, ever. My, like, Maradona had, like, the hand of God. That was like the hand of Satan.

53:04That was, I was at that game. I will never forget that moment. And I love Suarez. I love him. He's never leaving Miami. Yeah, but, yeah, so, you know. The final is going to be right here in MetLife, East Rutherford, New Jersey. Great state of New Jersey. New Jersey, baby. Dream with us. What can this tournament be? How can it impact the profile of the game that we all love here, watching along at home? How can it change the game forever in this nation, Trevor? So it's interesting. I've never thought that the game needs its profile to be improved. I think America is really spoiled as a nation in that it has an embarrassment of top-level sports that influence the whole world.

53:46So the NBA, the NHL, the NFL, you've got all of these massive leagues that people have always looked to from the outside. So I think soccer or football has always faced an uphill battle in this country because of the style of the game. it's a lot harder for it to become popular it's not as action-packed it's not like you know stopping and then more action more action more action more action but i i think it can only grow because of what the game is and and you see that happening over time so just the world coming here i think is more important than the profile of the game in this moment in time right because Because it's the world coming to get this.

54:35If you've never been to a World Cup, let me tell you, man. I was lucky. I was in South Africa as a South African for the 2010 World Cup. I've never felt my country like that. Even since then. I hope that we either get to host another World Cup or get invaded by aliens. Just so that we can feel that feeling of camaraderie again. I'm just like, oh, man. Those are the only two options. Those are the only two things where I can see us. There was nothing like it. I don't even think you understand. There was nothing like it. The only time I've been to Russia was for a World Cup. You know, sitting in like a random Russian diner, eating borscht and walking through the streets of St.

55:15Petersburg and interacting with Russians face-to-face as human beings. Like, it was beautiful, man. That was the World Cup. You know, and like FIFA has its issues up and down, but it's like in a weird way you want to be able to separate the church from the religion in the strangest way. You know what I'm saying? And for me, I go, the game is the religion. And what it does to the people, you can never forget that. Every time I meet a Spanish person anywhere in the world, if I go, I'll meet someone, and it's like, oh, where are you from, man? Where are you from? I'm like, oh, South Africa. It's like, South Africa.

55:48And immediately, they're just like, ah. All of a sudden, we're compatriots. We gave them a World Cup. We were part of their history, and our fates are intertwined forever. Messi and Qatar will never be separate. You can never separate the greatest footballer to ever touch a ball from Qatar, this fledgling state who went against all odds to put on one of the best World Cups ever. All of these things. So what is it going to do here? It can only do amazing things because who wins it will always be connected to the US. The fans that come here will leave an indelible impression. The fans that are created here will have a memory that lasts forever.

56:25there's truly nothing like it nothing at all i can't wait good god i gotta say trevor no is an incredible human being i just love football i know i know i gotta tell you i am dead inside listening to you fleetingly i feel alive and i do want to thank you in general for the joy that you bring to the world which is more than ever a precious commodity thank you so much for coming out, y 'all. We'll see you at the games. Don't pony, let's hear it for Trevindale!

57:08Two OG originals who helped forge the modern game of football in this nation. Two Jersey kids who grew up together in Kearney. Back when the game of football in this nation was on the sporting periphery, played in the shadows, they dreamt big dreams. And then they made them bloody real for the rest of us. They swaggered onto the field in stonewashed denim and proved themselves to the world. And it is a true delight to welcome these Jersey boys to the Stone Pony stage. Jersey, be upstanding for two men. They only went and invented mullets. it's your 1994 World Cup heroes Tony Miola and John Hawks

58:22It certainly can. John Hark smells so bloody good. John, let's start with you. It is incredible that so many of the icons, you, Tony, Tab Ramos, Claudio Rainier, the heartbeat of that 1994 team, You grew up in and around square miles of each other. You grew up in Kearney. You played for Kearney Thistle as a kid. Both your parents from Scotland. Your dad coached the team. Out of that famed Scots-American club. Can you describe, having lived it, what makes a jersey player different? And what makes this area so bloody fertile? Well, first of all, hello, everybody. And thank you for all those veterans.

59:07and thank you for your sacrifice and all the families. Thank you very much. I would say that it's a lot of different things, Roger. And we talk about this often. And a lot of our friends that we grew up playing the game. Where are they, by the way? Robbie McCourt's over here, Larry Hart. We got Robbie's daughter. We got Mike O 'Neill, like who used to beat my butt. And Jimmy and Debbie Burns and everybody. These are like, Carney is, it's just such a really close knit connection, Roger. And I think it comes with this grit and determination, this underdog mentality that like we can show the world what we can do.

59:47And I think we took that upon ourselves, to be honest with you, when we were really young. And I think we were very, very fortunate to have so many families and parents and dads that loved the game of football and just grew up with it, whether you were from Scotland or Tony's dad from Italy. And there was such a mix and a melting pot there. Everybody just came together because the ball was there. And that was what we knew. And we thought it was like that across all of New Jersey. You know, we thought it was across the country like that. But we were getting kicked off of baseball fields. But we played every single day.

1:00:22there wasn't a lot of structure. It was like you grew with the passion and the hunger for the game because they just said, here you go, here's a ball, there's your friends. And that's what we did. God bless parents watching along at home. Structurelessness for your kids. Just let them out into the streets. Just let them do their thing and they'll grow up to be winners like these gents. I mean, you did grow up to be winners. But Tony, can you set a baseline for just how barren the landscape was of US soccer when you ran into the 1994 World Cup. Look at you there. I mean, the U.S. men. You've not changed.

1:00:59Rocky Balboa. Yeah, you've not changed. The U.S. men were desperate to avoid humiliation. We were hosting the tournament. We didn't want to be the first host to ever fail to emerge from the group. But for the U.S. players, very few of you, John did, but very few of you played in Europe. There were no real professional soccer options for you here. So for nearly two years, you had to go and live together with the vast majority of the U.S. squad. This is crazy. They lived together in Mission Viejo, California. Which, by the way, is really nice. Just so we're clear. God bless. But you were grinding, man.

1:01:34You were doing two a days. You were playing anybody, any country in the world. You were barnstorming the world. You were playing like 25, 30, 40 internationals a year. You were essentially training for the World Cup like a bloody club team. We were essentially a club team. That's what we did. We lived in Mission Viejo. We trained twice a day. That sucked for two and a half years. Bora was incredible. Always wanted to be on the field, but I think we were building a culture. Those games were, we needed to do something. Now, some of us had the chance to go to Europe, but U.S. soccer convinced us that, hey, look, the World Cup's coming.

1:02:09We'd just been in our first World Cup in 1990 for the first time in, what, 40 years at that point, and we needed to grow this thing. and it was a springboard for this sport and I still some of us have been lucky in that era to continue to work in the game I still don't think that team gets enough credit for what they did because you essentially had two jobs you train twice a day and then 10 hours a day you're out promoting the game if we went to Cleveland you know we were doing appearances and you hardly got any sleep because you were doing every you were reading children's books at schools you know and you were doing all of this stuff to promote the game that we love, but we didn't know any different, you know, and we, and I think that particular group, man, if I had a nickel for every time somebody said, hey, in 1994, there's probably people in here that would say the same thing.

1:02:57That's when I fell in love with the game. Raj, you and I wouldn't be talking right now. I'd be in some island, like, just chilling out, man, because my heart can't take a lot, you know, so it's amazing what that time did. I can't imagine, and I lived it, we lived it, we were lucky, I can't imagine what June is going to be like in 2026. I mean, I want to look ahead to that in one moment, but I totally agree with you, and I think your place in history cannot be sung enough. The year before the World Cup, the United States were barnstorming still. The record was 10 wins, 11 draws, 13 losses. The New York Times wrote, when does awful become meaningful?

1:03:38Thank you, New York Times. I mean, I read this stuff. The stress you guys must have experienced must have been just really unbearable. But then 1994, John, on home turf, you played at Detroit at the Silverdome, the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Stanford Stadium, California, packed with home fans. You know, 100 ,000 packing in for the first time to watch football. What was that experience like lighting a fire for the love of the game across America? A game that had lived in the shadows when you were playing it here in Kearney. How did you personally experience that? Yeah, I would think that there was a lot of the buildup as well when we played in the U.S.

1:04:15Cups in the summer. So for me, it was a different, it wasn't a Mission Viejo, you know, these guys in the sun hanging out, they were doing well. But we were working and we were coming back in the summers and we would have like a week off from, you know, with Sheffield Wednesday or, you know, Darby County or West Ham, whoever I played for. And then we were straight into it for U.S. Cups. but we were doing well in the U.S. Cubs as we build towards the 94. We were winning games. And people were starting to look at us like, what's happening? That 90 World Cup, like Tony said, was a platform that we bust down the door to get there.

1:04:50And when we went over to Italy to play, we were more like tourists, to be honest with you. We have really good football tickets. Yeah, exactly. Really close up. Yeah. And we were young. We were young. I think our average age in that World Cup was maybe 22.8 or something like that. You were college kids, but in 94, that was a very different experience. It was full houses and people were chanting for you, cheering for you. That platform, though, felt amazing because just like everybody's in their kits here and you see the old school kits and everybody's wearing them, we were in the stadium and when we look up, everybody was chanting USA and they were wearing the kits, the old denim stars and stripes.

1:05:35Wow. And we were suffocating, but it was still nice. It looked great. It looked lovely. But we were dying. But when we saw that and to get the first game against Switzerland and get the 1-1 draw, we lifted up. And that just gave you that rush that you have. And then to play Columbia in the second game and pull an upset and win 2-1, that was the changing of the guard in this country. Because everybody finally, instead of saying, we can do these things, we can do it, and then we did it. And then everybody was like, what just happened? And Pele at the time, who I was a ball boy for, the Cosmos, we saw him in the tunnel before we went out, gives you a hug.

1:06:18I mean, how can you not play good football when Pele gives you a hug? I'm like, put your heart right here, please, sir, one more time. I didn't want to let go. and that feeling that just what we just accomplished there and the joy you know was just absolutely amazing and so that high was massive to stay like that I mean you did in that moment show that the U.S. men could take the field with an unbelievably good opponent look them in the eye and beat them you were you got to the out the group stage you eventually fell to world champion Brazil in the round of 16. Tony, Marcelo Balboa once told me that the 1994 World Cup changed all of your lives.

1:07:02This is what he said. He said, before the tournament, no one knew who we were. We were obscure. After it, these are his words. He said, we were all driving Corvettes with jet skis or horse transporters. How did the tournament... Check that, Mike. How did the tournament... tournament change your life? Man, I got it. It's Raj, it's so hard to put into words. I mean, it changed everything, right? It changed the trajectory of the sport, being part of that, being part of that group. I still, I still admire that group so much because we did something that was special, but people thought you couldn't do, right?

1:07:42And that's the beauty of the sport. How did it change me personally? Without the World Cup, I hear my buddy Alexi Lalo say it all the time. Without 94, I'm not sitting here. Let's face it, right? I'm not sitting here tonight. I had a chance to interview Christian Pulisic about three months ago. Of course, that was a little controversial, that interview, but I asked him a question. How do you think 2026 is going to change your life? And this is a guy that's played at Chelsea. He's played now at my beloved Milan. You know, he's been all over the world. And he said, well, I'm not sure it's going to change my life.

1:08:21And I said, you have no idea what it's going to do for you. You have no idea because you're only thinking about the people that know the game. There's going to be so many people that fall in love with the game in 2026 that don't know Christian's history at Dortmund or Chelsea or Milan, right? They're going to learn for the first time. And those are the people we need to continue. It's not these people we need to attract. I'm assuming all you guys are going to watch a World Cup game. It's the rest of the people By the way, I'm going to have to correct you Because you made a couple mistakes tonight If you don't mind Many By the way, we're 20 minutes into the show I made half a dozen How long do we have, Roger?

1:08:56You keep saying New Jersey In that great, pretty accent that you have I love it It's from here on out It's the great state of New Jersey That's what it is And I know the organizing committee is here And they hate when I say it And FIFA, I got a letter from FIFA. They hate when I say it. The World Cup final is going to be in the great state of New Jersey. Just so quick. God, I have rarely loved more being corrected. But by the way, if you want to show Christian Pulisic how his life is going to be changed, here's exhibit A of what you should show him. Let's go to People's Most Beautiful List 1994.

1:09:44Look at that. What's in this, by the way? What is in this? Wow. The great state of New Jersey. By the way. Courage. Can we just look at this? This is some swaggy way to prove that football had just broken through, John Huck. Oh, my Lord. I don't even know what to say. When you look at that, what do you think? I think that's the old baseball ground at Derby County. Tyra Banks was on this list. John Jovi was on this list. Yeah. I don't know. There's a line in this, and I want to make sure if it's true or not. It says, Hark's practices one inflexible beauty ritual. Do you know what it was? It's not true, Robert, is it?

1:10:23These are my friends. They grew up with me. A daily slathering of oil of ole, which is just genuinely, even back then, always be selling.

1:10:33Yeah, maybe. By the way, I said the same as I do when I see me ole. You have not changed in any single way. I mean, Tony, I do want to say in the wake of the tournament, you were one of the faces of the team, but there was no professional league. You told me that it was a time of strange choices. You said we had fame, but nowhere to play. You're offered a Hollywood role in a pirate movie. That's sliding doors that you didn't do that. You were at a chance. I remember him actually reading that script when I came back from Wednesday. Roger, we were, we were trying to make money, man. Yeah, no, I know.

1:11:06I was like, what are we, when's trading? And he was like, hold on. I'm on page 67. Yep. Yep. With De Niro. What are you talking about? I got the script, Arxy. I'll be with you in a minute. You had a chance to join the cast of Tony and Tina's Wedding. You even had a stint. This is amazing, and it's true. As a kicker with the Jets. Look at that. By the way, when I saw that photo, I was like, holy crap. That was before Photoshop was invented, but it does not feel like a Photoshop. No. Tell us. You told me that Pete Carroll, you thought it was just going to be you and him, but there were thousands of cameras there, and it was more terrifying than playing in goal in the world.

1:11:41It was incredible when I went to it. I didn't know I was going to a tryout. It was this thing where we're going to do this media thing. And they said, and I'd always said that I wanted to kick a football in the NFL. It was like a dream when I was a kid. And I thought, okay, this is cool. We'll go to Hempstead, New York, and we'll do this. And Pete Carroll invited me. He was the coach of that team, became a dear friend down the line. And I was like, I got in there. I'm like, holy shit, there's a lot of people here in this place. They had the kicking coach there and everything, and I was kicking the hell out of it.

1:12:10And I literally signed that day. So if you remember the history of the World Cup, ended in July. We were supposed to start the league in February of 1995. The MLS. The MLS, yeah. And in December, they made a decision that they were going to push the league out one year. And then we were all like, right after the World Cup, I had the chance to go to Southampton, but I couldn't go because of some family issues. So I stayed in the U.S. and I just thought, okay. Great state in New Jersey. We went to Everton. So, wow, wow, wow. So, anyway, so the league got pushed back, and then there were a whole slew of guys that were stuck, right, in this corridor of uncertainty, as we say, right?

1:12:53And it was a tricky time because we just came off this super high in the sports growing, and all of a sudden, boom, we have nothing, right? And now you've got to make your way. I went to play with the Long Island Rough Riders in the USISL, which I'm proud that that's on my resume, right? We won a championship in that league. Yeah, so that's what it was like back then. I mean, there was a picture that came out just a couple days ago of a training session. We literally have all different tops on, different pennies, and I'm like, this is what it was like, right? Now I look at the U.S. team. They're traveling around with a$150 ,000 gym that they bring from hotel to hotel because they're not sure if the gym is going to be good.

1:13:33And I'm like, our whole budget, when we qualified for the World Cup, we had one sponsor for that team. was Budweiser. That's true. That's America. That's you. That's Budweiser. They ran U.S. soccer on a$175 ,000 budget. Yep. Think about that for a second, right? So things have changed a little bit. And I'm happy we were at the beginning of it. I mean, it's amazing. Your timing was terrible. Pull that photo up again because I realized this is Harry Kane before there was Harry Kane. Harry Kane wants to do this. This man has lived that dream. Your timing was unbelievable. It coincided with the Jets signing Nick Lowry.

1:14:09who went on to become the most accurate NFL field kicker of his era. So God bless. But I want to talk about the legacy of that World Cup, because I do believe it was so great. But before I do, I want to let you touch on one moment, which is so beautiful and poignant and just makes me love you all the more. I'm so fond of both of you giants. but it is remarkable to me that Tony, this era, the World Cup's about to return but I also want to say how great it is to see you this February 20th, 2025 a day before your 56th birthday you suffered an enormous heart attack at home we almost lost you I know just how terrifying a time it was for you and your family and all who love you an enormous network of human beings.

1:15:04I've been so moved by the message you've been delivering ever since that you've been putting out into this world. We have a young audience watching this along at home. I don't know if you want the energy or the strength or the will, but I think it's a really critical message. If you're watching along at home, remember it's the great state of New Jersey and remember whatever this man is about to tell you now. Yeah, look, a night that changed my life. you always look for silver linings, right? And the silver lining has been that... We love you, Tony!

1:15:44Look,

1:15:52the silver lining has been that I've been able to save thousands of lives by just asking people to go get checked. It's a simple thing to do in your life, and it could change your life. I wish I had the message before this happened to me and my family, but I'm not going to allow anybody that I come in contact not know that they should be checked. It's a simple message, and it can change your life. So every day, I don't wake up one day. There's not a day, Raj, I swear to you, that I haven't gotten a message from somebody that has said, I've been checked. I found something was wrong. I'll leave you with this because I don't want to go on too long because I could talk about this forever.

1:16:41Go get checked, and I tell everyone the same story. Raj, go get checked. Why do I need to get – look, there's – the best thing that can happen to you is the doc says, Raj, you're fine. I'll see you in two years. The next best thing that can happen to you is they say, Raj, you got a problem. We got to fix it, and we can fix it now because I can guarantee you that option number three is not a good one. I got lucky, but my messages go get checked. If I got anything out of tonight, that would be it. Can I just say, having spoken to you back then and to hear you say that, ultimately you are a living reminder that we should all save every single second that we have together.

1:17:24We should take not a moment for granted. and being with you both. I mean, I do think all football fans, I know you feel it. You don't talk about it enough, but I'll say it. I think every single American football fan who loves the game in this nation owes you both and your generation a debt of thanks for everything you put in, the effort, the sacrifices, the dreams you dreamt that drag football out of the shadows in this nation. You live the 1994 World Cup. You guys, I said this at the beginning, it's not flip you are the giants on whose shoulders the rest of us now stand 1994 was actually meant to change football in this nation forever instead it took years to change and and by the way i think we're all the better for it because we put in deep roots authentic roots real passion and we're now so much deeper than if we become an overnight fad like a hula hoop or a yo-yo or whatever nobody's talking about, pogo stick.

1:18:24But we're sitting now on the eve of a World Cup returning to this nation and this, the great state of New Jersey. Yeah! There you go. So, John, I want to let you have the last word. What is your message to all of us as fans? You've lived the cultural, you've lived the sporting transformation that a World Cup can usher in. Knowing where we are now and what the stakes are in this moment. What are your hopes? What do you dream now for what American soccer can look like post-2026? We don't have to pay to play.

1:19:02I would love that. I know it's here to stay, but man, I'm coaching right now in the youth club and I'm just like, it's so hard on families. It's really difficult. But I would just say this. We are only as good as the people around you. and that's how we are in our lives. So everybody here contributes to the love of the game. And if we don't stick together and push it forward, it's going to be a downhill coming at you, a big boulder. We've got to fight together to lift this game up. And there's no better time. The timing is everything. We know that. Getting the World Cup back this year is absolutely fantastic.

1:19:40And then hopefully we can get the Women's World Cup back here and continue to do that because the women are doing phenomenal. And I was just at the spirit game with my wife and we were just watching it and it's just amazing environments and atmospheres and empowering great role models for young girls to play in our country, which is fantastic. And we just hope that the men can do well. That's what we're hoping for. We're just, but it takes everybody fighting together and sticking together and not criticizing. We don't want division. We want everybody together. And the ball throws. It's the most democratic thing in the world.

1:20:16Throw a ball out there, we all come together and have fun, right? It doesn't matter where we are. So hopefully that can happen. Tom Bogart, how are you, son? I mean, with the ball throws, everybody can have fun. I know that mustache anywhere. The ball throws, everybody have fun. That is spoken not like an Everton fan. I just say it's an honor to share the stage here tonight. Tony, I know it's your thing to roll the ball always onwards, to keep pushing the game forward. That's where you feel your contribution is, right? Yeah, no doubt. And for me, after the World Cup, I want to see this sport grow in every community, right?

1:20:51I want a team in Kearney. I want a team in Passaic. I want a team in New Brunswick. Like, I want to see the game grow like it is organically growing around the world, right? Yeah, do we have our issues in this sport? No doubt about it. Are there things to fix? No doubt about it. But I want those little pockets to be able to enjoy the game like they do around the rest of the world, right? And hopefully the World Cup will bring that. Godspeed from your mouth to God's ear, New Jersey. Let's hear it for two of your own, Tony Miola and John Hawks.

1:21:23Now it's time to move from two gentlemen who brought the 1994 World Cup into our lives to two human beings who've been key in bringing the 2026 World Cup into our loving arms. One is responsible, only for the entire planning and execution of the Copa das Copas as the CEO of the FIFA World Cup 26 New York, New York Jersey host, sorry, New York, great state of New Jersey host committee. The other has been governor of the state of New Jersey since 2018. He's football mad. He's actually been football proper since much longer than that. I want to give an incredible stone pony reception. to two human beings, Mr.

1:22:13Alex Lasry and the 56th governor of the great state of New Jersey. It's Governor Phil Murphy! We're the ones who wear an ocean, an ocean deep inside. There ain't no sin to be blind, you're a liar. I wanna find one place that ain't... What a place! I mean, this is the place. This is the cathedral right here. It is. Can you put it into your own words? You've played here many times. It's normally bass guitar, right? What is the stone pony to this state? You're the man who knows. Put it in your own words. It's the most iconic bar in, I'm going to say, New Jersey, if not the United States of America.

1:22:52Why stop there? Good point. Maybe even Everton fans might want to come. Oh, God, getting dunked on by the governor of the great state of New Jersey was not on my bingo card tonight. I love your state. I really do. You call Kearney, New Jersey, the birthplace of American soccer. We all know this is the state that's the first ever official intercollegiate soccer match occurred, 1869. Tim Ream played in that one. The formation of the American Football Association, Newark, 1884. There's so much history in the land on which we stand. Tell us, how do you understand how your region built soccer in the United States, Governor?

1:23:35It's pretty cool, right? And all of what you just said is true. and it continues to be a hotbed. You heard from Tony and John. How emotional is that with Tony, by the way? God bless him. But those guys are the giants on whose shoulders the game continues to get built. Jersey's been ground zero in this sport for basically going on two centuries. And we're going to put, thanks to Alex and his team, we're going to put a big exclamation point on that and host the World Cup final on July 19th. Godspeed. I genuinely cannot wait for that. I do need to know this, though. I know you're from an Irish-American family.

1:24:12I know you played football as a kid. Oh, Jesus. What kind of a player was Governor Murphy? Were you a no-nonsense defender? Were you an elegant playmaker? Were you just the budding locker room politician glue guy? I'd say I'm a former diplomat, so I'll use a diplomatic phrase. I sucked. I've got three of our four kids are in the audience and they will attest to that wherever they are but I was a target striker and was eight feet tall and about 110 pounds and that didn't work too well for me I'm interested we may have America's next great number nine right here on the stage of us I don't think so but Alex I've got to say I've enjoyed getting to know you in your role as the leader of our region's World Cup wonder I know you came to the game through basketball, your family in the Milwaukee Bucks, you Yanished your way to the first NBA championship for that team in 50 years in 2021.

1:25:11But I also know that you fell in love with football about half a decade ago. Can you talk about that journey? What drew you to the game that we love at which the governor excels, he's very modest. And how have you seen it, like the power that this game has to propel our nation forward? Yeah, so, I mean, growing up, I also was terrible at soccer. and was so bad I couldn't even get on a team. America. Exactly. America. So for me, my sports journey was really basketball, and we were very lucky to own a team and have a ton of success. I was always, obviously got very into the World Cup every time, the patriotism and the love of trying to kind of be the underdog in every World Cup and just kind of seeing all the camaraderie and everyone come together.

1:26:01was something that was always very special. I started to really fall in love with soccer when I was in business school. One of my best friends there, you know, played professional soccer and, you know, would always take me to the pub right by NYU and force me to watch soccer. And then when I moved to Milwaukee and then started having kids, it was the, Premier League was the only thing on when my kids were up on Saturday and Sunday. And so, needing something to watch other than Peppa Pig. I started to watch Premier League and I think started to really see well-played football. And that was what I think really started to draw me to the game and seeing football played at the highest level and seeing what a beautiful sport it is was something.

1:26:48And I think just, again, started to make a lot of friends who were huge football fans really started to drive me to the game. I think it's beautiful. I do think those are the two drivers that have led to the growth of football. Number one, Americans love an excuse to have casual daytime drinking. Number two, you just nailed it. It passes as parenting. Like, oh, I'm getting up early with my kid. I'm going to watch Chelsea play Aston Villa. But it's worked because football in the United States is now the realest thing. And in just 212 days, the World Cup is returning to our loving arms. MetLife will host eight games in this World Cup, Five in the group stage, one in the round of 32, one in the round of 16.

1:27:28And no big deal. Just the 2026 World Cup final. The World Cup draw is December the 5th, after which I do believe the reality that we're going to be hosting will kick in. We've just heard what the 94 World Cup was like through the eyes of John and Tony Miola earlier. Governor Murphy said soccer will take a quantum leap in this nation in the wake of the World Cup. But Alex, you've said it will be the largest event in human history, which I love as a non-hyperbolic person. What will it look like and feel like to have like two million people descend upon the tri-state region? I want to give proper credit to the largest event in human history.

1:28:06I steal that from the governor all the time. And he's right. This is going to be the largest event that human history has ever seen. We're going to have a few million people in the region over the course of 40 days. and what makes the World Cup, I think, so much different than a Super Bowl, a Taylor Swift concert or anything like that is it's not just the people inside the stadium. The stadium is going to fit what it can fit. What makes the World Cup so special and what's going to make this so iconic and so massive is all the people who are just going to come to our region to just experience the World Cup with no intention of actually going inside MetLife Stadium but wanting to be a part of our fan fest that's going to be at Liberty State Park, our fan village at Rockefeller Center, the other fan experiences and fan engagements that we're going to do, and then also just the organic things that are going to happen.

1:28:59So after the draw, when we know who's playing here in the group stage, that's when all of those country fans are going to start booking their travel, starting to figure out what their route across America and especially in our region is going to look like. And I think that's what's going to make this World Cup so special. I think what's going to put the exclamation mark on all of this is the final. Us having the final here is going to be a way to not just only show the world that we are the premier sports entertainment destination, but I think also be able to show everyone who's coming here over the course of 40 days an authentic New Jersey experience.

1:29:37We've got eight games. There's going to be 40 days. So how do you also get people to experience all that this state has to offer when there isn't a match going on at MetLife? And I think that's our goal at the host committee. And that's what we're going to make sure that we accomplish. I mean, by the way, it is incredible. I've lived World Cups. I've seen hundreds of thousands of fans descend and just absolutely transform a city. But Governor, when you announced a 2025 budget, you brought the World Cup onto the stage with you. I believe you're predicting, this is incredible, three to five billion, that's billion with a B, dollars worth of economic activity in that 39 days, up to 20 ,000 new permanent jobs because of the tournament.

1:30:24When I heard that, number one, you're all thinking, holy crap, it's going to be hard to get an Uber for 40 days. That's very true. But man, global football, it is the ultimate stimulus. There's no question. and I want to give a shout out to New York City even though we are the great state of New Jersey they are along with us as our co-hosts when you put what they've got and what we've got together there's no place on earth that is going to be like this and your numbers are absolutely right Roger many billions of dollars of economic activity I think Alex and my wife is the chair of the host committee with Alex I think they think a couple of million visitors as you mentioned 20 ,000 jobs and it's important to note we've got eight matches at MetLife because this is a 48 team tournament there are 104 matches so 96 of them to Alex's point 96 of them are not going to be in MetLife so the Fan Fest at Liberty State Park capacity probably going down to 50 ,000 for all 104 matches or Rockefeller Center or in other places on both sides of the Hudson or can you all imagine the east ward of Newark when Portugal is playing or Brazil is playing, right?

1:31:35This is the amazing... Or Passaic City when Mexico is playing, right? It's going to explode. I mean, by the way, what you're talking about, 1994, the World Cup actually didn't start that well. OJ Simpson had his chase and it killed the opening ceremony. The amazing thing about this state, New Jersey, I didn't mean to talk about this tonight. The World Cup was like... But then, in the Meadowland, Italy played Ireland. Yeah. And it was like Angela's Ashes met the Sopranos in that bloody stadium. I've got to say, Angela's Ashes won. And it was the light that lit the entire success of the tournament happened here in New Jersey, and it will happen again.

1:32:16I don't know who's going to win the World Cup, but I think New York, New Jersey is going to be the ultimate winner of this thing. I do need to ask you quickly, Governor, where does this rank in your legacy? Genuinely, as you think about the eight years that you spent here, having a World Cup in your state. Where does that hit? It's right up there. It's hard to say otherwise. This is something that we personally went after hard because we knew how important it would be to get it. We worked hard to be a host committee with New York City, but we kind of assumed that with MetLife and with New York City and Jersey and all that we bring to it, I wouldn't say we assumed that, but we kind of thought we'd get that.

1:33:03Getting the final was really hard and I will tell you it'll be more than worth it and as a legacy matter, I don't think a whole lot about that but it's pretty darn cool. It is incredibly cool and we should never take it for granted. I can't believe that the World Cup final is not in a really proper football stadium like Yankee Stadium but what do I know? Governor, the election is behind us. eight years leading this great state of New Jersey are coming to a close. I hope you've got a certain freedom to close by tackling some of the real hard-hitting questions that your voting public need to know.

1:33:40Okay. Without your sheen of diplomacy that you've got, I know from your time as ambassador to Germany coding the answers, these are hard-hitting questions. One day I'd like to leap beyond face the nation. So, Governor, here's it is. Good luck. Does Central Jersey exist? Yes. Yes. Roger, give me a hard one for crying out loud. We're in central Jersey. We're in Monmouth County. And we're also on the Jersey Shore. Let's not forget that as well. I've got a hard-hitting follow-up question. Should the Jersey Shore be its own subdivision? We'll take that under advisement. What's your favorite shore town?

1:34:24Shore town? Well, Asbury Park's got to be on the list, right? Ask me, folks. It's going to be on the list. But how cool is this town, right? By the governor. Alex, here's a hard-hitting one for you, baby. I didn't prepare you for this, but I'm going to put you on the spot because I'm a mad bastard. Quick check or wah-wah. Wah-wah. Wah-wah too. Whoa. Just put it into words. Good call. Can we go a bit deeper, next level, for people who are not from here or watching this along at home? Well, for me, I mean, it's wah-wah. I went to school in Philly, So I spent a lot of time at Wawa at 2, 3 in the morning, and nothing helped.

1:35:06Finished a night off quite like Wawa. Governor, please. I don't have anything to add to that. But I have lived that experience. This is why one of the three of us was an ambassador for our nation. Finally, Governor, even though we're here to discuss the other type of football, I do need to know, MetLife has the world's eyes on it for the World Cup final. The people need to know, should they be called the New Jersey Giants and the New Jersey Jets? This is a question that comes up quite frequently. I want to give a shout out to both teams' owners who were really helpful in getting the World Cup final to New Jersey.

1:35:45By the way, I have to get this off my chest. I love what Tony Miel has said, but I also have to say this. We're from Jersey, baby.

1:35:56Yeah, it's a little bit of a crazy thing that New York football giants, New York Jets, they play in New Jersey, but we're proud to have them. God bless. The Red Bulls, yeah, same thing, right? Although, yeah, Gotham, which our family owns a chunk of, is NJNY, Gotham NJNY FC. Yeah, that's how it should be. By the way, the really proper teams are the NJNJ. like the hit men real ones no last question for you Governor your whole family are here tonight which I've got to say means a lot to us here at Men in Blazers it's incredible to have you thank you for your terrible taste in football shows but this is an amazing time for football in our nation you have both worked so hard to make it so what's your welcome message to the world this great state is about to host the world's greatest sporting event.

1:36:56Speak to football fans around the world. What can they expect when they come here to New Jersey, baby? They will be welcomed with open arms. And I know that's a question that's sort of hanging out there. They will be welcomed with open arms into one of the great soccer hotbeds or football hotbeds, not just in America, but in the world. and we will not let them down. God bless. I mean, this is incredible. And that is our message. And this is where we are. Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Alex Lazzari and Governor Phil Murphy. Thank you.

1:37:39APPLAUSE

1:37:50John Hark smells amazing. The governor also smells amazing. I want to be candid. But it's now time to get a little proper football and zoom in on the Premier League, the impact it's had on our nation from sea to shining sea. Our next guest knows all about it intimately. In one way, he's a zealot of the Premier League. Genuinely, his career spans two very different histories. The bridge between the league's rise to global power, the Frank Lampard era, if you will, to its modern dominance like the Harry Kane epoch. Played with them both over a span of an incredible 19 seasons in this league. Also experienced the growth of the sport in this nation firsthand.

1:38:36Tenth on the all-time Premier League goalscorers list. Please be upstanding New Jersey for West Ham, Tottenham, Sunderland and England, Mr. Jermaine Defoe. I'm in my pain with his fingers Singing my life with his words Killing this heart Me with this heart

1:39:12Oh, Jermaine, here we are in New Jersey, as we always knew we would be. Anyone who saw you play remembers you as a emphatically hungry, ferocious consistent finisher 10th most goals in the Premier League Baker's dozen behind Thierry Henry total most stoppage goals for any player at all time which is kind of who you were you didn't know that? No not that one I'm actually Jermaine's agent but for those who did not have the joy and I feel sorry for you of watching you in your pomp how would you describe what Jermaine Defoe lived to do? Wow. First of all, good evening, everyone. It's great to be here in New Jersey.

1:39:59It's been amazing, but what a question. I think I was someone who loved this football. Always knew the importance of working hard, dedicating myself from day one, working harder than the person next to me, and just that repetition every single day in training, emulating the great players that I watched on TV, growing up in the Premier League, and just hoping one day I can get an opportunity to play in the greatest league in the world. You were a hungry madman. Madman? Obsessed. Obsessed. You and goals. That was like an obsession. Yeah, but that obsession was from a young age. I don't know where it came from, but even in the school playground, I just wanted to score goals.

1:40:42And even if I scored one or two, it wasn't enough. And that just sort of stuck with me for my career. When I played for my district, my Sunday league team, and I signed for West Ham when I was 16 and, you know, scoring loads of goals in the youth team and I totally entered the first team. But that obsession with football was always there. It never left me. Sometimes it's better to look instead of talking. So let's talk about one of my favourite ever Jermaine Defoe goals and there are many. By the way, I asked him behind the stage before we came on, what was your favourite goal? So bloody relieved when he said this one.

1:41:16The Newcastle Sunderland Derby 2015. Let's take a look. need to stop each time one additional minute at the end of this first half it's De Paul lovely goal

1:41:33Jermaine De Paul writes his name in weird time derby folklore he's laughing to me it's how in that second that ball dropped to you I mean it was like a beautiful mind the physics, the wind speed the velocity, the angle, just the way you made that dip. Yeah. Do you think, or is it just like muscle memory? I think a lot of it's muscle memory. That goal is quite instinctive, of course, because it's a volley. But at the same time, I mean, I rehearsed that for years. From the age of 16, rehearsed just for that moment. But I mean, if you tried that 10 times, you know, it'd probably go over the bar and up in a car park and that.

1:42:15But I was always told from a young age, probably similar to golfers, really. when you play golf. When I first started playing golf, I just thought, you know, you just got to hit as hard as you could. And with volleys, you know, when you stay relaxed, and I always, it's quite interesting though, because I think with volleys, if you can try and hit the ball at its lowest point, then there's more chance that you keep the ball down. Whereas if it's a little bit higher, of course, I'm not thinking all of this while I do it, because it happens so quick. But if that makes sense and that. So yeah, just the repetition every single day for a moment like that was, of course, special.

1:42:48I mean, it's amazing. you told me that you thought about scoring goals in training. Yeah. So that on the field you could... The instincts. Yeah. So all the thinking obviously goes in training. You know, I think about my movement. I think about my finishing. And like I keep saying, repetition and the practice and practice and practice with both feet. But then on a match day, all my instincts kick in. And a lot of times after games, people will say to me, what was your thinking in that moment? And honestly, I don't even know. It's like when you agreed to do this show, Jimmy. Yeah. And people say, why did you do the Men in Blazers show in New Jersey?

1:43:22You're like... But you've actually... We've met before, many years ago. Yeah, I know, and you still came back. Exactly. But I only come back because you was here. I know, and I only came back because you was here. Exactly. It's amazing. I interviewed Jermaine in Sunderland, 2015. It was actually a tough time for the club. But you were a noble and beautiful human being, and it stuck with me, and I only want to do good things with great people. and that stayed with me in every regard. Thank you. But you said to me something beautiful that day and then we talked about it backstage again and I love it and I think it's actually useful for everybody to know who cares about football.

1:44:01You said to me, when strikers score a goal, I mean, you should finish off. We always pretend we're surprised, the celebration, but... Yeah, I mean, it's... Because you paint pictures, you've probably heard it before, you know, with athletes, not just footballers, you paint all these pictures in your mind, you know, of scoring goals and winning games and even with that goal I remember the night before you know just you know painting these pictures in my mind about how the goal is going to look and you know visualizing what it's going to look like winning the game and that's why when you score the goal of course you celebrate but at the same time in a funny sort of way you're not you're not surprised because almost like you've played it so many times in your mind you just got executed and when you execute I mean it's the feeling of scoring a goal is is something that I've tried to describe for many years and I still struggle to do it because honestly it's the best feeling in the world Diego Forlan once told me on a stage like this not at the stage but he said it's like an orgasm but better it's better yeah it's better it's better well let's look at one of those better because you are a player who spans generations in the Premier League this is one of the many reasons why I love you you've seen it all you dominated the Premier League early in that little man big man era you played with the biggest man of all.

1:45:17You played with 6 '7 Peter Crouch. Look at that. I mean, that is like of mice and men. That is like English Yao Ming right there. These two played together all the way through Portsmouth, Tottenham Hotspur, full England squad. It was stunning to watch these two guys' telepathy. It was amazing. So let's look very quickly. What happened inside the first minute against Manchester United 2009? I love this moment. There's a chance for Asui Cotto. looking for tracks on the far side there. Defoe! It's not! Electrifying from Tamim Defoe and Tottenham!

1:45:58I love that you're shaking my hand. It's because you're laughing, making me laugh. It was funny, I think... Exactly. Any United fans, I'll see a few shirts. Sorry, mate. Yeah, but it was... I think it was about 43 seconds into the game. Yeah. And actually, when I did the overhead kick and I made a connection, I didn't actually see the ball go in. But as I've landed, I saw the crowd jump up and I was like, oh, okay. And then obviously I celebrated and that. But I mean, the partnership with Peter Crouch was so special because the reason why I say it was special because we never worked on anything in training.

1:46:36Honestly, we didn't work on anything. A lot of it was off the cuff, but we just had this connection. I knew what he would do. He knew what I would do. And it just worked. He once said about you, he always expected us to play the ball back to him, but you always just shot. He knows. He used to call at me, then I'd get the look. But at times I'd do it on purpose and I'd just be like, sorry. Even before he starts moaning, I'd be like, Crouchy, sorry. Because if I say sorry, what can you say back? Sorry I just did that bicycle kick inside 43 seconds. But here's what I want to know. You've seen the game change.

1:47:08With those skills that you had, we've seen two examples of it. There were hundreds more. and the way the game's changed since you've retired, you watch now Pep's Manchester City, you watch Mikel Arteta's Arsenal. Do you look at it and think, oh my God, give me my boots, I can fit right in? Or do you look at our 2025 game and think, you know, there's new skills that I'd have to master? I think, of course, I think you look at it and not just me, probably the centre-forwards that played in my era. The game's different because back then it was always 4-4-2. It was all about relationships, whether that's a full-back and a right-winger.

1:47:42And the first probably pair that spring to mind is, you know, Gary Neville, David Beckham, for example. And then you've got Andy Cole and Dwight York. So football is all about partnerships. And obviously my partnership with Crouchy. But obviously now is you're playing as the lone striker and then you play with wingers. So at the beginning of my career, I always played with a partner. And then sort of like the back end of my career, I played up front on my own, which was different. I do feel like you have less touches during the game. You have to be patient and really think about your movement.

1:48:12and then your concentration level has to be at its highest because when you have less touches and then you get an opportunity to score, then you have to be ready. But yeah, the game has changed. I never thought I would watch football or play where I see your full-backs coming inside in the middle of the pitch. And I think Pep's the one that introduced that. So, I mean, the game's evolved. And you see a lot of teams, not just the Premier League, MLS, you know, in England, the Championship, League One, a lot of teams play the same. The level of coaching has gone up, which is good for the game. So, yeah, I mean, it's evolved and it's changed.

1:48:47I mean, the Premier League has grown so far, so fast than when you began. When you started, it was still in that early thrust of hyper growth. Foreign stars were starting to arrive. Clubs like United and Arsenal were starting to think about being global brands for the first time. Then, mid-2000s, owners changed. the world's best managers started to arrive in England the television coverage started to become planet-wide was there a single moment when you thought holy crap this isn't just England's league this is this is the world's league and you realize English football had really gone global yeah I mean from the from the beginning when I when I started obviously I was lucky enough I got into the West Ham team quite young and I remember playing against you know players that I've been I've grown up watching on the TV.

1:49:36So it was quite surreal. I remember the first time I went to Old Trafford for West Ham. And I remember standing down a tunnel, the famous tunnel down Old Trafford. I remember standing there, looking to my right, and it's like Roy Keane, David Beckham, Andy Cole. And I remember standing there. And then you have one of those moments where you think, wow, this is, I've made it. But then after that, you know, 19, I played against Marcel Desailly. Iconic name in football. And I was a young player. And then, you know, the Abramovich era with Chelsea. you know, the Shevchenkos and all these sort of players that came over.

1:50:07It was just amazing to see. And since then, I think the Premier League has just gone from strength to strength. I mean, it is unbelievable because as a young boy growing up, watching Italian football and seeing all those great names, the Shevchenkos and all these players, you know, George Ware, great in the English Premier League. Paolo Di Canio, who's someone who I played with, you know, he's a maverick, but, you know, one of the greatest players playing in the Premier League is just a beautiful thing. I mean the amazing thing is we talked about this backstage and I said to Jermaine when you were playing against these icons did you go on the field I was essentially saying I didn't say this but did you feel afraid I said did you play differently did you take the field differently Jermaine looked at me like I was an idiot and said no chance because you have to back yourself and even when I play against obviously backstage I mentioned the likes of John Terry and Rio Ferdinand is the obvious they actually played against Virgil van Dijk but like I mentioned before how many did he score in that game?

1:51:09yeah I scored I always scored against him and Vincent Kompany Vincent Kompany for me Vincent Kompany was one of the hardest because I just felt like his level of concentration and normally in a Premier League match even if you're playing against a defender you always get that level of respect and you know throughout the course of the game the 90 minutes 95 minutes you'll always get like a little smile or a little something nice Something human. Yeah, but he never. Vincent Kompany, he would tackle you hard and then just look in your eyes, look through your soul. Like nothing happened. And I'd be like, okay then.

1:51:44Do you know what I mean? Towards the end of the game, I remember I scored a few goals past Man City. But listen, he was one of the greatest. He was tough. You know, John Terry. John Terry would put his head through that brick wall to keep a clean sheet. That level of competitive, you know, the standards and what it takes to win. So, yeah, I was lucky that I played in that era, played against some fantastic defenders. God bless. Looking through your soul, that's what Governor Murphy did to me tonight when he came with us. Jermaine, last question for you. I mean, you've seen English football grow to become the best in the world in your lifetime.

1:52:20I mean, this is hard to understand, but the tectonic plates and the football continuously shift. You've seen the growth of football on this side of the Atlantic. When we grew up, by the way, Italian football was the best in the world. Jermaine has lived where the Premier League rose up and became the dominant football in the planet. But you've come to play in America. You've seen the fan base here rise. And since NBC started a broadcast of the Premier League in 2013, I mean, this game has really passionately taken just levels. World Cup's about to come here. It's going to be like a tidal wave.

1:52:55It's going to hit our entire nation. what does America need to do to take the next step as a footballing nation what will what will put us over the top well I think having a world cup here is massive huge and I don't think we actually realize how big it's going to be until it happens it's been a long time coming USA 94 I remember you know it's it's it's the the the pinnacle for every footballer you know it's you You talk about the World Cup, the Olympics, Super Bowl. When the World Cup's on, the world's at standstill. So the fact that you people get to experience the World Cup here, the greatest players in the world, the greatest nations, it is going to be electric.

1:53:41It's going to be special, something to remember, and we'll see what happens in that. But going forward after the World Cup, I can imagine, you know, the MLS will go to another level. And in my experience, you know, I was at Tottenham for nine years. And I got a phone call from Tim Lawicki to come to Toronto to play in the MLS. And it was an easy decision because before me, I spoke to Robbie Keane, who had done it. David Beckham was probably the first one to do it. Frank Lampard, Pelo, all these great players, you know, iconic figures that have played in the MLS. And you look at, you know, what David Beckham is doing now.

1:54:18You know, it's a league that's going in one direction. I was impressed by the facilities, the stadiums, the fans. You know, amazing. It's only going one way. God bless to that one way. I do love what you have to say. I loved watching you play. I love when you said, well, the World Cup, we'll see what happens. It was like a man who knows England. They're probably going to... Probably going to go... What do you think?

1:54:47I think they'll be beaten by Qatar in the semi-final you think we've come close last few I know I know I know USA in the final it's all I'm going to tell you I don't know the other place is up for grabs baby I will say Jermaine you are one of the most soulful footballers when you were playing I loved interviewing you you were that remarkable human being whatever club you're at you lifted with your presence you've lifted this stage at the Stone Pony tonight, New Jersey. Please be upstanding for an incredible human being, Jermaine Defoe.

1:55:27Before I go, I want to raise a toast to you and tell you how meaningful this evening has been for all of us at the Men in Blazers Media Network to play this place in this state. We do not take it for granted. Football has allowed us to do this. to welcome and be welcomed over the state line in this incredible state, this footballing state, this idiosyncratic town of wonder, Asprey Park. I've got to say, this is a place where the slight of seaside hand meets a town unafraid to reinvent itself without losing sight of what it's always been, which I think is one of the greatest tricks in life and I find deeply inspiring.

1:56:07I do want to thank everyone who's made tonight possible. The FIFA World Cup 26 New York, New Jersey host committee. The Premier League. Boom. Look at that. It is so unbelievably beautiful. I'm not going to touch it until Everton win it again. And also, the great state of New Jersey. and so the world of the world is about to descend upon your state and new york this summer for the world cup and i want everyone who's watching this at home to know please stop at frank's for a sub right hit darcy's in bradley beach for a pint come here to the stone pony to this jewel box of music history. And from the bottom of our hearts, thank you for having us here with you tonight.

1:57:04We may not have done what I wanted to do, which is to get to the bottom of the Taylor Hamm versus Port Roll debate.

1:57:14I love you. This is like, all half of you are like, Taylor Hamm, Port Roll. This is like somewhere a podcast that cares only about Taylor Hamm and Port Roll is like asking you whether you support Everton or Liverpool and you're all shouting out poor role. But to celebrate the league we love in a place we truly adore with an audience which has been just an immense privilege, I'm going to come down and have a beer with you all right now here to just tell you my appreciation. And I just say, thank you for being with us. Let's never take a second of watching Premier League football together for granted.

1:57:50Asprey Park, thank you for having us. Big, big love. Courage.

1:57:57Walk on, walk on with hope in your heart. And you'll never walk alone.

1:58:23You'll never walk alone

1:58:35Walk on, walk on