USA are Never Gonna Lose, with Kyle Beckerman and Jim Harbaugh: Night Cup 6/12/26

28:22for that to be the last moment of World Cup play and this to be how you then respond. What a night. Almost perfect. I mean, really, really almost perfect for this US team, for this US fan base, which will be growing enormously tonight after what we've seen. Carl, you played in a first World Cup game, 2014, which in its own way had an ecstatic, dramatic ending. 85th minute John Brooks just national ecstasy from what you remember when you got back into the locker room you know guys it's just the first group game we've got more to go but also my god this was the stuff of dreams what will these footballers be feeling as they hit that room right now at least from now until tomorrow morning it's it's it's amazing just uh almost like this relief is finally, you've been thinking of this game, the opener of the World Cup for months now.

29:20So finally, to get that in your back pocket, three points, you're going to sleep good tonight. Do you think they do? Or is that the adrenaline surely? You must be buzzing for ages afterwards. Yeah, easily. For hours after, try to get to sleep because you've got to go back to work tomorrow. So funny, Christian Pulisic, I once was at the Champions League game with him in Dortmund as making a film. He came on against Real Madrid and turned the game around, saved it for Dortmund. It was an incredible performance. And he was so wired afterwards. We filmed with him. And I said, what are you going to do now?

29:52And he was still a kid. So he goes, I'm going to stay up till about 8 o 'clock tomorrow morning just playing FIFA against strangers. So God bless. You've earned it in America. Play FIFA against strangers. What a night. We U.S. fans, we have no chill. We've got two moods. We're either catastrophizing, it's doomsday, it's darkness, or we are surging with overconfidence. Just give us the trophy now. Tonight we'll dream and think what, Kylie? Yeah, we're going all the way. Why not? You mean to the next game against us? We're going to Seattle. Woo! You heard it here. Really, what will we think? You know the American mindset.

30:36The confidence they're going to gain from this. and you just, you know, you can do it. You're there. You got it in your back pocket now. Let's move on to the next. But imagine how they will feel, the players ahead of that Australia game. Imagine what the atmosphere in Seattle will be like. The atmosphere inside the stadium. Can't wait. Which is creatively known by FIFA as the Seattle Stadium. Yeah. Really, I'd love to get a job on that. The FIFA naming committee. They had a creative. They had a really good creative brainstorm, didn't they? Should we just, the Seattle Stadium is really catchy. Yeah.

31:06A Seattle Stadium, I think, was the other idea. The Seattle Arena, maybe? Oh, no, Seattle Stadium, play it safe. There will be such a vibe around that whole game that it does feel genuine. Obviously, the World Cup started yesterday in Mexico City. It looked amazing. Toronto looked incredible. But that does feel like the moment where the principal hosts get off to this flyer. That nervousness goes away. And all of a sudden, now you do start to think, actually, the US are serious. One of the lines in the commentary was, the United States are here and that's how it feels. Yeah, and it feels like the World Cup has kicked off in earnest.

31:42Just the chat is absolutely buzzing. At Fly Lion 17, we played like we're on a playground. So much confidence. It's what you said. I've been watching the US men's national team since 94. That was legit the best I've seen the national team play ever. At De Moorcaf, you put France, Spain, England, Brazil, Argentina, Germany. etc on the shirt and the media would hail them as world cup favorites i yeah i take the point i genuinely think of all the games we've seen so far that is the best the best performance they are the best team we have seen so far in this world cup but evidencing the point i just made out wing wing hair races why are you all acting like you won the damn thing already relax there's still australia and turkey i've got to say i still fear turkey will see them in action tomorrow kyle You know the rules.

32:32You've got to come and watch every single US game with us now. Those are the ways it works. We talked about quite beautifully today in our Match Day Live what this World Cup would do, what it could do, what the USA kind of having a surging, exquisite set of memory-making performances could do looking into the future. You talked about, you think about what could happen in 30 years. You talk about the academies, the investment, the coaching, the difference making that could occur. Just play it forward for us. Yeah, I mean, all the infrastructure we have and all the kids that are going to get inspired from this World Cup, everything's there for us to produce the next best player in the world.

33:15And I truly feel it's going to come next 10, 15, 20 years. We win the World Cup and that's because we were going to have the best player in the world. Oh, my God. 15 years. I think we will have maybe 10, maybe five. We will have defended the World Cup by their Beckham. And don't be such a downer. I bet. Says not cared much about the US men's national team before, but that was a blast. Maybe I should change that. A comment actually speaks volumes about why this is and can be so important. I want to pull this together. I mean, World Cups just to inject a bit of rationale thought into it. Not really my role in this moment, because I just want to spray this beer all over my bus.

33:57but they are not sprints. They're not, I mean, this one isn't even a marathon. This one is an ultra bloody marathon. So let's dream. Let's revel in this moment. Let's share the great energy. But we do have to keep it in perspective. This was, right, the easiest game of the group we kind of knew. You don't think so? You're mad. Don't piss the Australians off, man. Don't piss them off. As a fan of the England cricket team, I will support the United States fervently against any form of Australia. Now, I think... Look, man, the Australians are still pissed that when we got drawn against them, we were like, yes!

34:34Yeah, that's true. And the Australians, when they were drawn against us, were also like, yes! The Australians won't be pushovers. No. But I don't think they are, like, an order of magnitude better than Paraguay. I think they are similar. The US have more quality than both. That's what it comes down to. We said this this afternoon, that the US have got a team, I think apart from one player today, and the goalkeeper, who played for Champions League or Champions League aspiring clubs. That is not true of Paraguay and it's not true of Australia. They have the quality to win that game. I think we should withhold judgment.

35:05This is me trying to not tempt fate to the Everton in me, maybe, till we complete the group stage, have a real sense of a body of work. The policing knock, little worry, style of play though, the pace, the teamwork, collective teamwork, the joy, if you want to read, look at the reaction to the rain ago, whole bench clearing, even Potch roaring. I mean, I don't know if he was worrying because of the play or because he thought, now I'm going to get the job of my job. I don't want to go there. I think he'd seen a shot where his hair looked amazing. Yeah. And by the way, it did. Whatever product it's wearing, it looks both natural and also deep.

35:38It looked as structured as a back line, honestly. He looks like a really well-cared-for dog. That's what he looks like. He's got a glossy coat. Maybe he did go to pauserus.com because it looked just utterly just confident, surging. I do believe this. We don't have to fear anybody. At Jared Kozai 4553, if we can replicate this performance against Australia, I'm ready to build a statue to potch in my front lawn. Picks or it didn't happen. Kyle, you're going to step off. I want to give you the last word before you do. Before you do that last word so it can be a last word, I want to thank you. You are a total human wonder.

36:19I've long admired you. I will never forget. And I will remember this forever. Every U.S. World Cup game to me is a gem. I remember each one. I remember who I was with. I remember the feelings, the wonder, the excitement, whatever happened. I'll never forget this game, nor that we watched it together. So last word to you on this game. Address the nation. Tell us what we should think. Well, what an amazing start to our World Cup. And the fun's just getting started. Thanks for having me on, guys. Kindly. Let's have some applause for Kylo. There you go. It's coming from all points on the bus. Kylo, I love you as a human being.

37:02I love you as a footballer. We will see you again in LA on June 25th at Union Station where we match day live for that Turkey A game. Ru and I, Ru are on to Seattle. We're going to be with Marshawn Lynch. I can't remember where. It's some port right by the Seattle Stadium. Come and have some beers with us. Seattleites. Kyle, you're a beautiful human being. You can take your headphones off. He's very happy. He's really happy. Kyle, though, or Rod? No, you. Oh, my God. You're in such a good mood. I haven't felt this happy. I'm trying to remember which kid made me this happy when they were born. Maybe don't name them in public, Rog.

37:43I'll tell you, I'm going to have a fifth, and I'm going to name it Flo. Oh, the world's most beautiful name. What a man. Yeah, a wonderful man. A wonderful man. he's made my he's made he's lifted my entire day oh my god he did not the performance of the United States Men's Nationals both but Kyle particularly oh collectively I've got to do a promo for a second as we catch our breath a word from our friends at 1440 the 2022 World Cup final drew 1.5 billion viewers it's 11 times this year's Super Bowl to understand how football became the world's game and what drove it Listen to 1440 Explores with Financial Times journalist Simon Kuiper, who will give you the inside scoop into the depths of the tournament.

38:29Listen to 1440 Explores wherever you get your podcasts. Has cruel fate smashed your dreams of footballing glory during this FIFA World Cup? Fear not. You're now a sporting free agent with your choice of squads, the opportunity to pick someone new, The teams were the catchiest songs. The country you studied abroad in. The goalkeeper with the magnificent hair. When your team's gone, fun doesn't have to be. Because on the Leys bandwagon, every match is another excuse to grab a snack and pick a new favourite. There are no wrong answers. Only good times and tasty snacks. So jump on and enjoy the rest of the tournament because Leys keeps the party going and the bandwagon has never tasted better.

39:09Leys, official sponsor of the FIFA World Cup 2026. And as the world arrives in the United States for the biggest spectacle in sports, we're going coast to coast, host city to host city to meet the world with the Men in Blazers Match Day Live Tour. These are free college game day style live events taking place just before kickoff at some of the biggest games of the summer where we'll be taking the stage with celebrity guests in front of thousands of fans. It's going to be amazing. Come and be with us in person or from afar on YouTube. And let's celebrate this some other way. It's meant to be celebrated.

39:46Just head to the events tab on meninblazers.com for all the details. To the football, to more together courage.

39:57Oh, we're all feeling the American spirit in ways we haven't since the 1992 Dream Team scrimmage in Monte Carlo. We tried to bottle out of our new GoGo USA merch line, anchored by the unofficial third-verse kit, which is reminiscent. Do we not have a photo of this? Look at us. We're never really good at marketing these things. Reminiscent of the iconic 94 denims. Check it out at our shop. Link below. And dress like this is the sum of your life, because after this performance, it might just be. Ryan O 4407 says, oh, talk about Canada. Okay, we will. We're moving on. Thank you. You've always got a job as a producer at this show, Ryan O.

40:41Canada won. Bosnia won. There was other football today. Oh my God. God, what a comeback draw, I think is the official word. A game that began with the second opening ceremony. I don't know about you. I can't have enough of these things. I'm a big fan of the beaches. So I was, you know, I'm happy. That's fine. Big summer. Also, didn't recognise Buble. Did he not? No. Buble looks a bit like Pochettino. A little bit. He looks like Poch's stunt double. He looks a bit like he's done a little bit Ed Sheeran, which I find weird. Well, the bastard offspring of Poch and Ed. That's what I'd like to see.

41:12I think we did. Yeah. And I liked it. God, Buble wishes he looked as smoldering as old Poch. By the way, opening ceremony, I can't get enough puppetry. It's a big summer for puppetry. But there were, Canada, many crimes against lip syncing. By the way, can I just say it was so great to see Canadian icon, noted fan of irony, Alanis Morissette sing the national anthem. For that moment, everything felt fine in the world. She's the one true queen, I believe, in not named Tracy Chapman. But to Canada, another packed house, conky-calf, home of football. The atmosphere in Toronto looked amazing. Before the game?

41:49Yeah, I saw the videos of the fan march through the streets. I've never been to Toronto, never been to Canada. I'm sure it's a lovely place. Oh, my God, it's amazing. They had the pyro going, there were fans in weird costumes. It looked like a proper World Cup moment. Because of the excitement of hosting a men's World Cup game for the first time, I think probably the little bit of the fact that they feel like they've got a manageable group there. There's some decent Switzerland, Bosnia, Qatar. There won't be an easy game there, but it's not too daunting. It looked like the Canadians were really embracing the moment.

42:18It's a parallel story to the United States. the Canadian team believe they know this could be a deeply transformational moment in their nation's relationship to football. It was one that was tempered by the absence of Alphonso Davies out with hamstring knackouts. He ached for him not being able to play when the spotlight was on his team, in his nation. Big question, the unknown, Roy, is when precisely he'll be fully fit. It's difficult to say, right? It's not clear when or if or really. I don't like to float this. if our man is coming back. Yeah, there's a few like that who are in that position where they've been brought back because there is a possibility they will be fit.

42:58But in that situation, you never know. It's always really mysterious how fit they can be having kind of only just come back from the injury. Can you come back and play 20 minutes, half an hour? Is it one where you keep them back until you really need them? So if Canada needs to win their last group game, do we suddenly see Fonzie play for half an hour? It might be that he's not actually fit enough to play and he's just there for like he's like the break glass in case of emergency player like okay we are in trouble now get that guy get him and morissette we can get morissette up front yeah hope that she confuses the opponents by misunderstanding irony and and see if that works no i i don't think davies will play a lot certainly the group phase but it might be that he's there if canada canada need him another fascinating moment watching my friend jesse marsh belt out oh canada uh came about as close as i I think I could get to seeing your ex with their new family.

43:50But that's just me. Bosnia, their story's also remarkable. What a team, man. One forged against a backdrop of war and agony and trauma, suffering, the Bosnian War, which was in the 1990s, was a conflict that created an enormous diaspora, an enormous amount of lost lives, I think 80 ,000 Bosnian Muslims. There was a quote in the paper this morning I found really, really moving. a member of the Bosnian diaspora fled to the United States, said of this team, we are so emotional because of our history, our identity, trying to define ourselves. You don't support Bosnia because it is easy or successful.

44:30You support it because it's yours. I mean, that as an Everton fan, I was like, that is the essence of football. Yeah. There's so many stories like that in this world cup and Bosnia is really inspiring. It's their second tournament. They were in 2014 as well with Kyle. The, they're the two things that we remember at the 2014 world cup, Bosnia Beckerman the two the two the two totems of that tournament yeah nobody's talking about Germany and Brazil didn't happen that's the third thing yeah yeah it's the third at least maybe further down I'm talking about Julian Green's banger don't even know who won that tournament no I think that Bosnia are you can see from the passion again a huge kind of diaspora population in North America loads of fans in the stadium really nice atmosphere in Toronto because they were delighted to be there as well and and as you say I think it there's something really powerful about a country that can draw on a team from its diaspora.

45:15I think there's 16 members of the Bosnian squad who are diaspora-born, and to represent the country of your ancestral homeland, the country of your parents, the country of your grandparents. That is such a powerful form of identity. And we're going to see that all over this World Cup because it is a diaspora World Cup. There are so many players here who are representing countries that they feel a kinship with, even if they weren't born there, even if they didn't grow up there. This Bosnian connection is super profound. It's so deep. It's like, you know, it was an exile. And so to represent again is so powerfully redemptive.

45:47Andrew Connor. Hello, Andrew Connor, 7735. So today I learned St. Louis, Missouri, is the largest Bosnian expat community in the United States. I think it may be, I may be making this up, maybe the fourth biggest Bosnian city in the world. 30 ,000, yeah, there was 20 ,000, 30 ,000 Bosnian fans in Canada watching this game. It was, yeah, everything that's great. I think about North America. There's so many nationalities here. This is what can make this tournament so bloody good. Just the absolute wonder that is America connecting to that. I can't wait for South Korea to play again. I can't wait for Japan to take the field.

46:26I can't wait for Egypt to take. I mean, the Egyptian diaspora in the United States, they will show up and just saw and feel that pride. Haiti. I'm learning so many facts. So we know that Los Angeles is the second largest Iranian city on the planet after Tehran. Found out today that Chicago is the second biggest Polish city in the world after Warsaw. I'm looking forward to someone telling me that like Des Moines. You can call it Des Moines. Des Moines. Des Moines. Des Moines. I assume it's even Des Moines. Named after a guy called Des, I presume. Yeah. I like Des. Des Moines. The second largest English city apart from London.

47:02I don't know. What? Lincoln, Nebraska. That sounds about as true that Cleopatra lived closer to now than she did to the creation of the pyramid, which is true. So maybe the Des Moines thing and they make it all happen. America is magnificent. Don't get me off on that one again, because the world is just wrapping itself in the wonderful mundanity of our cuisine. And it makes me so happy. This is a massive day, though, for Jesse Marsh. I mean, he adores Canada, first American to lead them. He was the US assistant in 2010. He thought he had this job locked up after the first coming of Greg Berhalter, only for Greg Berhalter to be reappointed.

47:45That's really the origin of his villain narrative, if you want. He's not a villain. The man is gorgeous. I've loved watching him build. The Canadian squad, talking about identities in his image, really is a kind of a bit of a nasty, he said it brought nastiness to them. But they are also just that multi-identity, just the most talented generation of Canadian players. But he's really fallen in love with the complexity of Canadian identity. He said yesterday, I was impressed by how much they loved each other, how much they were drawn to each other. Even though there were differences, their backstories had similarities.

48:23First and second generation, Canadian, Portuguese, French, Jamaican, Colombian, Scottish, on, on, on, on. on this again is the wonder of this world cup and you could see that passion rod you could see how much it meant to them steven eustachio the midfielder there was a tackle quite early on that he won in what was a really tight first half and he got up and it you know when italian defenders clear something off the line and they celebrate like they've scored they've scored the third goal in their hat trick eustachio did that as well and you could see how much it meant to him there is a real unity behind that team they played really well i thought canada but bosnia carried a threat throughout that was kind of obvious, but difficult to stop.

49:02And it's size. People want you to say in the chat, I'm going to spell it W I C H I T a. Wichita. Yo, is that how you say it? Does he get a green card? That's it. Is that in, that's in Kansas, right? Don't push your luck, baby. Yeah. Point to it on the map. I can't do that. No, this match got off to a frantic pace. Canada pressed with real determination as if they're on just like a run of vengeance because let's say Bosnia had collectively said that the bare naked ladies were a load of crap. Bosnia dug in, established their battle lines, long balls were launched from their defensive third. First big chance went to Canada.

49:46It was amazing watching Jesse Marsh howl as Jonathan David punched the ball right at the keeper. Bosnia had the tallest squad in the tournament. They looked at it. I mean, tied with Norway, I think their average height is 6 '1", 0.7 inches, if I'm not incorrect. Like, akin to me, when I actually do stand up straight, they use that in the end of the 21st minute, off a corner, well, a couple of set pieces. Spectacular flick from Saeed Kalashniac. Buff dudes with good mobility. Always the scariest dudes. That flick on, it was remarkable. I don't know how he did. It was like watching, it was like more limbo.

50:25Very strong neck muscles. And core. Yeah, good core work. Whatever it was, Canada was suddenly paralyzed, but the human body doesn't do that. And God bless Jovo Lukic, who plays for Romania's Universities Cluj, in for a banged-up Eden Dzeko, and they were rewarded a set-piece goal. I think it was his first. But watching that, weren't you just like Arsenal's influence running deep at this World Cup? Somewhere Nitalis Jova is thinking, I have my legacy now. I have my legacy. I mean, my influence is, who's more influential, Jova or Guardiola, in terms of the coaching tree of modern football? It has to be Jova.

51:06It's all Jova. No, I think, to be fair, in international football, when you have so little time, one of the most effective things to do is work on set pieces. You can't get Bosnia to play Guardiola-style football in three weeks of coaching, so you have to focus on the bits where you can make a difference. it was a smart set piece if i'm completely honest roge if i'm being critical i thought maxime crapaud could probably have done something about it the whole back line was just utterly static in that moment um i mean canada responded with tenacity but with just complete woeful miscalibration i mean the shooting uh and this one was hard to watch it was like they they just seem to uh fire shots over for every point on their maple leaf logo that's nine uh but the only bright spots of the first half.

51:52It was nice to see Ryan Reynolds there. It's just beautiful to see Mike Myers there. But the looks on their face, God, it moved me. They were just ashen-faced, somber. It was funereal. And my God, you realize what an agony it was for members of their nation who thought they turned up at a wedding, only for it to turn into something so much darker. And I'll be honest, Roar, in that moment watching them, I felt just an agony of empathy. I can't remember who I was watching with, but I said I don't want the whole world to laugh at Canada today. My heart couldn't take it. Yeah, I don't have any particular kind of bond to Canada, but I think you do want the hosts to do well.

52:36It's important for the tournament that the hosts don't kind of lose interest straight away. Qatar was a weird example because it was a unique World Cup in lots and lots of different ways, good and bad. But the fact that they lost that first game to Ecuador, they were so clearly out of their depth. And you just thought, right, well, that bit's gone now. So there was, as much as Bosnia is an amazing story, and it's wonderful that they had that lead, and it would have meant so much in both Bosnia and Herzegovina to take the lead. You did kind of think, we need the Canadians to step up. And the crucial thing is, I would say, they were playing fine in that first half.

53:12They just didn't have that cutting edge. Jonathan Davids had a difficult season at Juve. He looked like a player who was short of confidence. just as Balogran kind of stepped into that limelight and took the pressure. It seemed to just diminish Jonathan David a little bit. But the basic play of Canada was pretty good. Yeah, and there's also, I mean, it did start to hear it was not going to be Canada's day. That clearance off the line by Kalashnac, I mean, it one-upped his assist to be candid, which is very hard to do. I think the commentator said it was, save for the tournament! Incredible Canadian move.

53:43It was quite poetic. Richard Larea's shot, beat the keeper, was charging and Klasnick, I still don't know how he did it. It was like he extended a go-go gadget leg. I'm sure if it was in slow motion, you would see genuinely, it looked like it was AI to be honest. He slapped the ball with his wrong foot up onto the crossbar from behind. Raw, I'm not really a religious man. I do believe the only way this can be explained is, well, one of two ways. I thought it was borderline a divine act of miraculous intervention, but you were just like, that was lucky. I mean, I think there's a chance that when you say you don't know how he did it, the answer is not on purpose.

54:20I think that is, we can't rule that out. It was a really good bit of defending. The fact that it hit the bar rather than being roofed into the goal, Rog, is probably just a bit of good fortune. God, at D Husko, it was like, Sean Dyche may be the manager who could take Bosnia's height and move it next level. He's just a TikTok influencer now, to be honest, at D Husko. So God bless Jesse Marsh, rang the changes in, momentum shifted. Canada got into dangerous positions and they had 10 shots at that point, but they were frenzied, they were flustered. Final ball wasn't there. It's like having a chef that plates a beautiful, beautiful entree and it's constantly drops it directly onto the floor.

55:03Been there, done that. But then 79th minute and they should need a hero. Upstepped. Oh, sir, Kyle Larrant. Yes, you off the bench. I mean, just stunning. The C in Kyle stands for Canada legend. Former Yukon Husky, yep, came through MLS. Turkey, Belgium, then La Liga to land in this moment at Southampton. All that spying. Who says the spying don't pay off? Kept onside in the pocket between two central defenders. Promised David played him. One of the quickest you'll see spin-wise since quad God. And that lash via a very polite deflection. Canada's first goal the first home World Cup put it in the history books man is Poutine Pelley Poutine Pelley might be pushing it a little bit Roger if I'm completely honest but it was even with the deflection it was a really really good finish the spin to kind of create the space was a top class kind of bit of striking play finished a little bit lucky but you have to kind of you have to ride your luck a little bit in these moments and that goal did feel transformative for Canada in the context of their World Cup ABS, ABS, always be spying.

56:14Also, Poutine Pele is the first player not named Alphonso Davies ever in Canada's history to score in a World Cup. First goal for Canada since 2024. I think October the 15th, stretch of 14 games. I loved it. Just pointing at himself. Back myself, back myself. I mean, see these guys wear their nation's jersey and come alive again is stunning. Dropped from the starting 11, delivered when his nation needed it. I mean, it's utterly, utterly stunning. I'm so happy for Canada. Not losing, was winning. Just need, I think, to beat Qatar now. And everything will be so bloody good. Last week, Marsh said it's going to be my job to figure out for each match who we need to start and how you use those weapons off the bench.

56:57Arteta, starters, finishers. Laren actually scored two minutes after coming on. First point in Canadian World Cup history. Can we get a round of applause for that? Let's be big-hearted. biggest day in Canadian history. I don't like to be hyperbolic since the release of heated rivalry. Quick look ahead to tomorrow because we've got to get to Jim Harbaugh. Talk about a couple of things we adore, Roy. It's a Golden Corrals buffet of football. It's quad day. We are blessed with a first full slate of four games. The other game of Group D, Australia going to go knifey-spoony against Turkey as the last nugget of the night.

57:34But we've got a delicious first big marquee clash for real. or Brazil, Morocco. I think it's 6 p.m. Eastern time. Five times champions face 2022. Cinderella semi-finalists who feel dangerous that they're going to go higher. New Jersey is going to be a wash for a wonder. Yeah, that is a really mouthwatering game. There's been like three starting days for the World Cup. There was obviously the actual day it started in Mexico City. There was today when the other two hosts kicked off, when Toronto and L.A. kind of felt the fever. but tomorrow with the sight of the first of the of the really big boys if we're being completely honest like the first of the favorites the first of the contenders and the fact that it's brazil the definitive world cup nation against the morocco team who are i think they're in a weird position morocco because we expect quite a lot from them now they are stronger i think than they were in 2022 they could they could get to the semi-finals easily morocco are good enough disappointing though wouldn't it but it would be it would be a step stasis if you're not moving forward, Rog, then you're falling behind.

58:34You've got to keep growing. You've got to keep growing. What's the point? I mean, it would suggest they don't have a grind set to Morocco, and I think we should all have a grind set. But no, I think they are under pressure. They're not an outsider anymore. They're not a dark horse. They're a team that we expect something from. They know an Anthony, and we want to be entertained. But the main event, Rog, is after that game. Scotland, the unofficial team of all lager lovers going up against Haiti, for whom just participated. We talked about that in the previous, just the darkness that Haiti societally is going through for them to take this World Cup stage and to create memories for their diaspora that are positive and joyous, proud, you know, national state like anybody else, at least for the next 39 days.

59:19Scott McTominay attempting to win on the field with the Tartan Army while they win it off it by drinking Boston Dry, and I think they will. McTominay, Roar, is said to have an upset stomach. Have you been following this one? I've been following it in detail well not in that much detail I saw someone say that it's the first time that one person got an upset stomach and an entire nation crapped themselves that's amazing you know most Spanish fans are like obsessed with the healing of Luminum L's hamstring it's just like Scotland is utterly obsessed with one thing and one thing only it's McTominay's bowels which might be the most Scottish thing ever The other thing that I saw, and I'm stealing people's funny tweets now, was obviously Scott McTominay spent his entire last two years only eating the freshest Neapolitan tomatoes.

1:00:10We know that, Rog. Oh, my God. He's had three days in the United States, and it has completely messed up his metabolism. Mate, mate, mate, if you can't handle processed food, my friend, how are you going to deal with the Haiti midfield thrust? Somebody think of his biome. Come on. Mate, mate, mate, get with it. just neck down. Where is Scotland based? They're based in... It's up in the northeast, I think. Yeah. I mean, God, there's so many incredible options. Get into Dunkin's, get yourself a 12-pack and just gobble them down. This has been a night of nights for the US team. And so it's time to celebrate it a little bit with a gift for you, America.

1:00:49We're going to bring on a great American, a man who's become a dear friend of this show. I love him because when I speak to him, even when I'm in a dark mood, which is often, I feel so much better about life after listening to him. Few Americans bring more optimism, American optimism really, than he does. Let's hear it from Coach Jim Harbour. My guest today is a man made of equal parts, pure concentrated optimism and high performance khaki pant. It's a joy to welcome on the day the United States take the field in World Cup action to talk about motivation, leadership and inspiration. A gent who's personal motto is to attack every day with an enthusiasm unknown to mankind.

1:01:33Welcome back to your Los Angeles Chargers head coach. It's Mr. Jim Harbaugh. Raj, it is incredible out here in Los Angeles. The excitement is through the roof. So cool. Just got a chance to meet Coach Poach. And it's a heck of a day. I want to get deep on this, Jim. It's been 12 years since the World Cup was last played on American soil. since America introduced stonewashed denim to the masses. I believe you were in the early stages of your Indianapolis Colts career as a quarterback. Do you remember anything about 1994 World Cup? Well, I sure do. 1994, I was playing in Indianapolis, but in the summertime, I was training in Orlando, Florida.

1:02:15And so I saw it firsthand, how enormous, how grand the World Cup is. I mean, this is like 90 Super Bowls worldwide. And this year, 48 teams. The competition, you know, I love the competition, Raj. We've talked about that, you know. Now, this is at the highest level right here. Football meets football. God bless you, Jim. You've blown my mind here with your passion. But it's growing so far, so fast. Back in 1994, there was a study that said soccer was America's 67th most popular sport. Tractor pulling was 66. The Economist just revealed soccer is now the third most popular sport in the United States.

1:03:00How big can soccer get in this nation? Can you see a future in which it's number two? Yeah, why not? I mean, especially here, feeling the excitement, feeling the energy, you know, World Cup in town. I mean, this is Super Bowl next year and the Olympics the year after that. and we really just look at the TV ratings, right? I mean, it's World Cup FIFA number one, Olympics number two. They're all great. Don't get me wrong. They're all great. Love them all. Been watching them all since I was a lad. But just grand, enormous. Can't wait. Coach gave me this jersey today. It's gorgeous. I won't be taking this off, I don't think.

1:03:47They need you on the field. tractor pulling where are you now you did just meet coach potch as you call him maricho pochettino i'm fascinated you're an elite leader what are the signs that you see in someone that they are a born leader also and you see them in what do you see in potch great player and great coach i mean it's like uh he's like top gun maverick you know who was a incredible pilot and then he became an incredible coach and teacher. I relate to that. Potches Top Gun Maverick. Yeah. That makes you Iceman. Yeah. Let's go. Yeah. Iceman. You like that? You are a big game winner and a fascinated watching the impact of the US playing a World Cup on home turf.

1:04:29The noise at SoFi can go one of two ways. For some, play on home turf with a nation watching. It can trigger performance anxiety, coach. You played at the big house, 106 ,000 fans. What's the secret of harnessing emotion and not letting it overwhelm you? Embracing it. I mean, this is where the magic will happen, you know, in real time. Same in football, you know, any sport to be there, not knowing which way it's going to go, not knowing who's going to make the play or the play that's going to lead up to making the play. But, I mean, we all got that opportunity, you know, when you're playing and coaching to be part of that magic, you know, when it happens.

1:05:14So just everybody, when the stakes get this high, you know, what you can count on is everybody giving it anything and everything they have to help their team be successful. What do you do with fear? Do you feel fear? Fear? Yeah. Now, now, now, the only, no. I don't know. The only thing I'm scared of sometimes is, you know, my kid's safety, you know. But other than that, man, this is a lock cocked, ready to rock. I mean, this is this is this is the time to shine right here. That sounds amazing. I have your mouth terrible out of my lock block ready to cock. Oh, my God. I mean, be like this, man.

1:05:57America. How about you? I've been seeing you everywhere today. You are on every show. Every time I turn on the television, you are you are the world's number one. pundit for football. There's no doubt about it. They're loud. The old men on television in America. That's why I love it. Jim, in 1994, I was at the first game of the Men's World Cup, Chicago. Outside, there was a video playing of that great baseball legend, Tommy Lazorda. And the video, he said this, he said, I don't know what the World Cup is, but if America are playing in it, we're going to win it, which I just love. So let me ask you, How would you think this U.S.

1:06:35team is going to do in this World Cup? You know, getting out of the group play, I mean, that's just one game at a time, one day at a time, one game at a time. And, you know, get out of the group play. I mean, then, I mean, it's anybody's game there because now it's elimination time. And this team, why not? Why not the U.S.? Why not the U.S.? You know, I think we all remember the women's team, you know, You know, when they played up the road in Pasadena, you know, it shocked the world. You know, why not? I know if it can be half as good as the women, I will settle for that in a heartbeat. But listen to this man, Coach Harbaugh, born for the knockout rounds.

1:07:14The beautiful thing about this city we're in, Los Angeles, is that there's more types of cuisine than even numbers of teams that are in the World Cup. If a global fan was to ask you, Coach Harbaugh, what is the one thing I should eat that is proper Los Angeles? Where should they go and what are you ordering? I'm the worst person you could have asked that question to. I don't get out much. You're a man that embodies animal style. Yeah, yeah. Jack, Jack, my son will tell you. Where's the best place to go to eat? I mean, they got In-N-Out, In-N-Out Burger. Jack, what's your order? Help your dad out.

1:07:49In-N-Out. Cane. Johnny says Cane's. What'd you order, Jack? Get a double-double with fries and milkshake. Tell them Jack Harbaugh sent you. That sounds pretty darn good. I want to ask you, would you do my eulogy someday at my funeral? If I go before you, would you do my eulogy, Raj? There's no way that's going to happen. Who got it better than me at eulogies? Nobody. Nobody. You would be the guy. I will come. But by the love of God, that is not for another hundred years. I thank you. I'm humbled by the words you speak about me. I just think you're the best, Raj. You know that. I told you that.

1:08:30You are in this time of challenge. I hope the World Cup brings joy. I hope the World Cup brings a sense of unity. I hope the World Cup brings a sense of surging optimism. That's exactly what I feel after speaking to you, you beautiful human being. We don't have to do this. We get to do it, right, Raj? That is the human truth. To you, coach, to this 39-day journey of wonder to the Chargers next season, I'm going to come out and be with you and see with you. Big love to you, son. Enjoy. Anytime. Thank you. Courage. locked up and ready to rock that that's not what you said roger is it you you said blocked locked and ready to cock didn't you i was just mine was the english version this is like freedom mine was like blocked just f i'm very repressed yeah what do you think about him asking me to do his eulogy i think it's good to be organized you do yeah in front of his poor children it's not we've all got a list like a mental list of things that we need to sort out yeah every day that's how I wake up, I've got to do this, I've got to do this.

1:09:31He's obviously thinking, really got to nail someone down for my eulogy. I mean, you've got to think about the future, even if it's bleak. Box ticked to do it in front of your kids. By the way, the kid's reaction. I remember watching Pep Guardiola this season. He was sitting by his daughter when he had a suspension and he was in the stands watching Manchester City and he was losing his mind. They were like 2-0, 3-0 up, losing his mind. And the daughter just sat there completely. He said, oh yeah, that's just dad. Yeah, yeah. Yeah, when he's like, when I die, will you bury me? And the kids are just like, oh, let's get a double-double.

1:10:03That's just dad. Is there in the cast it blocked, locked, and ready to box? I don't know what it would be. Oh, Roar. God bless. That was amazing. Maybe Alexi Lalisa was right after all. Maybe he was just trying to cover up saying wanker live on air. Who knows?

1:10:25A quote coming in from Mauricio Pochettino's post-game presser via the great Tom Bogut's Twitter. On the fans in Los Angeles tonight, the fans were amazing. On behalf of the whole team, massive thank you to the fans. The energy translated to the team was amazing. You know what else is amazing? It's our segment. We have a couple more to go. What does everybody suddenly believe? We use CalSU markets to understand the minds of football fans everywhere. Tonight's fascinating. No stat that matters more than the future of the U.S. team in the wake of tonight's win against Paraguay. This chart here shows us a percentage chance that the U.S.

1:11:04will exit at any given round. That's a bit dark. That's like asking someone to do your eulogy. Roar, here's what's amazing. Before the game, the U.S. had a 33 % chance of going out in the round of 16, just a 6 % chance of making the semis, a 16 % chance of being, sorry, grouped. How things change. Look at the odds at full time. People now believe the US have a 23 % chance of making the semis. God bless America. Just 2 % chance of going out of the group. It changes that fast. What do you believe? What you see here? What speaks most to you about where we're going to go for Potch's voice? I think what I see here is that people maybe overreact a little bit to one result.

1:11:43that is one win should be enough in most circumstances to get you out of the group winning by three goals probably makes it all but certain to be perfectly honest that is that is in barring like a weird set of circumstances that is probably the u.s through to the to the first knockout round the round of 32 beyond that it'll depend a little bit on on how the game in its turkey goes it'll depend a little bit as we said last night on like the route you get the opponents you run into but i i think they should be aiming for this the quarter the quarterfinal strike me has been being within reach like that that feels realistic any further than that you are getting into kind of dreamland territory a little bit why not us i get that logic but i think predicting that would be a little bit excessive i think that today is such a good start for them it's such feeling you just have to ride that for as long as you can go and beat australia let that momentum and build and I hope that kind of the crest of the wave carries you through.

1:12:40Tonight, we are all in dreamland. Let's celebrate Raw to the moment we've all been waiting for. The joy of my whole World Cup journey. Showing a piping heart, at least a lacklustre room temperature, let's be honest at this time, when we're on the bus, where Rory discovers the big bang culinary moments around Los Angeles. That's right. It's the European mind, cannot comprehend. Yesterday, we introduced you, Rory Smith, to your maiden double-double from In-N-Out Burger, Animal style. Yes, which you declared. And this still hurts. Really nice, which I think is the equivalent of a Yorkshire Michelin star.

1:13:17But today, it's the Hall and Oats of food combos. Place LA is so overflowing, it might as well wear a Dodger's cap. It's none other than Roscoe's chicken and waffles. Can we bring in the plate? Because, hey, I'm sure we've had a waffle before. But have you ever had chicken and waffles? No, this is not. You have not lived. This is not a thing that exists in Europe. Waffles is a breakfast food. Yeah. And you have chicken for lunch or dinner. Yeah. You do not have them. Well, you see, they just need a great American, Roscoe, to say, you know what? Let's break convention and mingle these tastes. That is how you get World Cup winners.

1:13:55This is the Scos number one for Roscoe's. Quarter chicken, prepared South Star, two waffles. If only everything in my life could be prepared Southern Star. I'd be very, very happy. Rog, what are these sauces? This is syrup. That's maple syrup. What's the red one? I think it's probably a little hot sauce, if I'm guessing, a little tomato hot sauce, which is very good. And that's just Scott McTominay. Don't need that if you're in Italy. McTominay, down now! I like the chicken. I like the chicken. You like the chicken? I mean, if it's maple syrup, then I like maple syrup. It would have to be... Oh, my God.

1:14:28They'd have had to do something weird to it for me not to like maple syrup. I love Roscoe. I'm just... I don't know if you need chicken and waffles. It feels like a combo that... If you don't need them, but you want them. Yeah, we live in a society of want, Raj. That's the issue. I'm going to do the... I realise I'm being slightly dignified about this. I'm going to do a little bit of chicken and a bit of waffle at the same time. Oh, my God. So good. Honestly, I feel like I've got hair again. That life changing. That's good. Yeah. So, Talos Raw. On a scale of one. Kim's Gelato in Stavely. Yeah.

1:15:02That's to 10. Well, Timmy's is 10. Yeah. Can I do decimal points? There's no pre-legislation on this one. It wasn't in the Constitution. Write down your score. For Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles on the whiteboard, before you reveal it, I will guess your score based entirely on vibes alone. I think you're giving this a 7.6. Oh, Rog. You can't read me after all these years. 8.4. Close. Not bad. But no cigar. Give the people what they want. Oh, that is hard to beat. It's a leader in the clubhouse. I don't think you've lived, America, until you have tried. Roscoe's, I'd like to welcome you to the first day of the rest of your life, which is how I feel after that US game.

1:15:47If you're in LA, get yourself to Roscoe's. You will be rejoicing like I am now. But to close out, as always, we invite you, our dear listeners, to tell us about your World Cup journeys day to day as this odyssey is a shared one for all of us. How are you celebrating your experience, your memory making? What actions are you taking to bring it into your life with your friends, your family, your everything? Drop us a line on the Men in Blazers Discord. Send us an email, meninblazersgmail.com. We'll just send it via the socials. Let's make those memories together. Roar, we've got a message from Discord, from user Raf.

1:16:21Can you do the honors, baby? I can. We're going back in time now, Rog. The 2002 World Cup, for me, was magical. America. I was in college in Boston, which I believe is an American euphemism for I went to Harvard, but I'm not entirely sure. And decided to do a Chinese language intensive. That would be Cambridge. Oh, yeah. I went to college near Boston. I was in college in Boston and decided to do a Chinese language intensive course over the summer. That's a Cambridge boy speaking. It turned out that this class was made almost entirely of Japanese students who also wanted to get their language requirement out of the way in one big gulp.

1:16:53Endo. I don't remember anything from the class. America. What I remember is watching all of the games with their weird kickoff times and with these strangers who were suddenly my best friends. Day drinking, class skipping, and even a romantic fling. What? Tell us more, Raf. I know, it feels like you've kind of buried the lead a bit. Yeah, I think. The World Cup itself is just a blur of Brazilian yellow, but this experience was totally unique. I woke up out of it and went back to my friends and my little apartment behind Fenway Park. My Japanese crew just melted away into the Boston summer. I hate that when that happens, when your little Japanese crew just melts away.

1:17:29That World Cup existed in a different dimension. I love this. That's quite nice. Raph, this is a little... It's evocative. It's a micro novel. I'd like to know more. I've got many questions about the friends, the memories, probably quite golden and nostalgic. The fling, that inner... I don't know what it was. It might have been quite dark, so I don't need to know anymore to be candid. But the World Cup does live in a different... I mean, I wrote a whole bloody book about it. It is like a bubble in time. You remember everything. So point it... We're going through it now. I'm trying to hint active memory making people.

1:18:00The time that passes during World Cups is more vivid. That's what it is. You are living more vividly. Oh, my God. What does that say for the other four years of our lives that are not World Cup? Let's not go there, people. Let's positively focus to close on the happy crap. The day, our first match day live, which is beautiful at Santa Monica Pier with Rob Mack, Larry Nance, that geezer. And then this performance by the U.S. boys, absolutely blazing. You had hopes, you had dreams. I honestly think this game surpassed them. Come back to be with us tomorrow morning on the Men in Blues' YouTube. Another bus production, morning cup date with the incredibly talented Betty Glover.

1:18:44God, I admire her so much. You get a whole water cooler's worth of World Cup insight framing tomorrow's action inside of 50 minutes or less. He's quite, God, I'm finding inspiring. We'll be back tomorrow night, Ro, after the late night Turkey A game. Come be with us. Come smash a couple. We'll talk Brazil. We'll talk a lot of Scotland. A little bit of Turkey. Australia, we respect you. We've never said a bad word about you. But Ro, what a day. It's been amazing. It does really feel as though the World Cup doesn't arrive all at once, Rog. It comes in glimpses. And we've seen, we saw one in Mexico City yesterday.

1:19:21Toronto today. LA. LA, that performance from the US, Gio Reyna's goal. It does feel as though this is, like we're in it now. We are properly in it. And then tomorrow we get, you know, the defining World Cup nation, Scotland. Australia. Australia, we respect you. We've never said a bad word about you. All I know is today was the day the World Cup kicked off for reals. No sleep till MetLife for the final yet. Big love. Courage.