Almost exactly a year ago, journalist Beau Duré wrote an article for The Guardian titled “The US men’s national team aren’t just underachievers; they’re unlikeable.” A year on, he hasn’t budged from that stance.

It’s something Talib has been thinking about as the U.S. has increasingly antagonized the rest of the world in the past year. But it’s a strange contrast to be the bully off the soccer field, and the underdog on the field. The USMNT has always been a plucky outsider to root for in the World Cup, a scrappy dark horse against the football powerhouses and sometimes winning against all odds.

So in 2026, it begs some philosophical questions. Is it hard to root for Team USA in 2026? Are they still underdogs? Are they likable enough, and does that even matter? Is it unfair to put this on players who have nothing to do with policies—or do they have a responsibility to speak up?

Talib speaks to Duré to unpack these questions—and also about his 2019 book, Why the U.S. Mean Will Never Win the World Cup.

00:00 Intro

04:44 Meet Bo Duré

05:57 Why USMNT Feels Unlikable

07:21 Scrappy Era Memories

10:33 American Cultural Backlash

13:53 Media Personalities Debate

18:05 Anthems and Fighter Jets

21:20 Should Players Speak Out?

23:01 Athletes And Education

23:50 Immigration

25:33 Team Form And Mentality

28:51 World Cup Expectations

32:15 Youth Soccer Structure

33:29 Travel And Tournament Chaos

34:39 Pay Disputes And Backlash

36:21 Hope For Future Fans

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