Cobi Jones on the WILD Experience of the 1994 World Cup| Unfiltered Soccer

Summary

Podcast Summary: Cobi Jones on the WILD Experience of the 1994 World Cup | Unfiltered Soccer

Unfiltered Soccer with Landon Donovan and Tim Howard
Episode Date: March 3, 2026
Guest: Cobi Jones

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Episode Overview

This episode brings U.S. soccer legend Cobi Jones onto the show as co-hosts Landon Donovan and Tim Howard look ahead to the 2026 World Cup in North America. The conversation dives deep into what it meant to play in a home World Cup—something only a handful of Americans can say they've done—by reliving Cobi's unforgettable journey in 1994. Along the way, the trio discuss the legacy of that pioneering team, pressures of performing in front of home fans, and what the current generation can learn as they prepare for their own home-hosted tournament.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

Cobi Jones' Career & Legacy

• Cobi’s Bio Recap:
  • Three-time World Cup veteran
  • U.S. all-time caps leader (164)
  • Two-time MLS Cup Champion
  • 1998 U.S. Men's Player of the Year
  • Soon to be honored with a statue at Dignity Health Sports Park
    • “It's a little surreal...that's going to be there a long time. That's going to be there when I'm gone.” (Cobi Jones, 04:32)
• Respect from Donovan and Howard:
  • “We all stand on your shoulders...You are a trailblazer.” (Tim Howard, 02:18)

The 1994 World Cup – Behind the Scenes

Early Days & Path to the National Team

• U.S. soccer before 1994 was an “underground organization”
• Cobi left UCLA to prepare for the 1992 Olympics, then immediately joined national team camps for World Cup prep
• Training camp at Mission Viejo lasted a year and a half, not just a few weeks
• Grueling Preparation:
  • Six weeks running on slanted beaches during El Niño, causing injuries
    • “All we did was run... imagine beach back where you're a month and a half of just running.” (Cobi Jones, 13:07)

Playing As the Home Team

• Biggest difference: U.S. players finally felt a country behind them
  • “After all these...big matches where the opponent has so many more fans than us, to walk out and you see that everyone is cheering for you, it was such a switch.” (Cobi Jones, 17:50)
• The build-up brought both excitement and unique pressure:
  • “This is for your country...This is where you, as a kid, wanted to be on the national team. Well, now you're there and it's in. You're the host.” (Cobi Jones, 14:16)

Locker Room & Matchday Emotions

• The atmosphere before the tournament’s opening game:
  • “There's a sense of expectation, of danger within the locker room, of what could possibly happen for the positive, but also what possibly go wrong.” (Cobi Jones, 16:03)
• Emotional national anthem moment at the Silverdome:
  • “You're just looking around, masses of people, just going wow.” (Cobi Jones, 18:29)
• Sense of history and pressure as first-time hosts:
  • “You realize you are doing something that hasn't been done before.” (Cobi Jones, 18:29)

Signature Moments

• Eric Wynalda’s Free-Kick Goal (vs. Switzerland):
  • “I’m feeling it again...That sense of joy, like everyone just jumping up, the crowd erupting.” (Cobi Jones, 19:42)
• Victory over Colombia:
  • Colombia seen as a tournament favorite, but U.S. “shocked” the world
  • The own goal and Ernie Stewart’s goal remembered vividly
    • “You don’t care how it goes in... Everyone’s screaming and yelling.” (Cobi Jones, 26:31)
  • The post-game celebration at the Rose Bowl is one of U.S. soccer’s most iconic images
    • “There was shock—not only for us, but for the world, just going, The US is actually going through.” (Cobi Jones, 28:48)
• Facing Brazil in the Knockouts:
  • The honor and intimidation facing legends (Romário, Bebeto, Dunga)
    • “You step out on the field with the yellow jerseys, you win.” (Cobi Jones, 30:16)
  • Cobi recalls seeing “thousands of fans dressed red, white, and blue” for the US—a sign that the sport had finally arrived
  • Emotional fall-out after Tab Ramos’ brutal injury from Leonardo’s elbow
    • “It does take you out of the moment... there’s fear for him, but anger at the opponent.” (Cobi Jones, 33:38)
• The 1994 squad’s achievement:
  • Tim and Landon argue it isn’t celebrated enough, given they were largely college players who exited to the eventual World Cup champions, Brazil, 1–0

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How the 1994 World Cup Changed Lives and U.S. Soccer

• Life after ’94:
  • Cobi went from near-anonymity to media recognition and international club opportunities
    • “I didn't have to sit and coach very much...Hey, let me upgrade you.” (Cobi Jones, 35:58)
  • With no MLS, many players had to look overseas to continue their pro careers
• Broad Impact:
  • The team’s success set the stage for MLS’s launch and redefined soccer’s place in America

Advice to the 2026 Generation

• “Really embrace the moment...The World Cups are some of the highlights of your professional career.” (Cobi Jones, 38:16)
• These tournaments are a chance to become household names and “smash down doors” for life after soccer
• The pressure is greater now: most of the U.S. squad plays for top clubs abroad, with huge expectations
• The key is finding the balance of skill and grit—Cobi’s challenge to the next generation:
  • “My big want for them is that they can put the grit and the skill together...and figure out when they need which more.” (Cobi Jones, 43:57)

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Reflections on Team Building (U.S. Now vs. Then)

• The core of great U.S. teams is always a midfield trio that simply “can’t give more”—exemplified in 1994 and big wins since
• Donovan argues that successful squads blend skill and work-rate, not just the 11 most talented

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LA Galaxy Check-in

• Greg Vanney faces his toughest coaching test with the injury absence of Ricky Puig
• Defensive signings highlighted as crucial to shore up Galaxy’s weaknesses from previous season
• Cobi emphasizes leadership and getting new additions to mesh as the real challenge

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Listener Q&A Highlights

Home World Cup Pressure

• Cobi’s take: The pressure and excitement will rise for the 2026 players as American fans engage unlike ever before

USL vs. MLS Discussion

• Tim and Landon critique “snobbery” in MLS roster-building
• Many top USL players could fill MLS rosters, would be valuable for depth and training
• Realities of monetary investment in player development: MLS’s expensive academies vs. underappreciated USL pros

Youth Player Development

• Most MLS academies struggle to translate investment into first-team or transfer success
• Landon: “No one can tell me it’s better for a player to be in MLS Next Pro than to play in front of 7,000 in New Mexico with real fans.”

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the emotion of a first home World Cup:
  • "There's a sense of expectation, of danger within the locker room, of what could possibly happen for the positive, but also what possibly go wrong." (Cobi Jones, 16:03)
• On team unity:
  • “We were the underdogs and we knew that. We have nothing to lose—so let’s go out there, kick a little butt, and see what happens.” (Cobi Jones, 17:23)
• On memorable World Cup goal celebrations:
  • “I can almost describe it...joy and ‘Oh my god, what did we just do?’” (Tim Howard, 28:47)
• Advice to the next generation:
  • “Embrace the moment. It does go so fast…these can be the highlights of your career.” (Cobi Jones, 38:16)
• Landon’s tribute to Cobi as a model winger:
  • “Everybody knew what you were going to do, and you still did it successfully…I urge you guys to go back and just watch Cobi highlights on the right wing.” (Landon Donovan, 51:33)

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Other Noteworthy Timestamps

• [04:32] Cobi on statue honor
• [13:07] Beach runs in El Niño as World Cup prep
• [14:16] Heartfelt advice to 2026 squad on pressure and opportunity
• [16:03] Locker room nerves before World Cup opener
• [28:48] The shock of beating Colombia
• [30:16] On facing the aura of Brazil
• [38:16] Embracing the World Cup moment—a call to 2026 players

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The Hosts' and Guests’ Tone

Playful and honest, filled with nostalgia and mutual admiration. The episode is heavy on storytelling (“locker room stories”) but always pivots to broader lessons for players or fans.

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Conclusion

This episode is a must-listen for fans eager to understand U.S. soccer’s transformation, the emotional and physical demands of a World Cup—especially at home—and the legacy of trailblazers like Cobi Jones. It’s equally rich in practical wisdom for the new era and offers an intimate, never-filtered look at the game’s pivotal moments in America.

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Note: This summary omits ad reads, sponsorship segments, and off-topic banter as per instructions.

Transcript

[Kobe Jones]

And then the pressure is going to start coming in because then they're going to start realizing, okay, this means a lot to a lot of people. And I know these guys are playing at top level teams where there's pressure, but this is a different type of pressure. This is for your country. This is for your nation. This is where you as a kid and especially this generation, they're thinking of one day, I want to be on the national team. I want to be in the World Cup. I want to play there. Well, now you're there and it's in. You're the host country.

[Landon Donovan]

Unfiltered Soccer with Landon and Tim, presented by Volkswagen. Volkswagen has long been a supporter of soccer in America and has proudly been a partner of U.S. soccer for over five years.

[Tim Howard]

Welcome in Unfiltered Soccer with Landon and Tim, presented by Volkswagen.

[Kobe Jones]

Ld.

[Tim Howard]

We have a guest today. I'm super stoked. These are always those fun little curveballs. We get to talk to the guests and chit chat. This is a good one, though, I can assure you. This is a pretty fascinating one. You and I, you and I were sort of blown away by the stories in this episode.

[Landon Donovan]

Yeah, we're really excited. And just so everyone knows, this was filmed a couple weeks ago, we have the fantastic and amazing Kobe Jones joining us in a minute. As always, follow us on social media at Unfiltered Soccer. Make sure you subscribe to the show on YouTube and follow on Apple podcasts and Spotify. Leave a review. It helps people find us. And you can always email [e-mail] without further ado, we welcome in Kobe Jones. CJ welcome in, man.

[Tim Howard]

Kobe, how are you?

[Kobe Jones]

I'm doing great. Thanks for having me, guys. I feel special being here with you.

[Landon Donovan]

Yeah, this is, it's a treat for me. And just even looking at the logo in the background there, how much times have changed the galaxy and from when you started. And we'll get into some of that, but there's no better time to have you on. Just as we go into this World cup and a home World cup and there are very few people in this country who know what it's like to play in a home World Cup. So let me get your bio out the way because this is wild. Three time World cup vet, all time leader in caps with 164, two time MLS cup champ and one time U.S. men's Player of the year. What year was that?

[Kobe Jones]

Long time ago. 98.

[Landon Donovan]

98. Okay.

[Tim Howard]

You know what?

[Kobe Jones]

Last century.

[Landon Donovan]

Yeah, that's right.

[Tim Howard]

LD I know you, you grew up idolizing Kobe. It's just fascinating. You know, know, obviously Kobe, you and I have become friends over the years and I just, I, you know, some of the things that I think about with the three World Cups and you know, the one that stand, thing that stands out is, is, you know, the all time cap leader for the U.S. men at 164. I mean, historic and monumental. Don't even begin to explain it. And I just think you are, you know, so many people say this, but it does, it's not true. But in this sense, like we as players, the current men's team that's going to the World cup this year, we all stand on your shoulders and it's, you know, you are here as a testament. You're a trailblazer. You've, I think the great crazy thing about you is you started so young on the scene that you've been and you kept yourself fit and healthy that you've been able to see so many iterations and generations of soccer in this country. And it's really, really a pleasure and honor to have you on.

[Kobe Jones]

I, I, I appreciate that, man. It does, it does mean a lot, especially coming from you guys, you know, hearing all that because as, as you guys know as well, you, you don't hear it a lot from people that you respect. You know, you can hear from just a random Joe Smother grabs you on the street. Hey, you know, but we're hearing it from you guys, other players that I respect, people that I respect, you know, that it does mean a lot. So thank you.

[Landon Donovan]

Well, one thing, C.J. as I got older in my career, I started to appreciate more and more the guys who came before. And it's one of my beefs with, I'll say the current generation, but I think it's probably every generation does this is you don't appreciate what came before to get you here. And we were just talking about stories of like the things you saw that we thought we had it bad, you know. Right. And we had it tough and some of the stories and we'll get into, but part of the reason and part of the reality of having a career like you is you are going to do something amazing in April, which is you're going to have a statue at Dignity Hill Sports park in your likeness. Can you just, I think we know how you feel about it, but can you just explain I'm going to be there that day. I can't wait to see it and just what that means to you.

[Kobe Jones]

Well, it's you know, it's a little surreal, you know, to be quite honest. You know, when you first hear about it, you know, you're all excited, you know, and everything goes okay. This. This is great. This is. This is fantastic. And then kind of wears off and you think about it and you're just like, wow, that's. That's going to be there a long time, right? I mean, that's going to be there when I'm gone. That's still going to be there. You know, you start thinking about all those things and. And what it means and for your. Your family. Like, I had kids when I. When I was done playing, so for me, this is one of those moments that I feel like I can share, you know? Yeah, they can appreciate it, and their. Their kids can appreciate it, so I'm. I'm looking forward to that. But just the idea of having a statue like that, it is. It's difficult to put into words. You know, I. I'm. I'm sure I'll be tongue tied when I actually, you know, finally see the end result, you know, and I'm. I'm like everybody else hoping that it does have a decent likeness, you know. Supposed to be now, but me back in the day.

[Tim Howard]

Yeah.

[Landon Donovan]

A little younger, something like that. It's.

[Tim Howard]

It's. It's pretty incredible. I mean, I'm. I'm. I. To be immortalized like, that is special. And you two are. I. I'm jealous because I. I don't have a statue. I can't imagine one's coming anytime soon, but that's like. That's pretty freaking cool, man. So I'm like. I'm actually excited to see it whenever. The next time I'm there. Awesome.

[Kobe Jones]

Well, you're out there. You got the invite. April 26th. Come on out.

[Tim Howard]

Love it. I love it. Back. Back to the Sunshine.

[Landon Donovan]

Fly out. C.J. can you. I'm actually just curious about this. Do you have first memories of Tim and me coming into camp and what that was? That's okay. You can be honest. No.

[Tim Howard]

Why would that be? Because we didn't play. We didn't play a lot together, so that's like 2001. 2002, maybe.

[Kobe Jones]

Yeah.

[Tim Howard]

Yeah.

[Kobe Jones]

For me, Tim came in a little bit, you know, a little bit within. Within the camp, you know, and you were kind of like in and out. It's just. And at that time, you know, we had Friedel and Keller, you know, and all of that stuff. So that. And I remember something specific with you, Landon.

[Landon Donovan]

Oh, God. I shouldn't Ask.

[Kobe Jones]

I mean, I remember with Landon when you first came in and we had a lunch or a dinner at Bruce Arena's house, and he brought everyone over, and. And, Tim, you can imagine Landon coming in as the young superstar punk, you

[Junior]

know,

[Kobe Jones]

and we were sitting around the table, and I remember Landon wanted to tell a joke, you know, so he tells a joke. Like, I mean, and when you hear this right off the bat, you're gonna go, really? That was your joke? He quieted everyone down. I got a joke. I got a joke. And he's like, why was six afraid of seven?

[Tim Howard]

He just told that last week.

[Kobe Jones]

I was like, because 7, 8, 9. And, you know, he's like. He looks at me with an angry face like, I ruined everything. I was like, dude, everybody here has heard that a thousand times. Nine years old.

[Tim Howard]

Yeah, my.

[Landon Donovan]

That's right. My kids think that's funny now. Did I really do that?

[Tim Howard]

You're kidding.

[Kobe Jones]

Yes, you did. And you had a look of just, like, disgust on your face. And I was just looking at you, just, like, laughing, just going, this punk. What's he thinking?

[Landon Donovan]

Oh, my God.

[Tim Howard]

So funny.

[Landon Donovan]

Tim, I apologize.

[Tim Howard]

No, no, I'm. No, I'm used to it. You don't have to apologize. I apologize for you every time we're together. Kobe, we are. We were talking off. Off camera before. Before we went live, and Landon touched on it.

[Kobe Jones]

We.

[Tim Howard]

I. Landon has seen. I certainly have seen, you know, starting my professional career in 96 or 9 or 97. I've seen terrible locker rooms and stadiums, and I've saw primitive soccer. But going back to when I watched you, I was a fan. I was a college soccer fan because I was the. The best of the best, you know, because pre1990, we hadn't qualified for a World cup in forever. And so I'm watching you at ucla. I'm a Rucker soccer fan, watching you sort of grow through that and then into the. Into the Olympic team. But then that started.

[Kobe Jones]

That's sort of.

[Tim Howard]

You're now on the cusp of the. Of the 1994 World Cup. Like, it's so easy to get excited about this World cup, and we should. But sort of take us back to you guys. You guys were nobodies, but really, you're trying to be somebody, and yourself and Alexi and Tony were sort of on the tip of everybody's tongue. And what's that like? Like, what's the buildup to the 94 World Cup? Like, just sort of give us a. Give us a glimpse into. Into What. What was the buildup to that? The camps, the. The pressure, the hopes? Like, what was that like?

[Kobe Jones]

Yeah, it was. It was unprecedented. First off, you know, that's what people have to understand. What the national team and U.S. soccer is like now is completely different to what it was like then. You know, you had this. This feel of. It was like a. A small, just, like, underground organization trying to figure things out, you know? You know, back in. Back in the day, my process of getting into that 94 World cup, it. It actually stems from my. Like you said, Tim, from ucla.

[Tim Howard]

Yeah.

[Kobe Jones]

To the Olympic team, to the national team. So when I was at UCLA at that time, they said. They said, okay, you've got to leave school early to prep for the. For the Olympics in 92 in Barcelona. So all the players had to drop out of school.

[Landon Donovan]

They forced you to drop out of school?

[Kobe Jones]

No, no, you're never forced. But.

[Landon Donovan]

No, but I mean, if you want to play for the Olympics. Yeah, but then that means, like, your scholarship, all that, like, out the window.

[Kobe Jones]

Yeah, yeah. You know, and. And you can imagine coaches back in that day were just, you know, playing with the scholarships as they do now, like, oh, well, if he's leaving at this time, I can give it to somebody else. You know, all that stuff. We can get into that another time. Yeah, but. Yeah, so you. You leave the school early, and then in January, we did, like, six months of just traveling nonstop and playing games, you know, South America, Europe, you know, all over the place, until we finally, you know, fast forward to the Olympics in Barcelona, which I think one of the best things is, you know what the mascot was in Barcelona?

[Landon Donovan]

What?

[Kobe Jones]

No, it was like a dog. You know what its name was? Kobe? Cobi. The exact same way.

[Landon Donovan]

Yeah.

[Kobe Jones]

It was the weirdest thing.

[Tim Howard]

Right.

[Kobe Jones]

Really, it was meant to be. Meant to be. So played in that. And with the idea of, okay, I'm gonna go back to school, Right. And. And then finish up. But then right after the Olympics, the National Team comes calling and saying, we want you to be a part of the National Team camp in Mission Viejo, which was basically a year and a half process of being down and prepping, you know, for the World Cup. So that meant I couldn't go back to school. I would go into that camp, and we. I mean, imagine all those college guys that you were talking about.

[Tim Howard]

Yeah.

[Kobe Jones]

Coming together with a few, you know, professional players.

[Landon Donovan]

Sure.

[Kobe Jones]

For a. I mean, we've. We've all been in those camps that last a week. Right. Or two weeks, those January camps that last A month. And you're just like, oh, this is way too long.

[Tim Howard]

So, Kobe. So you're. So you're staying. You're a year and a half. You're at Mission Viejo. You're staying where. What. What are the accommodations? Like, you taking a bus, vans to training? What are you doing?

[Kobe Jones]

Yeah. Okay, so there was a. A invite with a tryout type of period where we're all in the hotel. We're just staying at, like, the. The Holiday Inn, you know, that is down there.

[Tim Howard]

Yeah.

[Kobe Jones]

Going in and in and out. We are driving to the field when we could. At the very beginning of when we first got in there. It was during. And you guys might remember Atlanta, you probably do that El Nino during that time that came in where it rained for like a month and a half straight. And so they weren't quite done with the field. So it was. It was still muddied and not ready, so we couldn't be on it. So what does Bora Milatonovich say? Well, we're going to the beach. And for a month and a half. Damn. All we did was run.

[Landon Donovan]

Shut up.

[Kobe Jones]

All we did was run. And I'll tell you how bad it was, all this running was. A lot of the guys started getting issues because, you know, the beach is always out of sleep. So your was all Jack. And a lot of players had. You think doggy back is bad. Imagine beach back where you're a month and a half of just running. That's all we did different types of runs. It was. It was incredible.

[Landon Donovan]

Dude, if I take a. When we go to Cabo, the beach is, like, pretty slanted. And if I walk halfway down the beach, like, my back is killing me on one side. I can't imagine.

[Tim Howard]

You know what the problem is? Kobe, he goes to Cabo a lot.

[Kobe Jones]

A lot. There it is, a lot of beach walks.

[Landon Donovan]

Okay, so, CJ Take us through what these players now are going to be feeling. What it's like going into a home where I'm getting goosebumps as I talk about it. And you guys were here in the country, so you could feel the swell. A lot of them play overseas, and so they're not really feeling it yet. What are they going to be feeling as they get into camp, as they start seeing their name everywhere, Billboards, magazines, all over social media, and then leading into, like, those. Those first training sessions before the first game. And the first game.

[Kobe Jones]

Yeah, first they're going to feel the excitement, you know, once they get back here, and people are actually going to start talking to them here in the US where it's not as prevalent, you know, in Europe. But you're going to have American fans talking about them, coming up to them, doing the interviews. That's going to be the excitement of it. Then it's going to be a little bit overwhelming as it's going to continue, you know, just all the days leading up, and then the pressure is going to start coming in because then they're going to start realizing, okay, this means a lot to a lot of people. And I know these guys are playing at top level teams where there's pressure, but this is a different type of pressure. This is for your country, this is for your nation. This is where you, as a kid, you know, and especially this generation, they're thinking of one day, I want to be on the national team. I want to be in the World Cup. I want to play there. Well, now you're there and it's in. You're the host country. So there's even more pressure. And you want to have a good showing, not only for yourself, but for, you know, the whole country, for your family, for your friends, because, you know, everyone's going to be watching.

[Tim Howard]

So. So that is pressure, and I agree with that. But that's now because of what U.S. soccer has, has been built on. We understand, we understand sort of what that looks like. But take us, like, take us inside the dressing room in Detroit before the Switzerland game, like that, that you don't talk about. Goosebumps.

[Kobe Jones]

I.

[Tim Howard]

There it is. Just run through my body. Like, what is. What you, you. You must know as players that you. This is. There's nothing, there's never been anything like this. This World cup will be amazing because of other things that have transpired, but you are sitting in that locker room in Detroit, like, do you remember what it, what that was like?

[Kobe Jones]

Oh, yeah, yeah. It's. It was something special. And, and to tell you the truth, it started the, the day before when Bora brought us all out into this to the center field with the video, and we're holding hands and just thinking about, you know, he had like, the hype video getting us ready for the game. And, you know, you can barely sleep at night, you know, because you're thinking about that first match. I mean, I remember being in the locker room and there was a, there was a, a nervousness and a quietness, but just like, you know how sometimes they say places have, like, a sense of danger, you know, about it? You know, think of it kind of like that. It was just like, there's A sense of. A sense of expectation, of danger within the locker room, of what could possibly happen for the positive, but also what possibly go wrong, you know, and you had, you know, players. Eric Ronaldo wasn't feeling well, you know, before that match as well, so it was like, shoot, our, our. Our striker. What's going on with him? You know, is he going to be ready? But there is also a sense of that unity, you know, that we, we all have when we're there as a group. We were the underdogs and we knew that. And it was also that, that idea of, like, we have nothing to lose. So let's go out there, kick a little butt, you know, and, and see what happens.

[Tim Howard]

Incredible.

[Landon Donovan]

What was, what was when you walked out? It was the Silver Dome, right?

[Tim Howard]

Yeah.

[Landon Donovan]

Detroit, when you walked out, like for warm up. And then. God, I can't get the goosebumps, but I'm just thinking about this. And then like the national anthem, like, what was the crowd like? What. What was that experience like?

[Kobe Jones]

You want the truth?

[Landon Donovan]

Yeah.

[Kobe Jones]

Well, it was hot first off. It's the first time they did the indoor, you know.

[Landon Donovan]

Right. They didn't know how to cool it off.

[Kobe Jones]

A little humid, you know.

[Landon Donovan]

Right.

[Kobe Jones]

So it was good to warm up. But the crowd was amazing. I mean, after all these times of, you know, playing all these different games and all these big matches where the opponent has, you know, so many more fans than us to walk out, you know, and you step out and you see that there's. Everyone is cheering for you, you know, everyone was cheering for the U.S. it was such a switch, you know, and it almost, you know, you know, turn a switch on in everybody's head. Like, man, this is it. This, this is the moment. You're going through the warm ups. And I, and I got to be honest, when you're going through the warm ups and you're just. All you're doing is looking around, you know. Yeah.

[Landon Donovan]

Can't believe it.

[Kobe Jones]

Masses of people, you know, just going, wow. And, and, and also. Which is very important. And this is why I say it is such a different World cup than anything that happened after. Is you realize that you are doing something that hasn't been done before. An event that is being held at a place that's never been before, you know, and you are representing a country that hasn't had the most success at the World Cup. And up until that point, no other country, host nation had not been. Had not been out of the first round. That extra pressure. So all those things are, are running through your mind, the excitement, the pressure, the hope, and also the possible disappointment that could come with it.

[Tim Howard]

So all that being said, sort of try and dig deep into your memory bank. So there's probably 30 seconds before and a minute after when all the steps up to that free kick. What, what's. What's the thought, dude?

[Kobe Jones]

30 seconds before, you know, like, you're thinking, this is the chance. This is the moment. People have to. If people go back, you have to remember how good of a striker that Eric Ronaldo was, you know, and I, I think I don't. You know, he has a lot of other things, but I don't think he gets his due on that. Where you have to understand how talented he was and for him to step up. And when he hit that and it went in, I mean, it was. I mean, I'm feeling it again, you know, you guys talk about goosebumps. I'm feeling it again. Just this sense of joy, like everyone just jumping up, the crowd erupting, you know, when he scores the goal. It was just, you know, it's hard to put into words, but it meant so much, you know, to have that goal. First goal for. For us within the World cup as well.

[Landon Donovan]

All right, let's take a quick break. When we come back, we've got more with Kobe Jones right here on Unfiltered Soccer with Landon and Tim, presented by Volkswagen. The Unfiltered Soccer podcast is brought to you by Volkswagen. It's really easy to become a passenger in life, to sit back and watch life go by day after day.

[Tim Howard]

Of course, it's hard to do your own thing when everyone is following everyone else. But this is a call from me and ld, from Volkswagen and from all the other drivers out there. Make the most of every day.

[Landon Donovan]

Choose a different path, take control, grab the wheel and get in the driver's seat of life. Because honestly, what are you waiting for?

[Tim Howard]

Live life in the driver's seat. Learn [e-mail] LD MLS is back.

[Landon Donovan]

Yes, it is, my friend. And you know what that means. Saturdays are once again all about soccer.

[Tim Howard]

Walmart is making Saturdays of soccer even more glorious with Walmart Saturday showdown. From early practices to late night watch

[Landon Donovan]

parties, I was at an amazing event last week, opening the MLS season with Walmart. MLS and Walmart are bringing every emotion of the beautiful game to Saturdays. The joy, the nerves, the excitement, and the unforgettable golasses.

[Tim Howard]

Walmart plays on Saturdays.

[Landon Donovan]

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[Kobe Jones]

Yeah, I, I wouldn't even say dark horse, you know, they, at all. I mean this was a team that had run through the qualifying process. You know, Valderrama, you know, was just dictating everything.

[Tim Howard]

You know, Freddie Rincon was on the team.

[Kobe Jones]

I believe so.

[Tim Howard]

I think so.

[Kobe Jones]

Yeah, so as well. And that was a battle, man. I mean that was a battle, you know, the back and forth and trying to, you know, trying to get something, something out of it. You know, at this point, because remember at, at this point within the, the game you are, it's not just that game.

[Landon Donovan]

Right.

[Kobe Jones]

You're looking at, okay, the result that you had before. What points do you need and who are you playing next? You know, all of those things. So just going through the match, it was kind of like, okay, how do we. How do we balance it? How do we balance it out? I mean, Columbia was. Was. Was so talented, you know, just as a group. And for me, the person that I. I can remember more than anyone else, I think, for us was just, like, in the middle of, like, the Hark season. Everything that they had to do in the midfield to try to shut down their midfield, that was so talented, like a Valderrama and stuff. And I give those guys credit, the amount of running that they had to do, it was like a workhorse effort, you know, in the middle. In the middle of the park.

[Tim Howard]

I'm going to interrupt you. I'm going to. I want you to keep going. But two points. I think every big signature win the U.S. has had throughout history and even the agonizingly close defeats, that's been a staple. There's been three or four guys in midfield that have just couldn't give him. The whistle blew. And if you ask them to give more, they couldn't give more. Like, that's been a staple. Striker might have scored, goalkeeper might have played good, but that midfield, that's a staple. And by the way, just as a note, I was. How old was I, 15 years old, sitting midway up behind the goal in the Rose bowl of the goal that Marcelo Balboa just missed the bicycle kick.

[Kobe Jones]

Oh, yes, yes, yes.

[Tim Howard]

I was behind that goal. Face painted with, like. I think we were like the USU 17 team shirts off, Carlos bulking, those guys behind the goal. Yeah. So that. Anyway, so keep going, because then. Because then the goal. The goal eventually goes in.

[Kobe Jones]

Yeah, I mean, you had, you know, Ernie, you know, coming through big time, you know, getting a goal. You know, I. I always love remembering that just because Ernie was. Was my roomie, you know, all the times, as you've probably heard, Landon, you know, over the years. But the big moment that everybody talks about, right, was the. Was the own goal, you know, that was. That was, you know, and I. I will talk about it from the perspective of the moment, right. You know, of just seeing that happen, of the ball being played in and, you know, to be honest, a little bit of a hopeful, hopeful ball, right? And then the mix up between the two Colombian, you know, the keeper and the player, you know, and just, you know, Escobar taps that in and it goes In. And look, you don't care how it goes in, right? They don't ask how. They ask how many. And you're just. Everyone's screaming and yelling and just. That's like. It was. It was absolutely incredible. You know, for us, obviously, you know, things afterwards, you know, tragic, tragic turn. But for us on the field, getting the two goals that were needed, you know, getting the three points, that was the most important thing.

[Tim Howard]

Yeah.

[Kobe Jones]

But after that, I mean, what a sense of relief, because then you start thinking, we have a shot. We have a real shot of going through.

[Tim Howard]

Well, I just remember, and Landon and I, because we've shared so many moments together and come through together, like, we have these iconic moments and these images. But I just. I think about. I think about Khalid jury's goal in 1980, whatever that was, 89 in Trinidad. But I also think the indelible image when I close my eyes is you guys in those denim shirts running around the Rose bowl pitch with flags and elation and smiles. That's a. I mean, you talk about, like, in the halls of U.S. soccer, that has to be, like, essentially the top picture, you know, like, that's what I think about, is that sort of that celebration, those moments following the game with just, like, I can almost describe it. Kobe, when I look at still photos as, like, joy and. Oh, my God, like, I think the image on so many of your faces was like, what did we just do?

[Landon Donovan]

Can't believe this.

[Kobe Jones]

You hit the nail on the head, Tim. I tell you, that's exactly what it was. I mean, we'll be honest, there was shock, you know, not only for us, but for, I think, for the world, you know, looking at that, just going, wait a second. The US Is actually going to go through that. They have a good chance that they. They knocked off Colombia. That was probably, you know, the top four, you know, within. To win it all, pick to win it all. So, I mean, it was absolutely incredible. I still think about it, you know, every time we talk about World Cups, that always pops into my head.

[Tim Howard]

Sure.

[Landon Donovan]

I love it. All right, so let's fast forward then. So you get through the group, and then you face Brazil. Right? And you must be thinking, like, I mean, some of these. As we're talking through this. What I'm thinking in my head is for our listeners that we have so many new people to soccer that listen to this show. Please go back, google the highlights, watch everything that happens. So now you're facing Brazil and. And. And Google these guys. Dunga, Babetto, Romario. I remember that guy. Like, what are you guys feeling going into that?

[Kobe Jones]

And how.

[Landon Donovan]

How are you thinking? How do we actually win this game? Right?

[Kobe Jones]

Yeah, it's. Look, I'll. I'll be frank with you. You know, you think, how are we going to do it? You know, this is. This is Brazil. Because even though there's, like, people that don't watch soccer, trust me, they know Brazil.

[Tim Howard]

Yeah.

[Landon Donovan]

Especially at that time, right?

[Kobe Jones]

Yeah.

[Landon Donovan]

At that time, they were like this enigma, like.

[Kobe Jones]

Exactly. The yellow. Infamous yellow jerseys. You know, when they come out, it's like, you know, step out on the field with the yellow jerseys, you win. You know, that's. That's exactly what it was like. So for us, I think Bora actually did a good job of reminding us that we weren't supposed to be Columbia, that we weren't supposed to. To be through to the next round, you know, that we were a team that had low expectations from everybody, that we had already exceeded them, and, hey, why not shock everybody even more and take it one more level, you know? And that. And that was. That's what it was all about, you know, going up against Brazil, I mean, it was. It was. It was a little bit of an honor to be able to step on the field in a World cup against Brazil. As a. As a young soccer player, you're just like, wow. This is. You know, for. For myself, I'm just like, wow. I mean, this is an overwhelming moment. I'm going up against Brazil, and I can tell you this. One of the indelible memories for me was walking out at Stanford Stadium, and two things. The first part of, you know, how you all, like, we all line up, right? And we were lined up first, of course, because Brazil is Brazil, and they're waiting to. Let's get out there first. And they come walking out, and I see Romario Babetto, and they are all holding hands. I don't know if anybody remembers this. They had certain way of coming out where they held hands and walked out onto the pitch. And I always. I still remember that was just so cool. It showed what a team and a unit that they were, you know, And I was just like, damn, Romario Babetto. And. And for me as well, I was like, you know what? You know, big names, but they're the same size as me, you know, I was like, all right, we can do this. We can do this. What's to be afraid of, you know, here? But walking out of that tunnel and then onto the pitch, I was completely shocked. And I was surprised because I saw the Thousands and thousands of Brazilians and the sambas and the girls in the big headdresses, you know, in bikinis, you know, in the stands. You see that. But I saw thousands of fans and flags and painted faces in the stadium that overwhelmed the Brazilian crowd. And that, to me, was a impactful moment where I also said, we. We've done it.

[Tim Howard]

Yeah.

[Kobe Jones]

You know, for the sport. I was like, people have bought in, you know, they want to see the U.S. team play, you know, not. Not like. Like we had seen before, where if a country's coming, the US Fans would come up in the. Oh, I came here because I wanted to see Brazil, you know, they wanted to see us play. They were dressed up red, white and blue, head to toe. It was fantastic.

[Tim Howard]

You know, it's so interesting about that, about that game. One of the. I got a chance to be teammates and friends with Tab Ramos. Years later on the Metro Stars. One of the most horrific injuries I've ever seen on a football pitch was when Leonardo elbowed him. And. And obviously, you know, he had a really, really cracked skull, essentially did that in the game. Sort of anecdotally.

[Kobe Jones]

Did that have.

[Tim Howard]

What. What type of effect did that have on you as a team when you see your teammates sort of writhing in pain on the floor?

[Kobe Jones]

Yeah, it's, It's. It does take you out of the moment, you know, for a bit. And you have a concern for him, and everybody had a concern for Tab as he's, you know, like you said, writhing in pain and grabbing his head and no one knowing what happened, knowing exactly what happened and how he's going to be and seeing him being taken off and, you know, ending up going to the hospital, it's absolutely tragic. And after that, you've got to figure out a way, okay, let's get back into it. You know, how do you get back into the game, you know, and. And figure it out, how to see out the rest of this match? You know, I mean, there's. Yeah, there's. There's fear for him, but anger at the opponent, Leonardo, you know, but also you've got to come back and say, shoot, We.

[Tim Howard]

We've got a game to play in the moment.

[Kobe Jones]

We're in a moment.

[Tim Howard]

You know, the interesting thing, ld when I, When I look at, sort of with the. With the World cup coming, it almost, in a great way, we look back at 94, and then as you sort of work through it, I don't know if ld, we all give the 94 team enough credit. Here's why we Give them credit for being trailblazers. Right. We give them credit for being at the forefront, and great job to these young kids. But if you really break it down, if any US Team, and I know, Lennon, you both were a part of a brilliant run in 2002, but if any US team gets through their group and valiantly bows out to the eventual World cup winner, one nil in a brilliant game, we would say, hats off to you. That's a, you know, look, we wanted more, but Jesus, well done. That's a really good run. But I don't think we say that about this 94 team. I think we say.

[Landon Donovan]

And yeah, Tim, they're. Kobe said it. They're a bunch of college kids, too.

[Tim Howard]

Yeah.

[Landon Donovan]

Like, these were not like. Like hardened professionals.

[Tim Howard]

Yep.

[Landon Donovan]

They're playing against some of the best players in the world.

[Tim Howard]

Yeah. Really.

[Landon Donovan]

It's phenomenal. C.J. how did that experience. How. Let's talk bigger picture now. How did that whole experience change your life? Because Tim and I talk a lot about moments that, like, the Algeria goal changed my life. His Belgium game changed his life. How does that experience change your life? How did it.

[Kobe Jones]

In what way? What way are you talking about?

[Landon Donovan]

Just in general. I mean, like, professionally, personally, you know, obviously, now people are recognizing you more. Everything. It all changes, right?

[Kobe Jones]

Yeah. Yeah. You know, now I didn't. I didn't have to. I didn't have to sit and coach very much, you know, right after that. Hey, hey, hey, let me upgrade you, you know, like.

[Landon Donovan]

That's right.

[Kobe Jones]

Got a lot of upgrades, you know, after. After that point. Yeah. There is a definite, you know, recognition, like, crazy. And especially for myself and Alexi, you know, and probably Tony as well. Like, we got a lot of recognition, a lot of interviews, and a lot of things outside of the game started, outside of soccer, started paying attention, you know, to me and the entirety of the group, you know, so that was probably one of the big changes. And then, you know, it's. It's a little different. You have to remember, for that era, we were still looking for teams, you know, we were looking for teams, you know, to play on. There was no mls. There was no.

[Tim Howard]

Right.

[Kobe Jones]

A lot of us were on professional teams. So that those were the moments where we were able to show ourselves internationally and teams were able to come in and they, you know, picked us up. Myself going to England, Lexi going to Italy, you know, and then other players moving, moving about that. That was probably the biggest thing because we could actually start our professional soccer career. Because what one thing that a lot of people don't know. For myself, after the 94 World Cup, I was planning to go back to UCLA and finish up school.

[Tim Howard]

But Kobe, there's people that. We have amazing listeners, and some of those listeners have picked up this sport at different, different places. I want everybody listening to go back to something Kobe just said 10 seconds ago. They have this World cup and the MLS as we know it and we love it did not exist.

[Landon Donovan]

Right?

[Tim Howard]

It was. It was in plans to exit. It did not exist like that.

[Landon Donovan]

It's a bit like the Olympics, honestly, as we're watching it now. It's like these people, you don't hear about them, see them, and then they go back and they're like a, you know, a teacher, a school teacher. Like they're just working or they're going back to college. It's insane. Now, move forward to this World Cup. How do you think it will compare, I guess, off the field? What are your hopes and expectations having been through it? What, you know, not advice to give these guys, but what would you want them to. To take away from this and remember having been through it?

[Kobe Jones]

I really want them, and I'm sure you guys will appreciate it, is to really embrace the moment. And I know that's cliche, but. But it's so true because it does go so fast and you realize it's over. And you. You remember that those. The World Cups are going to be some of the highlights of your professional career. As far as those good memories and those good moments. Not, I would say, not just the stuff that happens on the field, but just what happens with the guys during the World Cup. The. The relationships that you create and firm up during those times. Enjoy. Enjoy all of that and understand. And another level, understand what could possibly come your way, because these players, look, they're making a ton of money now, you know, overseas. They're. They don't have to do. A lot of them won't have to do anything else for the rest of their lives if they don't want to. But this can be a seminal moment for a lot of them where they can make themselves household names within the United States, a country where soccer isn't the first and foremost. I always give this example. Look at the fact that, geez, what is it? 30 years later, myself, Alexi, Tony, Wilda, Hart, a lot of us are still known. More so from that 94 World cup then from MLS or any. Any of the other World Cups or a lot of other things that we've done. So for these guys, now you have the Chance to make a mark for yourself and, and open up doors. Actually, not even open up a door, smash down a door. So it's completely wide open for you for whatever you want to do for the rest of your life.

[Tim Howard]

Yeah, it's so, I mean, it's so very well said, Kobe, because we've talked about a lot, Landon and I, but I truly believe this, the watershed moment for Soccer America was what you, just what you talked about on the show. 94 those games. I truly believe, and we've seen a lot since then. This, given the money that's going to be involved and the eyeballs that are going to be on us, this could take soccer in America to another level. It will, it'll jump us to another, another level. And that's been sort of swelling and coming. I, I, it's, it's interesting because when you, something you said about being, you know, these guys being present, being in the moment, and that's something I hope for them as well, because I've been a part of World cup teams pre social media and post social media and pre social media for me was Germany 2006. Right. And so, and so you're at, you're there and, and you're, you're locked in, you know, and then you get, you get 2010 is sort of the rise of that. And then 2014, you're well into social media and all the, all the different platforms and it's really easy to get lost. And I think it's important for them to find a balance during the tournament to be able to say, like, this is important. Of course we're going to check our, our, our social media accounts and we're going to do all the things that sponsors want. But ultimately, like being at a World cup and succeeding is, is, is everything. I think that's, I think that's a really good point. One of the things we talk about this team, Landon and I, we, our, our fans want to hear about U.S. men's soccer team more than anything, and we talk about and dissect it. So when you look at this team, Kobe, and project out on what you think the team's going to look like, what most excites you about this current crop of players?

[Kobe Jones]

Well, I think, I don't think we've had a, a better group of players that has the, this type of experience of playing at the highest levels.

[Tim Howard]

Yeah.

[Kobe Jones]

I mean, even before in your guys area, it was probably five or six guys, you know, four or five guys that were playing at top teams.

[Tim Howard]

Yeah.

[Kobe Jones]

Now the majority of these guys are at top teams. So along with that comes expectations, you know, as well, you know. So I'm looking at this team and just going, man, they've got everything, everything before them. And I want to see this team come together as a group. And I know a lot of us, and I think the biggest job for them is going to be finding that mix of the skill level that they obviously have, but also the, the grit, so to speak. And I don't mean it that they don't have it. What I mean by that is that you've got to find a way that it gels together and works together with your skill level. That, that's, that's it because you're going to be coming up against some, you know, it's, it's a World cup, you know, it could be a team from anywhere. You never know. There could be teams that are just going solely on grit and determination and don't have the skill. Like our 94 team, you know, we were just, we were just fighting. We just fight, fight. And, and look, you can get shocked. Look at Columbia, you know, that that's, that's it. So you, you've got to be ready and you got to be able to put it together. That's my, my big want for them is that they can put the grit and the skill together, you know, at the right time and figure out when, when they need which more, you know, because sometimes you just want to see the guys go out and just go, you know what you're playing. I won't say names of teams, but you're playing such and such a team. You don't have to be skillful, just go out there and run over them. Just be out physical, just out outplay them, just out fight them and, and you'll get the victory, you know. So it's about just understanding and recognizing

[Landon Donovan]

all of that, you know, our best teams, as you say that, it's such a great point. Our best teams over the years is, I think through my national team career, had some very talented players, like just very skillful, you know, the Claudios, John o', Brien, Wolfie, in his own way, like just really talented, skillful yourself. But then there was Frankie Hejduk, there was Goose. There was like guys who just worked and ran. And Ernie was certainly talented, but could just Pablo and, and guys like that who just grinded. And so it's, it's an interesting point because a lot of times fans will watch and go, well, these are the best 11 guys. I want them on the field together and it's like, okay, but maybe, you know, I'm throwing it at. Maybe Christian Roldan helps you win more, right? Like, maybe Aiden Morris is a guy who just helps you win more, right? And so it's, It's a really interesting thing. And that mix you guys had in 94, you still had some talented, good players. I mean, when all this goal is world class, right? So it's, it's a really interesting point. CJ before we get you out of here, there's. At the end, I have a comment I want to make and thank you for, but can we talk just quickly about the Galaxy? And you're around the team a lot. There's almost nobody better equipped to speak about them, by the way. I just. You've had over 300 appearances for the Galaxy in addition to all the games with you. It's insane.

[Tim Howard]

Amazing.

[Landon Donovan]

So last year it felt like this is how sports work psychologically. So in 90, I'm sorry, 20, 24, they win the championship. Last year you get a pass, basically because want a championship and also because Ricky Poo is injured now. Ricky Poo injured again, out for the year. What are the expectations now? I said last week, I think this will be Greg Van's most challenging coaching job because he has to now turn this team into something different. Because when Ricky Puja is on the field, he runs everything and you want him to, and you can win that way. So now how do you view this team? Do you agree with that statement about Greg and, and how do you view. How do you anticipate they'll. They'll change? Because he has to now because it clearly didn't work last year.

[Kobe Jones]

Yeah, I think, I think I would agree with the statement this is going to be the most challenging because it was a buildup, you know, to the end of season, you know, or actually until, what was it, end of December, you were expecting Ricky Poo to be there, right? You know, so now all of a sudden he's not. It's a challenge for the whole organization, you know, well, for Will Koontz, okay, who are we gonna get him? What type of changes are we gonna make? You're not gonna have a Ricky Pooch. That is. Is that X factor? I mean, there's a cheat code.

[Landon Donovan]

He just gets you out of problems.

[Kobe Jones]

You can say, hey, Ricky, do this, do this. And he's gonna be, nah, I'm gonna do this. And you're like, okay, that's fine. He knows how to do it and work it and make things happen. But now that he's not here, it's like, what. What are you going to do? I think the Galaxy has. Has made some good additions, you know, to. To the team. I think if you look back at last year, they definitely struggle on the defensive side. So bringing Glessness in, Jakob Glessness and then also Justin Hack, you know, I think those two are really going to help shore things up. Because if you. If you guys look at some of the Galaxy games last year, how many games were there where you're just like, oh, galaxy's up one, nothing. You know, 10 minutes left, they got this boom, a random goal, you know, or it could be just like, oh, it's. It's zero, zero. Or it's two, two. And it would be like, oh, they kicked the ball off their own player that lobbed over their own keeper into the back of the net. There was a lot of that happening last year. So I think sh. Shoring up things defensively will squash all of that. That will help. And then the. The addition, you know, of someone like Eric Tommy, you know, that's coming into the midfield, I think that's a veteran leadership that can kind of help. He's not a replacement, you know, for a Ricky Poosh, but I think he gives, like, more solidity in that midfield area. And as kind of like you said before, we know the midfield that that's probably the most important part on the field because you're doing the offense and the defense. So I think he's going to be a great addition, you know, to the team because he'll allow the Pecs to just go up and down and do what's necessary. For Greg, it's about getting, I think, all these names working together because there are a lot of additions and we all know getting four or five new players and then probably some younger players and players playing in different positions, that's the challenge. That's the challenge. I always say, look, we. We all know how to play the game. We know what we're supposed to do, but it's. Managing the personalities is probably the most important thing that a coach can do. And I think that's going to be the big challenge, you know, for Greg.

[Tim Howard]

It's interesting you said it's interesting you say that, because I have a theory that gets proven right every season that MLS isn't a good attacking league. It's a horrific defensive league. And which. And there's a couple of. There's a couple of teams, probably four or five teams that have, like, a really good attack, really, really Good attack. But then, so, so then it sort of morphs into like, this is an attack league. And then when you, what you said about defensive, you start dissecting MLS games, you're like, oh, okay. But yeah, we, we all agree on that. I think we agree on sort of the. You two, you two are staples of the Galaxy history and I always lean on Landon for sort of that insight. But it's going to be an interesting year. I mean, the Ricky Pooj absence, they have to have it. You know, one of the things Landon always tells me about the fan base is like, they are demanding. They are demanding and they, yeah, you might get a pass a little bit, but it doesn't last long. So it's going to be a really interesting season for the Galaxy.

[Kobe Jones]

Welcome to la.

[Landon Donovan]

Exactly right.

[Tim Howard]

Exactly.

[Kobe Jones]

Fair weather.

[Landon Donovan]

Well, cj, just my last thing and just a comment. There's a. We get a lot of younger kids who listen, 10 year olds, 13 year olds, 15 year olds, and we get a lot of questions from fans when we do events. And, you know, what advice do you have? It's really interesting because I have children and they all play soccer and they go to practice or they go online and they see, you know, all these tricks and these step overs and all these things that they're trying to do, all these things. And I'm constantly telling them, I'm especially my older son, he's. He's very athletic, he can just run by people. But he wants to do all that. And I say, talon, just kick it by him and run.

[Kobe Jones]

It's.

[Landon Donovan]

You don't have to get all cute and whatever. And you were, you were much more skilled than that. But if, if people go back, and I urge you guys to go back and just watch Kobe highlights on the right wing. And I learned so much of this watching you. You'd get it on your left foot and you drag it a little, drag it a little, drag it until you got the defender off balance and then you'd push it by him and you outran him and you got by him and you either crossed it or you dribbled in and you shot and whatever. You didn't do all this little tricky stuff and what you didn't have to. And if you have something like that, and I remember it in my pro career, I'd always go, you know, I, I have all that in my locker to some extent. But why, if I can push it by the guy and beat him, just go do that. And so I just want to thank you for that because that is an example that I think all the young kids watching go back and watch and everybody knew what you were going to do and you still did it successfully. Right. And I just, I'm grateful for that and I teach my kids that. So thank you.

[Tim Howard]

Yeah. And, Toby, from me, I thank you for our friendship. But honestly, I thank you for all the stories that you've told and for who you are as a person and as a footballer. Because it's real. We're not here dreaming the dreams that we were able to dream as young kids. It wasn't for you. So, man, in the history of U.S. soccer, we appreciate you, brother.

[Kobe Jones]

Thank you, guys. I really appreciate that. It means a lot.

[Landon Donovan]

Congrats again on the statue, by the way, in April.

[Tim Howard]

All right, ld, it's time for the unfiltered refresh sponsored by Coors Light. Choose Chill. Get Coors Light delivered. Go to coorslight.com USLNT all right, this is a special one. This is a special one. James Milner chose chill. Tell us why.

[Landon Donovan]

Chose Chill. For a long time now. Back in 02, when I was running around a World cup field, he was starting his debut as a 16 year old playing for Leeds. He just had his 654th appearance in the Premier League. That breaks Gareth Berry's record for appearances. He started for Brighton in their 21 win over Brentford. When this came up, like, when Andrew put this in, I'm like, he's still playing. It's one of those where you're like, there's no way he's still playing. So just a phenomenal career. Think about 654 games. I mean, I think in all of my combined national team, etcetera, I'm not sure I got to that number. And he's done it in the Premier League. So he's just been phenomenal.

[Tim Howard]

You know what's interesting about that? Right before coming on, I was like, I had someone check how many appearances, Premier League appearances I had. And I knew I was stuck on 399, which is amazing. But like 400 games NLD I played, I played every game humanly possible. Like humanly possible. And he's like, you know, what is he, 200 some odd more than me. I played against James Milner, I think in the early Leeds days. I definitely played against him for City Villa, Liverpool. I mean, it's remarkable. It's remarkable to keep yourself that fit, that motivated, to have that many people think you're good enough to have around the dress. Like, by the way, he's not the same player he was.

[Landon Donovan]

No, but he obviously had to adapt.

[Tim Howard]

So many good things within a football club that Brighton said, yeah, come to us. We want to give you a home.

[Landon Donovan]

By the way, he started the game. It's not like he's coming on for five minutes at every game.

[Kobe Jones]

And he.

[Tim Howard]

And he broke Gas Barry's record. I play with Gas Barry and at Everton. And again, just. I think these sort of. These longevity records are the ones that astound me. Anyone can.

[Landon Donovan]

To me, they're the most impressive.

[Tim Howard]

Yeah, anyone can.

[Kobe Jones]

They are.

[Landon Donovan]

Of anything.

[Tim Howard]

That's right.

[Landon Donovan]

All right, so Andrew asked us to. Milner is one of four Premier Leaguers with 600 plus Premier League appearances. One. The other. The one he broke is Gareth Berry. Can you name the other two? I think one was an art. Wasn't there an Arsenal center? But was it Adam, Tony Adams or something?

[Tim Howard]

Maybe.

[Landon Donovan]

I think he had a gazillion.

[Tim Howard]

I'm bummed out that I'm not going to get this. The other one, it's going to be a.

[Landon Donovan]

Could it be a goalkeeper? Just played every game forever?

[Tim Howard]

Is it. Oh, is it Frank Lampard?

[Landon Donovan]

Okay. Not a goalkeeper.

[Tim Howard]

I don't know.

[Landon Donovan]

Lampard. 609. Good.

[Tim Howard]

I'm happy about that. I'm happy about that. That I got.

[Landon Donovan]

Okay, and who did I say? Tony Adams? Probably not.

[Tim Howard]

Probably not.

[Landon Donovan]

What about Stevie Gerrard?

[Tim Howard]

No, no, I'm gonna say no.

[Landon Donovan]

Not Gerard.

[Tim Howard]

So I got. So it's Lampard, Gareth Barry, James Milner.

[Landon Donovan]

It's gotta be like a center.

[Tim Howard]

One more. It's gotta be. Did you say John Terry? No, John Terry didn't make them.

[Landon Donovan]

You were teammates at one point with the last one. Tim.

[Tim Howard]

Tim, you were teammates. Oh, Ryan Giggs.

[Landon Donovan]

Gigzy632. All right, well, I did well.

[Tim Howard]

I did well.

[Landon Donovan]

But especially James Milner. Cheers to you for choosing Chill on a phenomenal career. And keep going.

[Tim Howard]

Well done, James.

[Landon Donovan]

It's stoppage time. Sponsored by FanDuel. New customers can bet $5 and get $100 in bonus bets if you win. Download the FanDuel Sportsbook app to get started. All right, we're getting into the meaty part of the season now. In the Premier League midweek games coming Aston Villa, Chelsea. Fantastic game. Both teams trying to get into Champions League spots for next season. And both teams also have some really tough games coming up towards the end of the season. So this is a big chance for them to propel their season. In the end, I think the honors are even. I think this ends up a tie. Both teams have a Lot of quality. I do think both teams will score, but I think it stays under the two and a half goals. So the only way that can all happen if both teams score and they standard two and a half is a 1:1 draw. I think Xiao Pedro, who's been in fantastic form, gets on the score sheet again. So Unfiltered Soccer's EPL same game parlay this week is a draw under two and a half goals. Both teams will score, meaning it's going to end one one and Xiao Pedro will get on the score sheet again. Don't forget to check out the full list of unfiltered soccer's same game parlays on our socials later this week. All right, let's take a break. When we come back, we will get into all of your Questions in the AT&T fan connection right here on Unfiltered Soccer with Landon and Tim, as always presented by Volkswagen.

[Tim Howard]

This episode is brought to you by Airbnb.

[Landon Donovan]

Yeah, Tim, Soccer's back in this country this summer and in a big, big way. And along with it comes all of these amazing away fans who provide the energy and excitement around the game that we love.

[Tim Howard]

That's exactly right. Hosting your home on Airbnb provides visiting sports fans, number one, the ability to stay close to the event and the action, but also experience the city. Your home might be worth more than you think. Find out how [e-mail] host LD we got a big year coming up, man. Huge year. The obviously the run into the Premier League title, MLS starting back up. There's a big, big summer of soccer going on. You and I are going to say that we'd be busy or we're going to be busy is probably an understatement. It's going to be chaos. We're going to be here, there and everywhere. We're we. I know you and I will find the time. I'm going to have to find lots of time to choose chill between crossing the country, being on all these different flights. I'll definitely, you'll catch me in the airport, pointed up to the bar, having a Coors Light. And then to be honest, in my off time, I'll be at the beach. And literally any single moment, LD that I'm not doing something for the World cup, which is not a lot of days, but I will be at the beach and I will have a cooler full of Coors Light.

[Kobe Jones]

Yeah.

[Landon Donovan]

I mean, it's, it's already started. As you know, I was in Vail this weekend in the heart of the Rockies, by the way, doing an appearance and you just we're going to be traveling a lot. We're going to be seeing each other a lot. We're going to be meeting a lot of fans and people, and we want to take advantage of it and enjoy it. But I keep reminding myself, I told my wife last night, like, we got to find ways to chill and choose chill so that I can stay energized, refreshed. Um, it's gonna be few and far between, but if we don't, we're gonna have, we're gonna have some problems. So thankfully we can choose chill, grab a Coors Light, relax, and make sure we're staying refreshed.

[Tim Howard]

And when you embrace a chill mindset this year, it's a good time to choose chill and crack open a Coors Light. Choose chill from the start and reach for a Coors Light. Get Coors Light delivered straight to your door. Visit Coors Light.com UFS or you can find it pretty much anywhere that sells beer.

[Landon Donovan]

Celebrate Responsibly Coors Brewing company Golden, Colorado

[Tim Howard]

there's nothing better than feeling like someone has your back and that things are going to get done, even without you having to ask, like your crisp New Jersey waiting for you in the locker room or a perfectly set up wall

[Landon Donovan]

for a free kick. Yeah, as we unfiltered soccer get ready for next summer, we know that very little in the beautiful game is guaranteed. But as we prepare to bring our unfiltered brand of non stop soccer coverage, it's good to know AT and T has your back. With the AT and T guarantee, staying connected matters.

[Tim Howard]

That's why in the rare event of a network outage, AT and T will proactively credit you for a full day of service. That's the AT and T guarantee.

[Landon Donovan]

Learn [e-mail] guarantee@&t Connecting Changes Everything Credit

[Tim Howard]

for fiber downtime lasting 20 minutes or more or a wireless downtime lasting 60 minutes or more caused by a single incident impacting 10 or more towers must be connected to impacted towers at onset of outage. Restrictions and exclusions apply. See att.com guarantee for full details. It's time for the Fan Connection presented by AT and T. Every week, we invite you, the listener, to connect with us by submitting your questions at AT and T Connecting changes every everything, and on uslnt, our connections with you will help grow the game. Okay, LD time now for the AT and T Fan Connection, everyone's favorite time of the week. Also, because we get to banter with Jordan. Jordan. How are you?

[Junior]

I'm swell. Thanks so much for asking.

[Tim Howard]

Of course.

[Landon Donovan]

Hello, Junior.

[Junior]

Hello. I know last week we had a lot more comments than questions, so this week we have more questions than comments, so.

[Landon Donovan]

Okay. A lot of people like to comment versus ask questions.

[Junior]

Yeah, these are pretty good, though.

[Tim Howard]

People like to hear themselves talk. That's why we have a podcast.

[Junior]

This first one is a little bit of both, but there's definitely a question in here. Simon asked via email. I don't know about you, but I hate knowing the score of a game before I watch it. With so many MLS games being played at the same time, and as a season ticket holder to my club, sometimes I want to watch a game after it's been played and Apple TV insists on having the score posted on the menu. Why do they do this? Can Junior call someone to stop this nonsense? Does anyone agree with me?

[Tim Howard]

No. So here, here.

[Junior]

That's not true, Tim, because there are people who work on the show who are very.

[Landon Donovan]

No, you don't agree or no, you can't call someone.

[Tim Howard]

I'm gonna. She can't call anybody at Apple.

[Junior]

No, I can't. I have no power.

[Tim Howard]

All I'm saying, all I'm saying is everybody just needs to grow up. We don't get to. In this day and age, we do not get to go. There was a game I wanted to watch and I need everybody to be quiet. I need to not check my phone. I need to have headphones on. You get one game. If it conflicts, pick the better one. That's it. That's it. You don't get to watch games anymore. Sort of on pause or pre recorded or go into.

[Landon Donovan]

It is impossible.

[Tim Howard]

It's impossible.

[Landon Donovan]

You can't.

[Tim Howard]

No longer does that exist.

[Landon Donovan]

So you have to, I mean, you literally have to turn your phone off, put it somewhere, not talk to any human. And then that's the only way.

[Tim Howard]

If you're old like me and you ld, There was a time where you could, you could take a. In your vcr, you recorded a game.

[Landon Donovan]

Yep.

[Tim Howard]

And then when you would come home, obviously there was no Internet. You literally have a. You have a VCR tape and you're like, the game's on here. I'll rewind it to the beginning and I'll watch it. But now you got. You got no chance, bro.

[Landon Donovan]

I'll go further than that. My dad used to show up at our school. He was the school electrician or for the district. He would show up and, like, knock on my room door and, like, peek in and he would bring me a hockey weekly or hockey monthly or something magazine. You didn't know the scores, who had scored. Whatever. Like, you got an updated list. And the same with the newspaper. You didn't know the score till the next morning.

[Tim Howard]

Yeah.

[Landon Donovan]

You had no idea.

[Tim Howard]

Zero sympathy.

[Landon Donovan]

No sympathy, pal.

[Junior]

Simon, I'm on your side because there is literally no reason why it needs to be on the menu for the games. I'm sorry.

[Landon Donovan]

Actually, to be fair, they don't have to put the score right there. But I will say, I will say Jordan, many times I click in because of what the score is.

[Junior]

This is what Google is for. Oh, oh, you're saying, like, that's attracting you to watch.

[Landon Donovan]

So if it's like, inner Miami's losing 2:1 at home in the 80th minute, I'm like, oh, I want to watch this. Like, get your popcorn, let's go.

[Tim Howard]

That's true. All right, all right. Sorry, Simon. Sorry, mate.

[Landon Donovan]

But we can call someone at Apple if you'd like. And mls.

[Junior]

Okay, we'll just get on the phone with Don Garber and see if he can take care of that.

[Tim Howard]

Yeah, can you just take the toggle off the top, Don?

[Junior]

Yes, this next question is from Joel via email. He says Funko, a company that makes pop culture collectible figures, has released a limited set of five USB men's national team figures. The lineup includes Christian Pulisic, Weston McKinney, Tyler Adams, Anthony Robinson, and Geo Reyna. I understand they want to make things they think people will buy, but do you think he is the fifth most popular US Men's national team player?

[Tim Howard]

He's the fifth most popular on this podcast. We talk about him all the time. Hang on. I'm on, I'm on Funko as we go. I'm typed in. Funko toy company. I'm looking for Landon Donovan, Tim Howard. Never mind.

[Landon Donovan]

Those guys don't exist.

[Tim Howard]

Don't exist.

[Landon Donovan]

Out of sight, out of mind.

[Tim Howard]

Yeah, I think, I think that, you

[Landon Donovan]

know, the, the long obvious look, they obviously do their research and the marketing and, like, that's what I guess people want. So how do you.

[Tim Howard]

I don't know.

[Landon Donovan]

You can determine most popular data wise, right?

[Junior]

Maybe we should pull some data about how often we talk about certain U. S. Men's national team players on this podcast. Podcast, yo.

[Landon Donovan]

Or Galaxy players like Ricky Pooch.

[Tim Howard]

I, I, I'm on this Funko thing I, I went, I went left Got

[Landon Donovan]

you having no fun I, I'm on

[Tim Howard]

this Funko thing and I, I've seen these before and Then all of a sudden, there's a Tribe Called Quest action figures that's getting ordered as we. As we speak.

[Landon Donovan]

What is this? Is it a. Like they have memorabilia and stuff?

[Tim Howard]

Yeah, yeah.

[Junior]

They're like little figures.

[Landon Donovan]

Cool. I haven't seen. I don't know.

[Tim Howard]

Definitely. I'm.

[Landon Donovan]

Are we getting paid to plug Funko, by the way?

[Tim Howard]

No, no, no, but make. Make us some figurines. Funko.

[Landon Donovan]

There you go.

[Junior]

Well, I also think that it's entirely possible, Joel, that when the World cup is over, there'll be some different US Men's national Team Funkos. Because people have, you know, Chris Richards

[Landon Donovan]

might be on there.

[Junior]

That's right.

[Tim Howard]

Sorry, hang on.

[Landon Donovan]

Slow Baligan.

[Tim Howard]

Landon.

[Landon Donovan]

Yes.

[Tim Howard]

I told you, I went left. So you both are gonna have to deal with this.

[Landon Donovan]

Jesus.

[Tim Howard]

A Tribe Called Quest. Do you know who they are?

[Landon Donovan]

It's a music group, I think.

[Tim Howard]

Yeah, there's four of them. Can you name two of the four?

[Landon Donovan]

No, can't name any of them.

[Tim Howard]

That's disappointing.

[Landon Donovan]

Wu Tang.

[Junior]

Are you surprised, Tim?

[Tim Howard]

What do you mean, Wu Tang? What's that got to do with anything?

[Landon Donovan]

Is that one of them?

[Tim Howard]

You're taking the piss.

[Junior]

Can you name members of Wu Tang, Will?

[Landon Donovan]

I am.

[Tim Howard]

You got. You gotta be able to. All right. Move to Wu Tang. Give me two Wu Tang Clan members.

[Landon Donovan]

What was the woman's name? The Will? I am Fergie. Fergie.

[Junior]

Vicious. Definition.

[Landon Donovan]

I have no idea. Who Tribe called Quest. No idea.

[Junior]

Red Man.

[Landon Donovan]

Oh, I remember. Method Man. I remember Method.

[Tim Howard]

That's Wu Tang, though. Yes. Fife Dog. Q Tip Ali Shahid? Muhammad Jarobi. Never mind.

[Junior]

Okay. We have to. We have to move on. We're moving on.

[Landon Donovan]

Put your phone away, please.

[Junior]

Michael has a question via email. What are your thoughts on the true differences between USL and MLS teams? Over the last few years, we have seen MLS teams lose to USL teams. Now it seems to be more and more commonplace. Is this because USL is leveling up? Or are MLS teams just overlooking USL and show some love for Union Omaha who just keep winning two time USL League One champions and defeated two MLS teams in 2022?

[Tim Howard]

Landon and I have very strong opinions on this because we've both been in usl. So I think. I think there's a snobbery in MLS when it comes to roster building. That for various reasons, but if you looked at the. The top. I don't know, Landon. The top 10 best players in the USL, right? Top 10 best players in the USL. They can absolutely 100% compete within an MLS roster. 1,000% right. You're often, you're often also getting a guy who's got a ton of games under his belt, right?

[Landon Donovan]

Who's, who's.

[Tim Howard]

Because they were the best player, they want to take the ball, they want to be in the thick of it. And, and by the way, because we both know this ain't making a lot of money, they make a lot of money so they're easily attainable and they're just not. Because there's a snobbery around MLS and the way that certain GMs build rosters. So it's unfortunate. But yeah, I think USL is certainly getting better. I don't think it's the other way around.

[Landon Donovan]

The challenge is the amount being spent on USL players versus over the last five or ten years. The amount of increase versus the increase in MLS is not simple. Like the amount of money MLS teams spend now. I mean they're going to spend 20 plus million dollars to acquire Josh Sargent in Toronto. An MLS or a USL top striker is making $150,000.

[Kobe Jones]

Right?

[Landon Donovan]

And so certainly on the attacking end of the field, USL cannot compare even remotely close. Now, everywhere else around the field, there are a lot of guys who could fill out MLS rosters. A lot, a lot, a lot. Could they start some games, but they could absolutely be on rosters. But most, most guys realize at the end of their career or, or middle of their career, like, I just want to play soccer, make good money and enjoy my life versus being the 27th guy on sporting Kansas City and never see the field.

[Kobe Jones]

Right?

[Tim Howard]

But they're not always at the end of their career is what I'm saying. Some of these guys are just overlooked from the jump.

[Landon Donovan]

That's true. And if, and to be honest, if I were an MLS club and I'm building out my roster and look, there's lots of reasons why they, they don't. They decide and choose to fill it out with lots of young, 17, 18, 19, 20 year olds who have potential to do whatever and that's fair. But if I were building out a club that you really want to compete and have 23, 25 really good players, having number 24 and 25, being a guy with 180 games in USL who's 25 or 26, I think is really smart because it also makes training way better.

[Kobe Jones]

Right?

[Tim Howard]

But the worst kept secret in mls, ld and now you want to talk about soapbox who overall,

[Landon Donovan]

what team, what

[Tim Howard]

teams are producing young talent?

[Landon Donovan]

None. Philly maybe.

[Tim Howard]

Philly sells a couple players overall. Young, selling young talent. And by the way when you take a 16, 17 year old and you nurture them, they're on the next plane in three years, four years when they don't pan out and you're set. Like, I think it's a little bullshit that MLS teams are saying, oh, we're producing, you're not. So my point is, the production is happening. When I was in USL in the thick of it, I'm watching these players and like I said to you, these are players who are leaders, who are demanding, who aren't afraid of big moments. They already are in the developmental process and they're way better than your 17, 18 year old. That's not going to pan out. And all the. And anybody who wants to tell me differently is crazy. All these teams that want to develop players and sell them, where is it? Where's the proof? Give me the receipts.

[Landon Donovan]

Well, truth is too, when you talk to owners, Tim, they're. They're fed up with. Not only. They're fed up with the academy correct stuff and the MLS next pro stuff.

[Tim Howard]

Yeah. Because they're money into it.

[Landon Donovan]

They're pumping money, tons of money and

[Tim Howard]

not getting return on investment.

[Landon Donovan]

Nobody can tell me. You cannot tell me that it's better right now for a player to be playing MLS next pro than playing in front of 7,000 people in New Mexico with real players, real fans who are right, you know, players who are fighting for their livelihood. Totally agree.

[Tim Howard]

And it's exactly why when you go all the way back to Arson Wenger and you look at a Jack Wilshire, he was this wonderful youth player and he went right, pack your bags, go up to Bolton and anybody who's ever not been to Bolton, don't go. And his point was, you're going to learn.

[Landon Donovan]

Yep. They do it all over England. It's so prevalent.

[Tim Howard]

It's perfect. Right.

[Landon Donovan]

Every year Lincoln City gets three, four, five, six players that are on Premier League rosters. They're 18, 19, and they need to learn how to be a pro pro.

[Tim Howard]

That's how it should be.

[Landon Donovan]

LG not playing in a like reserve league.

[Junior]

But anyway, I do just want to point out that last on last week's episode, you guys were talking about Michael Bradley starting three teenagers in the opening MLS game. Yeah. Do you.

[Landon Donovan]

No fair play. So if, if you want Jordan, if you, if you're really about that and you're putting 3, 4, 5 million dollars a year into your academy and a couple million dollars into MLS next pro, you better play these players. And the owners are starting to say that they're like what am I doing?

[Tim Howard]

Yeah.

[Landon Donovan]

Why am I throwing away $5 million?

[Tim Howard]

And look, when we talk about, when we talk about this sort of overarching issue, are there, are there exceptions? Yeah. Yeah. Philly, of course, Phillies are an exception. Red Bull, sort of the way that they operate their global football.

[Landon Donovan]

Dallas, sometimes it's different, but, but overall, no, right?

[Tim Howard]

No, it's not.

[Landon Donovan]

Okay.

[Junior]

That's it from me.

[Tim Howard]

Love it.

[Landon Donovan]

Thank you, Junior.

[Tim Howard]

We've seen you right off.

[Landon Donovan]

Bender right up. Thanks, guys. Another great show. A very special thank you to cj, Kobe Jones. Guy I idolized growing up and just so great to have him on the show. Remember, as always, to subscribe on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, anywhere you get your pods. And follow us at Unfiltered Soccer on social media. Thank you as always to our amazing presenting sponsor, VW, our fan connection sponsor AT&T, and our stoppage time sponsor, FanDuel.

[Tim Howard]

Thank you also to our unfiltered refresh sponsor, Coors Light, and our additional sponsors Airbnb and Walmart. Have an amazing week. We'll be back next Tuesday with another edition of Unfiltered Soccer.

[Kobe Jones]

It's a season two playoff race with tgl.

[Landon Donovan]

Presented by sofi. Sunday at 9pm eastern. Jupiter links versus boston common golf. Monday at 7pm eastern. Los angeles golf club versus new york golf club. Tuesday at 9pm eastern.

[Kobe Jones]

The bay golf club versus jupiter links.

[Landon Donovan]

Keep up.

[Kobe Jones]

It's golf watch on espn, espn2 and the espn app.