USMNT World Cup 2026 Roster Predictions | Unfiltered Soccer

Summary

Unfiltered Soccer with Landon Donovan and Tim Howard

Episode: USMNT World Cup 2026 Roster Predictions
Date: May 5, 2026

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Episode Overview

In this highly anticipated episode, Landon Donovan and Tim Howard dive deep into predicting Mauricio Pochettino's 26-man roster for the U.S. Men's National Team ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. With exclusive insights as former USMNT stars, they discuss the likely player selections, dissect position strengths and weaknesses, and debate the challenging choices facing the manager—especially around controversial figures like Gio Reyna. The conversation blends humor, candor, and tactical knowledge, offering both analysis and entertainment for all USMNT fans.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Live Shows & World Cup Hype

• [01:30] Announcement of Unfiltered Soccer live shows in Venice, Dallas, and New York during the tournament.
• Both reflect on the magnitude of a World Cup final in the U.S., with Tim expressing awe at the scale:

  "Being in New York, I don't even know... it's going to be beyond our wildest dreams." — Tim Howard [02:22]

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2. USMNT 2026 Roster Predictions

Clarification:

• These are not their personal ideal picks, but what they realistically believe Pochettino will do.

Goalkeepers

• [03:33]

  • Matt Freese, Matt Turner, Patrick Schulte.
  • Discussion on the difficulty of picking the third keeper; mention of Zach Steffen as experienced but unlikely.
  • Confidence in the position, although Tim wants to see Matt Freese prove himself at World Cup-level pressure.

  "The one constant we've always had is a goalkeeper going into a World Cup that we knew could win a game single-handedly."
  — Tim Howard [05:00]

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Defenders

• [06:48]

  • Center Backs: Ream, Richards, McKenzie (Landon); Ream, Richards, McKenzie, Trusty (Tim).
  • Outside Backs/Wing Backs: Jedi Robinson, Alex Freeman, Joe Scally, Max Arston, Timothy Weah, Sergiño Dest.
  • Consensus: Depth is a concern at center back, particularly if Richards is injured.
  • Both see wing back/outside back as the team’s strongest area.

  "If something happens to Chris Richards, oh God, it could be really bad."
  — Landon Donovan [09:14]

  "Our wing backs are our strongest position."
  — Tim Howard [11:31]

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Midfielders

• [14:43]

  • Central: Tyler Adams, Aidan Morris, Weston McKennie, Tanner Tessmann, Christian Roldan, Sebastian Berhalter.
  • Minor differences in classification of “midfielders” vs. “attacking players.”
  • Discussion on the omission of Johnny Cardoso despite his club credentials, emphasizing national team chemistry.

  "Guys like Berhalter and Roldan, I think, just make the group better, even if they don't touch the field."
  — Landon Donovan [17:22]

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Attacking Players/Forwards

• [18:04]

  • Christian Pulisic, Haji Wright, Ricardo Pepi, Folarin Balogun, Gio Reyna, Malik Tillman, Diego Luna, Brenden Aaronson.
  • Agreement that the available options pretty much pick themselves unless a defender is swapped for a midfielder or attacker.

  "The only case you could make is if you took one of those guys off...then you could add another center back like Scally or Trusty..."
  — Landon Donovan [18:26]

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The Gio Reyna Dilemma

• [19:24]

  • Both agree Reyna could easily be cut, but the 26-man roster gives leeway for “superstar quality” wildcards. Tim and Landon see his inclusion as heavily dependent on his commitment to team chemistry. Landon’s approach is to present a clear ultimatum about buy-in.

  "If I'm Pochettino, I go to him and say, Gio, there is every chance you don't play one minute this summer...whatever happens, I need to know you are going to be a good teammate...and if you don't, I'm sending you home."
  — Landon Donovan [22:24 & 00:00]

  "He's got some spice and bite, man. I just wonder...if there's a moment where Potch gets fed up...and just needs someone on the pitch who's willing to just be a dog and fight."
  — Tim Howard [22:54]

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Attack—Chances and Prolific Scoring

• [23:45]

  • Both expect the USMNT to create plenty of chances, especially if Balogun and Pulisic maintain club form.
  • Confidence expressed that the US will “walk the group”—predicting goal scoring as a team strength.

  "I think they're going to walk the group. And I think part of that is I think they're going to score a lot of goals."
  — Tim Howard [25:09]

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Notable Quotes

• Landon Donovan:

  • “If Matt Freese has to be phenomenal, we have problems.” [06:11]
  • “Let’s just hope that Richards is healthy. Because we absolutely need him healthy and playing well.” [09:14]
  • “Guys like Berhalter and Roldan, I think, just make the group better, even if they don't touch the field.” [17:22]
  • “If I'm Pochettino...there is every chance you don't play one minute this summer...if you don’t do it, I’m sending you home.” [00:00 & 22:24]

• Tim Howard:

  • “The one constant we’ve always had is a goalkeeper going into a World Cup that we knew could win a game single-handedly.” [05:00]
  • “Our wing backs are our strongest position.” [11:31]
  • “I think they're going to walk the group. And I think part of that is...they're going to score a lot of goals.” [25:09]
  • “[On Gio Reyna] ...he's got some spice and bite, man.” [22:54]

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Timestamps for Major Segments

• [03:33] — Goalkeepers: predictions and debate
• [06:48] — Defenders: depth, flexibility, and major concerns
• [14:43] — Midfielders: core names and chemistry over clubs
• [18:04] — Attacking players: near consensus on inclusions
• [19:24] — The Gio Reyna question: attitude vs. talent
• [23:45] — Will the U.S. score enough? Attacking outlook for 2026

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Memorable & Lighthearted Moments

• Discussion about hair choices for Chris Richards, with Tim joking about Landon's own hair (or lack thereof) [09:26].
• Banter over who would be recognized as the Coors Light guy vs. World Cup hero [28:08].
• Honest, almost vulnerable moments regarding the unpredictability of Pochettino's choices [20:23].

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Fan Q&A Highlights (AT&T Fan Connection)

[33:26–43:54]

• Thoughts on upcoming USMNT docuseries “US vs The World” — Both excited, with Landon noting, “The trailer looked amazing.”
• Self-critique: What could Landon/Tim have improved?
  • Tim: "Zero smoke—left foot, heading, and defending. Long list.” [35:11]
  • Landon: Deflects, jokes about Tim’s left-footed clearances.
• Shout out to Anders SC for doing youth soccer right — Landon gets earnest about the critical state of youth soccer in the U.S. [36:57]
• MLS Whitecaps relocation rumors
  • Both criticize North American sports’ tendency for club relocation; Landon discusses possible nuance regarding stadium negotiations and city relations but emphasizes fan trauma:

    "It's horrifying...nobody wants to see that." [41:57]

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Final Thoughts & Closing

• Hosts invite feedback and encourage fan discussion about their roster predictions.
• Both look forward to reactions—especially on the controversial or “bubble” selections.
• Episode closes with reminders to follow the show on all platforms and thanks to sponsors.

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For Listeners Who Haven’t Tuned In

This episode is your behind-the-scenes look at how the USMNT World Cup roster is likely being assembled, straight from two US legends who know the realities of tournament selection. It’s not just about who’s hot in club football, but who fits the group, who the manager trusts, and which wildcards could tip the scales. If you’re invested in the USA’s World Cup hopes or just love unfiltered, insider soccer talk, this is a can’t-miss listen.

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Follow @UnfilteredSoccr on X and @UnfilteredSoccer across social platforms.

Transcript

[Landon Donovan]

If I'm Pochettino, I go to him and say, gio, there is every chance you don't play one minute this summer. Every chance there's a chance you play a lot of minutes. Whatever happens, I need to know you are going to be a good teammate. And if you're willing to do that, I'm bringing you. And if you tell me you're willing to do it and you don't do it at some point in the tournament, I'm sending you home. Unfiltered Soccer with Landon and Tim. Presented by Volkswagen. Volkswagen has long been a supporter of soccer in America and is proudly been a partner of U.S. soccer for over five years.

[Tim Howard]

LD what's happen?

[Landon Donovan]

What's up, man?

[Tim Howard]

This is amazing. Welcome to Unfiltered Soccer. He's landing. I'm Tim. What's going on, bud?

[Landon Donovan]

Hanging out. I'm excited I get to see you tomorrow.

[Tim Howard]

Yes.

[Landon Donovan]

Bentonville, Arkansas, we are. I'm excited I get to see you.

[Tim Howard]

Maybe you don't use that accent when you get there.

[Landon Donovan]

Oh, okay.

[Tim Howard]

I won't.

[Landon Donovan]

That's. It's a nice place. Have you been?

[Tim Howard]

No, I've not been. I've heard good things.

[Landon Donovan]

It's actually a really nice place. It's, like, clean, like, cool on. I think there's water there. It's really cool. So it'd be nice to see you. All right, as always, folks. Presented by Volkswagen. Follow us on social media. Unfiltered Soccer. Make sure you subscribe to the show on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, everywhere you get your podcasts, you can email Jordan feedback at Unfiltered Soccer. All right, Timmy, before we start, exciting stuff to finally announce to our people here. We are doing three live shows.

[Tim Howard]

Yeah, we are.

[Landon Donovan]

This summer during the tournament. One in LA, June 13. Saturday, June 13 in Venice, one in Dallas, Texas. That's Sunday. What?

[Tim Howard]

I'm in Dallas right now pumping us up. I'm literally telling everybody in the streets, get there.

[Landon Donovan]

There you go. July 13th. So a month later in Dallas. That's for the semis. Yep. And then the final.

[Tim Howard]

Semis.

[Landon Donovan]

No, semis.

[Tim Howard]

Semis.

[Landon Donovan]

Yeah, yeah. Dallas and I think Atlanta are the semis. And then New York ahead of the final seven, 18. And that one will be in Chelsea Piers. I know that area now. I know New York.

[Tim Howard]

You know, you. You know what? I'm sort of. I'm. I'm underestimating. And I.

[Landon Donovan]

It.

[Tim Howard]

This just dawned on me, like, being. I've never been to, like, a World cup final or, like, big. Been around a world Oh, I haven't either.

[Landon Donovan]

I didn't think about that. Right.

[Tim Howard]

Like, I've watched it and think, this is amazing. Like, that's right. Being in New York, I don't even know. It's good. It's going to be beyond our wildest dreams. Like, I. I don't even know if I can comprehend, like the fan fest and the fanfare and the game and it's epicenter of the world. Anyway. That's amazing.

[Landon Donovan]

It's gonna be amazing.

[Tim Howard]

Yeah.

[Landon Donovan]

You guys can go to unfiltered soccer.com live or more info. Okay. This is an exciting day. One I have been waiting for, for a long, long time. USMNT on USLNT today, Timmy. We are predicting our roster for the US Men's National Team this summer. 26 man squad. And just for clarity for everybody, this is what we believe Mauricio Po will do. Not what we think or what or. Sorry. What we want. This is what we believe Mauricio Po will do. We are going to start with your former position goalkeeper. I think we'll probably have consensus here. There's only three, but you go ahead.

[Tim Howard]

Matt. Freeze. Congratulations. Matt Turner. Congratulations. And Patrick Schulte. The third is so hard for me. Ld There have been constantly goalkeepers in camp that have not played like they're on zero caps. So. So I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I'm a massive believer in Zach Stefan and absolutely think from an experience standpoint he should be on the roster. But it. I don't know. I don't know if Pochettino is going to bring them. So, yeah, it's a toss up for me. Number three.

[Landon Donovan]

I think if I were. I don't know this position at all, but I think if I were doing it, this is where if I'm U.S. soccer, I'd have a bit of a hand in this and at least. Or try to and just say, look, who do we really believe is going to be potential guy of the future? And then put. And I don't know who that is. I can't tell you if it's Brady or Santano or Patrick Schulte. But we agree. I think Patrick Schulte probably the third with each. With each of these, we're going to walk through. If you know what decisions were hard, it's much easier for this. And with goalkeepers. You just talked about the third.

[Tim Howard]

Yeah.

[Landon Donovan]

And then overall, how we feel about the position. So you go first for what?

[Tim Howard]

For we're doing defensive.

[Landon Donovan]

That's how you Feel about the position. Yeah, for goalkeepers.

[Tim Howard]

Oh, for goalkeepers. In terms of strength, I think it's. I, you know, for her, for the obvious doubts that I and everyone else has about Matt Fries. I'm, you know, I, I'm confident in him and his ability. You know, I've said this to you over and over. The one constant that we've always had is we've had a goalkeeper going into a World cup that we knew could win a game single handedly. Whether it's because he hasn't had the opportunity or he hasn't done it, or simply because he has 14 or 15 caps, hasn't had the amount of games that say you, you would have needed to stand on your head in this particular game to do that. Now, he's made some saves. In the last game that I saw, he made some saves that I thought that those are big, those are big time saves and big moments. But you're gonna have to do that over and over, probably six, seven, eight times in a really big game to get the US over the hump. And I'm not talking first round. I'm talking, you know, knockouts in real games. Yeah, yeah. But I mean, I'm confident. It's not, it's not one that I'm, it's not one that I'm, that I'm thinking is like, I'm worried about.

[Landon Donovan]

So that helps in the first round. If Matt Freeze has to be phenomenal, we have problems.

[Tim Howard]

Yeah, correct.

[Landon Donovan]

Like, I mean, he's gonna. One or two saves that we need him to make, but other than that, I think we just, we just need him to be solid and just keep the, keep the obvious ones out of the net.

[Tim Howard]

I think he, I think what we're gonna see is we're gonna see him grow up and evolve in, in the, in the opening round. I think he's gonna have a good opening round. I think they're gonna be games where he's gonna need to make some saves but feel good about himself. And then I think he's gonna be like, I've arrived, you know, and then knockout stages. So I think I'm very confident in that position.

[Landon Donovan]

Great. Okay, let's move on to defenders and we're just going to clump all the defenders together. So I'm going to go first Central defenders. I have Ream, Richards and Mackenzie and I'm doing that intentionally, I think. I mean, is there a case for him to bring one more center Central Miles Robinson or Austin trustee? Yes, but I think he's more Inclined to use Freeman or Scally or even Anthony Robinson in one of those spots if needed. So I'll go Richard's ream, McKenzie and then these are more outside backs or wing backs. Jedi, Robinson, Alex Freeman, Joe Scally, Max Arston, Timothy Weah and Sergino Dest. So that's nine I have there.

[Tim Howard]

Okay. Yeah.

[Landon Donovan]

Yeah.

[Tim Howard]

I'm not far off. You. I. I have Tim Reams, Richards, Des Freeman, Arston, Jedi Robinson. I have Trusty because I don't know. I. I don't know. You know that third. You know that I also have McKenzie and Waya. Those are my nine. I sort of. Here's my thinking. I sort of think, right. Tim Reamer and Chris Richards, we know are two of the three and because I, I don't think he knows who the third is. I think he. He pads his stats and brings two extra center backs because if, if one doesn't work out right, You're. You're stuck.

[Landon Donovan]

Yeah, you're stuck.

[Tim Howard]

So.

[Landon Donovan]

Yeah, I guess I, I agree. But I think he's more inclined, I mean, to be fair, trustee in. In a bad camp. Did pretty well last year. It was a bad overall camp for everyone, but he did pretty well. So I, I was tussling back and forth with that. I just, maybe I'm bia. You know, Scally becoming the youngest non German recently and he was in my brain, so. And he can play right center back. He also, in a pinch you could have a guy who might be a midfielder, Tanner Testman play there. So I think he has enough options. But I wouldn't be surprised, I agree. If he brings Trusty instead of Scally. And those are the only two we had, right? Those are the only one that we had different.

[Tim Howard]

On which one?

[Landon Donovan]

You have Trusty, I have Scally. Yeah.

[Tim Howard]

Yeah.

[Landon Donovan]

Overall, how do we feel the center backs? Not great.

[Tim Howard]

Not great.

[Landon Donovan]

I don't.

[Tim Howard]

It's defensively. Defensively, I don't.

[Landon Donovan]

No, I know. And by the way, knock on wood.

[Tim Howard]

And

[Landon Donovan]

if something happens to Chris Richards. Oh God, it could be really bad. Like, could be really bad. And so let, let's just hope that he's healthy because we absolutely need him healthy and playing well.

[Tim Howard]

I want to know if Chris Richards is going to. Is going to have his hair out or tied down for the first game of the world. Of the World Cup. I think I'll have it. I think I have it out and out. Yeah. Well, I don't know. I don't know if I. I don't know.

[Landon Donovan]

I mean, you wouldn't have hair.

[Tim Howard]

I wouldn't just. That's not the decision.

[Landon Donovan]

I recommend I have hair so I could.

[Tim Howard]

How would you wear yours?

[Landon Donovan]

Speak to it? I think I would cornrow mine. Yeah. You know what?

[Tim Howard]

I wish we. I wish you had this. We're digressing. But I wish you had hair when we were playing because, like, it'd be so amazing to see it like fly up a little bit like when you're in a dead sprint, like.

[Landon Donovan]

Because you know when it's. When I sweat, like when I play hockey, it like comes up like you can pull it off a little bit.

[Tim Howard]

Be amazing anyway, seeing you in the dressing room, like regluing it.

[Landon Donovan]

Take it off after the game.

[Tim Howard]

Oh, this.

[Landon Donovan]

This is okay. So outside backs, I feel. I feel very good. I. It's probably. It's probably our best position, honestly, between Freeman, who by the way started with via Real last week and played very well. Dest who, you know, when he's healthy, he's. The guy was on Barcelona's books. Like Tim Waya is playing almost every minute at a big club in Ligon. Max Arson's done well every time he's come in. Scally we just talked about. So Jedi Robinson. I mean that. I think that's a. I think it's probably our best position.

[Tim Howard]

No, I think that's right.

[Landon Donovan]

I think I'm confident in all that.

[Tim Howard]

My worry. Well, I think they're going to have some games where they dominate the ball just in the moments that, you know, in your Belgian games, in your Portugal games where you have to defend resolutely and for. And for time. Can. Can they roll their sleeves up for long enough with enough togetherness and savvy to not concede?

[Landon Donovan]

Right.

[Tim Howard]

And they haven't shown that. So that part is. It's tough. And that's tough. That's. That's football at the highest level. So we'll see.

[Landon Donovan]

Yeah.

[Tim Howard]

But yeah, I do agree with you. Our wing backs are our strongest position.

[Landon Donovan]

They are problem. And. And there's also. There's so much flexibility in what Pochettino can do with them. So depending on who you know, if we think we're gonna have all the ball against Australia, you can play dest or weah and you play Freeman as a right center back if you want and he can actually move forward if you want. Sure. And so there's a lot of flexibility there. Yeah. Okay. What did we get right here, guys. What did we get wrong? Let us know. You can send YouTube comments or you can always email us feedbackunfiltered soccer.com you guys always have good takes on all this. Before we take a break, this Friday, we're having a special bonus episode. This was actually really fun to do, explaining the ins and outs of the construction of a World cup roster. So what goes into all of this process? And we haven't been necessarily in it from a World cup standpoint, but I've been in it as a coach and how you, how you build out a roster, There's a lot that goes into it. Who's involved in the process? Are there, you know, politics are agents, players, people reaching out behind the scenes? Is it more than just the best players? Is it, it's the best group of players and coaches. Absolutely. Think about that. So we will fill you guys in on, on our insight on Friday special bonus episode. Make sure you follow and keep your eyes open for it on YouTube, Apple, Spotify, anywhere you get your podcast. All right, as always, remember to subscribe. Hit that subscribe button. We're going to take a break. When we come back, we will give you our predictions. Now for the midfielders and the forwards or attacking players, it is time. That's right. To make up our mind about Geo. So, Tim, I hope you're ready. Right here on Unfiltered Soccer with Landon and Tim, presented as always by. 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. And you know what that means. Saturdays are once again all about soccer.

[Tim Howard]

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[Landon Donovan]

Yeah. Walmart and MLS bring every emotion of the beautiful game to Saturdays. Joy, nerves, excitement and unforgettable golassos.

[Tim Howard]

Walmart plays on Saturdays.

[Landon Donovan]

Who knew? All right, Timmy, we are back. We're back. Roster prediction day continues. All right, we're going to move into the midfielders. There's lots of ways we can do this. I. I'm choosing the central midfielders here. So I have six. I'll Go first.

[Tim Howard]

How many midfielders do you have total, by the way?

[Landon Donovan]

I don't. I mean, I don't know how to classify these guys. Right. So I. I kind of just said, like, attacking players and central midfielders.

[Tim Howard]

Okay.

[Landon Donovan]

Is that fair?

[Tim Howard]

Those are your two. So you don't have midfield.

[Landon Donovan]

I mean, I could have, like, attacking players. And it's funny because, like, when you see the roster, it's always like, goalkeepers, defenders, midfielders, forwards.

[Tim Howard]

But.

[Landon Donovan]

But soccer's so different now.

[Tim Howard]

I know.

[Landon Donovan]

You know, it's more like, are you an attacking player somewhere? And where do you still.

[Tim Howard]

It's. You still have four categories, though, so that's fair.

[Landon Donovan]

That's fair.

[Tim Howard]

You have central midfielders and attackers. Okay.

[Landon Donovan]

All right, so here are my central midfielders. Tyler Adams from your Bournemouth football club. No, AFC Bournemouth. Aiden Morris from Middlesborough. Weston. McKenna. Shock. Shocker there. Tanner Testman, Christian Roldan. And drum roll. Sebastian Bear Halter.

[Tim Howard]

Yeah.

[Landon Donovan]

You got anything different?

[Tim Howard]

Right? I'm guessing you're. I'm guessing Brendan Aronson, for you is an attacker.

[Landon Donovan]

Correct.

[Tim Howard]

Okay.

[Landon Donovan]

Tillman's an attacker. Luna is an attacker.

[Tim Howard]

Okay. All right, So I have 10 midfielders, but in. In the classic category, it's fine.

[Landon Donovan]

Good.

[Tim Howard]

Brendan Aronson, Tyler Adams, West McKinney, Aiden Morris, Giorena, Christian Roldan, Diego Luna, Malik Tillman, tennis Testman, and Sebastian Burholter. So not terribly far off, probably the names that we're all going to have.

[Landon Donovan]

Okay, so we might actually be identical on these, because I'll get into my attacking ones next. Okay. So that means no Johnny Cardoso for you and none for me. Nose and Dejas. I'm trying to think who else? I think that's it. Right?

[Tim Howard]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Landon Donovan]

So let's talk through the same. I think the Johnny Cardoso thing is going to be a challenge for people because they're like, sure, oh, he plays at atletico Madrid, and 100%, he just. He just has not done it for the national team. That's important. He just had. Last time he played, he played a half and then he left camp. And I can see a scenario where Pochettino brings him, because it's like, you have 26 and the guy clearly has quality. But I don't know. I think it. You know, it goes back to the question I said before the break. Is it your best 26 players, or is it the best group of 26?

[Tim Howard]

Yeah.

[Landon Donovan]

And guys like Burhalter and Roldan, I think, just make the group better, even if they don't touch the field.

[Tim Howard]

They do. And I mean, but Cordosa could take a bar holder position. You know, it could be. It could be either or. So, you know, this is not gonna be a perfect science. We. We like to think it is, but there's. It'll be interesting. Yeah.

[Landon Donovan]

Okay. In the attacking players, so the guys you added to the. This, we had the same six, and then you said you had nine. You had three others, right, that you put in there. Tillman, Luna, Reina, or. No, you had Aaron son.

[Tim Howard]

I. I ended up having 10, so.

[Landon Donovan]

Oh, you had 10. Okay, so you had Tillman, Luna, Raina, Aronson. Okay, so I have all four of those in my attacking players.

[Tim Howard]

Okay.

[Landon Donovan]

Plus Christian.

[Tim Howard]

Yes.

[Landon Donovan]

And then I have Haji, Wright, Pepe and Flow Bal.

[Tim Howard]

Yeah, same.

[Landon Donovan]

And are those yours?

[Tim Howard]

My fours? Yeah.

[Landon Donovan]

So we're identical how we. How we define them?

[Tim Howard]

Yeah.

[Landon Donovan]

So that means who gets left out of that group then? Is that it?

[Tim Howard]

I think that's it. I don't think he. I don't think he replaced nobody else.

[Landon Donovan]

You put in striker? No, no. There's no other strike. I mean, it's not Brian White. It's not like nobody else is coming in. Right. So I think that's. That's. That kind of picked itself. Actually, the only case you could make is if you took one of those guys off, you took, you know, no Geo or no Luna, then you could add another center back like Scally or trusty in R2. But really, that kind of feels like. So I think itself.

[Tim Howard]

I think the big miss for me is Scally. You had Scally, right? And I. And I don't have him. That's the one I don't have. So. And I put. Essentially, I put. I put trustee there. You know, it's not like for, like. But that's sort of the. The position got taken by. By Trusty.

[Landon Donovan]

So.

[Tim Howard]

Yeah, I mean, I. I like sc. I like the shout. The shout.

[Landon Donovan]

Let me ask you this about Gio. So you.

[Tim Howard]

He could miss out. By the way, we've both.

[Landon Donovan]

No, I know. And we've both been very hard on him. And, And. And for good reason. Why do you. And I'll explain me. Like, why do you think Poino ends up bringing him? Is it specific that, you know, Po sees something or whatever or do. Is there, like a broader reason that most coaches would agree on to bring it?

[Tim Howard]

All right, it's a good question. Let me say this. Overall. Overall of all the thing. And there's plenty of people out there think I'm stupid. I don't know what I'm talking about. But for all the soccer that I know and roster building and team construction and watching games and analyzing and doing other things, I can honestly say over the last 18 months, LD I don't have a grasp on exactly why things are done. And maybe that's Pochettino keeping things really with this team. With this team. And that's not a knocker criticism, by the way. That could be Marcia Pochettino just keeping things very unbalanced within the squad.

[Landon Donovan]

Could be intentional.

[Tim Howard]

Yeah, intentional with the media. You know, I sort of, it's sort of like bringing, you know, bringing Gio specifically. You asked me to. Well, sorry, I'll go back. The goalkeeping situation you and I have talked about less than a year ago, they put this kid in that nobody knew about that never played international football and basically said, here's the keys to the car. Pacha seen something in him and said, you're the guy right in Matt Freeze. He then has subsequently brought goalkeepers in not to sort of prop him up and go, we're going to bring you an experienced guy in underneath you to sort of teach you. He's brought in competition with, with Matt Turner and then he's brought two or three other goalkeepers in that don't have any experience. Like there's, there's a lot of decisions that I don't quite get. The Geo thing is, is exactly that. You know, he brings him into the march camps. Doesn't, you know, you think this is sort of last chance saloon. Give him a. Not a real opportunity to prove himself, even though he hasn't played for his club and doesn't really play him that much. Right. So, so does that mean he, he's, you know, does that mean Potch thinks he's good to go? I know what this kid's about. Happy to take him or is he like, I'm going to leave him off? Like I literally don't know. Does that make any sense?

[Landon Donovan]

Yeah, I, this the way I see it, if this were a 23 man roster, Gio doesn't make it, I think because it's 26. I've said this before. You can add a player or two or three that have a superstar quality and sometimes that means just being an amazing teammate, training great, like helps the whole group get better. And sometimes it means a guy who just does something special and Geo can do something special. My caveat with Geo is as long as he's being a good teammate and knowing, hey, if I'm Pochettino, I Go to him and say, gio, there is every chance you don't play one minute this summer. Every chance there's a chance you play a lot of minutes. But whatever happens, I need to know you are going to be a good teammate on board. Keep your mouth shut, keep working and help the group. And if you're willing to do that, I'm bringing you. And if you tell me you're willing to do it and you don't do it at some point in the tournament, I'm sending you home. Yeah, that's it. Yeah, that's it. Leave it at that. And if you do that and he's on board with that, he is worth having, man. Of course, if you need a goal in the last 20 minutes, it's 00 against Australia. Throw him on.

[Tim Howard]

Definitely. Definitely. You know the other thing that I think Gio doesn't get enough credit for, he's got some spice and bite, man. And I just wonder, I just wonder like, if there's a moment where, where Potch gets fed up in like the 60th minute and just goes, I, I just need someone on the pitch who's willing to just be a dog and fight. And obviously he's very good talent, talent wise, taking the ball.

[Landon Donovan]

He has Luna too.

[Tim Howard]

It could be with Luna. Yeah, there's another Christian.

[Landon Donovan]

Yeah, well done with me. You know, Luna, again, superstar quality. I don't, you know, that's, you can debate what that is with Luna, but he's a guy who has that nastiness and so like, will he go in and just mix it up and do something special and crazy that can create a moment? Yeah. And he's worth having. Definitely, it's worth having. How do you overall feel about our attacking players?

[Tim Howard]

I think I, I think my gut tells me in sort of watching this team, they will get chances. They will get chances. They create chances. You know, I look at, I don't think they're ultra prolific, but I do think they have really good attacking moments. Whether that's flow pulling into the channel, pulisic running underneath, obviously Weston has this really innate ability to find themselves in good spots in the attack. So. And our wing backs, our wing backs are, are really good at getting high up and, and getting crosses in. So their ability to create chances I think is high. How prolific can they be? You know, how, you know, can Flo just carry the form over that he's had with his club into.

[Landon Donovan]

Can Christian get going?

[Tim Howard]

Yeah, can Christian get hot? I mean, if those, if that, if

[Landon Donovan]

that happened, that's What I was thinking at their best, when they're all at their. Like Malik during the Gold cup in the first start with Leverkusen or the first start of the season with Lever, Weston Christian at his best flow in the form he's in now, if you get that and you get like Freeman or Dest and Jedi going forward, if you played Tyler as a six by himself with Weston next to him, but Weston arriving in the box, I mean, tons of chances.

[Tim Howard]

Yeah, yeah, I think we get chances.

[Landon Donovan]

You're going to create tons of chances. And so, you know, then it's just.

[Tim Howard]

And I sort of think, again, people. People call me crazy. I keep saying that. Ld I think they're going to walk the group. And I think part of that is I think they're going to score a lot of goals. And that's helpful going into the knockout phase.

[Landon Donovan]

Right?

[Tim Howard]

They're scoring goals and you just know. You just know. You can find goals from set pieces with Chris Richards and the boys, and you're getting service from the wing and your top players have found their feet in the first round and each got a goal. You feel really good going into the second round.

[Landon Donovan]

Yeah, you're right. All right, let us know if we missed anything. Anything you guys would change. You can leave it in the comments on YouTube or always email us feedback at. Unfiltered soccer. All right, it's time for the unfiltered refresh, sponsored by Coors Light. Choose Chill. Get Coors Light delivered. Go to coorslight.com UFS who chose chill this week? Tim, who chose chill, bud?

[Tim Howard]

FIFA chose chill. FIFA chose chill because, shockingly, they decided to reverse course on tailgating this summer's wonderful soccer tournament.

[Landon Donovan]

Yeah, they did. The ESPN reported. Boston World cup host committee said Monday that FIFA reversed its initial stance that no tailgating would be allowed at any of the 104 matches during the tournament to be played in the U.S. mexico and Canada from July 11 or June 11 to July 19. The committee said the shift conforms with local policies that allow tailgating, quote, like any other event hosted at the stadium, as there are no venue restrictions or local public safety restrictions in place that would prohibit it.

[Tim Howard]

So.

[Landon Donovan]

Nice one.

[Tim Howard]

So that. Is that only for Boston? That's. Is that. Is that everywhere?

[Landon Donovan]

No, it's got to be everywhere, right?

[Tim Howard]

Also question. I mean, they. They did choose chill because that's pretty awesome.

[Landon Donovan]

But that's big chill.

[Tim Howard]

How? If you're getting. If you're. There's no parking. Right? So you're getting. I'm just trying I'm just working this out. I'm thinking about. I'm thinking about New York. Right. Thinking about New York State.

[Landon Donovan]

You can't park.

[Tim Howard]

You get bused in. You can't park.

[Landon Donovan]

Yeah.

[Tim Howard]

Are you allowed to bring alcohol on, like, transit? I don't. I'm guessing the answer is yeah, unless they have vendors there in the parking lot. I don't know the answer to this. I'm just curious.

[Landon Donovan]

I'm going to get a place right near the stadium. I'm gonna bring, like, 6,000 Coors lights in coolers and just hand them out to people and just be the legend outside the stadium. Yes. Where everyone's tailgating. And I'm gonna get, like, one of those things where you can, like, cook burgers and sausages and all those little grills.

[Tim Howard]

Yeah. You do realize if you. I. I think it's an amazing idea. I think if you had. What'd you say? Six? Six. I think you need more than 6,000 Coors Light. But I'm just thinking, are you prepared for people to no longer recognize you as the guy who scored against Algeria? Because you will. You will be.

[Landon Donovan]

I'll be known as the course guy.

[Tim Howard]

You will. You will be. Have a different status. I don't know. I don't know how they're going to get.

[Landon Donovan]

Yeah, good question. Something got to figure out.

[Tim Howard]

Love, love, love that we're tailgating.

[Landon Donovan]

Look, either way, FIFA, Boston World cup host committee, all the fans, cheers to you guys for choosing Chill. Enjoy tailgating, baby. All right, it is stoppage time. Sponsored by FanDuel. New customers can bet $5 and get one in bonus bets if you win. Download the FanDuel Sportsbook app to get started. All right, we have a. It's a Premier League clash, but it's not in the Premier league. Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest in the Europa League semifinal, second leg. This is an interesting one. Forest are in scintillating form and presumably not going to be dealing with the relegation battle anymore any longer. So they have all their focus set on getting to the final of the Europa League. Villa tracking well to get into Europe again next season. They've had a little bit of an up and down season, but they're playing well at the moment. I think Villa win the game, they're in good form. Ollie Watkins in good form. I think this will be a little bit of a setback and struggle for Nottingham Forest. They had been playing well, but Villa's a good team and. And this is. This is going to be a difficult task for them. I think Villa score early and get into the game early and and sort of ride it out and win the game. So Unfiltered Soccer's Europa League same game parlay this week is Villa to win the game. I think Ollie Watkins gets on the score sheet. He's been in great form. Both teams will not score. I think Forest get shut out and I believe the game's two nothing at half finishes either two nothing or three nothing for Villa. Don't forget to check out the full list of unfiltered soccer Europa League same game parlays on our socials later this week. All right, time for another break. When we come back, JR will be here. We'll get into your fan Questions in the AT&T fan Connection right here on Unfiltered Soccer with Landon and Tim. Presented by Volkswagen. Foreign. This episode is brought to you by FanDuel. We've got some massive matches on the horizon and FanDuel is meeting the moment for all of us right now. New customers can bet $5 and get 150 in bonus bets if you win. That's right, place a five dollar bet and if you win, you'll unlock a hundred and fifty dollars in bonus bets that you can use on goal scorer markets, match result over unders, same game parlays and so much more. So don't wait. Visit fanduel.com unfund filtered to download the app and get started. Today must be 21 plus and present in select states for Kansas in affiliation with Kansas Star Casino or 18 plus and present in DC, Kentucky or Wyoming. First online real money wager only $5. First deposit required. Bonus issued as non withdrawable bonus bets which expire seven days after receipt. Restrictions apply. See [e-mail] gambling problem. Call 1-800-Gambler or visit fanduel.com rg call 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org chat in Connecticut or visit mdgamblinghelp.org in Maryland. Hope is here. Visit gamblinghelplinema.org or call 800-327-5050 for 24. 7 support in Massachusetts or call 1-877-8-Hopeny or text hopeny in New York. So Timmy, I was thinking about moments where you celebrate for a long time, right? It could be a goal, but that's not as big of a celebration as like a massive win or winning the Gold cup or things like that. But the moment that I celebrated the longest was actually my first MLS cup with San Jose. The feeling and the emotion felt like it went forever because my first hug went to Joe Cannon, my roommate and our goalkeeper. You'll appreciate that. I know. And then just one by one, like, the reality that you did something special for the first time is so, so amazing. And Coors Light is the most refreshing way to celebrate every goal this summer.

[Tim Howard]

Yeah, Coors Light seems to be the only way to celebrate big moments with friends. Whether it's a game or a concert or anything else. Any of those big moments. Coors Light is the beer for me. When the mountains turn blue, your beer is as cold as the Rockies.

[Landon Donovan]

Get Coors Light delivered straight to your door. Visit Coors Light.com UFS or you can find it pretty much anywhere that sells beer. Coors Light. More goals, more celebrations.

[Tim Howard]

Celebrate responsibly. Coors Brewing Company, Golden Colorado Beer. It's time for the Fan Connection, presented by AT&T. Every week, we invite you, the listener, to connect with us by submitting your questions at, AT and T. Connecting changes everything. And on uslnt, our connections with you will help grow the game.

[Landon Donovan]

Hello, Junior.

[Tim Howard]

There she is. She's back. Jordan, welcome AT&T fan Connection.

[Jordan]

How's it going? I'm good, good. You? Just having a good day?

[Tim Howard]

You have anything branded today? We got no teens. What's going on? No, I'm just very gray.

[Jordan]

I'm just, you know, we're. We're in the, like, home stretch, coming up to the World cup, so I'm just trying to stay calm, stay collected.

[Tim Howard]

You got nothing to root for with Liverpool. So what else? I mean, that's gone, right?

[Jordan]

Well, I just.

[Tim Howard]

Hopefully getting in.

[Jordan]

Yeah, that's. That's all they will. For right now. I did want to ask you because obviously what we're all focused on is the U.S. men's National Team. I did want to ask you guys, do you have any thoughts about that documentary, Us versus Everyone, or Us versus the World, whatever it's called. It's a documentary about the U.S. men's National Team over the last four years. I feel like the concept is pretty cool.

[Landon Donovan]

No, it's amazing. I haven't. Is it out yet?

[Jordan]

No, it starts later in May, I think.

[Landon Donovan]

Oh. I mean, it's incredible. I wish we had had that, like, in depth. Yeah. Because it's gonna be. I mean, presumably, it's gonna be amazing.

[Tim Howard]

Be great.

[Jordan]

Yeah.

[Tim Howard]

Yeah.

[Landon Donovan]

I can't wait. The trailer looked amazing.

[Tim Howard]

I have a long queue of things I need to watch because I travel so much. So I. I imagine I will get to it, hopefully before the world cup, but it looks cool.

[Landon Donovan]

Do you know when it's out, J.R.

[Jordan]

i think it's the 12th of May. It comes out.

[Landon Donovan]

Oh, soon. Okay, good. On HBO, we will report back. Detailed notes. Go ahead.

[Jordan]

Our first question is from Liam via email. And he is bringing the smoke. Liam says love the pod. Bringing the smoke Here. Tim, what's an area Landon could have been better at in his career and landed? I think he means about Tim, not about yourself.

[Tim Howard]

Zero smoke, left foot heading and defending. Long list.

[Landon Donovan]

I'm gonna.

[Tim Howard]

That's it.

[Landon Donovan]

Someone do the. Someone, we have amazing fans, so somebody do the work. Go find out how many goals I scored with my left foot. You know, don't you make it a. I don't, but make it a percentage of how many goals I scored out of the 57. So if it was 10, 10 out of 57, do the same with my head and then do the same together. Combined how many it was. And then let's. Then let's compare it to every other top goal scorer, top 10 goal scorer we've had and we'll see where it nets out.

[Tim Howard]

Oh, you're confident. I like it.

[Landon Donovan]

I like it. I'm confident. I could be totally wrong, but I'm confident.

[Tim Howard]

That's fair.

[Jordan]

Okay, ld a little feedback on.

[Landon Donovan]

Well, Tim wasn't serious. That's the problem. Like, he knows he was wrong. So, like, I'm going to have to try to be serious.

[Tim Howard]

You got to be serious. He wanted to know. I mean, inquiring minds want to know. I know what I could be better at. We don't have to give three things.

[Landon Donovan]

It's left footed clearances. I don't know. I don't know what to say. He's the best we ever had. What am I going to say?

[Tim Howard]

Launch it in the rosette. Left foot, big surface.

[Landon Donovan]

Exactly.

[Tim Howard]

Fine. It's tough.

[Landon Donovan]

All right. I like that question. Good question.

[Jordan]

Okay, our second question is from Blake via email. And this one is for Landon and it is about youth soccer. I just want to encourage Landon as he continues his crusade against the current state of youth soccer in the US in the parent meeting last night, my son's club's director started in on youth soccer culture. He kept citing Landon and it's called clear. His words are encouraging him to stay the course in the way he's running the club and developing our kids in a healthy way that ensures they love the game. I don't know if you do shout outs, but Anders SC is doing it right.

[Landon Donovan]

Love that.

[Jordan]

There you go, Blake. There's your Shout out.

[Landon Donovan]

Love that. You know, this. We were talking earlier. To me, the. The sad part is, is there are people doing it right. I think. I mean, it has to be. And not only that, there are coaches who want to do it right, who are, unfortunately, in clubs or in situations where they're being incentivized to do it wrong, meaning they're. They're incentivized to win or to care about standings or to. You know. So what I have found, and I'm getting. I literally get hundreds of messages a day that people are either doing what Blake said. Here's an example of clubs doing it right. We would love to be involved, which, please be patient. We will be reaching out to you soon, or people just saying, thank you for speaking about this. This has been a massive issue for a long time, and it's. And it's time we fix it. So I'm really encouraged. And we need everybody. Everybody possible to get on board and aligned with this so that we can. We can give the game back to these kids. Yeah. Appreciate that, Blake.

[Jordan]

Totally. Okay. This one is from James via email, and it's about something that's very big in MLS right now. James says, I just read that MLS is looking into moving the White Caps. Only happens in North America. I know there are financial problems with the stadium, but how are fans supposed to feel that their team can just up and abandon them?

[Landon Donovan]

We agree.

[Tim Howard]

I. I did. The. The idea of. Of relocation or. Or take, you know, buying a franchise movie is a. Is fascinating. It's. It's such an American, North American thing. Hard, you know? Was that Blake? Is that who you said that was?

[Jordan]

James.

[Tim Howard]

James. You know, I. I understand. Like, that's it. It's hard to fathom. It doesn't happen anywhere. Anywhere else in the world. It would never. It could never happen.

[Landon Donovan]

Yeah.

[Tim Howard]

It's crazy.

[Landon Donovan]

It's crazy.

[Jordan]

Hang on. Isn't there a Wimbledon story?

[Landon Donovan]

MK Dons and MK Dons.

[Tim Howard]

But then Wimbledon reformed and. And.

[Jordan]

Right. And now they have, like, a. To the death rivalry between the two of each other, so.

[Tim Howard]

Sure. Because. Which you would. Which you would. I don't. I don't know. Let me go on.

[Landon Donovan]

No, I understand how people feel, and I agree. I'm just gonna try to give, like, a nuance to the other side. Right. We don't. We don't know what's going on behind the scenes or what's going on with the stadium situation or whatever in Vancouver. Right. It is entirely possible. And again, I am speaking with no knowledge of any of this. I'm just. I'm just putting this out there. It's entirely possible that the White Caps have tried really hard for 3 years, 5 years, 7 years, 10 years to either make improvements to the stadium or find a new place to play or whatever. And the city could. Could. I'm not saying this is. Could say, go pound sand. We're not helping you one iota in any way. I'm not saying give money. I'm just saying we're not even going to have conversations. You guys are. Unless you find private land, you're on your own. That could be part of the situation, right? It could be. The other thing is, is they say, I believe, again, no intimate knowledge that they're trying to sell the club, I think. Right. And so the statement they put out with that is that they've had no credible offers or no real offers to buy the club. That's all subjective. Right? So, like, if you really want to sell the club to someone who wants to keep it there, you can do it. Right? So I, I don't know the inner workings of it all, but I'm just giving people. I want people to understand that there are multiple sides to these things. I don't agree with it either. I don't want to see the White Caps go, I played there, I loved it there. It's an amazing city, amazing fan base. I don't want to see that. I'm just saying we don't know all the intimate details, so it's hard to like, really understand what's going on there.

[Tim Howard]

Where does that. So this is more an MLS question. Where does that go? Like, does that. They just. They just go to another city and that. And the name disappears.

[Landon Donovan]

Like, it's no longer you would rebrand Caps.

[Tim Howard]

It's.

[Landon Donovan]

You're like, yeah, well, didn't they like,

[Jordan]

on the club, though? Speaking as somebody who, you know, Brooklyn Dodgers became.

[Landon Donovan]

That's true.

[Tim Howard]

Las Vegas.

[Landon Donovan]

Oh, the Baltimore Colts became the Indianapolis Colts, I think.

[Tim Howard]

Yeah.

[Landon Donovan]

Yeah. I don't know. But the Seattle SuperSonics, Vegas, the Las Vegas White Caps.

[Tim Howard]

Doesn't really make sense.

[Landon Donovan]

Doesn't really go. But.

[Tim Howard]

But the Sonics went to.

[Landon Donovan]

Ok.

[Tim Howard]

The Sonics went to okc. And they're not the Sonics.

[Landon Donovan]

They rebranded. Yeah.

[Tim Howard]

Oh, it's a. I get it.

[Landon Donovan]

If you're. I'm putting myself in a fan shoe.

[Tim Howard]

It's.

[Landon Donovan]

It's horrifying.

[Tim Howard]

Sure.

[Landon Donovan]

It's horrifying. And I really do hope the Columbus thing, when they went to Austin and then got a. Or someone saved them and stayed in Columbus. Let's hope that that can happen because nobody wants to see that.

[Jordan]

I have a weird follow up question. If they were to sell or move the club, right. If they were to move the club so the owner stays the same. Right. Do all of the players and staff contracts stay intact too? Like you have to move to Las Vegas or wherever they're moving the MLS club to.

[Landon Donovan]

Certainly an mls, because you are. Your paycheck literally comes from New York. New York. It doesn't come from Vancouver. Right. So certainly in that case. I don't know about other leagues, but certainly in this case. Yeah.

[Tim Howard]

Your paycheck came from a lot of places, by the way.

[Jordan]

But I feel like for the players that's something that they, that's like an understanding that you have because you, you may most likely change clubs a few times in the course of your career, but if you're like on the staff for a club, you know what I mean? Like some of those people weren't necessarily brought in from me outside the way a head coach is. Those are people who have lived in Vancouver maybe their whole life. And now what, they're supposed to move to Vegas or if they're.

[Landon Donovan]

I'm. Some will get offered to move and some won't, would be my guess. If they, if they go. Yeah. I mean U.S. soccer just moved their headquarters from Chicago to Atlanta. Some people were offered jobs to move to Atlanta and some people weren't. And some people said I don't want to move to Atlanta, so I'm not going to move. And you know, that's a decision you have to make.

[Tim Howard]

That's part of that process. Yeah.

[Landon Donovan]

Yeah.

[Jordan]

Okay. Yeah, that's it.

[Landon Donovan]

Not fun.

[Jordan]

Sorry to end on a. On a downer of.

[Landon Donovan]

Yeah, I'm real depressed now. Thanks, J.

[Jordan]

Just as a reminder, if people want to send in their questions as especially as we stay close on the story, you can send them to feedbackfiltered soccer.com that's it.

[Landon Donovan]

Good job, J.

[Jordan]

Thanks, guys.

[Landon Donovan]

All right, Tim. That was fun. Roster predictions. I cannot wait to see how people respond. I think because of some injuries and stuff, there's not going to be as much like the ajamong thing would have been made it more difficult but as a fun show. Excited to see how you guys respond. We appreciate you all as always. Please remember to subscribe on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, anywhere you get your podcast. Follow our social media for bonus content. Thank you to our presenting sponsor, VW, our fan connection sponsor AT&T. And of course our stoppage time sponsor, FanDuel.

[Tim Howard]

Yeah, I'm with you. I'm excited to see the feedback about the roster and did we get it right? Thank you to our unfiltered refresh sponsor, Coors Light. Our additional sponsors, Airbnb and Walmart, have a great week. We'll be back next Tuesday with another edition of Unfiltered Soccer.