Unfiltered Soccer with Landon Donovan & Tim Howard

Episode: World Cup Draw Reaction Livestream with Matt Freese

Release Date: December 5, 2025
Guest: Matt Freese (USMNT Goalkeeper)

Overview

This special livestream episode brings raw reactions to the 2026 FIFA World Cup Draw, featuring hosts Landon Donovan and Tim Howard, with in-studio guest Matt Freese—recently named the USMNT’s No. 1 goalkeeper. The trio discuss emotions from the draw, familiar opponents, group dynamics, and the mentality heading into the tournament. The show unpacks fan questions, considers team logistics, potential group storylines, and reflects on how far the USMNT can—and should—go at a home World Cup.

Main Theme

Immediate and unfiltered reactions to the 2026 FIFA World Cup Draw, the unique dynamics of a host nation, and the USMNT’s evolving competitive mentality. The episode delivers insider insight from recent players, a current star, and candid, relatable banter.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Draw Day Atmosphere and Emotions

• [01:17] US Group D Draw: USA faces Paraguay, Australia, and a playoff winner (either Slovakia/Kosovo or Turkey/Romania).
  • Matt Freese highlights the odds: “What are the chances that two out of the last three teams that we just played are the two teams that we know are in the group? … something we’re going to be familiar with.” [01:24]
• [01:54] Landon’s experience at the Draw:
  • Anecdotes from inside the Kennedy Center: “It was wild... Everybody you can imagine in the soccer world … every legend—Casillas, Asamoah Gyan, Ronaldinho. It’s crazy.” [02:18]
  • The confusion and drama of live group assignments: “Lots of buildup… We’re all trying to figure out: ‘Oh, so we got Ghana’—‘No, no, no, they have to go here.’” [02:41]

2. Familiarity with Group Opponents

• Familiar Rivals:
  • US recently played both Australia and Paraguay: "Is it not better to play a team you know than a team you don’t?" [03:15]
  • Matt’s take: “Familiarity’s helpful, but my immediate thought is—they’re more familiar with us.” [03:41]
  • Tim connects to history—liking familiar foes, citing Mexico 2002: “Mexico’s gonna think they can win, but sure as heck we thought we could win.” [03:45]

3. Matt Freese: From Outsider to World Cup Starter

• Tim on Freese's meteoric rise: "Your rise to this moment feels lightning fast … do you ever allow yourself to [think] you can also become a legend?" [04:11]
  • Matt stays humble but admits: "I allow myself to dream, yeah. … help the team advance… if you become a legend, have a fantastic few games… absolutely. But I don’t reflect until after the moment." [05:03]
• Ticket Scramble:
  • Matt’s family entered the lottery; only one got in. “We had 15 people… one person, my girlfriend’s sister, got accepted.” [05:45]

4. Training & Mentality – Club vs. World Cup

• Fan Q: Preparation for World Cup vs. MLS ([06:06])
  • Matt: “The mentality…is 100% the same… Every time I step on the field, my personality totally changes… the intensity and mentality—it doesn’t change.” [06:28]
• Player Control Over Training:
  • Tim and Matt on gaining authority in training as national team starter: “…when I became the starter… I kind of felt like I knew what I was doing. I tried to throw my weight around a little bit…” [07:24-07:53]
  • Matt: “Adapting to that [coaching philosophy] is really important…in a very short amount of time with the national team…” [07:55]

5. Competition Within the Squad & Matchups

• Who worries you: Australia or Paraguay? ([09:58])
  • Matt’s candid answer: “No one scares me when I feel—no one. No one scares me.” [10:05]
  • Tim adds: “Paraguay, I think, was missing a couple of players…that might be the one. I think we’re a better footballing team than Australia.” [10:20]
• Leadership & Voice as a Goalkeeper ([10:56])
  • Matt: “...now we’re in a spot where I feel comfortable. I’m barking orders, I’m loud. That’s what they want.” [11:27]
  • “It’s not just verbal; it’s the presence you bring..." [11:41]

6. The Draw’s Immediate Storylines

• US–Australia: History of rough matches, Christian Pulisic’s injury.
• US–Paraguay: A recent brawl.
  • “There’s like animosity, like real stuff happened… Is that a real factor?” (Landon) [13:07]
  • Matt admits: “No one’s ever seen me move that fast… but you can’t be thinking about that past game when we play them next summer. It’s about what the game requires.” [13:20]

7. What It Takes to Make History

• Fan Q: How far to go to be proud? ([21:05])
  • Matt: “My thought is to leave the team, leave the history of the team, in a better place than I found it... The goal is to win the World Cup. That’s the mentality.” [22:20]

Memorable Quotes

“Pressure makes diamonds. Pressure brings the best out of me. I don’t know about other people, but I love pressure.”
— Matt Freese, on playing a World Cup at home [18:06]

“You get on that plane and you’re like, ‘yeah, who we got? We’ll take anyone’s best punch.’ … The country will be galvanized.”
— Tim Howard, on momentum in a favorable group [19:25]

“The goal is to win the World Cup. … I’m not going to say anything different.”—Matt Freese [22:23]

“Bob Bradley said to me once after he got fired … ‘I carried the ball as far as I could, and now it’s time for someone else to carry it.’”
— Landon Donovan [24:05]

“I have a few Tim Howard jerseys already… My dad bought me a ball signed by you when I was like 15 or 16… the way I want my career to go, I’m gonna know Tim.”
— Matt Freese [25:10]

8. Group & Tournament Analysis

(From 29:31 onward—after Matt departs)

• Tim’s “blasphemous” view: Tournament feels watered down with expanded groups; less danger, less drama for big teams. [30:40]
• Landon’s counter: More “romantic” opportunity for underdogs—Scotland, Haiti, New Zealand—to advance as third-place teams. [32:00]
• Unique matchups & storylines:
  • Canada vs. potential Italy in Toronto: massive Italian diaspora, electricity expected. [32:21]
  • Group of death debates: Group I (France, Senegal, Norway, Intercontinental playoff team) flagged as especially tough. [37:39]

9. The Home World Cup Factor

• Logistics Matter:
  • Where teams train, hotel proximity, minimizing travel; lessons from previous tournaments in Germany, South Africa, Brazil. [43:06–44:19]
  • Impact of potential venues (traffic in NYC, LA, etc.).
• Crowd Advantage:
  • Landon: “We avoided a crazy passionate type of opponent that has tons of fans in LA or Seattle… It’s going to be decidedly American, and that’s a big deal.” [50:11]

10. USMNT Outlook & Expectation

• Shift in mentality: “Isn’t it exciting … we’re not just desperate to hope we get out of the group? … We are all assuming … we are getting out of this group and most likely winning this group. That’s such a change from the past.” — Landon Donovan [52:34]
• Tim: “At their best, they’re really, really good… as good as that Netherlands team was in 2022, I think they [the US] win that game.” [48:01]
• Confidence and momentum, but realism about every game being difficult, group not being ‘easy’. [20:03, 52:34]
• Discussion of future shows unpacking paths, knockouts, and potential deep runs.

Notable, Memorable Moments

• Matt Freese’s story about having Tim Howard’s signed ball as a kid, now being USMNT’s starting keeper. [25:10]
• “Pressure makes diamonds.” — Matt’s favorite mantra about home pressure. [18:06]
• The playful back-and-forth over which host Matt liked more as a kid: “I have a few Tim Howard jerseys already.” [25:10]
• Tim’s revelation of Matt’s childhood nickname: “Booger.” “That's gonna go viral.” [55:25]
• Banter about freezing travels in NYC after the draw, host hair jokes, and being recognized at the Kennedy Center. [53:13, 45:08]

Key Timestamps

• 00:59 — US Group D draw reaction & lineup breakdown
• 01:54–03:30 — Pageantry and confusion at the live draw; big-name legends in attendance
• 06:06 — How training differs (World Cup vs. MLS)
• 09:59 — What opponent (Australia vs. Paraguay) concerns Matt?
• 13:07 — Stoking animosity and history in group matchups
• 18:06 — Dealing with pressure, pride of a home World Cup
• 21:05 — How far does the US need to go to be ‘proud’?
• 25:10 — Matt’s fandom of Tim Howard growing up
• 29:31–37:00 — Deep dive: group-by-group analysis, potential groups of death
• 43:06 — The logistical chess game: training bases, travel, hotels
• 48:01 — Can this US team make a real run?
• 52:34 — The shift from ‘hoping to get out’ to ‘expecting to win’ the group

Tone & Style

• Warm, lively, and irreverent: Insightful soccer talk with “locker room” candor, mutual respect, and friendly ribbing.
• Unapologetically optimistic and critical when needed, connecting US soccer’s past to its hopeful present.

For Listeners Who Missed the Episode

This summary delivers the emotions, insights and perspectives you’d want—whether you’re reliving the draw drama, getting to know Matt Freese, or pondering the USMNT’s World Cup dream. The hosts blend humor, insight, and genuine excitement, making this not just a recap but a roadmap for every soccer fan’s World Cup preparation.