World Cup News

Former USA coaches Bob Bradley, Jurgen Klinsmann, and Steve Sampson address long-standing rumors of league interference and the reality of scouting players.

The former coaches of the United States men's national team map out the path to success at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

As the United States prepares to co-host the 2026 FIFA World Cup, former USA managers Jürgen Klinsmann, Bob Bradley and Steve Sampson, join host Stu Holden for an unprecedented look behind the curtain of the American soccer machine. The crew dives into the all-time U.S. moments at the World Cup, the high-stakes recruitment of dual nationals, and the heavy burden of making roster cuts that define a nation’s legacy. 0:00 Intro2:42 Getting the call to manage the U.S. Men's National Team7:12 How did Steve Sampson scout players for the national team leading up to the 1994 World Cup?10:19 How important is MLS to developing American players for Bob Bradley?12:38 How did Jürgen Klinsmann juggle being USA manager, technical director and trying to improve MLS?15:26 How did Jürgen Klinsmann manage the USA players leaving Europe for more money in the MLS?17:50 Steve Sampson explains how MLS impacted his player selection for the 1998 World Cup19:10 Bob Bradley sets the record straight on whether a number MLS players are mandated by the federation to be on the roster20:49 How did Jürgen Klinsmann evaluate the talent of the USA player pool?24:14 Bob Bradley describes how the USA can start developing world class talent26:12 Jürgen Klinsmann’s take on how the American soccer mentality and culture has to change to be more successful31:47 Steve Sampson addresses how important the USMNT's history of scheduling tough opponents before a World Cup34:17 Bob Bradley explains the team mentality and composition leading up to the upset of Spain in the Confederations Cup semifinal in 200938:29 Jürgen Klinsmann breaks down how he built out his USMNT rosters41:02 How did Jürgen Klinsmann manage dual nationality players and how they fit into the roster?42:44 Steve Sampson talks about bringing in dual national David Regis on the 1998 World Cup team43:56 Steve Sampson on how Gio Reyna is a difficult decision for the USMNT roster44:26 Bob Bradley’s observations on a player’s character and how they fit the roster45:17 Stu Holden and Bob Bradley discuss how hard roster decisions are45: 54 - Bob Bradley’s hardest roster decisions47:04 Jürgen Klinsmann’s hardest roster decisions48:17 How did Jürgen Klinsmann make the hard roster decisions?49:00 Steve Sampson’s hardest roster decisions and how his assistants helped out50:39 Bob Bradley on how an in-form player can sneak onto the USMNT roster52:46 Jürgen Klinsmann’s expands on how he selected his team for Brazil55:13 “The night before” speech from Bob Bradley and Stu Holden’s reaction57:13 Steve Sampson’s “The night before” speech58:30 Jürgen Klinsmann’s “The night before” speech1:00:15 Franz Beckenbauer’s speech to the German team, Jürgen Klinsmann ahead of the FIFA World Cup Final1:01:34 Bob Bradley’s reaction to Landon Donovan’s goal against Algeria at the 2010 FIFA World Cup1:04:01 Jürgen Klinsmann’s reaction to Clint Dempsey's goal vs Ghana in the 2014 FIFA World Cup1:05:44 Steve Sampson’s reaction to Eric Wynalda’s free kick goal against Switzerland in the 1994 FIFA World Cup1:07:10 Steve Sampson’s reaction to the game against Brazil before the 1998 FIFA World Cup1:07:51 Steve Sampson vs Jurgen Klinsmann at the 1998 FIFA World Cup1:12:15 Bob Bradley’s expectations for the USA at the 2026 FIFA World Cup1:14:25 Jürgen Klinsmann’s psychology behind whether the USA can win a World Cup and what it takes1:18:55 Steve Sampson’s take on the psychology to win the World and expectations for this cup1:20:29 Bob Bradley’s key USA contributors for this World Cup1:23:21 Jürgen Klinsmann breaks down the USA forwards1:25:41 Bob Bradley’s most influential coach in his career1:27:19 Jürgen Klinsmann’s most influential coach in his career, including Phil Jackson1:29:53 Steve Sampson’s most influential coach in his career Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Serie B goalkeeper Jonathan Klinsmann, son of football legend Jurgen Klinsmann, has suffered a serious neck fracture in a horror collision that saw him rushed to hospital by ambulance

Jonathan Klinsmann broke his neck while playing for Italian club Cesena over the weekend

Ex-US youth international injured in collision v Palermo Further tests with specialist to take place Sign up for the World Behind The Cup newsletter Goalkeeper Jonathan Klinsmann, the son of former Germany striker and US national team head coach Jürgen Klinsmann, is recovering from a broken neck sustained playing for second-tier Italian side Cesena on Saturday. The former US youth international, 29, was stretchered off the field in a neck brace after a collision with a Palermo player and taken to a hospital in the Sicilian capital.

Jurgen Klinsmann’s son Jonathan currently plies his trade for Serie B side Cesena but the American international picked up a serious injury during the weekend’s clash with Palermo

JURGEN KLINSMANN'S son Jonathan was rushed to hospital after breaking his neck during a match over the weekend. Jonathan, 29, was in action for Serie B side Cesena against Palermo on Saturday. With the home side leading 2-0 in second half stoppage time, the goalkeeper charged down a cut-back. Klinsmann beat Palermo ace Filippo Ranocchia...

Marcus, Luke and Pete check in with the transfer merry-go-round as players are flung off it left and right. Various Crystal Palace defenders head for the door, while Ivan Toney’s definitely leaving Brentford - doesn’t even matter where he ends up, nobody knows anyway. Elsewhere, Aaron Ramsdale tries to avoid repeating the exact situation he’s in right now and we get more info on Jürgen Klinsmann’s reign of terror while USMNT boss. Find us on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, and email us here: [email protected]. We're back on stage and there aren't many tickets left! Join us at London Palladium on Friday September 20th 2024 for 'Football Ramble: Time Tunnel', a journey through football history like no other. Get your tickets at footballramblelive.com! Sign up to the Football Ramble Patreon for ad-free shows for just $5 per month, with 15% off annual subscriptions until the end of August: https://www.patreon.com/footballramble. ***Please take the time to rate us on your podcast app. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** The Football Ramble, the original and best football podcast. Brand new podcasts every single weekday throughout the Premier League season and every day throughout the 2026 FIFA World Cup. No cliches. No ex-pros like Peter Crouch or The Rest is Football. Just the funniest football conversation out there. Your guardian for the season, daily not weekly. Stick to the Ramble, totally. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Marcus, Jim, Andy and Pete are back in the Ramble ring! But it’s a sad day, really. Jürgen Klinsmann has been sacked by South Korea! Insert crying emoji on Zoom. As well as waving farewell to Klinsmann, we react to news that Kylian Mbappé is finally - FINALLY - bidding farewell to PSG and heading straight to Newcastle after watching Dan Burn up close. Plus, the latest on Roy Hodgson and Crystal Palace and the latest on Wayne Rooney, who has reached a common crossroads in his career. Stick with football management, or beat up a YouTuber half my age? It’s the eternal question. Come join us for all that and more! Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, and email us here: [email protected]. Sign up to the Football Ramble Patreon for ad-free shows for just $5 per month: patreon.com/footballramble. ***Please take the time to rate us on Spotify. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** The Football Ramble, the original and best football podcast. Brand new podcasts every single weekday throughout the Premier League season and every day throughout the 2026 FIFA World Cup. No cliches. No ex-pros like Peter Crouch or The Rest is Football. Just the funniest football conversation out there. Your guardian for the season, daily not weekly. Stick to the Ramble, totally. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After a huge weekend for German football and Costa Rican football mascots, Marcus Luke, Jim and Vish are here to discuss it all! We react to England’s drab draw with an inspirational Ukraine side and the problems it underlines for Southgate - plus, there’s the small matter of Hansi Flick’s exit as Germany head coach. The answer to all those problems? Get Jurgen Klinsmann in, of course! Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, and email us here: [email protected]. Sign up to the Football Ramble Patreon for ad-free shows for just $5 per month: patreon.com/footballramble. ***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** The Football Ramble, the original and best football podcast. Brand new podcasts every single weekday throughout the Premier League season and every day throughout the 2026 FIFA World Cup. No cliches. No ex-pros like Peter Crouch or The Rest is Football. Just the funniest football conversation out there. Your guardian for the season, daily not weekly. Stick to the Ramble, totally. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re back with some more continental conversation as Luke Moore, Andy Brassell and Lars Sivertsen bring you another episode of On The Continent on Football Ramble Daily! After a fantastic Coupe de France performance we begin with a discussion on Lyon’s latest academy product, 16 year-old Rayan Cherki. We discuss his impressive technical qualities and also look at the wider history of exciting graduates from their academy’s illustrious history. After that, we check in with a struggling Hertha Berlin and their coach Jurgen Klinsmann, who recently couldn’t produce his coaching badges to Bundesliga officials after leaving them in a cupboard back in the USA - an apt metaphor for their season… Elsewhere we discuss some typically insane scenes in Portugal’s Taça de Liga, delve into the backstory of Braga manager Rúben Amorim and preview the Rome derby in our Games of the Week! Find us on social media by searching 'Football Ramble Daily'. ***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** The Football Ramble, the original and best football podcast. Brand new podcasts every single weekday throughout the Premier League season and every day throughout the 2026 FIFA World Cup. No cliches. No ex-pros like Peter Crouch or The Rest is Football. Just the funniest football conversation out there. Your guardian for the season, daily not weekly. Stick to the Ramble, totally. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.