Ecuador

The World Cup is fast approaching...and in part 1 of our two part USMNT international window preview, Rog and Vamos' Herc Gomez join forces to break down the upcoming US friendly against Ecuador, including analyzing Christian Pulisic's incredible form in Serie A and how he can translate that to the national team, understanding Joe Scally's surprising omission from the squad, and parsing Mauricio Pochettino's motivational tactics. Plus, Herc reveals why a photo of Kyle Beckerman caused a stir prior to 2010 World Cup... Football is better with friends. Join our Discord community for conversation with fellow GFOPs, live match day chat, and to speak with Rog directly: https://discord.gg/DDDUcNWFHE Vamos Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@VamosNetwork Vamos Instagram instagram.com/vamosmib See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Alexi Lalas and David Mosse gear up for the USMNT’s October window with plenty of burning questions. Will the U.S. lock in a back three, or shift back to a traditional four? How will they adapt without Dest — and with Jedi Robinson on limited minutes? And if you bring four goalkeepers, shouldn’t at least two get a shot?Alexi reveals his Starting XI for the window — featuring Matt Freese in goal, a veteran back line, and Pulisic and Balogun leading the charge against Ecuador and Australia.Around the globe, World Cup qualifying gets wild: CAF, AFC, UEFA, and CONCACAF races all heating up, while MLS playoff spots hang in the balance with Messi’s Miami fighting for position and Jordi Alba’s farewell on the horizon.Then it’s #AskAlexi and One for the Road, where Alexi salutes Darlington Nagbe — one of the best to ever do it. Intro (0:00)3 Burning Questions for USMNT Window: Back 3 vs Back 4? (5:02)Alexi’s Best Starting XI (11:36)2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifying Preview (21:07)MLS Weekend Preview: Messi double duty? (32:42)#AskAlexi: Why the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be a huge success (37:31)Happy Trails Darlington Nagbe - Alexi’s GOAT (44:39) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jimmy Conrad, Charlie Davies, and Tony Meola dive into Mauricio Pochettino’s latest USMNT roster and the coach’s blunt stance on player communication - no explanations, just performances. The guys reflect on how roster decisions were handled in their own playing days, and debate which players have the most to gain or prove in the October friendlies against Ecuador and Australia. Plus, the U.S. tops its group at the U20 World Cup... can they go all the way? And with Philadelphia Union clinching the Supporters’ Shield, who’s your MLS Cup favorite? Call It What You Want is available for free on the Audacy app as well as Apple Podcasts, Spotify and wherever else you listen to podcasts. Follow the Call It What You Want team on X:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@JimmyConrad⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @CharlieDavies9⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@TMeola1⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Visit the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠betting arena on CBSSports.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for all the latest in ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠sportsbook reviews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠sportsbook promos⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠betting on soccer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. For more soccer coverage from CBS Sports, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.cbssports.com/soccer/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ To hear more from the CBS Sports Podcast Network, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.cbssports.com/podcasts/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ You can also watch Call It What You Want on the CBS Sports Golazo Network for free on connected TVs and mobile devices through the CBS Sports app, Pluto TV, and on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠CBSSports.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ as well as ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Paramount+⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Watch UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Europa Conference League, UEFA Women’s Champions League, EFL Championship, EFL League Cup, Carabao Cup, Serie A, Coppa Italia, CONCACAF Nations League, CONCACAF World Cup Qualifiers, Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, NWSL, Scottish Premiership, AFC Champion League by subscribing to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Paramount+⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Sign up to the Golazo ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, your ultimate guide to the Beautiful Game as our experts take you beyond the pitch and around the globe with news that matters. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Support the pod and join our beautiful soccer community: https://www.patreon.com/samsarmy PREMIER LEAGUE: What we learned from Chelsea's win over suddenly-luckless Liverpool and what Arne Slot needs to do to get the train back on the tracks. Thomas Frank is just what Doctor Tottenham needed. Never mind Christmas, Ange may not make it to Halloween. Drama-free United?!? HALFTIME: Hot Topic - what we can and should take issue with most about FIFA's World Cup 2026 ticket sales strategy, which (hint) isn't necessarily the astronomically high prices ROUND THE WORLD: MLS Hit-It-N-Quit-It MLS Minute plus thots on Poch's "most serious" USMNT roster yet for this month's friendlies vs Ecuador and Australia STOPPAGE TIME: Ivan Toney's Best Bets and GOAWs

The USMNT October roster is here and Alexi Lalas, Stu Holden & David Mosse break it all down. From Christian Pulisic’s red-hot form at AC Milan to Haji Wright’s goal surge in the Championship, we dive into the biggest snubs and storylines ahead of friendlies vs. Ecuador and Australia. Alexi, Mosse, and Stu debate whether Mauricio Pochettino’s latest squad is built for a back three or back four, and what the absences of Sergiño Dest, Ricardo Pepi, Yunus Musah, and Tyler Adams mean for World Cup prep. We highlight rising stars like Diego Luna, Patrick Agyemang, and Tanner Tessmann while asking: is this the best Pochettino roster so far? Plus, we react to the unveiling of the adidas FIFA World Cup 2026 official match ball, the TRIONDA, and rank the greatest FIFA World Cup balls of all time. Keepers: Four on the roster? (6:15)Backline: Back Three or Four? (8:33)Midfield: No Musah? (15:37)Forwards: Who starts up top? (22:25)Pochettino press conference quotes (26:38)TRIONDA reveal (39:52) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, Stu Holden and John Strong join us as we recap all the Champions League action featuring USMNT stars: Yunus Musah delivers the game-winning assist for Atalanta, Tim Weah’s Marseille crush Ajax, Folarin Balogun’s Monaco draw Man City, and Weston McKennie battles in Juventus’ 2-2 thriller. We’ve also got updates on Ricardo Pepi and Sergiño Dest’s injuries.Plus, the Baby Nats dominate the U-20 World Cup with a record-setting 9-1 win, while Gregg Berhalter’s Chicago Fire stun Inter Miami in a wild MLS playoff-clincher. We close with thoughts on the USMNT back-three vs back-four debate ahead of October friendlies vs Ecuador and Australia. Make sure to join the conversation with #AskAlexi! Intro (0:00)Yunus Musah’s winning assists in UCL (9:55)U.S needs more McKennie leadership? (27:18)Gregg Berhalter’s Fire top Messi and Co. (43:29)Advice for Landon Donovan’s balding issue (48:27)Jurgen Klopp MLS praise (52:04) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jimmy Conrad, Charlie Davies, and Tony Meola get straight to brass tacks ahead of the October camp, projecting Mauricio Pochettino’s 26-man roster for the friendlies vs. Ecuador and Australia. Will the likes of Gio Reyna, Tanner Tessmann, and Johnny Cardoso be back in the mix? The guys also eye Saturday’s all-American showdown in Serie A between Weston McKennie's Juventus and Yunus Musah's Atalanta, debate the USMNT’s best XI in two different setups, and preview the U20 World Cup as Marko Mitrović’s squad chases a deep run. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With the European season kicking off soon, Alexi Lalas and David Mosse break down the top five USMNT players with the most to prove across Europe. Sergiño Dest and Folarin Balogun are back from injury and looking to make statements, while Tim Weah kicks off a new chapter at Marseille. With the 2026 FIFA World Cup just a year away on home soil, the pressure is on for these American stars to deliver. The guys also react to Diego Luna landing on the front page of the New York Times, and Don Garber’s response.Then, it’s all about the chaos in the Leagues Cup: Max Arfsten steps up to keep Columbus alive, LAFC survives thanks to a David Martínez brace, and Messi looks to sit out against Pumas. To close out the show, Alexi and Mosse discuss Chicago’s omission from the 2026 World Cup host cities and share some football stories out of Ecuador. Intro (0:00)Which USMNT Player Has the Most to Prove in Europe? (4:23)EFL Championship kicks off (16:47)Over the Luna: Diego should stay in MLS? (18:59)Leagues Cup madness (22:37)Max Arfsten clutch for Columbus, LAFC survives (24:25)Why is Chicago not hosting in 2026? (27:17)One for the Road: Wild Stories Out of Ecuador (37:56) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Chelsea dominated PSG 3-0 to lift the Club World Cup trophy, thanks to Cole Palmer’s brace. Alexi and Mosse break down the success of the tournament and what it means leading up to the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Then, we shift focus to the U.S. Men’s National Team as the fall friendly slate is unveiled. Matchups against Korea Republic, Japan, Ecuador, and Australia will set the stage for key player evaluations. We also dive into the latest transfer buzz including Josh Sargent’s EPL aspirations, Gio Reyna possibly moving to LAFC, and the never-ending Weston McKennie saga.In MLS, can Lionel Messi extend his unreal scoring streak against FC Cincinnati? We preview Wednesday’s massive Eastern Conference matchups and how the playoff picture is shaping up.On the women’s side, the UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 quarterfinals are here. We preview all four matchups, loaded with history and firepower.Plus, in #AskAlexi, the guys discuss the possibility of the USMNT winning a World Cup in their lifetime. A voicemail digs into the origin of Statman Mosse’s nickname, and celebrating the New York Cosmos return wraps the episode. Intro (0:00)Chelsea Wins CWC (6:32)USMNT Upcoming Schedule (19:19)Transfer News: Weah, McKennie, Sargent, Reyna on the Move? (22:14)Messi’s Historic Run (32:19)UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 Quarterfinals Kickoff (41:09)#AskAlexi: Will the USMNT ever win the World Cup in Alexi’s lifetime? (45:23)One for the Road: Cosmos are Back (52:37) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jimmy Conrad, Charlie Davies, and Tony Meola run through the gambit of USMNT storylines. First up, Ecuador and Australia have been announced as October’s friendly opponents - what can we learn from those matchups (04:05)? Then, on the topic of irreplaceability, the crew agrees that Christian Pulisic remains Mauricio Pochettino's MVP (07:31). Josh Sargent’s next move goes under the microscope - is Burnley or Wolfsburg the better fit for his game (23:30)? And is LAFC is the right landing spot for Gio Reyna to get back on track with the national team (31:16)? With FIFA’s Club World Cup officially in the books, what does it reveal about what’s coming at the 2026 World Cup (40:26)? And a conversation about Gaga Slonina’s development path at Chelsea - can the Chicago native break through at Chelsea (51:23)? Call It What You Want is available for free on the Audacy app as well as Apple Podcasts, Spotify and wherever else you listen to podcasts. Follow the Call It What You Want team on X:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@JimmyConrad⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @CharlieDavies9⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@TMeola1⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Visit the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠betting arena on CBSSports.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for all the latest in ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠sportsbook reviews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠sportsbook promos⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠betting on soccer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. For more soccer coverage from CBS Sports, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.cbssports.com/soccer/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ To hear more from the CBS Sports Podcast Network, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.cbssports.com/podcasts/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ You can also watch Call It What You Want on the CBS Sports Golazo Network for free on connected TVs and mobile devices through the CBS Sports app, Pluto TV, and on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠CBSSports.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ as well as ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Paramount+⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Watch UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Europa Conference League, EFL, Serie A, Coppa Italia, CONCACAF Nations League, NWSL, Scottish Premiership, Brasileiro, Argentine Primera División, AFC Champion League by subscribing to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Paramount+⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Sign up to the Golazo ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, your ultimate guide to the Beautiful Game as our experts take you beyond the pitch and around the globe with news that matters. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices