Subscribe to The Cooligans

The international break drama starts with a major blow for the United States as Sergiño Dest goes down with another injury. Alexis and Christian analyze how big the loss is for Mauricio Pochettino’s system and explore the realistic options the USMNT has at right-back moving forward. Is there a clear replacement, or does the position become a tactical problem heading into upcoming friendlies?

The conversation then shifts to Lionel Messi and Inter Miami’s visit to the White House—an appearance that sparked unexpected backlash, particularly among Argentine fans. The hosts unpack why the moment created controversy, how politics and sports collided online, and whether it has any real impact on Messi’s legacy or public perception.

Finally, the guys turn their attention to Major League Soccer and the pressure building on managers whose teams are stuck at the bottom of the Supporters’ Shield standings. With results not improving and expectations rising across the league, Alexis and Christian debate which coach might be the next casualty of MLS’s increasingly impatient ownership groups.

Timestamps:

(10:30) – Who can replace Dest?

(25:35) - Messi and Inter Miami Visit the White House

(43:47) – MLS Teams starting the season bottom of the Supporter’s Shield

(45:00)- What coach could potentially be fired?

Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube

🖥️ Watch this full episode on YouTube

Check out all episodes of The Cooligans the rest of the Yahoo Sports podcast family at https://apple.co/3zEuTQj or at yahoosports.tv