Alexi Lalas’ State of the Union Podcast

Alexi Lalas and David Mosse are back with a LIVE episode of State of the Union! The 2026 Ballon D’or top 30 finalists have been announced, and we go through all the names and pick out our biggest surprises, snubs and more. Alexi then reveals his personal top 10 Ballon D’or ballot before we give Rose Lavelle her flowers for being the only American nominated for the Ballon d'Or Féminin. After, Alexi and Mosse break down the return of the Champions League, that saw Real Madrid top Inter Milan, Liverpool beat Atletico Madrid and Arsenal just hold off Napoli. Looking ahead to the weekend, AC Milan meets Lazio as Christian Pulisic watch continues and in the Bundesliga, Malik Tillman takes on Noahkai Banks. In #AskAlexi, Alexi goes deep on the very best and the very worst of US soccer and in One for the Road, we tip our cap to USMNT legend, Eric Wynalda, who just took a manager stop in Estonia.

CHAPTERS:0:00 - Intro2:33 - 2026 Ballon D'or top 30 finalists revealed11:10 - Alexi's Ballon D'or ballot: Will Messi win another?22:53 - The Champions League is BACK: Erling Haaland, Martin Ødegaard dominate30:04 - Alex Freeman's UCL Debut: Does playing in Europe REALLY matter?34:21 - 3 can't miss matches USMNT matches: Musah battles Lazio42:32 - #AskAlexi: The best and worst of US Soccer53:42 - One For The Road: Eric Wynalda the manager
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Alexi Lalas and David Mosse are back with a LIVE episode of State of the Union! We begin the show with a guest appearance from FOX Sports soccer writer, Doug McIntyre, to break down the upcoming international window and what we should expect from Mauricio Pochettino and the USMNT. Alexi, Doug, and Mosse discuss what young phenoms we could potentially see get a roster call up and all the latest with dual-national Noahkai Banks. After, Alexi and Mosse discuss the biggest matches from around Europe including a Juventus-AC Milan battle that saw neither Weston McKennie nor Christian Pulisic take the field. Elsewhere in Europe, Gio Reyna and Ricardo Pepi found the net for Strasbourg and PSV respectfully while Arsenal and Chelsea met in a massive early season Premier League battle. Alexi and Mosse preview the returning Champions League and highlight some of the biggest matches coming in matchday 1. In MLS, Cavan Sullivan scored again, prompting a question in #AskAlexi about whether Sullivan really is that good or if he success is due to playing in MLS. To wrap the show up in One for the Road, Alexi and Mosse discuss a time keeping disasterclass from the world of college football.

CHAPTERS:

0:00 - Intro2:36 - Doug McIntyre joins the show after speaking with Mauricio Pochettino11:47 - Has the tenor changed on Noahkai Banks?20:30 - What is the future of the goalkeeping position for the USMNT?22:52 - U.S Abroad: McKennie, Pulisic STILL out27:30 - Ricardo Pepi scores… can he catch Folarin U.S. Abroad: Balogun this window?33:06 - CHAMPIONS LEAGUE IS BACK35:00 - #AskAlexi: Is Poch right? Too much pressure of Cavan Sullivan?48:29 - One For The Road: Mosse addresses stoppage time in Michigan michigas
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To kick off this jam-packed episode, Alexi Lalas is joined by Philadelphia Union and American wunderkind Cavan Sullivan. The duo dive into the Union’s insane run, his recent rescinded red card, the bleach blond hairstyle, playing with his brothers growing up, his relationship with Manchester City, Clint Dempsey, Messi and so much more.Alexi and David Mosse then recap a wild transfer market for Folarin Balogun and Sergiño Dest. Who was at fault for the collapsed Everton deal and did Dest make a mistake turning down a move to Fulham?In #AskAlexi, the guys give Nashville their due before celebrating MLS’s return to the U.S. Open Cup.To wrap the show, the guys debate if EPL coverage is too English in America.

CHAPTERS:0:00 - Intro2:22 - Cavan Sullivan on his hairstyle13:34 - Cavan Sullivan on USMNT at 2026 FIFA World Cup15:43 - Cavan Sullivan on relationship with Manchester City17:29 - Cavan Sullivan on Messi, Dempsey & more28:02 - Flo Balogun’s WILD transfer deadline day34:56 - Sergiño Dest’s mistake?42:04 - U.S. Abroad: Worried about Jedi Robinson or Chris Richards? Pulsic & Musah vs McKennie.47:05 - #AskAlexi: Nashville on FIRE & US. Open Cup return55:58 - One For the Road: Soccer coverage Too English?
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The GOAT has hung up his international boots. Alexi Lalas and David Mosse dive into the greatest international career in history as Lionel Messi calls it quits for Argentina. The duo poses the questions: Will we ever see another Messi & without Ronaldo… would we have seen Messi reach these heights? Alexi also power ranks Messi’s all-time moments on the world’s biggest stage.

Elsewhere in MLS, Cavan Sullivan and Neil Pierre keep scoring, Chucky Lozano got on the scoresheet in the loss to San Diego and should we be talking up Brian Schwake more for the national team?

In U.S. Abroad, Yunus Musah and Sergiño Dest continued their comeback tours, while Jurgen Klopp looks to poach NNoahkai Banks. Do we like Everton as a landing spot for Folarin Balogun?

CHAPTERS:

0:00 - Intro3:44 - Will we ever see another Messi?11:24 - Power Ranking Messi’s Moments17:02 - Cavan Sullivan continues to star20:20 - Should Brian Schwake get a callup from Mauricio Pochettino?26:31 - Panic Button on Chris Richards?29:43 - Folarin Balogun to Everton39:02 - Musah and Dest comeback tours44:39 - #AskAlexi: How does the U.S. produce a Rodri?49:55 - One For The Road: U.S. Soccer nears takeover of U.S. Youth Soccer63:17 - Every Messi FIFA World Cup Goal
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Alexi Lalas and David Mosse are joined by the legendary Rebecca Lowe to go behind the curtain on the 2026 FIFA World Cup studio production alongside Thierry Henry and Zlatan Ibrahimović! Rebecca breaks down her favorite memories from this summer, the English perspective on American players, managers and owners in the EPL and what it was like to act on the set ofTed Lasso. Then, Alexi and Mosse preview a packed U.S. weekend abroad—featuring Yunus Musah, Christian Pulisic, Malik Tillman, and Noahkai Banks—and ask the big question: Who is truly the face of the USMNT right now?Finally, in #AskAlexi, the guys analyze Chris Richards at Crystal Palace and wrap up with a review of the IndyCar Freedom 250 in D.C.

CHAPTERS:

0:00 - Intro3:24 - Rebecca Lowe joins the show & hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup14:11 - Rebecca Lowe on Arsenal repeat title bid18:29 - Rebecca Lowe on Americans in EPL + growth of game in USA33:11 - U.S. Abroad: Malik Tillman the new face of USMNT?42:10 - U.S. Abroad: Is Yunus Musah BACK?52:38 - MLS should get more credit for player development56:50 - #AskAlexi: Breaking Down Chris Richards’ start to EPL season65:00 - One For The Road: Freedom 250 recap
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