Alexi Lalas’ State of the Union Podcast

Alexi Lalas and David Mosse are back with a NEW episode of State of the Union! We begin today’s show celebrating Harry Kane, who took home the 2026 Ballon d’Or, finishing just ahead of Kylian Mbappé and Lamine Yamal. Alexi and Mosse give Kane all his flowers for the spectacular season he had while celebrating the rest of the award winners from the evening as well. Next, we break down El Clasico that saw Real Madrid get a late winner to walk away from the Camp Nou with a 2-1 win. Mbappé scored a brace while Lamine Yamal was held largely in check. Alexi and Mosse discuss what this win means for the La Liga title race and the overall legacy of Jose Mourinho, who is still getting results at the very highest levels. After, the guys go deep on the problems at Manchester United after the Red Devils suffered a 3-0 defeat to Bournemouth this weekend and Michael Carrick’s time as manager seems to be coming to a close. Elsewhere in Europe, all of Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, Tim Weah and Alex Freeman scored for their clubs while Chris Richards reached a big EPL milestone. Stateside, Nashville wrapped up the Supporters’ Shield and have their eyes on the all-time MLS points record. In #AskAlexi, the guys debate if it would be better for Cavan Sullivan to begin his European career in a lower league or at the top immediately. We end the show with One for the Road going over all the activity on AND off the field at the latest El Trafico.

0:00: Intro1:51: Harry Kane wins the 2026 Ballon d'Or10:53: Kylian Mbappé scores a brace as Real Madrid win El Clásico17:53: Manchester United's woes continue after 3-0 loss to Bournemouth23:35: U.S. Abroad: Pulisic and McKennie back on the scoresheet in Serie A27:21: U.S. Abroad: Alex Freeman and Tim Weah stay hot for Villarreal and Marseille31:12: Nashville takes home the Supporters' Shield, eyes all-time point record37:52: #AskAlexi: What level in Europe is best for Cavan Sullivan to start his career in?49:24: One for the Road: Spitgate at El Trafico
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Alexi Lalas and David Mosse are back with a LIVE episode of State of the Union! We start today’s show recapping all the action from a wild week in the Champions League. PSG continued to look unstoppable as they topped Barcelona 4-2. The back-to-back UCL champions don’t look to be stopping anytime soon despite a wonder goal from Lamine Yamal. Barcelona will be meeting Real Madrid in El Clasico this weekend and Madrid knocked off RB Leipzig 4-1 in the UCL. Yan Diomande scored an extraordinary goal for Madrid and may be cementing his permanent place in Los Blancos' starting XI. Manchester United’s woes continued in a 4-1 loss to Como as the walls seem to be closing in on manager Michael Carrick. After the game, Bruno Fernandes was very critical of the coaching staff and Alexi and Mosse debate how United are going to try and crawl out of the hole this time. As the Ballon d’Or announcement gets closer and closer, Harry Kane stayed hot, scoring in a 2-2 draw against Arsenal for Bayern Munich. In #AskAlexi, the guys discuss who could replace Mauricio Pochettino if he were to leave the USMNT and in One for the Road, Alexi and Mosse talk about the USL’s promotion/relegation plans.

Chapters:

00:00 - Intro1:52 - How does PSG replace Kvaratskhelia & Dembele?15:05 - What’s wrong with Manchester United?22:52 - Is Harry Kane the archetype for a ‘positionless’ striker?34:42 - Americans and the dark arts44:56 - Ask Alexi: If Pochettino leaves, who should the US hire?51:10 - Ask Alexi: Is college soccer hurt by Americans going to MLS Academies?56:32 - One for the Road: Promotion/Relegation is now in the USL!1:01:23 - What are we watching?
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Alexis Lalas and David Mosse are back with a LIVE episode of State of the Union! We start the show today building our perfect player—would you take the left foot of Lamine Yamal or Lionel Messi? What about Kylian Mbappé’s pace or Erling Haaland’s strength? After putting together our soccer Frankenstein, the guys jump into a massive UCL week that will see Bayern Munich host Arsenal and PSG host Barcelona. Next, we break down all the action from Americans this past weekend around Europe. Gio Reyna stayed hot for Strasbourg, Tim Weah scored for Marseille and Yunus Musah continued his reinvention for AC Milan. However, in the Premier League, Chris Richards and Zavier Gozo, Tyler Adams, Haji Wright and Jedi Robinson all find themselves in or around the relegation zone. In #AskAlexi, we debate if Harry Kane or Lamine Yamal should be the Ballon d’Or favorite and the bright future of the USMNT. We end the show with One for the Road, where Alexi talks Eddie Johnson’s response to Landon Donovan.

Chapters:

00:00 - Intro01:51 - Building Your Perfect Player3:05 - Pick a left foot, Messi or Yamal20:40 - Will Haaland stay at Manchester City?33:05 - Is Barca vs PSG the Champions League Final Preview?34:57 - Is this the best Gio Reyna has ever played?48:28 - Ask Alexi - Kane vs Yamal for the Ballon D’or56:08 - One For the Road - Reacting to Eddie Johnson’s comments on Donovan
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Alexi Lalas and David Mosse are back with a LIVE episode of State of the Union! We start today’s show in the Champions League where Lamine Yamal and Barcelona look unstoppable. Days away from the Ballon D’or ceremony, Yamal is looking more and more like the best player in the world and Alexi and Mosse debate if the young Spaniard is on a Lionel Messi-esque path. Next, we discuss Real Madrid’s wild comeback win over Roma despite Vini Jr.’s continued struggles and PSG laying the smackdown on Manchester City. We then hop over to the Europa League where the Americans were showing out. Malik Tillman scored for Leverkusen, Weston McKennie captained Juventus to a win, while Christian Pulisic and Chris Richards put in solid performances as well. In #AskAlexi, the guys answer if the USMNT or Greece has a brighter future and why more teams don’t totally sell out to score at the end of games. In One for the Road, Alexi and Mosse respond to Olivier Giroud’s disparaging remarks about MLS.

CHAPTERS:0:00 - Intro1:47 - Lamine Yamal the next Messi, Ronaldo?9:58 - Vini overtaken by Endrick?15:49 - The Death of Serie A29:00 - Malik Tillman to EPL?35:42 - #AskAlexi: USWNT comeback against Spain47:35 - One For The Road: Olivier Giroud clowns on MLS
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Alexi Lalas and David Mosse are back with a LIVE episode of State of the Union! Prompted by a string of tweets from former US International, Jermaine Jones, Alexi and Mosse discuss what it means to be the face of the USMNT and what kind of players have all the right attributes necessary for that designation. After a thorough discussion, Alexi reveals his power rankings for the face of the USMNT as we currently stand and the likes of Cavan Sullivan and Julian Hall have already made the list. After, we discuss Alex Freeman’s strong showing vs Real Madrid before getting into the latest with the goalkeeper position for the USMNT. Matt Freese had another tough showing in a loss to Chicago while Brian Schwake and Nashville continued their excellent season against Austin. In #AskAlexi, we discuss Man City’s thrashing of Liverpool and where the Premier League as a whole stands in light of City’s many charges. We then talk the 2028 Olympics that will be hosted in Los Angeles and if it’s medal of bust for the USA. We finish the show recapping Spain’s 2-0 win over the USWNT and Alexi gives his state of the Women’s squad in One for the Road.

CHAPTERS:0:00 - Intro2:09 - Jermaine Jones starts debate: Who is the face of USMNT?11:53 - Did Alexi feel resentment for being face of USMNT?12:54 - Can a dual-nat be the face of U.S. Soccer?17:44 - Alexi's Face of USMNT Power Rankings44:31 - #AskAlexi: Rooting for the villains & Manchester City?55:05 - One For the Road: State of the USWNT
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