Call It What You Want: A CBS Sports Golazo Network Podcast

After projecting Mauricio Pochettino’s World Cup roster in the last, this time Jimmy Conrad, Charlie Davies, and Marcelo Balboa step into the hot seat themselves. The guys build their strongest possible 26-man USMNT squads for the 2026 World Cup, debating difficult omissions, surprise inclusions, and what the ideal balance looks like for a team hosting the biggest tournament in the sport.

Marcelo reflects on the 1994 World Cup squad, sharing stories about how Bora Milutinović transformed a squad filled with free agents and underdogs into a team capable of getting out of the group on home soil. How does this current generation compare to the teams that followed? The crew ranks the best USMNT World Cup squads since 1994 and debates where today’s team stacks up historically.

Plus, the guys preview the final weekend of action for Americans abroad. And stateside, four teams remain in the hunt for the US Open Cup - who will lift the trophy and claim a place in tournament history?

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

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It's concerning news to start the show as Jimmy Conrad, Charlie Davies, and Tony Meola react to Chris Richards' poorly-timed ankle sprain and what it could mean for the USMNT's backline heading into the World Cup (05:29). Does Mauricio Pochettino commit to a back three no matter what? And should fans be worried about Brenden Aaronson's fitness with 24 days to go until the Paraguay match (18:54)? With Pep Guardiola reportedly leaving Manchester City at the end of the season, should US Soccer consider hiring him ahead of the next World Cup cycle (25:53)? The guys take stock of how American players performed in the 2025/26 Bundesliga season (43:31). And there's a lively debate on whether Gio Reyna should or shouldn't make the 26-man roster (50:01)!

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/⁠

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+⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Visit the betting arena on CBS Sports.com: ⁠https://www.cbssports.com/betting/⁠

For all the latest in sportsbook reviews: ⁠https://www.cbssports.com/betting/news/sportsbook-promos/⁠

And sportsbook promos: ⁠https://www.cbssports.com/betting/news/sportsbook-promos/

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Chris Wittyngham, Tony Meola, and Benny Feilhaber react to the news that Johnny Cardoso will require ankle surgery, and what it could mean for the makeup of the USMNT squad. With Christian Pulisic, Tanner Tessmann, and Tim Weah also dealing with late-season knocks, how worried should U.S. fans be about the mounting injury list?

The crew also breaks down what Mauricio Pochettino and his staff learned while scouting over the weekend, whether Jack McGlynn’s brace vs. LAFC earned him a closer look, and if Poch is making a mistake by limiting his pre-World Cup camp to just 26 players.

Plus, with Cardoso likely out of contention for the World Cup, the guys revisit their projected roster. If Pochettino switches back to a back four, how many defenders does he need to bring?

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/⁠

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+⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Visit the betting arena on CBS Sports.com: ⁠https://www.cbssports.com/betting/⁠

For all the latest in sportsbook reviews: ⁠https://www.cbssports.com/betting/news/sportsbook-promos/⁠

And sportsbook promos: ⁠https://www.cbssports.com/betting/news/sportsbook-promos/

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

Producer’s Note: This episode ends with the crew's reaction to Atlético Madrid confirming that Johnny Cardoso suffered a high-grade ankle sprain. The news broke during the show, which is why the opening discussion around Atlético’s Champions League semifinal exit does not mention the injury or its potential World Cup implications.

Jimmy Conrad, Tony Meola, and (eventually) Charlie Davies discuss Liga MX's dominance over MLS in the Concacaf Champions Cup following Nashville and LAFC's elimination from the competition. Staying in Mexico, the guys react to Javier Aguirre threatening to leave Liga MX players off his World Cup squad unless they report for a month-long national team camp.

USMNT legend Clint Mathis joins to reflect on his 2002 World Cup heroics, almost joining Bayern Munich, and playing with a chip on his shoulder.

And the crew reacts to breaking news out of Spain as Atletico Madrid confirm Johnny Cardoso has suffered a high-grade ankle sprain.

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/⁠

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+⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Visit the betting arena on CBS Sports.com: ⁠https://www.cbssports.com/betting/⁠

For all the latest in sportsbook reviews: ⁠https://www.cbssports.com/betting/news/sportsbook-promos/⁠

And sportsbook promos: ⁠https://www.cbssports.com/betting/news/sportsbook-promos/

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 just 21 days until Mauricio Pochettino names his 26-man World Cup squad, Jimmy Conrad, Charlie Davies, and Tony Meola break down the latest performances shaping the roster race. Folarin Balogun and Ricardo Pepi keep finding the net, Sergiño Dest makes his long-awaited return from injury, and Alex Freeman continues to seize his moment with UCL-bound Villarreal. But it’s not all positive with Alex Zendejas’ form taking a poorly-timed dip.

As the countdown intensifies, the crew dives into the mindset of players on the bubble and debates whether the roster is already decided behind closed doors.

Then, former co-host Jesse Marsch returns to discuss Canada’s World Cup preparations, managing expectations, and what this moment means north of the border.

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/⁠

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+⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Visit the betting arena on CBS Sports.com: ⁠https://www.cbssports.com/betting/⁠

For all the latest in sportsbook reviews: ⁠https://www.cbssports.com/betting/news/sportsbook-promos/⁠

And sportsbook promos: ⁠https://www.cbssports.com/betting/news/sportsbook-promos/

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