Pepi’s Return, Reyna Makes Starting XI & USMNT Concerns Persist

Alexi Lalas’ State of the Union Podcast

FOX Sports

Soccer, News, Sports, Sports News

4.4 • 1.1K Ratings

🗓️ 16 September 2025

⏱️ 54 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Alexi Lalas and David Mosse are back to break down another electric weekend of club action! Over in Europe Ricardo Pepi makes noise in his Eredivisie return with a brace for PSV, while Gio Reyna earns his first start at Mönchengladbach and declares his FIFA World Cup ambitions. We break down Weston McKennie’s Juventus redemption, Yunus Musah’s Atalanta debut, and a tough loss for Brenden Aaronson and Leeds in England. Plus, a loaded MLS slate, including Idak Toklomati’s hat trick over Inter Miami, Thomas Müller’s birthday heroics, and Minnesota closing in on San Diego at the top of the West.The guys answer a question in #AskAlexi, on whether the USMNT’s win over Japan eases concerns heading toward the World Cup. We also dive into FIFA’s new international calendar shake-up, and Alexi takes us along on his trip to Chicago for “One for the Road.” Intro (0:00)Pepi Scores in PSV Return (8:13)Gio Reyna Starts and Declares National Team Ambitions (10:30)Serie A Round-Up & (13:27)Manchester Derby (20:48)Haji Wright vs Josh Sargent (26:38)Champions League Kicks Off (27:37)Thrilling MLS Weekend (28:51)#AskAlexi: USMNT Concerns Persist? (40:15)Alexi's Chicago Trip Recap (46:23) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	I still remain concerned about this national team.
0:03.6	I guess this is an ode to Weston McKinney, despite the change of coaches.
0:08.3	Whoever comes in recognizes he can do a job, I can play him at multiple positions,
0:13.4	and even when the press says this or the fans say that, he proves his worth.
0:36.7	Hello, Sunshine. I'm Alexi Lalas. Welcome.
0:40.2	The State of the Union podcast, where we look at the beautiful game on and off the field through the lens of red, white, and blue colored glasses.
0:43.0	This show will be talking, ooh, Manchester is blue, the Chicago Way, Charlie Sheen,
0:48.9	jaws, messy misses, Charlotte rolls, Vancouver with a touchdown and the extra point,
0:54.1	Old Man Modrich, International Calendar, and so much more. he misses, Charlotte Rolls, Vancouver with a touchdown and the extra point, old man
0:54.8	Maudrich, international calendar, and so much more.
0:58.7	But first, joining me as always my friend, my colleague, my guiding lights, David Mosse,
1:02.3	a soccer savant and a Fox Soccer researcher and writer extraordinaire.
1:06.7	Mossie, how are you doing on this?
1:07.8	What are we looking at here?
1:08.5	Good God.
1:09.3	September 15th in the year
1:11.2	2025. I'm doing very well. That is a blockbuster show you just laid out my friend.
1:16.1	We got all sorts of stuff that is going on. I got a question for you. It's not on the rundown
1:22.0	or anything like that, but people have asked me, you know, our on-camera persona and the aesthetic that we go with. How many New York Yankees
1:33.0	caps do you have? I currently have three different ones right now. Three. The one that we see,
1:40.1	though, is your go-to, right? Correct. And you've now settled on that because there was a time
1:45.0	over the years where you were going back and forth, but this is pretty consistent right now for you.
	...

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