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

The final tune-up is in the books, and now all eyes turn to the World Cup. Jimmy Conrad, Charlie Davies, and Tony Meola break discuss the positives and negatives from the USMNT's 2-1 loss to Germany.

The guys examine the team's response to conceding an early goal, Antonee Robinson's spectacular equalizer, and the encouraging signs shown against one of the world's top teams. They also discuss the less convincing aspects of the display, including sloppy stretches in possession and a lack of precision in the final third.

Rafa Honigstein joins to offer his perspective on the match, Germany's performance, and how Mauricio Pochettino's side is viewed heading into the World Cup. And, to end on a positive, Antonee Robinson insists his injury isn't serious.

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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With just days to go until the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Jimmy Conrad, Charlie Davies, and Tony Meola preview Saturday's friendly against Germany, but first, they look back at some of the most memorable send-off matches in USMNT history, beginning with the iconic 1-0 win over Mexico before the 1994 World Cup. The guys discuss Sergiño Dest's praise for Sunday's crowd in Charlotte and the importance of home-field advantage going into the tournament. How can the U.S. expose Die Mannschaft? The guys talk tactical matchups, defensive weaknesses, and players to watch.

Plus, Ricardo Pepi's evolution at PSV, the battle for the No. 9 spot, and the crew's projected USMNT starting XI for Saturday's showdown.

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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The USMNT impressed in Sunday's thrilling 3-2 win over Senegal, but how much should fans read into a friendly result? Jimmy Conrad, Charlie Davies, and Tony Meola discuss the biggest positives from the victory, and debate whether expectations for Mauricio Pochettino's side should change heading into the World Cup (4:15). Plus, with Group D just 10 days away from kicking off, the guys react to the final rosters announced by Australia, Paraguay, and Türkiye to assess how the U.S. stacks up against its World Cup opposition (15:15).

Then, US Soccer CEO and Secretary General JT Batson joins to discuss Matt Crocker's departure, Mauricio Pochettino's long-term future with the national team, and how U.S. Soccer will define success at the 2026 FIFA World Cup (22:01).

And finally, the crew breaks down the knockout-stage permutations and maps out the potential paths awaiting the USMNT in the Round of 32 (47:18).

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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The USMNT finally gets back in the win column, but what did we really learn from a wild 3-2 victory over Senegal?

Live from The Quin, in Boston, Jimmy Conrad, Charlie Davies, and Marcelo Balboa break down a confidence-boosting performance in the Red, White, and Blues' penultimate tune-up before the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Christian Pulisic snapped a 22-game goal drought, Sergiño Dest opened the scoring, and Folarin Balogun delivered the winner. Plus, Ricardo Pepi and Malik Tillman had statement performances against the Teranga Lions.

The guys react to Mauricio Pochettino's decision to make 10 halftime changes and debate which players have locked down spots in the USMNT's strongest starting XI. With one friendly remaining before the World Cup kicks off on home soil, are the pieces finally starting to come together?

Plus, player ratings from top to bottom, concerns at the back despite the victory, and a full assessment of Pochettino's tactics and formation.

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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With the World Cup not even started yet, Mauricio Pochettino has allegedly been in talks about another job. Jimmy Conrad, Charlie Davies, and Tony Meola react to reports linking the U.S. head coach to the AC Milan vacancy and debate whether the timing could become a distraction for the squad. The guys also celebrate Chris Richards capping off a remarkable year by helping Crystal Palace lift the UEFA Conference League trophy, then look at the growing list of Americans set for Europa League football next season.

After Tuesday’s roster reveal, the crew digs deeper into Pochettino’s vision for the USMNT midfield and how the manager may be building around his central options. Plus, Tony unveils his World Cup depth chart and breaks down the pecking order at every position.

Then, attention turns to Sunday’s showdown with Senegal - the hosts’ penultimate game before the World Cup begins. What kind of problems do the Lions of Teranga present, and are the Stars and Stripes ready for one of their toughest tests before the tournament kicks off?

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

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With the World Cup just 16 days away, the wait is finally over: Mauricio Pochettino has named his 26-man squad for the World Cup on home soil! Poppy Miller, Jimmy Conrad, Charlie Davies, and Benny Feilhaber react to every major decision as the roster for the biggest tournament in modern USMNT history is officially revealed, and the pressure surrounding this group ahead of the World Cup's return to U.S. soil for the first time since 1994.

The crew breaks down Pochettino’s squad line-by-line, debates the strongest possible starting XI, and examines how players like Weston McKennie can help the U.S. handle the enormous expectations that come with a home tournament. The guys also react to the controversial revelation that some players were informed of their omission via email rather than a phone call, before discussing the notable absences of Diego Luna and Tanner Tessmann.

Plus, with Gio Reyna headed to his second World Cup, Jimmy shares a personal message for the talented playmaker as he looks to seize his moment on the sport’s biggest stage. And to close the show, we hear from Sergiño Dest and Alejandro Zendejas on the excitement, nerves, and responsibility of representing the Red, White and Blue at a home World Cup!

Poppy Miller, Jimmy Conrad, Charlie Davies, and Benny Feilhaber

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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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

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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

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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