U.S. soccer legend Landon Donovan joins! Plus, predictions for an epic Spain-Argentina final.

Lando Golrisian or Lando Kent, Missian. Golrisian. Yes! Yes! I love that!

You all took that so much... 17 years! Oh! I'm glad I created that moment for you. I'm Brendan Hunt. And I'm Rebecca Lowe, and this is After the Whistle from Apple News.

We've got a special guest today, honored to have Lando not have been joining us here in New York City to tell us all about his very eventful world cup. Plus, we'll give you the story behind the absolute chaos of our last episode of After The Whistle and of course, we will talk about the epic final between France and Ingent Just Kidding, between Spain and Argentina.

Reminder there will be a dot language. Some of it from Lando Lowe. This podcast is brought to you by Verizon and official sponsor of The FIFA World Cup 2026. No one gets you closer to The FIFA World Cup than Verizon.

Rebecca! We're here! We're here! The day before it all ends. Yeah, now we know that it's the day before it ends because of the day of the third place.

I don't know about you, but I've been looking forward to the third place game. I actually almost didn't make it here today because I woke up with a pretty severe case of "Bron's Final Fever." Did you think I got to get to Miami? I got to be there in person. Oh, it's so close. I was so close. I'm like, "Oh, gosh, I can get one ticket, but then I'd have to leave the

life behind." And she'd never forgive me.

Never, oh, sure, sure. If I didn't bring her to the "Bron's Final." Especially as if it actually could go to extra time. We could get 30 more minutes of that third place playoff and penalties. The only penalty shootout that if you miss, no one cares.

No one cares. Well, we'll also talk about the World Cup final between Spain and Argentina. But America continues to be the most baffled country by this one particular aspect of the World Cup, which is that we still have a third place game, England's coach Tatoo. Came out this week, openly saying, "Lessom."

Is he still close? Is he still close? Yeah, yeah, yeah. You can't change coaches before the third place game.

“I think you'll find who changed coaches after about one game of this tournament?”

No, that Tunisia. Right. Yeah. We could take a leaf out of that book. But what good would it be at this point?

You would throw people off before their third place playoff.

So, no one has a manager at all. That would be kind of fun. That would be fun. Right. He openly came out and say, "No one wants to play this game."

No one wants to play this game. We stopped doing this. And that this has been a call that people have sounded for some time. But in particular, now, when it is a 104 game eight round tournament, we don't fucking want, nor need the third place game.

Like, it wins points to me only for like being such like a quirk, such a little curiosity. But now it's just, it's exhausting, stop it. 104 games, 104 degrees. It's what it's gonna be in Miami for this third.

No, I made that up, just to make the link. But I wouldn't be surprised. Would you? No. Now, the third place playoff for me is just do one. Get out. We don't want it.

The only time it ever, ever has a smidgen of okay.

“Is if it were to be like a tiny country that had a Cinderella run?”

Or if it's a home team, if it's a home team and/or, like there's been Croatian third place game, they love it. They can't get enough. But imagine, just like, yeah. But I think, but I think they should judge it.

So I know they would never do this, you call this.

But we should just wait. And then whoever makes it, we'd end the side if we have it. Right? We're not just having a friend. Oh, they're not gonna be very excited about it. And we can't really should do the Croatian.

Should Mexico, okay. Okay, third place game, let's go. Ah, it's like me up. But there's another game this weekend that, you know, it's a real afterthought, the World Cup final between your European Champions League and your South American/World

Champion, Argentina. There's never been that kind of matchup in a World Cup final. Either of those options as we announced, as we broke. I think we broke that news here and out to the whistle on our last episode. Was that the last episode in front of the prison event

in a car park with barbed wire, wire-fencing, flashing police lights?

“Was it that guerrilla podcast you were talking about?”

I blacked out. I don't really remember much of anything. I remember we had a large man to protect us. And then the larger man came over to try to start a fight with that large man. I don't really have to decide. Sorry, we have to real quick tell the story real quick.

We were doing this seven or so minutes. We managed to do in the first secret location, that we were probably not quite fully welcome in. Welcome in, I think it's a great question. Also, we were doing no one any harm, not any security risk.

And there were still thousands of people in the sea to this. Correct, correct. I mean, we were just no trouble. And then, then some trouble happened in our ears. Because we, you and I, try to have a conversation.

And all we can hear is a person saying they've got to stop. They've got to stop. It got so bad that the direct quote was, "If they don't stop filming, I'm going to walk in front of the camera in three,

But now I feel like we should have allowed the security guard to walk in front of the camera, because what an out that would have been. Just a big burly, beefy chat. And then it just goes to black and turn up again in front of wife ends.

That was actually my favorite most roar episode we've ever done. Thank you. I know everybody actually really enjoyed.

“I think, even though it was like, no, thank you.”

We thank you for your support. We were confused and terrified. We were terrified. But again, who knows where we were when we shot that. But tomorrow's mental take place in a stadium.

Met life stadium to which I have never been.

In order to go to giant stadium back in the day, I hear this one's quite the improvement. We're going to get into this a little bit with our lovely guest land, a not even who's coming up here. But like, let's talk about where these teams are coming from.

What they've been like, Spain did not give up a single goal for their first five matches. Then they gave up one against Belgium and like, "Oh, they're only like, well, are they cracking?" And then they come in against France and just handle them. Handle them, went to nothing.

We didn't get to talk about it because again, we were busy being shunted from a from a odd circumstance. They just were completely untrubbled by one of the best attacks in the history of the World Cup. They just didn't care at all.

I watch I came from the press box. My one and only press box journey of this World Cup. Among my notes, I had speaking of the Spanish goalkeeper, who, no, Simone, he is unflippable. He cannot be flat. He is without flat.

He's without flat. He's on the flop. And my Dutch friends would say. Which, by the way, is quite interesting, considering that was one of the few controversials probably too strong a word.

But discussion points about this Spain team, because they have two other very good goalkeepers, including your guy, David Rire, who many people think is the best in the world.

And yet, he seems to be third choice.

And we actually talked about this earlier on in the tournament. But for me, that game was all about Rodriguez. That guy has had an ACL recently. Has come back and he was patchy for City and when I say patchy, I don't really mean performance.

I mean, just in and out, because when you have, I'm told, when you have ACLs like that, you then get so many other injuries, because the rest of your body is compensating in all the things. Pep said it earlier in the season, Pep Guardiola, the City manager said, the best Roger you're going to see is at the World Cup.

Now, why he said that? I don't know whether he just could tell, or whether he knew that it would take a little more time, or that he could see what we couldn't see at, which is his trajectory is only going one way. But my goodness, Rogery.

Balon Dorr, Rogery, right there. And we didn't know it when the World Cup started. That was going to happen, but he has gotten better and better. And yeah, absolutely, that France game. He just, it's like, oh, this is, we are now at Full Metal Rodry.

This is, this is something. By the way, another trivia fact that I found this out myself, which can be confirmed by our crack research staff. This is the first World Cup final as a matchup between two Ballon Dorr winners since 1974. Wow, that's a great line.

Thank you. I'm going to steal that and put that straight in the pregame. Well, it's played. It's feel free to mention me as you didn't set my ears. Anyway, it's okay, Seth didn't mention me either, neither one of you did, but I didn't feel so important in my life.

“I think it could have had it, especially Seth was on the pod a few years ago.”

Yeah, I remember. I remember. So, take it up with Seth, okay, it's his show. Rodry and Simone, I mean, not directly the spine, but like right there with each other. But one other thing I've thought, I kind of noticed, and again, like we get into like stuff like tactics, like I'm now, I'm like,

I'm winging it on tactics, so I'm a here for trivia and the yucks. But it seemed like one thing that got exposed for France and that game, that, you know, France seemed to be, you know, without flaw, really. But Spain kind of exposed that their fullbacks were a problem, like Dean, and to a lesser degree, Kunde, like not their strongest place.

And, you know, Kugraia and Poro just kind of kind of cutting through them, and then Poro eventually, you know, scoring, you know, just, of course, with a fortune of balance to him, but still. And I look at Argentina, and fullback is not their strong point either. Tallyfico and Molina, like, he, you don't know. I don't know about that. I agree. I agree. It all depends on whether the occasion gets to Spain at all,

and allows Argentina to, despite their flaws, to imprint themselves on this game, in the way the only they can, right? And the addition to, to unleash chaos in the way that they've done, that they, seems to suit them, but causes everyone else to feel chaos. Yeah. But Spain, again, the lack of flap, you know, and like they've just won a Euro final,

“how, you know, how long could you do you think that will be any yellow cards this time?”

Oh, do you think Argentina will just apparently never get, but I'm sorry, still, slightly hurting.

About that. But, but they will take their physical game. So it'll just basically come down to where the Spain, as you say, can just do Spain things that we've seen all tournament and especially against France or where the, whether Argentina would the knife fight that they bring, which one's stronger? It's going to be fascinating. Yeah. I also, uh, and I think I'm going to be the first

Yeah, him, yeah. Because he was the fucking thing. I feel like I came into this world cup, so sure that at 39, he was going to eventually, like, flame out. And then, like, then he was scoring early, but I was like, you know, okay, but, you know, against the, you know, let's run with the shenanigans, and then the, you know, get tired, yeah. And like, okay, okay, he's, you know, and then I was, so folks in the jersey, you know, watch, let me drop the jersey, you watch. I was like, I was right. He's tiring.

But I, you know, he still had three assists in the last two games. I mean, the end of the Fernandez Assist is like, how much how much he really help himself Fernandez is there in the Fernandez. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. 99. But the other assist is pretty good. Yeah, this is that's proper. That's proper. Um, and one the game. But like, he's, he's 39, he's 39. I found a thing on Reddit of all places from a user named Gap worky. That's two, two piece. Yeah, ppw, yeah, thank you. I want to, and a great shot of various legends of the

game, and if they had played in World Cups until Messy's age in World Cups, what would have been

their last World Cup? And some of these are incredible. God. First of all, I mean, George Best never

played in World Cup at all, but if George Best played until Messy would play, he would have been in World Cup in 1986. Bajio 2006, Romario 2006, soccer T's 2004, Wayne Rooney, Wayne Rooney, 2022. No way. Roode Hullet and Mark of Embaston 2002. I mean, Holland didn't qualify for that World Cup, but still that would have been something. Krauss, you're on Krauss, some people call him Krauss in the wrong. Um, 86. Cheese. Play 78. Back in power, 82. This is, yeah, this is Krauss. It did, like, they

really helped illustrate. Like Bobby Charlton, that's not too great. 1974. But like, you say Bio, you say Bio. The, the, the, the Goldenbow winner of 66. 82. He would have planned it. Brendan Brendan, Brendan, he hasn't. But here's what's maybe even more mad. He comes into this World Cup. People like, oh, he plays a Major League Soccer. Or his people outside of America. Oh, he plays a Major League Soccer. He probably won't bring it, right? He'll, he'll maybe

score a one goal in, in the group session. It'll be it. Well, he has just come back in everybody,

“okay? He may well, probably well, win the Golden Boat. I think he might be back in four years”

time. Oh, my Lord. You can't bet against him. How can you bet against him as a, as a, as a, good, by the way, in the way he comes back in four years is now off the bench, which will be weird and bizarre. But it's like, would you rather have messy for 20 minutes than no messy? Yeah, even at 43.

Famously, Father time undefeated 43 years old. How did he first talk about it after

whistle 20 that I just say in? I mean, that would be unprecedented. That would, I assume, make him the oldest World Cup player of all time, including goalkeepers. Certainly outfield. I mean, I mean, I mean, Peter Schild might have been 57. And I think I'd be, I'm not sure about that. He's weirdly not on this chart. It's so, good Lord. Okay, so, give me a prediction. It's so crazy, because again, as you put it, you know, Argentina bringing a knife fight to, you know, an art gallery is, uh,

is about what it is. But in the end, I think, you know, I think what happens, happen in England, we'll happen in England and the K-Varity and Egypt and Switzerland. Not quite decision, but I

“think, I think, Spain go up and then they're feeling pretty good about themselves and, you know,”

you know, it's not exactly to Kitaka anymore. I get that but do a little Kitaka back and forth and let, let, let, let we're having a good time and suddenly one of them gets punched in the face and it's one-one and then soon it's two-one. Um, so, I think, Argentina come from behind to win. Wow. And by the way, I've gotten, uh, some might have noted here and I hopefully no one has, but I'm going to be honest about anyway. I've gotten literally every single prediction wrong of this entire

term. I didn't want to bring it up to the point. I was, I'm going to close the other day and, uh, our great friend, the great Roger Bennett, um, who has already made fun of me on this pot for horrible predictions, because I absolutely, she had the bed and Australia too. He pinned me into, like, and Brendan, you'll have great predictions. What do you see for today and, like, okay, Roger, you don't, um, but what am I there? And 2022, I said it was going to be our Argentina. You did, you did, you did.

Um, and I enjoyed that because I really hate when people, when there's like a clear sort of, um, best athlete, but, but the, but the, but the, about whom people are like,

yeah, but he never did, you know, blank and, like, I love when someone ends that conversation

and to the degree that it might still be any debate about whether or not the messy, the messy, whether the messy is, uh, is the best footballer of all time. It will be even further

“corroded if he were to win again. And so I think it'd be pretty awesome if he won. I'm really”

just went for a good game, but, um, I'm looking at it from a couple of perspectives, which affects my prediction really. I'm looking at it from what they, I just want a good game. I just want a good game for my job for my show. That's what I want. I just want a really blooming good game.

win come to, it could be like three or four nail. And that's not a great spectacle. So I, for I should say it could be one nail or it could be one. Exactly. But your prediction will make it great game. But I'm, I'm trying to work out for my child. Okay. So lucky, very lucky child of mine has a ticket. What do I want for 10 year old Teddy? Do I want messy, him to

witness with his own eyes, messy lifting his second world cup and maybe probably let's be honest

his last. Or do I want him seeing Lameen Yamal? Somebody that Teddy's 10, Lameen is just turn 19. Somebody that he can not relate to. But more, you know, sort of imagine because he's, Teddy's got dreams, right? Like every 10 year old kid does that. He's gone for long, does that inspire him more? So I don't, I, because also he's probably going to see messy. This is the last time he's ever going to play for Argentina do you think? I don't know.

“I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I think Spain are going to win it.”

I think it'd be quite straightforward. I think they might overpower that knife fight situation. But for my kid, my kid, he wants, he wants Spain. Teddy wants Spain, but that's because he's still grieving. I have a Russian team and he's just not Lameen Macker 10 year old Ted. I think on reflection it would be better for him to have seen messy lift the world cup. He just doesn't know it yet. In Armin? Yeah, well said. But gosh, I hope they can get in the heat. I hope it rains today.

We've had horrible air here in New York as so much of the continent is having right now with the fire to Canada. But it's supposed to rain today, which would clear that out quite a bit. I hope so. But then hopefully it's not how to sell. Both these things played indoors for their semi-finals. They might have forgotten what it feels like to play the moment of residence. So yeah, we'll see if they still the energy to get through a unprecedented eighth game of a

world cup. They'll probably all be watching the third place game really close. I mean, they wouldn't anyway. Back to that. I love that. But then they can see how people deal with their game because of the 2022 English and French players are going to be giving absolute awe. Can we actually get to break? Because I just want to go out here. I'm just excited. I want all the build up. All right. This is off the whistle. Rap one news. On third place playoff day. The sound

you hear is the sound of the third place playoff parade happening outside. We'll be right back.

We always make it get as close as possible to the action of the FIFA World Cup 2020. 6

and no one gets you closer than horizon. In fact, Verizon has given away tickets to the FIFA World Cup 2020. 6 for customers coast to coast. And some lucky customers are even getting pitchside access. Meaning they'll be able to watch some of the action from up close on the field. If you're not a Verizon customer, it's not too late to switch. Bring in your AT&T,

“T-Mobile, Spectrum, or Exfinity Bill for a better deal. You must provide a very recent”

post-pacence and removal in the name of the person redeem the deal additional ten positions and instructions in the play. No one gets you closer to the FIFA World Cup than Verizon. It's after the whistle. It's our penultimate episode, which is a fancy for second or last. Might be Shakespeare. We're not quite sure. We were lucky to even get in here today because the New York City streets are crackling with energy for today's third place game.

Also the final tomorrow, but no one's talking about that right now. Here to help us, bring forward all that third place game day. So break down that third place. That's why you. It's a one-on-one, USM&T. In fact broadcasting stall work now, which we're going to get into that, too. Please welcome Mr. Landon, not of it. Thank you. Pleasure to be here. Thank you. So you know like when you watch a show or you listen to a show,

and then you find yourself on the show. You've done this, too. Like you're on Seth Myers. Yeah. And you're like, wow, this is actually really cool to be here. Because I love listening and I love watching, and then it's cool to be here. So thank you for having me. I love it. I love it. Leave with a scarf. Yeah, you appreciate that. You have been broadcasting this, uh, row cup. Um, you are still working, even though you're not in a booth

at the moment because they ran out of games, which I can't believe they've ever ran out of games. They were so many goddamn games. And we talked, I don't know if you heard that particular episode since apparently you've been listening, I have a particular delight in you and Ian Dark being a team. Now basically yeah, we're both enjoyable to hear, but also like because you guys are sort of attached, you know, by proxy in a big historical moment that now we sort of like get to re-enjoy that moment.

I don't know if you do really, but the rest of us do every time you guys are together. So yeah, how have you? It's really found. Yeah. He's like your grandpa. So like through this turn of the vaccine notice, we're traveling and they get flights delayed and cancel and the game and someone doesn't let you through security and whatever. So he's like a

grumpy old grandpa most of the time and he'll be like, I'm done. I'm never working again, you know.

And then the next morning, he'll be like, all right, great game that I can't wait for this.

“What I'm like, I thought you were done. I'm never going back to that stadium or I'm never, right?”

So he's like your grumpy old grandpa, but he's so sweet because he, like, he just genuinely loves this game. He really does. And what he's so good at and you'll understand this well. He

the game a little deeper. But it's never, ever, ever about him. It's not. And there are other people.

Now I listen like with a more trained ear and I can tell the people kind of make it about them and they're trying to build their career. And that's fine. I get that. I understand it. But it's just about he wants the game to be this beautiful, like, pageantry. And he wants to be a little bit of the soundtrack to it. And the person next to him bring it to life a little bit. And that's it.

“But I think that is partly his generation. I do think that generation is very purest about”

football. Very much. And football commentary has changed. But one of the things I laughed about was when Brendan brought this up a few weeks ago on his bits and bobs. We do a bit at the end of the bits and bobs. And he's like my bits and bobs is Landon and Ian. And I said one of the

funniest bits, though, is on your social media, where if the grandpath thing I can almost see

because I feel like you're doing selfies in private jets. And I can imagine you like Ian, can you get over here? We're doing a selfie. And he's like, God say, he'll be like this. He'll go, and then he's back to his thing. He's like, can't leave me alone. But you have had a few travel nightmares. We have. So that has, is that the sort of thing, Landon, I feel like in a few weeks, you're on it back and be like, oh my gosh, that was, that was kind of all part of it. Or are you,

were you forever be like, why don't you talk about that? In the moment, we've all had

“felt in the moment. You're like, I'm done. Like, I'm, like, I'm Colin Fox. I'm like, guys,”

it's been fun, but I'm not at home because it is so miserable for people who don't know. I don't want to like drag it on and on. But we had like five hour delay. We're supposed to go to New York ended up landing in DC because there was weather in New York. And then got off the plane. They told us we were going to fly to New York. So we got back on the plane, then our pilots timed out. So we had to get back off the plane. New pilots came. So we got back

on the plane. And then those pilots timed out. So it's 3 a.m. And we had a game the next, we had a game that day. So we took a five hour Uber at 3 a.m. to New York City from DC. And then call the game that day. It was a draw just ever gotten back to his plan. So he goes listen to this. So I call the Uber and we get to the Uber. And he goes, "Hi, nice to see you." It's 3 a.m. What the hell are you doing away? It's 3 a.m. It's 3 a.m. It's the sweetest guy. And I said, "Yeah, we're going to New York."

And he goes, "What?" And I said, "We're going to New York." And he's like, "Oh, I didn't look at the thing. I just accepted that, and I went, "Oh, no, my heart sank." And he goes, "It's no problem." And he was wide awake. He goes, "I go like three times a week to New York. I just need to call my wife and tell I'll be a little bit later home for more today." So he called his wife and then he took off. It was great. But I'm coming home rich. Yeah. It's on it. I'm like, "You didn't see that it was at

$1,200 fair on your thing." It was great. What game was it? I mean, I can tell you what I'm doing tomorrow. No idea. Zero. I mean, you know, I know it's hard to sort of like enjoy the game to agree when you're working them, but did you have a favorite game? I don't know. I enjoy it. This is going to sound really weird. Just take it for what it is. We called the one blowout in the tournament. Germany, Kurosau. All right. The seven one game. But when I have goosebumps.

When Kurosau scored, down to our right, there were like the 6,000 Kurosau fans, they went, "Can I cut on this?" So you sure can, man. They went, "Apeship." And I was, I took, I'm not sure. You know what I said? But I like took off my headset and I was like, "Me and you fucking deal with this." Like, I'm just sat and I was like, "And it brought me so much joy." So much joy. That one moment and they didn't care. They

lost seven. But they were tied with Germany for about 35 minutes and they're tied with Germany. I'm just a little island. I was like, "Oh, it was awesome." I remember Dick Advocate crying.

At that point, you know, fussy old Dutch man. Yeah, it was always a good one. Do you have a

“favorite one? That I attended. I've been able to get to a few. I think for full on”

spectacle of it, probably England Croatia was super fun. But then I'm like a, a more personal level. USA Paraguay was, was just so exact. So surprising. You know, like, you know, obviously I'm a dumb, dumb, dumb optimist fan every four years. Like, they're nothing. So I was hoping for a good result. But I was not expecting that kind of performance. Where you shocked by that? That day? London that day, I said to you, we did a slightly insane podcast that night where I was coming

off a adrenaline, literally from so-fi straight there. You were coming off maybe a couple of glasses of, um, but I think I think it was the same. And the high, just a natural high. Yeah. And I am, I genuinely think. And this is partly because we just started on Fox. I was on day two and it gone well. So I think it was a mixture of like the relief that, okay, this went well. But also the performance and everything and there's something in the air. That day was actually one my favorite

of my whole life. I really think it was. I was so proud partly as well because I just get it a lot

going to be that. And then they can't even play football and they don't anything about football. And then they did that. And I was like, oh, thank God for that. That has just answered so many people. And I know it didn't end how we wanted it to end against Belgium. But they still had a,

have a lot of credit in the bank to a lot of people mainly because of that day. That day was incredible.

It was incredible to be there and witness it. I want to talk about moving forward and how this country, because a little bit to what I just said there about gets such a bad rap. We know that for a lot of reasons football and not football, right? But I feel like and I want to know how you feel. Like there's a lot of work to be done and you are hopefully going to do a lot of work in the youth space definitely and we're all behind you on that. But in terms of football in this country,

I feel like it's a seminal moment. And it's the seminal moment that we feel has been coming for a while. But I'm getting messages landen from people that like that they're so far removed from football who are now like, oh, we love it. We booked tickets for this now. We're going to go and see Sacramento Republic, which is all local, and they're going to just end of yourself. And you think,

“is this going to actually carry on? I think it is seminal. What do you think?”

There's no question. I mean, I'm a living example. In 94, I went to watch Argentina, Romania in the Rose Bowl for the first time. And I knew nothing about the soccer world at that time. I just played soccer. I loved soccer. I played soccer. I knew nothing about the world. And when I went to that game, I remember going home because I went with my buddy and his dad. And I went home and I was like, Mom, I want to do that. Like, that's what I want to do.

And I can only imagine how many millions of young girls and boys watch this summer. And we're like, wow. Let's go play soccer. Let's go play soccer. Go to a game. I said this before, how many people are like, oh, kids are going to get priced out. Which obviously, no, you don't they could have been cheaper tickets, of course. But you don't have to go. How? Yeah. I mean, use the summer of these kids is life. That's right. Just watching it on TV, right?

Yeah. And it's being in a time zone where they can't. So they can be more inspired. Yeah. If you remember, someone said that, that because Russia was a weird time zone for us, Qatar was a weird

time zone. So there are a bunch of 10, 12 year olds who have never watched the world. And so now they're

going, oh my god, this is crazy. Maybe it'll be a, you know, drip drip effect. And then maybe when

“those 10 year olds know, it will be. But this is what happened in '94. And that's what happened”

in 2010 when we had an amazing moment in 2014 when we have them is it starts to build a generation of soccer fans. And you never know, 12 year old kid today might have watched the U.S. this summer. And in 15 years, they have a child. And maybe that child becomes the next superstar. Right. Because they're now watching soccer instead of watching it. And you won't know for a long time. But like, I have a picture. There's a picture of me and Carlos Bokenegra with Weston,

McKenny when he's like five years old. He came to a game. Right. And now he's a superstar for the U.S. So you just never know. So you just never know. There's those levels. There's these things. Just soccer players are constantly bathing children. That's just strange things. Such a strange thing. There's so many traditions, so many, so much more. It's not a tradition. It's also like, as opposed to '94, where, you know, I mean, well, the exception for kids who were

just already, you know, playing the soccer town as you were, like now, just culturally, it's easier for a kid to stay immersed in it because we also have it on TV. Correct, constantly. You know, like, what, what, now the world cups over, what do I do? Or you can keep watching soccer because on, when I let you know about it, it's on all the fucking time. And let's, let's should not cause you're here, but you've played a big part in that, too. My 10-year-old son

watches, I mean, he's watched Ted Lasso, 14 times all the way through. And we're like, okay, the language they use. And I know Teddy's the same way. Yeah, we thought that exactly. No, I mean, but there's all these little pieces of it that are helping build the sport. And, and it's, it's been so fun to watch. As someone who's loved it, their whole life, it's awesome. Moving forward now for you. You, and I know you've talked a lot about this.

But the youth side of sport means a lot to me because of my little boy, Teddy, who's 10.

And he plays soccer and wants to be soccer player like a million others. And then we know there

are problems in this country. But you don't, we don't have to get into the, the weeds of that. But what is your first step now? Now that the world cup is almost done and you're going to go, what is your first step to trying to fix, please, Lantern? The soccer youth, Lantern. First is educating, because now we have so many people, this happens every four years. We have a lot of people who now are all of a sudden soccer experts in every way. And that's like,

and even people I played with or people who are in this sport and you're just like, okay, stop, because you're just spreading that information, right? So we have to educate people. There's a lot right with soccer in this country. But if we ever want to compete at the level of an

“England or a France or a Spain order, you have to have the players. With the beauty of America,”

as we believe we can do anything. But it's also becomes a downfall sometimes because people are like,

Right? And that's like here. That's not here. That's not Spain and France. They just have better players. It's just the reality. And the reason why is because they develop better players. And we don't do that yet. And so we have to start educating people to understand that we're still

really far behind. We can still believe every four years. I'm not like, but the reality is going to be

pretty hard until we have players that can sit. So do you have enough people in your camp to start that education process? Because that's a big old country to educate. Not only that, there's also a cultural issue. Right? And the other beauty of America is we believe winning is vital. And it's why we

“do so many amazing things in this country. But we don't need eight-year-olds to be winning. Right?”

And even at my home, my three kids by soccer. My wife will be on the field and should be like, we have to win this game because the final I'm like, babe. Yeah. Relax. Like, it's okay. And right, and that's my wife. And I'm talking about this openly all that. So we have to start to prioritize the kids enjoying the game, having fun and wanting to keep playing. If you prioritize the winning and the stress around, if you don't do this, you won't be good. If you don't get the

private lessons, you're not going to get to high school team. If you don't do that, you're not going to get to college. We have to change that mentality. So one final question on this. Yeah. Do you actually think that's possible? It's a great question. I've asked myself the same question. I don't know. What I, this is what I hope happens. What I hope happens is you start to do it. You, either you build a club or you build clubs, youth clubs, and you start to do it in a different way.

“And other people as a parent, you go to a game now and you go, you see Teddy playing another team,”

and you look on the other sideline and the parents are at peace, sitting there happily, not yelling, not screaming at the left. They're just happy. The kids are having so much fun. They're joyful.

They're running around having an amazing time. And you look over and go, shoot. I want that for Teddy, too.

Right. Like, I don't want, and I'm just using him. An example, but like, I don't want the stress and the coach yelling at him and yelling at the rafts and the sidelines crazy. I don't really want that. And so maybe then you prove the concept that way and people start to go, okay, I want that. We'll see, maybe I'm wrong. I mean, maybe it's idealistic, but we'll see. You know, I'm sure in our, because we don't know if this is going to be the first segment of the second segment,

but I'm sure that in our segment, I mean, all me and Rebecca and I are going to talk about is Thursday's game. So all of it. Let's just out of obligation, just a mood to Spain, Argentina. I mean, how do you feel about this final first of all? Do you feel like it's the two best teams and then how do you feel it's going to go? I feel it's the two best teams. Yeah, probably two best teams. Here's my conundrum. And I'm not, I picked Spain to win the tournament before this tournament

started, right? The way they dismantled France was, I'm not being hyperbolic. This was a top five performance I've ever seen in my life. And I watched it live. And I went, I was sitting back there behind the, like, on the set where you guys were, and I'm watching this. And I'm like, this is crazy, because we called the end and I called two or three France games. I'm like, they're unstoppable. I don't know how you stop this team and Spain just like calmly,

methodically with precision, just pick them apart. And they were in such control the whole game. They somehow made it look easy. Completely. I don't even think they were sweating by the end of the game. I was like, this is, you like, we saw England, Argentina, both teams are dead on the field, spent sweating, Spain walked off like, okay, that skin's got some top us and we'll get out of here.

“I was like, this is wild. So I have that in my brain, right?”

But we're watching the greatest player who's ever played the world's most popular sport in person. And we're watching him over and over and over. Do things that are super human and he's 39. And my, my brain is telling me, how could you ever bet against that? Like, you've seen him do it time and time and time again in this tournament. I was going back and watching some of his highlights when he was in his 20s. I was like, are you kidding me?

I forget how good he was then. It was 39 doing now. So I don't know how you bet against that. So I don't, I'm like, I don't ever sit on the fence on things. I'm like, I don't know how you picks up because they just find a way to keep winning. He wins the World Cup. He wins the ball on door. That's a good question. Jesus. I mean, how can you not? How can you talk? And it's not like he's been bad for his club team. He's been great for him. My amy.

You, you, Europeans would go absolutely buzzer. If an MLS player won the ball in the night, I would like to talk with him. I wouldn't. phenomenal. I would love to see it. I have one last bit some

Bob style question. Land and I don't know if you remember the first time we met, but it was on a

soccer theme talk show that was hosted by Mr. Kalmartino on the, not-defunct soccer channel on

he had a, he had a second banana. That was me. We're two episodes, and then the third one was like

from the last one. I can't get Kyle return my calls, but I asked you a question that I've been haunting me and my friend Seth Meyers, who just had our back up on his show the other day, but we had two nicknames for you at that point. I asked you to choose which one and at the time you said

“you didn't like either one. Now, let me make sure that's still the case. Which, which do you prefer?”

Lando Golrisian or Lando Cantmeseen. Golrisian. Yes. Yes. I love, uh, you all said that's so 17 years. Oh. Can I say one other thing? Sure. So in 2002, I'm glad I created that moment for you. In 2002, after the World Cup, we came home and we did like the talk show circuit, a little, well, a little bit. Some of us that went to New York and did. So I went on David Letterman. And I was like, this is so cool. Because at the time, David Letterman was like, it was like,

so I'll get to the green room and like, I'll get to meet him and say hi and he'll come over and say, and then like the time was click into it. And I'm like, okay. And so there are a time to go on.

So we go on. We do the five minute interview, whatever. Never say hi to the guy never meet the guy

never hang out with them. And it kind of reminded me of that today. Because you came into the green room. You said hi. You're very kind. Friendly. And then I'm like, oh, backs. Of course backs will be coming in. Like they know or she'll come say hi, whatever. And then we get here. We do this. I'm sure I'll leave.

“And then you guys will continue to show. And then it'll kind of be it. And that's how I know she's made it.”

No! Lanza. Is that not true? That's not true. That is actually true. But I totally why that happens. It's because we say away from each other, right? Before a show, like we're getting married, we made this joke on the first episode. Like the bright and groom can't do it. Just because we like, we talk so much. We have so much to say. We don't want

it. We want to save it for the party. So I safely came in here first. And I thought I'll just see

land when he comes in. But you know, I wasn't with him. So you could have. Did you have a good omelet? We made your breakfast. Thank you Ruby. Thank you to Ruby. Thank you to you for squeezing us in on. It is a crazy weekend. I know. And you have your show. You have your live show coming up later. Which is brilliant. I'm filled with soccer with London and Tim is so good. So thank you for coming on.

Ladies and gentlemen. Land of Galerician. Thank you. Forever. This female world compromise in the turning dreams and reality. They're giving away free tickets and pitchside access. Some lucky fans are getting the chance of a lifetime to watch the game up close on the field during gameplay, just for being a Verizon customer. If you're not with Verizon yet, now's the time to make the switch. This FIFA World Cup 2026 no one gets you closer

down for Verizon. We now come to you with our penultimate. I'm using that word as many times I can. I really love that word. Our penultimate bits and bobs. Rebecca, bit away. Okay. So you do know this story, but I'm just going to share it for our viewers and listeners. So last night my husband and my son Teddy, my husband Paul, my son Teddy came to New York because they're going to be here for the weekend. And it's basically the only time I'm going to see them is last

night quick dinner before all day I'm busy today and obviously all day tomorrow. So we went out for dinner. We decided to sit on that street on Fifth Avenue with like 23rdish. I'm not quite sure somewhere down there. We're all the restaurants around side, lovely. So we're sitting there having dinner. And we pride ourselves on trying to raise our child well. Okay. And one of the things we've tried to do over the years is because Teddy likes to chat. Okay. Love the chat. And we've been trying to explain,

you know, when mommy and daddy are having a conversation, just wait, don't interrupt. And then when we're done, then Teddy, you can interrupt. Okay. Then you can then you can say what you want to say.

“So that's what we're trying to teach him because it's good manners. Well, last night Paul and I”

having a conversation Teddy sitting there eating his dinner and the conversation ended and he said, "Mom, it's Brendan Hunt here for the World Cup final." And I said, "Yeah darling, yeah, he is because we're doing the podcast." And he goes, "Huh?" I said, "Why?" He said, "Because I just saw him walk past." Oh, well, what? Paul and then we were like, "Well, did you though?" So we said, was he wearing a hat? He goes, "Yeah. My husband goes, "Did he have a beard?" And then Teddy goes,

and he was wearing like a Hawaiian shirt with little tiny feet. And yeah, that's him. I said, "Yeah, that's a hundred percent of him." And so then, of course, I'm like, "You're kidding. Hang on, how long ago?" He's like, "Oh, good few minutes, but I didn't want it interrupts." So then we had to have a whole one of those typical parenting conversations when you're like, "Okay, there are moments where you can actually do against what Mum and Dad tell you."

They both, you know, huge fans, desperate to meet you. So then I phoned you to say, like, because I wasn't quite sure how long. And then you didn't answer, because you were of walking all the street. So then you text me, "Lay to say, did you call?" And I was like, "Yeah, Teddy thinks he saw you. Were you at this spot at this time?" You were like, "I sure was." I'm like, "I've got something for bits and bugs." So it was a great moment that hopefully you'll

“meet them tomorrow, but it's just one of those, I think, cracking moments.”

It's possible that Teddy knew exactly what he was doing. And because at that age you're always

looking for like, "All right, they love their rules, right?" But I'm going to remind them sometimes their rules are bullshit. So he saw me, he was weighted, he was weighted, you know what I mean, you know what I mean, you know what I mean? I'm fine. I'm fine. I'm such a good boy. Exactly, that'll teach you. Exactly, genius. Okay, what do you got? Very small thing, but when I was at the press box at what we can now again call a cowboy

stadium, which is actually not called that, but you know, it's what we call it when I was a kid. Anywho, I had one of those moments of someone rather too obviously like trying to like be charming with me because of, you know, having been familiar with my face on their screen for one purpose or another. And but the individual had a bit of a really tell-tale tell, like the most tell-tale tell that a person can have that they're just like trying too hard because so, you know,

going to press box, they get chicked in by this, you know, older Texas gentlemen. And I go at the batman, I'm going to come back in. This time he stops me. Like, oh, something now he knows who I am. He says, "Hey, how are you doing there?" Man, it's so great that you're here. Oh, I don't know about you. Sure, I think you do. You know what? I loved you and we're the millers.

“Here's the thing, everyone's a while someone tells me like, "Oh my god, I love you and we're the”

millers." And it's because they've gone to my IMDB page and that they're looking for like something they've seen out either. They've seen less, so they didn't have to do that. They know, I am. But I'm like, "Oh, we're the millers. I saw that." I'm not in where the millers. I filmed a scene for we're the millers. Even when we're shooting the scene, I was like, "That's not important to the story.

This is going to be a good cut." And it was fine. Until we find these things happen,

you can see me for literally like one second in the background, in the dark, doing a weird, like,

John Cleese exit. Like, there's a big, like, like, like, "Balk in the way. You cannot see. It's me. You do not know why I am." And so for him to be like, "Oh, just see her, believe." Like, "Oh, you were the millers. Man, you were great in that." Like, "What's up?" Thank you. It's so sweet. Oh, good story. You have more pictures.

Yeah, I do, I do. So it's just very quickly one very half a bit. Yesterday, so I did the Seth Meyers show as we've talked about, very exciting. But then I had to come and do something, something else. And I had to get there quickly. I was in a big rush for another situation. And I had no time at all. So I come out of Seth Meyers and the car's waiting for me again in the car.

They're like, "It's going to take 15 minutes. I haven't got 15 minutes." Or it's six minutes. I've got six minutes. I've got a walk, slash run. So I'm running down, I don't know what Avenue, a big Avenue in New York City. And I'm running and I'm in flip flops. It's not a great look. I've got full hair and makeup. There's a lot of sweat going on. It's not great.

Okay, I'm very stressed out. I've got to get to this place because I've only got 20 minutes. When I get there, then I've got to get somewhere else. And Western McKenney walks past me, right?

“It was, it was, it was, it was, it was, oh, what? Like, hey?”

And I've been talking about Western McKenney nonstop for six weeks. And so then I did a very embarrassing thing. So he walked past me. Right, cash ads. I don't want to do. I can't let that moment pass. Like, I've been talking about for six weeks. So I, I still turned around as he walked past.

And I just went, Western, at which point he turned and looked to me. And I just kept walking, I just went. I can't even say anything. For those, for those listening and not watching, Rebecca just turned, I would say, turn, helplessly, helplessly and give the help of the shrunk.

That was it, help of shrunk. What was that, Rebecca? I mean, you could have said anything. Although I, all else could have said nothing. I should have said nothing. She doesn't definitely have a reflection. But, you know, when you were like, no, no, he just turned back and I just kept walking.

I just got all the indigently. Oh, Western, he's like, who the hell was that? Just say, how dare they just say their name? And just he said, I said his name and then just kept walking. Because you know how quickly your brain works in those situations.

For a second, I was like, should I say congratulations?

Oh, I don't know if I should, I mean, I think congratulations are in order, but I, he might not think that. He might still be in it. So then I, do I say commissarations? I can't say commissarations. Because then I'm undoing all the great work that they did. So I ended up with just saying nothing.

And walked on my way. So that was a awkward moment across whatever avenue I was in. So listen to some viewers, God makes me feel a little bit ill thinking about it. Um, I asked a few episodes ago for some ideas, because it's coming soon. The end of the world is coming soon. And I don't know how to really go re-entry. I think it's called.

To be more specific for people who may have missed it. The end of the world, meaning, and not wrongly, the end of the world cup and like the horrible feeling of anti-climax and depression and all we that we all feel when it world cup is over.

It's still the end of the world. Okay. So I've had some suggestions. Not the fee for though. Not the fee for. Okay. I've had a cup of a fee for text. I had a cup of a fee for the fee for. You've done so well on the fee for.

Oh, I don't want to say. Okay. So, um, so lots of people have written in so kind. Thank you so much for all your suggestions. I've had to wittle it down for a few. Uh, mountain. Going up a mountain is a theme.

So Peter, bike 4221, get out and nature with your family. He said, I went to Seattle to watch the US meltdown. Then I went up Mount Rainer the next day. And it was a tonic for myself. The game's important. Sloss it's power when under the glory and grace of that majestic mountain.

And then Billy H. 3198 said, "I personally love the mountains outside Chiang Mai, Thailand." Hmm. I mean, I could go there. I don't want to be, you know, a stagnant. But how many mountains have you climbed?

I thought I'd be none. Oh, big one in my crib. Oh, massive. But no, no, no mountains for me.

“So I think I'm going to take you up guys.”

But I love the suggestion to get out and nature. I will definitely go for a walk. Then we've had evil ski 1302 Rebecca. I hear there'll be a new season of a show that you can binge dancing in earlier. I don't know what you're talking about. The wire or something.

Westwing. Well, you have the wire, I believe. Something like that, something like that. It's back. August the fifth, I think, it's back.

But I don't know which one that is. And then post World Cup Letdown says Lisa Dash 07W is painful. She said, "But the women's world cup helps me move on. That's next summer." Yeah.

So we can focus on the women.

But like the, it's the first year that's the toughest.

You know? It's the first day, mate. I'll probably honest with you. Yeah, for sure. It's Monday.

But can't wait. You've got to be Brazil. I'm going to be great. One last little help from actually a friend of mine, Stacey, who has sent in this. Rebecca, we will be in World Cup with Rurals from that data as well.

Our idea is to have you and the family over to our mobile pub at our home in our hometown. Invite your friends, share the stories and memories. But Brendan has to come to tell him he'll need to fly to California as well. It's okay, he lives there. But it's a little further away from where he lives.

And also she sent me a picture of the mobile pub in the garden.

“I think that could be a bit of us, mate.”

Sure. I think it feels like a bit of a... Oh, that's worth holding you hostage. Don't agree to be like, like, he can come for this time of support that I'm here for you for. Also, you've got to bring your friend.

I think the invite is just me and you and absolutely not just be myself. Love Stacey though, but she wants you there. She wants you there. Thank you, Stacey. Thank you, everybody who's sending in all of your things.

You may see me again. You may not who knows what happens after next week. Brendan, one more bit for us. Have another bit. I'm wearing my New York Cosmos shirt.

It was a gift. It's a play on the back, but I'm not like trying to taunt Argentinians or anything like that. I'm not trying to use Argentinian or Spanish or Brazilian, but I'm in New York. So New York Cosmos shirt. I've recommended this before, I recommend it again.

There's a wonderful documentary. It's very short called "Once in a Lifetime" and it's about the heyday of the North American Soccer League in which New York Cosmos came to fame. Interviews of people who were there at the time, including some great interviews with Yon Krof. And highly recommended, it's great diverting little watch.

But one thing about it, you've talked about how you wish there was an alternative to penalty kicks. Yeah. There's a segment where they focus on what were the, any a celebration of penalty kicks,

which is, there's like a run-up basically.

It's more like a hockey, hockey, penalty shot. Yeah. And... Is it from the halfway line? I don't think it's from the halfway line.

I think it's from like 30 yards. The balls on the spot. You dribbling with the ball. You're dribbling with the ball. Well, you can do whatever you want.

But like the ball is like 30 yards out and you get, you know, eight seconds or something like that. So you've got to just go straight one and one or do you try to chip the keeperity, try to shoot from far. One hand, it's like a little ridiculous.

But it's also more football, you don't think it kicks.

“And they ask you on crowd, like, what did you think of it?”

And you on crowd, you know, Dauer Dutchman goes, "I loved it." Really? Yeah. I'm kind of interested that no one's really brought that back or tried that out, because it is more footballly.

I mean, NLS tried a bunch of weird things and they have happened. Yeah, they have happened. And they must have been on the list. I'd like to give it a go. Good little movie, regardless.

Talking of things we're wearing. I'm not sure I made the best decision today. Two days after England got knocked out by Argentina. Did I go on the horizontal Argentina? Well, yeah, that was an error by me.

No, it's fine. You're just a betraying nation. What are we done? Uh, I guess so. We got to rush.

We got to get through this crowd that is just blocking all the time squares.

Everyone prepares to watch the third place game on the big screen there in the Great

Tradition. Yeah. Well, we'll see how it goes. Sorry, real quick side note. Did you know, for the final, there's going to be a watch policy in Central Park with

70,000 people. No. 70,000. Is that possible? I mean, what they said that sounds slightly better than trying to get to New Jersey.

Should we just do it there? Should we go there? Yeah. I'll meet you there. I'll be fine with it.

Okay. After the whistle will be back, after the whistle of the World Cup final on Sunday. Oh, my goodness. We're both coming straight from the stadium. I mean, we could do it in the stadium, but we haven't had a great record with that.

But we'll be there. Not what you're referring to. Commander, if you've enjoyed the show this season, please, drop a review on Apple Podcasts. Thank you so much. This is after the whistle from Apple News.

We have got one episode, like my friend. We're almost who talk about the third one.

game.

“I could find it just give two bronze medals.”

Fine.

Just give two bronze medals.

We're fine. Thank you.