Jul 1, 2026 · 51 min
Brian Noe makes the case against Team USA
Hour 3 – Go Away U.S.A??
The episode turns World Cup fandom into a debate over coaching, national loyalty, and the fine print governing soccer bets.
- 1Brian Noe argues against backing the United States men's team because of his objections to Mauricio Pochettino's management.
- 2A caller named Poppy offers a World Cup parlay involving England, Belgium, and Team USA.
- 3The crew examines penalty-shootout pressure and how regulation-time betting rules can overturn expectations.
Don't miss
Brian Noe explains why he is rooting against Team USA, tying the position to Mauricio Pochettino's management.
The brief
Brian Noe opens with a deliberately unpopular position: he is rooting against the United States men's national team in the World Cup knockout round, largely because of Mauricio Pochettino.
Noe's case focuses on Pochettino's theory of relegation and his reaction to a group-stage loss, turning a national-team debate into a test of managerial judgment.
The conversation shifts to World Cup betting as Lorraine discusses soccer loyalties and Poppy in San Diego proposes a three-way parlay involving England, Belgium, and Team USA.
The crew then weighs the high-stakes intensity of penalty shootouts and explains why soccer bets settled on regulation time can produce especially frustrating surprises.
Noe closes with a personal story about getting hosed by betting fine print, giving the episode's broader argument a concrete lesson in how rules shape sports fandom.
Featuring
Mauricio Pochettino
United States men's national soccer teamListen to the full episode and explore every guest, topic, and moment on PodLume.