As the United States prepares to co-host the 2026 FIFA World Cup, former USA managers Jürgen Klinsmann, Bob Bradley and Steve Sampson, join host Stu Holden for an unprecedented look behind the curtain of the American soccer machine. The crew dives into the all-time U.S. moments at the World Cup, the high-stakes recruitment of dual nationals, and the heavy burden of making roster cuts that define a nation’s legacy.
CHAPTERS:
0:00 Intro
2:42 Getting the call to manage the U.S. Men’s National Team
7:12 How did Steve Sampson scout players for the national team leading up to the 1994 World Cup?
10:19 How important is MLS to developing American players for Bob Bradley?
12:38 How did Jürgen Klinsmann juggle being USA manager, technical director and trying to improve MLS?
15:26 How did Jürgen Klinsmann manage the USA players leaving Europe for more money in the MLS?
17:50 Steve Sampson explains how MLS impacted his player selection for the 1998 World Cup
19:10 Bob Bradley sets the record straight on whether a number MLS players are mandated by the federation to be on the roster
20:49 How did Jürgen Klinsmann evaluate the talent of the USA player pool?
24:14 Bob Bradley describes how the USA can start developing world class talent
26:12 Jürgen Klinsmann’s take on how the American soccer mentality and culture has to change to be more successful
31:47 Steve Sampson addresses how important the USMNT’s history of scheduling tough opponents before a World Cup
34:17 Bob Bradley explains the team mentality and composition leading up to the upset of Spain in the Confederations Cup semifinal in 2009
38:29 Jürgen Klinsmann breaks down how he built out his USMNT rosters
41:02 How did Jürgen Klinsmann manage dual nationality players and how they fit into the roster?
42:44 Steve Sampson talks about bringing in dual national David Regis on the 1998 World Cup team
43:56 Steve Sampson on how Gio Reyna is a difficult decision for the USMNT roster
44:26 Bob Bradley’s observations on a player’s character and how they fit the roster
45:17 Stu Holden and Bob Bradley discuss how hard roster decisions are
45: 54 – Bob Bradley’s hardest roster decisions
47:04 Jürgen Klinsmann’s hardest roster decisions
48:17 How did Jürgen Klinsmann make the hard roster decisions?
49:00 Steve Sampson’s hardest roster decisions and how his assistants helped out
50:39 Bob Bradley on how an in-form player can sneak onto the USMNT roster
52:46 Jürgen Klinsmann’s expands on how he selected his team for Brazil
55:13 “The night before” speech from Bob Bradley and Stu Holden’s reaction
57:13 Steve Sampson’s “The night before” speech
58:30 Jürgen Klinsmann’s “The night before” speech
1:00:15 Franz Beckenbauer’s speech to the German team, Jürgen Klinsmann ahead of the FIFA World Cup Final
1:01:34 Bob Bradley’s reaction to Landon Donovan’s goal against Algeria at the 2010 FIFA World Cup
1:04:01 Jürgen Klinsmann’s reaction to Clint Dempsey’s goal vs Ghana in the 2014 FIFA World Cup
1:05:44 Steve Sampson’s reaction to Eric Wynalda’s free kick goal against Switzerland in the 1994 FIFA World Cup
1:07:10 Steve Sampson’s reaction to the game against Brazil before the 1998 FIFA World Cup
1:07:51 Steve Sampson vs Jurgen Klinsmann at the 1998 FIFA World Cup
1:12:15 Bob Bradley’s expectations for the USA at the 2026 FIFA World Cup
1:14:25 Jürgen Klinsmann’s psychology behind whether the USA can win a World Cup and what it takes
1:18:55 Steve Sampson’s take on the psychology to win the World and expectations for this cup
1:20:29 Bob Bradley’s key USA contributors for this World Cup
1:23:21 Jürgen Klinsmann breaks down the USA forwards
1:25:41 Bob Bradley’s most influential coach in his career
1:27:19 Jürgen Klinsmann’s most influential coach in his career, including Phil Jackson
1:29:53 Steve Sampson’s most influential coach in his career
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Sincerely hope you enjoy this one-of-a-kind peak behind the curtain from 3 amazing coaches. I was so pumped when the idea for this was pitched and it came out so great!!!!
Also, with hindsight obviously, Jurgen’s decision to leave Landon off the 2014 squad was one of, if not the worst decision in USMNT history. It was solely for personal reasons. If was for soccer reasons, you could say okay, it’s clear that Landon was a step slow. But he came back, and was on fire! He was clearly one of our best players available. Now does Landon help us get over Belgium? Who knows, but having Landon coming off the bench in the 70th would’ve made a difference
Bob is 100% correct. Because we’re now in the Nations League era, we no longer have the schedule to travel to Europe, South America, etc. Which is a detriment to the national team because those trips mid-cycle are so pivotal for your team as a measuring stick just to see where you’re at. We never travel anymore, and because we mostly play at home against Panama, Guatemala, etc, we see uninspiring players. These players still need to be challenged, but without qualification this cycle, that challenge is gone
Take a shot every time Sampson says “literally” 😂
This country will never produce a world class star if the federation continues the stupidity and nepotism it has. Clean house in the federation and build on what Juergen and Bob said then you might have more of a possibility
If MLS wants players representing in the World cup, amazing, There should be an open try out for any American Citizen that fit the role. Draw viewers; bring a NFL or future draftee heading to MLS instead.
No hate allowed for any of these three coaches. USMNT history. Pumped for this summer despite the adversity. A lot of you fair weather fans have no idea how hard it was back in the day and also no idea how attitude carried the day for us on numerous occasions
Where’s Bora?
Yeah I could yell at these guys for hours lol.
Steve Sampson love Gio. Love that
Bruce Arena should have been there too, but thanks for presenting this. I realize he might not have been available or willing. But…
Always been ridiculous that the US claim their group in 2014 was the group of death when Costa Rica (Better than the US) was in a group with Italy (Better than Ghana), Uruguay (better than a mediocre Portugal with an injured Ronaldo), and England (not better than Germany but also better than Ghana and the US) and still made it out in first place.
This is an incredible document in US Soccer History. Well Done SH! Great insight from the coaches. It was a real pleasure viewing it. We need more of this. Keep it going!
Ugh. Stu? The kid brother to Alexi's cultural poison into what is US Soccer? Can we get a real host in here please?
I have to laugh that Stu kept including Italy when ranking teams who can win a World Cup when they've missed three straight
🇺🇸
Bruce epic fail in 2018 and not playing Dempsey the GOAT. And Kilnnsman not including the other GOAT, Donovan. (Cant coach everyone the same) Bedoya better than Donovan, seriously!? Laughable. Bob Bradley would have been better in 2018. Always liked him and especially 2009 run. Sampson had a dysfunctional team for 1998 WC. Hoping for better days, but it starts with US Soccer Federation, which is old school, bloated and not progressive. Until they change, we can expect more of the same. Still cheering the boyz all the way! Usa usa!!
Bob sounds bitter he handed the baton to jurgen 😮
Berhalter has a job coaching Chicago Fire. MLS season in progress. No time for coffee talk.
Interesting enough no berhalter 😂😂😂
Bruce Arena and Gregg Berhalter weren't invited?
This is cool! Only would have been better with GGG and Bruce
Looking forward to seeing yanks not make it out of the group stage 😂😅
klinsmann is a clown
Americans are UNREAL with their delusional pride. What great coach with a choice wants to go with the USA team?? Be happy that you're having the World Cup and try humility for once so you can actually learn and grow. There's nothing about US soccer that is "superpower"-adjacent. This is one you're going to keep losing… This discussion is another example: you have to criticize! Stop the hype, stop "trying". Point fingers, demand better. This is sport, it's competitive, there are losers.
Bob Bradley plz take over from matt crocker, we need u