U.S. vs Ecuador & Australia Preview + 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifying Outlook

Alexi Lalas and David Mosse gear up for the USMNT’s October window with plenty of burning questions. Will the U.S. lock in a back three, or shift back to a traditional four? How will they adapt without Dest — and with Jedi Robinson on limited minutes? And if you bring four goalkeepers, shouldn’t at least two get a shot?

Alexi reveals his Starting XI for the window — featuring Matt Freese in goal, a veteran back line, and Pulisic and Balogun leading the charge against Ecuador and Australia.

Around the globe, World Cup qualifying gets wild: CAF, AFC, UEFA, and CONCACAF races all heating up, while MLS playoff spots hang in the balance with Messi’s Miami fighting for position and Jordi Alba’s farewell on the horizon.

Then it’s #AskAlexi and One for the Road, where Alexi salutes Darlington Nagbe — one of the best to ever do it.

Chapters
Intro (0:00)
3 Burning Questions for USMNT Window: Back 3 vs Back 4? (5:02)
Alexi’s Best Starting XI (11:36)
2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifying Preview (21:07)
MLS Weekend Preview: Messi double duty? (32:42)
#AskAlexi: Why the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be a huge success (37:31)
Happy Trails Darlington Nagbe - Alexi’s GOAT (44:39)

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About Alexi Lalas' State of the Union Podcast:
U.S. Soccer legend Alexi Lalas discusses the biggest stories in the world of soccer from an American perspective. Join Alexi and soccer guru David Mosse, as they break down the USMNT, USWNT, MLS, Bundesliga, Premier League, World Cup & everything in between.

U.S. vs Ecuador & Australia Preview + 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifying Outlook
www.youtube.com/@StateOfTheUnion