Live #10: Pochettino, FIFA & The MLS Culture Problem

Reports indicate Mauricio Pochettino and U.S. Soccer are moving closer to a new agreement, but what would his return actually mean for American soccer?

Gary and Benny discuss why Pochettino’s biggest impact could come through changing the conversation around the game rather than simply coaching the national team. They also examine FIFA’s proposed commercial investment initiative, the immediate backlash from football’s governing bodies, and what the debate revealed about governance, incentives, and power in the sport.

Finally, they react to MLS’s viral “mic’d up fans” video and explain why it sparked a much larger conversation about soccer culture in the United States, before answering audience questions on player development, promotion and relegation, Americans playing abroad, and more.

Editor’s Note: This episode was recorded live on Friday, July 31, 2026, at 11:00 AM PT. At the time of recording, FIFA’s proposed commercial investment initiative was still under consideration. Later that day, FIFA announced it would not proceed with the proposal following significant opposition from multiple confederations. The discussion reflects the information available at the time of recording.

The discussion surrounding MLS’s viral “mic’d up fans” video remains intact. For the audio version of this episode, we’ve omitted the original video playback to provide a smoother listening experience. If you’d like to watch the video that prompted the discussion, you can find it in our original July 31 YouTube livestream.

00:00 Intro
02:36 Andrés Cantor Reports Pochettino Talks Are Going Well
04:23 Recap: Pochettino’s Future With the USMNT
11:03 U.S. Soccer Operates on Public Perception
13:02 Will Pochettino Impact Youth Soccer and Player Development?
18:12 Is Pochettino Returning a Good Thing?
24:34 FIFA Forward Enterprise Explained
29:40 Trump and FIFA
30:42 Are There Any Positives to FIFA Forward Enterprise?
33:45 Would There Be the Same Outrage If the Investor Were European?
34:27 The Hypocrisy of MLS, USMNT Fans, and Journalists
40:37 Is the English Championship Better Than MLS for Americans?
43:13 Reaction To MLS’s Viral “Mic’d Up Fans” IG Video
47:15 Doesn’t a Soccer Heritage Have to Start Somewhere?
49:20 American Sports Culture vs. Soccer Culture
51:55 Why Soccer Culture Isn’t Allowed to Grow
54:57 3four3 Goes Live Every Monday at 5 PM PT
58:01 Is 3four3 Open to Collaborations?

Premium Education for either Coaches or Parents

If you are a coach or a parent of a player, we’ve also codified and made available the remarkable work of a coach who trained and shepherded many, many players from the age of 9 all the way to graduating them to being professionals.

The products that show you how this was done, is what sponsors this episode.

Get aboard a proven path, a legitimately proven path, not something copied or synthesized from elsewhere, or worse. No, but rather a first hand account and curriculum directly from the source, from the practitioners themselves, whose work is unprecedented in the American soccer environment.

For Coaches

Learn the methodology at 343coaching.com.
If you’re coaching 7v7, we’ve got you covered at 7v7coaching.com.

For Parents

You don’t have to be lost and confused.
Learn to properly guide and develop your kid through the maze and pitfalls that is American soccer (from the folks who have actually done it).
Gain access at 343masterclass.com.

Never miss new episodes:

• Subscribe to 3four3 FM on iTunes
• Subscribe to 3four3 FM on Stitcher
• Subscribe to 3four3 FM on Spotify

Parent Education Program