Gio Savareses 2026 MLS...

This week, The Cooligans are thrilled to host former MLS head coach and analyst Giovanni Savarese, diving deep into what to expect for the 2026 MLS season. Gio discusses his forecasts, highlights breakout teams, and explores the league’s evolution as it gears up for a monumental year on home turf. The discussion also shifts to the USMNT, where they evaluate the pressures, expectations, and realistic definitions of success for the upcoming 2026 World Cup.

In a serious turn, Christian and Alexis address the alarming racist incident involving Vinícius Júnior during Real Madrid’s recent match against Benfica. They critique the current handling of such incidents, consider whether the burden to halt a match should rest on the player experiencing abuse, and discuss what structural changes could be implemented to better safeguard players in the future.

Lastly, the episode wraps up with an exciting recap of the Champions League action. Folarin Balogun impresses with a standout performance against Paris Saint-Germain, Juventus faces a surprising defeat against Galatasaray, and Bodø/Glimt achieves an unexpected victory over Inter Milan. The guys react to all the thrilling moments and what these results mean for the teams involved.

Timestamps:

(6:30) – Predictions and preview for the 2026 MLS season

(30:00) – Gio Savarese discusses the USMNT’s prospects for the World Cup

(39:00) – Vinícius Júnior’s confrontation with racism: Is it time for new rules?

(59:00) – Folarin Balogun stands out in Champions League match against PSG

(1:04:30) – Serie A teams face unexpected Champions League losses