Hercules Gomez on the USMNT'S World Cup qualifying hopes, Gregg Berhalter & "Toxic" Fan Culture. 

Raw thought: love hearing Herc being truly expressive without any pressure he really brought it and love how 11 and tac let him get his thoughts off. He’s a legend for US soccer and love how Pete also didn’t back down from any challenges. Need more airtime from tac as always but great to hear this and let’s please qualify!!

Yes, Yes, Yes. More nuanced conversations about soccer. Fantastic interview/conversation.

Herc is the GOAT. He was able to get an English language soccer show on ESPN that focuses on our region. That had, let me check my notes, NEVER been done before!

Gregg Berhalter is taking these qualifiers for granted. His own ego is what is keeping Brooks off rosters. We don't play our best players every game and berhalter builds rosters based on his favorites. At the end of the day it comes down to Berhalter. Futbol Americas needs to be more accessible , not everyone has ESPN +.

Thanks for having someone who gives there opinion straight!

Really appreciate the product you put out. Proud of you guys.

Herc is the bomb! Always giving back to the beautiful game.

Jordan Pefok, Josh Sargent and John Brooks are all playing extremely well of late. All 3 need to be brought into the next camp... John Brooks probably the most consistent US player overseas since beginning of year....

Thanks Herc. Great discussion. Keep up the great work guys.

Herc and Seba are the best in the mainstream. Kudos on getting him in there and a spirited discussion.

Love the interview/discussion. Keep it up

Awesome content like always!

Good conversation... but Greg ball is maddening... Patty cake across the backline, allowing defenses to compact. We need to be WAY more direct and get our talent into space.

I'd like say that the US without McKennie and Reyna is similar to Canada without Davies and Eustáquio, but I fear this isn't the case. It's going to be very tough. Depth will obviously make the difference.

love it. so nice to hear Herc stretch out w you guys.

CanMexUS should make it. That said, credit to Costa Rica and Panama for making this final octagonal window a scary one for the aforementioned teams. This is almost why we love the game!

Herc, Ima say this. Fútbol americas is my favorite show and is the only reason why i check out the espn fc RU-vid channel. Plus I get really excited when you join segments with the “bigger” pundits. Keep doing what you’re doing. It’s tunnel vision for the rest of us.

Awesome interviews guys 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️

I'm really psyched to see Herc on youtube, and becoming part of the tactical yank fam.

dope bro! keep up the good work!

Awesome conversations!!

Very good / knowledgeable interview.

Man I've been watching your channel for a year and I've never learned more about the game than I have from you. I love your cocktail of knowledge and passion. Thanks for making being a fan of the USMNT such an enjoyable experience.

Think about not qualifying from 1954 through 1986 on what that did.

Thanks Herc! Talking to the people!

Thanks, this was great.

herc just droppin' soccer *science!* 😎 much thanks...

Pete, love back and forth on this. Nice to see Herc be able to fully explain his thoughts rather than being restricted to short answers like on F.A. I don't know if you or Filippo can arrange this, but I would love to see Sebastian Salazar on your show. Bright guy who is equally willing to give it to you as he sees it.

great interview

This deserves so many more views.

Really appreciate these conversations. Hope to have you one day on our pod

“adapt or die” - Love Herc and 11 Yanks’ take on covering soccer. Well said.

Herc’s the man

I'm big fan of American Soccer.😊😇🥰🤗

I have held my tongue over the pundits on major networks because their lack of criticism of Gregg Berhalter and I don’t know of any others but Herc just called out Triple G and I loved it! It was refreshing to hear him be honest and especially if fans are blaming the players performance. I hate to be right and God knows I only want us to qualify but the problem has never been the players but the man who is putting them on the field and that is Gregg Berhalter. Great interview and thanks to be both Tac and Pete for bringing it to us!

Herc, get these guys on ESPN

I thought the part about Bounty Sports was really interesting and totally agreed with it.

What exposed conversation between Gregg and LDLT was herc mentioning?

I want to know if any of those 20 coaches of Herc made him memorize PowerPoint slides?🤔

So 19 minutes in I gathered hurt feelings and "relationships" will continue hold this team back...

Herc is the best. Nothing better then a real soccer discussion that isn’t filled with the USSF politically correct takes. He says what he truly feels. Not what Don Garber and USSF want to hear.

Top notch discussion. I think Couva hurt Pulisic big time. He was on top of the world at that point, letting the game come to him, and taking his opportunities. I think he felt like he had to make sure they didn’t fail again and he’s just been trying to do too much . He’s still fantastic and still young so I do think if and when they qualify he’ll settle in again. Such great talent all over though. Need someone to lead them and get them organized the right way.

Wow, just watched this video and love how Herc lecture both of this guys. Trying to push back but Herc drops true analysis with substance. Watch and learn Pete and Filipo. Watch and Learn. Actual profesional experience and being in a World Cup is a thing. I am dying… 😂

Dang, Herc scared me again, I just ate a half a sandwich and I’m terrified that Herdman is gonna eat the other half…is it gonna happen again?

I believe we are getting 6 points this window

Hercules Gomez is the soccer equivalent of Jeff Passan. That's a compliment. Probably the only good US soccer media pundit.

Convos/interviews with Herc gotta be my fav series on petes n tacs channels n herc is totally right about you guys inspiring fans to be more demanding n progressive, I'm proof lol

Would love if you can get Flippo, Seb, Herc, and you on one as well. Would be like the four horsemen of Concacaf.

That ad caught me off guard lol

Has Pepi really been great? If you’re going to hesitate mentioning Pulisic due to the last qualifying window then why is Pepi automatic? What has he done since his first qualifying opportunity?

Brooks needs to be there. Without Weston, we have no air attack. Set pieces will be key. Wish Dike was fit.

Berhalter is the main reason why this team is not playing to its fullest potential. He is single handedly the biggest issue in this team. And USSF is the second main reason - for hiring this fool.

Re: the discussion at 29 minutes. Maybe our target should not be to put our expectations where European expectations are, but rather where our expectations are for NBA or NFL.

Did Herc just say ya'll might be able to have a cable show someday?

Come on Herc, LDT didnt expose any private conversations, he just said they weren't having any conversations, not the same.

What did LDLT do with Greg that Herc reference that he said was a mistake?

GGS

I’m scared 😳

Pete and Tact will be on the USMNT Media Mount Rushmore one day.

Ha ha he mentioned the Gonzalez own goal. To this day still the most stupendously careless and incompetent play ive ever watched in soccer on any level.. Makes me nauseous just thinking about it LOL.

Herc was right. Ate Pete's lunch.

in 2006 I was yelling at the TV while USMNT was not playing up to my standards, and the door bell rang; it was the cops wanting to know what the yelling was about. this country is not ready for world football yet. 2026 might not be ripe but it could be good.

where is kuva? why is it referred to as the worst day

On the toxicity I think the only bit of it that comes out is goal post moving for the sake of manufacturing criticism. There's enough to criticize without inventing reasons

Get Seba on next 👍

Everyone knows there is a "quota" for MLS. Stop sugar quoting it, but if there is a golden standard it should be throughout Europe and MLS players alike.

I don’t agree with herc on the lletget and roldan situation. The locker room stuff doesn’t warrant them spot. If you can play you should be there, the excuse of locker room is pretty outplayed

Said the same thing on Twitter about LDT divulging info about his conversation with GGG being a possible reason for his exclusion and Pete jumped on me. But Herc says it and it's all nods. SMH.

Nice video. Thanks!! I am so out of touch, I thought the complaints were about anonymous posters that make personal insults, not media people like you guys or HG. I don't think any of you 3 are toxic but I do think a lot of people post toxic comments but that is what social media is. Please insult me in your response ..

inzaghi is the better player (yes, cause I say so). So, there, it's settled!

I have respect for Herc, and at least he does call out the coach from time to time, but I really do not agree with most of his points. He said he would never want to be a coach and I think that's a smart decision...

Loved herc for the usmnt. Gritty player who always gave it his all and had a rocket of a shot BUT the dude seems a made for tv and especially made for Espn caricature. Everything is overhyped and over dramatized. Some people like that, I find it dull and geared toward the unintelligent. Hes our version of Craig Burley. Anyway disagree with any media being shut out but cant say its surprising when all he has to say about the team and or program is negative over dramatic bull shit half the time

Once again, another U.S.analyst says that "Canada is punching above it's weight"... No they are not and you spoke about arrogance, well that's what that statement is. Is John Herdman a great coach? Yes, clearly he is and his team is always motivated & really well prepared; but it is the players who have to go out & win it. If the U.S. & Mexico are more talented, prove it to us. Canada is undefeated. They have the best goal differential & it's not even close, with the most goals for & the least against. Canada is only the 2nd team in Concacaf history to win 6 straight in the qualifiers. Canada has gotten better each round & had 3 clean sheets (shut-outs) in the last round, playing without their best player & their best midfielder & versus the U.S., they also played without their 2nd best midfielder, Atiba Hutchinson. Maybe it's that these analysts have not looked into the real depth of the Canadian team. So let me introduce you to the usual starting players: For my money, Canada clearly has the best group of forwards in Concacaf. Canada has one of the best Left back/winger in the world in Alphonso Davies. Jonathan Davies was the top goal scorer per game in the Championship league for most of the season. A league that has Messi and many other world stars in it. Cyle Larin is a very good player plays as a forward for Super Lig club Besiktas & the #1 goal scorer in Concacaf this past year. Tajon Buchanan just joined Club Brugge in Belgium & is already turning heads with his outstanding play & is projected by many to be a star. Stephen Eustaquio plays as a midfielder for primeira Liga club Porto, one of the best teams in Europe. He may have been the best midfielder in Concacaf so far in the qualifiers! Atiba Hutchinson is a proven veteran & plays as a midfielder & captain of for Super Lig club Besiktas. Richie Lareya is an excellent Right-back midfielder who plays for Nottingham Forest in England & has starred throughout these qualifiers. Steven de Sousa Vitória is another proven veteran, who plays as a centre-back for Primeira Liga club Moreirense and has been a defensive star in the qualifiers. Alistair Johnson plays in the MLS in Montreal & has impressed most experts. At 23 most feel that he will be acquired by a European team in the near future. Milan Borjan is another proven veteran, who plays & stars as a goalkeeper and captains Serbian SuperLiga club Red Star in Belgrad. Without doubt he has been the best goalkeeper im Concacaf during these qualifiers. There are many other excellent players; but this group alone should convince anyone with any sense at all, that under the inspiring & brilliant coaching of John Herdman that this team takes 2nd place to no other Concacaf team in Concacaf and is more than capable of doing major damage in the World cup. * For future reference on this topic, Canada also has several excellent young players who will almost certainly join this fairly young team within the next couple of years. 2026 is very promising!!!

I’m sick of hearing about 2018. When are we going to live through the windshield and stop living through the rear view mirror.

Futbol Americas is on google podcasts for 100% free if y’all want to check out but don’t have ESPN+