Dest Injury, Messi White House Backlash & Which MLS Coach Is Next on the Hot Seat?

from The Cooligans · host The Cooligans

The international break drama starts with a major blow for the United States as Sergiño Dest goes down with another injury. Alexis and Christian analyze how big the loss is for Mauricio Pochettino’s system and explore the realistic options the USMNT has at right-back moving forward. Is there a clear replacement, or does the position become a tactical problem heading into upcoming friendlies? The conversation then shifts to Lionel Messi and Inter Miami’s visit to the White House—an appearance that sparked unexpected backlash, particularly among Argentine fans. The hosts unpack why the moment created controversy, how politics and sports collided online, and whether it has any real impact on Messi’s legacy or public perception. Finally, the guys turn their attention to Major League Soccer and the pressure building on managers whose teams are stuck at the bottom of the Supporters’ Shield standings. With results not improving and expectations rising across the league, Alexis and Christian debate which coach might be the next casualty of MLS’s increasingly impatient ownership groups. Timestamps: (10:30) – Who can replace Dest? (25:35) - Messi and Inter Miami Visit the White House (43:47) – MLS Teams starting the season bottom of the Supporter’s Shield (45:00)- What coach could potentially be fired? Subscribe to The Cooligans on your favorite podcast app:🎧 Apple Podcasts🎧 Spotify🖥️ YouTube📢 Check out the Yahoo Sports podcast network or yahoosports.tv

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Mar 10, 2026

Embed this episode

Attribution link and audio player

What this episode covers

Alexis and Christian break down the latest headlines across soccer, starting with the injury to Sergiño Dest and the growing concern over who can step up at right-back for the USMNT. They also dive into the backlash Lionel Messi and Inter Miami faced after their White House visit, unpacking why the reaction has been so divided among fans. To close the show, the guys look around MLS and debate which struggling coach—currently sitting near the bottom of the Supporters’ Shield table—might be the next to lose their job.