Skip to content
PMTPMT DB

Takes

Void
Big CatBig Cat

The US Men's National Team is soft and needs to play with more 'grit' to win the World Cup

We need more grit. Like that was the thing when watching the Gold Cup... we were soft. So if we suck at soccer, that's fine. We can't be soft and suck. And that was what I hated... Little grit. Little little push 'em around a little.

Subjective sports philosophy on team culture.
Void
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

Soccer needs a rule change where the clock stops on all dead balls in the last 20 minutes

I think just if you made a rule last 20 minutes of the game, the clock stops when the ball goes out of bounds. Clock stops on every foul, every penalty. What's wrong with that?

This is an opinion on how a sport should be governed.
Open
Roger BennettRoger Bennett

Norway is the best bet to win the World Cup at 25-1 odds

I would put all of my money, Big Cat... on I love Norway, man. Norway, they've not been in the tournament for a generation. They've got a talented squad... Erling Haaland... is that man... With him leading this talented squad... ninth best odds... Norway best bets to just impulsive man.

The World Cup hasn't happened yet.
Loss
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

The 2026 World Cup draw will be rigged in favor of the United States.

The World Cup draw is tomorrow. ... I think this is gonna be the most rigged draw ever for the United States. And I put together my, this is my pick for our group: USA, Iran, South Africa, New Zealand.

Hot TakeSoccerHotSarcastic
The 2026 World Cup draw placed the USA in Group D with Australia, Paraguay, and a UEFA playoff winner — not with Iran, South Africa, and New Zealand as PFT predicted. The draw was not conspicuously 'rigged' for the US either, as Australia and Paraguay are competitive opponents.
Push
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

The World Cup draw will be rigged for the United States

If anyone could pull it off, Trump doesn't care about soccer. Oh he does. He he's, he took the ball from FIFA. He's been bragging to everybody about how he got the World Cup. Make that happen buddy. Iceland is the smallest country to qualify for the World cup.

PredictionSoccerHotSarcastic
The 2026 World Cup draw (December 2025) gave the USA a favorable Group D with Paraguay, Australia, and a European playoff winner. Conspiracy theorists rejoiced.
Void
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

Luis Suarez's passion for soccer is so high that he's still spitting on staff members in MLS games

I kind of admire Luis Suarez's passion in that he's still so fired up for soccer that he's spitting on an old guy in a Seattle Miami MLS game... that passion's never gone away. He just blacks out. I think that's why he's not retired from soccer.

Subjective interpretation of a player's behavior and motivations.
Void
Adam FriedlandAdam Friedland

Being an American soccer fan is the 'worst kind of guy you could be'

Being an American soccer fan is like, it's the, it's just the worst kind of guy you could be. Really? It's just the most [lame]. I live in Brooklyn, and I like footy. Like, it's just like shut up, you know.

Purely a subjective social critique.
Void
MaxMax

Soccer is the most boring popular sport in the world

Soccer? Don't under don't understand. It's the most popular sport in the world. Yep. By far. Yep. And I watch a game and it seems so fucking boring. Like I get the moment that you get the goal is very fun. But every other moment in between it is like, when are they gonna fucking do something?

Loss
Rob MacRob Mac

Wrexham's three consecutive promotions are a first in the history of English football

It's been wild. I mean, it's never, it's never happened before in the history of English football. No team has ever gone back to back to back. And that's, that's what we did this past year.

While a massive achievement, it is factually incorrect that no team has ever done it; teams like Northampton Town (1960-63) and Luton Town (2014-19) have achieved similar or better streaks of consecutive promotions.
Void
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

CONCACAF is rigged to ensure the United States doesn't win the Gold Cup

I join the chorus of those who were saying CONCACAF rigged. They don't want to see the United States win the Gold Cup. They'd much rather have it be Mexico.

Mexico beat the US 2-1 in the 2025 Gold Cup Final, adding fuel to the CONCACAF conspiracy fire.
Void
Big CatBig Cat

The United States might actually just suck at soccer

So if [Pochettino] loses it's the, we might suck at soccer. Yeah, we might suck at soccer. Okay. I've been saying that.

The USMNT's performance relative to other global powers is a matter of debate, but recent tournament failures support this perspective.
Loss
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

The USMNT will beat Mexico in the Gold Cup final but will inevitably disappoint in their next major tournament

The US is gonna play against Mexico in the finals. We're going to beat Mexico in the finals and we're all gonna be like US soccer's back. We're good. And then we're gonna blow it again in the next tournament that we play. It's the pageantry and the spectacle of the Gold Cup.

PFT predicted the US would beat Mexico in the Gold Cup final and then blow it in the next tournament. The US actually lost TO Mexico 2-1 in the 2025 Gold Cup Final on July 6, 2025 in Houston. The first part of the prediction was wrong.
Void
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

Kylian Mbappé suing for 'lofting' is a loser move that confirms he is a bad hang

I Mbappé is suing PSG still for $60 million in unpaid wages. And he also claims that PSG lofted him... It involves isolating or leaving a player out from the main squad... it sounds like he's a bad hang. He might be suing PSG for being a loser... his lawsuit should be thrown out immediately because if you sue for lofting, you're actually immediately saying, 'this is why I got lofted.'

The 'loser' status and 'bad hang' labels are subjective character judgments.
Void
ZacZac

The World Cup belongs on the Mount Rushmore of professional sports playoffs

Mount Rushmore of Professional Sports Playoffs... I'm gonna go football. One. I'm gonna go basketball. Two. I'm gonna go, I'll go hockey. Three. I would like to go World Cup four if that's okay.

Subjective ranking of playoff formats.
Void
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

Sepp Blatter's acquittal proves FIFA is not a corrupt organization

Anyone that was pointing a finger at Sepp Blatter and saying that FIFA is corrupt... Guess what? You're wrong. He's been officially cleared. FIFA. It turns out, plot twist, not corrupt. Everything's above board in FIFA.

This is a literal statement of fact regarding the court ruling used to support a satirical conclusion about the organization's character.
Open
Andrew LuckAndrew Luck

The US Men's National Team will win the 2026 World Cup

[Are we going to win the World Cup?] You bet we are. Why not? I'm eternally optimistic as a US soccer fan... the World Cup's gonna be here and in Mexico and Canada. It's fun to root for America.

The 2026 World Cup has not happened yet.
Void
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

The current USMNT roster is the most talented the United States has ever had heading into a World Cup

The roster that we have right now... going into this World Cup, that is the best roster that the US will have ever had at that point. Just looking at the players that play competitively overseas, that's as talented as we've ever been.

Subjective assessment of roster talent compared across eras.
Open
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

The Mauricio Pochettino hire is a grand slam for US Soccer

In soccer terms, it's a grand slam... It's a grand slam touchdown of a hire. I think it's safe to say that this will be a big disappointment if we don't get to the quarterfinals [of the World Cup].

Pochettino is objectively one of the highest-profile managers the USMNT has ever hired. The 'disappointment' aspect is pending the 2026 World Cup.
Open
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

The USMNT needs to win at least one knockout game in the World Cup

I think it's safe to say that this will be a big disappointment if we don't, I think disappointment would be losing in the knockout round. I think that we need to win at least one knockout round game. I think we should get to the quarterfinals.

The 2026 World Cup hasn't happened yet.
Win
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

England soccer is never going to 'come home'

It's not coming home. Not coming home. It's never gonna come home. It left, it walked out the door. You got empty Nest syndrome. It's not coming back. England soccer is just, it's gotta be brutal to root for.

England lost the Euro 2024 final shortly before this recording.
Loss
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

Dan Campbell would be a successful head coach for the US Men's National Soccer Team

Number four. I think Dan Campbell could do it actually. Absolutely. 'Cause what we need is we need passion out of our players. I think Dan Campbell will figure soccer out.

Dan Campbell was not hired; Mauricio Pochettino was.
Void
Big CatBig Cat

Offsides should be removed from soccer

Offsides should be taken out of soccer. There should be no offsides.

This is a subjective opinion on rule changes.
Loss
Big CatBig Cat

USA soccer is back and will win a World Cup now that Gregg Berhalter is fired

Greg Berhalter has been fired yet again. We did it guys. Congratulations. USA soccer is back on the map. We're so back now. We're gonna win a World Cup.

Hyperbolic sarcasm; the US has not won the World Cup.
Void
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

The USMNT will never be great until the players care enough to fight fans in the stands

The United States will never be great at soccer until our players care enough to go into the stands and fight people from other countries. It just means more. That somehow a Malice at the Palace situation... these guys just fucking care about soccer.

The take is inherently subjective as it links greatness to fan-fighting, which isn't a standard metric.
Win
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

The USMNT must fire Gregg Berhalter now or give up on the 2026 World Cup

Our players didn't play that well, but our coaching stunk. And so now he's gotta be fired. We gotta fire Greg. Now's time. If we're not gonna fire him now, just might as well give up on the World Cup.

Gregg Berhalter was fired on July 10, 2024, just one week after this episode aired.
Win
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

The USMNT's Copa America match against Uruguay will be their first real test

Uruguay is gonna be a good game. They're very good. We beat the dastardly Bolivians... Panama, they stink. And then Uruguay, they're always good in these tournaments.

The US lost to Uruguay 1-0 and was eliminated in the group stage, confirming Uruguay was indeed a tough opponent.
Open
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

The USMNT should reach the quarterfinals of the 2026 World Cup

I think our ceiling is probably the semi-finals at the very best in the next World Cup... Quarterfinals in the World Cup. And we've got a good enough team. The players are good enough to do it.

The 2026 World Cup has not happened yet.
Win
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

Gregg Berhalter is a shitty coach

Our coach stinks. And having him get this tie against Brazil is gonna—because we are a loser country in soccer—[make people think] Greg's got the team on the right track and he's not gonna be fired... I do know that it's gonna be bad news if he's the coach of the World Cup team.

Gregg Berhalter was fired in July 2024 following the USMNT's poor performance in the Copa America.
Push
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

The USMNT's tie against Brazil is actually 'bad news' because it keeps Gregg Berhalter around

This was a bad tie because now it's gonna keep a shitty coach around because people are gonna be like, 'Good job Greg. You're coaching for your job and you got a major win when you tied Brazil.' ... It's gonna be bad news if he's the coach of the World Cup team.

Berhalter was eventually fired after the 2024 Copa America disaster, so the tie didn't save him forever.
Win
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

The US Men's National Team should fire Greg Berhalter

I just wanna say that the United States men's national team should fire Greg Berhalter on the record. He was fired in 2022 and then they brought him back... we lost five one to Colombia. Right. And this is... it's not gonna happen. We know it's not gonna happen, but we're still keeping 'em around and it's very frustrating.

Berhalter was eventually fired on July 10, 2024, after a poor showing in Copa America.
Void
Big CatBig Cat

NBA players would win the World Cup for the US in four months if they switched to soccer

If the Bucks decided that they wanted to be the US men's national team in soccer, we'd win a World Cup. No problem. Pick any sport. They'd be our best soccer player without a doubt. Give them four months.

Highly unlikely given the technical skill required for professional soccer, but purely a matter of debate.
Open
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

The USMNT must reach the World Cup quarterfinals in 2026 or it is a massive disappointment.

I'm still, I'm staying my prediction that we need to make it, if we don't make it to at least the quarter finals in the next World Cup. Massive disappointment.

The 2026 World Cup has not occurred yet.
Win
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

USMNT coach Gregg Berhalter stinks and should be fired

My Hot Seat is Greg Berhalter. Ooh. The coach of the US men's national team out. He should be out. Yeah. Hot Seat Greg. He lost to Trinidad in Tobago. Can't do that... He stinks. We brought him back. He doesn't get along with any of the best players on the team. Fire Greg. Fire him.

Berhalter was eventually fired in July 2024 after a poor showing in the Copa America.
Void
HankHank

Messi's assist against the Red Bulls was the craziest pass I've ever seen

Beat the Red Bulls scored another or no? Yeah. Unbelievable goal. Probably the craziest pass I've ever seen in the, in the sport of football... I think it was [better than his World Cup pass].

Subjective opinion on aesthetics and skill.
Void
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

Lionel Messi is the best soccer player ever and the MLS might be rigged for him

Messy, he's a goat. We all know he's a goat and he just keeps proving that he's... Some people are saying MLS is rigged that they brought Messi over and they're letting him score all these goals because there's no way that the professional league can be that bad where [Messi] just steps in and dominates.

Messi is widely considered the GOAT (subjective), but the claim that the league is 'rigged' is a satirical conspiracy theory that cannot be proven.
Win
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

The USWNT coach is more to blame for the World Cup exit than Megan Rapinoe

I've reached a point now where I don't necessarily blame Megan Rapinoe. I blame the coach for even putting her on the roster. That's how bad she was.

Vlatko Andonovski resigned shortly after this, which aligns with the sentiment that coaching was the primary issue.
Loss
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

Harry Kane is just a tap merchant

[Harry Kane] is a tap merchant is what he is. Wow.

Kane has continued to be one of the most prolific and technically gifted strikers in Europe since this take was made.
Void
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

Expected goals is the biggest crock of shit stat in sports

I'm a big expected goals guy. You know the expected goals account that tweets out... how many goals you should have scored... that is maybe the biggest crock of shit stat in sports. It's like, well based on how you guys really played, you won two to nothing.

Whether 'expected goals' is a valid metric is inherently subjective and a point of massive debate in sports analytics.
Win
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

The US Women's National Team will lose to Sweden in the 2023 World Cup

I'm gonna have to bet on the US women's national team against Sweden. I'm just gonna have to. They're gonna lose. Yeah, they're gonna lose.

The USWNT lost to Sweden on penalties on August 6, 2023, two days after this episode aired.
Void
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

The US Women's National Team are 'entitled babies'

No, you shouldn't be celebrating like that after you tie Portugal. Zero. Zero. You only won one game against Vietnam... So act listen, you haven't won shit yet. They're entitled, they're entitled babies.

The USWNT was eventually knocked out in the Round of 16, their worst ever World Cup finish, lending some creedence to the critique of their play.
Loss
Big CatBig Cat

If the US Women's National Team had any pride, they would rescind their invitation to advance in the World Cup

If they had any pride, they would rescind their advancement. If they win the [World Cup] with two ties, if they had any dignity whatsoever... I'm disappointed.

The USWNT did not rescind their advancement; they played in the knockout round and were eliminated by Sweden.
Void
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

The USWNT's 3-0 victory over Vietnam was the worst three-goal victory I have ever seen

I watched the second half of the Vietnam game. That was bad. That was the worst three goal victory I've ever seen.

Subjective assessment of a specific match performance.
Loss
Billy FootballBilly Football

You do not want to mess with the United States Women's National Soccer Team

You do not want to fuck with the United States Women's National Soccer team. They're going for three straight women's world cups right now. And you don't wanna screw with them. They're dominant.

The USWNT were eliminated in the Round of 16 in the 2023 World Cup, their earliest exit ever, shortly after this episode aired.
Void
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

MLS team names like Inter Miami and Real Salt Lake are stupid

I fucking hate MLS team names. Yeah. Inter Miami... I love the entire aesthetic of Inter Miami... but it's just the team names are stupid when it's like inter Miami Ray Salt Lake. FC Sporting kc. Yeah. Gimme a fucking break.

Subjective opinion on team branding.
Void
Big CatBig Cat

Lionel Messi is the greatest walker of all time

[Lionel Messi] is elite at walking. He's the greatest walker of all time. They did a whole study about it and he spends the first five minutes just walking around, basically figuring out the weaknesses, weak points in the defense. A lot of times he'll be walking while everyone else is running and his gravity, the way that the defense has to move around to him just walking, changes the whole scope of the game.

The effectiveness of Messi's walking is a widely analyzed tactical observation in soccer, but calling him the 'greatest of all time' remains subjective.
Open
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

The next US Men's National Team World Cup cycle will be a failure if they don't reach the quarterfinals.

Next world Cup. It's our year. If they don't get to at least the Elite eight... I'm sick of it. That's it. They need to get to the quarter finals. If they don't then it's a failure.

The 2026 World Cup has not happened yet.
Void
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

The Saudi Arabian soccer league cannot compete with the MLS model of paying aging superstars

Basically they're just completely cucking the MLS's model, which is just pay aging superstars for a fuckload of money to come finish out their career over here. We can't compete with that.

Subjective comparison of league business models and prestige.
Open
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

The US Men's National Team will win the 2026 World Cup because of Folarin Balogun

We got a big defection... Folarin Balogun. He's on the arsenal, he's on the arsenals and he's a striker. And we don't have a striker... so it's coming home 2026. Hell, yes. Way to go, dude.

The 2026 World Cup has not yet occurred.
Void
JJ WattJJ Watt

The English Premier League is more exciting than American sports because of the high consequences of relegation and promotion

That's the beauty of it. That's why I love the English Premier League because it's relegation, it's promotion, the consequences are so much higher.

Subjective opinion on sports entertainment value.
Win
Big CatBig Cat

Lionel Messi is the undisputed GOAT after winning the World Cup

Messi is the goat. I mean, Ronaldo, I mean, there's nothing left. Messi has literally won it all. That game was fucking incredible... I'm happy for Messi. I, he's always been my goat and this was literally the last thing he had to win.

Messi won the 2022 World Cup, completing the collection of every major trophy available to him in world football.

Search

Search takes, episodes, and speakers