Welcome to the second edition of Footy Fix! 2025 is up and running, and so is the soccer world— which never takes a break.
This week, we got the news on professional soccer potentially coming back to Puerto Rico, Mauricio Pochettino’s thoughts on his ideal USMNT, DC United’s new South Korean goalkeeper, and much more.
Plus, we’ve got Alex Morgan’s thoughts on her retirement and Gregg Berhalter speaking about Pochettino. So let’s dive in!
This week’s stories
Professional soccer is set to make a comeback in Puerto Rico 🙌🏽
Mauricio Pochettino wants the USMNT to emulate the mentality of Argentina.
DC United have signed a promising South Korean goalkeeper 📝
Alex Morgan speaks on the biggest achievement of her career and retirement 🏆
Gregg Berhalter on his relationship with Mauricio Pochettino.
Jurgen Klinsmann talks about why January camps are necessary for the U.S. Soccer Federation 👀
FC Dallas keeper Maarten Paes’ Indonesia adventures.
Nine fresh faces in the USMNT January Camp ⚽
USL
Professional soccer could be coming back to Puerto Rico.
According to Arnaldo Marrero, baseball legend Yadier Molina and his team of investors already have a contract signed with the USL Championship for a franchise in Puerto Rico.
Bad Bunny also seems to be one of the investors. The official announcement is set to be some time in 2025, and they will renovate Estadio Juan Ramón Loubriel in Bayamón to host home games.
Coach Talk
During an interview with ESPN, Mauricio Pochettino says he wants the USMNT to emulate the mentality of Argentina.
“When we are seeing different national teams, today we talked about Argentina because they’re the world champions and have very good players,” Pochettino said.
“But for me the most important difference is the mentality, how they compete as a group and the belief that they have.”
“When they go to the pitch, they go to war and to defend your badge, your flag. That is what we need to create.”
“We need to translate to our players that it’s only going to be a soccer game, we need to go one step forward to compete better.”
Transfers
Meet Kim Joon-hong, the new South Korean goalkeeper for MLS side DC United.
Standing at 6’3, he’s known for his athletic physique and reflexes.
Made his name with the South Korea U-20s in the U-20 World Cup.
Got called up to the South Korea national team by Jurgen Klinsmann back in 2023.
Still only 21, he’s already gotten a wealth of top flight experience having made 37 K-League appearances.
Already finished his mandatory military service. So DC United won’t have to worry about him leaving for it.
DC United have released keepers Tyler Miller and Alex Bono. Kim Joon-hong will be the first South Korean goalkeeper in MLS and he looks like a real gem.
Player Talk
USWNT legend Alex Morgan had a chat about her career during Not Gonna Lie with Kylie Kelce podcast.
“If someone asked my greatest achievement, I don’t know [if I’d say] the biggest goal I’ve ever scored or the World Cup or the Olympics,” she said.
“[I’d say] it’s achieving equal pay on the international stage.”
“Helping create that sort of butterfly effect that helped other women in other countries and in the U.S.”
She also spoke about her decision to retire.
“It was easy for me to retire, I am not at my best anymore. There are 21-year-olds that are far better than me,” Morgan said.
“Me and my husband had two bottles of wine one night and I was super honest. It was just like an epiphany, I was like yeah this is it. This is the last year regardless of what happens.”
“I don’t know if there’s much more I can give, I’ve fulfilled everything I wanted to do. I’m at a point now where there are a lot of other things that interest me. I’m building businesses off the field, I’m really busy, and I’m settled in San Diego.”
Former Coach Talk
Chicago Fire head coach Gregg Berhalter was asked if there is any awkwardness between him and current USMNT coach Mauricio Pochettino.
“We’ve always had a good relationship. There’s absolutely no awkwardness. I’m very supportive of the program,” Berhalter answered during Chicago Fire press conference.
“I love the USMNT. I’ve been involved with the program a for a long, long time. It’s always gonna be a program I support.”
“I’m pulling for the coach, the players, and the staff. It’s never about me, it’s about the program.”
“It’s about how we win on the world stage, that’s what I’m hoping [to see] and will support them as much as I can.”
Formerer Coach Talk
Former USMNT coach Jurgen Klinsmann was asked about the January camp during his chat with CBS Sports show KICKIN’ IT.
“As coaches, we didn’t want to have the January camp either,” he said.
“January camp is there to reduce the amount of off-time for the MLS players because it’s too long.”
“The main reason why the Federation does the January camp is because they have two television slots to fulfill.”
“So they find two teams. Whether from Scandinavia that have a similar break or South America or Central America. Fill them in with two names and get two games out of it. So they can fulfill that TV contract.”
“The good thing about the January camp was to see some players you haven’t seen before. Some young players, promising players, and see how far they can take it and scout for the next upcoming games.”
“Geoff Cameron was one of those players that I saw for the first time in the January camp. So you were happy to find a couple of players like that. But to do the work, to put in the work, was unfortunately necessary.”
“Did I suggest the Federation to get rid of it? Yes I did. It didn’t go down well. They said we have to fulfill these two dates for television contract. We have to do it, it’s simple as that.”
“I didn’t see much of a sense, shooting them up from 0 to 100 and then they go back to their MLS teams and maybe be even more prone to injury. Because MLS teams haven’t even started their season yet. So they slow down again and then their clubs shoot them up again.”
Player Talk
FC Dallas keeper Maarten Paes spoke about his experience playing for Indonesia so far.
“It’s been incredible. I’ve played six games now with Indonesia in World Cup qualifiers. We’re in third now, one point behind Australia,” he said during FC Dallas press conference.
“I would love to invite you once to come to the stadium [in Indonesia] and experience it. Because there’s nothing like it, it’s insane.”
“The passion of the fans there. Every home game we play, it’s a sold out crowd with 85,000 people. Two ultras on both sides.”
“So it’s been incredible. And I think that loyalty and that support deserves a World Cup.”
“March is going to be a very important two games for us, but it’s been a dream come true. To be honest, it will be a full circle moment once we, hopefully, qualify for the World Cup with nine games in Dallas.”
USMNT
The USMNT January camp squad was released last week. Nine players have been called up to the USMNT for the first time.
Matt Freese (NYCFC), Maximilian Arfsten (Columbus Crew), George Campbell (CF Montreal), Emeka Eneli (Real Salt Lake), Patrick Agyemang (Charlotte FC), Caden Clark (CF Montreal), Brian Gutiérrez (Chicago Fire), Matko Miljevic (Huracán), and Indiana Vassilev (St. Louis City SC).
Which player are you looking forward to seeing the most?
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