Did 48 teams water the tournament down? Not a chance, the guys argue — the expanded format kept jeopardy alive right to the final whistle, none more cruelly than for Iran, in the knockouts at 93 minutes and out by 97. They toast the shock of the summer in unbeaten Cape Verde, relive an Algeria–Austria thriller with echoes of 1982, and marvel at a group stage that produced 212 goals and a glut of world-class strikers — while Ronaldo's struggles leave Portugal sabotaging themselves.

Then it's the knockouts. The Qooligan and Nick break down the two ties everyone's circling — Netherlands vs. Morocco and Brazil vs. Japan, both with quarterfinal weight — debate whether Bosnia is a banana peel for the USA or a comfortable win, weigh Canada's winnable date with South Africa, and dig into Mexico's flawless, fortress-at-altitude run. Plus, two referees on the Almirón red card and the new hand-over-mouth rule.

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There's plenty more from a wild day: Germany were stunned by a sharp Ecuador despite a full-strength side, the Netherlands handled a spirited Tunisia to set up a blockbuster round-of-32 tie with Morocco, and Japan produced a tactical masterclass to suffocate Sweden. Plus Anthony Elanga's red-hot streak and Côte d'Ivoire booking their place.

Then it's today's headliner: France vs. Norway. Two attacking heavyweights, level on points, neither willing to give an inch — Mbappé and Haaland trading blows in the Golden Boot race, and France's defense finally getting a real test. Gary's calling a 3-2 or 4-3 thriller. Alongside it: a ruthless Spain against a flagging Uruguay (with everyone willing Cape Verde to sneak through against Saudi Arabia), and a wide-open Group G where Egypt, Iran, Belgium and New Zealand all still have a path.

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There's plenty more: Bosnia stormed through behind another wonder-strike to become the team nobody wants to face, Switzerland edged a rattled Canada (who still scrape into the knockouts for a historic first), Brazil cruised past a disappointing Scotland, and a brilliant, heartbreaking Haiti went down fighting against Morocco. Plus Mexico's perfect clean sweep — three wins, no goals conceded — and Guillermo Ochoa's feel-good cameo to tie the record for World Cup appearances.

Then it's today's slate. In Group F, Japan vs. Sweden is the must-watch decider in the tournament's true group of death. Germany roll on in Group E with super-sub Denis Undav making a Golden Boot case. And in Group D, the only game that matters is Australia vs. Paraguay — where The Qooligan fancies a well-drilled, counter-attacking Australia to spring a surprise — while the USA rest up against a cooked Türkiye.

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In Group A, Mexico have already locked up top spot, so the questions are whether they complete a clean sweep — with Guillermo Ochoa set to make history as a six-time World Cup player — and, more urgently, whether South Korea can beat South Africa to go through. And in Group B, Canada chase the huge prize of home advantage at BC Place while Edin Džeko's Bosnia scrap to climb out of the elimination zone.

First, the recap: a classic miserable England against Ghana, Panama's brave exit, and Cristiano Ronaldo finally getting off the mark with two goals and an "I'm back" roar — a relief that, as The Qooligan notes, now makes him impossible to bench. Plus the goal-of-the-tournament debate so far.

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By The Qooligan's own number-crunching, this is shaping up as the most free-scoring World Cup group stage in generations — with a red-card count to match. There's the game of the day, too: Erling Haaland's Norway edging a hugely disappointing Senegal 3-2 in a Viking carnival, Algeria sending a plucky Jordan home, and a quick word on the Fox booth turning on Alexi Lalas.

Then today: a frustrated Cristiano Ronaldo, still goalless and starting anyway, as Portugal face Uzbekistan; Harry Kane chasing a runaway Golden Boot race against Ghana; and Croatia, Colombia and DR Congo all with something to play for before sudden-death Decision Day arrives.

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The recap is a tale of two ends. Belgium are in genuine crisis — a red card, a goalkeeping masterclass from Iran's Alireza Beiranvand, and one goal in two games have a golden generation staring at an early exit ("a match that could've been an email," per one of our correspondents). Cape Verde, meanwhile, simply refuse to lose, snatching another draw with Uruguay capped by a stunning long-range volley — and they're now a single point from the round of 32. And in Group G, the All Whites faded as Mohamed Salah finally delivered Egypt their first-ever World Cup win.

Then it's today: Argentina vs. Austria, France's spectacle of an attack against Iraq, The Qooligan's sleeper pick in Algeria vs. Jordan, and the game of the day — Norway vs. Senegal, where Haaland the Viking meets Koulibaly's wall.

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Elsewhere: Japan were ruthless in a 4-0 demolition of a Tunisia side in freefall, whose captain turned on his own federation afterward. Germany still aren't convincing, but it didn't matter — super-sub Denis Undav came off the bench to win it against a brave Côte d'Ivoire, who'll rue a glaring missed sitter. And the minnows just keep overperforming.

Then it's today's slate, kicking off as we wrap: Spain have to answer the Cape Verde shock against a disciplined Saudi Arabia, Cape Verde fever rolls on as they face a wobbling Uruguay (with a lovely story about their goalkeeper's mum in the stands), and a wide-open Group G serves up Belgium vs. Iran and New Zealand vs. Egypt.

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It was a brutal day at the other end. Türkiye are out — undone by a cynical Paraguay masterclass and a Miguel Almirón red card, the tournament's first for the new hand-over-mouth rule. Brazil beat Haiti 3-0 but looked nothing like Brazil, prompting a debate about Ancelotti turning the Seleção into a cautious European side, while a plucky Haiti bowed out with their heads high. And Morocco's class told against a brave Scotland — setting up a potential "miracle in Miami" in the final group game.

Then it's today's slate, headlined by the game of the day: Netherlands vs. Sweden in the group of death, with Isak and Gyökeres licking their lips at a leaky Dutch defense. Plus Germany's first real test against a resilient Côte d'Ivoire, Ecuador leaning on Enner Valencia against a spirited Curaçao, and Japan looking to send Tunisia home.

Plus: an honest verdict on FIFA's new rules one week in (the good, and the hydration-break money grab). New episodes of Summer '26 every day of the tournament at hooligan-soccer.com.

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Then the prediction that has Gary going out on a limb: a flat, Neymar-less Brazil only drawing Haiti. The Qooligan lays out exactly how Haiti can shock them — go down swinging, be resilient, find a wonder moment — at a raucous Lincoln Financial Field.

First, the recap. England produced a ruthless statement win over Croatia, Canada claimed their first-ever World Cup victory in a fiery, red-card-marred clash with Qatar (with a serious injury that took the shine off), Switzerland roared back against Bosnia on a wave of super-subs, and Mexico ground past South Korea thanks to a goalkeeping howler and a stunning Raúl Rangel save. Both host nations now top their groups. Plus: Balogun climbing the Golden Boot race behind a runaway Messi, the Tartan Army turning Boston into "three St. Patrick's Days," and Türkiye facing a must-win against Paraguay.

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Lionel Messi's hat-trick against Algeria didn't just light up Kansas; it drew him level with Miroslav Klose's all-time World Cup goal record in his sixth tournament. The crew break down the "Messi effect" lifting Thiago Almada and Alexis Mac Allister, Rodrigo De Paul's pinpoint service, and the depth that makes Argentina so hard to beat — before The Qooligan plays contrarian, arguing the scoreline flattered them and a shaky Luca Zidane in the Algeria goal had plenty to do with it.

They also recap a day of superstar strikers: Mbappé's brace as France survived a shaky first half against Senegal (with Michael Olise the real standout), Haaland's brace as Norway brushed past Iraq, and a one-of-a-kind own-goal-and-goal brace from Iraq's Ali Hussein.

Then it's the big one: how will England line up against Croatia? With Tuchel still hunting his best XI, Zach and the guys dig into the Harry Kane question, the Jude Bellingham doubt, England's ridiculous depth, and The Qooligan's bold calls on John Stones and Petar Musa. Plus quick looks at Portugal vs. DR Congo (and the Ronaldo problem), Ghana vs. Panama, and Colombia vs. Uzbekistan.

A huge thanks to Zach Lowy. New episodes of Summer '26 every day of the tournament at https://hooligan-soccer.com/https://hooligan-soccer.com/.

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All eyes are on Mbappé. Ahead of France vs. Senegal — a fixture that should've been a quarterfinal — the guys unpack his striking admission that he needs to be better defensively and more of a team player to win the World Cup, the Real Madrid drama he's leaving behind, and whether Deschamps is the one manager with the authority to harness France's embarrassment of riches. Then it's the defending champions: can Messi do it again? Argentina have gone quietly under the radar, and Nick's reporter embedded with the squad describes a fan welcome fit for a final.

First, the recap — and what a day it was. Cape Verde's 40-year-old journeyman goalkeeper Vozinha produced the save show of the tournament as the tiny Blue Sharks stunned Spain in the shock of the World Cup. Belgium's golden generation looked every bit their age against a lively Egypt, Uruguay were left frustrated by a gritty Saudi Arabia, and Iran ground out a win over New Zealand amid an off-field storm. Plus: why eight of the first sixteen games ended level, whether the new format has drained the jeopardy, and Haaland's shot at a one-match Golden Boot against Iraq.

A huge thanks to Nick Callow and the team at Hayters TV. New episodes of Summer '26 every day of the tournament at hooligan-soccer.com.

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There was history, too: tiny Curaçao scored their first-ever World Cup goal in a 6-1 loss to Germany and walked off with their heads high. Côte d'Ivoire's monster defense edged a fascinating duel with Ecuador on an Amad Diallo gem, and the Netherlands and Japan played out a 2-2 "chess-boxing" thriller that The Qooligan — a Dutch fan and a referee himself — calls a fair result. Plus an honest, fiery take on FIFA's hydration breaks and the creeping commercialization of the game.

Then it's today's loaded slate. Belgium vs. Egypt is the game of the day — De Bruyne against Salah, Premier League royalty everywhere. Spain should handle a disciplined Cape Verde without Lamine Yamal. Saudi Arabia fancy another upset of a South American giant against Bielsa's Uruguay. And the big question of the night: can an aging Iran — the oldest squad in the tournament, short on competitive minutes — be competitive against Chris Wood's New Zealand? The Qooligan thinks they edge it.

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Elsewhere: Qatar grabbed their first-ever World Cup point with a last-gasp equalizer against a wasteful Switzerland, the heavyweight Brazil vs. Morocco clash fizzled into a 1-1 dud that has Ancelotti's critics circling, and a gritty Scotland sit top of their group after grinding past a genuinely impressive Haiti.

Then we look ahead to a loaded Sunday: Germany vs. Curaçao in the tournament's first indoor game (with Dick Advocaat's Dutch-trained underdogs out for blood), the Netherlands vs. Japan game of the day, a potential barnstormer in Côte d'Ivoire vs. Ecuador, and the quarter-billion-dollar strike pairing of Isak and Gyökeres as Sweden face Tunisia.

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It wasn't all good news for the hosts. Canada were held to a frustrating draw by Bosnia, undone by their own finishing — and we get into Jonathan David's confidence crisis, why Kyle Larin should start, and the Clint Dempsey–Jesse Marsh needle that lit up the Fox booth.

Then we look ahead to four games. Switzerland should make light work of Qatar. Scotland have to seize their first World Cup in over two decades — Lawrence Shankland, this is your moment, win the crowd. Türkiye's gifted young generation faces Australia in Vancouver. And the one we're all glued to: Brazil vs. Morocco, the matchup of the round, with Ancelotti's lineup questions, a sidelined Neymar, and Hakimi and Brahim Díaz bombing down Morocco's right.

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Mexico got the result against South Africa, but not the performance. We unpack Julián Quiñones' one-man show, Raúl Jiménez finally scoring his first World Cup goal, and the brutal afternoon of Paul Sithole — whose nightmare cameo ended in a straight red and, in all likelihood, the end of South Africa's tournament. The Qooligan walks through every card from an official's eyes: why Sithole had to go, why the soft red on Mexico's captain was still the right call, and how FIFA's new "voice of doom" VAR announcements turn the whole thing into theater.

Then there's the Beckham of it all — Lay's, Verizon, Home Depot, Stella — the newly minted billionaire is on your screen more than most of the players. We get into Fox's patched-together broadcast, Clint Dempsey's deadpan, and the punditry gold standard everyone's chasing.

Plus South Korea's gutsy comeback past a rigid Czechia, the hydration breaks quietly reshaping every match into four quarters, and tonight's main event: the USMNT host Paraguay at SoFi with a nation to win over. Score early, win the crowd — or feel the nerves. Win the crowd, Maximus.

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First, the rules. And there are a lot of them: the new substitution clampdown that punishes time-wasting, the straight red card for the hand-over-mouth taunt, VAR reviews on second yellows, captain-only conversations with the referee, the eight-second goalkeeper count, and the discretionary crackdown on players feigning injury. The Qooligan — who referees himself — explains how each one will actually play out on the field, who's most likely to get caught first, and why the biggest change of all might be the mandatory water breaks that quietly turn every match into four quarters.

Then there's FIFA. Infantino's kickoff-day charm offensive, the $14 billion question, and whether all that money really does "go back into football." We get into the watch-party fever spreading across San Jose, Oakland, the Mission and Austin — and the very different mood in Mexico City, where celebration and protest are sharing the same streets.

And we close on the two games that open the whole thing: Mexico vs. South Africa at a heaving Azteca, and the South Korea–Czechia clash one of our correspondents calls the most important game nobody's talking about.

The wait is over. New episodes of Summer '26 every day of the tournament at hooligan-soccer.com.

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Morocco headline the continent's hopes — red-hot, deep, and carrying real semifinal expectations after their run to the AFCON final, with Hakimi, Brahim Díaz and Bono leading a side built to go deep. But the story runs far past the favorites. Bafana Bafana open the whole tournament against Mexico with the toughest of draws. Côte d'Ivoire bring the most physically imposing back line in the field and arrive off a win over France. Cape Verde — the tiny island nation almost nobody fancied — might just be the shock of the group stage. And Senegal, stacked front to back, have the misfortune of landing in one of the tournament's true groups of death.

We run the full continent: Tunisia as Group F kingmaker, Salah's last dance with Egypt, Mahrez and Ryan Aït-Nouri's Algeria, DR Congo's quiet third-place hopes in Portugal's group, and the Black Stars of Ghana facing a must-win opener against Panama.

The thread running through it all: in this 48-team format, one win can be enough. We break down exactly who can sneak through — and which African side has the best shot at making history.

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Is this the weakest Brazil side in a generation? Nathan argues that finishing fifth in qualifying, Ancelotti's stubborn 4-2-4, and shaky fullbacks are bigger problems than the Neymar circus everyone's fixated on — and explains why Endrick has to start. Then it's into the Group of Death, where Paraguay open against the USA without injured star Julio Enciso, and why he fancies them to cause trouble anyway.

We dig into Ecuador — everyone's trendy dark horse — and why a watertight defense built on Pacho, Hincapié and Caicedo might not be enough while they lean on 36-year-old Enner Valencia up top. Uruguay, under the unpredictable Bielsa, set up a potential round-of-32 grudge match with Argentina. And the champions themselves? Underrated, ridiculously deep, and quietly the most dangerous team nobody's talking about — injury rumors and off-field noise notwithstanding. We finish in Colombia, where an aging golden generation hits its last-chance saloon.

Plus the young stars worth tracking all summer: Endrick, Kendry Páez, Valentín Barco and Nico Paz.

Nathan's verdict on who goes furthest? You'll have to press play.

Catch Nathan on The Copa Club Podcast for everything South American football.

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Gary Striker and The Qooligan are joined by Devin Crittenden of The Soccer Sharps (and the World Cup spin-off Capping the Cup) for a betting-brain preview of Summer '26: who to back, who to fade, and where the value's actually hiding.

Devin makes his case for Spain as the best team on the planet, explains why a 48-team field has quietly drained the jeopardy out of the group stage — three points now puts you through roughly 86% of the time — and breaks down the goalscorer markets that are smarter than blindly backing Harry Kane. We get into Mbappé's chase for the all-time World Cup scoring record and the cracks running through France, why Argentina are still very much a factor, Ronaldo's black-hole effect on a stacked Portugal, and a Brazil side priced far higher than they've earned.

Then the fun stuff: Belgium's genuine dark-horse case (one word — Doku), Norway's frankly silly qualifying numbers, Morocco's encore, and The Qooligan's bold minnow shouts to sneak out of the group — Haiti and Cape Verde. Plus the edges nobody's pricing: the new Trionda ball, the New Jersey heat, Norway's all-black kit, and why the referee's confederation might decide your yellow-card bets.

And yes — we land on what's realistic for the USA, and the coin-flip that could send them crashing into Iran in the round of 32.

Place your bets responsibly. Kickoff's Thursday.

Catch Devin on The Soccer Sharps and Capping the Cup (with the Designated Pundits). New episodes all tournament long at hooligan-soccer.com.

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France look frightening: Mbappé, Dembélé, Olise, Barcola, and Deschamps chasing one last trophy before he walks away. Are they unstoppable, or will they undo themselves like France always threaten to? Then there's England — a kind-looking group with Croatia, Ghana, and Panama, Tuchel's eyebrow-raising squad calls (Spence, Henderson, Toney in; Foden, Palmer, Maguire out), and the round-of-32 nightmare nobody wants: a packed, sweltering Azteca against Mexico.

In this episode:

• Why France are the team to beat — and the one thing that could unravel them
• Norway, Haaland, and the Senegal "derby" that makes Group I a minefield
• Tuchel's squad logic, decoded: the four-D-chess picks and the big names left at home
• Heat, altitude, and the Azteca: England's real obstacle isn't the draw
• Plus: World Cup ticket prices finally falling — and where the bargains are hiding

The biggest summer in soccer is one week away. Follow Summer of '26 for the full group-by-group ride, and find all the writing at hooligan-soccer.com.

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Join Gary Striker and The Qooligan as they analyze the upcoming FIFA World Cup, focusing on Germany, the Netherlands, and Belgium. They discuss team histories, key players, group dynamics, and strategic insights to enhance your understanding of tournament football.

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This is Summer of '26 — our group-by-group ride through World Cup 2026. In Group L we break down all four sides — England, Croatia, Ghana and Panama — call who's going through, who's booking early flights home, and the one result that blows the group open.

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This is Summer of '26 — our group-by-group ride through World Cup 2026. In Group K we break down all four sides — Portugal, Colombia, Uzbekistan and DR Congo — call who's going through, who's booking early flights home, and the one result that blows the group open.

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This is Summer of '26 — our group-by-group ride through World Cup 2026. In Group J we break down all four sides — Argentina, Austria, Algeria and Jordan — call who's going through, who's booking early flights home, and the one result that blows the group open.

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This is Summer of '26 — our group-by-group ride through World Cup 2026. In Group I we break down all four sides — France, Norway, Senegal and Iraq — call who's going through, who's booking early flights home, and the one result that blows the group open.

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This is Summer of '26 — our group-by-group ride through World Cup 2026. In Group H we break down all four sides — Spain, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia and Cape Verde — call who's going through, who's booking early flights home, and the one result that blows the group open.

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This is Summer of '26 — our group-by-group ride through World Cup 2026. In Group G we break down all four sides — Belgium, Egypt, Iran and New Zealand — call who's going through, who's booking early flights home, and the one result that blows the group open.

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This is Summer of '26 — our group-by-group ride through World Cup 2026. In Group F we break down all four sides — Netherlands, Japan, Sweden and Tunisia — call who's going through, who's booking early flights home, and the one result that blows the group open.

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This is Summer of '26 — our group-by-group ride through World Cup 2026. In Group E we break down all four sides — Germany, Ivory Coast, Ecuador and Curaçao — call who's going through, who's booking early flights home, and the one result that blows the group open.

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This is Summer of '26 — our group-by-group ride through World Cup 2026. In Group A we break down all four sides — Mexico, South Korea, South Africa and Czechia — call who's going through, who's booking early flights home, and the one result that blows the group open.

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This is Summer of '26 — our group-by-group ride through World Cup 2026. In Group B we break down all four sides — Canada, Switzerland, Qatar and Bosnia & Herzegovina — call who's going through, who's booking early flights home, and the one result that blows the group open.

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This is Summer of '26 — our group-by-group ride through World Cup 2026. In Group D we break down all four sides — USA, Türkiye, Australia and Paraguay — call who's going through, who's booking early flights home, and the one result that blows the group open.

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This is Summer of '26 — our group-by-group ride through World Cup 2026. In Group C we break down all four sides — Brazil, Scotland, Morocco and Haiti — call who's going through, who's booking early flights home, and the one result that blows the group open.

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