World Cup 2026 Group E: Germany & the Curaçao Fairytale

Australia to Surprise & Japan vs. Sweden Is a Must-Watch

Decision Day keeps delivering — and the upsets are piling up. On Day 14 of World Cup 2026, Gary Striker and The Qooligan break down a chaotic round of group finales before previewing today's deciders. The headline shock: South Africa dumped a flat, much-changed South Korea out of the tournament, completing a stunning vindication of the side everyone wrote off — and leaving Son Heung-min's men as The Qooligan's "biggest womp-womp" of the World Cup. 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. New episodes of Summer '26 every day of the tournament at hooligan-soccer.com [https://hooligan-soccer.com/]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Scotland vs. Brazil: The Mouthwatering Tie & Mexico's Clean-Sweep Bid

Decision Day is here — and from now on, every group plays out at the same time. On Day 13 of World Cup 2026, Gary Striker and The Qooligan tee up the group-stage finale, headlined by the fixture they've been circling all tournament: Scotland vs. Brazil in Miami. Samba meets the Tartan Army under the Hard Rock roof, and Gary's heading to the game himself — desperate for Scotland to find a moment and "win the crowd," even if the smart money says Brazil. Alongside it, an underwhelming Morocco need to finally wake up against a stubborn, plucky Haiti. 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. New episodes of Summer '26 every day of the tournament at hooligan-soccer.com [https://hooligan-soccer.com/]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Mbappé & Messi on Fire, Ronaldo Stuck on Zero

The strikers struck — and one of them is still stuck on zero. On the final day of the group stage's second round, Gary Striker and The Qooligan break down a glorious day of goals on Day 12 of World Cup 2026. Kylian Mbappé looks reborn in a France shirt, silencing the doubters (and the petition) with a brilliant display against Iraq. Lionel Messi scored twice to break the all-time World Cup goalscoring record outright — and the guys dig into whether Argentina are genuine contenders or still just the Messi show, plus the casual genius that sets him apart from a visibly tense Ronaldo (and the one surprising flaw in his game). 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. New episodes of Summer '26 every day of the tournament at hooligan-soccer.com [https://hooligan-soccer.com/]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Spain Kick Into Gear & Can Argentina Push On?

Spain have woken up — and Argentina are next on the clock. On Day 11 of World Cup 2026, Gary Striker and The Qooligan break down a Spain side that finally clicked against Saudi Arabia, then turn to today's blockbuster slate and ask whether Argentina can push on against a tougher-than-it-looks Austria. Gary's all-in on Messi's men as his new favorites; The Qooligan plays contrarian, warning that the numbers say Argentina merely "showed up" last time out. 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. New episodes of Summer '26 every day of the tournament at hooligan-soccer.com. [https://hooligan-soccer.com/] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Vozinha, His Mother & Cape Verde's Big Day — Plus Spain Need a Win

It's a World Cup of goalkeepers — and two dads are here for it. On a Father's Day edition, Gary Striker and The Qooligan break down Day 10 of World Cup 2026, where the story keeps coming back to the men between the posts. Curaçao's Eloy Room produced a jaw-dropping 15-save display to hold Ecuador and grab a historic point, while Bart Verbruggen's seven saves underlined a Dutch side rolling Sweden — Anthony Elanga the unlikely star with a goal and a piece of touchline skill that floored everyone. 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. Happy Father's Day. New episodes of Summer '26 every day of the tournament at hooligan-soccer.com [https://hooligan-soccer.com/]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]