Sithole's Red-Card Shame, Beckham Overkill & the USMNT Need to Win the Crowd

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]

Brazil Underwhelm, USA Top Group D & Will Sweden Find Goals?

The USA basically won twice on Friday — and only played once. On Day 9 of World Cup 2026, Gary Striker and The Qooligan explain how a Pulisic-less USA ground out a comfortable win over Australia, then watched Paraguay's stunning upset of Türkiye hand them top spot outright on the head-to-head tiebreaker. Now Pochettino can rest Pulisic's tender calf, wipe his yellow-card risks clean, and give the fringe players their first taste of a World Cup against a dead-rubber Türkiye. 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 [https://hooligan-soccer.com/]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Can the USA Perform Without Pulisic & Will Brazil Only Draw Haiti

One week in, and the World Cup has found its rhythm. Gary Striker and The Qooligan break down a dramatic Day 8 of World Cup 2026 — starting with the question hanging over tonight's USA game: will Australia simply try to kick Christian Pulisic out of it? With Pulisic downgraded to questionable and a history of being hammered by the Socceroos, Pochettino faces a real call — and the guys dig into why the US defense, untested against Paraguay, is about to get its first real examination. 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. 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]