Round of 16 Upsets on the Cards — Mexico to Beat England?

Round of 16 Upsets on the Cards — Mexico to Beat England?

Gary's back from the road, and the knockouts are heating up. Reunited with The Qooligan, the guys preview a round of 16 they think is ripe for upsets — starting with the big one: Mexico to beat England. Between the altitude, the Azteca, a home side that hasn't conceded all tournament, and an England team that looked like a deer in headlights against DR Congo, both hosts land on the same bold call — this could be where England's tournament ends. First, the round of 32's refereeing storylines get a proper going-over from two officials' eyes: the "shocker" of a red card that could wreck Folarin Balogun's World Cup (and might just galvanize the USA), the chip-in-the-ball offside that ended Croatia's fightback and Luka Modrić's career in a "spirit of the game" debate, and the six-minute VAR call that decided Belgium–Senegal. Then the previews. France look frightening — maybe one of the greatest international sides ever — as Paraguay's spoilers brace for the worst. Canada fancy a genuine upset of an underwhelming Morocco. Spain have become an immovable object behind a brilliant Pau Cubarsí. Brazil labor on in a strangely European guise against a young, vibrant Norway carried by Haaland. And Argentina cruise toward the final as Cape Verde's fairytale meets Messi — with a word on why Switzerland might be the one team nobody wants to face. New episodes of Summer '26 every day of the tournament at hooligan-soccer.com [hooligan-soccer.com]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

USMNT Deep Dive: Can They Beat Bosnia? — with special guest Ben Jacobs

The real test starts now. With Gary away, The Qooligan sits down with journalist Ben Jacobs — who's been following the US men's national team all tournament — for a proper deep dive into Pochettino's side ahead of their win-or-go-home round-of-32 tie with Bosnia. It's a chance to end a drought of more than two decades since the USMNT last won a World Cup knockout game. Ben lays out exactly what the US must do to get past a physical, streetwise Bosnia: make a fast start, win the midfield battle through Tillman and Adams, stretch them in wide areas, and get quick service to Balogun. They dig into Pochettino's settled XI, why the Türkiye loss is being wildly overrated (Paraguay dumped out Germany; the US dismantled the same Australia side that demolished Türkiye), and the luxury of a bench holding Pepi, Gio Reyna, Aaronson and Trusty. Plus the one Bosnian who terrifies The Qooligan — teenage super-sub Amar Memić — and a potential full-circle round-of-16 date with Belgium. Then Ben runs the rest of the bracket: Germany's shock exit, Canada and Brazil laboring through, France and Argentina as the favorites, and why Colombia have quietly become his dark horse. A huge thanks to Ben Jacobs. 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]

The Real World Cup Starts Now: Round of 32 — with special guest Nick Britten of Road to World Cup 26

The group stage is in the books — and the real World Cup starts now. With Gary away, The Qooligan welcomes back fellow referee and Hooligan contributor Nick Britten of the Road to World Cup 26 podcast for a wide-ranging look back at a record-breaking opening act and ahead to a mouthwatering round of 32. 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. A huge thanks to Nick Britten. New episodes of Summer '26 every day of the tournament at hooligan-soccer.com [hooligan-soccer.com]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

USA Show Weakness & France vs. Norway: Goals, Goals, Goals

The USA showed their cracks — and the timing couldn't be worse. On Day 15 of World Cup 2026, Gary Striker and The Qooligan dig into a sobering defeat to a dead-rubber Türkiye that exposed the very weaknesses their two opening wins had papered over: shaky defensive communication, flat spells, and a last-minute collapse The Qooligan likens to Sunday-league defending. With a Bosnia side that loves a late wonder-goal waiting in the round of 32, the warning signs are flashing. 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. 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]

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]