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

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]

Argentina Now Favorites & How Will England Line Up? — with special guest Zach Lowy

Messi changed the conversation. On Day 7 of World Cup 2026, journalist Zach Lowy joins Gary Striker and The Qooligan after a masterclass that has Argentina installed as many people's new favorites — and the guys debate whether the defending champions have leapfrogged France. 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/ [https://hooligan-soccer.com/]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Mbappé Wants to Defend & Will Messi Do It Again? — with special guest Nick Callow of Hayters TV

France want to defend their crown, Argentina want to do it again — and Hayters TV's Nick Callow joins Gary Striker and The Qooligan from London to break down a blockbuster Day 6 of World Cup 2026. 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 [https://hooligan-soccer.com/]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Sweden Look Dangerous & Can Iran Be Competitive?

Sweden suddenly look like a problem. On Day 5 of World Cup 2026, Gary Striker and The Qooligan dig into a goal-soaked Sunday led by the Isak–Gyökeres partnership — a near-quarter-billion-dollar strike pairing that tore Tunisia apart and helped get Tunisia's coach sacked one game in. The guys make the case that Sweden have leapt up the contenders list, even in a true group of death. 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. 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]