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6 Spicy World Cup Predictions, Ronaldo's Record Brace & USMNT's Turkiye Test Ahead of Knockouts

Yahoo! Sports - News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games

24 June 2026 at 23:10

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Christian Polanco and Alexis Guerreros kick off the show with six spicy World Cup predictions that could either make them look like geniuses or get them roasted by fans. Alexis predicts that Canada will fail to beat Switzerland, Kylian Mbappé will break the World Cup scoring record and England will advance despite failing to hit top gear. Christian counters with bold calls of his own, including Cape Verde reaching the knockout rounds, Uruguay crashing out of the tournament and Lionel Messi starring in Argentina's final group-stage match.

Next, The Cooligans preview the USMNT's final group-stage game against Türkiye and debate how Mauricio Pochettino should approach what feels like a glorified friendly. Should Matt Freese keep his place? Does Christian Pulisic need minutes to stay sharp? And can Gio Reyna play his way into the starting lineup for the knockout rounds? The guys also discuss Folarin Balogun's likely summer transfer and make their cases for AC Milan and Barcelona as potential destinations.

To wrap up the show, Christian and Alexis react to Cristiano Ronaldo's historic two-goal performance that made him the oldest player ever to score a World Cup brace and the first player to score in six different World Cups. They also break down England's frustrating draw against Ghana and explain what changes the Three Lions need to make moving forward, before previewing the latest action in Group C as the tournament heads toward the knockout stages.

Timestamps:

(2:00) — 6 Matchday 3 predictions ahead of the Knockout Rounds

(20:30) - USMNT vs Turkiye preview: who should be the starting XI?

(33:30) - Folarin Balogun on the move: what club should he go to?

(42:00) - Ronaldo breaks his duck: can he kick on from here?

(47:00) - England’s shock draw vs. Ghana: what has to change?

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USMNT Clinch Knockout Spot, Taylor Twellman Says Quarterfinals or Bust & Turkiye Awaits

Yahoo! Sports - News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games

By:Alexis Guerreros · Christian Polanco

20 June 2026 at 03:54

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Christian Polanco and Alexis Guerreros react live to the USMNT's 2-0 victory over Australia that officially sends the Americans to the knockout rounds of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. CBS Sports analyst Taylor Twellman joins the show to break down the performance and explain why expectations have now changed for Mauricio Pochettino's side. Taylor shares why he believes it's "quarterfinals or bust" for the USMNT, rates Pochettino's tournament so far and discusses whether the defense remains the team's biggest concern despite dominating Group D.

Next, the guys reveal their Player of the Match selections and explain why Alex Freeman earned the honors after another outstanding display. Christian and Alexis also react to your tweets and comments before diving into Matt Freese's performance and discussing whether the goalkeeper is beginning to establish himself as one of the breakout stories of the tournament.

To wrap up the show, The Cooligans examine the Group D standings and look ahead to the final group stage match against Türkiye. With the knockout rounds already secured, the guys debate what Mauricio Pochettino should prioritize and whether this USMNT squad is capable of turning a successful group stage into a truly historic World Cup run.

Timestamps:

(0:00) — Reaction to USMNT’s 2-0 win over Australia

(9:30) - Taylor Twellman joins The Cooligans

(27:30) - Player of the Game: Alex Freeman

(33:30) - Group D Standings breakdown

(42:00) - Lookahead to final group stage game vs. Türkiye

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Check out all episodes of The Cooligans the rest of the Yahoo Sports podcast family at https://apple.co/3zEuTQj or at yahoosports.tv