America 2026: A World Cup podcast

Episodi

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  Spain are champions of the world: Malachy Clerkin and Kevin Kilbane on the World Cup final 20.07.2026 46min

  España son los campeones del mundo.Argentina’s white knuckle ride through to the final of this World Cup met its match last night with ruthlessly proficient Spanish display. The individual star power of Messi came up against a solid collective set up and though they left it late, there was only ever going to be one winner on the night. For the last time in the series, Paul Howard is joined by Kevin Kilbane and Malachy Clerkin to chat about what wasn’t a particularly spectacular final despite the amount of star power Fifa attempted to cram into the event. And with that, World Cup 2026 is in the books. Thank you for listening!  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  BONUS: Roddy Collins’ life in World Cups 19.07.2026 26min

  Former footballer, manager and full-time raconteur, Roddy Collins has been many things to Irish football.He's also the star of The Rodfather, his memoir written with our own Paul Howard.To celebrate World Cup final day, Paul and Roddy take the chance to revisit the tournaments, players and moments that changed their footballing lives.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  World Cup final preview with Ken Early in New York 18.07.2026 48min

  Lionel Messi’s international football career wasn’t always a litany of heroic victories and dressing room anthems. For most of his time in sky blue and white he looked more likely to go down as a busted flush. An iconic club player who left his home too young and therefore severed the connection he could have had to his national team. The wheel has well and truly turned and he now finds himself just one game away from back to back World Cup titles in what will be his last tournament at international level, if the song is to be believed. Standing in his way is the ruthless professionalism of Spain and the man he once washed in a bathtub as a baby, Lamine Yamal. Ken Early is in on the ground in New York and gives us his thoughts going into the game, how likely it is that we get a finale anywhere close to 2022 for drama and why Spain should win but he’s reluctant to go against Argentina. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  England crumble in Atlanta: Gavin Cooney and Kevin Kilbane on Tuchel's handbrake and Argentine spirit 16.07.2026 47min

  England led midway through the second half of last night's World Cup semi-final in Atlanta. Thomas Tuchel, seemingly satisfied with his evening's work, made the fatal error of hauling off his attacking options to cram the box with central defenders. In doing so, they handed Argentina the lion's share of possession with Leo Messi still prowling the pitch. You tend to get exactly what you deserve in these situations and England were picked off, beaten 2-1 inside 90 minutes.Gavin Cooney took the game in at an establishment just outside Liverpool, and reports back, a little bewildered, from amid a surprisingly fervent pocket of pro-English support.Kevin Kilbane joins us from Toronto to unpick Tuchel's baffling tactics, how to heal his fractured relationship with Bellingham, and what it takes to see out a slender lead late in the biggest games.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Spain beat France: Keith Duggan in Dallas, Malachy Clerkin on the missed warning signs and seeing Spain for who they are 15.07.2026 30min

  Spain haven't lost a competitive game since Scotland beat them in March 2023. Tonight's win leaves them just a single match from breaking Italy's record unbeaten run of 38 games. Oh, and from lifting a World Cup trophy too, of course.In the end, Spain's structure and patience proved far too much for France. They were ruthless in midfield, picking apart the soft spots in the French line-up and doing the unglamorous things well. You'd be forgiven for thinking they wore the look of the rightful favourites. A title they’ve been quietly holding onto all along while our attention was pulled elsewhere.Malachy Clerkin and Paul Howard took the game in from the studio, while Keith Duggan joins us from the stadium in Dallas, Texas. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Confrontational Leadership - Miguel Delaney and Kevin Kilbane on the Bellingham beef, tired bodies and FIFA’s dream draw 13.07.2026 50min

  England are through to the World Cup semi-finals, and still nobody can say quite what they're good at, or what they're trying to do exactly. Now that Jude Bellingham has established himself as the squad's main man, will his clashes with Thomas Tuchel and his coaching staff prove England's undoing? Or is it precisely the kind of kinetic charge that carries a side all the way?Miguel Delaney has the inside track, having shadowed England throughout the tournament. Kevin Kilbane also knows more than a thing or two about dressing-room scuffles between big personalities.Elsewhere, Argentina looked leggy but ground down Switzerland after another draining slog through extra time. Spain, meanwhile, might just be peaking at exactly the right moment with France waiting for them tomorrow night.Produced by Rob Sutton  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Zut Alors! - Ken Early in Boston, Gavin Cooney and Malachy Clerkin on the business end of the World Cup, At home with Malcolm 10.07.2026 1h 14min

  France thumped Morocco with relative ease last night, laying bare just how wide the gulf still yawns between the plucky underdog and the ruling classes of world football.Ken Early joins us from Boston for our weekly check-in, sharing his reflections on the tournament as the endgame comes into view. He also gives his take on the zealous furore engulfing Brazilian media since the seleção's exit.Closer to home, Malachy Clerkin and Gavin Cooney are in studio to look ahead to the weekend’s quarter finals games.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Good cup / Bad Cup? Dave Hannigan in New York, Messi business and the halo effect 08.07.2026 28min

  Yet another moment, yet another highlight reel, yet another memory for us all - courtesy of Leo Messi's remarkable football career.Egypt’s two-goal lead should have been more, but in the end they were made to bow to the sheer weight of inevitability. Was it fate alone at work here? Or was there a human thumb pressing on the scales?After FIFA's litany of missteps this week, perceived contentious calls are more up for debate than ever. When the game's governing body is torching its own credibility, even the conventional decisions start to look loaded.Dave Hannigan joins us from New York to run through last night's matches, and gives us his take on the many World Cup conspiracy theories up to this point. Produced by Rob Sutton Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  The Anti-Midas Touch: The US buckle in Seattle, Cristiano bows out, Keith Duggan in Miami and Paul Howard’s Party Trick 07.07.2026 44min

  The American Dream is over. The United States, perhaps laden down with the sheer weight of the swirling situation, limped to a 4-1 defeat in Seattle. A result which ends their campaign and potentially the administration’s interest along with it. For all the strings pulled to drag Folarin Balogun back onto the pitch, their exit was a quiet, deflating end to the loudest week of the World Cup so far.Paul Howard and Malachy Clerkin are in studio to review the events of last night and the rolling catastrophe still engulfing FIFA. Meanwhile, Keith Duggan was in Dallas to see Spain pip Portugal last night. The defeat also draws the curtain on Cristiano Ronaldo's (not-so) storied World Cup career, forever missing the one prize that eluded him to the very last. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  FIFA under fire: Infantino back in the spotlight, England Conquer the Azteca, and Trump's gaze lands on the World Cup 06.07.2026 55min

  There was a real expectation heading into this tournament that off-field issues would wreak havoc on World Cup 2026. It's had its moments, but nothing has come close to the news of the past couple of days.FIFA has rescinded the red-card suspension of USA star striker Folarin Balogun, clearing him to face Belgium tonight. They did so, primarily, at the request of President Donald Trump. The fallout has been messy: bodies like UEFA have condemned the decision in the strongest possible terms, and things will likely only get stranger from here.Miguel Delaney, chief football writer for The Independent and author of the superb "States of Play," joins Paul Howard to pick apart the saga and where it goes next. Miguel also reports back from the Azteca, where England marched into the next round by handing Mexico just their third home defeat there in 90 games.Plus, Kevin Kilbane joins us from Vancouver, where the co-hosts' run at the tournament is over. Though not without another Jesse Marsch zinger or two. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Pole Pole, Slowly Slowly: Ken Early in New York, Kevin Kilbane in Canada, explaining the snickometer, and the delirium of Paul Howard 03.07.2026 1h 14min

  "We'll sell you the whole seat, but you'll only need the edge of it."Fridays tend to run giddy on the America 2026 podcast but make no mistake, this World Cup is barrelling into the serious business end now.Malachy Clerkin is in studio to keep an increasingly delirious Paul Howard company. Kevin Kilbane joins us from Canada, where the tournament's stay is drawing to a close. Though not without leaving an enduring mark on the country's culture, and on Kevin's star power.Paul also caught up with Ken Early in New York last night, who shares his reflections on England, hearts of darkness, and the champions-in-waiting: France. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Doctor Congo will see you now: Gavin Cooney and Paul Howard on England’s near miss, Kane’s tells and Vegemite 02.07.2026 45min

  ‘It looks altogether brighter’ echoed the immortal words of the BBC commentary mere moments before Brian Cipenga smashed one past Pickford at the near post to hand DR Congo an early lead.Congo fought valiantly, but twice they couldn't deny Harry Kane, who now has a high-altitude clash with Mexico at the Azteca to look forward to this Sunday.Gavin Cooney and Paul Howard are in studio to round up the last couple of days. They can see clean through Harry Kane's dives as well as Thomas Tuchel and Anthony Barry's party line. Unfortunately for Gavin, though, the same can't be said for the little surprise Paul has in store for him.We also look ahead to Spain v Austria at 8pm and Portugal v Croatia at midnight, before what might just be the loneliest fixture in football: Switzerland v Algeria at 4am. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Tah tah Germany, sayonara Japan, doei Netherlands: Killian Sundermann and Gavin Cooney on the World Cup knockouts 30.06.2026 50min

  The old world is fading, and the new one struggles to be born. There was a time when it seemed a foregone conclusion that the likes of Germany and the Netherlands would loom large at the business end of any World Cup, grinding out wins with efficient, controlled football. Last night, neither looked anything close to it. Germany crashed out to Paraguay, the Dutch to Morocco, both on penalties.Killian Sundermann - comedian, podcaster and crestfallen Germany fan, joins Paul Howard and Gavin Cooney in studio to explain exactly what went wrong for his boys, and to offer a message of hope and direction to his fellow suffering Germans.Japan, meanwhile, threw everything at their footballing mentors Brazil before falling to a late Gabriel Martinelli winner. They didn't sparkle but perhaps, like a good Ancelotti side, they'll just keep finding a way to win regardless. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  You have to respect the football: Gavin Cooney and Malachy Clerkin on the start of the knockouts, history for Canada, and 'Peak Ball' 29.06.2026 46min

  Jesse Marsch's team stand as Canadian heroes to rank alongside Céline Dion, Justin Bieber and Tim Horton after last night's win over South Africa in Los Angeles - the nation's first-ever World Cup knockout victory, and perhaps the dawn of a brave new world for Canadian soccer.The game itself, though, was… rather less dramatic. Gavin Cooney and Malachy Clerkin join Paul Howard in studio to pick back over a mixed bag of a group phase, one marred by FIFA's baffling choice of format. Iran and South Korea crash out, while ties like Algeria v Austria slid into farce as teams gamed the bracket.Plus, we look ahead to the rest of the round of 32, kicking off with tonight's slate: Japan v Brazil, Germany v Paraguay, and Netherlands v Morocco. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Scotland in the lap of the gods: Ken Early in Miami, the Neymar tribute act, and the Disgrace of Gijón 26.06.2026 1h 9min

  To everything there is a season. That’s a lesson Scotland will surely have to learn if the football gods grant them another crack at this World Cup in the knockouts. Brazil were only too happy to feast on a calamitous defensive set-up, banging in three past a back line that flatly refused to ‘just knock it’.Paul Howard checks in with correspondents across North America, starting with Kevin Kilbane in Vancouver, who watched Canada's momentum get smothered by Switzerland. In Miami, Ken Early is in reflective mood, turning over how the Scots made such a mess of it, and why Brazil's fans so desperately want Neymar to have his ‘Messi in Qatar’ moment.Plus, Jonathan O’Brien unpicks a quirk in this year’s format, one that harks back to one of the strangest and most consequential episodes in World Cup history. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Much a Prince Adu about nothing: The Arsenalification of England, Ghana hold firm and Ronaldo the goat 24.06.2026 47min

  It may not have been a catastrophe of a draw for England in Boston last night, but they’re following previous World Cup patterns and maybe that should be worrying enough for Thomas Tuchel.Howard, Cooney and Clerkin are back in The Irish Times studio to suss out where England’s Premier League 25/26 approach went wrong for them last night, if this really affects anything about the tournament and why we’re waiting on Anthony Barry’s half time interviews like a Tony Holohan Covid case update. We also ask if Portugal’s game could be the worst 5-0 win for a team in history, and why Ronaldo and Jordan Henderson might be the actual goats of this tournament. Just not in the way you might think. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  A triple of doubles for the World Cup Galácticos: Malachy Clerkin and Gavin Cooney on Messi, Mbappé and Haaland 23.06.2026 1h 3min

  Forty years to the day since Diego Maradona's unforgettable brace against England at Mexico '86, three of the defining stars of the 2026 World Cup produced doubles of their own. Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland each struck twice in a remarkable night that invited comparisons with the tournament's most enduring icon. Paying tribute to Maradona in some moments, and perhaps surpassing him in others.Paul Howard is joined in studio by Malachy Clerkin and Gavin Cooney - the Messi, Mbappé and Haaland of sports podcasting - to unpack the night's action. As well as Luther Vandross, Britpop, and why Cristiano Ronaldo may prove to be the Enoch Burke of this competition.Plus, Irish Times columnist Dave Hannigan joins us from New York to explore why the United States continues to struggle to produce a footballing phenomenon in the mould of Haaland, and how the Dunning-Kruger effect can apply to the confidence of the USMNT fan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Cape Verde on the verge: Weekend World Cup round-up with Gavin Cooney and Kevin Kilbane 22.06.2026 49min

  Kevin Kilbane, the self described Dunphy of Canadian Television, joins us from Vancouver after the Sunday night games, along with Gavin Cooney in studio. Paul Howard has continued his Herculean effort to watch every single group stage game and reports back on a packed weekend of World Cup action. Favourites Spain look to be warming up but questions linger over Lamine Yamal’s fitness. Co-hosts Mexico and the USA keep their momentum up, while Cape Verde find themselves knocking on the door of the next round. The Dutch, the Germans and the Japanese manage to keep their dark horse status intact but the widely faniced Turkey crash out in what’s been the shock of the tournament so far. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  BONUS: The round one wrap up, Jesse Marsch’s hubris and Canada’s pyrrhic victory with Kevin Kilbane 19.06.2026 26min

  Canada notched their first ever World Cup victory after stomping Qatar 6-0 in Vancouver last night. Not everyone loved the wild celebrations on the touchline and after the whistle but is it all actually playing right into coach Marsch's plans for global domination?Kevin Kilbane was at the game in Vancouver on televisual duties, we get his thoughts on what he makes of the co-hosts, the potential fallout of Ismaël Koné’s horror injury and how he reckons the groups are poised going into the second round of games. America 2026 lands in your podcast feeds at least three times a week throughout the tournament, free to everyone, wherever you get your podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  England’s lions show their teeth and their bellies, Ken Early on Tour, Gavin Cooney’s premonition 19.06.2026 1h 5min

  Thomas Tuchel complained that he "couldn't see his team" during the anthems in Dallas last night. Little did he know just how much would be read into that remark as the evening wore on.On paper, a 4-2 win over an old bogey side looks like the perfect way to open a World Cup. Add in the fact that this is an England team who have brushed aside everyone in their path en route to the tournament, and the mood should be euphoric. So why are the pundits, and even their own management, so slow to pat the team on the back?Ken Early is one such sceptic. We catch up with him in Philadelphia after coming fresh from the action at Jerry World. Gavin Cooney, on the other hand, has a different worry entirely: that we may just have seen the tournament's future champions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.