Looking at the actual bracket, looks like Japan will have the toughest path to the World Cup. May have to beat the No. 5, No. 23, No. 4, No. 1 and No. 2 teams in the FIFA rankings to hoist the trophy. Dutch, Germans equally brutal paths.

World Cup Knockouts by federation: AFC: 2/9 OFC: 0/1 CAF: 9/10 CONCACAF: 3/6 CONMEBOL: 5/6 UEFA: 13/16

10 teams made the World Cup from CAF and nine of them will be in the knockouts.

Austrian emotions in about 60 seconds.

OH MY GOODNESS

ALGERIA GETS AUSTRIA BACK FOR 1982!

MESSI

Darren Fletcher has a little JoeTess in him in terms of announcing style.

The Disgrace of Kansas City, but it was entertaining and had BBQ.

Hope there are a few Rock Chalk Algeria signs at the Booth this season.

France (FIFA Rankings No. 2), Spain (3), Morocco (6), Netherlands (7), Portugal (8), Belgium (10), Germany (12), Croatia (13) and USMNT (15) all in the same half of the knockouts.

DR Congo will wind up as the top third place team and will play England in Atlanta on Wednesday.

Game of shoe sizes.

As of now DR Congo and Iran are in the knockouts, Korea is out.

Goalazo Uzbekistan!

Bar owners realizing Scotland is out of the World Cup:

Ghana just said ball don’t lie on the equalizer.

Jude Bellingham: big game player.

Game of inches. Iran with a wave of emotions in stoppage time. Belgium and Egypt move on.

New column: Messi is looking like a World Cup king this tournament but Mbappe is in hot pursuit of several of his records. The young star chasing history made me think of another parallel from a different sport. www.si.com/soccer/kylia...

Very heavy rotation for Norway with no Haaland, Odegaard, Sorloth, etc. against a strong France side.

Well that is not how the USMNT wanted to end things.

Ouch.

The first rule of World Cup Fight Club is...

Backups? Who you calling backups?

Which of the 10 days of Herve Renard coaching Tunisia was your favorite?

Heavy rotation for the #USMNT tonight.

That goal sends Ecuador to the knockouts against England in Atlanta and may be the final blow for Scotland’s hopes.

I'd be eating Cook Out every day after camp too.

Learfield Cup Final standings for 2025-26. Texas wins for fifth time in six years.

On top of Haaland-Mbappe, the Norway-France game looms as massive for the bracket. Winner of the group (France with a draw) would likely play Germany in R16 but wouldn't face Spain (or USMNT!) until semi. Loser may face Brazil, one of Mexico/England in quarters plus a potential Argentina semi.

Knockout matches locked in Sunday: Canada-South Africa, 3ET in LA Monday: Brazil at 1ET in Houston Germany at 4:30ET in Boston Morocco at 9ET in Monterrey Tuesday: Mexico at 9ET at Azteca Wednesday: USMNT at 8ET at Levi's Thursday: Swiss at 11ET in Vancouver Friday: Argentina at 6ET in Miami

That does it, South Africa beats Korea 1-0! Bafana Bafana are into the knockouts for the first time ever. They'll play Canada at SoFi.

And Memo comes on for Mexico. Sixth World Cup for him.

Massive goal for South Africa. As it stands, that would send them to LA to play Canada at SoFi instead of Korea.

Mexico is starting young star Gilberto Mora tonight among their lineup changes.

Scotland now tied for the worst GD of the third placed teams.

Haiti get it right back!

Roberto Carlos has a gold phone.

Can we put the, "Why doesn't Vini Jr. score more for Brazil?" line to bed now?

Utah and adidas have announced a new seven-year apparel (and NIL) agreement of the Utes beginning with the 2027-28 school year.

Neymar does not start for Brazil predictably but has indeed been named to the bench.

Canada on the verge of going from a favorable knockout path at home to maybe playing Korea in LA and Houston against either the Dutch or Morocco. Rough.

Newish look for the MWC with a new tagline: “Built Bold”

Arkansas announces a new naming rights agreement that will see their stadium re-named CommunityAmerica Razorback Stadium. As usual, there is an NIL component to the multi-year deal.

2026 NBA Draft first round: Big 12 - 9 B1G - 6 SEC - 5 ACC - 4 Big East - 3 Overseas - 2 WCC - 1 Freshman - 15 Sophomore - 2 Senior - 1 Transfer - 10 Overseas pro - 2

Cavs nab Alex Karaban at No. 28. He rewrote the UConn record book and won all you could in college. www.si.com/college-bask...