Former U.S. men’s national team goalkeeper Tim Howard understands the early success this group has in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but he doesn’t think they will be hoisting any trophy by the end of the tournament.

In fact, Howard believes it’s “impossible” for them to win the World Cup.

“The U.S. cannot, unequivocally, win the World Cup,” he said on his “Unfiltered Soccer” podcast alongside former USMNT teammate Landon Donovan. “The U.S. will have to play the greatest game they’ve ever played…four games in a row. Round of 16, quarterfinals, semifinals, finals.

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Tim Howard, goalkeeper for the United States, plays during a game against Azerbaijan at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, California, on May 27, 2014. (Michael Burns/ISI Photos/Getty Images)

“It’s literally impossible for the U.S. to win the World Cup. That’s just the reality.”

Donovan, though, was a bit more optimistic than the Hall of Fame goalie.

“Can we? Yes. Has this group proven they can beat a top team? No,” Donovan added. “If they play the way they’re playing, they can absolutely compete with any team in this World Cup. For sure.”

USA WORLD CUP TEAM CLINCHES SPOT IN KNOCKOUT STAGE AFTER ANOTHER HISTORIC PERFORMANCE VS AUSTRALIA

Thus far, the USMNT has had strong victories against Paraguay, a 4-1 victory that marked the most goals scored by Team USA in a World Cup match. Then, they followed it up with a commanding 2-0 win over Australia this past Friday to notch a spot in the knockout rounds.

Donovan believes Mauricio Pochettino’s group is building momentum, which could ultimately help them make that Cinderella run.

United States goalkeeper Tim Howard stands on the field before the CONCACAF Gold Cup final against Jamaica at Levi’s Stadium on July 26, 2017. (Kyle Terada/USA TODAY Sports)

“I’ve said this over and over. Can you do it four times in a row? Can you do it in the round of 16, the quarter, the semi, the final. That is where it gets really hard,” Donovan explained. “But momentum gets going, you never know.”

The USMNT still has one more Group D match to go, as they face Türkiye on Thursday, which will only impact who they will face in the new round of 32.

It’s a new format for the World Cup, as they expanded group from 32 to 48 teams has now led to a round of 32 instead of the usual round of 16. The top two teams of each group, as well as the top eight third-place teams, will be heading for the knockout rounds.

While this game technically doesn’t matter for the U.S., Pochettino will surely be stressing its importance to continue building on the momentum they’ve created throughout their first two matches.

Christian Pulisic had an assist in the first half of the USMNT World Cup opener against Paraguay. (Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images)

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Also, the status of Christian Pulisic, the team’s superstar midfielder who sat out against Australia due to a left calf injury, will be under a microscope once again heading into the final group stage match. Considering the spot in the knockout stage is secured, it will be interesting to see if Pochettino decides to be cautious and sit Pulisic once more to ensure he’s ready for the elimination game.

Can they make a run in those games and shock Howard with a run to the final? The sky is the limit for this group that has made a statement thus far.

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And then, all of a sudden, Deniz Undav had disappeared into a sea of Germany shirts. The striker was lost in the jubilant crowd of his teammates celebrating after the Stuttgart forward had scored an injury-time winner for Germany against the Ivory Coast in Toronto.

At first, it seemed as though Undav himself hadn’t quite grasped what he had just accomplished.

“How do I do it? No idea. I’m just in the right spot,” the 29-year-old said afterwards, showing off that now familiar smile of his. Head coach Julian Nagelsmann, who showed a knack for making the right substitutions at the right time, was full of praise for his supersub. 

“Deniz has an incredible striker’s instinct. As soon as spaces open up, he’s just super smart,” Nagelsmann said afterwards.

With nine goals in his last eight international matches and three goals and two assists at this World Cup, Undav is not only the in-form player on his team, but also the current top scorer of the 2026 World Cup.

Amiri: ‘Deniz is lethal in front of the goal’

“I’m over the moon. I had to laugh again, even in Toronto, people are chanting my name, not just in Stuttgart,” Undav said afterwards, full of emotion. “I’m enjoying it; I’m taking it all in.”

It took just under an hour for the Germany fans to start chanting “Deniz Undav,” demanding the fan favorite to be brought off the bench. Nagelsmann responded soon afterwards, and it proved to be a game-changing decision.

“Deniz is absolutely lethal in front of goal,” said Nadiem Amiri, who himself made an impact off the bench by assisting Undav for his first goal.

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For Lothar Matthäus, Germany’s most capped player, Undav reminded him of the iconic Germany striker Gerd Müller from the 1970s. “In that regard, we have a new ‘Germany goal-scoring sensation,’” said Matthäus.

Move to Belgium the turning point

While Undav is currently living the dream, his journey to World Cup hero has been long and far from usual.

After all, he only became a professional player eight years ago. In 2018, Undav signed his first professional contract with SV Meppen in Germany’s third division. But it wasn’t until the 2021/22 season, when he moved to Union Saint-Gilloise in the Belgian second division, that his career took off.

“My second season in Belgium was the turning point,” said Undav. “Until then, I hadn’t really behaved like a pro; that’s when things became truly professional.”

From Belgium, he moved to the Premier League club to join Brighton & Hove Albion. His time in England helped Undav solidify his path as a professional.

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“I realized what matters in football: You have to work for the team, even making runs that might seem unnecessary at times. It took me three or four months to realize that,” Undav said. “I suddenly became much more effective and valuable to the team.”

Undav: ‘I’m proud of my journey’

His dedication, attitude and style of play define him to this day. After his time in England, Bundesliga side Stuttgart signed Undav in 2023, and it wasn’t long before he became a key player at the club.

“I’m proud of my journey. I think I’ve had to overcome a lot of hurdles,” Undav told DW two years ago. “That’s what made me a man. Now I’m very confident in what I say, but I’ve also never lost my sense of fun.”

Over two years on from his Germany debut in 2024, Undav now plays a key role in developing the team’s motivation. Club or country, the striker always puts the team first.

“What makes Deniz special? He doesn’t overthink things. He comes in, does his job, and leaves,” explained defender Antonio Rüdiger.

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Aim is to make father proud

Football is important to Undav, but his family always comes first. His parents are from Viransehir, a city in the south east of Turkey. His father is a huge role model, having made sure Undav never wanted for anything during his childhood.

“He worked two or three jobs so that we kids would have everything. If we wanted something, he did everything he could to get it, even working overtime,” Undav told the German Football Association (DFB) in an interview.

“I do everything I can to make my father proud. He came here [to Germany] with nothing and built a life for himself. I take my hat off to him for that. I don’t think I could have done that,” said Undav.

“Who knows, if I’d been in a youth academy the whole time, maybe I would have eventually lost interest in football. But this way, I still enjoy it and try to savor every moment,” he added.

Will Undav start?

Undav played just six minutes at the Euros two years ago. At the World Cup, he is quickly becoming a key player. 

For now, he’s Germany’s supersub but head coach Nagelsmann will have to decide whether to keep Undav as an impact player off the bench or play him in the starting eleven.

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“We’ll discuss both options, including with Deniz,” said Nagelsmann. “Deep down, I think he’s quite happy with this role.”

After the win against the Ivory Coast, Undav was named man of the match. “This one’s for my wife,” said Undav with a mischievous smile. And then, he was gone, disappearing into the stadium’s catacombs.

Edited by: Dmytro Hubenko

Errol Spence Jr has weighed in on the Greatest of All Time debate, believing one man deserves to be recognised as the most accomplished fighter in history.

On a pound-for-pound metric, many seem to regard Sugar Ray Robinson as the ultimate GOAT, as evidenced by his victories over 10 Hall of Famers.

These triumphs include iconic wins over the likes of Jake LaMotta and Cuban great Kid Gavilan, with the American also avenging his defeat to Randolph Turpin in 1951.

In the end, Robinson retired with a professional record of 174-19-6 (109 KOs), having become a multi-time world champion at welter and middleweight.

But despite his remarkable achievements, others would argue that Muhammad Ali – who defeated eight eventual Hall of Famers – is, in fact, the pound-for-pound GOAT.

‘The Greatest’ retired with a professional record of 56-5 (37 KOs) before sadly passing away in 2016, leaving behind an extraordinary legacy both in and out of the ring.

Notable victories include those over George Foreman and Joe Frazier, while Sonny Liston and Ken Norton are among the other Hall of Famers he trumped.

Spence therefore told Premier Boxing Champions that heavyweight legend Ali is simply the greatest fighter of all time, his accolades outshining those of even Robinson.

When asked to name who possessed the all-time greatest jab, meanwhile, Spence highlighted heavyweight icon Larry Holmes and former two-weight world champion Junior Jones.

As for punching power, ‘The Truth’ could not select a winner between Norton, Mike Tyson and Julian Jackson, but was quick to name Ali as the overall GOAT.

Belgium and Iran shared the spoils in a goalless draw in their FIFA World Cup Group G encounter on June 21 (ET), a game that flattered to deceive for the Red Devils. Rudi Garcia’s side dominated possession from the off, controlling 81% of the ball and completing 376 passes to Iran’s 91 in the first half alone.

But for all that territory, they only mustered 0.91 expected goals from 11 shots, repeatedly running into a goalkeeper in inspired form. Iran thought they had taken the lead in the 25th minute when Mehdi Taremi tucked home Ehsan Hajisafi’s disguised free-kick, only for VAR to chalk it off for marginal offside.

Things got worse for the Red Devils in the 66th minute when defender Nathan Ngoy was shown a straight red for pulling Taremi back, denying a clear goalscoring opportunity. Belgium were hanging on in the closing stages with a man less. The draw leaves both nations on two points apiece in a FIFA World Cup Group G that now looks gloriously unpredictable.

So, without further ado, here are five talking points from a fascinating night at the Los Angeles Stadium in California:

5) Beiranvand delivers a goalkeeping performance for the ages

Alireza Beiranvand will have a lot to do with Iran walking away from Los Angeles dreaming of the FIFA World Cup knockout rounds. The veteran shot-stopper had a commanding performance, throwing himself in the path of everything Belgium could conjure. The same imperious figure denied the the Red Devils throughout the entire game.

Beiranvand also got onto Youri Tielemans’ early drive and reacted brilliantly to regular efforts from Romelu Lukaku, Maxim De Cuyper, Leandro Trossard, and others. There were 23 shots at his goal on the night, and the goalkeeper ensured that none entered, winning his country a precious point single-handedly.

4) Belgium’s golden generation shows signs of fading

There is a lot of talent across their entire starting XI, but Belgium are still a side looking for an identity. The Red Devils have taken just two points from two fixtures after being held to a 1-1 draw by Egypt in their opener. This is a country that finished third in the 2018 FIFA World Cup but was eliminated in the group stage in 2022.

The present bunch have a number of players who were part of those previous FIFA World Cup editions. Yet, they are doing little to suggest that brighter days are just around the corner. Their lineup seemed to symbolise an awkward transition, with older players Lukaku and De Bruyne flanked by a younger generation still searching for the right formula.

3) Iran’s low block was masterful and disciplined

Amir Ghalenoei’s gameplan against stronger opponents might have been simple on paper, but it was brutally difficult to execute. Yet, his players did so to near perfection. Iran sat back in a tight, low block, daring Belgium to break through. Sometimes, six or seven defenders crowded into the eighteen-yard box, throwing themselves in front of crosses, shots and loose balls without a hint of fatigue.

Most impressive was their organisation past the first contact, with cover arriving constantly for the second and third blocks. To play this way in defence for 90 minutes takes extraordinary concentration and courage. Iran’s backline barely flinched, and they fully deserved the clean sheet they battled so hard to defend.

2) Nathan Ngoy’s red card turned the FIFA World Cup clash upside down

The defining flashpoint of the match came just past the hour mark, and it was an unhappy one for Nathan Ngoy. Under pressure from Taremi, the young defender lost control, and the striker darted in to sprint clear. With no covering teammate in sight, Taremi was brought down by Ngoy, and referee Dario Herrera had little option but to show a straight red card.

Belgium had been in control of a game that was blown wide open in a flash. And from then on, the roles were totally reversed, Belgium dropping deep and Iran pushing for a famous winner. It was a hard lesson for a promising young player in Ngoy, but one he will learn plenty from, no doubt.

1) Subpar, blunt finishing from Belgium

It might have been a FIFA World Cup masterclass from Iran’s defence, but Belgium should have found ways to overpower them. Kevin De Bruyne toiled to break down Iran, roaming across the pitch, looking for the gaps that rarely appeared. The playmaker provided the inviting passes, but his team-mates failed to provide the rewarding finish.

Belgium’s 23 shots resulted in 1.82 expected goals throughout the match. The cutting edge was blunt, with De Cuyper, Lukaku and Tielemans all missing presentable openings. There is no denying the quality this side has in possession, but dominating the ball will continue to count for very little in the FIFA World Cup until Belgium rediscover their ruthlessness.