The Rondo by GOAL

The 2026 World Cup knockout stages are here, and the favorites are starting to separate themselves from the rest 👀🏆 But could this be the year a country wins the World Cup for the very first time? From Portugal and the Netherlands to the USMNT’s breakout tournament run, the squad debates whether a new nation has what it takes to survive the knockouts, take down the usual giants, and lift the tro...

The USMNT is off to a perfect start at the 2026 World Cup... so it's time to ask the big question 👀🇺🇸 Is this actually the greatest USMNT we've ever seen? From Christian Pulisic and Folarin Balogun leading the attack to the squad's dominant start to the tournament, we debate whether this team has officially surpassed every generation that came before it, and just how far they can go in the World...

The 2026 World Cup is in full swing, and after the incredible energy from the first few matches, packed stadiums, and European fans being blown away by the atmosphere in America, has the tournament proven the doubters wrong? 🇺🇸🏆 The squad breaks down the biggest surprises of the tournament so far, the incredible support from traveling fans, the best culture crossover moments, and whether the crit...

The 2026 World Cup is finally here, but can it actually live up to the last tournament hosted in the United States? 👀🇺🇸 The squad looks back at the legacy of the 1994 World Cup and debates whether 2026 has what it takes to become America's greatest World Cup ever. From the creation of MLS and the growth of the USMNT to the explosion of soccer culture across the country, we break down how much has...

The World Cup is getting closer and this week the squad came with some REAL hot takes 👀From the idea that Cristiano Ronaldo potentially makes Portugal worse, to whether the World Cup is actually BETTER being hosted in the United States, we each brought a take to the table and challenged the others to prove us wrong 🌎Special shoutout to Carl’s Jr. for sponsoring today’s video! Leave your take in...

The World Cup is getting closer and this week the squad went head-to-head in the ultimate 7-a-side World Cup draft 🏆Using a 2-3-1 formation, we drafted teams made up entirely of players heading to the 2026 World Cup to see who could build the BEST squad possible. But who would go #1 overall? It’s hard to argue who the best player in the world is right now, but Tom still had a tough decision to ma...

Who’s going to win the World Cup? We might know. We all know who won’t. This thing is hard to predict, but we have 48 teams and a bunch of ideas. Surely, there are some favorites: Spain, Argentina, France. But then there are some who are happy to be there. Our rondo guys tried to figure out where ALL 48(!) rank. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What does it actually take to win a World Cup? 👀 Every four years, the same countries seem to be in the mix while everyone else is left chasing. Is it just about having the best players, or is there something bigger behind why nations like Argentina, France, Brazil, and Germany always seem to compete for the biggest trophy in football? 🌍 This week on The Rondo, we break down what separates World...

Is soccer becoming too American? 👀 With FIFA officially confirming the first-ever halftime show for the 2026 World Cup Final, the debate around the “Americanization” of football has only gotten louder. Coldplay’s Chris Martin and Phil Harvey are helping FIFA finalize the list of artists for the show, but the bigger question is whether moments like this are helping grow the game or taking away fro...

This week, The Rondo boys breakdown how to beat billionaire soccer clubs with USMNT legend and strategic advisor to English League One club Lincoln City, Landon Donovan. Can small soccer clubs can truly compete against the massive financial power of big money European teams and elite English Premier League giants? Do small football clubs need celebrity ownership like Wrexham AFC to challenge the e...

How good are the U.S. at men's soccer really? And will they ever be any better? It has long been assumed that if the United States got people to care just a little more about the beautiful game, then international glory is inevitable. But that all seems pretty far away - and it's a LOT to ask. Our rondo guys look at what elite footballing nations do, ask if the U.S. could EVER get there, and debat...

Promotion and relegation is one of the biggest things missing from American soccer, but could that finally be changing? On this episode, we break down whether promotion/relegation can actually work in the US, why it has become the standard around the world, how USL plans to implement it, and whether MLS would ever seriously consider joining in. From the financial risks to the possible upside for c...

What is a bottle? Many have accused Arsenal of ritually chucking away the Premier League for a few years now. But is that fair? Are they serial chokers limited by their own shortcomings? Or are they just unfortunate to be chased by a Man City juggernaut every year? Arsenal aren't the only ones to throw it away, either. Our guys have all experienced soccer trauma with their teams falling short over...

MLS season is underway, which means it's time for our Rondo guys to get excited about American soccer again. To be honest, they missed it quite a bit. So, to kick things off, we decided to ask one big fat question: Is MLS actually good? Sure, Lionel Messi plays here and teams are now valued at nearly $1.5 BILLION. But does anyone want to watch the product on the pitch? Should they care? And, most...

We had USMNT legend and RCD Mallorca co-owner Stu Holden on the show this week, and we built the ULTIMATE American gameday 😮‍💨🇺🇸 The squad picked from six different categories: Stadiums, uniforms, coaches, fanbases, mascots, and even the GOATS from each major sport, to see who could build the BEST gameday ever … but you can only pick one person, place, or thing per sport 👀 Let us know in the co...

The FIFPRO World 11 list dropped yesterday and social media went CRAZY after seeing players like Mo Salah and Raphinha NOT make it 👀 BUT unlike most awards, this list is actually voted on by the players themselves, so we took a look at every name that made the squad and rated each 1–10 on whether they deserved to be there … and if someone else SHOULD have been in over them 😮‍💨 Let us know in th...

What has been the BIGGEST surprise of the new EPL season so far? 👀 There were some HUGE transfers over the summer, and new talent has arrived at some of the biggest clubs in the league … but which signings have hit the ground running and which ones are already looking shaky? 😬 We had the squad break down the most unexpected storylines of the season so far, judge the biggest transfers, and debate...

Manchester United is one of the biggest and most historic clubs in world football … but things haven’t been great in recent years 😬 We had the squad build out a 5-a-side team featuring past and present Manchester United stars and legends 😮‍💨 Let us know in the comments who YOU would’ve picked for this star-studded squad, and don’t forget to like, subscribe, and turn on noti’s so you never miss...

Can soccer ever be the BIGGEST sport in America like it is in Europe? 🤔 With global stars like Lionel Messi, Son Heung-min and more coming to MLS, the game in the U.S. has grown massively, and it’s only going to get bigger with the World Cup on the horizon 👀 The squad sat down to debate if soccer could ever become the #1 sport in America, or at least break into the top 3 alongside the NFL, NBA,...

Football managers are usually the FIRST ones to take the heat when things go wrong, but some always find a way to JUST WIN. So who’s really the BEST manager in the world right now? The squad sat down to debate it 👀 Let us know in the comments who YOU think is the best manager in the world, and don’t forget to like, subscribe, and turn on noti’s so you never miss a Rondo debate 💯 Intro: (0:00) In...

The Premier League season is BACK… but who’s going to lift the trophy? 🏆 We had the squad look at some of the biggest teams in the league and give their takes on how they’ll perform this year. Could Liverpool go back-to-back after somehow getting even BETTER, will Pep Guardiola and Man City bounce back to their dominant ways, or will someone else shock the world and win it all? 👀 Let us know in...

The World Cup is almost here, and all eyes are on the USMNT as they get ready to host the tournament 🏆 The squad has been struggling lately and there’s been plenty of drama, but they’re fresh off a solid win against Japan and there’s only one question … can they turn it around and be at their best for the World Cup? 🤔 We talked about their recent performances, how Mauricio Pochettino has done so...

We asked you all to drop your HOTTEST football takes and we’re here to grade them and decide if it’s just rage bait … or if y’all actually KNOW BALL 🧠 Let us know in the comments which hot take was the WORST and which hot take actually made some sense 👀 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and turn on noti’s so you never miss a Rondo debate 💯 Intro: (0:00) First Hot Take (3:12) Second Hot Take (6:4...

The MSN trio of Neymar, Luis Suarez, and Lionel Messi is widely considered the BEST front 3 of all time … but could a modern-day trio match the greatness of the original MSN? 🤔 We had the squad try to build a new version of MSN using only today’s stars, picking the best left wing, right wing, and striker in the world right now to see if they could come close to replicating the dominance MSN had a...

Which clubs will lift the trophy and claim the title of CHAMPIONS in the Big 5 leagues? 🤔 Can Liverpool run it back in the Premier League, are Lamine Yamal and Barcelona destined for another La Liga title, or will Real Madrid’s super team finally put it all together? 🧠 We had the squad make their predictions for league winners across the Premier League, Bundesliga, La Liga, Serie A, and Ligue 1...