The Athletic FC: Daily Cup

Welcome to the final episode of the Daily Cup! Hosts Tamerra Griffin and James McNicholas break down the epic conclusion to the 2026 World Cup, where Spain emerged victorious. Felipe Cardenas joins the desk to analyze the dramatic 120-minute final and Lionel Messi's future. Then, Hannah Vanbiber shares the ultimate cheat sheet on how to follow your favorite stars like Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe as they return to their club teams. Finally, Tim Spiers reviews the tournament's biggest successes, failures, and the impact of its Americanization. 

Hosts Tamerra Griffin and James McNicholas deliver the ultimate preview for the historic 2026 World Cup Final between Argentina and Spain. The Athletic’s James Horncastle joins the show to analyze how manager Lionel Scaloni’s emotional connection has fueled Argentina’s never-say-die attitude and positioned Lionel Messi just one win away from back-to-back global titles. Then, Dermot Corrigan dives into Spain's disciplined, starless collective under Luis de la Fuente and discusses what is driving Lamine Yamal's quiet ambivalence in the tournament. Plus, Hannah Vanbiber counts down her definitive top five off-the-pitch stories—including the prophetic 2007 Messi-Yamal baby photo and international fans obsessed with ranch dressing.

Welcome to the Daily Cup! Today, hosts Tamerra Griffin and James McNicholas look ahead to the highly anticipated World Cup final between Argentina and Spain. Seb Stafford-Bloor stops by to discuss the massive format changes coming to the 2030 Men's World Cup. Then, Paul Tenorio analyzes what's next for Mauricio Pochettino and the USMNT's road to 2030, while Meg Linehan previews the 2027 Women's World Cup in Brazil and Emma Hayes' USWNT squad. Finally, Joe and Jon from the Tifo Football Podcast rank the biggest controversies of the 2026 tournament.

Hosts Tamerra Griffin and James McNicholas prepare for the massive 2026 World Cup semi-final clash between England and Argentina. The Athletic's Dermot Corrigan joins to share the fascinating story of a young Lionel Messi’s growth hormone treatment, and how Barcelona secured his signature on a napkin. Next, Oliver Kay unpacks the deep, historic rivalry between the two nations on and off the field, from the Hand of God to David Beckham's redemption. Finally, Tifo Football explains FIFA's strict undergarment apparel rules, and Hannah Vanbiber hosts a blind ranking of the greatest soccer movies of all time.

Welcome to the Daily Cup! Today, hosts Tamerra Griffin and James McNicholas deliver a definitive preview of the massive France vs. Spain semi-final showdown. The Athletic's Tomas Hill Lopez-Menchero breaks down Spain's impenetrable defense, while Cerys Jones analyzes whether Kylian Mbappe can guide France to a third consecutive World Cup final. Plus, Paul Tenorio gives a critical evaluation of Christian Pulisic. After an injury-hit tournament and heavy external criticism, what does the future hold for Captain America and the USMNT? Finally, Hannah Vanbiber helps eliminated fans find a new bandwagon to cheer for. 

Hosts Tamerra Griffin and James McNicholas break down the latest action from the 2026 World Cup quarterfinals, with Belgium, the side that put the USMNT to the sword, taking on Spain this evening.  While Lamine Yamal may be one of the game's biggest stars on the field, it's his three-year-old brother, Kayne, who's become this tournament's biggest breakout social media star: we discover why. Plus, the Athletic’s Henry Bushnell joins the show to provide an exclusive, inside look into the USMNT camp and the impact of Mauricio Pochettino.

Today, hosts Hannah Vanbiber and James McNicholas dust themselves off to discuss the future of the USMNT following their heartbreaking elimination by Belgium. The host of The Athletic FC Podcast, Emma Paton, stops by to discuss how this World Cup will impact the upcoming Premier League season, including transfer rumors surrounding Folarin Balogun. Plus, Hannah explores the often hilarious origins of English football chants and how American supporter culture is trying to catch up.

Today, hosts Hannah Vanbiber and James McNicholas react to the USMNT's heartbreaking World Cup elimination against Belgium, breaking down the good, the bad, and the downright ugly with Felipe Cardenas. The Tifo Football Podcast stops by to reveal the surprising truth about pitch dimensions. Then, Tim Spiers opens up soccer's X Files to discuss the wildest World Cup conspiracy theories, including rigged brackets and CIA poisonings. Finally, Hannah explores how Big Tech, AI avatars, and Connected Ball Technology have completely infiltrated the tournament.