World Cup 2026 begins - THREE soft red cards, a Matildas defender with us and what next for Ronaldo?

The 2026 FIFA World Cup has officially kicked off, and I’m doing what I do best: pretending I’m qualified to talk about it. I start the episode by saying it exactly how I see it… Ronaldo is finished. I know that’s going to upset a few people, but someone had to say it. Then I’m joined by Matildas defender Charlie Rule, who actually knows what she’s talking about. We get into what real World Cup pressure feels like when you’re wearing the badge, how early players start thinking about a World Cup cycle, and what separates the ones who get called up from the ones who stay there. (Clearly I missed that memo.) Charlie breaks down defending, gives her thoughts on which teams look built for this tournament, and adds her pick to our Ultimate World Cup XI. We also react to some truly tragic World Cup anthems doing the rounds right now — and honestly, a few of them feel like a crime. Then we cross to Vancouver where our sports reporter John Bric gives us the on the ground vibe: the fans, the noise, the ticket prices… ALL of it.