Happy Friday! World Cup qualifying is back in full swing, and while Concacaf will be among the federations taking center stage, later tonight, the United States men’s national team will play a high-level friendly against Ecuador. I’m Chuck Booth and I’m here to get you primed for that and a weekend of qualifiers around the world.
📺 Footy fix
All times U.S./Eastern
Friday, Oct. 10
🌍 WCQ: Sweden vs. Switzerland, 2:45 p.m. ➡️ Fubo
🌍 WCQ: Curacao vs. Jamaica, 7 p.m. ➡️ Paramount+
🇺🇸 USL Championship: North Carolina FC vs. Phoenix Rising FC, 7 p.m. ➡️ CBS Sports Golazo Network
🌍Friendly: USMNT vs. Ecuador, 8:30 p.m. ➡️ TNT
Saturday, Oct. 11
🌍 WCQ: Norway vs. Israel, 12 p.m. ➡️ Fubo
🌍 Friendly: Mexico vs. Colombia, 9 p.m. ➡️ Fubo
🇺🇸 MLS: Inter Miami vs. Atlanta United, 7:30 p.m. ➡️ MLS Season Pass
🌎 WCQ: Honduras vs. Costa Rica, 10 p.m. ➡️ Paramount+
Sunday, Oct. 12
🏴WSL: Chelsea vs. Tottenham, 7 a.m. ➡️ ESPN2
🌍 WCQ: Netherlands vs. Finland, 12 p.m. ➡️ FS1
🌍 U-20 World Cup: USA U20 vs. Morocco U20, 4 p.m. ➡️ Fubo
⚽ The Forward Line
🇺🇸 The USMNT prepare to face Ecuador
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The USMNT will continue their run of facing tough competition ahead of the World Cup by hosting Ecuador in Austin. Mauricio Pochettino has a roster that won’t include Tyler Adams and Sergino Dest, but with the return of Weston McKennie, this is still one that looks closer to a first team squad than some of the experimental rosters that the Argentine has called in the past, but it’s still a time that he can test new players and look to build on what was a successful end to the September international window which saw them defeat Japan.
This isn’t a time where the team is focused on the players who aren’t here, which defender Chris Richards noted when talking about the missing Adams. If this were the World Cup, there could be moments where others have to step up due to injuries and stake their own claims to spots.
- Richards: “It’s a team sport so I think we always have this next man up type mindset. We love Tyler, we miss Tyler, but somebody’s got to pick up his spot while he’s not here and it’s also their chance to earn a starting spot when he is here, so that’s kind of how we’ve all looked at it. If you’re not in camp, regardless of what the reason is, it’s another guy’s chance to earn a spot and it’s going to be very competitive.”
Pochettino has continued to stress that no one is guaranteed a spot on the World Cup roster, and just because a player may not be on this roster doesn’t mean that they won’t have a shot, so strong performances in this window will be something that he’s watching. Ecuador and Australia have both qualified for the World Cup and will provide stern tests which the USMNT still need in order to prove that they can consistently get past competent opposition. Ecuador’s defense is among the best in the world and struggling with that could see shifts in the attackers moving forward. It may be a cycle where the USMNT doesn’t have to go through World Cup qualification, but that doesn’t mean that these games aren’t meaningful.
Live Today!
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🔗 Midfield Link Play
🌎 World Cup qualification is closing in
Around the world, more teams are punching their tickets to the World Cup by the day, with 19 teams already confirmed for the party in 2026.
UEFA could see its first qualifiers during this window as European sides Croatia, France, Slovakia, Switzerland, England, Norway, and Portugal could all secure qualification during the October international window. That could make for quite a 2026 World Cup where Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are truly passing the torch to the next generation with Erling Haaland, Lamine Yamal, and Kylian Mbappe all present. There’s still work to be done, but it’s not a true World Cup without the leading stars of the game, and 2026 seems poised to deliver on that front.
In Africa, another story is being written as Cape Verde could become the second smallest nation ever to qualify for the World Cup with a population of 524,877, as CAF qualifying is taking shape. Iceland would be the only smaller nation to have been represented on FIFA’s biggest stage. Egypt and Tunisia have already joined Morocco as qualifiers from Africa.
Concacaf qualifying may not include the United States, Canada, and Mexico, but that offers an opportunity for nations like Costa Rica, Jamaica, and Panama to be North American representatives. All the action can be found on Paramount+ on a Friday, which will see Curacao host Jamaica and El Salvador host Panama. Panama are already two points off Suriname’s lead in Group A so failing to defeat El Salvador could make things interesting for Los Canales. Haiti already picked up a massive victory to take control of Group C, as the three group winners will all secure automatic qualification, something that would be significant for smaller nations in the region.
🔗 Top Stories
🇺🇸 Preparing for the USMNT: Here’s a look at keys to victory for Pochettino’s men on Friday in Austin as well as a look at how they could line up. Christian Pulisic and Antonee Robinson could be gametime decisions, so there’s quite a bit to consider leading into the match as Pochettino looks to
🦘Strange decisions: USMNT star Christian Pulisic calls Serie A’s decision to play Milan vs. Como in Australia, “a strange one.”
🟡🔵 Loss of an icon: Boca Juniors manager Miguel Angel Russo died at 69, and tributes poured in from the global soccer community.
🐻More NFL x NWSL crossovers: Boston Legacy’s ownership group grows with the addition of Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams. The club is slated to kick off NWSL play in 2026.
💰 The Back Line
💵 Best bets
- UEFA World Cup qualifying: Norway vs. Israel, Saturday, 12 p.m.
💰 THE PICK: Norway to score 2+ goals in the first half (+156) — With World Cup qualification on the horizon, Norway will get a chance to keep their strong form going at home. It may not be as high scoring an affair as the one that saw them put 11 goals past Moldova, but that doesn’t mean that they won’t run the score up. Erling Haaland is a man on a mission, and the rest of the Norway attack is in on it. Israel could score some goals of their own, but the last time that these teams met, Norway were able to score four and I expect more of the same on home soil.
For more picks, predictions, expert tips and the latest betting news, don’t miss out on CBSSports.com’s betting home page.
What We’re Watching 📺
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What’s on CBS Sports Golazo Network
☀️ Morning Footy (Weekdays 8-10 a.m.): Join Golazo Network as it helps fans get their day started on the right foot on the network’s flagship morning show with highlights, interviews and the biggest soccer storylines. Morning Footy is also available in podcast form, so you’ll never have to miss an episode.
3️⃣ Attacking Third (Monday, Wednesday, Thursday): The leading women’s soccer podcast and social brand is now a live studio show. The NWSL season is back and our coverage of the women’s game is stronger than ever. Our analysts will be breaking down the USWNT, NWSL and European domestic season all year long. And don’t miss Sunday live streams on YouTube as soon as the last NWSL game of the weekend ends.
⚽ Call it What You Want (Tuesday and Thursday): Jimmy Conrad, Charlie Davies, and Tony Meola cover all things USMNT and the state of the game in the United States as the country prepares to co-host the 2026 World Cup. Catch new episodes live on the Golazo America YouTube channel every Tuesday and Thursday at 10 a.m. ET.
🥅 Scoreline (Daily): Scoreline is the newest place for fans to catch up on all the biggest news and results impacting global football, match highlights from the top soccer competitions and all the can’t-miss goals from the day’s action, starting Thursday and airing seven days a week.
📺 How to watch: CBS Sports Golazo Network is a free 24/7 channel exclusively dedicated to offering unparalleled coverage of all the top soccer competitions worldwide. You can stream for free on the CBS Sports app, Pluto TV and Paramount+.
