July 4, 2026 • 9 mins
Read Shepherd talks to iHeartRadio 24/7 News Assistant Managing Editor Anthony Martinez about Team USA's performance in the World Cup and what fans are watching for in the upcoming match against Belgium.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
As it does every four years, the FIFA World Cup
dominates the headlines around the world. The United States team
is moving on to the next round after Wednesday's two
nil shutout of Bosnia Herzegovina. Next up is Belgium on Monday.
So has the tournament lived up to the worldwide hype?
Anthony Martinez is an assistant managing editor with iHeartMedia's twenty
(00:23):
four to seven news network in Phoenix. He is our
residence soccer expert, Anthony, Let's start with the US team.
A great victory on Wednesday against Bosnia or Herzegovina. Maybe
still not a favorite to win the cop in the end,
but certainly exceeding expectations so far.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
Oh.
Speaker 3 (00:41):
Absolutely, I think it's been a resounding success for the
US men's national team. You know, coming into the tournament,
I think a lot of fans weren't sure what to expect.
You know. Bochettino took over, you know, within the last
couple of years, and it was looking like they were
making progress, but other times it was looking like maybe not.
And so heading into the tournament, I really don't think
(01:02):
any fans knew what exactly to expect from the team,
and now look at them, they're going to at the
round of sixteen. They got their first knockout round when
since two thousand and two when they beat Mexico and
the famous dos asseero result in South Korea. So now
I think fans are thinking, you know, sky's the limit
for this team.
Speaker 1 (01:22):
Now, as far as Wednesday's two nail shutout Bosnia or Herzegovina,
I understand we had a controversial red card, we had
an injury, and these were the two guys that scored
the goals. Let's talk about this red card situation first,
because I understand there's some controversy there whether or not
the referee followed protocol in handing out the red card.
(01:46):
What's your take on this?
Speaker 3 (01:47):
Yeah, I think it was a very tough red card
to hand out to Bell Again. You know, obviously Flowbllagan
our top goal scored this tournament. It's going to be
tough to be without them against Belgium on Monday. Uh. Yeah,
it's very controversial call. I think a lot of fans
think that was given out after the ref looked at
(02:08):
the slow mow video of it, which made it look
worse than it was in real time. I you know,
he did catch the Bosia player with his spikes, so
there was always a chance that it was going to
be read and unfortunately for the US that turned out
to be the case.
Speaker 2 (02:27):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (02:27):
You know, Poschatino said after the match that he didn't
think it was red, that he doesn't think that uh
that was or sorry that was. It was accidental, And
I think that's what a lot of people think, you know,
I know, you know, they're obviously US fans are biased.
Speaker 1 (02:43):
And there obviously yeah, but you know.
Speaker 3 (02:45):
They want their top goal scorer out there. But I
think the general consensus is that it was a tough
red card.
Speaker 1 (02:51):
Okay, so but Logan is going to be out for
the game against Belgium. What will the US team have
to do to make up for his loss?
Speaker 3 (03:00):
Well, you know, you look back on the final match
of group play when Murgracio Pustino made nine changes to
the team and played some players that hadn't gotten the
chance to play in the first two group matches, and
so he got them world Cup minutes, got them to
experience what it was like to be on the World
Cup stage. And it's for this reason, because you don't
know what's going to happen. You don't know what injuries
(03:21):
are going to happen, red cards could happen, so everyone
needs to be prepared. You know, now he's looking like
a genius because I think the team is prepared for
a case like this. He looked at players like Ricarda
Peppe or Hadgi Wright who could step in and you know,
maybe not totally replaced Baligant because he is a very
very hard player to replace, but they have the chance
(03:42):
now to step in and step up for the team
when they need the most.
Speaker 1 (03:46):
So who would you say right now is the favorite
to win the Cup?
Speaker 3 (03:51):
You know, Argentina still looks very very good coming off
their their win in the twenty two World Cup. Messi,
the ageless wonder, the greatest of all time, is still dominating,
and it looks like it's gonna be very very hard
to be Argentina right now. That's my view on it.
Speaker 1 (04:10):
Messi's the goat. That's what boils down to.
Speaker 3 (04:12):
Yes, exactly.
Speaker 1 (04:14):
Okay, we're talking to Anthony Martinez, Sis, managing editor with
iHeartMedia's twenty four to seven news network in Phoenix, residents
soccer expert. Let's talk about the impact of the tournament overall.
Here in the United States. I think one thing that
has been wonderful to see are these crowds of people
(04:35):
coming over from Europe, especially Scotland, the Tartan Army, and
how they are reacting to American culture. I think it's
wonderful to see and I know they've all had a
great time. What's been your take on the reaction of
the fans.
Speaker 3 (04:50):
I think it's just been wonderful to see it. Like
you said, you mentioned the Scottish fans, you know, the
reports of them drinking Boston dry when they were there.
You know this and believed it right. And then you
have fans. You know, there was the German fan, Freddy,
who went viral on social media, and you know, he
(05:10):
and his friends got to meet Ella Langley at at
her concert, and they went to a TNA wrestling event
and got to meet the Hardy Boys. And it's just
great to see all these fans coming from around the world,
especially during this summer when it's the two hundred and
fiftieth Birthday of America to experience it. And you know,
I was out in LA for one of the weekends
during the during the World Cup, and I got to
(05:31):
go out to one of the fan zones and that
was a lot of fun to see. I got to
watch the Spain Saudi Arabia match and there was fans
from both countries there watching the match, and it was
just a great atmosphere.
Speaker 2 (05:44):
You know.
Speaker 3 (05:45):
One of the things that struck me when I was
there is that I saw these little kids wearing the
jerseys of eighteen year old Lamine Jamaal went, the young
star from Spain, And I think that's the beauty of
the World Cup. Is it spans generations. You know, we're
getting to see the all time greats like Messi, Ronaldo
and Bob Bay Dominie at this World Cup, but we're
(06:06):
also getting to see the possible future grates like laminium
Mall make an impact at their first World Cup and
the hope that the World Cup brings. It's been fantastic.
Speaker 1 (06:13):
And they're going crazy over ranch dressing.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
Yes exactly, I really ranch dressing, right, something that we
you know, we take so for granted in America apparently
is now a delicacy, you know overseas with all these
fans spreading the word about the greatness of ranch stress scene.
Speaker 1 (06:30):
So let's talk about the impact of the tournament and
the future of soccer in the United States now. Up
to now, I think it's we haven't quite gotten our
hands around the sport. But I think younger, the younger generation,
the kids who are playing soccer in high school and
in college. I think in twenty years, I think soccer
(06:51):
is going to be much more of an important sport
in the US. How is the tournament impacting the way
we look at the game.
Speaker 3 (06:59):
That's all. He's been the thing with soccer in America, right,
it was always supposed to be the next big thing.
It's been the next big thing since the last time
the US hosted the Men's World Cup in nineteen ninety four.
For whatever reason, it just seems like it's always been
right there on the edge, has never been able to
really get that final push. And I think it's definitely
been building obviously that I think with the advent of
(07:20):
streaming and fans being able to watch leagues from all
around the world now in the comfort of their home
and so easily, and now with the World Cup here
in America and being able like you're being able to
fit Like I said, young kids are being able to
watch this tournament live. You know, It's not like when
it's being held overseas like a cutter the last time,
(07:42):
or in Germany or South Korea like in two thousand
and two, where it's being the matches are being played
either overnight or early in the morning. This is happening
in prime time, and so it's giving these kids a
chance to see these huge stars perform. It's giving them
the chance to dream. And I think it's going to
really impact a lot of these young kids. Or like
(08:03):
you said, in twenty years from now, they're going to
be the ones taking the field at the World Cup
and we're going to be seeing more and more of
our best athlete young athletes playing for the US.
Speaker 1 (08:13):
Before I let you go, Anthony, give me your thoughts
about Monday's game between the United States and Belgium.
Speaker 3 (08:19):
Yeah, it's going to be tough, you know. You go
back to twenty fourteen, the last time the US played
Belgium in the World Cup, heartbreaking loss. Tim Howard put
on his historic performance set the World Cup record for
most saves in the match. But I think every US
fan is still haunted by Chris Vandolowski mis seeing a
wide open net near the end of regulation that would
have put the US through to the quarterfinals, so I
(08:40):
think a lot of fans are looking forward to the
possibility of getting some revenge for that. But it's going
to be tough without Ballagun. But you look to players
like Christian Polisic to just keep the team steady. You
look at Tim Reim on the back line to keep
that defense steady. I think the US is going to
pull it out. I think Pochatino has the team believing
(09:01):
in themselves. I think they seed the opportunity to do
something really really special here with the World Cup on
home soil, and I don't think they're ready to be
done yet. It may be a nail byighter, one nail victory,
or they could come out rip raring and come out
with a three to one, three to zero win. But
I think the US comes out on top all right.
Speaker 1 (09:22):
Anthony Martinez, Assistant Managing editor with iHeartMedia's twenty four seven
news network in Phoenix. Anthony, our resident soccer expert, thank
you so much for joining us, and a happy Fourth
of July to you, Happy for the like to you too.
As it does every four years, the FIFA World Cup
dominates the headlines around the world. The United States team
is moving on to the next round after Wednesday's two
nil shutout of Bosnia Herzegovina. Next up is Belgium on Monday.
So has the tournament lived up to the worldwide hype?
Anthony Martinez is an assistant managing editor with iHeartMedia's twenty
(00:23):
four to seven news network in Phoenix. He is our
residence soccer expert, Anthony, Let's start with the US team.
A great victory on Wednesday against Bosnia or Herzegovina. Maybe
still not a favorite to win the cop in the end,
but certainly exceeding expectations so far.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
Oh.
Speaker 3 (00:41):
Absolutely, I think it's been a resounding success for the
US men's national team. You know, coming into the tournament,
I think a lot of fans weren't sure what to expect.
You know. Bochettino took over, you know, within the last
couple of years, and it was looking like they were
making progress, but other times it was looking like maybe not.
And so heading into the tournament, I really don't think
(01:02):
any fans knew what exactly to expect from the team,
and now look at them, they're going to at the
round of sixteen. They got their first knockout round when
since two thousand and two when they beat Mexico and
the famous dos asseero result in South Korea. So now
I think fans are thinking, you know, sky's the limit
for this team.
Speaker 1 (01:22):
Now, as far as Wednesday's two nail shutout Bosnia or Herzegovina,
I understand we had a controversial red card, we had
an injury, and these were the two guys that scored
the goals. Let's talk about this red card situation first,
because I understand there's some controversy there whether or not
the referee followed protocol in handing out the red card.
(01:46):
What's your take on this?
Speaker 3 (01:47):
Yeah, I think it was a very tough red card
to hand out to Bell Again. You know, obviously Flowbllagan
our top goal scored this tournament. It's going to be
tough to be without them against Belgium on Monday. Uh. Yeah,
it's very controversial call. I think a lot of fans
think that was given out after the ref looked at
(02:08):
the slow mow video of it, which made it look
worse than it was in real time. I you know,
he did catch the Bosia player with his spikes, so
there was always a chance that it was going to
be read and unfortunately for the US that turned out
to be the case.
Speaker 2 (02:27):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (02:27):
You know, Poschatino said after the match that he didn't
think it was red, that he doesn't think that uh
that was or sorry that was. It was accidental, And
I think that's what a lot of people think, you know,
I know, you know, they're obviously US fans are biased.
Speaker 1 (02:43):
And there obviously yeah, but you know.
Speaker 3 (02:45):
They want their top goal scorer out there. But I
think the general consensus is that it was a tough
red card.
Speaker 1 (02:51):
Okay, so but Logan is going to be out for
the game against Belgium. What will the US team have
to do to make up for his loss?
Speaker 3 (03:00):
Well, you know, you look back on the final match
of group play when Murgracio Pustino made nine changes to
the team and played some players that hadn't gotten the
chance to play in the first two group matches, and
so he got them world Cup minutes, got them to
experience what it was like to be on the World
Cup stage. And it's for this reason, because you don't
know what's going to happen. You don't know what injuries
(03:21):
are going to happen, red cards could happen, so everyone
needs to be prepared. You know, now he's looking like
a genius because I think the team is prepared for
a case like this. He looked at players like Ricarda
Peppe or Hadgi Wright who could step in and you know,
maybe not totally replaced Baligant because he is a very
very hard player to replace, but they have the chance
(03:42):
now to step in and step up for the team
when they need the most.
Speaker 1 (03:46):
So who would you say right now is the favorite
to win the Cup?
Speaker 3 (03:51):
You know, Argentina still looks very very good coming off
their their win in the twenty two World Cup. Messi,
the ageless wonder, the greatest of all time, is still dominating,
and it looks like it's gonna be very very hard
to be Argentina right now. That's my view on it.
Speaker 1 (04:10):
Messi's the goat. That's what boils down to.
Speaker 3 (04:12):
Yes, exactly.
Speaker 1 (04:14):
Okay, we're talking to Anthony Martinez, Sis, managing editor with
iHeartMedia's twenty four to seven news network in Phoenix, residents
soccer expert. Let's talk about the impact of the tournament overall.
Here in the United States. I think one thing that
has been wonderful to see are these crowds of people
(04:35):
coming over from Europe, especially Scotland, the Tartan Army, and
how they are reacting to American culture. I think it's
wonderful to see and I know they've all had a
great time. What's been your take on the reaction of
the fans.
Speaker 3 (04:50):
I think it's just been wonderful to see it. Like
you said, you mentioned the Scottish fans, you know, the
reports of them drinking Boston dry when they were there.
You know this and believed it right. And then you
have fans. You know, there was the German fan, Freddy,
who went viral on social media, and you know, he
(05:10):
and his friends got to meet Ella Langley at at
her concert, and they went to a TNA wrestling event
and got to meet the Hardy Boys. And it's just
great to see all these fans coming from around the world,
especially during this summer when it's the two hundred and
fiftieth Birthday of America to experience it. And you know,
I was out in LA for one of the weekends
during the during the World Cup, and I got to
(05:31):
go out to one of the fan zones and that
was a lot of fun to see. I got to
watch the Spain Saudi Arabia match and there was fans
from both countries there watching the match, and it was
just a great atmosphere.
Speaker 2 (05:44):
You know.
Speaker 3 (05:45):
One of the things that struck me when I was
there is that I saw these little kids wearing the
jerseys of eighteen year old Lamine Jamaal went, the young
star from Spain, And I think that's the beauty of
the World Cup. Is it spans generations. You know, we're
getting to see the all time greats like Messi, Ronaldo
and Bob Bay Dominie at this World Cup, but we're
(06:06):
also getting to see the possible future grates like laminium
Mall make an impact at their first World Cup and
the hope that the World Cup brings. It's been fantastic.
Speaker 1 (06:13):
And they're going crazy over ranch dressing.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
Yes exactly, I really ranch dressing, right, something that we
you know, we take so for granted in America apparently
is now a delicacy, you know overseas with all these
fans spreading the word about the greatness of ranch stress scene.
Speaker 1 (06:30):
So let's talk about the impact of the tournament and
the future of soccer in the United States now. Up
to now, I think it's we haven't quite gotten our
hands around the sport. But I think younger, the younger generation,
the kids who are playing soccer in high school and
in college. I think in twenty years, I think soccer
(06:51):
is going to be much more of an important sport
in the US. How is the tournament impacting the way
we look at the game.
Speaker 3 (06:59):
That's all. He's been the thing with soccer in America, right,
it was always supposed to be the next big thing.
It's been the next big thing since the last time
the US hosted the Men's World Cup in nineteen ninety four.
For whatever reason, it just seems like it's always been
right there on the edge, has never been able to
really get that final push. And I think it's definitely
been building obviously that I think with the advent of
(07:20):
streaming and fans being able to watch leagues from all
around the world now in the comfort of their home
and so easily, and now with the World Cup here
in America and being able like you're being able to
fit Like I said, young kids are being able to
watch this tournament live. You know, It's not like when
it's being held overseas like a cutter the last time,
(07:42):
or in Germany or South Korea like in two thousand
and two, where it's being the matches are being played
either overnight or early in the morning. This is happening
in prime time, and so it's giving these kids a
chance to see these huge stars perform. It's giving them
the chance to dream. And I think it's going to
really impact a lot of these young kids. Or like
(08:03):
you said, in twenty years from now, they're going to
be the ones taking the field at the World Cup
and we're going to be seeing more and more of
our best athlete young athletes playing for the US.
Speaker 1 (08:13):
Before I let you go, Anthony, give me your thoughts
about Monday's game between the United States and Belgium.
Speaker 3 (08:19):
Yeah, it's going to be tough, you know. You go
back to twenty fourteen, the last time the US played
Belgium in the World Cup, heartbreaking loss. Tim Howard put
on his historic performance set the World Cup record for
most saves in the match. But I think every US
fan is still haunted by Chris Vandolowski mis seeing a
wide open net near the end of regulation that would
have put the US through to the quarterfinals, so I
(08:40):
think a lot of fans are looking forward to the
possibility of getting some revenge for that. But it's going
to be tough without Ballagun. But you look to players
like Christian Polisic to just keep the team steady. You
look at Tim Reim on the back line to keep
that defense steady. I think the US is going to
pull it out. I think Pochatino has the team believing
(09:01):
in themselves. I think they seed the opportunity to do
something really really special here with the World Cup on
home soil, and I don't think they're ready to be
done yet. It may be a nail byighter, one nail victory,
or they could come out rip raring and come out
with a three to one, three to zero win. But
I think the US comes out on top all right.
Speaker 1 (09:22):
Anthony Martinez, Assistant Managing editor with iHeartMedia's twenty four seven
news network in Phoenix. Anthony, our resident soccer expert, thank
you so much for joining us, and a happy Fourth
of July to you, Happy for the like to you too.
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