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“Why not us?” That’s the mantra that United States men’s national team coach Mauricio Pocchetino has used to motivate his team ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be co-hosted on home soil (along with Canada and Mexico) this summer. But how realistic is that objective for the U.S. with less than two months before the World Cup starts? It’s a question put forth to three former USA coaches in the first of FOX Sports’ special roundtable series previewing the tournament’s highly anticipated return to North America this summer. “Obviously, if you set out the highest bar, there’s nothing wrong with this,” former United States men’s national team coach Jürgen Klinsmann said. “But in order to win a World Cup, it takes such a high capability of suffering and going through difficult times in specific moments, to play every three or four days once you get into the knockout phase.” Klinsmann’s U.S. side was knocked out in the Round of 16 at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil after finishing as the runner-up in the “Group of Death” with Germany, Ghana and Portugal. He previously led Germany to a third-place finish as its coach in 2006 and was named German Football Manager of the Year for his efforts with the national team. He also won a World Cup title as a Germany player in 1990. “When you think you go through the Round of 16 or the quarterfinals, you think, ‘Oh, now we’re really there,'” Klinsmann said. “Then comes an even more difficult game with extra time and maybe a penalty shootout. The thing is: Is our team ready to really, extremely suffer? Are we ready to go through the extreme of going one game at a time? “You see a lot of top soccer nations in the world are just not capable [of going] past the fifth game, like Mexico and ‘quinto partido.’ They don’t have the belief to go past the fifth game or go into the fifth game — and now you have one more game because of this tournament.” The United States men’s national team hasn’t won a knockout stage match at the World Cup since 2002, and it has only advanced to the semifinals once, at the inaugural FIFA World Cup in 1930. At the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the USA lost, 3-1, to Netherlands in the Round of 16, with a roster that had the second-lowest average age (25.2) at the tournament. While USA’s roster is expected to feature many of the same key players this summer, the expectations will be much higher. “After Qatar, we liked that team,” said Bob Bradley, who coached the U.S. at the 2010 World Cup. “Those guys were really likable. Now, in this next period, we’re expecting more, and there’s been some ups and downs. Of course, Mauricio comes in without a full cycle, they don’t get as many opportunities to play against big teams, but I still think we believe in this group. The optimism that they can come together at the right time and do something that is special — I think we all believe in that.” Some of that optimism stems from the number of Americans playing club soccer in Europe’s top-flight leagues and competing in the UEFA Champions League. When Bradley coached the United States at the 2010 World Cup, there were only three Americans playing in the Champions League; this year there were eight, with one — Atlético Madrid midfielder Johnny Cardoso — still competing in the semifinals. “We look around now, and we see that Christian [Pulisic] is doing so well in Europe [at AC Milan]; Weston [McKennie] is having an incredible year [at Juventus]; we see guys like Johnny Cardoso and what he does at Atlético; that’s a reason that people get excited,” Bradley said. “The more guys you have playing in the Champions League, the better.” Playing in the Champions League also gives the stars of the U.S. men’s national team a valuable perspective that they wouldn’t have otherwise. “I think the players know now more than ever before what it will take to go all the way until the end; to book your hotel, as we Germans do, all the way to the final, and if you have to cancel the hotels or the flights, we cancel them because we’re flying home after the quarterfinal,” Klinsmann said. “It’s a cultural element that I see the U.S. growing into more and more and more. “Twenty or 30 years ago, [American players] were also in Europe. … But now they’re in the Champions League and the Champions League is different. Now, we have five to seven players there, and that gives me the feeling that, if they really build exceptional chemistry, if they get along, if they help each other when things get nasty and dirty — and it will get nasty and dirty — then maybe they can really surprise one game at a time.” The United States will have two warm-up matches against Senegal and Germany, two teams that are higher in the FIFA world rankings, ahead of its World Cup opener against Paraguay on June 12 at Los Angeles Stadium. Pochettino’s side will be hoping to use those matches as an opportunity to snap their three-match losing streak and build some positive momentum going into the tournament, but form is fallacy at the World Cup, according to former USA coach Steve Sampson. “I truly believe that when the moment comes that they’re playing against Paraguay, that’s when it all has to come together,” said Sampson, who coached the U.S. at the 1998 World Cup and was an assistant for the 1994 tournament in the U.S. “The leadership of this team has to pull the team together and say, ‘Look, forget about what’s happened before.'” For Klinsmann, that short-term memory is “the art” behind success at the World Cup: “You have to forget about what you just did right away.” And if they do that? “I don’t think there’s an easy path, but as long as they get some momentum in those first games, I think they can do something special,” Sampson said. 2026 FIFA World Cup: How To Watch The World Cup will run from June 11–July 19, 2026. Spread across three countries, the tournament will culminate with the final on July 19 at New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. All 104 tournament matches will air live across FOX (70) and FS1 (34) with every match streaming live and on-demand within both the FOX One and the FOX Sports apps. A record 40 matches, more than one-third of the tournament, will air in prime time across FOX (21) and FS1 (19).​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

The NFL Draft has turned into a major betting event, largely because it fills the major gap for fans who want NFL action between the end of the season and the Hall of Fame Game in August. At the same time, it’s one of the toughest events to handicap. There are hundreds of mock drafts and insider reports, but even league sources don’t have a complete picture of what every team is planning. That’s where the betting markets come in. Odds often reflect the latest buzz and shifting expectations around the league, making them a useful snapshot of how the first round could unfold. This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. With that in mind, here’s a look at a projected top 10 based on DraftKings Sportsbook’s odds as of April 22. 1. Las Vegas Raiders: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana (-20000) The Las Vegas Raiders are heavily favored to land their franchise quarterback in Fernando Mendoza, whose combination of size, arm talent, and poise makes him the clear No. 1 choice. The 22-year-old is coming off a Heisman-winning season, throwing for 3,535 yards with an FBS-best 41 touchdowns to just six interceptions while leading Indiana to its first national championship in program history. It looks like Tom Brady will get his guy. 2. New York Jets: Arvell Reese, LB, Ohio State (-145) According to the betting markets, this pick appears to be a two-player race between Arvell Reese (-145) and David Bailey (+110), with Reese the slight favorite and all other options listed at 80-1 or longer. Arvell Reese makes a lot of sense at No. 2 for the New York Jets, giving them a true defensive centerpiece early in their rebuild. Reese is a versatile, explosive playmaker who can line up at linebacker or off the edge, offering immediate impact and long-term upside. He is coming off a dominant 2025 season with 69 tackles, 6.5 sacks and 10 tackles for loss, earning consensus All-American honors and Big Ten Linebacker of the Year. Even with limited experience as a full-time edge rusher, his athleticism and instincts point to All-Pro potential. 3. Arizona Cardinals: David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech (+200) The Cardinals are predicted to address a major defensive need at No. 3 by taking David Bailey. Arizona’s defense struggled last season, finishing 28th in sacks with only 30 and near the bottom of the league in both total and scoring defense. The Texas Tech standout brings immediate help off the edge. With his lethal first step and deep arsenal of pass-rush moves, he is widely considered the most explosive pass rusher in the class. He’s coming off a dominant season with an FBS-high 14.5 sacks, 23 tackles for loss, 81 pressures, and three forced fumbles, giving the Cardinals a much-needed difference-maker up front. 4. Tennessee Titans: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame (+100) The Titans badly need help in the run game, finishing 30th in the NFL in rushing in 2025 with just 93.5 yards per game. That makes Love a perfect fit, giving Tennessee a true difference-maker to pair with Cam Ward. Love is a home-run threat every time he touches the ball, coming off a 1,372-yard, 18-touchdown season with 39 runs of 10+ yards at Notre Dame. He’s also a true every-down back, averaging 6.9 yards per carry while also hauling in 55 receptions over the past two seasons. In Brian Daboll’s offense, his versatility would take pressure off Ward and give the Titans the kind of dynamic weapon young quarterbacks thrive alongside. Love is the favorite over Sonny Styles (+225) and David Bailey (+475) to go to Tennessee at 4. 5. New York Giants: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State (+190) Styles to the Giants at No. 5 gives John Harbaugh a much-needed centerpiece in the middle of his defense. New York is coming off one of the league’s worst run defenses, finishing 31st in the NFL at 145.3 rushing yards allowed per game. Styles’ size and range make him an immediate upgrade next to Tremaine Edmunds, who came over in free agency. The 6-foot-5 linebacker is a rare athlete, posting a 4.46 40-yard dash, a 43.5-inch vertical, and a 9.99 athletic score at the combine, the fourth highest since 1987. He backed that up with 82 tackles and 6.5 tackles for loss at Ohio State in 2025, bringing the kind of sideline-to-sideline playmaking Harbaugh covets. After trading Dexter Lawrence, the Giants now hold two top-10 picks. If they go offense at No. 5, Jordyn Tyson has the next-best odds at +275. 6. Cleveland Browns: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State (+300) Carnell Tate would give the Browns a true No. 1 option on the outside, adding a much-needed playmaker to their offense. He brings big-play ability, leading the FBS with six touchdowns on throws of 30+ air yards, and elite reliability with zero drops on 66 targets and an 85.7% contested-catch rate. With Cleveland needing a dependable perimeter weapon, Tate’s combination of explosiveness and sure hands makes him an ideal fit. If the Browns decide to pivot elsewhere, Utah Utes offensive tackle Spencer Fano has the next best odds at +380. 7. Washington Commanders: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU (+600) Like the Browns at No. 6, Tate is also the favorite (+225) to go to the Commanders at No. 7. Love (+425) and Styles (+450) have the next-best odds. For the purposes of this mock draft, the next available player with the best odds to land in Washington is Delane. The Commanders could address a major need in the secondary with Delane, adding a high-IQ, versatile cover corner. Washington struggled against the pass in 2025, ranking 28th in the NFL by allowing 242.5 yards per game, making corner a clear priority. Delane broke out in his lone season at LSU after transferring from Virginia Tech and projects as an immediate impact starter on the perimeter. 8. New Orleans Saints: Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State (+200) A strong workout last week helped Tyson build momentum after earlier concerns about his durability. Some scouts believe he’s the most talented receiver in the class and would be a top pick if not for those questions. The Saints need a reliable WR2 opposite Chris Olave, and Tyson’s versatility and strong hands make him a great fit. He caught 136 passes for 1,812 yards and 18 touchdowns in his last two seasons at Arizona State. Tate (+400) has the next-best odds to go No. 8 if he slides past Cleveland and Washington and could be another strong option at wideout for the Saints. 9. Kansas City Chiefs: Rueben Bain Jr., EDGE, Miami (+380) Rueben Bain Jr. is currently the favorite to be drafted by the Chiefs at No. 9, ahead of Delane (+390), Tyson (+450), and Spencer Fano (+500). Bain has some of the best film in the class, backing it up with 61 tackles, 15.5 TFL, and 9.5 sacks, including a three-sack College Football Playoff performance vs. Texas A&M. He’s also an elite run stopper who can kick inside when needed. Per PFF, he was the only FBS edge with 500+ pass-rush snaps and a 90+ grade last season. Bain would fit perfectly opposite George Karlaftis and alongside Chris Jones, giving Steve Spagnuolo another high-motor piece to balance the pass rush. 10. New York Giants: Caleb Downs, Safety, Ohio State (+290) Caleb Downs is the current favorite to go No. 10 to the Giants, ahead of Jordyn Tyson (+400), who could be in play at either pick No. 5 or No. 10, along with Olaivavega Ioane (+500) and Francis Mauigoa (+600). Downs is one of the safest defenders in the class, and the Giants would be thrilled if he’s still available at 10. His elite instincts, versatility, and strong run support make him an immediate impact player. The Ohio State standout has the potential to be a Kyle Hamilton or Ed Reed type impact player for John Harbaugh.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Seattle Seahawks general manager John Schneider has built two Super Bowl-winning teams through the draft as he enters his 17th season at the helm. Can Schneider bring a third Lombardi Trophy to Seattle by building through the draft? Well, the 2026 draft will bring some obstacles to the Seahawks as they look to add to the roster that just won it all. As the defending champs, the Seahawks won’t be on the clock until pick No. 32. They also have just four selections in this year’s draft. If Seattle stays with just those picks, it would be the fewest number of selections the Seahawks have taken since the 2021 draft, when they only made three picks. So, it’s not a surprise that Schneider made his intention to trade back clear when he spoke with reporters this week. “It’s no secret with us, guys,” Schneider said. “We have four picks, so we’ll be looking to move back. People are usually understanding that I think we tend to trend backwards, trade back.” Scheider is also looking forward to next year’s draft, which is expected to be a stronger class. Seattle is projected to have four compensatory picks in 2027 due to the lost players in free agency. Including those projected selections, the Seahawks are expected to have 12 picks in 2027. But as Schneider navigates having very few picks in a draft class that hasn’t been highly-touted, the Seahawks have done a nice job at finding diamonds in the rough during his tenure. Schneider has signed the likes of Doug Baldwin, Jermaine Kearse, DeShawn Shead and Jake Bobo as undrafted free agents. The Seahawks have had 32 undrafted rookies make the team’s opening day roster since 2010, which was Schneider’s first season running Seattle’s football operations. But before we can look at which potential undrafted free-agent standout Schneider might sign next, let’s determine what the Seahawks should do in the draft with this seven-round mock, should they stay put and make each pick. That said, let’s take a closer look at Seattle’s seven-round mock draft, should they stay put and make each pick. Round 1 (No. 32 overall): Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina Did I mention the Seahawks want to trade out of this pick? Moving out of the first round by making a deal with the Arizona Cardinals would make a lot of sense for both teams, as I predicted earlier this week. Such a move would allow the Cardinals to potentially get Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson and have him for an extra year of team control with the fifth-year option. And for the Seahawks, they would get more draft picks, of course. “It’s the pick that everybody wants,” Schneider said. “You’re blessed enough to win the Super Bowl, right? (And you’ve got) the fifth-year option right there.” If the Seahawks do not trade down, adding another talented defensive back to a group that lost safety Coby Bryant and cornerback Tariq Woolen in free agency makes sense. Both Schneider and head coach Mike Macdonald emphasized connectivity and knowing the type of player they are adding to their culture. And obviously, the Seahawks want to add talented guys who can play. Cisse checks all those boxes. He has the measurables Seattle usually covets at corner. At 6 feet and 189 pounds, Cisse ran a 4.41 40 time at his pro day, so he has plenty of speed to develop into a cover corner at the next level on the perimeter. Cisse also has a relationship with Seattle safety Nick Emmanwori, even though their tenures at South Carolina didn’t overlap. Cisse said he played 7-on-7 in high school with Emmanwori and attended Seattle’s NFC Championship victory over the Los Angeles Rams. Round 2 (No. 64 overall): Mike Washington Jr., RB, Arkansas The second round has been a sweet spot for drafting running backs during Schneider’s tenure. Zach Charbonnet, Kenneth Walker III and Christine Michael were taken in the second round. The Seahawks also selected Rashaad Penny late in the first round at No. 27 overall in the 2018 draft. At 6-1 and 223 pounds, Washington is a big back with elite speed. He led all running backs with a 4.33 40 time at the NFL Scouting Combine. With Walker leaving in free agency, the Seahawks need another home-run hitter who can score from anywhere on the field. Washington’s 16 rushing touchdowns over the last two years provide evidence that he can develop into that player at the next level. Round 3 (No. 96 overall): Romello Height, DE, Texas Tech Height’s teammate David Bailey understandably got the lion’s share of attention, leading college football with 14.5 sacks last season. However, Height put up decent numbers as well, finishing with 9.5 sacks in his final season at Texas Tech. The Seahawks need more pass-rush help after losing Boye Mafe to the Cincinnati Bengals in free agency. At 6-3 and 240 pounds, Height could struggle to set the edge in the running game. However, Macdonald could put his speed to use as a pass rush specialist in obvious pass situations. Round 6 (No. 188 overall): Andre Fuller, CB, Toledo A longtime NFL Scout told me Fuller is one of the most underrated players in this year’s draft. At 6-1 and 200 pounds, Fuller fits the traditional profile of a rangy corner the Seahawks like to use on the perimeter defensively. He showed decent speed, running a 4.49-second 40-yard time at the combine. Fuller also played safety at Toledo, and that versatility could come in handy for the Seahawks, who need more athletic bodies in the secondary.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Tyler Reddick already has five wins in nine NASCAR Cup Series races this year. Considering there are 29 races left, just how many more wins can he get? If he continues at this current pace, he’d finish with 20 wins in the 36 races. He won’t continue at this pace. But are 10 wins out of the question? Not at all. That’s because with the exception of short tracks, the driver of the No. 45 car for 23XI Racing has excelled at the others from intermediates to drafting tracks to road courses. And there are only five races on tracks shorter than 1 mile and one at a 1-mile track. The one thing not in Reddick’s favor is that Reddick has not been all that dominant. He sits third overall in miles led and fifth overall in laps led this year. Denny Hamlin and Kyle Larson sit ahead of him in both categories. They have combined for one win (Larson doesn’t have any this year). The Next Gen car, introduced in 2022, hasn’t been seen as conducive for a driver to rattle off wins because the cars are so even and it is difficult to pass. The top winners in each of those seasons were five or six (Chase Elliott had five in 2022, William Byron six in 2023, Kyle Larson six in 2024 and Denny Hamlin six in 2025). Even before the Next Gen car, drivers don’t historically win 55.56 percent — where Reddick is at right now — of the races during the year. The best winning percentage in the modern era: Richard Petty winning 43 percent by capturing 13 of 30 races in 1975. Darrell Waltrip won 12 of 30 (40 percent) in 1982 while Jeff Gordon (13 of 33 in 1998) and Bill Elliott (11 of 28 in 1985) won 39 percent. Even 39 percent would be 14 wins for Reddick. That still seems like a big stretch. Just remember, this is a driver who didn’t win in 2025 and had three wins the year he won the regular-season title in 2024. Reddick, coming into the season, had eight wins in 218 career starts. No driver in the modern era has earned more than 13 wins. Petty and Gordon have the most at 13 victories. Kyle Larson earned 10 wins in 2021 and the last driver before him to earn that many in a year was Jimmie Johnson in 2007. If he gets a big enough lead on the second place driver in points during the summer, it also wouldn’t be out of the question for the team to try a few things during races they think they can apply to tracks during the Chase. That likely won’t lead to wins, but it could lead to the championship. And that’s the other thing when looking at the final 10 races of the year. Reddick very well could have the points lead but even if he does, it will just be a 25-point lead to start the Chase. [POWER RANKINGS: Tyler Reddick Too Hot & Can’t Be Stopped] Depending on how the Chase plays out, Reddick might need to race for points at some time, not taking any chances that could result in a big loss in points. That also could be the case in August if he needs to nurse a regular-season points lead. Yes, Reddick is having a somewhat historic season with the most wins of any driver in the first nine races since Dale Earnhardt won six of the first nine in 1987. In that season, Earnhardt won five of the final 20 races (it was a 29-race schedule). Reddick has 29 races left. How many will he win? The educated guess here is he will win three to five more races. Yeah, 10 overall wins is possible and it would signify a great feat to do it. Maybe even more great than winning five of the first nine because it would show the consistency in finding Victory Lane over even a longer period of time.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports