Anthony Dabbundo

Dabbundo predicts the U.S. will win its group, reach the World Cup quarterfinals and lose to Spain.

“US is going to make the quarterfinals and lose to Spain. That is my official prediction”

The Bill Simmons Podcast: NBA Draft Questions, Harper vs. Fox, and the USMNT’s World Cup Ceiling (Jun 19, 2026) · Listen from 2:05:31

Dabbundo argues U.S. soccer's progress depends on developing more solid everyday players like Chris Richards rather than superstars.

“it's not about having all the superstars in Europe. It's about having more of Chris Richards”

The Bill Simmons Podcast: NBA Draft Questions, Harper vs. Fox, and the USMNT’s World Cup Ceiling (Jun 19, 2026) · Listen from 1:40:54

Dabbundo says Christian Pulisic is one of the few U.S. players who cannot be replaced like for like.

“there are only one or two players that the US can't truly replace. And he's one of them”

The Bill Simmons Podcast: NBA Draft Questions, Harper vs. Fox, and the USMNT’s World Cup Ceiling (Jun 19, 2026) · Listen from 1:35:17

Dabbundo argues injuries, not character, explain the U.S. golden generation's underperformance, and he is buying the healthier team.

“the number one reason is that this group of players, this core group, you could talk about the heart, all these other things, they have not been healthy”

The Bill Simmons Podcast: A Knicks Miracle (and an All-Time Spurs Collapse), a Mini-Mailbag, and a World Cup Preview | With Joe House, Kirk Goldsberry, Anthony Dabbundo, and Cousin Sal (Jun 11, 2026) · Listen from 1:13:41

Dabbundo says England has entered the favorites conversation, with England, Spain and France a tier above the rest.

“I think England has vaulted themselves into the favorites conversation if they weren't already there. And I think them, Spain, and France are still a tier above”

The Bill Simmons Podcast: NBA Draft Questions, Harper vs. Fox, and the USMNT’s World Cup Ceiling (Jun 19, 2026) · Listen from 1:50:12

Dabbundo favors Switzerland over Canada in their group, citing Alphonso Davies's injury.

“Alphonso Davies is their best player by a wide margin. He's the best player in North America, and he is not healthy”

The Bill Simmons Podcast: A Knicks Miracle (and an All-Time Spurs Collapse), a Mini-Mailbag, and a World Cup Preview | With Joe House, Kirk Goldsberry, Anthony Dabbundo, and Cousin Sal (Jun 11, 2026) · Listen from 1:43:39

Dabbundo cites studies showing hot kickoff temperatures reduce output, which he says hurts weaker teams with less depth.

“any soccer game that kicks off above 85 degrees, there is a noticeable decline in just output, pressing, shots, goals”

The Bill Simmons Podcast: A Knicks Miracle (and an All-Time Spurs Collapse), a Mini-Mailbag, and a World Cup Preview | With Joe House, Kirk Goldsberry, Anthony Dabbundo, and Cousin Sal (Jun 11, 2026) · Listen from 1:34:05

Dabbundo picks Spain to win the World Cup, citing its recent dominance over France.

“by process elimination, I crossed off everybody else and was like, I guess I'm picking Spain”

The Bill Simmons Podcast: A Knicks Miracle (and an All-Time Spurs Collapse), a Mini-Mailbag, and a World Cup Preview | With Joe House, Kirk Goldsberry, Anthony Dabbundo, and Cousin Sal (Jun 11, 2026) · Listen from 1:22:47

Dabbundo argued Argentina have been poor at protecting leads, making a close finish likely.

“Going back to the last World Cup, the Copa, they are bad with a lead”

The Bill Simmons Podcast: Messi Takes England Out of the World Cup, Plus Preparing for Christopher Nolan’s 'The Odyssey' With Ian Wright, Anthony Dabbundo, and Sean Fennessey (Jul 16, 2026) · Listen from 47:13

Dabbundo said Spain should be and will be the favorite in the final while cautioning against counting out Argentina.

“I do think Spain should, is, and will be the favorite going into Sunday”

The Bill Simmons Podcast: Messi Takes England Out of the World Cup, Plus Preparing for Christopher Nolan’s 'The Odyssey' With Ian Wright, Anthony Dabbundo, and Sean Fennessey (Jul 16, 2026) · Listen from 50:23

Dabbundo argued France was hurt by playing outdoor games in extreme heat and by Deschamps never coordinating a press.

“Deschamps has never, ever coordinated a press, never, ever coordinated a counter press”

The Bill Simmons Podcast: Messi Takes England Out of the World Cup, Plus Preparing for Christopher Nolan’s 'The Odyssey' With Ian Wright, Anthony Dabbundo, and Sean Fennessey (Jul 16, 2026) · Listen from 37:17

Dabbundo backs Ecuador as a dark horse with an elite defense and predicts it will reach the quarterfinals.

“I have them in the quarterfinals in my bracket. I think they can make a run”

The Bill Simmons Podcast: A Knicks Miracle (and an All-Time Spurs Collapse), a Mini-Mailbag, and a World Cup Preview | With Joe House, Kirk Goldsberry, Anthony Dabbundo, and Cousin Sal (Jun 11, 2026) · Listen from 1:38:13

Dabbundo argues Portugal should stop building its attack around an aging Ronaldo.

“they just need to tell grandpa, like they got to take the keys from him and say, you know, Hey, you're allowed to go to the grocery store”

The Bill Simmons Podcast: A Knicks Miracle (and an All-Time Spurs Collapse), a Mini-Mailbag, and a World Cup Preview | With Joe House, Kirk Goldsberry, Anthony Dabbundo, and Cousin Sal (Jun 11, 2026) · Listen from 1:28:54