What Anthony Dabbundo has said about United States men's national soccer team

4 quotes · 2 episodes · Jun 11, 2026 – Jun 19, 2026

Anthony Dabbundo, Ringer sports-betting and soccer analyst, co-host of The Ringer Gambling Show, has been quoted on United States men's national soccer team 4 times in 2 episodes of The Bill Simmons Podcast, most recently on June 19, 2026. Each quote below is verbatim and links to the moment it was said.

In their words

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 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
Didn’t happen
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 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

Predictions

Didn’t happen
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 · United States men's national soccer team
The U.S. did win its group and beat Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-0 in the round of 32. It then lost 4-1 to Belgium in the round of 16 on July 6, 2026, so it never reached the quarterfinals. Belgium, not the U.S., went on to face Spain in the quarterfinal.
Sources: Live updates: Belgium beats USA 4-1 in World Cup Round of 16 game · World Cup 2026 results: U.S. eliminated from World Cup in lopsided 4-1 defeat to Belgium · USA soccer's 2026 World Cup run ends: Here's USMNT round of 16 history - Yahoo Sports · USMNT's Road to 2026 World Cup Final As Round of 32 Fixtures Set
Checked Oct 9, 2026

Episodes

NBA Draft Questions, Harper vs. Fox, and the USMNT’s World Cup Ceiling
The Bill Simmons Podcast · Jun 19, 2026 · 2 h 11 min
Bill Simmons previews the 2026 NBA draft and Finals fallout with Tim Legler, then discusses the USMNT's World Cup outlook with Anthony Dabbundo.
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
The Bill Simmons Podcast · Jun 11, 2026 · 2 h 1 min
Bill Simmons, Kirk Goldsberry and Joe House dissect the Knicks' 29-point Game 4 comeback over the Spurs, Simmons answers mailbag questions, and Anthony Dabbundo and Cousin Sal preview World Cup bets.

Others on United States men's national soccer team

PFT Commenter · 11 quotes
Tim Ream · 4 quotes
Taylor Twellman · 2 quotes
Joe House · 2 quotes
Bill Simmons · 2 quotes
Gary Lineker · 1 quote
Tommy Vietor · 1 quote
Dan Katz · 1 quote

Anthony Dabbundo on other topics

2026 FIFA World Cup · 4 quotes
Argentina national football team · 1 quote
Spain national football team · 1 quote
France national football team · 1 quote
Ecuador national football team · 1 quote
Portugal national football team · 1 quote