The U.S. men's national team is riding high after back-to-back wins to kick off their World Cup campaign. But the real buzz? Colin Cowherd thinks they can hang with England.
On Wednesday's episode of The Herd, Cowherd pointed to England's 0-0 draw against Ghana as proof that the USMNT is ready to compete with the Three Lions. “England… a scoreless draw against Ghana? You know what I thought watching this? We can play with England,” he said.
Cowherd, never one to shy from a hot take, argued that only two teams—France and Argentina—are untouchable for the U.S. right now. He placed the USMNT in a second tier alongside England, Germany, Brazil, Spain, Norway, the Netherlands, and Portugal. That's a bold claim for a squad that lost to Germany and the Netherlands in their last two World Cup appearances.
But Cowherd sees progress. He believes the current U.S. team is more dynamic and resilient than past versions. “They can match up way better now,” he insisted.
Not everyone is buying it. Soccer fans flooded social media to push back. One user wrote, “Colin you are (expletive) insane. Ghana is a defensive minded team. Their goal was to get out of that game with a tie. USA is not defensive key, they will make offensive mistakes that a English squad would exploit.”
Another added, “No they can’t. USA won’t defend like Ghana did and England would walk through them, would be a different game entirely.” Even some hopeful fans said, “The US has a fine squad but thinking we can play with England is a tough call.”
Cowherd, known for his NFL takes, got roasted for stepping into soccer territory. “It’s like Kentucky Derby week… All the talking head casuals that spend 45 weeks talking NFL, 4 weeks talking NBA, MLB for 2 weeks for the post season and a couple days for Golf all of a sudden are pros in Soccer. Just stop bud, you’re embarrassing yourself,” one comment read.
Despite the backlash, Cowherd's confidence mirrors the growing belief in the USMNT program. The team's recent performances have sparked hope among fans, but a real test against England remains hypothetical. The two sides won't meet unless both advance deep into the tournament.
For now, the debate rages on. And Cowherd, never one to back down, is doubling down. He's even predicting a big win for another U.S. sports figure, as seen in his bold bet on Shedeur Sanders. Whether the USMNT can prove him right on the pitch is still anyone's guess.
One thing's for sure: the World Cup is delivering drama, and not just on the field. From fan behavior debates to bold predictions, the tournament is keeping everyone talking. And if the USMNT ever gets a shot at England, you can bet Cowherd will be watching—and probably saying, “I told you so.”
