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Today is the most dramatic day left on the road to this summer’s World Cup. Six matches will decide the final six places in the field, with four UEFA playoff finals kicking off at 2:45pm, DR Congo and Jamaica meeting at 5pm, and Bolivia and Iraq closing the night at 11pm. Every game is a one-match final, which means history, pressure, and nerves all get compressed into 90 minutes, or longer if needed.

There are giants trying to avoid embarrassment, rising teams trying to seize a once-in-a-generation chance, and countries carrying decades of frustration into a single evening. Italy are trying to end a 12-year World Cup absence. Kosovo are chasing one of the most remarkable qualification stories in international football. DR Congo and Iraq are trying to end waits that stretch back half a century and four decades. It is one of those days where the stakes do not need any embellishment: win, and the summer changes forever.

Italy head to Zenica knowing there is no soft landing available if they fail again. Gennaro Gattuso called this match “Everest,” which tells you everything about the weight on the Azzurri after missing the last two World Cups, and Bosnia’s late escape against Wales has only added to the sense that this will be a hostile, emotional night built for discomfort. Italy have more pedigree and more high-level talent, but Bosnia have Edin Džeko, home support, and the kind of nothing-to-lose energy that can make a playoff final very dangerous.

Sweden and Poland feel closely matched on paper, which makes the setting in Stockholm even more important. Sweden arrive with momentum after Viktor Gyökeres drove them past Ukraine and Graham Potter finally has signs of a team finding its shape, while Poland are trying to lean on the experience of Robert Lewandowski and Piotr Zieliński in what could be the last World Cup push for this core. Sweden have home field, Poland have recent playoff experience, and this one has all the ingredients of a tense, narrow game decided by one big moment.

Kosovo are 90 minutes from a stunning breakthrough, and the atmosphere in Pristina should be one of the best of the day. Their win over Slovakia was not a fluke, and this young team has enough pace, belief, and attacking quality to make Türkiye uncomfortable, especially at home. Türkiye still carry the bigger names and the deeper résumé, but Kosovo have turned this into something bigger than a football story, and if the crowd can push them early, this could become the most emotionally charged match of the UEFA finals.

Denmark look like the strongest favorite of the UEFA group after hammering North Macedonia 4-0, but that label can create its own pressure in a one-off final away from home. Czechia already showed against the Republic of Ireland that they can survive chaos, recover from a bad start, and drag a game into uncomfortable territory. Denmark have more proven quality across the squad and should have the edge, but if this turns into a set-piece battle or a nervy second half, the Czechs will believe they can make it messy enough to steal it.

This is a massive opportunity for both nations, but DR Congo look like the more complete side coming in. Jamaica were underwhelming in their 1-0 win over New Caledonia and know they will need much more sharpness in front of goal, while DR Congo bring physicality, European-based quality, and the emotional force of a country that has waited since 1974 to get back to the World Cup. Jamaica have enough individual talent to make this a fight, especially if they are more aggressive with their lineup, but Congo feel better equipped for the moment.

The final match of the night carries an entirely different emotional texture because Iraq’s preparation has been disrupted by conflict, travel complications, and the strain of representing a country living through extraordinary circumstances. Graham Arnold has tried to shield his players from that weight, but Bolivia may have the competitive edge after already playing and winning in this playoff round, and they come in with growing belief that a young generation is ahead of schedule. Iraq’s story just to reach this point is remarkable, but Bolivia look slightly more settled and match-ready heading into the final 90 minutes.

Tonight’s match against Portugal at Mercedes-Benz Stadium is about more than cleaning up the scoreline after Belgium. It is about whether the U.S. can look more like the team Mauricio Pochettino is trying to build. The loss on Saturday hurt, but it also clarified the assignment. This group can create chances. It can show good ideas in possession. It can make stretches of a game look promising. The next step is proving those stretches are not isolated moments, but part of a complete performance.

That is where the conversation about intensity matters. Not as a slogan, and not as something reserved for rivalry games or tournament nights. Pochettino has been clear that the standard has to live in every duel, every recovery run, every defensive reaction, and every attacking sequence that asks for one more push. Against Belgium, the U.S. had moments where it looked dangerous and alive. But once the match turned, the collective sharpness and edge dropped too far. Against a team like Portugal, that margin disappears quickly.

This is also why the focus cannot sit only on one player. Christian Pulisic’s form is part of the picture, but the bigger story is whether the team as a whole can play with more bite, more clarity, and more conviction. Pochettino is trying to shape a group that is connected enough to handle pressure, mature enough to respond to setbacks, and competitive enough to keep its level high when the game gets difficult. That is the real test in Atlanta.

So tonight is less about redemption and more about evidence. Can the U.S. match a top opponent with the kind of intensity, concentration, and mentality that serious international football demands? Can it look like a team growing into something sturdier and more reliable? That is what makes Portugal such an important opponent in this moment. The result will matter, but the bigger takeaway will be whether the performance looks like progress.

The anti-VAR sentiment in England is not surprising at all. A new Football Supporters’ Association survey found that 75.7% of Premier League fans oppose keeping VAR, only 2% said it makes football more enjoyable, and more than 90% said the game is better off without it. Fans are also strongly against expanding it further, with the survey showing broad resistance to adding reviews for things like corner kicks and second yellow cards.

But the part of this debate that keeps getting mangled is the difference between disliking the experience of VAR and misunderstanding what it actually does. Supporters are absolutely right to be frustrated by long delays, disrupted celebrations, and the feeling that too many moments get over-analyzed. At the same time, it is simply not true that VAR has made refereeing less accurate. The Premier League’s independent Key Match Incident panel has continued to rate decision accuracy in the 96% to 97% range since VAR was introduced, and reporting around the league’s reviews says delays have come down over recent seasons as well.

That is where the real argument should be. The strongest case against the current version of VAR is not that replay is useless. It is that football still has not defined the right boundaries for how replay should be used. Too often, the system drifts from assisting the referee into re-refereeing the match. Too often, a goal gets examined with a forensic standard that does not seem to apply to the rest of the game. And too often, public discussion treats problems with refereeing quality, intervention thresholds, and even the wording of the laws, especially offside, as if they are all the fault of the technology itself. That lets the people covering the sport off too easily.

The better conversation is not “scrap VAR.” It is “make VAR act like an assistant.” Train the video officials better. Speed up the process. Be much more disciplined about when they step in. Revisit the offside law so the attacker regains the benefit the game used to recognize. Clean up the standard for reviewing goals so it matches the rest of the match. The game would be far better served by fixing the process than by pretending missed calls would somehow be less controversial if they happened faster.

The final days before the World Cup always feel a little different. Results still matter, but the bigger story is what teams are learning about themselves before the tournament begins. Lineups get tested, roles get clarified, and every performance carries a little extra weight because coaches are running out of chances to decide who they trust and what version of their team they want to bring into the summer.

Germany and Australia both got the kind of results coaches want at this stage of the calendar, even if they arrived there in different ways. Germany needed a late Deniz Undav winner to beat Ghana 2-1, and the Stuttgart forward only strengthened his case to be part of Julian Nagelsmann’s World Cup plans with another big moment in front of goal. Australia’s night was more emphatic, pulling away for a 5-1 win over Curaçao in Melbourne with Nestory Irankunda delivering a late burst that sent the home crowd away feeling much better about the Socceroos’ momentum.

Now the focus shifts to two games that feel more like roster and role auditions than simple friendlies. Lionel Scaloni has confirmed Lionel Messi will start for Argentina against Zambia as the world champions continue sorting out their final World Cup picture, while Spain’s match against Egypt is the last major home test before Luis de la Fuente names his squad. Both games carry that late-window tension where minutes matter, decisions get sharper, and every performance can still change somebody’s place in the summer.

The strangest pre-match subplot of the window came in Bosnia, where reports say a soldier wearing an Italian badge appeared at a Bosnia training session and filmed part of the workout before leaving. Whether it was innocent, bizarre, or something more provocative, it adds one more layer of mistrust to an Italy-Bosnia playoff already carrying tension after Italian players were seen celebrating Bosnia’s semifinal win over Wales.

There are bigger-picture stories elsewhere too. Ghana has fired Otto Addo just 78 days before opening the World Cup against England after a brutal run of losses, a stunning move this close to the tournament. South Africa manager Hugo Broos, meanwhile, is leaning into the opposite angle, arguing that his team’s unfamiliarity could become an asset this summer, while Scotland’s choice of Charlotte FC as its World Cup base camp shows how much detail goes into planning for travel, heat, family life, and recovery in a tournament that will stretch across a continent.

Undav makes another Germany statement: Deniz Undav came off the bench to score the late winner in Germany’s 2-1 victory over Ghana, pushing his name further into Julian Nagelsmann’s World Cup conversation. It was not a spectacular German performance, but it was another reminder that Undav keeps producing when the moment is there.

Australia finds a stronger finish: The Socceroos followed a shaky win over Cameroon with a much more convincing 5-1 result against Curaçao in Melbourne. Nestory Irankunda’s late double gave the night real energy and offered another glimpse of the individual spark Australia hopes can travel into the World Cup.

Messi gets the start, roster pressure rises: Lionel Scaloni confirmed Lionel Messi will start against Zambia as Argentina continues sorting out its final 26-player squad. The message from Scaloni was clear: reputations help, but performances in this window still matter as the defending champions shape their title defense.

Spain’s final home test carries real weight: Spain faces Egypt in a sold-out RCDE Stadium in a match that feels like more than a friendly. Luis de la Fuente is expected to rotate heavily, but the bigger importance is that this is one of the last major auditions before the squad for North America is finalized.

Ghana makes a late coaching change: Ghana has dismissed Otto Addo after five straight losses, including defeats to Austria and Germany in this window. Making that move less than three months before the World Cup adds even more uncertainty to a team that will open the tournament against England.

Bielsa wants more control before the World Cup: Marcelo Bielsa said Uruguay’s draw with England did not unfold the way he wanted because too much of the match was played in Uruguay’s own half, and he made clear the goal against Algeria is to control more territory and play higher up the field. He also explained Darwin Núñez did not start against England because of his current club situation at Al-Hilal, while adding that Uruguay has the quality to compete this summer even if he refused to make predictions about World Cup results.

Paraguay gets a sharper World Cup test against Morocco: After beating Greece 1-0 in its first March friendly, Paraguay closes the window against a much tougher opponent in Morocco, with Gustavo Alfaro expected to keep most of his preferred group on the field and make only a few changes. It is just the second meeting ever between the two countries, and it gives Paraguay a much stronger measuring stick as World Cup prep starts to feel more serious.

SDH AM is live this morning starting at 9:05 with Jon Nelson in the host chair. Ben Jacobs from GiveMeSport and talkSPORT joins at 9:30, Kacey White from Apple TV and NWSL is on at 10:00, and Atlanta United Unified Team head coach Marty Jelleme joins at 10:30 for a packed morning show.

Then tonight, all eyes turn to Mercedes-Benz Stadium for the USMNT’s match with Portugal. We’ll have coverage from the Benz, and Atlanta Soccer Tonight goes live at 11:00 to break down the match, recap the World Cup qualifying playoffs, and stay with you until the final team books its place in the tournament. Listen on 92.9 The Game and the Audacy app.

Tottenham’s De Zerbi pursuit risks a split before he even arrives: Reports that Spurs have agreed a deal in principle with Roberto De Zerbi are already creating backlash because of his public support for Mason Greenwood during their time together at Marseille. At a moment when Tottenham badly needs unity in a relegation fight, this is the kind of appointment that could divide the fanbase from day one instead of pulling the club together.

Euro 2028 wants to make a point on ticket prices: UEFA is planning to freeze prices for the 2028 European Championship, with some tickets in the United Kingdom available from just £26 and a sizable share of seats staying under £60. In a summer when World Cup pricing and travel costs have drawn plenty of criticism, UEFA clearly sees an opportunity to score a public relations win by looking more accessible to supporters.

Maguire looks set to stay at Manchester United: Harry Maguire is reportedly close to agreeing a new contract with Manchester United, with talks described as positive and a one-year extension plus an option on the table. It is a notable turnaround for a player who has worked his way back into a central role at club level and back into the England picture as well.

Newcastle won’t fully back Howe, at least not yet: Newcastle chief executive David Hopkinson said Eddie Howe’s job is safe “at the moment,” which is not exactly the strongest endorsement after a disappointing season. The wording leaves the door open to bigger decisions later, especially with Newcastle sitting 12th and coming off another damaging result against Sunderland.

AFA president Claudio Tapia faces tax case in Argentina: Claudio Tapia and several other AFA officials have been indicted for alleged tax evasion tied to unpaid taxes and withheld pension contributions. The federation is pushing back hard, framing it as political pressure connected to broader fights over the future structure of Argentine clubs, but it adds another serious layer of instability around the AFA leadership.

Open Cup second round brings rivalry games and regional heat: The U.S. Open Cup moves into the second round with 16 matches across Tuesday and Wednesday, and the schedule already has some real flavor to it. Five games are all-USL Championship matchups, including Rhode Island FC against Hartford Athletic in El Clamico, Lexington SC facing Louisville City in the Commonwealth Cup, and New Mexico United meeting El Paso Locomotive in the Derby Del Camino Real, plus San Antonio FC against FC Tulsa and Orange County SC against Phoenix Rising.

The underdog element is still alive: Seven amateur teams are still standing, with four from the UPSL and three from USL League Two still chasing a deeper run. All 17 USL Championship teams advanced into the second round along with seven USL League One clubs and one from MLS NEXT Pro, so the tournament is starting to narrow while still holding onto the part that makes the Open Cup special: lower-division clubs, amateur sides, and the chance for something strange to happen.

U.S. youth teams had a strong international window: The U.S. U-20s made the biggest statement with a 3-0 win over Argentina’s U-19s at Ezeiza, a match that drew even more attention because Lionel Messi was in attendance. Sal Olivas Jr., Colton Swan, and Bajung Darboe scored the goals in a result that stood out on both the scoreboard and the stage.

More good signs throughout the youth pipeline: The U.S. U-21s beat Japan 2-0, the U-19s rolled past Wales 4-0 with a lineup full of MLS Homegrowns on the scoresheet, and the U-18s split their first two games in Lisbon with a win over Iceland and a loss to Morocco. It is a useful reminder that beyond the senior team conversation, there is a lot of talent still moving through the next wave of the player pool.

Tonight is about stakes everywhere you look. The U.S. gets another measuring-stick match against Portugal in Atlanta, six nations will play their way into the World Cup by the end of the night, and across the game the conversation keeps circling back to what matters most this time of year: standards, pressure, and who is ready for the moment.

We’ll have you covered from Mercedes-Benz Stadium, then take it all into Atlanta Soccer Tonight at 11:00 on 92.9 The Game and the Audacy app. We’ll break down the USMNT, the playoff drama around the world, and stay with you until the final spot in the tournament is claimed.