PARIS (AP) — France endured sizzling temperatures on Sunday, with trains, concerts and sports events canceled and authorities cracking down on drinking alcohol in public, as an exceptional heat wave unfurled across parts of Europe.
Multiple drownings were reported as people sought relief in whatever water they could find.
About a third of France is under a “red alert” for heat, and high temperatures reached 40 C (104 F) in some areas, in a country where air conditioning isn’t widespread. The forecast for Monday is even hotter.
The Eiffel Tower and other Paris venues set up misting stations to cool down crowds. Tourists in Rome dunked in fountains.
Over the last four years, more than 200,000 people across Europe died from heat-related causes, and most of the fatalities were preventable, the World Health Organization’s Europe office said this month. More above-average temperatures are expected this summer, which can cause heat exhaustion and life-threatening heat stroke.
Human-caused climate change is tied to increasing extreme weather, and U.N. climate agency projections say the next five years should shatter more heat records. A rapid study found that human-caused climate change was responsible for killing about 1,500 people in an unusually early European heat wave in May.
Waterways offer comfort, and dangers
In this latest European hot spell, French media reported that four children drowned Saturday. Summer drownings are an annual problem that health authorities say worsens during hot spells. One man drowned in southwestern Germany and three others were missing after swimming in the Rhine River, the German news agency dpa reported.
Canal Saint Martin in Paris drew throngs Sunday splashing and diving off a bridge, despite authorities’ attempts to control the crowds.
“With this heat, it’s the only way to have fun while going out,″ swimmer Nicolas Cruz told The Associated Press.
Zouzou Hobbs was skeptical at first of swimming in the murky urban canal.
”But it’s hot. I’m going to risk it,’” she decided. ‘’We need to cool off before tonight when we’re gonna be dancing.’’
Solstice parties draw large crowds in extreme heat
France’s annual Music Day on Sunday was of particular concern. The nationwide summer solstice celebration involves thousands of concerts in village squares, rave venues and Paris clubs, bringing communities together and increasingly drawing British and other international visitors. Some concerts were canceled.
The French government banned drinking booze in “red alert” zones, and ordered organizers of music day events to limit alcohol consumption to “preserve emergency services and allow medics to concentrate on taking care of the most vulnerable.”
Authorities are notably worried about people living in the baking streets, and elderly people in nursing homes or isolated in their homes. About 15,000 older people died in France in a 2003 heat wave that became a national reckoning.
The government mobilized emergency services and military forces for reinforced wildfire readiness, imposed tightened surveillance of water supplies to France’s many nuclear reactors, and ordered 845 schools to close Monday.
Spain, Italy, Germany swelter as tourists seek relief
Spain kicked off the summer with large parts of the country on alert because of temperatures expected to hover around 40 C (104 F) — even in the interior of the Basque region, an area in the north of the country, which typically experiences cooler temperatures.
Authorities have suspended outdoor sports and cultural activities in the region. The heat wave is expected to scorch Spain at least through Wednesday.
In Italy, authorities expanded heat warnings — referred to locally as “red flags” — to eight cities Sunday in northern and central parts of the country. Temperatures there are mostly in the upper 30s C (high 90s to low 100s F).
At one farm outside Milan, owners set up fans and sprinklers to keep cows cool, while visitors to Milan Fashion Week huddled under parasols and clutched fans. In Rome, tourists dunked their arms and occasionally their faces into the city’s famed fountain pools.
German meteorologists are forecasting temperatures of up to 37 C (98 F) for Monday and Tuesday, and up to 39 C (102 F) on Wednesday.
The U.K. weather office has issued an “extreme heat” warning for much of southern England and parts of Wales from Monday until Thursday, saying temperatures could reach 38 C (100 F). The current record for a June day is 35.6 C (96 F), reached in 1976.
Thunderstorms also threatened regions in Germany and Poland.
French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu is convening a new government heat crisis meeting Sunday, and ordered government ministers to plan for better adapting France to heat waves in the future — including “via air conditioning, if necessary.”
___
Derek Gatopoulos in Athens, Greece, Claudia Ciobanu in Warsaw, Poland, Jill Lawless in London, and Teresa Medrano in Madrid, contributed to this report.

Reese Witherspoon and Selma Blair reunited to mark the 25th anniversary of their iconic film “Legally Blonde.”
The actresses were all smiles on the red carpet for Prime Video’s “Elle World,” a celebration for Witherspoon’s beloved character Elle Woods, in New York on Saturday.
In true Woods style, Witherspoon, 50, donned a Prada off-the-shoulder pink satin dress from the fashion house’s Fall/Winter 2026 collection.
She accessorized with a matching pink clutch and wore Christian Louboutin’s Laminated Calf Leather Pumps in the color Vintage Rose.
As for Blair, 53, who portrayed Vivian Kensington, she wore a Tom Ford black and pink dress with Manolo Blahnik sandal heels.
The duo’s co-star Ali Larter, who played the role of a fitness coach whom they defended in court, also made an appearance.
Larter donned a midi black strapless dress with pink florals and sandal heels from Giuseppe Zanotti.
Additionally, Jennifer Coolidge, who played nail tech Paulette Bonafonté, also turned heads in a leopard-print dress and Giuseppe Zanotti sandals.
Witherspoon’s on-screen husband, Luke Wilson, didn’t appear to be present.
The Robert Luketic-directed film was released in July 2001 and earned $141,976,594 in the box office worldwide, per Box Office Mojo.
The beloved movie follows Woods, who manages to get into Harvard Law School in an attempt to win back her ex-boyfriend Warner, portrayed by Matthew Davis, who was engaged to Blair’s character.
However, Woods learns that she is more than just her fashion tastes as she works to prove Larter’s character innocent of murder.
The film’s sequel, “Legally Blonde 2,” was released two years later.
Now, Prime Video is gearing up to release a prequel series titled “Elle,” starring Lexi Minetree as a teenage Elle Woods.
The plot follows the storyline of Woods’ relocation from California to Seattle, where she learns to navigate her new life and friendships.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Curacao better make some room for a new national hero.
Eloy Room delivered for his tiny Caribbean nation one of the finest performances in World Cup history on Saturday night, making 15 saves against a relentless Ecuador attack and helping The Blue Wave earn its first-ever point with a 0-0 draw against La Tri.
The outcome also allowed Germany, which beat Ivory Coast earlier in the day, to clinch Group E.
“It’s going to be an insane memory,” said Room, who plays for USL Championship club Miami FC. “You don’t think about it when you do it but of course it’s going to be something you look back to. For me as a goalkeeper, this is almost a perfect game.”
The 37-year-old Room, whose shutout of Jamaica last November sent Curacao to its first World Cup, bounced back in historic fashion from a 7-1 loss to Germany. His save total was one shy of the record — since saves became an official stat in 1966 — of 16 set by Tim Howard of the U.S. against Belgium on July 1, 2014, in a game that Room remembers watching.
Howard needed 120 minutes for his total, though. Nobody has made more saves than Room without extra time.
“I think I need a statue in Curacao now,” he said with a smile.
The draw doesn’t eliminate either team from knockout play, but it put Ecuador in dire shape going into its group finale. Those matches take place Thursday with Curacao facing Ivory Coast in Philadelphia and Ecuador playing Germany in New York.
“Well, there are things you cannot explain in football,” Ecuador coach Sebastian Beccacece said. “We wanted to win. We didn’t do it. I am the one who bears responsibility, and I told my team, ‘If you’re giving it all, competing, I have no complaints.’
“As long as we are alive, we will continue to give it our all. We are very united. We are like a family. No one said it would be easy.”
Ecuador certainly had a home-field advantage Saturday night at the home of the Kansas City Chiefs. Its fanbase, dressed like its players in bright yellow shirts, filled the stadium to the brim, making it look like a convention of Minions. There was only a couple of small pockets of blue-clad Curacao fans in a stadium whose capacity could house half of its island citizenry.
Among those in the crowd were Kansas City Royals players Bobby Witt Jr., Salvador Perez and Starling Marte.
And King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands, who began a memorable day in Houston cheering the Dutch past Sweden, then flew to Kansas City to watch a constituent country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands make history.
“They were even dancing in the locker room to our music,” Room said. “That’s unreal that they witnessed this game.”
The pressure mounted on Ecuador earlier Saturday, when Deniz Undav’s goal in stoppage time lifted Germany to a 2-1 win over Ivory Coast. The outcome of that match in Toronto meant that La Tri faced World Cup elimination with a loss to The Blue Wave.
Curacao made sure the pressure continued once play began.
Throughout the first half, 78-year-old coach Dick Advocaat’s team kept finding seams through the middle of Ecuador’s defense, and that created open looks at the goal. But each time, Curacao would end the runs with a sloppy pass or a shot wide of net.
Ecuador wasted its best scoring chance in the opening minutes, when World Cup veteran Enner Valencia found nothing between him and the goalkeeper. But Room guessed right, dived to his left and deflected the shot to keep the game scoreless.
“For us it’s no shock,” Curacao midfielder Tahith Chong said. “We’ve gotten used to Eloy doing these unbelievable saves.”
The pressure of La Tri picked up in the second half — and each time, Room was standing in the way.
Moises Caicedo forced him into making a spectacular save early on, then Valencia did the same with a well-placed header that Room knocked wide. On the ensuing corner kick, Room made two more sensational saves before Curacao finally cleared it.
Ecuador wound up taking 27 shots to just 10 for Curacao. Ten of the 15 saves Room made were inside the box.
It was that kind of special night for him. And that kind of frustrating night for Ecuador.
“The team deserved more than they got,” Beccacece said, “and I am the one who is responsible for that.”
___

European soccer fans descended upon Houston Saturday morning as the Netherlands and Sweden faced each other in the third World Cup match in Houston, but not before two enthusiastic crowds of marchers snaked their way through the city’s streets to Houston Stadium.
The Oranje Fanwalk brought one of the World Cup’s most viral moments to Rice University, while the Swedish fan march kicked off at Helix Park in the Texas Medical Center. The heat and humidity made headlines, closing down FIFA Fan Festival and affecting the morning marchers. At the end of the game, thunderstorms brought a shelter-in-place for the stadium crowd.
The teams met in a Group F match in which the Netherlands defeated Sweden 5 to 1.
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Andrew Guiliani, the executive director of the White House Task Force for the FIFA World Cup, said he’s been impressed with how Houston’s local agencies and host committee are handling crowds and visitors for the major soccer event, especially amid changing weather conditions.
Tasked with coordinating federal security during the tournament, Guiliani said he flew into Houston early Saturday morning for the match between Netherlands and Sweden.
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“The fan marches coming in, which I thought was managed so well in light of the heat that you get in Houston, and admittedly the Dutch and Swedes probably never felt heat like that in their lives,” Guiliani said. “I thought (they were) managed so well.”
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The World Cup has brought a large number of visitors from around the globe, with U.S. Customs and Border Protection processing more than 5 million visas from 19 countries, he said.
Guiliani also added that like all major events, Immigration and Customs Enforcement will continue to be present at World Cup events.
– Ashley Soebroto
As the match between the Netherlands and Sweden wrapped up, fans in the stadium were asked to shelter in place because of lightning near the stadium.
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Fans were asked to remain in their seats and follow instructions from stadium personnel. Weather maps showed thunderstorms in the vicinity of Houston Stadium.
Some fans were pushing to get out of the exits after the end of the game.
– Peter Warren
Crysencio Summerville’s goal in the 88th minute is the final nail in the coffin for Sweden.
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It’s 5-1 now — the same score Sweden beat Tunisia by Sunday — as the Netherlands will emerge from Houston with one of the most impressive victories of the World Cup so far.
– Peter Warren
The game between the Netherlands and Sweden brought the city’s second sellout during the FIFA World Cup for Houston Stadium, known locally as NRG Stadium. Wednesday’s match between Portugal and DR Congo was a sellout as well.
Today’s game brought 68,777 fans to the stadium.
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Upcoming matches are set for Tuesday with Portugal vs. Uzbekistan, Friday with Cabo Verde vs. Saudi Arabia and round matches June 29 and July 4.
– Peter Warren
Sweden got one back soon after, with substitute Anthony Elanga as the forward gets played through in behind the backline and connects with the shot.
– Peter Warren
A second goal for Cody Gakpo has turned this game into a blowout.
The forward dribbled into the Sweden defense from the left wing and beat Kristoffer Nordfeldt with a shot to the near post to make it 4-0.
Gakpo now has five goals in his World Cup career after scoring a goal in each of the group stage matches at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
– Peter Warren
A third goal from the Netherlands started the second half, and in similar fashion to the first two.
The Netherlands played a low cross through the box, but this time Cody Gakpo gets on the end of the pass to slot home his first of the game.
Dumfries notched his second assist of the match as the Netherlands now holds a commanding 3-0 lead.
– Peter Warren
Sweden thought it had cut the deficit to one on a Gustaf Lagerbielke header off a free kick late in the first half but the goal was ruled out due to off-sides.
The referee’s decision drew boos from the Sweden supporters and the Netherlands entered the half holding on to to a 2-0 lead.
Outside of Brobbey, midfielder Frenkie de Jong is leading the way for the Oranje with five defensive contributions and a game-high 46 passes completed.
– Peter Warren
Brian Brobbey has his second goal within 16 minutes as the Dutch made it 2-0.
Denzel Dumfries played another low cross into the box, this time coming from the right side, and Brobbey stuck out his foot to redeflect it past Sweden’s goalie, Kristoffer Nordfeldt.
It was a nifty piece of attacking play from Brobbey, who is proving Ronald Koeman right for his decision to play Brobbey in the starting lineup.
– Peter Warren
For the third-straight game in Houston, a team has found the back of the net in less than six minutes.
The Netherlands, in their highlighter-orange uniforms, gets on the board thanks to a finish from Brian Brobbey, who earned the start today at the center forward spot.
Cody Gakpo provided the assist by playing a low cross from the left side across the box.
– Peter Warren
The neon orange of the Netherlands’ World Cup uniforms is lighting up significant portions of the Houston Stadium crowd before the start of Saturday’s match with Sweden, who also has a fair share of fans behind the south goal.
Both of the first two games of the World Cup in Houston have been well attended, with Wednesday’s match between Portugal and DR Congo being an announced sellout.
Saturday’s crowd seems to be near a packed house, with a majority of the seats occupied just before the start of the match.
– Peter Warren
About 30 minutes after the doors to Houston’s 2026 FIFA Fan Festival opened, a speaker announced to the hundreds of people there that the event would close due to a heat advisory.
“Severe weather requires immediate action,” the announcement said. “Exit the grounds now and move to a safe location.”
On the Houston 2026 World Cup Facebook page, a post noted the event is temporarily paused.
“Gates will reopen as conditions permit, according to the post. ‘Visit Football Fiesta locations in East Downtown and support our local businesses for additional match viewing, dining and entertainment opportunities.’
– Ashley Soebroto
Chris Canetti, president of Houston’s World Cup host committee, rode on top of one of the buses leading the Netherlands fan march wearing a custom “Canetti No. 10” orange jersey.
Over his three decades in sports, Canetti said, he has been able to go to a lot of great events, from Super Bowls to World Series games. The fan march on Saturday, he said, sits above them all.
“That was incredible. I don’t know if you can top that in terms of an experience. It’s one of the greatest things I’ve ever done in my life,” Canetti said.
He added that he thinks the walk is one of the greatest moments in Houston history.
– Peter Warren
With a sprinkle of rain, Swedish fans completed their march to Houston Stadium at about 10:40 a.m.
Along the route, Houstonians watched from their balconies, windows and driveways with their phones focused on the yellow and blue sea of people walking by. On Naomi Street, Swedish fans handed many onlookers small flags and hats.
“What country is this?” asked resident Vera Ekeada as fans passed by. “Sweden!” The fans yelled back.
Ekeada ran out to her driveway to get video after she heard the noise of the oncoming crowd.
“I didn’t think it was going to be this many people, but it’s beautiful,” Ekeada said.
– Kathleen Ortiz
At the first cooling station 25 minutes into Sweden’s march, fans crowded the Houston MetroLift area, where water bottles were distributed. Once the cooler ran out of water, fans grabbed handfuls of ice to cool off.
Elsewhere along the route, A Harris County Fire Marshal truck provided relief to hot Swedish fans, spraying them with water. Other marchers took a break in the air conditioning on a Metro bus.
Fire trucks along the route of the Netherlands march also doused those fans with water as the “feels-like” temperature rose to near 90 by late morning.
– Kathleen Ortiz and Naina Srivastava
Viral German soccer fan Freddy (@freddyLA7 on X) nearly didn’t make it to Toronto for Germany’s next match against Côte d’Ivoire this afternoon after his flight was canceled due to weather.
It seems J.J. Watt, who had previously sent restaurant recommendations to Freddy for his time in Houston, teamed up with American Airlines to save the day. Freddy reported that he and his group got on a flight to Buffalo, N.Y., and drove across the Canadian border.
“We’re on the plane to Buffalo!!! American Airlines was incredibly helpful and made it possible for us to get on this flight. A special thank you to
@JJWatt for organizing it while we were in the air to Dallas. Big thanks as well to everyone else who offered their help,” he said on X.
– Dana Burke
As Swedish music blasted from a speaker, an estimated 4,000 to 6,000 fans dressed in yellow and blue gathered at TMC Helix Park before their pregame trek to Houston Stadium.
Supporters were treated to a menu of smoked brisket breakfast bake and Jāgermeister. Some pressed cold water bottles to their foreheads in the 89% humidity.
The march left the park at 9:30 a.m. to arrive at the stadium before the noon kickoff against the Netherlands. Just before 10 a.m., Sweden’s fan march made it to the first checkpoint on the way to Houston Stadium.
– Kathleen Ortiz and Naina Srivastava
The king and queen of the Netherlands will be at Houston Stadium for the Dutch team’s match at noon against Sweden.
King Willem-Alexander, Queen Máxima and the youngest of their three daughters, 19-year-old Princess Ariane, are set to cheer on the Oranje in the Group F battle. Willem-Alexander has been king since 2013.
Willem-Alexander is the second major political figure to visit Houston for a World Cup. Felix Tshisekedi, president of the Democratic Republic of the Congo attended the national team’s match Wednesday against Portugal.
– Peter Warren
Fans of all kinds dressed in orange are walking across Rice University’s campus Saturday morning, toward the back of Rice Stadium in preparation of the Netherlands’ fan walk.
There are fans wearing the Netherlands’ jersey and merch but also Astros and Dynamo gear and plain orange T-shirts. A few stragglers are wearing other colors but nearly all fans got the memo about the event’s color scheme.
The march is set to leave campus around 8:45 a.m. to head towards the stadium.
– Peter Warren
Time: Noon, Saturday
Where: Reliant Stadium (or Houston Stadium in FIFA-speak)
TV: Fox, FS1 and Telemundo
Streaming: Peacock
In person: If you don’t have tickets to the match, Fan Fest in EaDo opens at 10:30 a.m.
Here’s everything you need to know about the matchup.
– Reid Laymance
Thousands of Dutch soccer fans and their supporters will turn Houston’s streets into a sea of orange Saturday morning as they set off on the famous Oranje Fanwalk ahead of the Netherlands’ World Cup game against Sweden at NRG Stadium.
The Fanwalk, led by the Netherlands’ iconic Oranje Bus, promises to be one of the highlights of Houston’s World Cup experience. It’s a Dutch tradition that brings thousands of supporters together for a march to each of the Netherlands’ World Cup games.
The superfans, all clad in orange, march behind a double-decker bus known as the “Oranje Bus,” turning pregame festivities into a giant parade.
The 2.5-mile march will start at the Rice University stadium at 8:45 a.m. after and 8 a.m. meetup and head south to NRG Stadium. The exact route has not been made public, but the giant orange bus and thousands of exuberant Dutch fans should be pretty hard to miss. Find more details on the march here.
– Sam Kelly
Sweden will hold a fan march Saturday at 9:30 a.m. at Helix Park in the Medical Center ahead of the team’s FIFA World Cup match with the Netherlands.
“We sing a lot of songs, of course. We have a drum in front and a big banner,” said Johnny Persson, the vice president of Camp Sweden, a Swedish soccer fan group.
He said the organization expects 5,000 to 7,000 people in their march. Here’s everything you need to know.

The Athletic has live coverage of Netherlands vs Sweden and Germany vs Ivory Coast at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Around nine hours after its 2-0 victory over Australia on Friday afternoon, the United States clinched first place in the 2026 World Cup’s Group D when Turkey lost 1-0 to Paraguay in Santa Clara, Calif.
By then, Mauricio Pochettino’s team had already returned to its Southern California base in a buoyant mood after sweeping to a second straight win to begin the competition.
With optimism for the U.S. at a new high, Matias Galarza’s excellent early strike for Paraguay only added to the positive momentum. It proved to be enough, and the U.S. can now firmly start planning in earnest for what lies ahead.
Next Thursday’s third group game against Turkey now has no bearing on the Americans’ fate. Their path through the knockout bracket — at least in terms of dates and locations — is set in stone.
This is exactly what the USMNT wanted. Earlier in the day, midfielder Weston McKennie said: “It is amazing to know that we are going through but we don’t want to just go through. We want to win the group and be top of the group and try to get a way to advance in the fashion that we want to.”
How has the U.S. clinched Group D already?
Although all four Group D teams have one game remaining, the U.S. has an insurmountable lead thanks to FIFA’s new tiebreaker rules.
Whereas goal differential was the first decider at previous World Cups, head-to-head results are the first tiebreaker this time around. The U.S. has that tiebreaker over Australia after Friday’s win, and over Paraguay after last week’s trouncing in the opener.
So, even if the U.S. lost to Turkey, and even if Australia or Paraguay also reached six points, the U.S. would still sit atop the group. Turkey will finish bottom of Group D. Even three points against the U.S. would leave it unable to leapfrog Australia or Paraguay, with both of those teams now owning the head-to-head tiebreaker.
How did U.S. players find out they’d won the group?
Less than three hours after they walked dreamily around Lumen Field, saluting a sold-out crowd, basking in a special afternoon, U.S. players were boarding a flight back to Southern California.
They returned to their team hotel in Laguna Niguel at a reasonable hour, and after dinner, “honestly,” captain Tim Ream said, “I think we’ll all end up in the players’ lounge, talking about today and watching the final game of the day.”
That game was Turkey-Paraguay, and it likely altered how the U.S. will approach the coming week.
How does this change the final group game vs. Turkey?
With the top spot in hand, the U.S. can rest players in next Thursday’s group decider vs. Turkey at SoFi Stadium near Los Angeles.
That doesn’t mean that Pochettino will. But it gives Christian Pulisic an extra week to recover from his calf injury before the next consequential game, and it will allow the U.S. to potentially sit players who have picked up yellow cards — and who would therefore be at risk of being suspended for the round of 32 if they picked up another yellow card against Turkey.
Those players are Tyler Adams, Antonee Robinson, Folarin Balogun and Chris Richards.
If they can get through the Turkey game without a yellow card, they’ll have a clean slate heading into the knockout rounds, because cards are wiped after the group stage.
When and where is the first knockout game?
No matter what, having won the group, the U.S. will play its round-of-32 game on July 1 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. at 8 p.m. ET, 5 p.m. local time.
It will learn its opponent over the coming week.
Who will the U.S. play in the Round of 32?
The scenarios, in some ways, are simple.
If Bosnia and Herzegovina beats Qatar next Wednesday on the final day of Group B, the U.S. will almost certainly play Bosnia.
If Qatar beats Bosnia, the U.S. will almost certainly play Qatar.
If Qatar and Bosnia draw, then the third-place team from Group B likely wouldn’t advance, and a wide range of possibilities would open up. In that case, the U.S. could ultimately face the third-place team from Group J, I, E or, least likely, F. None of those groups have yet played their second set of games.
Why are those the possibilities? Because FIFA’s World Cup regulations lay out all 495 possible combinations of third-place qualifiers, and assign each third-place team to a spot on the bracket in each scenario. And in 329 of the 330 scenarios where the Group B team advances — as one of the top eight of 12 third-place teams — that team faces the winner of Group D, which is now the U.S.
The only scenario where Group B’s third-place team advances but doesn’t face the U.S. is if the third-place teams from Groups A, C, D and F are all eliminated.
The Athletic’s forecast gives the U.S. a 58% chance to meet Bosnia, an 18% chance to meet Qatar, and no more than a 5% chance to meet any other specific team.
And after that?
The round-of-16 matchup would likely be with the winner of Group G — Belgium being the most likely. While Belgium beat the U.S. in March, it’s an opponent that’s more palatable than the likes of Argentina, Spain, France, England or others.
Why winning the group allows the U.S. to stay west
That Round of 16 game would be in Seattle.
The potential quarterfinal would be back at SoFi Stadium near Los Angeles, the Americans’ third time playing there.
The west coast path would likely allow the U.S. to stay at its base camp in Southern California, about an hour south of Los Angeles.
Which other games should U.S. fans monitor?
The Bosnia vs. Qatar game — June 24 at 3 p.m. ET — is by far the most meaningful from a U.S. perspective.
If that game ends in a win for either team, no other game matters for U.S. round-of-32 purposes.
Elsewhere, Group G is worth watching. Belgium plays Iran on Sunday at 3 p.m. ET. Egypt plays New Zealand that same day at 9 p.m.
If Belgium doesn’t win Group G, the U.S. would be able to reach the quarterfinals without facing a top seed.
Why is everyone getting so excited?
U.S. fans are starting to believe that a run to the quarterfinals or beyond is possible. They’re starting to dream, just as Pochettino is encouraging them to do. There is more optimism around the U.S. men’s national team right now than at any other point in recent memory.
As The Athletic’s Paul Tenorio wrote Friday, the mere fact that people are talking about whether this team can win the whole World Cup represents a monumental step forward for the program, and the sport.
This can be a seminal, historic run for the program. After two games, the people are starting to dream.