# World Cup preview: Paul Howard, Kevin Kilbane and Malachy Clerkin pick potential winners and top players

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/america-2026-a-world-cup-podcast-7773210/world-cup-preview-paul-howard-kevin-kilbane-and-malachy-clerkin-pick-potential-winners-and-top-players
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/america-2026-a-world-cup-podcast-7773210/world-cup-preview-paul-howard-kevin-kilbane-and-malachy-clerkin-pick-potential-winners-and-top-players.md
Podcast: [America 2026: A World Cup podcast](https://stenobird.com/podcast/america-2026-a-world-cup-podcast-7773210)
Published: 2026-06-05T19:24:09+00:00
Episode link: https://shows.acast.com/irish-times-sport/episodes/world-cup-preview-paul-howard-kevin-kilbane-and-malachy-cler
Audio file: https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/69ab015a6ffdcd8188961ba6/e/6a2322594330c50bd3467946/media.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/america-2026-a-world-cup-podcast-7773210/episodes/world-cup-preview-paul-howard-kevin-kilbane-and-malachy-clerkin-pick-potential-winners-and-top-players
Duration seconds: 3013

## Resource

With World Cup 2026 one week away, Paul Howard, Kevin Kilbane and Malachy Clerkin kick off our podcast coverage of the tournament. The Irish Times will publish episodes of America 2026 several times per week between now and the final on July 19th. Listen for analysis of all the football, digressions into World Cup history and coverage of the big stories happening inside and outside the stadiums. On today’s episode Paul, Kevin and Mal preview the tournament. Who are favourites to win? Who are the players to watch? Is there any merit to the expanded number of teams competing? And are we allowed to enjoy this World Cup with all the political and ethical baggage attached to it? Plus, Paul shamelessly name-drops while recounting his last World Cup final experience and Mal recalls his dressing-down by US president Donald Trump.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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## Transcript

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