Trevor Noah: Turkey’s World Cup Disaster & Ronaldo’s Portugal Drama | WORLD CUP Second Week

Trevor and Joe tackle Week Two of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. In this episode they debate whether the tournament is an incredible global block party or a giant exercise in geopolitical sports washing, whether the David vs. Goliath fable needs some adjustment, and dish on the week's most entertaining World Cup drama, from Turkey's tragic scoreless exit to the fanboys currently making life difficult for Portugal's players. Through it all, they remind us that few things bring people together quite like 22 people chasing a ball. Drop your predictions below 👇 #WorldCup #TrevorNoah #CristianoRonaldo #Portugal #Turkey #football 0:00 - Week 2 of the World Cup Begins 2:00 - Why Every World Cup Changes the Narrative 15:20 - Turkey’s Shocking Collapse 23:30 - The New World Cup Format Debate 33:00 - Why “David vs Goliath” No Longer Fits 43:00 - Sweden’s Tactical Problems 52:00 - Ronaldo, Portugal & Fan Pressure 56:55 - Can Portugal Survive This?

Trevor NoahhostJoehost

Jun 23, 20261h 1mWatch on YouTube ↗

EVERY SPOKEN WORD

75 min read · 14,893 words

0:00 – 2:00
Week 2 of the World Cup Begins
1. TNTrevor Noah
  This episode is proudly sponsored by Mazda, Consumer Reports' safest new car brand. Mazda stands for more of what matters most to you. Visit mazdausa.com to learn more. [upbeat music] This is What Now? With Trevor Noah. All right, well-
2. JOJoe
  Mm
3. TNTrevor Noah
  ... welcome to Week Two of the World Cup.
4. JOJoe
  Mm-hmm. Yeah, we c- I can believe 'cause it feels like, one, we've watched so much football. It feels like week four, but then again, time rushes when you're having fun, so it doesn't feel like Week Two yet. It's like a we- I, I know it sounds like a weird contradiction, but it feels like we've watched four weeks worth of football, but then it doesn't feel like we've reached Week Two yet.
5. TNTrevor Noah
  I think it feels like that because, yes, we've watched probably more games per capita than ever in our lives.
6. JOJoe
  Mm-hmm.
7. TNTrevor Noah
  But because we haven't moved in the group stages-
8. JOJoe
  Yes
9. TNTrevor Noah
  ... it doesn't feel like the-
10. JOJoe
  Yes
11. TNTrevor Noah
  ... tournament has moved, in a good way.
12. JOJoe
  Yes, yes, yes. Mm.
13. TNTrevor Noah
  So it feels like it's still exciting. It's, it feels like it's still new. It feels like it's... But, but, you know, before we even get into the results, I, I noticed something about the World Cup.
14. JOJoe
  Mm-hmm.
15. TNTrevor Noah
  And I don't know if you'll agree with this or disagree.
16. JOJoe
  Okay. Probably disagree, but [laughs] on principle, but okay. [laughs]
17. TNTrevor Noah
  The World Cup-
18. JOJoe
  Mm
19. TNTrevor Noah
  ... is a lot like New Year's Eve.
20. JOJoe
  Okay. In which it's-
21. TNTrevor Noah
  Everyone talks trash about it in the buildup.
22. JOJoe
  Mm. Mm-hmm.
23. TNTrevor Noah
  Everyone says they don't care. Everyone says they don't, they're not gonna make plans. They're not gonna participate. Ask somebody what their plans are for New Year's Eve, they'll be like, "Ah, is that even a thing anymore?"
24. JOJoe
  Mm. Mm, mm, mm, mm, mm.
25. TNTrevor Noah
  "A New Year's Eve, I'll probably just sleep."
26. JOJoe
  Mm, mm.
27. TNTrevor Noah
  "I don't even care what's happening. I'm not into it." A-
28. JOJoe
  [laughs] Yes
29. TNTrevor Noah
  ... the day the clock strikes 12:00-
30. JOJoe
  Mm
2:00 – 15:20
Why Every World Cup Changes the Narrative
1. TNTrevor Noah
  joy and regret. I feel like-
2. JOJoe
  [laughs]
3. TNTrevor Noah
  ... the World Cup does that.
4. JOJoe
  Yeah. [laughs] Yeah.
5. TNTrevor Noah
  No, because-
6. JOJoe
  Mm
7. TNTrevor Noah
  ... I was, I was thinking about this. Every single World Cup-
8. JOJoe
  Mm
9. TNTrevor Noah
  ... starts with a scandal.
10. JOJoe
  Mm-hmm. Or multiple scandals.
11. TNTrevor Noah
  And-
12. JOJoe
  Mm
13. TNTrevor Noah
  ... by week two, people can only talk about the World Cup. So go South Africa-
14. JOJoe
  Mm, mm, mm, mm
15. TNTrevor Noah
  ... 2010. Everybody was saying, "Can this country host a World Cup?"
16. JOJoe
  Mm.
17. TNTrevor Noah
  "Is Africa ready?"
18. JOJoe
  Crime rates going bad, yes.
19. TNTrevor Noah
  "There's too much crime in South Africa."
20. JOJoe
  Mm.
21. TNTrevor Noah
  "They don't have the infrastructure."
22. JOJoe
  Mm.
23. TNTrevor Noah
  "It's gonna be a bad World Cup."
24. JOJoe
  Mm, mm.
25. TNTrevor Noah
  "It's not gonna go." World Cup started. Week Two-
26. JOJoe
  Mm, mm, mm, mm, mm, mm
27. TNTrevor Noah
  ... all we knew was football.
28. JOJoe
  Actually, the moment Tshabalala scored that goal-
29. TNTrevor Noah
  Finished
30. JOJoe
  ... everything shifted. Yes.
15:20 – 23:30
Turkey’s Shocking Collapse
1. TNTrevor Noah
  love how for the World Cup, the scandals go away from geopolitics-
2. JOJoe
  Mm. Mm, mm, mm, mm, mm, mm, mm, mm
3. TNTrevor Noah
  ... and they just go to the pitch.
4. JOJoe
  Mm, mm, mm, mm, mm.
5. TNTrevor Noah
  You know?
6. JOJoe
  Mm.
7. TNTrevor Noah
  'Cause now, like, the scandals are all on the pitch.
8. JOJoe
  Mm, mm, mm, mm, mm.
9. TNTrevor Noah
  I would say the biggest scandal at the World Cup now o- over this past week, Türkiye.
10. JOJoe
  Oh.
11. TNTrevor Noah
  The Turkish team-
12. JOJoe
  Yes
13. TNTrevor Noah
  ... came in. It's-
14. JOJoe
  Yes.
15. TNTrevor Noah
  If you think about it-
16. JOJoe
  Yes
17. TNTrevor Noah
  ... like, the Turkish team came into this World Cup-
18. JOJoe
  Yes
19. TNTrevor Noah
  ... I don't know if you saw their send-off.
20. JOJoe
  Mm.
21. TNTrevor Noah
  Right? They got one of the biggest send-offs I've ever seen a country give their team.
22. JOJoe
  I think I saw they were given mansions in one of the most exclusive, like, seaside resorts.
23. TNTrevor Noah
  My friend.
24. JOJoe
  Every player for just qualifying.
25. TNTrevor Noah
  My friend.
26. JOJoe
  Yes.
27. TNTrevor Noah
  'Cause how many years has it been since Turkey was in?
28. JOJoe
  It's just been, like, I think-
29. TNTrevor Noah
  26 years or somewhere there?
30. JOJoe
  Yeah, it's been a long time. I think the last time, wait, was it 2002?
23:30 – 33:00
The New World Cup Format Debate
1. JOJoe
  is here
2. TNTrevor Noah
  ... yeah, like America's Got Talent or something.
3. JOJoe
  Mm, mm, mm, mm, mm.
4. TNTrevor Noah
  And it's like, no, no, no. This is a, this is, like, an active, active story. But, but this is, this is, this is why I think, like, Turkey's really gonna have to... It's, it, uh, there's gonna be a lot of, um, uh, what do they call it? There's gonna be a postmortem.
5. JOJoe
  Yeah, so Vincenzo Montella, the coach, is certainly going to lose his job.
6. TNTrevor Noah
  Yeah. It, it-
7. JOJoe
  And I loved him as a player. Loved him as a player.
8. TNTrevor Noah
  It's gonna be, it's gonna be, it's gonna be massive-
9. JOJoe
  Yeah, mm
10. TNTrevor Noah
  ... because here you have a team that maybe wasn't expected to win the whole thing-
11. JOJoe
  Yes
12. TNTrevor Noah
  ... by their fans.
13. JOJoe
  Mm.
14. TNTrevor Noah
  But the fans expected-
15. JOJoe
  At least to make a run of some kind, yes
16. TNTrevor Noah
  ... a late run, a late run.
17. JOJoe
  Mm.
18. TNTrevor Noah
  Because of the expected f- uh, uh, expanded format, by the way.
19. JOJoe
  Mm-hmm, mm-hmm, yes.
20. TNTrevor Noah
  Because of the expanded format, there's actually a high expectation on, on teams-
21. JOJoe
  Mm
22. TNTrevor Noah
  ... because there's eas- there are easier games.
23. JOJoe
  Mm-hmm.
24. TNTrevor Noah
  There are easier moments in groups.
25. JOJoe
  Also, you don't have just to finish second.
26. TNTrevor Noah
  Exactly.
27. JOJoe
  Yes. Mm.
28. TNTrevor Noah
  You, there's eight third-place teams-
29. JOJoe
  Mm-hmm
30. TNTrevor Noah
  ... are gonna go through.
33:00 – 43:00
Why “David vs Goliath” No Longer Fits
1. JOJoe
  The worst that could happen has almost happened.
2. TNTrevor Noah
  No. But, but not Lamine Yamal. Lamine from the first game.
3. JOJoe
  He came on as a substitute as well.
4. TNTrevor Noah
  Yeah, but he didn't-
5. JOJoe
  But also, like-
6. TNTrevor Noah
  But he didn't settle
7. JOJoe
  ... La- Lamine has the fearlessness of youth, though.
8. TNTrevor Noah
  No.
9. JOJoe
  You know? He-
10. TNTrevor Noah
  Jo, Messi.
11. JOJoe
  Talk to any teenager.
12. TNTrevor Noah
  Messi.
13. JOJoe
  Teenagers don't care.
14. TNTrevor Noah
  Messi first game.
15. JOJoe
  They don't about consequences.
16. TNTrevor Noah
  Messi first game.
17. JOJoe
  Messi has the fearlessness of a veteran. [laughs]
18. TNTrevor Noah
  No, you're gonna make excuses for everyone.
19. JOJoe
  Yes. [laughs]
20. TNTrevor Noah
  You're gonna make excuses for everyone now.
21. JOJoe
  Yes. No, no. You're right. No.
22. TNTrevor Noah
  Harry Kane.
23. JOJoe
  No, you're right. No, you're, no, you're right. You're right. You're right. It's ... It, it ... You're, you're basically saying fortune favors the brave.
24. TNTrevor Noah
  Yes, it does.
25. JOJoe
  Yes.
26. TNTrevor Noah
  It does.
27. JOJoe
  Come out. Mm.
28. TNTrevor Noah
  It does. And, and by the way, that's another narrative I feel like needs to change, especially after the second week of the World Cup. This whole narrative around, like-
29. JOJoe
  [laughs]
30. TNTrevor Noah
  ... David versus Goliath. I think we need to switch it up.
43:00 – 52:00
Sweden’s Tactical Problems
1. JOJoe
  you know, this is his last dance, and he's going like, "I'm going down swinging." Yeah, no, the keepers have been outstanding.
2. TNTrevor Noah
  What are we excited looking forward? What are we looking for?
3. JOJoe
  Uh, looking forward, I'm very interested, one, in how Sweden navigates their last game.
4. TNTrevor Noah
  You know, let's talk about that game-
5. JOJoe
  Mm
6. TNTrevor Noah
  ... before we go into what's coming up.
7. JOJoe
  I'm very inter- Yeah.
8. TNTrevor Noah
  I don't know what your analysis was. I think that's one of those games where the score doesn't reflect the chances. So Sweden, Sweden is a very spiky team.
9. JOJoe
  Mm.
10. TNTrevor Noah
  And what I mean by that is, you know, like, I think a team that's well-balanced-
11. JOJoe
  Mm
12. TNTrevor Noah
  ... has a very smooth shape to it.
13. JOJoe
  Mm.
14. TNTrevor Noah
  So its good moments and its bad moments are not particularly far from each other.
15. JOJoe
  Mm. Mm-hmm.
16. TNTrevor Noah
  So it creates, like, a really beautiful, smooth shape.
17. JOJoe
  Okay.
18. TNTrevor Noah
  Then there are teams that are just, like, bad, so it's like a small circle.
19. JOJoe
  Mm-hmm.
20. TNTrevor Noah
  But then you have spiky teams. Amazing moment, terrible moment.
21. JOJoe
  Mm. Mm. Mm.
22. TNTrevor Noah
  Amazing moment, terrible moment.
23. JOJoe
  Mm.
24. TNTrevor Noah
  Amazing moment. Because Sweden is so spiky, they conceded in every terrible moment.
25. JOJoe
  Mm-hmm.
26. TNTrevor Noah
  But they had, like, really good spikes where they could have scored, and they didn't.
27. JOJoe
  Mm.
28. TNTrevor Noah
  Like, I thought Isak was fantastic feeding the ball-
29. JOJoe
  Mm
30. TNTrevor Noah
  ... to Gyökeres.
52:00 – 56:55
Ronaldo, Portugal & Fan Pressure
1. JOJoe
  Messi-
2. TNTrevor Noah
  It was a weird-
3. JOJoe
  In 20- Yeah, it's-
4. TNTrevor Noah
  It was a beau- That was beautiful
5. JOJoe
  ... yeah, no, it's, it's a beautiful, you see, like, fa-
6. TNTrevor Noah
  It was dysfunctional, but it was beautiful.
7. JOJoe
  Yes. [laughs] It was dysfunctional, yes. But, like, it's almost like you see this person, it's like almost a passing of the torch.
8. TNTrevor Noah
  Yeah.
9. JOJoe
  But, like, in a game, like, not, not, like, outside the game, but in the game.
10. TNTrevor Noah
  Yeah, yeah, yeah. Actually actively in the game.
11. JOJoe
  'Cause, yeah. Yeah, so I, I would really, I would really love for Hossam Hassan to make it to the knockout rounds, and also for Salah. Like, that would be a good send-off-
12. TNTrevor Noah
  Yeah, man
13. JOJoe
  ... for Salah. Mm
14. TNTrevor Noah
  ... we need, we need as many of them as possible.
15. JOJoe
  Mm-hmm.
16. TNTrevor Noah
  We need, um... What about your boy CR7? Do you think he's, uh-
17. JOJoe
  [sighs] The funny thing is I'm a huge admirer, and people might not, might find this hard to believe. I'm a huge admirer of Cristiano Ronaldo the person, Cristiano Ronaldo the human being.
18. TNTrevor Noah
  Yeah.
19. JOJoe
  He's, like, a superlative human being when you hear about the things he has done for charity, when you hear about the fact that he doesn't have tattoos 'cause he likes donating blood. That's the reason he doesn't have tattoos. He's, like, a superlative sup- But then because he's a competitor, I think, like, Cristiano Ronaldo the competitor and Cristiano Ronaldo the human being, especially when they come on the pitch-
20. TNTrevor Noah
  Yeah
21. JOJoe
  ... there's a reason why people call him Homelander.
22. TNTrevor Noah
  [laughs]
23. JOJoe
  'Cause I think C- C- Cristiano Ronaldo the-
24. TNTrevor Noah
  Did you see that meme, by the way?
25. JOJoe
  Yes.
26. TNTrevor Noah
  [laughs]
27. JOJoe
  It was like, it was like word for word.
28. TNTrevor Noah
  Oh.
29. JOJoe
  Yeah, no. So I feel like the competitor, it's almost like if someone has, like, an alter ego, you know? So like, uh-
30. TNTrevor Noah
  Yeah, yeah, yeah
56:55 – 1:01:14
Can Portugal Survive This?
1. JOJoe
  ... 'Cause now Portugal, the same way you said Spain-
2. TNTrevor Noah
  Yeah
3. JOJoe
  ... the same way you said the Dutch, Portugal really needs to win its next game.
4. TNTrevor Noah
  Yeah, they do.
5. JOJoe
  They really cannot afford not to, 'cause the pressure's only going to intensify.
6. TNTrevor Noah
  Yeah.
7. JOJoe
  And some are saying, and I'm one of those people, you're one of those people who are saying maybe Ronaldo should be taking on a lesser role. Maybe should go from being, you know, the, you know, you know when they go like, oh-
8. TNTrevor Noah
  The cheerleader
9. JOJoe
  ... maybe the lead name. Yes, the lead name on the poster. Maybe should be a supporting character. 'Cause also when you think about the major trophy, the one major trophy Portugal has won, Ronaldo was forced off by injury.
10. TNTrevor Noah
  He was.
11. JOJoe
  And he spent the entire final against France, Euro 2006, he spent, or rather Euro 2016, he spent the whole final cheerleading from the bench, and who scored the goal? Eder. No one knows him. No one knew him before. No one knows what happened to him after.
12. TNTrevor Noah
  Yeah.
13. JOJoe
  But guess what? Ronaldo was a European champion. So by that time he was forced by injury to go off the pitch.
14. TNTrevor Noah
  So, so what you're saying is someone, someone in the Portuguese team needs to slide tackle Ronaldo in the change room-
15. JOJoe
  No, their family will be firebombed [laughs]
16. TNTrevor Noah
  ... make something happen. Make something happen.
17. JOJoe
  Your family, your family home would be firebombed.
18. TNTrevor Noah
  Yeah, you'd be gone.
19. JOJoe
  Yeah, no. True. Yeah.
20. TNTrevor Noah
  You'd be deported from your home country.
21. JOJoe
  Yeah, I know. It would be, yeah. Mm-hmm.
22. TNTrevor Noah
  All right. Well, this has been it.
23. JOJoe
  Mm-hmm.
24. TNTrevor Noah
  Another week of the World Cup.
25. JOJoe
  Yeah.
26. TNTrevor Noah
  Another exciting one.
27. JOJoe
  Yeah.
28. TNTrevor Noah
  It's gonna be fire, man.
29. JOJoe
  It's a full week. Yes. No, no. I, I, I can't wait 'cause normally it would be like two more weeks to go now. 'Cause normally the World Cup used to last a month.
30. TNTrevor Noah
  Yeah. Now it, now it's done.

Episode duration: 1:01:16

Install uListen for AI-powered chat & search across the full episode — Get Full Transcript

Transcript of episode 1doBqM4rEpM

Get more out of YouTube videos.

High quality summaries for YouTube videos. Accurate transcripts to search & find moments. Powered by ChatGPT & Claude AI.

iOS

Android

Claude

Chrome