Following a weird Friday that included a pair of 1-0 Women's World Cup games, plus 30 minutes of Chivas vs. Cincinnati — meaning Brandon Vazquez's first-ever hat trick comes in a match played over two different calendar days — we have a very full slate for your Saturday.
A couple of these really briskly jump out to us, but we'll let you assess the full slate. (Note that South Korea vs. Morocco is on Saturday in some U.S. time zones but it's 12:30 a.m. Sunday in the Eastern Time Zone, so we'll cover it tomorrow.
3:30 a.m. ET
Sweden vs. Italy
FS1/Telemundo/Peacock
There's a lot on the line when Sweden takes on Italy.
With Argentina and South Africa drawing the other Group G match 2-2, that means if either of the Europeans wins this Matchday Two encounter then they are locked into the Round of 16. A draw on Saturday would also set up both nations well to only need a point on Matchday Three to advance. (It also has implications for the U.S., as Group G's winner and runner-up and paired with the U.S. group's runner-up and winner respectively, and after Wednesday's draw with the Netherlands, those places are in flux.)
Sweden struggled at times against South Africa in its opener, but fought back valiantly from a 1-0 deficit to win the match late on. Strong on set pieces, the Italians will be more likely to try and control in possession with the Swedes the better physical team.
6 a.m. ET
France vs. Brazil
Fox/Telemundo/Peacock
Does it get any better than this? Perhaps the marquee match of the Group Stage, these are two of the best squads at the World Cup going head-to-head.
But form-wise, and vibe-wise, France and Brazil appear to be in very different states right now.
The French played simplistic soccer in its goalless opener against Jamaica. New boss Herve Renard looked overwhelmed and uninspired in the Sydney rain. Is a job this big, with some of the best players in the world, beyond him?
On the other hand, Brazil looks ecstatic. Joyful. Brimming with confidence and flair. Four goals against Panama were followed up with four dancing celebrations and tears of joy. Even Swedish head coach Pia Sundhage was having a boogy on the touchline.
8:30 a.m. ET
Panama vs. Jamaica
Fox/Telemundo/Peacock
Oh, sweet Concacaf!
In the other Group F match it's do-or-die time.
A meeting of two Concacaf teams, this one sees a World Cup debutant (Panama) take on a World Cup sophomore (Jamaica). Neither nation has ever won a women's World Cup match and this tilt presents itself as a big opportunity to make history.
The Reggae Girlz will be without all-time leading goalscorer Khadija Shaw, who is suspended after being shown a red card against France. Lorne Donaldson coached an impressive defensive game plan on Matchday One, but will need to generate more chances on Saturday.
Panama smothered Brazil for 18 minutes and then let Ary Borges have a free header at the back post. After that first shot on target went in, the Central Americans struggled to regain composure. Goalkeeper Yenith Bailey had an impressive display to limit the damage to just four.
7 p.m. ET
Cruz Azul vs. Atlanta United
TUDN/Univision/ViX/Apple TV (MLS Season Pass)
This suddenly becomes the "Messi Beat Us" Bowl, and it also becomes the battle for second place in the group, which plays the winner of the Dallas/Charlotte/Necaxa group, which could be Charlotte. (It can also put the winner on a course to face Miami again in an Elite Eight matchup.)
Atlanta fared worse than Cruz Azul in the head-to-head matchups against Miami, though Atlanta's got a stellar one-two punch in Thiago Almada and Giorgos Giakoumakis on the attacking side of the equation. Defense is still a work in progress, as our Sam Jones recently contemplated. Uriel Antuna scored the lone goal against the Herons, and Carlos Rodríguez might be their most dangerous player.
7:30 p.m. ET
Santos Laguna vs. Orlando
Apple TV (MLS Season Pass)
As our Victor Araiza noted, a high-scoring draw in the neighborhood of 3-3 could result in Houston getting knocked out, but otherwise, this is a match to see who joins Houston to emerge from this group.
Orlando will get the home-field advantage in this one, and Florida isn't a particularly strong state for Santos fans, so expect a lot of purple and a lot of jorts for this one. Santos brings Harold Preciado, Duvan Vergara and Emerson Rodriguez brings a formidable front line, with Preciado scoring twice against Houston, though Pedro Gallese is one of the better goalkeepers in MLS, and Duncan McGuire — who scored Orlando's lone Leagues Cup goal — is emerging as a not-so-secret weapon.
Necaxa vs. Charlotte FC
Apple TV (MLS Season Pass)
Charlotte could win the group with a win over Necaxa and do FC Dallas a huge favor by slotting them into a one-off against Mazatlán for the right to host Messi and Miami in Frisco in the Round of 16. And, because of the peculiarities of Leagues Cup and having all-MLS host stadiums, the Round of 32 match, regardless of whether FCD is first or second in the group, will be at Toyota Stadium on Wednesday.
Charlotte, if it wins (and Karol Swiderski is a good enough reason to believe they can) would then face whoever is left standing between Cruz Azul and Atlanta, and might know who that is before this match ends.
Necaxa, meanwhile, will look to extend their stay in the U.S., though they had a bad start against the Toros, getting a player red carded in the 11th minute and then giving up a trio of goals. (We've got an ask out to see where a Mazatlán vs. Necaxa match will be played. We believe it'll be Austin, but neither Austin FC nor Concacaf has been able to confirm it for us yet.)
8:30 p.m. ET
Austin FC vs. FC Juarez
Apple TV (MLS Season Pass)
This is, again, an inhospitable time for this game to played during any summer, but especially this summer. This might lack a little in quality and pace as a result.
We did a whole preview on this match, but in a nutshell, the winner goes to LAFC, with Mazatlán already having clinched the group in PKs against Juarez on Tuesday.
9 p.m. ET
Pumas UNAM vs. D.C. United
TUDN/Univision/ViX/Apple TV (MLS Season Pass)
One of the giants of Liga MX plays one of the early foundational MLS teams in a matchup that maybe only the 2023 Leagues Cup could produce.
With D.C. having beat Montréal and Montréal having beat Pumas in PKs, this group is totally in flux. Pumas could win and win the group outright, knocking out Montréal. Most scenarios, however, point to both MLS teams moving on.
D.C. did just sign Gabriel Pirani, a Brazilian creative attacker, announcing it on Thursday, but that likely won't help them in Leagues Cup given the process it'll take with getting a visa to get him over. But it's going to make them interesting down the stretch.