For the first time in 32 years, the world’s greatest game is coming to America! This World Cup is important in many different ways. For example this is the first world cup in history hosted in three different countries: The USA, Canada, and Mexico. Another reason is that this will most likely grow soccer even more in the states. Currently, the MLS averages the same amount of viewership percent as the G League and WNBA. This will also be the biggest tournament they will be having. In previous years there was a 4-team pool and a 32-team invites. The top two teams will be automatically in the knockout stage, than the third place teams will be in a separate group and compared into see who the top eight is.
Moving from the new format, what should we expect from the countries and who should we look out for? The two powerhouses Spain and Argentina are the team to beat. JP Simpson says that Argentina is definitely the favorite to win. Messi will be reaching his peak of 39 years old when the World Cup hits and predicted to be seasoned at that point. Messi will soon pass the torch to current 17-year-old Yamal that has already scored and won in the Euros Cup final! Lodi student Connor Skrum had to say something about him, “I’m expecting Yamal to be the outstanding player in this coming cup, from his speed and touch on the ball. Looking at his past success of the Euros this year, it won’t be surprising watching him ball out this year.”
Now we see that Spain is the clear frontrunner, who are the dark horses we should be looking for? According to The Sporting News Germany has some good odds. Even though the big win in 2014, the last two world cups have been very disappointing with them not even getting out of the group stages. They do currently have a young development team this year, with a new contract for their manager Nagelsmenn til’ 2026. Reason we should be watching out for them this year because just this year in the Euros, they lost to Spain in the quarter-finals 2-1. Moving from Germany to our own country themself, the United States! What should we expect? Absolutely no one knows!
With a disappointing Copa America’s where they became the first host nation to not make it to the knock out stage, firing their manager and hiring argentinian Mauricio Pochettino. USMNT is up in the air of what they can do. Debating that Pulisic, McKennie, Adams, and Renya are possibly the best US players in a long time, that won’t matter if Pochettino doesn’t know what to do with them. Pochettino is a attacking oriented playstyle and hold big on attacking transitions. He flip between attacking formations when they gain the ball, than back to a 4-4-2 or a 4-1-4-1. Which is quite different from Berhalter’s tactics. Lodi teacher Garret Sagami said the Pochettino signing was a great signing. Saying “I think the US men’s national team needs someone like him to coach them, to take that next step.”
This coming tournament is very up in the air. No one knows what to expect. All we know is that this year will be one of the biggest and probably most watched of all time. Every single WC the viewership has gone up by the millions. Make sure you get your plane tickets, save up for some good seats, and cheer on for the 2026 World Cup!
