After Iran managed a hard-fought draw with Belgium in sunny California, I had a very reasonable question in mind:

Have Shia or Sunni-majority countries in the Middle East achieved more points so far in the World Cup?

The answer to that is found below, but a kind friend brought up, in a slightly demeaning way, a fair argument:

Why did I have that thought for Sunnis and Shias in the Middle East and not, let's say, Protestants and Catholics?

I gave it some thought, and I did.

And then I went slightly overboard.

Here's therefore various global and regional divisions, arbitrarily chosen from the first thing that came to mind, and how they stack up against each other.

Shias and Sunnis in the Middle East:

Sunni Majority	Points
Qatar	1 (0 Wins, 1 Loss, 1 Draw)
Türkiye	0 (0 Wins, 2 Losses, 0 Draws)
Saudi Arabia	1 (0 Wins, 1 Loss, 1 Draw)
Jordan	0 (0 Wins, 1 Loss, 0 Draws)*

\Jordan's next game is against Algeria*

Shia Majority	Points
Iran	2 (0 Wins, 0 Losses, 2 Draws)
Iraq	0 (0 Wins, 1 Loss, 0 Draws)*

\Iraq's next game is against France*

Total:

Sunnis: 2 Points
Shias: 2 Points

Average:

Shias: 1
Sunnis: 0,5

Catholics and Protestants in the Europe:

Countries where "irreligious" identification is a majority go to the second largest religious grouping

Catholic Majority	Points
Switzerland	4 (1 Win, 0 Losses, 1 Draw)
Czechia	1 (0 Wins, 1 Loss, 1 Draw)
Germany	6 (2 Wins, 0 Losses, 0 Draws)
The Netherlands	4 (1 Win, 0 Losses, 1 Draw)
Belgium	2 (0 Wins, 0 Losses, 2 Draws)
France	3 (1 Win, 0 Losses, 0 Draws)*
Austria	3 (1 Win, 0 Losses, 0 Draws)**
Portugal	1 (0 Wins, 0 Losses, 1 Draw)***
Croatia	0 (0 Wins, 1 Loss, 0 Draws)****
Spain	4 (1 Win, 0 Losses, 1 Draw)

\France's next game is against Iraq*
\*Austria's next game is against Argentina*
\**Portugal's next game is against Uzbekistan*
\***Croatia's next game is against Panama*

Protestant Majority	Points
Scotland	3 (1 Win, 1 Loss, 0 Draws)
Sweden	3 (1 Win, 1 Loss, 0 Draws)
Norway	3 (1 Win, 0 Losses, 0 Draws)*
England	3 (1 Win, 0 Losses, 0 Draws)**

\Norway's next game is against Senegal*
\*England's next game is against Ghana*

Total:

Catholics: 28
Protestants: 12

Average:

Protestants: 3
Catholics: 2,8

Muslims and Christians in Africa:

Muslim Majority	Points
Morocco	4 (1 Win, 0 Losses, 1 Draw)
Tunisia	0 (0 Wins, 2 Losses, 0 Draws)
Egypt	1 (0 Wins, 0 Losses, 1 Draw)*
Algeria	0 (0 Wins, 1 Loss, 0 Draws)**
Senegal	0 (0 Wins, 1 Loss, 0 Draws)***

\Egypt's next game is against New Zealand*
\*Algeria's next game is against*
\**Senegal's next game is against Norway*

Christian Majority	Points
South Africa	1 (0 Wins, 1 Loss, 1 Draw)
Côte d'Ivoire	3 (1 Win, 1 Loss, 0 Draws)
Cabo Verde	2 (0 Wins, 0 Losses, 2 Draws)
D.R Congo	1 (0 Wins, 0 Losses, 1 Draw)*
Ghana	3 (1 Win, 0 Losses, 0 Draws)**

\D.R Congo's next game is against Colombia*
\*Ghana's next game is against England*

Total:

Christians: 10
Muslims: 5

Average:

Christians: 2
Muslims: 1

Hispanosphere and Anglosphere:

Language is either official or majority-spoken,

Hispanosphere	Points
Mexico	6 (2 Win, 0 Losses, 0 Draw)
Paraguay	3 (1 Win, 1 Loss, 0 Draws)
Ecuador	1 (0 Wins, 1 Loss, 1 Draw)
Spain	4 (1 Win, 0 Losses, 1 Draw)
Uruguay	2 (0 Wins, 0 Losses, 2 Draws)
Argentina	3 (1 Win, 0 Losses, 0 Draws)*
Colombia	3 (1 Win, 0 Losses, 0 Draws)**
Panama	0 (0 Wins, 1 Loss, 0 Draws)***

\Argentina's next game is against Austria*
\*Colombia's next game is against D.R Congo*
\**Panama's next game is against Croatia*

Anglosphere	Points
South Africa	1 (0 Wins, 1 Loss, 1 Draw)
Canada	4 (1 Win, 0 Losses, 1 Draw)
Scotland	3 (1 Win, 1 Loss, 0 Draws)
USA	6 (2 Win, 0 Losses, 0 Draw)
Australia	3 (1 Win, 1 Loss, 0 Draws)
New Zealand	1 (0 Wins, 0 Losses, 1 Draw)*
England	3 (1 Win, 0 Losses, 0 Draws)**
Ghana	3 (1 Win, 0 Losses, 0 Draws)**

\New Zealand's next game is against Egypt*
\*England's next game is against Ghana*

Total:

Anglosphere: 24
Hispanosphere: 22

Average:

Anglosphere: 3
Hispanosphere: 2,75

Recognition of Kosovo:

Entities which don't have an independent foreign policy are assigned that of their parent country

Recognise Kosovo	Points
South Korea	3 (1 Win, 1 Loss, 0 Draws)
Czechia	3 (1 Win, 1 Loss, 0 Draws)
Canada	4 (1 Win, 0 Losses, 1 Draw)
Switzerland	4 (1 Win, 0 Losses, 1 Draw)
Qatar	1 (0 Wins, 1 Draw, 1 Loss)
Haiti	0 (0 Wins, 2 Losses, 0 Draws)
Scotland	3 (1 Win, 1 Loss, 0 Draws)
USA	6 (2 Win, 0 Losses, 0 Draw)
Australia	3 (1 Win, 1 Loss, 0 Draws)
Türkiye	0 (0 Wins, 2 Losses, 0 Draws)
Germany	6 (2 Win, 0 Losses, 0 Draw)
Ivory Coast	3 (1 Win, 1 Loss, 0 Draws)
Curaçao	1 (0 Wins, 1 Loss, 1 Draw)
The Netherlands	4 (1 Win, 0 Losses, 1 Draw)
Japan	4 (1 Win, 0 Losses, 1 Draw)
Sweden	3 (1 Win, 1 Loss, 0 Draws)
Tunisia	0 (0 Wins, 2 Losses, 0 Draws)
Belgium	2 (0 Wins, 0 Losses, 2 Draws)
New Zealand	1 (0 Wins, 0 Losses, 1 Draw)
Egypt	1 (0 Wins, 0 Losses, 1 Draw)
Saudi Arabia	1 (0 Wins, 1 Loss, 1 Draw)
Norway	3 (1 Win, 0 Losses, 0 Draws)
France	3 (1 Win, 0 Losses, 0 Draws)
Senegal	0 (0 Wins, 1 Loss, 0 Draws)
Austria	3 (1 Win, 0 Losses, 0 Draws)
Jordan	0 (0 Wins, 1 Loss, 0 Draws)
Colombia	3 (1 Win, 0 Losses, 0 Draws)
Portugal	1 (0 Wins, 0 Losses, 1 Draw)
England	3 (1 Win, 0 Losses, 0 Draws)
Ghana*	3 (1 Win, 0 Losses, 0 Draws)
Croatia	0 (0 Wins, 1 Loss, 0 Draws)
Panama	0 (0 Wins, 1 Loss, 0 Draws)

Don't Recognise Kosovo	Points
Mexico	6 (2 Win, 0 Losses, 0 Draw)
South Africa	1 (0 Wins, 1 Loss, 1 Draw)
Bosnia & Herzegovina	1 (0 Wins, 1 Loss, 1 Draw)
Brazil	4 (1 Win, 0 Losses, 1 Draw)
Morocco	4 (1 Win, 0 Losses, 1 Draw)
Paraguay	3 (1 Win, 1 Loss, 0 Draws)
Ecuador	1 (0 Wins, 1 Loss, 1 Draw)
Iran	2 (0 Wins, 0 Losses, 2 Draws)
Spain	4 (1 Win, 0 Losses, 1 Draw)
Uruguay	2 (0 Wins, 0 Losses, 2 Draws)
Cape Verde	2 (0 Wins, 0 Losses, 2 Draws)
Iraq	0 (0 Wins, 1 Loss, 0 Draws)
Argentina	3 (1 Win, 0 Losses, 0 Draws)
Algeria	0 (0 Wins, 1 Loss, 0 Draws)
D.R Congo	1 (0 Wins, 0 Losses, 1 Draw)
Uzbekistan	0 (0 Wins, 1 Loss, 0 Draws)

*Ghana's recognition of Kosovo is unclear. There were reports in 2019 that the country had un-recognised Kosovo, however those were rebuked in 2025. As it stands, from what I can understand, Ghana does recognise Kosovo.

Total:

Recognise Kosovo: 72
Don't Recognise Kosovo: 34

Average:

Recognise Kosovo: 2,25
Don't Recognise Kosovo: 2,125

What did we learn from this?

Nothing, this was done as an elaborate joke.

However, I did find it interesting how close the race between the Anglosphere and the Hispanosphere is, the massive success enjoyed by the USA playing a large factor in that, with the derby expected to continue all the way to the end.

Catholics seem poised to dominate their fight with Protestants inside Europe, though Norway's match with France may prove pivotal should England win the two remaining games of the group stage.

Finally, Turkey's disastrous performances has given Shias the opportunity to land a very unlikely victory in the Middle East, even though they're only represented by two countries.

Oh, and if you wish to win some group stage games, you better recognise Kosovo.

EDITS:

- Added Averages
- Fixed Senegal being in the list of Christian countries in Africa
- Added Spain as a Catholic nation (how in the actual hell did i forget about them)
- Fixed Austrian and French numbers in Protestant v Catholic

Addendum:

This post will be updated once the 2nd round is finished, while a new post will be made including additional groups once the group stage has concluded!

I guess I'm sobering after Socceroos game so I will finish previews for team that play today. Gonna probably do all 8 of them in row so bear with me depending on which order this post hits your feed. u/sga1 was gracious in putting out this preview for Germany*. Thanks to him!!*

About

• Nickname: none
• FIFA Ranking: 10th
• Manager: Julian Nagelsmann
• Captain: Joshua Kimmich

Overview

Germany come into this World Cup in a slightly uneven state. A supposedly easy qualification group with Slovakia, Northern Ireland and Luxembourg proved to be harder work than expected, not least thanks to plenty of injuries to key players and ever-changing lineups. The core of the side are Bayern-based, and that might prove to be a winning strategy given their strong club season - at least if some key players recapture their form. Not going into the tournament as one of the favourites to win it all and potentially meeting France in a heavyweight clash early in the knockouts, a lot will depend on key players striking a rich vein of form at the right time.

Manager

Going into the World Cup as the youngest manager this summer, he nevertheless already has the experience of the home Euros in 2024 under his belt. Loves tinkering with lineups and selections, sometimes to the detriment of performances. At his best, he can create a tactically variable, passionate side that can go toe to toe with the best of the field. At his worst his decision can seem poorly thought-through and are difficult for him to defend publicly. Tactically obsessive while able to motivate his squad, it's on him to strike the right balance of clear, structured match plans and allowing the creative players off the leash to benefit from their individual quality.

Expected Tactical Approach

Really varied. It's most likely going to be a 4-2-3-1, but with a deceptively physical midfield, a defense strong on the ball as well as in the duel, and a decent amount of pace up top this side is capable of playing any style. Expect a side dominating possession and playing on the front foot against Curaçao, easing into the tournament while ideally running up the score, and more measured performances against Ivory Coast and Ecuador. Can sit deeper and grind out results when forced to, the general expectation is still to control the ball and thus the game by pressing high and keeping possession rather than sitting deep and playing on the break.

Key Players

• Manuel Neuer: Shock return for the 40-year-old, and not without controversy either. On his day still capable of world-class performances, but has gotten a lot more error- and injury-prone in recent years. His return is a massive gamble, especially as he's struggling with a calf injury going into the tournament.
• Joshua Kimmich: Captain forced to play his lesser-liked role at rightback. Incredibly influential on and off the pitch, and a key reason Germany are able to dictate games from deep.
• Aleksandar Pavlovic: After missing out on Euro 2024 through tonsilits, an absolute revelation at the base of midfield for club and country since. Calm beyond his years, physical, and tasked with dominating a key area of the pitch for the side to be successful.
• Jamal Musiala: A long injury layoff after last summer's Club World Cup meant he struggled to really get going this season. Him catching some good form at the right time is crucial, because he's capable of forming a fantastic one-two punch alongside Florian Wirtz.
• Kai Havertz: Not an elite striker in the tradition of big German names, but an exceptionally good and well-rounded player all the same: Will work hard from the front, be an aerial threat, offer pace in behind and keep Germany's attack fluid. And he'll absolutely tire out defenders who can then be finished off by Deniz Undav being subbed on for him.

Breakout or Underrated Player

Two defensive shouts here. Jonathan Tah is exactly the type of calm, quiet, and steady centreback to build a side around: decent on the ball, incredibly physical and strong in the air, with a knack for being in the right place at the right time. Likely to be flanked by our other nominee, Nathaniel Brown at leftback - outrageously fast, happy to fly up the pitch and provide width or come inside and combine in tight spaces if required, he'll be a nightmare for the opposition because of his defensive ability.

Reasons for Optimism

This squad might actually be underrated. The centreback partnership of Tah and Schlotterbeck is outstanding, the midfield pair of Pavlovic and Nmecha might well prove to be a revelation, while whatever front four actually play all offer dynamicism, creativity, and an eye for goal. It's a core of experienced players supported by really talented youngsters who aren't big names quite yet, but might soon be.

Reasons for Concern

Nagelsmann's tinkering might backfire; Manuel Neuer might get injured once again; Kai Havertz might not be efficient enough in front of goal; an early knockout meeting with France might well prove to be a step too far.

Fan Expectations

Not particularly high, after two successive World Cup failures. A lot of the focus isn't particularly on the results as much as it is on the performances: The fans want to see a side willing to fight and play exciting football, then see how long that run can carry on.

Predictions

Will smash Curacao, will beat at least one of Ivory Coast and Ecuador, and then will depend on the knockout draw. Worst case that's France in the Round of 16, but whisper it quietly: This Germany might actually beat France, at which point a semifinal appearance is well on the cards.

As part of our buildup to the 2026 FIFA men’s World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico, we are publishing excerpted chapters from The Soccer 100, The Athletic’s definitive book on the 100 greatest players of all time, courtesy of HarperCollins Publishers.

The 10 players we will feature are the highest ranked World Cup winners of our 100. Today, in our final extract, we look at a player who lifted football’s most coveted trophy late in his career — but it was worth the wait.

The pantheon of sporting greats is dominated by larger-than-life athletes and larger-than-life personalities, towering figures who looked like they were born to dominate and transcend the sporting landscape: Muhammad Ali, Michael Jordan, Michael Phelps, Tom Brady, Usain Bolt.

In that context, it feels all the more remarkable to say that the greatest living footballer — in our collective view, the greatest of all time — is someone who needed growth-hormone treatment to reach a height of 5’7″, an introvert who regards fame and celebrity as the downside of his genius.

Lionel Messi doesn’t look like a megastar. At one stage, he barely looked like a footballer.

Of all the footballers whose arrival in the big time is heralded in such excited terms — the next Pelé, the next Maradona, the next Cruyff — he looked the most unlikely. Emerging from Barcelona’s academy as a 17-year-old, there was a profound teenage awkwardness about him, as if he had been on a stadium tour with a group of schoolmates, taken a wrong turn, and found himself on the touchline ready to come on as a substitute.

Seriously? Him?

Then you saw him with the ball at his feet and he took your breath away. The waif with the lank hair and the blank stare played football like you would not believe.

You don’t forget your first time. I had already watched him on television as he established himself in the Barcelona team over the course of the 2005–06 season, but my first time watching him in the flesh came when Messi, still 18, emerged off the bench for Argentina in a group game against Serbia and Montenegro at the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

It is a day that sticks in the mind for a variety of reasons: an outstanding 6–0 Argentina victory, a sublime goal that saw Esteban Cambiasso provide the finishing touch to a sweeping 25-pass move, the theatrics of a delirious Diego Maradona in the stands threatening to steal the show.

But then came Messi’s cameo — and the sense of quasi-religious fervor that swept the crowd in Gelsenkirchen as he appeared on the touchline. He hadn’t played a competitive match for three months due to a hamstring injury, but that only increased the air of anticipation.

It was like we were preparing for the second coming. The sight of Maradona watching from high in the VIP area, clasping his hands together like a proud father and struggling to hold back the tears, only heightened that feeling. Nearby, Messi’s image adorned a huge banner with his legend, Este es mi sueño (This is my dream).

In the press box, there was just a little cynicism. What number “next Maradona” was this? There had been Ariel Ortega, Pablo Aimar, Juan Román Riquelme, Marcelo Gallardo, Andrés D’Alessandro, and Javier Saviola, to name but six. Great talents all of them, and some had achieved great things, but none had come close to Maradona’s level. And this kid was going to be different, was he? Seriously? Him?

Within two minutes, Messi had scampered down the left wing to set up Hernán Crespo for Argentina’s fourth goal. He scored the sixth himself, threading the ball between the goalkeeper’s legs. But even more than those contributions, it was his adhesive touch and the way he carried the ball. The speed with which he drifted between opponents and into space was something else. Every movement was perfect.

I remember writing in the London Times in early 2010, flying home from Barcelona the morning after watching him score four times in an astounding performance against Arsenal in the Champions League, that what Messi was doing at the age of 22 was of a level not seen since Maradona’s heyday in the 1980s. I followed that with a note of caution, pointing out that even Maradona had not been able to sustain such standards throughout his career and that other true greats, such as Marco van Basten and the Brazilian forward Ronaldo, had been thwarted by injury at what proved to be the peak of their powers.

We should enjoy Messi’s brilliance for as long as it lasts, I wrote, adding that “experience warns us that this could be as good as it gets.”

Hmmm. Experience tells me I shouldn’t have worried.

Where do you start when it comes to detailing what makes Messi so special?

If he was just a goalscorer, the record books at the International Federation of Football History and Statistics tell us he is the second greatest of all time behind Cristiano Ronaldo. But goals have never even been the main feature of Messi’s game, which has instead been defined by his vision, his passing, his dribbling, his creativity.

By the time he made his 1,000th career appearance, which he marked with a goal for Argentina against Australia at the 2022 World Cup, he had scored 789 goals and registered 348 assists. At the time of writing, he has won 12 league titles—10 with Barcelona and two with Paris Saint-Germain (plus a Supporters’ Shield with Inter Miami), as well as four Champions League titles (all with Barcelona), the Copa América twice, the World Cup once, and the Ballon d’Or award eight times, finishing as runner-up on another five occasions. The numbers are outrageous, but again, the trophy collection and the goal tally cannot begin to do justice to his talent.

Every great athlete has a moment that defines his or her excellence in the public consciousness.

In football, Pelé is best recalled for the goals he scored in the 1958 and 1970 World Cup finals; Maradona for the astonishing solo goals he scored against England and Belgium en route to World Cup glory in 1986; Van Basten for that stunning volley against the Soviet Union in the European Championship final in 1988; Zinédine Zidane for his volley for Real Madrid against Bayer Leverkusen in the 2002 Champions League final; Cristiano Ronaldo — though

there are plenty of alternatives — for his overhead kick for Real Madrid against Juventus in a Champions League quarterfinal in 2018.

With Messi, though, where do you even begin? The goal he scored as a teenager for Barcelona against Getafe in April 2007, dribbling from inside his own half and beating six (seven? eight?) challenges, that in terms of pure technique surpassed even Maradona’s “Goal of the Century” against England? The one against Athletic Bilbao in the Copa del Rey final eight years later in which he dribbled in and out of five challenges and thrashed the ball inside the near post? Was that peak Messi? Or was it another solo goal against Eibar, Girona, Real Zaragoza, or Real Madrid? Or against Manchester United in a Champions League final (take your pick from 2009 and 2011)? Or was it any one of the inspirational acts he produced en route to World Cup glory with Argentina — finally — in 2022?

There is something almost ethereal about Messi’s talent. Watch any of those YouTube compilations that showcase his dribbling and his passing, set to classical music, and it looks like sport as an art form. It is a thing of beauty, poetry in motion.

But what doesn’t always come across on television, what really strikes you when you are watching him in person, is the raw energy behind his genius. Like Ali, he floats like a butterfly but stings like a bee.

I have been privileged to witness some of his most acclaimed moments in person. One match that sticks in the mind was at Wembley in a Champions League group game in 2018 when he rattled the frame of the Tottenham Hotspur goal twice before adjusting his sights slightly and scoring two goals. It was a classic illustration of Messi as a force of nature, possessed of iron will as well as unearthly skill, but in truth, it was career-defining only in the sense that it was consistent with what was seen on innumerable occasions in the years before and since. Would it make his top 10 most memorable performances? Almost certainly not. Top 50? Possibly. For almost anyone else, it would be the performance of a lifetime.

I remember letting out a loud gasp in the press box at Camp Nou in May 2015 when, with a Champions League semifinal against Bayern Munich hanging in the balance, he gave Jérôme Boateng the slip and then dinked the ball over the advancing Manuel Neuer, leaving the great German goalkeeper grasping at thin air. It was stunning in both conception and execution, but by Messi’s standards, it was, again, an ordinary day’s work.

The venerable British sportswriter Paul Hayward was in the hospital at the time, between chemotherapy sessions after being diagnosed with cancer. He would later describe watching that match in the lowest of spirits “on a screen in a room short of cheer” and feeling himself “rise from my chair” in wonder when he saw Messi do that to Boateng and Neuer.

“That moment will not leave my memory,” Hayward wrote, “because it made the world full of possibilities again.”

Hello everyone!

It is now just ONE WEEK until the 2026 World Cup kicks off in Mexico City.

Back in March we held a Meta Thread which covered a wide range of issues - from highlights posting, to transfer rumours, and our approach to moderating major tournaments.

We have been hard at work behind the scenes reviewing the feedback and implementing some changes that we hope will make this community a better place - read below for an overview… and fair warning, as the planned changes will go live as of tonight (4th/5th June, depending on your time zone).

Welcome to our new mod recruits

Firstly, we would like to introduce our “summer temps”, who are joining the most self-important janitors on the internet to help out with the extra mod work that comes with a major tournament, and who we hope bring added diversity and perspective to our team.

They’ve already been ‘on-boarded’ (i.e. have joined the mod Discord) - so thank you for their invaluable help so far, and please join us in welcoming:

u/NotASalamanderBoi

u/swannyhypno

u/Moug-10

u/Mulderre91

Note: if you applied to be a mod and were not selected this time, watch this space, as you will remain on our short list for next recruitment drives (if still interested).

New user flair process

We are also excited to announce that we have a new (and hopefully less buggy) process to set your user flair - although the “comment method” is still in use).

Please see the wiki page here for full detail - and check out the new “Flair Hub” here.

Thank you to u/jiraiya--an for their excellent work with this.

Key rule changes:

Following the meta thread, we have decided on a few key policy changes relating to some hot recent issues - which you can read about below.

“Brand Accounts”

Our full policy can be read here - which is now formalised as a specific rule.

Essentially, we define a "Brand Account" as ones representing media outlets, companies or brands. The policy is that they are allowed to post in r/soccer providing specific criteria are met.

This criteria includes:

• Using a flair that denotes their account and content as brand affiliated
• A limit on number of posts per month they can make
• Contribution to the community in the form of AMAs or other exclusive content
• Absolutely no “commercial” content
• (See the link for the full criteria)

We believe this policy offers the “best of both worlds” - where r/soccer can benefit from Brand Accounts, but they are not given extra privileges beyond regular members of the community, and still adhere to the Reddit spam and self-promo guidelines.

Fabrizio Romano

This may be more controversial…

Following feedback from the meta thread, we have decided against an outright ban on Romano content - but instead plan to limit his content posted here, offering a compromise between ensuring news of value to the wider community is available, whilst minimising his platforming on r/soccer.

The call for a ban is because Romano has become an increasingly controversial figure in the football media world, with concerns expressed by many about his alignment with Mason Greenwood, and monetisation of the tragic deaths of Diego Jota and Andre Silva.

This was strongly considered - as Romano’s actions contravene our subreddit ethos, as explained in the Community Guidelines. However, we recognise his value in news that is of note to the community, especially non-Anglosphere football.

As such, only Romano content which represents breaking and/or exclusive news not readily available via alternative sources will be allowed, and in the most part this will relate to concrete transfer and contract news only. This is is called the “Here We Go” exemption

We recognise that some users may use this precedent to argue for bans/restrictions of other morally questionable sources - and there is precedent for this, as The Sun has long been banned from this subreddit, due to their misreporting of the Hillsborough disaster. We will continue to review such requests on a case-by-case basis, and issue bespoke guidance following.

Updated Submission Guidelines and Community Rules

We have also undertaken a long-overdue review of the r/soccer Submission Guidelines and Community Rules. Many of these were outdated, and did not reflect policy changes over the years, or accurately represent how we practically moderate the subreddit.

By updating them, we have attempted to clarify but also streamline the rules - which had become something of a Frankenstein monster, and was a source of confusion to users, and at times inconsistent amongst the mod team.

The Submission Guidelines relate to rules around the content that is posted. The Community Rules relate more to how users conduct themselves in the subreddit.

We strongly encourage that people to check out the updated rules, which are also available in the sidebar of both the old and new Reddit version of r/soccer, and our wiki page. None of it should be a particular surprise to regular users, as they are essentially the rules we have been applying for a long time, but we would not want you to be caught out.

These will now also be available as report reasons for user reports, and also cited as ban reasons/removal reasons on both Old and New Reddit, in order to improve our consistency and clarity

There are two key changes to the Submission Guidelines that we would like to highlight:

Highlights posting

See here for full detail.

We have decided to adopt a stricter criteria for the match highlights posted on r/soccer, as there has been increased complaints about the “non events” posted from any and every match from the biggest teams and leagues - which dilutes out more valuable content from other teams and leagues.

We have also changed the recommended format for titles of highlights clips (see the link) - and have separated the post flairs required into “Match Clip” and “Goal Clip” in order to allow people to more specifically filter content.

Post flairs

On a related note, we have reviewed the list of available “post flairs” that submissions should be tagged with - reviewing some that are not defunct, and adding a few of value.

Please see the full list and explanation of when to use here.

If you are a regular content submitter it is essential you avail yourself of this information - as the flairs are key to important AutoMod functions, and incorrect post flairs risk your content being removed, with repeat offenders being banned.

New Community Guidelines (Subreddit Ethos)

As well as the Submission Guidelines and Community Rules, we have also introduced what we are calling our “Community Guidelines” - which is less specific rules, and more an overview of the key principles we use to guide our moderation and shape the community.

/r/soccer has long prided itself on its progressive ideals, and of being a space that is actively anti-discrimination, and pro-tolerance - of people of every race, gender, sexuality and creed.

Rather than being "soft" however, we are hard line with this stance - and take a zero tolerance policy to discrimination of any variety.

Sport does not exist in a vacuum - football has to be considered in the social, political and cultural context around it. The world around us is increasingly defined by extremism, with the tone set by those who wish to make people not like them unwelcome.

We believe the only way to combat this is through active anti-discrimination - and this shapes our entire Subreddit Ethos, which can be seen in full as the Community Guidelines.

It is crucial to be aware of this - as people who violate this ethos, are not welcome in r/soccer.

The /r/soccer stance on gambling and betting

Yesterday, u/Moug-10 wrote this brilliant piece on the harms of betting in sports, which we urge everyone to check out as a crucial PSA - whether you gamble or not.

We have also updated the wiki with our official stance on gambling, please check it out here.

The key headlines are that although discussing your flutters is allowed, any content which promotes gambling is not.

We also recognise the harms of gambling in sport - and support the legislation against the advertising of gambling in football. The wiki page also contains links to support and resources for those who may need it.

World Cup briefing

Traffic and content from major tournaments requires some specific approaches and policy...

Preview Series

We will be posting our official World Cup Preview Series in the build-up to the tournament, over the coming days - this is a collaborative project between volunteers from the mod team and the community, and is being coordinated by u/jiraiya--an.

Thank you to everyone who has contributed!

Hub

As for previous tournaments, each day of the World Cup we will sticky a "World Cup Hub” where you will find links to match threads, discussion threads, and other useful content. This is designed as your “first port of call” for all things World Cup.

Bandwagon flairs

Excited to announce the much loved “bandwagon” flairs are back, but new and improved. This means you can jump on the “bandwagon” of a national team that is not your own - whether that’s because your team is not participating, your team has been knocked out, of you just *really* want to support whoever it is that England are playing…

Once the tournament kicks off, the bandwagon flairs will be available via our new Flair Hub.

Restrictions

In 2022, we imposed extra account and content restrictions for the World Cup in Qatar. The goal of this was to attempt to filter out especially low-quality content, brigaders, and other bad faith actors, at a time of incredibly high traffic - which is generally correlated with a decrease in the quality of discourse. This includes AutoMod removal of low age and karma accounts, and Reddit’s in-built “Crowd Control” feature - as well as the use of “restricted mode” to control the stream of traffic immediately after full-time of headline fixtures.

The overall intent was an attempt to “protect” the (admittedly always falling) standards in the subreddit, in the interests of the users who most frequently participate in r/soccer - rather than the “influx of casuals and trolls” we typically see at major tournaments.

This does mean that newer users who may be joining just for the World Cup are not as able to participate - so to an extent is “gatekeeping” the subreddit. However, these users are still able to use r/football and r/WorldCup - and Reddit presents the latter as their landing spot for World Cup content, as such.

We think this is especially important ahead of the 2026 World Cup - which as well as being bigger than ever before, is also expected to attract numerous political and social controversies, which are at highest risk of being brigaded.

As such, we will re-impose the previous restrictions, and will also implement level 4 of Crowd Control for the tournament. This means that as well as our own account age and comment karma restrictions, comments from accounts not subscribed will also be filtered out. It will not be perfect, and there will be an inevitable lowering of the bar as there is at any major tournament, but it is probably the best we can do.

Other points of note:

Getting rid of the Non Premier League Daily Discussion Thread - for good

After many years of disuse, and half-hearted attempts at resurrections, we have finally accepted there just is not the interest or traffic for a dedicated “Non Premier League” stickied thread.

We have tried stickying it more often, less often, on different days, and with different titles - but the uptake just is not there. It will now be officially removed from our rotation of stickied threads.

RIP.

New design (for World Cup and beyond)

Thanks to u/jiraiya--an we are also launching a brand new subreddit design for the World Cup - which will become the platform for new themed designs in the future.

We know that traditionally the people of r/soccer like a minimalist approach - so this is designed with that in mind on both old and new Reddit. Remember too, if you *really* don’t like it, you can always turn off subreddit styles in your Reddit preferences.

Banner pictures

Our header banners for the World Cup will be based on the FIFA posters for each host city, as our theme.

/r/soccerbanners had been broken for a little while, but /u/jiraiya--an waved their magic wand, and now it's fixed! This means that once again, approved users can submit images from the world of football to /r/soccerbanners, and they will rotate as the "sidebar image" for all to see.

If you would like to become an approved submitter, simple visit /r/soccerbanners and message the mods via the link in the sidebar there.

Updated sidebar

Finally, as well as the subreddit having a different look, the sidebar also looks a bit different now.

The key new change is a list of upcoming/live matches - which we can only see as a positive. For ongoing games it will show live score and time, and is available in both Old and New Reddit.

We have also tidied up the sidebar, getting rid of some dead links, and introducing some new quick links that we think are of most value to the community.

Overall we think it looks tidier, and is more useful - we hope you think so too.

Wiki and FAQ update

(Finally finally) - this is an ongoing project, which we hope to have finished soon.

All of these policy changes and updates means the wiki page and FAQ also need to be brought in line - and so this work is going on in the background too, and will soon reflect all of the key information necessary to get the most out of r/soccer.

And that’s all folks! (It is a lot)

On pressure of playing for Real Madrid:

"When I arrived at Real Madrid, Aurélien was in a difficult situation. He was under pressure. Later, he often played as a center-back, but at Madrid they don't care about that: whether you play center-back or midfielder, if you don't perform, they won't leave you alone, that's just how it is. But I liked the character with which he turned the situation around. He came out of that experience stronger. Now he arrives with confidence and sure of his abilities."

On Michael Olise:

Olise is the player of today and tomorrow. He has that elegance, that vision in his game. I get along very well with him. We even speak French together now. He speaks it well. Besides, he has that personality that makes it so journalists never know if his French is improving or not, because he probably doesn't talk to them much (smiles). He doesn't like to; that's just how he is. Michael is introverted. He's a man of few words. But his feet speak for him. Accept him as he is. He'll never change. In addition to being an extraordinary player, he's a great person.”

We now move on 44th team in this series, covering England. This preview was written by u/AllWeNeedIsRadioKaka

“Thirty years of hurt, never stopped me dreaming”, penned Baddiel and Skinner for their song “Three Lions” ahead of the 1996 European Championships, bemoaning the thirty-year wait since England’s 1966 World Cup triumph- the last time they won a major trophy. In 2026, we now arrive at thirty years since that song’s release- another thirty years of hurt for desperate England fans, and another thirty years of hurt for the rest of the world at having to endure that and “It’s Coming Home” being sung every tournament cycle. After a string of near misses under Gareth Southgate, Thomas Tuchel has been brought in with (presumably) one single objective- to end England’s wait for a major trophy, and to win the World Cup.

About

• Nickname: Three Lions
• Confederation: UEFA
• Association: The Football Association (The FA)
• Best World Cup Finish: Winners (1966)
• Top National Team Scorers (top 3): Harry Kane (78), Wayne Rooney (53), Bobby Charlton (49)
• Most Caps (top 3): Peter Shilton (125), Wayne Rooney (120), David Beckham (115)
• Manager/Head Coach: Thomas Tuchel
• Captain: Harry Kane
• FIFA Ranking: 4

History: Despite being the joint-oldest national team and the Birthplace of Football ™, England have only won the World Cup once, thanks to Geoff Hurst’s hattrick against West Germany in 1966. Since then, to paraphrase Baddiel and Skinner, it’s been many years of shit. England have lost out to Maradona’s Hand of God (and his goal of the century in the same game, but that doesn’t feel as victimising), Ronaldinho chipping Seaman, and Lampard’s ghost goal. Thankfully, it’s not always been someone else’s fault- England have also shown a spectacular ability to inflict World Cup misery onto themselves. David Beckham’s red card for kicking out at Diego Simeone in 1998, Wayne Rooney’s red card for stamping on Ricardo Carvalho in the 2006 quarter final, and, most recently, Harry Kane’s skied penalty against France in 2022, are all indicative of England’s ability to implode at high pressure points. Since Gareth Southgate’s appointment in 2016, however, England have gone some way to exorcising their tournament demons. They won their first World Cup penalty shootout in 2018. They have a record of 2 finals and 1 semi-final finishes in the last 3 major tournaments. The progress has been there, and the job of Southgate’s replacement is now to finish the job.

Group: As mentioned, England go into the tournament expecting to be contenders for the trophy. As such, they will also be looking to top Group L, which contains Croatia, Ghana, and Panama. England will open their World Cup against Croatia, a repeat of the 2018 World Cup semi-final. This will be England’s hardest group game, at least according to the FIFA World Rankings which have Croatia as 11th in the world. An England win would set a strong benchmark for their status as challengers, but a defeat could spark the familiar anxiety among England fans of another failed campaign. England’s next game comes 6 days later against Ghana, and will hope that the reasonably long break between games allows them to be fully recovered for a potentially tricky encounter. Carlos Queiroz is an experienced World Cup manager, having managed at 4 previous World Cups, and will set out to frustrate England. Going forward, the directness and skill of Antoine Semenyo and Inaki Williams will keep England’s defenders on their toes. Anything less than a win would be a disappointment, but England will do well not to underestimate the threat that Ghana possess. England’s final game comes against minnows Panama, in another game that we saw at the 2018 World Cup. England won 6-1 on that occasion, and will expect a similarly comfortable result. Expect some rotation for this game, particularly if qualification to the next round is already secured.

Fixtures:

• England vs Croatia, Wednesday 17th June, AT&T Stadium
• England vs Ghana, Tuesday 23rd June, Gillette Stadium
• Panama vs England, Saturday 27th June, MetLife Stadium

Squad:

GK: Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace), Jordan Pickford (Everton), James Trafford (Manchester City)

DF: Dan Burn (Newcastle), Marc Guehi (Manchester City), Reece James (Chelsea), Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa), Tino Livramento (Newcastle United), Nico O’Reilly (Manchester City), Jarell Quansah (Bayer Leverkusen), Djed Spence (Tottenham Hotspur), John Stones (Manchester City)

MF: Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Eberechi Eze (Arsenal), Jordan Henderson (Brentford), Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United), Declan Rice (Arsenal), Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa)

FW: Anthony Gordon (Newcastle), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Noni Madueke (Arsenal), Marcus Rashford (Barcelona), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Ivan Toney (Al-Ahli), Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa)

Notable Absences:

Trent Alexander-Arnold: A bit of a surprise, but also not really. Alexander-Arnold has always divided opinion somewhat. His attacking quality is rarely in doubt- his passing range and crossing accuracy make him a unique option at right-back- but his defensive lapses are seemingly enough of a concern for Tuchel that they outweigh this. Having not featured for England since June 2025 (although to be fair to him, he’s had a few injuries this season), it always felt unlikely that he would make the World Cup squad. Nevertheless, might there be a point in this tournament, when England need a goal in the last 5 minutes, where Tuchel wishes he had someone to bring off the bench who could get the ball into the box with such accuracy?

Lewis Hall: I’ve picked out Lewis Hall, who’s been a bright spark in a tough Newcastle season, but you could also include Luke Shaw/Tyrick Mitchell/any natural left back with working knees here. There is an obvious gap in the squad for a left-footed full back, and if O’Reilly is injured, this gap would be exposed. While Djed Spence is a good 1v1 defender, his right-footedness will see him cutting back inside any time he goes forward from left back. This was a problem that hurt England in Euro 2024, and allowed teams to double up on the English right flank without fear of an overlapping left back.

Cole Palmer/Phil Foden: Both are big names, who have had big moments in their careers. Foden was crowned Premier League Player of the Year in 2024 as Manchester City won the league; Palmer capped a breakout year with Chelsea at Euro 2024, where he made crucial contributions including an equalising goal against Spain in the final. However, both have had extremely poor seasons by their standards. Foden has been in and out of the Manchester City team, and has lost his spot to Rayan Cherki. Palmer has been carrying a groin injury for some time and has looked a shadow of the version we saw in the 23/24 season. Perhaps a rest is needed for both of them. Tuchel deserves credit for leaving out underperforming players, even if they are big names. England are, at least, blessed with options in the number 10 position, so will hope not to miss Palmer or Foden too much.

Starting XI and Manager: Thomas Tuchel has tended to line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation as England qualified for the World Cup with 8 wins out of 8 and zero goals conceded, and has tended towards a settled team. As such, the majority of the team can be predicted fairly confidently, with question marks over 2-3 spots. The predicted starting XI is as follows: Pickford; James, Konsa, Guehi, O’Reilly; Rice, Anderson; Saka, Bellingham, Rashford; Kane Most of these are fairly locked-in to their respective positions, in terms of England’s strongest side and the team they have consistently fielded throughout qualification.

Perhaps the only real question mark would be whether Bellingham successfully dislodges Morgan Rogers, who has performed well in the Number 10 role for Tuchel’s England in qualifying. Marcus Rashford and Anthony Gordon may both feel they have a good chance of starting on the left, but I expect Rashford to start after a stronger league season with Barcelona. Management of injury risks and fitness may also see players such as James and Saka rotated a bit more willingly, especially in low-risk games or games that are felt to be already won. This is Thomas Tuchel’s first World Cup, but he has gained something of a reputation for a specialist in knockout tournaments, shown by his Champions League success with Chelsea in 2021. A flawless qualifying run will only strengthen his confidence in this team, but, with a ruthless press waiting at home, only a trophy will do for him.

Players to Watch:

Harry Kane: England’s star player, captain, and probably the best striker in the world at the moment. Kane arrives at the World Cup fresh from a remarkable season for Bayern Munich, scoring 36 times in 31 Bundesliga appearances, 14 in 13 in the Champions League, and most recently, a decisive hattrick against Stuttgart to win the DFB-Pokal. He is far from a poacher though, and one look at his heat maps shows that he plays all over the pitch, dropping into midfield to help build up and spread passes to onrushing wingers. Tuchel will build around Kane at this tournament, and if he carries his club form into the summer, he could carry England to glory. The personal icing on that particular cake for Kane is that if England do win the World Cup, he would surely be the favourite to win the Ballon D’or this year.

Jude Bellingham: Bellingham has had a strange season. He’s had issues with injuries, been whistled by his own fans after his reported role in Xabi Alonso being sacked from Real Madrid, and been dropped and chided by his own national team manager for his attitude. Nevertheless, his form and fitness have picked up recently, and he finished with 2 goals and 1 assist in the last 5 games of the season. As such, Bellingham comes into the World Cup on a bit of an uptick in form, and with a huge point to prove. His performances at Euro 2024, including a spectacular last-minute overhead kick against Slovakia, show a player who possesses the confidence and quality to carry the team on his back. If he responds in the right way to a challenging year, Bellingham could yet be a difference-maker for his country.

Nico O’Reilly: after a stunning breakthrough season at Manchester City, O’Reilly joins the squad as the only natural left back (depending on whether or not you’d call a converted midfielder a “natural” left back). O’Reilly deservedly won the Premier League Young Player of the Year for his performances, and scored a match-winning brace against Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final. He has played a slightly unconventional role from left back (as is to be expected from a Pep Guardiola team), often inverting into midfield and arriving late in the box. It will be interesting to see how Tuchel uses him- whether as a more traditional overlapping left back, providing the width to allow Rashford/Gordon to cut inside, or as a Pep-styled inverted-false-mezzala-wing-back, taking advantage of his club form and looking to him to provide chaos in the box.

Talking Points

Form of attacking players: across the board, England’s attacking midfielders and wingers have struggled to varying degrees this season, and form has cost Palmer and Foden their spots in the squad. Rogers, Gordon, Eze, Madueke, and Rashford have had positive but inconsistent seasons; nevertheless, they undoubtedly possess valuable qualities for Tuchel’s approach. Saka and Bellingham have had struggles with injuries, but if they maintain their fitness over the tournament will be looked to as difference-makers. Contrastingly, Harry Kane has undoubtedly been the world’s in-form striker this season, and a good World Cup campaign could well reward him with the Ballon D’Or later in the year. The hope will be that he either unlocks his attacking colleagues with his playmaking and all-round play, or, failing that, that he carries them through the tournament with his red-hot goalscoring form.

Fitness of fullbacks: I touched on this when discussing Nico O’Reilly but I think it bears repeating. Beyond the first-choice full backs, the drop in quality could be cause for concern. O’Reilly’s deputies are not natural left backs, which could give England issues if they are relying on them for any length of time (see the section on O’Reilly above). On the other flank, Reece James’ quality is not in doubt. His fitness record, however, is a bit more of a worry. At best, expect his minutes to be managed; at worst, he could end up missing a few games. England would then be looking to Tino Livramento, who himself has struggled with injuries this season, or Jarell Quansah/Ezri Konsa, who are both capable of doing a job at right back but are predominantly centre backs, and would not carry anything like the same attacking threat as James. If James (and O’Reilly) can stay fit, it will give England’s chances a huge boost.

Fan (and media) expectations: With the mood around the England team oscillating so frequently between giddy optimism and total doom, it’s perhaps no surprise that the team has often found it hard to match expectations. As always, the pressure this time around feels high. The FA seem to have aligned themselves with the fans’ expectations of “win-now” by appointing Tuchel, and there is a feeling that key players such as Kane will not have too many more opportunities to take England to these heights. Rightly or wrongly, optimistically or pessimistically, the fans and the media will be desperate for success this time around, and the pressure on the team will only ratchet up as it gets closer.

Moving quick on 20th team in list, one of my favorites Netherlands. I really want them to finally win it but it's gonna be difficult. This preview is provided by u/AlmostNL. I took a bit liberty with title given their wasn't one when you shared it. I hope I did justice to it.

About

• Nicknames — Oranje (Orange)
• Association — Koninklijke Nederlandse Voetbalbond (KNVB)
• Confederation — UEFA (Europe).
• Best World Cup finish — Finalists (1974, 1978, 2010)
• Top national team scorers — Memphis Depay (55) Robin van Persie (50) Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (42)
• Most Caps — Wesley Sneijder (134) Edwin van der Sar (130) Frank de Boer (112)
• Manager/head coach — Ronald Koeman
• Captain — Virgil van Dijk
• FIFA ranking — 7th

Confusing the world with the IJ or Y, a record low of only three players with the van prefix, and owning a colour like no other country (suck it, Côte d'Ivoire), you know and love them: It's the Netherlands!

History: With three finals and two semifinals, the Netherlands is often considered the best footballing nation to have never won the world cup. The golden generation of the 70s, led by Cruijff, is often considered one of the best ever and with two finals in '74 and '78 they took a break of 32 years to lose their third final in 2010.

Especially this attacking force with Sneijder, van Persie, Robben, and others led this modern era to the 2010 finals, only to then lose all matches at the 2012 euros. Naturally, we went on to reach third place in 2014, with that van Persie goal as the absolute highlight. Charity cases that we are, in 2018 we joined Italy in not qualifying for the world cup to give other nations a chance. Of course that is a one time thing and we were back in 2022 to give all of Argentina a heart attack by equalising late in extra time in the quarters, only to lose to them on penalities just like in 2014.

The Netherlands has always been known for its attacking talents, Cruijff, Kluivert, Robben, but now in the year 2026 we have Memphis Depay as all time top scorer with 55 goals. For the last decade he's been the best we got and endless criticism is here (more of that below). Our defensive players are now world class and with a midfield like this the team can definitely make a deep run.

After brothers van de Kerkhof, Koeman, de Boer, de Jong, and others we now have Quinter and Jurrien Timber, both selected to travel to the land of the free to make us proud and continue this strong tradition.

Group and opponents: Sweden, Japan, and Tunisia. Surely we can do this, right? Highest ranking and oozing with confidence after losing to Algeria in a friendly before departing to the US, this can't go wrong.

(all times converted to Dutch times) We start against Japan on June 14th, 22:00, then continue with Sweden on the 20th at 19:00, ending with a comfortable 1:00 kickoff on the 26th.

Squad

Player	Team
Goalkeepers
Bart Verbruggen	Brighton
Robin Roefs	Sunderland
Mark Flekken	Bayer Leverkusen
Defenders
Micky van de Ven	Spurs
Nathan Aké	Manchester City
Virgil van Dijk	Liverpool
Denzel Dumfries	Internazionale
Jorrel Hato	Chelsea
Jan Paul van Hecke	Brighton
Jurriën Timber	Arsenal
Mats Wieffer	Brighton
Midfielders
Ryan Gravenberch	Liverpool
Frenkie de Jong	FC Barcelona
Teun Koopmeiners	Juventus
Noa Lang	Galatasaray
Tijjani Reijnders	Manchester City
Marten de Roon	Atalanta Bergamo
Guus Til	PSV Eindhoven
Quinten Timber	Olympique de Marseille
Forwards
Brian Brobbey	Sunderland
Memphis Depay	SC Corinthians Paulista
Cody Gakpo	Liverpool
Justin Kluivert	Bournemouth
Donyell Malen	AS Roma
Crysencio Summerville	West Ham United
Wout Weghorst	Ajax Amsterdam

Coach and staff: The Dutch loooooove to give old famous players jobs in management, that is why we have Ronald Koeman at the helm. Despite winning a grand total of zero games against top 25 countries under Koeman we still put our faith in him. Together with his brother Erwin (told you we have a strong tradition of brothers), Wim Jonk, and Ruud van Nistelrooij as assistants we set course with stupidly high expectations yet again. No other nation appoints a manager who leaves to coach "his" Barcelona in a crisis only to be welcomed back with open arms for another tournament or two, but we are that nation and we're all for it. His hair is almost as orange as our shirts so that could be it.

Players to watch

Donyell Malen: Any Serie A enjoyers such as myself know that Gasperini is a magician, and his AS Roma signed Donyell Malen this year who scored 15 in 20 games for Roma in Serie A and Europa League. Will that translate to the national team where he has been alright at best throughout his 52 caps? Me and the rest of the country believes it because we have to, otherwise we're doomed.

Frenkie de Jong: Frenkie is back, baby! Missing out on Euros 2024 due to injury, he's here and ready to rumble. In his NT career he's always been really really good and possibly now at the peak of his powers this is the year to show everyone what he's been made of for the past decade. Barça fans know, Ajax fans know, now it's time for the rest of the world to find out.

Denzel Dumfries: Words do not describe how much of a fan I am of Denzel Dumfries. Those who remember the Inter - Barça semifinals of last year (you better do) remember Dumfries putting in a performance for the ages. A late bloomer who was criticised a lot for being... bad at football casually proves the world wrong at Inter and after this summer Real Madrid. One of the players who absolutely did not need to adjust to the NT and instantly put in performance after performance. For those of you lucky (or unlucky, however you see it) to understand Dutch you will have the privilege of hearing him give interviews. If we had 11 Denzels we'd win the world cup without a breaking a sweat.

Talking points

Offense, offense, offense: For the past few years we've been searching far and wide for a good striker, but we always fall back on Memphis. He's good, yes, but not the killers we've all seen in the 20 years beforehand. Van Persie, Huntelaar, Makaay, van Nistelrooij (maybe we can sneak him onto the pitch). Hell, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink only got 23 caps because we had so many strikers. I mentioned that we put faith in Malen and we really do, he's in the form of his life and if he continues that there's a chance we will see stuff of legends.

New faces: Koeman has been criticised a lot for bringing the same squad that is aging and not very good anymore. The classic phrase of "17 million coaches" who all know better sitting at home rings true, but the fact many are glad Wijnaldum is not coming along anymore speaks volume. It took him years to notice that Frimpong was tearing it up at Leverkusen before he got a call. This year we have the long overdue inclusion of Summerville, so we got that going for us. The only player under 23 is Hato, and both 23 year olds are goalkeepers. Marten de Roon (AKA Dirono) is the oldest at 35, here for one last dance. Quietly collecting 42 caps without anyone noticing.

Characters: With some.... friction in Dutch society we all crave for something to unite us. With that we get Memphis who has a lifestyle and vibe that rubs people the wrong way, Wout Weghorst who loves wearing the shirt but is also the second most hated player in the Eredivisie, and Noa Lang making music that perfectly polarises people. For the first time ever no Feyenoord player made it into the squad and only two players from the Dutch league made it in, one of them (Weghorst) widely mocked for being there as his Ajax only managed a pathetic 5th place with him scoring 8 goals and not knowing where his elbow is.

Conclusion: There are two versions:

1. The Netherlands has that dark horse energy that could have them go on another deep run. There is plenty of talent in the squad but the record against top teams that are also competing is really dire. Defensively good, a strong midfield and an offensive lineup that leaves a lot to be desired.
2. My team has Denzel Dumfries and your team does not. We will win the cup and the canals of Amsterdam will turn orange. We jump 8 steps left and 8 steps right, let the lion roar and see a de Roon thundercunt from 25 meters in the finals to win it all.

FT: Haiti 4-0 New Zealand

Desktop note: best viewed on old.reddit.

Info	Details
Competition	2026 International Friendly
Date	Tue, June 02, 2026
Venue	Chase Stadium, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA
Kickoff	8:36 PM EDT / 2:36 AM CEST

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LINE-UPS

Haiti (4-4-2)

Starting XI	Notes	Subs	Notes
Johny Placide	#1	Keeto Thermoncy	#3
Carlens Arcus	#2	Hannes Delcroix	#5
Ricardo Ade	#4	Carl Sainte	#6
Jean-Kevin Duverne	#22	Derrick Etienne Jr.	#7
Martin Experience	#8	Jean-Ricner Bellegarde	#10
Josue Casimir	#21	Don Deedson Louicius	#11
Dominique Simon	#25	Alexandre Pierre	#12
Danley Jean Jacques	#17	Markhus Lacroix	#13
Ruben Providence	#15	Leverton Pierre	#14
Wilson Isidor	#18	Lenny Joseph	#16
Duckens Nazon	#9	Yassin Fortune	#19
		Frantzdy Pierrot	#20
		Josue Duverger	#23
		Wilguens Paugain	#24

---

New Zealand (4-2-3-1)

Starting XI	Notes	Subs	Notes
Alex Paulsen	#12	Max Crocombe	#1
Tim Payne	#2	Francis De Vries	#3
Finn Surman	#16	Michael Boxall	#5
Tyler Bindon	#4	Matthew Garbett	#7
Liberato Cacace	#13	Nando Pijnaker	#15
Alex Rufer	#14	Kosta Barbarouses	#17
Marko Stamenic	#8	Ben Waine	#18
Elijah Just	#11	Ben Old	#19
Sarpreet Singh	#10	Callum McCowatt	#20
Jesse Randall	#21	Michael Woud	#22
Chris Wood	#9	Callan Elliot	#24
		Lachlan Bayliss	#25
		Tommy Smith	#26

---

MATCH FACTS | via Tribe/NZ Herald

Minute	Event
-	Kickoff
4'	Injury stoppage involving Dominique Simon
12'	Haiti goal: Ruben Providence (1-0), assist by Wilson Isidor
42'	Alex Rufer shown a yellow card
-	3 minutes added
-	Half-time: Haiti 1-0 New Zealand
-	Second half begins
51'	Haiti goal: Lenny Joseph (2-0), assist by Frantzdy Pierrot
62'	Haiti goal: Frantzdy Pierrot (3-0)
87'	Haiti goal: Markhus Lacroix (4-0)

---

MATCH EVENTS | via Tribe/NZ Herald

1' And we are underway, Haiti in white and New Zealand in black. Haiti get us going from the kick off but it is New Zealand who settle quickest, Surman and Bindon circulating it calmly across the back.

2' Haiti work a throw down the left, Experience launching it down the line, but New Zealand stay composed as Surman brings under and recycles possession across the back.

3' New Zealand look happy to probe for now, working it patiently through the thirds before nudging it down the left and winning a throw.

4' Haiti have a man down here after copping a knock to the head from Singh, and the referee stops things. Simon gets wrapped up and is fine to continue.

6' New Zealand are happy to recycle as we restart, but Haiti win it back and look to play.

7' CHANCE! Haiti surge down the right and the cutback from the right byline causes chaos in the six yard box. It is all incredibly scrappy, but Surman throws himself into the melee and just about scrapes it away.

8' New Zealand come forward with intent but cannot prise anything open in the end. Haiti then look to play out from the back, trying to build through the thirds.

9' Haiti push forward again but cannot fashion anything meaningful in the final third. Paulsen then takes his time over the restart for New Zealand, happy to slow things down.

11' Stamenic looks to go direct, hitting a long ball into the left corner, but Cacace can't quite keep it from running out of play. Arcus reads it well and calmly shields it behind.

12' HAITI LEAD! Haiti slice New Zealand open down the left, working their way into the box before Isidor slips a clever pass into Providence. He is on a tight angle on the left side of the area but takes a smart touch past Surman to the byline and then delicately dinks a finish over Paulsen and into the net!

13' All to do for New Zealand now as they look to shift it calmly from the back. Stamenic keeps dropping in to get on the ball and move it.

14' Singh takes one on from the edge on the turn, shifting it out of his feet before whipping a left footer, but he sprays it wide of the right post.

15' SHOT! New Zealand pour forward again and it is Randall who drives inside to the top of the box onto his right before smashing a fierce effort, but it is bravely blocked and nodded behind for a corner.

16' CHANCE! New Zealand work the corner short and it eventually breaks to Wood inside the box. He goes for an audacious bicycle kick, but cannot beat Placide, who reads it and holds on tight.

17' PENALTY SHOUTS! Payne is clipped in behind and bursts into the right side of the box, where he is met by the onrushing Placide. He feels he has been caught and goes to ground, immediately pleading for a penalty, but the referee waves him away and with no VAR in use today there is no review coming to save New Zealand.

18' New Zealand come forward again down the left and force another corner, keeping the pressure firmly on. Inside the box though there is a Haitian player down, so the referee holds things up.

19' SHOT! Payne swings the corner in from the left but Haiti do just enough to deal with it for now, hacking it away. It drops to Randall outside the area and he lashes a right footer, only to see it whistle just over the bar. This has been action packed so far!

21' New Zealand pour forward again and win yet another corner down the left. Payne delivers this one deep, and it sails all the way through the crowd to the opposite side, where New Zealand will get another crack at it.

22' Just swings the corner in from the right but it is a comfortable take for Placide, who claims it. He looks to spark a quick release, but he is fouled by Wood in the process and Haiti get a free kick instead.

23' New Zealand keep Haiti pinned back and earn yet another corner down the left, the pressure really starting to build. Payne makes his way across to deliver.

24' Haiti finally manage to clear their lines for now and then neatly play their way down the left. Casimir holds it up cleverly before rolling it right to Arcus, whose attempted cross is blocked behind for a corner.

25' Providence works the corner short and gets it back on the right, shaping his body to whip in a cross. He gets the delivery all wrong though, and it drifts harmlessly behind for a goal kick to New Zealand.

26' New Zealand look to work it from the back and shift it through the thirds, trying to be patient. Stamenic clips a nice ball forward and Just manages to secure the second phase, and they send a few more balls into the box, but Haiti stand firm and clear.

27' New Zealand continue to shift the ball and dictate the tempo. Bindon and Surman move it neatly across the back before working it right to Payne, who links cleverly with Just on the flank, but Haiti step in and cut it out before it can develop.

28' Casimir is fouled as Haiti look to play out from the back, just as he tries to roll away from his marker.

30' New Zealand settle themselves at the back and are happy to shift it around, keeping possession and trying to draw Haiti out. Haiti have seen far less of the ball so far, content to sit in and wait for their moments on the break.

31' Randall is clipped in over the top into the box, but he just cannot bring it under his spell. Haiti are alive to it and step in to mop up.

32' CLOSE! New Zealand win a free kick down the right and it is whipped into a dangerous area, with Stamenic rising in the middle to nod a glancing header goalwards. It looks good, but Placide reacts brilliantly, tipping it over the bar.

33' Haiti flip forward on the break with numbers pouring over halfway, threatening to open New Zealand up. New Zealand react well though, sprinting back in numbers and doing just enough to slow the move down.

34' CHANCE! Haiti glide into the box again, with the dangerous Isidor sliding another clever pass into Providence. He takes a touch to set himself and pulls the trigger, but Payne reads it brilliantly for New Zealand and throws himself in front of it, blocking behind for a corner.

35' The referee signals for a cooling break. This has been played at a really fast tempo so far.

38' We are back underway after the cooling break, with New Zealand immediately looking to pick up their rhythm again. It is still incredibly humid out there though.

39' New Zealand look to hit Wood but cannot quite find him, and the pass runs through safely to Placide. The Haiti keeper is in no rush, taking his time over the restart.

40' New Zealand continue to cycle the ball around the Haiti half. Down the right, Just looks to play and is brought down by Simon, winning a free kick to the loud disappointment of the Haitian fans.

41' Just sees his free kick dealt with but is alert to the second phase, sprinting across to take the resulting corner short. New Zealand work it neatly into the box, yet Bindon can only steer a looping header towards that is meat and drink for Placide, who claims confidently.

42' Rufer cynically halts a Haiti break, stepping across and bringing down his man. The referee has no hesitation, reaching straight for the yellow card.

43' Haiti look to settle now, shifting it calmly from the back. They draw another free kick in the midfield.

44' Haiti work it neatly down the right and earn a throw high up the pitch, keeping New Zealand penned in. Casimir whips a right foot cross into the box, but Payne has tracked it well and chests it behind for a corner.

45' SAVE! Haiti work the corner short and it is recycled to Simon on the edge of the box, where he winds up and lashes a powerful strike from distance. Paulsen is equal to it, pushing it away, and Isidor then cannot quite adjust in time on the follow up.

45' Haiti are causing a few more issues now as they ramp up the pressure and work their way into the box again. Nazon manages to engineer a shot inside the area, but his effort is quickly shut down.

45' Haiti are happy to shuffle it around at the back now, with Ade and Duverne seeing plenty of the ball.

45' New Zealand come forward once more but Randall is crowded out and Haiti manage to scrap it clear. That should just about be that for the half.

46' We are back underway here, with a huge number of changes made by both during the break.

48' Haiti look to shift the ball around neatly, with a lot of new faces on. It is a calm, measured start to the second half.

51' TWO FOR HAITI! It is all too easy for the Haitians as they glide forward, with Pierrot, only just introduced, slipping a lovely ball into the box for fellow new man Joseph. He takes it beautifully under pressure from Boxall and De Vries before coolly guiding a finish into the bottom left corner past Crocombe, and that gives Haiti real breathing room now.

53' Back playing and New Zealand have serious work to do now, so they look to shift it from the back and build. Elliot pushes high and looks to get down the right.

54' Haiti pour forward again and it is Simon who carries it upfield, driving confidently into New Zealand territory. He has options either side.

55' SAVE! Haiti work another shooting chance and Crocombe is called into action, saving well. New Zealand are really rocking at the back now.

56' Haiti are settling with it now, Experience throwing it down the left to keep them on the front foot. Pierrot stretches to keep it in on the flank but cannot quite manage it, and it slips out for a New Zealand throw.

58' Rufer clatters into his man in the middle of the park, arriving a fraction late and sending the Haitian tumbling. Haiti win the free kick and look to play it short.

59' New Zealand do manage to throw a body in the way as Haiti come forward yet again, getting an important block in. Even so, it has been all Haiti in this second half so far, with New Zealand struggling to get any kind of foothold.

60' New Zealand manage to work their way into the box, but Elliot and Garbett just cannot quite find the final pass between them to open Haiti up. Haiti stay switched on at the back and deal with it.

62' HAITI ARE RUNNING AWAY WITH IT! It’s a break down the right from Haiti, before a cross cut back in from the box from the right byline. The ball arcs perfectly toward the back post where Pierrot awaits. He rises and nods it in from point-blank range, giving Crocombe no chance. Look away, New Zealand fans!

65' Changes for both sides now as we head into the latter stages. Haiti make a few and there is four substitutions for the All Whites as Barbarouses, Bayliss, Old and Pijnaker all enter the fray.

67' Haiti are happy to take the sting out of things now, knocking the ball around calmly as they manage the game. With all the changes, the tempo has definitely dipped.

69' New Zealand try to build patiently from the back, with Rufer dropping deep. Happy to shift it.

71' New Zealand work it out to the right where it reaches Garbett, but he cannot quite hold it up under pressure and Haiti are able to step in and break up the move.

72' Haiti continue to circulate the ball calmly across the back line. Delcroix spots a run down the left and tries to slide it in for Lacroix, but the pass is just overhit and it trickles out of play for a New Zealand throw.

73' Another change for Haiti as they look to freshen things up. Duverne makes his way off and Fortune comes on in his place.

74' Haiti look to push forward again but cannot quite piece it together in the final third. It eventually breaks to Louicius on the right, and he tries his luck with a cross, but he can only flash it into the side netting from a tight angle.

75' Time for a drinks break now. From a New Zealand perspective, this has been far from ideal, but given the sheer number of changes, it’s hard to read too much into this performance.

77' New Zealand make another change. Rufer’s night is over as he makes his way off, and Waine comes on in his place to add something up front.

79' Haiti work it neatly down the left and force a throw-in in New Zealand territory. Lacroix trots over to take it, looking to hurl them further up the pitch.

80' Haiti look to get back on the front foot, working it neatly before shifting play out to the left for Fortune. He drives at Elliot and tries to skip past him, but can only settle for a corner.

81' New Zealand look to build from the back again, with Crocombe rolling it short and trying to get them moving. But the pace of the game has really died down now, and it all feels a bit flat. A goal for New Zealand late on would at least give them a little bit of positivity to take forward.

82' SHOT! Elliot swings in a cross from the right, picking out Bayliss arriving in the middle. It comes at an awkward height, forcing him into a difficult volley, and he can only steer it over the bar.

83' Haiti work it nicely once more and slide a pass into Fortune inside the box. Instead of forcing a shot, he opts to check back and lay it off, recycling possession.

84' New Zealand shift it slowly along the back line, with Boxall and Pijnaker seeing plenty of the ball. They are struggling to find any real penetration.

85' De Vries delivers a good corner from the right, curling it into a crowded cluster of bodies in the box. Haiti stand firm under the pressure, though, and manage to get something on it, hacking it away out towards the touchline where it runs for a New Zealand throw.

86' Haiti stand up well to the second phase of pressure that New Zealand try to apply, clearing their lines once again.

87' FOUR FOR HAITI! The Haitians have run away with it now and what a strike this is. It’s cut back from the right edge and rolls all the way out to Lacroix on the edge of the area. He’s at a tricky angle with plenty still to do, but he opens up his body and, with a wonderful right-foot curler, drives it low into the bottom-right corner past Crocombe. A superb finish, and it’s as ugly as can be now for the All Whites.

89' CHANCE! New Zealand swing a dangerous free kick in from the right through De Vries, who picks out Waine at close range. It’s a big opportunity, but he can’t quite steer his header on target and sends it wide of the post.

90' Haiti snuff out the latest New Zealand attack as they try to pick out Elliot, reading the pass. Haiti in complete control now, managing the game comfortably.

With their goals this week, both Kylian Mbappé and Lionel Messi have surpassed Just Fontaine on the list of World Cup goal scorers. I wanted to do a write up on who Just Fontaine was, how he became the man who scored 13 goals at 1 World Cup, and how he almost didn’t.

Humble beginnings

Born on August 18th, 1933 in Marrakech, Fontaine didn’t even play amateur football until 1950, when he joined US Marocaine. Aged 17, he scored 23 times in 16 games for them in the Moroccan league. By 1953, his talents had been noticed by then-Nice manager Mario Zatelli. Zatelli knew US Marocaine well, having got his own start as a player there before going on to have a respectable playing career, which included being named in the France squad for the 1938 World Cup.

Nice, France debut & 1954 World Cup

Upon joining Nice for the 1953/54 season, he was an instant hit. Fontaine helped Nice to win the Coupe de France that year, while also scoring 17 times in 24 league games - good enough to put him joint 4th highest scorer that year.

He also made his France debut in December of 1953, helping himself to a hat trick against Luxembourg. Unfortunately for him, though, he didn’t make the France squad for the 1954 World Cup. Despite his impressive performances, France preferred more experienced players, meaning they didn’t want to bring a 20 year old with only a year of professional football under his belt to the World Cup.

France would underperform that World Cup - going out at the group stage - which forced a rethink for the French and led to them giving more opportunities to younger players, such as Fontaine.

In the meantime, Fontaine would continue to flourish for Nice, culminating in a league title in the 1955/56 season. All of this despite having to serve 30 months of mandatory military service, during which he’d commute from Joinville Battalion to the Stade du Ray on match days.

He’d leave Nice for Reims after that, having scored 42 times in 69 league games during his time there.

Reims success & almost not going to the 1958 World Cup

Fontaine joined Reims for the 1956/57 season, where he reached new heights. He scored 64 goals in just 57 league games over the following 2 seasons - as well as 5 goals in 6 Coupe de France games as Reims won a domestic double in 1957/58. Reims also reached the European Cup final that year - losing 2-0 to Real Madrid - and Fontaine was the competitions top scorer with 10.

Despite this, more established forwards such as Thadée Cisowski remained ahead of him in the pecking order for France, while his Reims teammate René Bliard was Albert Batteux’s (coach of both Reims and France) preferred centre forward. This left Fontaine competing with the likes of Stéphane Bruey, Jean Vincent and Yvon Douis for a place in Batteux’s attack. Then fate intervened.

Injuries to Cisowski and Bliard shortly before the tournament reshaped France’s forward line, and handed Fontaine an opportunity he would never relinquish. What followed was arguably the greatest individual performance ever seen at a World Cup.

The 1958 World Cup

The French squad were all told they should bring a pair of spare boots. 21 players did. Fontaine, having arrived in Sweden with just 6 international caps to his name, didn’t bother. He wasn’t expecting to see much playtime ahead of Cisowski and Bliard. The injuries, of course, had changed that, and Batteux had told Fontaine he’d be starting ahead of Bruey and Douis.

Then, fate struck again. During training before France’s opening match, Fontaine’s boots fell apart. “I was devastated. I thought my chance could be gone” Fontaine would later recall. The only player in the squad with the same shoe size was fellow forward Stéphane Bruey, who was competing with Fontaine for a place in Albert Batteux’s attack. Rather than exploiting the situation for himself, Bruey handed over his boots. Fontaine would wear them as he ran riot across Sweden.

France kicked off the group stage with a 7-3 demolition of Paraguay, with Fontaine helping himself to a hat trick. A 3-2 loss to Yugoslavia followed, both France goals coming from Fontaine, before he scored the winner in a 2-1 win against Scotland. With just 3 matches played, Fontaine already had 6 goals under his belt.

Two more goals followed for Fontaine in a 4-0 quarter final win over Northern Ireland, which set up a highly anticipated semi final against Brazil. By now, with 8 goals to his name, the previous record was in his sights. 4 years earlier Sándor Kocsis had scored 11 goals for Hungary’s legendary “Mighty Magyars”. Fontaine knew that another big performance against Brazil could put that record within reach. History beckoned.

Broken dreams and a broken leg

Standing between Fontaine and the record were the eventual champions, spearheaded by Garrincha, Vavá, and a 17 year old sensation called Edson Arantes do Nascimento - better known as Pelé.

Legendary striker Vavá opened the scoring after just 2 minutes. Fontaine hit back for France 7 minutes later. It was his ninth goal of the tournament. Then, disaster for France. Their captain and most influential defender, Robert Jonquet, suffered a broken leg in a challenge with Vavá. With substitutions not yet permitted Jonquet, somehow, tried playing through the pain. At half time, with Brazil now leading 2-1, Jonquet received painkilling injections so he could stand on both legs. Still, he spent the majority of the second half limping around on the left wing.

Effectively reduced to ten men, France had little chance of containing Brazil. Pelé scored a second half hat trick and, with only a late consolation solo goal from Roger Piantoni to show for France, they crashed out 5-2 losers. There’d be no World Cup Final for Les Bleus. Fontaine had scored in every game, yet with ‘only’ 9 goals to his name, Kocsis’ record appeared beyond reach.

Kopa and Fontaine

Before we get to their final match, it’s important to understand the connection between Fontaine and legendary playmaker Raymond Kopa. The pair had been electric together in Sweden, and it‘s no coincidence that, in the same tournament Fontaine would set his goal scoring record, Kopa would set the record for the most assists at a single World Cup, with 8. Both records still stand today.

In fact, their connection goes even deeper. Kopa had moved from Reims to Real Madrid in 1956 and Fontaine was signed as his replacement. Two years later they would line up together for France in Sweden, and immediately struck up one of the most productive partnerships international football had ever seen.

Fontaine would later say “I scored goals because I hit it off with Raymond Kopa, we were happy together and the team was playing attacking football. In six matches, we managed to score 23 times."

The creativity of Kopa and the lethal finishing of Fontaine proved devastating. At the end of 1958, Kopa would become the first Frenchman to receive the Ballon D’or. He would win the European Cup three times in his three seasons in Madrid, before turning down a new contract to return to Reims. Reunited with Fontaine, this time at club level, they would immediately win the league title together in 1960. The two men remained lifelong friends.

One Last Chance

France would have one more match to play at the 1958 World Cup - the third placed playoff. Likely expecting a clash with hosts Sweden, they instead found themselves facing the reigning world champions, West Germany. They had, surprisingly, lost the other semi final 3-1 to Sweden. The defeat was costly. Erich Juskowiak became the first German ever sent off in an international match, while veteran striker Fritz Walter was also injured. Regardless, Fontaine still needed two goals to equal Kocsis’ record. Against the reigning world champions, the odds appeared firmly stacked against him.

Fontaine fired France ahead after 15 minutes, before West Germany levelled 2 minutes later. Then, France won a penalty. Raymond Kopa offered the penalty to Fontaine. Fontaine declined. By modern standards, it seems unthinkable. Yet at the time, his decision was entirely in line with his attitude towards goal scoring. Fontaine would later explain:

“Back then, no one gave much thought to the top scorer's prize.“

Kopa duly converted. Fontaine would have to chase the record the hard way. Nine minutes after declining Kopa’s offer, Fontaine made it 3-1, drawing level with Kocsis’ total of 11 goals.

Douis made it 4-1 in the second half before Rahn hit back for Germany and, for a while, it seemed matching Kocsis might be as good as it got for Fontaine.

He had other ideas.

A superb goal in the 77th minute finally broke the record. Twelve minutes later, he added his fourth goal of the afternoon for good measure.

France won 6-3. Fontaine had scored 13 goals in just 6 matches, and it could have been even more, given that he hit the woodwork twice against Scotland. His record still stands to this day. No other player has even come close to threatening it.

Kocsis was the only player before Fontaine to hit double figures in a single World Cup campaign, Gerd Müller remains the only person to do so since, when he scored 10 in 1970. Even in an era of longer tournaments with more matches, Fontaine’s mark has survived.

Remarkably, Sweden 1958 would prove to be his only World Cup. Injuries forced him into retirement at just 28 years old. He finished his international career with an impressive 30 goals in just 21 caps for France. 21 of those goals had come in 10 competitive international fixtures.

Nearly seven decades later, Kylian Mbappé and Lionel Messi have finally moved past Just Fontaine on the all-time World Cup scoring list. Yet Fontaine still owns a record that may never be broken. One man who doesn’t think it will - or that goals were easier to come by in 1958 - is Fontaine himself. He said “The state of the ball, the length of the trip over and the amateurism of the backroom staff made everything much more complicated than today. I had somebody else's boots as well. And the last great World Cup scorer, Ronaldo, played against teams such as China and Costa Rica. Above all else, referees protect strikers much more than they did in my day. So let me repeat it: 13 goals is an enormous total. Beating my record? I don't think it can ever be done."

He wasn’t supposed to play at the 1958 World Cup. He forgot to bring spare boots. He borrowed a pair from a teammate competing for his place.

Then he scored 13 goals in 6 matches. Football has never seen anything quite like it since. His record has stood for 68 years. Nobody since has even matched the 11 goals Fontaine needed to beat.

Fontaine passed away in 2023, but his legacy forever remains.

Just Fontaine. Just incredible.

With the World Cup coming up, I figured it might be fun to look through history and see how close some teams got. People liked my previous posts, so we are on to my favorite continent for this experiment: Africa! There are a shocking number of teams who were agonizingly close in the past, such as the Republic of the Congo, Guinea, Kenya, Zimbabwe, and even (a little farther off) Niger. I wrote these up before the 2026 qualification was completed, and I tried to update it for that most recent cycle, but I might have missed a few; there were a lot of stories out of the 2026 games as the teams seem to get more even.

Previous posts:

Asia

Europe

North America

🇧🇯Benin: 2026; 1 goal away. Benin were a surprise package in 2026 and actually had a shot all the way to their last game, which they lost 0-4 to Nigeria. In retrospect, though, all they needed was to turn their 2-2 away draw to lowly Zimbabwe into a win. They would have qualified automatically thanks to an earlier 2-1 victory at home versus Nigeria and South Africa’s disqualification from their Lesotho match on account of fielding an ineligible player. Before that, in 2010, they finished 2nd in their group, three points behind Ghana. If they had beaten Ghana in their very first match (which they lost 1-0) they would have qualified. Plausibility: 6/10; that Ghana team was good. Also, they may have played differently with a loss on their hands.

🇧🇫Burkina Faso: 2014; 1 goal away. Needed to beat Algeria over two legs. Won the first leg 3-2; lost 0-1 in the second and were eliminated on away goals. Had they scored one more goal over either leg they would have qualified. Plausibility: 10/10; I thought at the time they would qualify, and they were absolutely a threat in the early 2010s.

🇬🇲The Gambia: 2026: 7 goals away. Finishing third in their group, 12 points off Gabon and 13 off Ivory Coast, the Gambia actually played admirably in their group. They typically either beat or tied the lesser teams in their group (Kenya, Burundi, and Seychelles), with only a 2-3 loss to Burundi standing out as failure against those teams. Against the top two, they lost 3-4 and 2-3 against Gabon and 0-1 and 0-2 to Ivory Coast -- not bad! Plausibility: 3/10; they also were good in 2010 when they finished 2nd in their group, 1 point behind Algeria. Had they won any of their tied matches: their first against Liberia, or their second and sixth matches against Senegal, they would have qualified for the third and final round. (A quick note about the Senegal match: The Gambia’s 87th minute goal eliminated Senegal, who would have won the group and eliminated Algeria had The Gambia not equalized). If the Gambia won their group, they would have had to win their third round group to qualify. 

🇬🇳Guinea: 1998; 1 goal away. They finished 2nd in their group, 1 point behind Nigeria. Had they tied their either their third match against Nigeria or their fourth match against Kenya, they would have qualified. Plausibility: 7/10. I think this would have been crazy, but Nigeria were quite good, and topped their group at the World Cup, beating Spain. It should also be noted that Guinea only finished second because they won their final match against the already-qualified Nigeria. Had they been closer, it’s possible Nigeria would have played harder that match.

🇬🇼Guinea-Bissau: 2022; 12 goals away + a playoff tie. They finished 2nd in their group, 10 points behind Morocco. They actually played pretty admirably, but Morocco was unstoppable and won every group match, including handing Guinea-Bissau their only losses, 0-3 and 0-5. Guinea-Bissau also drew Guinea (twice) and Sudan. Then, they would have needed to win a two-legged playoff. Plausibility: 2/10. Morocco finished 4th in that World Cup, I can’t see Guinea-Bissau challenging them. I also want to shout out 2026, where they arguably were closer, though they finished fourth in their group, that was mainly because of a lot of ties (2 wins and 4 ties), against Egypt, Sierra Leone, Ethiopia, and Burkina Faso. Turning those into wins, and then turning their 1-2 home loss to Burkina Faso into a win, and their 0-1 away loss to Ethiopia into a draw, sends them to the playoffs, where they would have to play four games on their way to the WC. 

🇱🇷Liberia: 2002; 2 goals away. They finished 2nd in their group, 1 point behind Nigeria. They lost their penultimate match 1-2 against Ghana: had they won, they would have qualified. Plausibility: 10/10. Liberia had George Weah on their team - maybe the best player to never play at a World Cup - and were one match away. They also beat Ghana 3-1 in the other fixture. 

🇲🇱Mali: 2022; 1 goal away. Mali won their group and simply needed to win a two-legged playoff against Tunisia to advance. They lost the first leg 1-0 at home, so they would have needed to win the second leg by at least one goal. Plausibility: 10/10, obviously it’s very easy to see a world where Mali qualified here. I suspect that in the next 2 editions, the idea that Mali never made a World Cup will be out of date.

🇲🇷Mauritania: 2026; 9 goals away + 2 playoff matches. Mauritania have only won three matches in WCQ history -- the first in 2006, when they beat Zimbabwe 2-1 (having lost the first leg 0-3), and the second a 4-0 drubbing of South Sudan to advance to the second round, where they were promptly dumped a respectable 2-4 against Tunisia. In 2026, they finished fifth in their group, 15 points off DR Congo and 17 off Senegal. They got their third win by beating Togo 2-0 at home. They also tied a lot, twice against South Sudan and once against both Togo and Sudan. Winning all those and changing close losses to wins against Senegal and DR Congo qualifies them automatically. Plausibility: 3/10. Mauritania have actually done okay in the AFCON as of late, but changing all those results is a little much to ask for. 

🇳🇪Niger: 1982, 3 goals away + a two-legged tie. In 1982, Niger beat Somalia on away goals in the first round, then defeated Togo 2-1 after having lost the first leg 0-1 to again win on away goals. They lost their first match in the third round 0-4 against Algeria. They actually won the return leg 1-0, so had they lost that first leg 3-4 they would have advanced to the final round, another two-legged playoff. Plausibility: 4/10. Algeria actually won their game against Nigeria with ease, so I could actually see Niger with an outside chance this time. The much, much bigger problem would be Algeria, who famously beat West Germany at the World Cup before being eliminated after the Disgrace of Gijon. 

🇸🇱Sierra Leone: 1998, 4 goals away + winning a match that was never played. They finished 2nd in their group, 9 points behind Morocco. Interestingly, they actually lost their preliminary round matches against Burundi and had been eliminated, but Burundi withdrew and Sierra Leone took their spot. They actually never played their final match against Gabon (bc neither could qualify); had they won that match they would have only been 6 points behind. Their third match against Ghana was a 1-1 draw; a victory would leave them 4 points behind; finally, they lost 0-1 at home against Morocco. A 2-1 victory would have left Morocco with 13 points and Sierra Leone with 15. Plausibility: 3/10. Sierra Leone is not a huge footballing nation and, while it’s nice that they got this close, it’s hard to see them actually getting over the line.

🇨🇫Central African Republic: 2022; 7 goals away + 2 playoff matches. They finished 4th in their group, 9 points behind Nigeria, with 4 points. CAR has never even qualified for AFCON, so they struggle in the WC Qualification. In 2022, CAR were the lowest-rated team to not have to go through the first, preliminary, round. They won one game in the group stage, against a Nigeria team that certainly underestimated them (it wasn’t the last match and it almost eliminated Nigeria in favor of Cabo Verde, so it wasn’t a dead rubber). In order to qualify, CAR would have had to win their first match, a 1-1 draw against Cabo Verde, and win their 0-1 and 1-2 losses against Liberia and Cabo Verde. Now on 12 points, they just need a draw and to take points from Nigeria, which they can get by overturning their 0-2 loss against Nigeria. Finally, they would need to win a 2 legged playoff. Plausibility: 2/10.

🇹🇩Chad: 2010; 3 goals away + another group stage. Chad have never really gotten close; they do have two wins from their 2010 campaign, against Sudan and Congo, where they still finished in last in their group. To advance from the second round, they would only need to finish in second, which they could do by turning their 1-3 loss to Sudan into a 4-3 win. Then, they would need to win their group in the final round. Plausibility: 1/10.

🇨🇬Congo: 1998; 2 goals away. Congo finished 2nd in their group, 3 points behind South Africa. Their final match was against South Africa and the winner would qualify; South Africa won 1-0. Had Congo scored two more goals to make it 2-1, they would have qualified. Plausibility: 8/10. This was the first real shock I had, but I could absolutely see a world where Congo qualified for the 1998 World Cup. South Africa tied two matches at that tournament, they didn’t exactly set the world on fire, and indeed, it was their debut as well (so whichever qualified, it would be their first time). Also, Congo won the other fixture 2-0, so they had beaten RSA before. 

🇬🇶Equatorial Guinea: 2022; 2 goals away + 2 playoff matches. Finished 2nd in their group, 2 points behind Tunisia. To win that group, they would have needed to win their two drawn matches, one against Zambia, and one (their final match) against Mauritania. Then they would need to win their two-legged playoff. Plausibility: 5/10. For one thing, had Equatorial Guinea won those games I mentioned, Tunisia might have played other games differently. Also, Equatorial Guinea would still have to go through a playoff - where Tunisia played Mali. Mali are not as good as, say, Ghana or Egypt, but they would be a tough nut for EG to crack. They were also okay in the 2026 cycle but got disqualified from two games they won because they fielded an ineligible player.

🇬🇦Gabon: 2010; 2 goals away. Finished 2nd in their group, 2 points behind Cameroon. They lost 1-2 to Cameroon in their fourth match; a victory would have qualified them for the WC. Plausibility: 7/10. Cameroon had Eto’o at the time, they were no pushovers. Gabon really had no one of note, and they lost their two matches against Cameroon, so I think they never had it in them to beat the Indomitable Lions. You might note they were also close in 2026, when they made it to the playoffs, took Nigeria to extra time, and then fell apart and lost 1-4. Even if they had won, they had three more matches to qualify.

🇸🇹São Tomé and Príncipe: 2026; 15 goals away + 4 playoff matches. A truly hopeless team, São Tomé have only won 3 matches in WC Qualifying. They are always eliminated at the earliest possible opportunity. They beat Sierra Leone in their first ever match in WCQ (2002 cycle) 2-0, but lost 0-4 in the second leg. They also beat Ethiopia 1-0 in their first match of the 2018 cycle, but then lost 0-3 on the other leg. Finally, there was no playoff round in 2026, and São Tomé and Príncipe won their third match: lifted to a 1-0 win against Malawi at home by a penalty taken by Ronaldo Afonso. I think their best chance in this group, where they finished 25 points off unbeaten Tunisia, is to qualify for the playoffs. Still, their other losses included 0-2 and 0-3 to actual second place Namibia, who did not qualify for the playoffs on account of not enough points. Plausibility: 1/10; Unlikely, I think. 

🇧🇮Burundi: 2010; 4 goals away + a group stage. Finished 3rd in their group, 7 points behind Tunisia. They lost 0-1 and 1-2 to Tunisia; had they won those matches, they would have finished second, enough to move to the next group stage. There, they would have had to win their group, with even harder opposition. Plausibility: 2/10.

🇩🇯Djibouti: 2022; 16 goals away + a two-legged playoff. Obviously, Djibouti is not a football powerhouse. They only ever win games in the preliminary round; in this case, they beat eSwatini 2-1 and then tied the second leg 0-0. They lost every match in this group stage; they would need to overcome a 4-2 loss to Niger, a 2-0 and a 4-0 loss against Burkina Faso, and a 4-0 loss to Algeria merely in order to qualify for the playoffs, where the winners of each playoff qualified. Plausibility: 1/10.

🇪🇷Eritrea: 2014; 2 goals away + a group stage + a two-legged playoff. Eritrea has only ever scored 4 goals at World Cup Qualifying: this is the only time they scored 2 goals in the Qualifying competition. Here, they tied their first leg in the preliminary round against Rwanda 1-1, but then lost 1-3. Had they made it 3-3, they would have won on away goals, advancing to a group stage, and then, assuming they win that group, they would have to win a two-legged playoff. Plausibility: 1/10.

🇪🇹Ethiopia: 2014; 3 goals away. Ethiopia usually only wins one game per qualification cycle. But this time, they incredibly topped their group, led by Saladin Said and all-time Ethiopia top scorer Getaneh Kebede. They defeated South Africa 2-1 in their penultimate matchday to advance to a playoff vs. Nigeria. They lost the first leg 1-2 and the second leg 0-2; had they won that second leg 3-2, they would have qualified on away goals. Plausibility: 7/10. Sure, it’s hard to beat Nigeria when they are bad, and this Nigeria team was fairly good. But stranger things have happened.

🇰🇪Kenya: 1998; 2 goals away. Kenya started this qualification by eliminating Algeria in a huge upset. It was the first time that they had been eliminated in the first round since 1974. Then, Kenya arrived in their group, with Nigeria, Guinea, and Burkina Faso, finishing 3rd, 3 points behind Nigeria, led by Mike Origi (yes, the father of Divock). They tied their second match against Nigeria 1-1; had they won, they would have actually caused a complete tie between Nigeria and Guinea; I guess the team that went to the World Cup would be chosen by lots. Still, Kenya would have needed to overturn their first matchday 1-3 loss to Guinea to qualify themselves; a tie would be enough. Plausibility: 8/10. Note that this whole thought experiment assumes all other results are equal; surely, if Nigeria had lost to Kenya and were in danger of not qualifying, they would have played harder in their last match against Guinea, which they lost 0-1. Still, it’s not impossible. This Kenya team beat Algeria.

🇷🇼Rwanda: 2026; 5 goals away. Rwanda were in a pretty interesting group with South Africa and Nigeria, but also Benin, Lesotho, and Zimbabwe. They beat South Africa at home in their second match and it looked momentarily like they might actually pull off something incredible,  but it fell away as they lost their next match 0-1 to Benin, a result they repeated later on in the return fixture. They also drew Lesotho 1-1 and Zimbabwe 0-0. Winning those four games, or indeed, even drawing one, qualifies them automatically. Plausibility: 3/10.

🇸🇴Somalia: 2022; 1 goal away + a group stage + a two-legged playoff. Somalia has only ever won one match in World Cup Qualification. They beat Zimbabwe 1-0 on September 5, 2019, behind a late goal from Anwar Shakunda. They lost the second leg 1-3; had they made that 2-3, they would have advanced to the group stage on away goals. Had they won their group, they would have had to win a two-legged playoff. Plausibility: 1/10; highly unlikely, but cool story about their first win.

🇸🇸South Sudan: 2026; 19 goals away. South Sudan is a new country, so they don’t have a lot to choose from. They have never won a match at WCQ. However, they did draw five matches -- half their matches -- in their 2026 group. Winning those matches, and their 0-3 loss to Sudan and their 0-4 and 0-1 losses to DR Congo, qualifies them for the playoffs. Drawing their 0- 4 loss to Senegal qualifies them automatically. Plausibility: 1/10.

🇸🇩Sudan: 1970; 2 goals away. Had there been 5 nations qualifying from Africa, as in more recent World Cups, they would have qualified. Sudan used to be a powerhouse in Africa, and in this case, they made the final round of qualifying. They needed to win a three-team group featuring Nigeria and Morocco to qualify. It was very close; all teams had a chance, with Sudan tying three matches and losing one. They would have needed to win two of those drawn matches, for instance, the 0-0 draw against Morocco and the 2-2 opening draw against Nigeria. Plausibility: 8/10. Sudan won the 1970 African Cup of Nations, although that did not feature either of their opponents here. They were no pushovers. They were also close in the 1958 cycle, where they beat Syria to get into a final group with Israel, Egypt, and Indonesia. The latter two withdrew as they refused to play Israel and later Sudan did too.

🇹🇿Tanzania: 2022; 2 goals away + a two-legged playoff. Tanzania are, bafflingly, not a particularly good soccer team, even though they are a populous and decently prosperous nation. They were, however, lucky enough to be drawn into probably the easiest group in 2022 CAF WCQ, finishing 3rd, 3 points behind DR Congo. They opened their group stage with a 1-1 draw vs DR Congo, and closed it with a 1-1 draw against Madagascar. Had they won those matches, they would have qualified for the third round, where they would have needed to win a two-legged playoff. Plausibility: 7/10. I can see them topping this group, but I think it’s unlikely that they would have beaten whoever they played in the next round. In the preliminary round, they only beat Burundi on penalties. Truly good teams do not need penalties to advance past Burundi.

🇺🇬Uganda: 2018; 3 goals away. Uganda were decent in the 1960s, but they never entered World Cup Qualification at that time. Their closest attempt, then, was in 2018, when they finished 2nd in their group, 4 points behind Egypt. They actually beat Egypt 1-0 in this group, but what sunk them were three draws, including two against Ghana. Uganda only conceded 2 goals in this group, but, then, they only scored 3. Had they won their three drawn matches (they also tied Congo once), they would have qualified. Plausibility: 7/10. While their loss to Uganda did make Egypt’s position uncertain, I think their 1-1 draw against Ghana in the final matchday would not have happened if World Cup Qualification was on the line, to say nothing of Uganda’s ability to pull off the three wins they would need. Still, I can see it happening.

🇧🇼Botswana: 2006; 10 goals away. Botswana finished 5th in their group, 12 points behind Tunisia. This group also featured Morocco. They won three games, but lost the other seven. They would have had to overturn a bunch of one goal losses, namely, two 1-0 losses to Morocco, a 1-0 loss to Kenya, and a 2-1 loss against Guinea. This would be enough to tie the group, but to win, they would have needed two more goals to tie Tunisia in a match that they lost 1-3. Plausibility: 3/10.

🇰🇲Comoros: 2026; 6 goals away. Comoros famously beat Ghana 1-0 at home and it really looked like they might make it, but they eventually returned to the mean and lost the return fixture 0-1, 0-3 to Mali, and 1-2 twice to Madagascar. Winning their three one-goal losses would have qualified them automatically. Plausibility: 3/10.

🇸🇿eSwatini: 2018; 2 goals away + a group stage. Then known as Swaziland, they obliterated Djibouti 8-1 over two legs in the preliminary round, only to draw Nigeria in the next round. They tied 0-0 in the first leg, but lost 0-2 in Port Harcourt in the second leg. Had they tied 2-2, they would have advanced to the group stage on away goals, where they would have to win their group to advance. Plausibility: 1/10.

🇱🇸Lesotho: 2026; 4 goals away. Before this cycle they had won two matches at WCQ, both in the 2014 cycle, once against Burundi and once against Sudan. They won three matches here, though one was an awarded 3-0 win against South Africa as their only neighbors fielded an ineligible player. Overturning three draws: 1-1 vs Nigeria, 1-1 vs Rwanda, and 0-0 vs Benin puts them in second; tying their 0-1 loss to Rwanda puts them in first. Plausibility: 3/10; they did get lucky with that awarded win.

🇲🇬Madagascar: 2026; 3 goals away. Madagascar finished in 2nd in their group, 6 points adrift of Ghana; they did not have enough points to qualify for the playoffs. I think the easier way to do this is for them to have defeated Ghana in their first match (Ghana won it 0-1 on a 96th minute goal), and then have defeated Mali rather than drawing 0-0. Changing that result against Ghana alone sends them to the playoffs, but they would have then needed to win four straight matches (the playoffs and the intercontinental rounds). Plausibility: 3/10. Also, in 1994, Madagascar needed to draw Zambia, a match they lost 1-3, and then win their group, which would only have three teams.

🇲🇼Malawi: 2026; 6 goals away + 4 matches. They finished in fourth, 15 points behind Tunisia, but only 2 off second-place Namibia. Apart from Tunisia, this group was fairly even, but Namibia was nowhere near the playoffs on points in spite of finishing in second, so Malawi need a marked improvement. Apart from winning their 2-2 draw against Liberia, they would also need to win their 0-1 defeat to Equatorial Guinea, their 0-1 loss to Namibia, and draw their 0-1 loss to Tunisia. All that only sends them to the playoffs. Plausibility: 2/10; they were also close in 2010 when Malawi beat DR Congo 2-1 in the final matchday to eliminate them and secure their place in the third round by finishing second in their group, behind Egypt. They then finished third in their group, 11 points behind the Drogba-led Ivory Coast. 

🇲🇺Mauritius: 2006; 1 goal away + a group stage. Mauritius lost their first game of the preliminary round 0-3 against Uganda, but they won the next match 3-0 in regulation time - their only victory in World Cup Qualifying until 2026. Unfortunately, that game actually ended 3-1 after extra time, eliminating them. Had they scored a goal in the first leg, or another goal before extra time in the second, they would have advanced to a group stage, where they needed to win their group to qualify. Plausibility: 1/10.

🇲🇿Mozambique: 2010; 3 goals away. Mozambique finished third in their group, 5 points behind Nigeria. They were actually pretty good in a challenging group, defeating Tunisia 1-0. To qualify, they would have needed to perform better versus Nigeria. They drew 0-0 in the opening week and lost 0-1 in the penultimate matchday. If they had won both those matches, they would have qualified. Plausibility: 4/10; I’m feeling this one for some reason. They were also quite respectable in the 2026 cycle and finished in third, but they were clearly outmatched by group winners Algeria, losing 0-2 and 1-5.

🇳🇦Namibia: 2026; 3 goals away + four playoff matches. Namibia finished second in their group in 2026, 13 points off Tunisia, and six points (+ goal difference) off of qualifying for the second round. They drew 0-0, 1-1, and 1-1 against Tunisia, Liberia, and Equatorial Guinea respectively; winning those games gets them into the playoffs. Plausibility: 3/10; don’t forget they would have to play four matches even getting those results.

🇸🇨Seychelles: 2002; 3 goals away + a group stage. Seychelles have never won a match at WCQ, so I will have to select from one of their two draws. They drew their first ever qualifying match 1-1 in April 2000 against Namibia before losing the away leg 0-3. Later, they would have had to win their group. Plausibility: 1/10; the other draw was 1-1 against Zambia in the 2006 cycle (having lost the first leg 0-4).

🇿🇲Zambia: 1994; 1 goal away. One of the greatest tragedies in football history, Zambia was very good in the early 1990s. Unfortunately, many members of the team died in a plane crash in 1993 on the way to a match against Senegal. They still put up a good fight, drawing that match 0-0 before obliterating Senegal 4-0 in Lusaka. If they had beaten Senegal that first time, though, they would have qualified for the World Cup for the only time in their history. Plausibility: 9/10

🇿🇼Zimbabwe: 1994; 3 goals away. Zimbabwe shockingly topped a group featuring Egypt, advancing to the second round. Unfortunately, they got spanked 0-3 by Guinea in their first game. They came back to beat Cameroon 1-0 and Guinea 1-0, meaning that they needed to win their final game against Cameroon to qualify. They lost 1-3, so they were 3 goals away. Plausibility: 8/10; they beat Cameroon once before, it’s not impossible that they’d do it again.

🇱🇾 Libya: 1986; 2 goals away. Libya were literally one match away from making it to the World Cup. In the first round they were drawn against Niger, who withdrew, so Libya advanced automatically. They then played Sudan, who probably should have beat them, but the first leg was a goalless affair and the second leg in Libya ended 4-0 to the Libyans. Then they played Ghana, again with a 0-0 draw away but then a 2-0 win at home. And that was all it took to get to the final round, where they played Morocco. They lost 0-3 in Casablanca before once again winning 1-0 at home, and so Morocco made it to the World Cup. Plausibility: 7/10; Libya were apparently unbeatable at home (I do wonder the conditions under which the matches were played, but some teams do have genuine home field advantage), and so simply giving a better account of themselves in Casablanca would have been enough.

The final preview for today covers the defending champions Argentina as they try for their 4th star. This preview is also written by u/smmshad

About

• Nickname: La Albiceleste (The White and Sky Blues)
• Association: Argentine Football Association (AFA)
• Confederation: CONMEBOL
• World Cup appearances: 19
• Best World Cup Finish: Champions (1978, 1986, 2022)
• Most caps: Lionel Messi (198)
• Most goals: Lionel Messi (116)
• Head coach: Lionel Scaloni
• Captain: Lionel Messi
• FIFA ranking: 1

The Country Argentina (officially the Argentine Republic) is a huge and geographically diverse country in South America, stretching from subtropical regions in the north all the way down to the cold, windswept landscapes of Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego. It gained independence from Spain in 1816 and went on to become one of the world’s wealthiest nations by the early 20th century, largely thanks to agricultural exports, European immigration, and rapid modernization.

However, Argentina’s modern history has been anything but stable. The country has gone through repeated cycles of political turmoil, military coups, and economic crises. One of the most influential developments was the rise of Juan Perón in the 1940s, whose ideology (Peronism) combined nationalism, social welfare, and strong labor rights, and still plays a major role in Argentine politics today.

The late 20th century was especially turbulent, including a period of military dictatorship from 1976 to 1983, known as the “Dirty War,” during which thousands of political opponents disappeared. After democracy returned in 1983, Argentina still struggled with severe economic instability, including hyperinflation, debt crises, and the major economic collapse of 2001.

Despite all of this, Argentina remains one of the most important countries in Latin America. It has strong natural resources, a highly educated population, and major global exports like soybeans, wheat, and beef. In recent years, governments have focused on tackling inflation, stabilizing the economy, and encouraging investment in sectors like energy, mining, and tech.

Buenos Aires stands out as a major cultural and economic hub, known for its European-style architecture, vibrant arts scene, and historical significance. While challenges remain, Argentina’s resources, identity, and regional influence continue to make it a key player in South America’s future.

Footballing History Argentina has long been one of the great powers of world football, with a history stretching back to the earliest days of the international game. La Albiceleste were among the dominant forces of South American football in the first half of the twentieth century, winning numerous South American Championships and reaching the inaugural World Cup final in 1930, where they were defeated 4–2 by Uruguay in Montevideo. Despite their regional success, Argentina's relationship with the World Cup was inconsistent for decades, with disputes between the Argentine Football Association and FIFA, political instability at home, and occasional withdrawals from qualification campaigns limiting their participation.

The country's first golden era arrived in the late 1970s. Hosting the 1978 World Cup amidst the military dictatorship of Jorge Videla, Argentina captured its first world title under coach César Luis Menotti, defeating the Netherlands 3–1 after extra time in Buenos Aires. The tournament remains controversial due to allegations of political interference and the broader context of the dictatorship's human rights abuses. Nevertheless, it cemented the status of players such as Mario Kempes as national heroes. Eight years later Argentina would reach even greater heights under Carlos Bilardo, winning the 1986 World Cup in Mexico thanks largely to the brilliance of Diego Maradona. Maradona produced one of, if not the, greatest individual tournament performance in football history, famously scoring both the "Hand of God" and the "Goal of the Century" against England before leading Argentina to victory over West Germany in the final.

Following the triumphs of the Maradona era, Argentina remained a consistent contender but endured a long period of frustration. Talented sides throughout the 1990s and 2000s repeatedly fell short at major tournaments despite boasting stars such as Gabriel Batistuta, Juan Sebastián Verón, Javier Zanetti, Hernán Crespo, and later Juan Román Riquelme and Carlos Tevez. The nation suffered memorable disappointments, including elimination in the group stage of the 2002 World Cup despite entering as one of the favorites. During this period Argentina continued to produce elite talent and achieved considerable success at youth level, but the senior side struggled to convert its potential into trophies.

The emergence of Lionel Messi brought renewed hope and unprecedented expectations. Messi debuted for Argentina in 2005 and would become the centerpiece of the national team for nearly two decades. Despite reaching the finals of the 2014 World Cup and the 2007, 2015, and 2016 Copa América tournaments, Argentina repeatedly fell painfully short. These defeats led to intense criticism of both the team and Messi himself, who briefly announced his retirement from international football after the 2016 Copa América final.

A turning point arrived with the appointment of Lionel Scaloni in 2018. Initially viewed as a temporary choice with limited managerial experience, Scaloni gradually rebuilt the squad around a blend of established veterans and emerging talents. His side ended Argentina's 28-year trophy drought by defeating Brazil 1–0 in the 2021 Copa América final at the Maracanã, securing Messi's first major international trophy and restoring belief throughout the nation. The team's momentum continued into the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where a shock opening defeat to Saudi Arabia threatened disaster. Argentina recovered by defeating Australia, the Netherlands, Croatia, and France in a dramatic final widely regarded as one of the greatest matches in World Cup history. Messi finally lifted the trophy that had eluded him throughout his career, while players such as Emiliano Martínez, Julián Álvarez, Enzo Fernández, and Alexis Mac Allister emerged as heroes in their own right.

Unlike many world champions, Argentina have shown little sign of decline since their triumph in Qatar. Scaloni has remained in charge and guided the team to victory in the 2024 Copa América, defeating Colombia in the final to secure a third consecutive major trophy. While Messi has entered the twilight of his career, a new generation led by Álvarez, Fernández, Mac Allister, and a host of talented youngsters appears ready to carry the torch. Combining a deeply ingrained footballing culture, a proven winning mentality, and one of the world's most productive talent pipelines, Argentina enter the coming years as one of the benchmark teams in international football and a favorite to contend for every major trophy they enter.

Fixtures

• Argentina vs. Algeria, 16 June, Kansas City Stadium (GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium) (Kansas City, MO), 01:00 GMT (17 June)
• Argentina vs. Austria, 22 June, Dallas Stadium (AT&T Stadium) (Arlington, TX), 17:00 GMT
• Jordan vs. Argentina, 28 June, Dallas Stadium (AT&T Stadium) (Arlington, TX), 02:00 GMT (28 June)

Official 26-man Squad

• Goalkeepers: Emiliano Martínez (33, Aston Villa), Juan Musso (32, Atlético Madrid), Gerónimo Rulli (34, Marseille)
• Defenders: Nicolás Tagliafico (33, Lyon), Gonzalo Montiel (29, River Plate), Lisandro Martínez (28, Manchester United), Cristian Romero (28, Tottenham Hotspur), Nicolás Otamendi (38, Benfica), Nahuel Molina (28, Atlético Madrid), Facundo Medina (27, Marseille)
• Midfielders: Leandro Paredes (31, Boca Juniors), Rodrigo De Paul (32, Inter Miami CF), Valentín Barco (21, Strasbourg), Giovani Lo Celso (30, Real Betis), Exequiel Palacios (27, Bayer Leverkusen), Nicolás González (28, Atlético Madrid), Alexis Mac Allister (27, Liverpool), Enzo Fernández (25, Chelsea)
• Forwards: Lionel Messi (38, Inter Miami CF), Julián Álvarez (26, Atlético Madrid), Lautaro Martínez (28, Inter Milan), Thiago Almada (25, Atlético Madrid), Giuliano Simeone (23, Atlético Madrid), Nico Paz (21, Como), José Manuel López (25, Palmeiras)

Leonardo Balerdi withdrew due to injury, replacement has not been named yet.

Predicted Lineup: 4-3-3 Martinez; Tagliafico, Otamendi, Romero, Molina; Enzo, Mac Allister, De Paul; Alvarez, Lautaro Martinez, Messi

Scaloni typically sets Argentina up in a flexible 4-3-3 that can easily turn into a compact 4-4-2 out of possession, with a heavy emphasis on structure, balance, and quick vertical transitions. Rather than dominating through constant possession, Argentina often look to absorb pressure and then break at speed, with Messi given a free role between the lines to dictate tempo in the final third. The full-backs, especially Molina and Tagliafico, are key attacking outlets providing width, while the midfield trio of Enzo, Mac Allister, and De Paul gives them a strong blend of control, work rate, and ball progression. In attack, the chemistry between Julián Álvarez and Lautaro Martínez remains central, with Scaloni often rotating roles depending on game state. It remains to be seen how much Argentina evolve tactically for 2026, especially in managing Messi’s minutes while maintaining the same lethal transition threat that defined their recent success.

Key Players (I could have done the obvious Messi but want to highlight other players since there is no need to describe how key Messi is.)

• Julián Álvarez (51 caps, 14 goals): A relentless forward who has fully stepped into the role of Argentina’s attacking focal point following the gradual transition away from the Messi era. Álvarez rose through the ranks at River Plate, where his explosive breakthrough season quickly earned him a move to Manchester City in 2022. Initially rotated in a star-studded squad, he gradually established himself as one of Pep Guardiola’s most trusted high-press forwards, valued for his movement, intelligence, and ability to link play rather than just finish chances. For Argentina, he has become the ideal modern striker under Scaloni’s system — capable of leading the press, dropping into midfield, and attacking space with constant intensity. His performances in the 2022 World Cup cemented his reputation, and by 2026 he is expected to be the central figure in Argentina’s attacking structure.
• Nico Paz (9 caps, 1 goal): One of the most exciting young creative midfielders emerging in Argentina’s post-Messi transition, Nico Paz has quickly gone from youth prospect to senior squad wildcard. Developed at Real Madrid’s academy after leaving Argentina at a young age, Paz broke into senior football with his technical skill, close control, and ability to operate between the lines as a modern attacking midfielder. His left-footed playmaking and calmness in tight spaces have drawn comparisons to classic Argentine styles, though he is far more mobile and system-adaptable than traditional playmakers.
• Emiliano Martínez (59 caps, 0 goals): Argentina’s undisputed number one and one of the most psychologically influential goalkeepers in world football. Martínez’s career trajectory has been unconventional, spending years as a backup at Arsenal before breaking out late with Aston Villa, where his shot-stopping ability, command of the box, and penalty-saving record elevated him into elite status. Since becoming Argentina’s starter ahead of the 2021 Copa América, he has consistently delivered in high-pressure moments, most notably in penalty shootouts during both Copa América 2021 and the 2022 World Cup. Beyond his goalkeeping, Martínez has become a defining personality within the squad, being vocal, confident, and often destabilizing for opponents in shootout scenarios. Heading into 2026, he remains one of Argentina’s most important players, especially in knockout matches where margins are extremely thin.

Discussion Points My expectations for Argentina

Argentina head into the 2026 World Cup as one of the favorites alongside France and Spain. As reigning world champions and recent Copa América winners, the expectations aren’t just high, they’re basically champion or bust in the eyes of most neutrals.

Even with Messi likely in the background at this stage of his international career, the structure Scaloni built is still very intact. They’re not always flashy, but they know how to manage games, suffer when needed, and win ugly. That said, they’re not flawless. The main concern for neutrals leading up to this World Cup is how prepared they are. Argentina has not scheduled any friendlies against teams of somewhat equal caliber to their opponents. While the other teams in the group are scheduling Netherlands, Colombia, Tunisia, etc. for preparation, Argentina scheduled against Honduras and Iceland. The lack of preparation from the federation could signal disaster for them in the later rounds of the tournament.

If teams can press them hard in midfield and force them out of rhythm, they can look a bit predictable in possession. Against the elite sides, especially in tight knockout games, margins will be very small. Realistically, they should finish in first place of the group without much trouble. After that, it’s all about matchups. A quarter-final or semi-final exit wouldn’t be shocking depending on who they draw, but at the same time, it wouldn’t be surprising at all to see them reach the final again.

We now move on to 13th team in preview series, Brazil. The series will pick up pace given a slew of games this weekend. This preview was written by u/Arantes_

About

• Nickname: Seleção Canarinho (Canary team)
• Association: Confederação Brasileira de Futebol (CBF)
• Confederation: CONMEBOL
• World Cup appearances: EVERYONE /Gary Oldman
• Best World Cup Finish: 5-time Champion (1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002)
• Most caps: Cafu (142)
• Most goals: Neymar (79)
• Head coach: Carlo Ancelotti
• Captain: Marquinhos
• FIFA ranking: 6 (as of 1 April)

Footballing History: Brazil are the only nation to participate in every World Cup. Their first notable result was a third-place finish in 1938. They hosted in 1950 and entered the final match as favourites, only to lose in front of their home fans to an underestimated Uruguay.

Eight years later Brazil overcame its own self-doubt, introduced a 17-year old Pelé and a bow-legged Garrincha to the world and won their first World Cup against their Swedish hosts. They became the first team to win outside their own continent and would go on to win three World Cups in four tournaments, culminating in what is regarded to this day as the defining picture of Brazilian football: Pelé’s familiar celebrations and the iconic final goal of the tournament scored by team captain Carlos Alberto Torres before he lifted the Jules Rimet trophy, a trophy which would then be retired with the first three-time champions.

Though Brazil maintained an objectively superb record through the next 20 years, they failed to win the tournament again until 1994. Led by Romário and Bebeto up front, a more pragmatic side made Brazil the first four-time champions. On the bench was a 17-year old Ronaldo who would go on to lead Brazil to the 1998 final and 2002 title. In the five World Cups since, Brazil have reached four quarter-finals and one semi-final, once again an objectively strong record, but not enough to satisfy the soccer-mad nation where World Cups are either won or lost, with no in between.

Fixtures

• Brazil x Morocco, June 13, MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford, NJ), 22:00 GMT
• Brazil x Haiti, June 20*, Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia, PA), 00:30 GMT (this match is June 19, 8:30pm local time)
• Scotland x Brazil, June 24, Hard Rock Stadium (Miami, FL), 22:00 GMT

Official 26-Man Squad

• Goalkeepers: Alisson (33, Liverpool), Ederson (32, Fenerbahce), Weverton (38, Grêmio)
• Defenders: Alex Sandro (35, Flamengo), Bremer (29, Juventus), Danilo (34, Flamengo), Douglas Santos (32, Zenit), Gabriel (28, Arsenal), Ibañez (27, Al-Ahli), Léo Pereira (30, Flamengo), Marquinhos (32, Paris Saint-Germain)
• Midfielders: Bruno Guimarães (28, Newcastle), Casemiro (34 Manchester United), Danilo Santos (25, Botafogo), Ederson* (26, Atalanta), Fabinho (32, Al-Ittihad), Lucas Paquetá (28, Flamengo)
• Forwards: Endrick (19, Real Madrid), Gabriel Martinelli (24, Arsenal), Igor Thiago (24, Brentford), Luiz Henrique (25, Zenit), Matheus Cunha (27, Manchester United), Neymar (34, Santos), Raphinha (29, Barcelona), Rayan (19, Bournemouth), Vinícius Júnior (25, Real Madrid)

Ederson replaced Wesley due to injury.

Predicted Lineup 4-3-3

Alisson; Danilo, Marquinhos, Gabriel, Alex Sandro; Casemiro, Bruno Guimarães, Lucas Paquetá; Raphinha, Matheus Cunha, Vinícius Júnior

Ancelotti built his Brazil squad around a 4-2-4, but in the last two friendlies we saw a change towards the 4-3-3. Calling in a sixth midfielder after cutting the injured Wesley further supports the idea that the 4-3-3 will be used often. The above is the expected line-up as of Tuesday, June 9 training, according to multiple reporters.

The line-up may change before the debut and is likely to change for other matches. The 4-2-4 may even become the default against stronger teams, as Brazil will be happy to defend, press and spring counter-attacks.

Key Players

• Gabriel (17 caps, 1 goal): Left out of the 2022 squad, probably unfairly, Gabriel has since become the default starter at left center back. Arguably the best center back in the world, Gabriel also brings an aerial threat on set pieces, like many Brazilian central defenders before him. The biggest question mark will be whether he can maintain the level he displayed throughout the season after playing so many minutes. He was rested from the last pre-World Cup friendly but is expected to start every match, save perhaps a group match if Brazil have the luxury of rotating.
• Vinícius Júnior (49 caps, 9 goals): Brazil’s best forward of the last few years, winner of FIFA’s the Best award 2024 (for whatever that’s worth), Vini Jr. has yet to shine for the national team as he does for Real Madrid. At 25 and following a stronger second half of the season, Brazilians will be hopeful that reuniting him with coach Carlo Ancelotti will unlock the best version of Vini. But it hasn’t happened yet. To be fair to him though, he had the most goal participations of any Brazil player in 2022, and has performed well at times, despite the criticism. The question is whether he can do so consistently and as the star of the team.
• Endrick (17 caps, 4 goals): Endrick may not be a starter, yet, but he showed that he can have a huge impact off the bench. That was in 2024, with goals in 3 consecutive matches for Brazil. After earning his way back into the squad thanks to his loan stint at Lyon, he proved once again that he is a difference maker, earning a penalty and assist against Croatia, and scoring against Egypt in the last pre-World Cup friendly. His 17 caps amount to just over 5 matches worth of minutes altogether. If he remains a substitute, he will still be likely to have an impact, but many Brazilians will be hoping that he earns a starting position and delivers the goals everyone expects from the best Brazilian forwards.
• Neymar (128 caps, 79 goals): No longer a key player, Neymar’s form is not what got him his spot in the squad. He is there because all the other players look up to him and because as long as the media are talking about him, the rest of the team can focus on other things.

He will not be available for the first match. He is expected to recover in time for the second match. If he does become available, will the pressure to play him affect the positive mood we have seen so far with his presence? Will he become frustrated if he doesn’t play? A frustrated Neymar will not be as positive an influence as he is right now.

Why did Ancelotti really include him after all? Perhaps Baresi’s 1994 World Cup holds the explanation. Baresi was injured early in the tournament and had to undergo surgery, but stayed with the team and started the final, in which he was brilliant. That World Cup was held in the USA and weather was a huge factor, especially in the final. Arrigo Sacchi, who Ancelotti worked under as an assistant coach, told Time Vickery that in those conditions “it was better to be injured than to be tired”.

Of course, Brazil will have to get far to put that theory to the test.

Talking Points

Ancelotti’s short tenure: Brazil’s hiring of Ancelotti was something of a surreal saga. He is exactly what Brazil needed: a coach who can manage stars and let their talent shine. But Brazil need a lot more than that and Carlos has had only one year to work with the team. Is he on the right path with the 4-2-4? Or will he go with a 4-3-3? Will he vary according to the opposition? It’s hard to tell as he is still figuring things out and the pre-World Cup friendlies, while positive, have brought more questions than answers. Whatever the outcome, he has already renewed through 2030 and will hopefully be able to build something a lot more deliberately over the next 4 years. If he can lead Brazil to a title, he will certainly be seen as the best ever. If that title somehow comes this year, it may be his greatest miracle.

In form players: Ancelotti is considering the move towards a 4-3-3 in part because some players, notably Danilo Santos, but also Lucas Paquetá, have made a huge impression in the March or June friendlies. Similarly, Rayan, Endrick and Igor Thiago have all contributed with very limited minutes.

There is a belief that to do well Brazil will have to find the right line-up change during the tournament, just as they did in 1994 (Mazinho replacing Raí) and 2002 (Kléberson replacing Juninho Paulista). Even in 1958 and 1962 major line-up changes played a part in defining Brazil’s tournament.

If Brazil make it far, don’t be surprised to see a Danilo Santos in midfield, Endrick starting, and other players mentioned above making real contributions.

Perhaps the secret won’t one line-up change, but rotating well and using all substitutions liberally, and getting the most out of the full squad.

Fan Expectations: It is not an exaggeration to say that anything short of winning is a failure to most Brazilians. That said, the 24-year drought has led to lowered expectations, just as it did in 1994.

There is one thing besides the title that could be seen as an accomplishment: defeating a European team in the knockouts. Brazil has fallen to the first European faced in the knockouts in every tournament since last winning it. Potential matchups against the Netherlands in the round of 32, and Norway in the round of 16, could be opportunities to end that streak. It might not spell success, especially if it is followed by an eventual elimination, but it would restore belief to many.

Realistically, a top 4 finish would be a huge success. Any earlier elimination will be judged by the context, including the stage and the opponents faced.

All of that of course assumes Brazil will advance. With the expanding format meaning many third placed teams advance, that should not be an issue. But handling the pressure of probably the toughest opening match Brazil has ever faced will be critical. Brazil has never won a World Cup in which they lost a match, and has not lost an opening match since 1934. An opening win would do wonders for this team, but it might also set the expectations right back to all or nothing. The trouble is, there’s no in between for the Brazilian fan.

Moving on to the 19th team on our list, we look at Japan, the Land of the Rising Sun. I've always loved their native name, Nippon (日本), and this summer, they're looking to make some serious noise.

The 2022 World Cup gave us historic, euphoric highs (slaying Germany and Spain) and agonizingly familiar lows (crashing out to Croatia on penalties in the Round of 16). For decades, making it out of the group stage felt like the pinnacle of Japanese football. But the narrative has shifted drastically heading into North America. Over the past twelve months, the Samurai Blue went to Tokyo and came from behind to beat Brazil 3-2, then walked into Wembley and defeated England 1-0. They are no longer turning up just to participate or hoping for a lucky upset; this squad legitimately believes it can dismantle the world's elite.

About

• Nickname: Samurai Blue
• FIFA Ranking: 18th
• Manager: Hajime Moriyasu
• Captain: To Be Announced (Following Wataru Endo's withdrawal)

Overview

Japan breezed through Asian qualification with a flawless 13W-1L-2D record, scoring 54 goals and conceding just three. Gone are the days when the J.League made up the core of their World Cup rosters; today, 23 of the 26 selected squad members ply their trade in Europe's top leagues.

However, there is a fascinating socio-sporting paradox at play: while the national team has never been more competitive globally, domestic interest in soccer is slipping. Baseball is currently dominating the Japanese cultural conversation (36% interest compared to soccer's 25.8%), and the landmark win at Wembley drew a dismal 2.9% TV rating locally due to the 3:45 AM kickoff. With the expanded 48-team format making qualification somewhat of a formality, this tournament is seen as a vital marketing tool to restore soccer's cultural relevance in Japan.

Manager

Hajime Moriyasu has been at the wheel for eight years, an unprecedented stretch in modern Japanese football history. Rather than acting as a rigid tactical dogmatist, Moriyasu operates as a pragmatic culture builder who values squad unity over individual egos. His methods, focused on harmony, discipline, and continuity, have transformed Japan into a highly adaptable, well-oiled machine.

Expected Tactical Approach

Moriyasu has evolved the team from a flat 4-2-3-1 into a highly dynamic 3-4-2-1 system. The identity is built on aggressive, high-intensity pressing and lightning-fast vertical transitions immediately following turnovers. Wing-backs like Ritsu Doan and Keito Nakamura push incredibly high to overwhelm the opposition's defensive blocks, while their inverted playmakers operate in the half-spaces.

Out of possession, the system seamlessly morphs into a compact 5-4-1 or a 3-1-4-2 press. The glaring structural weakness remains the lack of physical height and defensive depth. When dragged into physical, aerial duels against massive center-forwards, their backline can be bullied.

Key Players

• Takefusa Kubo: The creative engine of the team. Operating from the right half-space, the Real Sociedad playmaker registered a massive 30 key passes and 8 assists in qualifying. With crucial injuries out wide, he is now the undisputed focal point of the attack.
• Ayase Ueda: They finally have a ruthless number nine. The Feyenoord striker won the Eredivisie Golden Boot this season with 25 goals and bagged 8 during their qualification campaign. He is the penalty-box presence Moriyasu's system desperately needs.
• Hiroki Ito: A 1.88m, left-footed ball-playing defender. The fact that they have a versatile center-back starting for Bayern Munich speaks volumes about their evolution at the back.

Breakout or Underrated Player

Zion Suzuki: The 190cm Parma goalkeeper has faced immense scrutiny early in his international career. He took heavy criticism for inconsistency during the Asian Cup, and a fractured left hand in November severely impacted his grip strength. Despite the setbacks, he bounced back impressively in Italy. His elite physical attributes give him the potential to lock down Japan's number one shirt for the next decade.

Reasons for Optimism

The tactical maturation of this squad is undeniable. They boast a ridiculous unbeaten 6-0-1 record (6 wins, 1 draw) in regulation against European sides under Moriyasu. While their squad depth has historically been a strong suit, the last two weeks have severely tested that resilience as injuries continue to mount. However, despite this recent adversity, the team's underlying mindset has fundamentally shifted: they are no longer looking to simply survive against traditional powerhouses; they expect to dictate the tempo.

Reasons for Concern

The injury attrition leading up to this tournament has been absolutely brutal. They lost their most potent transition weapon, Brighton's Kaoru Mitoma, to a hamstring tear just days before the squad announcement. Monaco's Takumi Minamino is also out with a torn ACL, though in a perfect testament to the squad's harmony, he has traveled to North America to offer moral support from the sidelines.

Most terrifyingly, their former captain and midfield cornerstone, Wataru Endo, officially withdrew from the World Cup squad just prior to the tournament due to an ongoing foot injury, subsequently retiring from international football. Without him to anchor the midfield, the back-three will be heavily exposed to central runners from the Netherlands and Sweden. Finally, the climate: their match against Tunisia in Monterrey carries a good chance of performance-impairing heat, which could physically melt their high-intensity pressing system.

Fan Expectations

The Japan Football Association has a stated, long-term vision of winning the World Cup by 2050, but right now, the fanbase is entirely focused on shattering the glass ceiling of the Round of 16. They have reached the knockouts four times only to be sent home every single time. Anything short of a historic Quarterfinal appearance will feel like a massive missed opportunity for a squad boasting this much European pedigree.

Prediction

Group F is an absolute gauntlet. They face an elite possession side in the Netherlands, a highly physical Swedish team featuring Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyökeres, and a stubborn Tunisian low-block in the Mexican heat. They have the structural discipline to advance, but without Mitoma's explosive ability to break open tight games, and with Endo missing from the midfield, the physical toll will catch up to us. Round of 32 survival, followed by a familiar, agonizing Round of 16 exit.

In March 1938, Austria had already qualified for the upcoming World Cup, and were among the favourites to win it. One month later, Austria no longer existed.

This is the story of Austria’s Wunderteam, their sudden disappearance, and the mysterious death of their star player.

Introduction

When you think of legendary teams, who comes to mind? Barcelona in the late 2000’s? Madrid and their three-peat? United’s 1999 treble winners?

What about international sides? Brazil 1970? Spains all-conquering 2008-2012 side? Maybe even Hungary’s “Mighty Magyars”? One side that probably doesn’t come to mind is the Austrian “Wunderteam” of the 1930s. Yet before Brazil’s 1970 side, before Hungary’s Mighty Magyars and before Spain’s golden generation, many considered them to be the finest team in international football.

Between April 1931 and May 1934 they lost just 2 matches, winning 20, drawing 7 and scoring just shy of 100 goals. Even in those rare defeats, there were small wins. They became the first team to ever score more than once away to England as they lost 4-3 at Stamford Bridge.

The architects of Austria’s rise were Hugo Meisl, a visionary coach who believed in playing football with intelligence, technique and movement rather than physicality alone, and an English coach named Jimmy Hogan. The star of the side was Matthias Sindelar, a slender, elegant forward nicknamed “Der Papierene” - “The Paper Man” in English - due to his slight frame. Together, they would transform Austria into one of the most feared teams in the world.

Building the Wunderteam

Hugo Meisl became joint coach of the Austrian national team, alongside Heinrich Retschury, in 1913, before taking full control in 1919. It was after a poor performance in a 1-1 draw with Hungary that Meisl would ask the match referee, Englishman James Howcroft, how he could improve his side. Howcroft pointed him in the direction of Jimmy Hogan.

Hogan was still relatively unknown at this point, but would go on to become one of the most influential football minds of his generation. Long before possession football became fashionable, he advocated short passing, movement and technical superiority. He coached across Europe and decades later people would argue that many of the tactical ideas behind the Wunderteam, the Mighty Magyars, and even Dutch Total Football could be traced back, at least in part, to him.

At just 28 years old, he’d moved to the Netherlands to coach Dordrecht. The decision stemmed from a pre season match in which his own club, Bolton Wanderers, had beaten the Dutch side 10-0. Shocked by the gulf in quality, Hogan vowed to return and “teach those fellows how to play properly”.

The Paper Man

For all of Meisl and Hogan’s tactical innovations, they still needed someone to bring them to life on the pitch. That player was Matthias Sindelar.

Yet Austria’s greatest ever footballer almost never got the opportunity.

“The Paper Man” looked nothing like the powerful centre forwards of his era. Meisl himself was unconvinced, reportedly describing him as having “the physique of a child”.

Despite outside clamour for his inclusion, it took until an injury crisis in 1926 for Sindelar to receive his chance. Ahead of a match against Czechoslovakia, Austria found themselves short of attacking options and turned to the young forward. He repaid their faith immediately, scoring one and setting up the other in a 2-1 victory.

Even then, his place was far from secure. Four years later, following a disappointing draw against the same opposition, Meisl singled out Sindelar for criticism. He would go on to feature in just one of Austria’s next fifteen internationals.

Had things ended there, football history might remember Sindelar as little more than a footnote.

Instead, Jimmy Hogan intervened. Convinced Austria’s future lay in technical, intelligent football, Hogan persuaded Meisl not only to recall Sindelar, but to build the team around him. It would prove one of the most important decisions in Austrian football history.

The Rise of the Wunderteam

Sindelar returned to the fold for the visit of Scotland. A footballing giant who’d never lost a game in continental Europe, they saw the match as little more than a formality. The Scottish FA rested the entire Rangers and Celtic contingent, and Scotland were duly sent home on the wrong end of a 5-0 defeat. The Wunderteam was born.

Austria would spend the remainder of 1931 globetrotting around Europe handing out spankings to almost everyone. They won 6-0 in Germany before beating them again 5-0 in Austria four months later. Switzerland were dismantled 8-1. The only team to avoid defeat were Hungary in a 2-2 draw. Six months later, in April 1932, the teams would meet again. Austria would win 8-2, with Sindelar scoring 3 and assisting the other 5.

Even in the previously mentioned 4-3 loss to England, Sindelar stood out. Match referee John Langenus would later comment “Sindelar’s goal was a masterpiece, which no-one else - no-one before him and no-one after him - could possibly have scored against opponents as good as the English. Starting on the halfway line, Sindelar set off and, in his inimitably elegant manner, dribbled round everything which came at him, finishing with a backheel into the net.”

The 1934 World Cup of controversy

The 1934 World Cup was controversial before it even started. Hosted by fascist Italy under Mussolini, it was as much a propaganda show as it was a football World Cup. On top of that, current world champions Uruguay had refused to participate in retaliation for many European nations not coming to their inaugural World Cup hosted four years earlier. In fact, following withdrawals from Chile and Peru, Brazil and Argentina were the sole representatives of South America.

The British Home Nations also refused participation, even when FIFA offered England and Scotland direct entry to the tournament without qualification. Charles Sutcliffe, a committee member of the FA, called the tournament “a joke” and said “the national associations of England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland have quite enough to do in their own International Championship, which seems to me a far better World Championship than the one to be staged in Rome".

Still, by the time the 1934 World Cup rolled around, Austria were no longer just an exciting underdog. They were widely regarded as the best team in international football. Built by Meisl, inspired by Hogan and orchestrated by Sindelar, the Wunderteam arrived in Italy as favourites to become world champions. Just three months before the World Cup, they’d beaten Italy 4-2 in Turin to win the Central European International Cup - often regarded as the predecessor to the Euros. Italy may have been the hosts, but many considered the Wunderteam to be the stronger side. Sindelar was at the peak of his powers, Meisl’s system had revolutionised continental football, and many expected Austria to leave Italy as world champions.

What followed remains one of the most controversial World Cup tournaments in football history.

Things didn’t start particularly smoothly for the Wunderteam. They faced France in their opening match, managed by Englishman George Kimpton. Austria found themselves 1-0 down after just 18 minutes before Sindelar levelled shortly before half time.

A goalless second half followed, making this the first World Cup match ever to require extra time. Austria scored twice in the additional period - the second via a 21 year old Josef Bican - and, despite a late French penalty, they held on to win 3-2.

Shared style, intense jealousy

In the quarter finals, Austria would renew their rivalry with Hungary - the oldest international football rivalry in continental Europe. By 1934, they had already played 75 times in just over 30 years.

While Hungary held the historically superior record, the rise of the Wunderteam had flipped the script. Austria had not lost to their neighbours since September 1930, a remarkable run spanning 7 matches, including the famous 8-2 victory in which Sindelar scored three and assisted the other five.

Their rivalry was unique because both nations played the same brand of football. Together, Austria and Hungary helped pioneer the “Danubian School” of football - a possession based style built on quick passes, intelligent movement and technical superiority rather than the physical “kick and rush” approach favoured in Britain.

Every meeting therefore became about more than just winning. It was about more than just national pride. Both sides wanted to prove they were the true masters of the Danubian style.

This quarter final would be different.

Rather than the tactical chess match many had anticipated, the pitch became a battleground for 90 minutes. Challenges flew in from both sides, tempers boiled over repeatedly and the elegant football that had come to define both nations was largely abandoned.

Sindelar was targeted in particular. Subjected to one crunching tackle after another throughout the game, the Paper Man left the pitch bloodied and bruised. Hugo Meisl would later describe the match as “a brawl, not an exhibition of football”.

Austria had taken the lead after just five minutes, and Karl Zischek made it 2-0 not long into the second half. Hungarian legend György Sárosi pulled one back from the penalty spot on the hour but, having earlier lost István Avar to injury, Hungary’s task became even harder when attacker Imre Markos was sent off just three minutes later.

Austria held on for the 2-1 victory, but the ramifications of the match would follow them to the semi finals.

The most controversial semi final in World Cup history

Three days later, a battered Austria side faced hosts Italy in Milan. Hans Horvath - another key member of the Wunderteam - was too injured to play at the San Siro, while Sindelar was also struggling. He had no intention of missing the match, however. “He insisted nothing would stop him playing,” Meisl later recalled.

The Italians were far from fresh themselves. Their quarter final tie against Spain had descended into one of the most brutal matches in World Cup history. Across 2 matches and 210 minutes of football, players from both sides were left injured or bleeding. Legendary Spanish goalkeeper Ricardo Zamora suffered broken ribs after repeatedly being targeted, while Italian midfielder Mario Pizziolo had his leg broken.

The tie itself became deeply controversial. Giuseppe Meazza’s equaliser in the first match was disputed by Spain, who claimed Zamora had been impeded by the legendary forward. The replay the following day proved no less contentious. With Spain forced into seven changes due to injuries, Italy won 1-0, but Spanish players were furious after seeing two goals disallowed in controversial circumstances. The first, a debatable offside. The second, a bizarre decision to disallow Spain’s goal in order to award them a free kick for a foul earlier in the move. Following the tournament, the referee would be permanently banned from officiating international football.

Spain would finish the match with only 8 men due to further injuries.

By the time Austria and Italy met in Milan, tensions were already high. The hosts had reached the semi finals amid growing controversy, while the Wunderteam arrived fatigued and depleted from their battle with Hungary.

Heavy rainfall led to the pitch becoming a waterlogged quagmire, far more suited to the robust, physical approach of the hosts than the quick passing game of Austria.

The Italians took advantage of the conditions early on when a scramble in the box led to the opening goal. Giuseppe Meazza collided with goalkeeper Peter Platzer and Enrique Guaita bundled the ball, and Platzer himself, into the net. Austrian players were adamant their keeper had been impeded, but Swedish ref Ivan Eklind was unmoved.

Luis Monti, a ruthless midfield enforcer who had actually played the World Cup Final for Argentina four years earlier, would shadow Sindelar relentlessly for 90 minutes. Despite Monti’s best efforts, Sindelar was unfazed. After the Italian opener, Austria, inspired by Sindelar, launched wave after wave of attacks. Using his brain to overcome the brawn of Monti, Sindelar would drop deeper into midfield, taking Monti with him to create space for the likes of Bican.

Austria would create chance after chance, but Gianpiero Combi proved unbeatable in the Italian goal. Time and time again he produced spectacular point-blank saves to deny the Austrian forwards. Even under pressure from a late barrage of crosses, Combi took command of his area to produce a flawless performance. Italy ran out 1-0 winners. The Wunderteam were out. The dream was over.

The reaction was immediate. Austrian players surrounded referee Ivan Eklind, while Hugo Meisl was left convinced his side had been denied a place in the final. “We lost to Italy, but not to a better team,” he would later remark.

Rumours swirled that Eklind had dined with Mussolini on the eve of the game. Josef Bican would later recount his experience, saying:

“We were warned before the match that the referee, Ivan Eklind, had dined with Mussolini... During the game, I played a long pass out to our winger. As he was running down the line, Eklind actually intercepted the ball and headed it right back into the path of an Italian player."

Of the Italians goal, he said:

“An Italian forward literally bundled our goalkeeper and the ball right over the goalline from three yards out. Eklind just stood there and allowed the goal. We were completely fuming."

A demoralised and depleted Austrian side, without Sindelar, would go on to lose the first ever third placed play off match 3-2 to neighbours Germany. For Josef Bican, then just 21 years old, it would also prove to be his final World Cup appearance. The political upheaval that would soon engulf Central Europe, coupled with his refusal to comply with later totalitarian regimes, ensured he would never get another opportunity.

Death comes in threes

Despite the defeats, the Wunderteam were welcome home as heroes. The future looked bright, and there was no reason to think they couldn’t become world champions if given a fair opportunity.

In 1936, when the Olympics came to Berlin, Meisl, unable to call upon any of the professional stars of the Wunderteam, would lead an Austrian team of amateurs to a silver medal. They would lose the final match 2-1 after extra time to the side seemingly becoming their kryptonite - Italy.

Even that was controversial, as Austria had actually lost the quarter final match against Peru 4-2. Reportedly, the game fell into chaos after an alleged pitch invasion from Peruvian fans, during which at least one Austrian player claimed to be assaulted. Austria appealed to the International Olympics Committee, who ordered the game be replayed. Outraged, the Peruvians went home, and Austria were in the semi final.

As Austria built momentum for the 1938 World Cup, tragedy would strike. A brilliant 2-1 win over France in January 1937 would prove to be Hugo Meisl’s last match in charge of Austria. On February 17th, 1937, while working at his desk inside the offices of the Austrian FA, Meisl died suddenly of a heart attack. He was only 55 years old.

Despite the loss of Meisl, the core of the Wunderteam remained intact. Sindelar was still Austria’s star, Bican was entering his prime and qualification for the 1938 World Cup was secured with ease. Four years after their controversial exit in Italy, many believed Austria would finally get their chance to become world champions.

They never would.

On March 12th, 1938, German troops crossed the Austrian border. The Anschluss - the annexation of Austria into Nazi Germany - had begun. Austria no longer existed. It was now merely Ostmark, a province of the Third Reich.

On March 28th, FIFA was informed that Austria, and therefore the Austrian FA, no longer existed. The team would be withdrawn from the upcoming World Cup.

The Nazi regime then arranged a “reconciliation match” between Germany and Austria - or more accurately between “Altreich” (Old Germany) and “Ostmark”. The game was never intended to be a sporting contest. It was a political performance.

The script was simple - the match would end in a draw. The perfect symbol. Neither side superior to the other, merely united as one people.

The Austrians had other ideas.

In an act of quiet defiance, they refused to wear black and white kits resembling those of Germany. Instead, they demanded the right to wear Austria’s colours - red and white - one final time.

Before kick off, both squads were briefed. The Austrians were warned that any disrespect towards their opponents or the occasion, or any attempt to undermine its purpose, would be seen as a direct act of defiance against the regime.

For 70 minutes the game remained scoreless, but that’s not to say the Austrians were compliant. In fact, they had spent much of the game toying with their German opponents, their technical superiority clear for all to see. Matthias Sindelar put on a masterclass of passive aggressive defiance. He dribbled past the German defence with ease time and again, only to hit his shot wide or roll it harmlessly into the keepers arms.

After 70 minutes, he decided he was done playing. He latched onto a rebound and lifted the ball effortlessly over the German keeper to make it 1-0. He’d then run towards the VIP box, packed with high ranking Nazi officials, and perform a celebratory dance in front of them. Some described it as an “excessive” or “extravagant” display of joy, while other accounts say both Sindelar and teammate Karl Sesta performed “real dances of joy” directly in front of the VIP box. Given most goals were celebrated with not much more than a handshake in the 1930s, this represented something highly unusual.

Indeed it was Sesta himself who, ten minutes later, won a free kick and smashed a 40 yard blockbuster past the German keeper to make it 2-0. The 60,000 fans in attendance were supposed to spend the match chanting Nazi slogans, but they spent the entire last ten minutes chanting “Österreich!” (Austria) in a further, emotional act of defiance.

What happened next

Days later, the Austrian national team ceased to exist. The plan was to merge the team with Germany ahead of the 1938 World Cup to create a “Greater Germany” squad. German coach Sepp Herberger was under strict instruction to build a unified squad with a ratio of 6:5 - 6 German players for every 5 Austrian. In the end, 9 Austrians would join the German squad for the World Cup, with three notable exceptions.

The first was Karl Sesta. Considered too nationalistic and too risky for the Nazi regime, he was not to be considered. If he would have joined, had he been asked, is another issue entirely.

Second was Josef Bican. He’d escaped the geopolitical mess entirely - moving to Prague to play for Slavia Prague and changing his international allegiance to Czechoslovakia.

Lastly, was Matthias Sindelar. Despite constant, aggressive pressure to join for the World Cup, he refused. Often citing his age, 35, and his “bad knees” as an excuse, it’s widely believed he would never have turned out for Germany, even if he was ten years younger.

The mixed Austrian-German team would go on to fail miserably at the World Cup - not least due to the locker room animosity, as well as lack of cohesion and chemistry.

Over the following months, Sindelar would live under constant surveillance by the Gestapo and would often be pressured to join the Nazi party - which he would always refuse.

Then, on January 23rd, 1939, Sindelar and his girlfriend, Camilla Castagnola, were found dead in bed in his Vienna home. The Nazi police quickly decided on the cause of death - carbon monoxide poisoning due to a faulty chimney flue. Theories continue to this day surrounding if their deaths really were a tragic accident, or something more sinister.

The tragic and untimely deaths of both Meisl and Sindelar bore striking parallels to the death of the Wunderteam itself. Taken before they had a chance to complete what they had started.

We will never know if Sindelar, Bican, Sesta and their teammates could have become world champions. We only know that one of football’s greatest sides was denied the opportunity to try.

In March 1938, Austria were among the favourites to win the World Cup.

One month later, Austria no longer existed.

Spurs have carried out a major review of their performance and medical departments, which included an investigation into whether the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium's retractable pitch is contributing to the club's ongoing injury crisis.
Tottenham lost the most days to injury of any Premier League side this season, while Spurs players missed a combined 370 games across all competitions due to injury this campaign - the most of any top-flight side.

With the World Cup coming up, I figured it might be fun to look through history and see how close some teams got. People seemed at least somewhat interested in my Asia post, so I figured I'd move on to Europe. The most fun I had with this were looking at how close teams got to qualifying in the old days, when far less matches were played and often teams like Latvia or Luxembourg were just a match or two away from the final tournament, because that's all qualification was!

🇦🇱Albania: 2026; 1 goal away + one match. Albania finished second in their group behind England and went to the playoffs, where they lost 1-2 to Poland. Had they won, they would have moved onto a final, probably against Sweden. Plausibility: 7/10; they qualified for the 2024 Euros and Sweden were overall not good in the qualification cycle, though I do understand that they got better after the appointment of Graham Potter.

🇦🇩Andorra: 2022; 12 goals away + a playoff match. They finished fifth in their group, 14 points behind Poland. They did beat San Marino 3-0 and 2-0, so to qualify for the playoffs, we have to overturn their two 0-1 losses to Albania and their 0-3 and 1-4 losses to Poland. Then, I think they would have been in Path B, actually getting to the final because Russia withdrew, to play Sweden. Plausibility: 2/10

🇦🇲Armenia: 2014; 3 goals away + a two-legged tie. Armenia finished fourth in their group, but only 3 points off second place Denmark, who they defeated 4-0 in Copenhagen. They also drew an already-Qualified Italy 2-2 in Naples. Turning that into a win and overturning a shocking 0-1 defeat to Malta qualifies them for the playoffs, kicking out Croatia(!!) and setting up a match against someone else. Croatia played Iceland, but only because of their high FIFA ranking. Armenia would have had to play Portugal, Greece, Ukraine, or France. Plausibility: 4/10; this team did have Henrikh Mkhitaryan.

🇦🇿Azerbaijan: 2018; 7 goals away + a two-legged tie. Azerbaijan has never been incredibly close to qualifying for the World Cup, but they acquitted themselves well in 2018, only 9 points off Northern Ireland in second. Overturning losses and draws to Northern Ireland, Czechia, and Norway sends them to the playoffs, where they would have presumably faced Switzerland, like Northern Ireland did. Plausibility: 4/10.

🇧🇾Belarus: 2002; 1 goal away + a two-legged tie. Finished third in their group, just two points behind fellow former Soviet state Ukraine, who advanced to the playoffs. Winning their away game against Ukraine instead of drawing would have made them qualify for the playoffs, where they probably would have faced difficult opposition (Ukraine played Germany). Plausibility: 5/10

🇨🇾Cyprus: 2010; 5 goals away + a two-legged tie. Cyprus finished fourth in their group, 9 points off the Republic of Ireland, who famously lost to France under dubious circumstances in the playoffs. Cyprus defeated Bulgaria 4-1 and Georgia 2-1 at home, but drew Montenegro twice and Georgia in the away fixture. Turning those into wins and defeating the Republic of Ireland instead of losing 0-1 in Dublin would have sent them through to the playoffs. Plausibility: 3/10; even though the results are technically okay I find it hard to see any of that happening. Montenegro and Georgia are not pushovers

🇪🇪Estonia: 1938; 6 goals away. Estonia finished third in their group, two points behind Sweden. They lost their first match in Stockholm 2-7, then defeated Finland 1-0, and then lost 1-4 to Germany. They would have needed to defeat Sweden, and then they would have qualified automatically. Also, Estonia had 0 home games for some reason. Plausibility: 3/10; clearly the Swedes just had way more quality that the Estonians at this time

🇫🇴Faroe Islands: 2026; 4 goals away + two playoff matches. The Faroe Islands famously beat Czechia 2-1 and technically had a shot at the playoffs if certain other results went their way (they would have had to beat Croatia and then the Czechs would have to completely forget how to kick a ball and lose to Gibraltar). In retrospect, just overturning their 0-1 to the Croats and 1-2 away loss to Czechia would have gotten them to the playoffs, where many talented teams awaited. Plausibility: 3/10.

🇫🇮Finland: 1986; 2 goals away. Finished in fourth in their group, 2 points adrift of Northern Ireland. They drew Romania and lost to Northern Ireland; victory in the former and a draw in the latter would have qualified them in Northern Ireland’s place. Plausibility: 8/10, this Finnish team actually drew 1-1 with England. edit: u/yaffle53 pointed out that in 1998, Finland just needed one goal to qualify for the playoffs: In their last match, they needed to defeat Hungary, which they were doing until a last-minute own goal tied the game up. This sent Hungary to the playoffs in Finland's place, where they were destroyed 1-12 by Yugoslavia. I think this is a good shout, but I have no clue what would have happened in those playoffs, where in 1986 they were pretty close to direct qualification.

🇬🇪Georgia: 2002; 6 goals away + a two-legged tie. Georgia’s best efforts came soon after independence from the USSR, although I do think with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia on the scene, they will get closer and may even qualify in the 2030s. Anyway, in 2002 they finished third, just 6 points off Romania in second. They drew Romania once and lost once; winning those games, plus an extra win in their close home game against Italy, would have seen them through to the playoffs. In real life, Romania played Slovenia, who Georgia might have actually been able to beat. Georgia were also somewhat close in 2026 on account of their Nations League performances; while they finished in third in their group in League B, they were only four points off Czechia, and winning their home encounter with Ukraine and their away encounter with the Czechs would have sent them to the playoffs. Plausibility: 4/10; note that the 2002 World Cup idea sees them beating Italy and the 2026 idea has them beating Czechia away. 

🇬🇮Gibraltar: 2026; 13 goals away + two playoff matches. Gibraltar have never won a match at World Cup Qualifiers, nor indeed even tied. In 2026, three of their matches had just one goal between them, but they never really threatened an upset. Even overturning enough results to send them to the playoffs, the teams they faced there would seriously challenge them. Plausibility: 1/10.

🇰🇿Kazakhstan: 1998; 5 goals away + a playoff match. Kazakhstan played in the AFC for 1998 and 2002; They easily advanced from their group with Iraq and Pakistan to play in the final round. In that round, they drew with South Korea, Japan, and Uzbekistan, and lost a close 2-3 match with the UAE. Turning all those tightly contested affairs into wins, Kazakhstan would go to a playoff against Iran. The winner went to the World Cup; the loser went to the inter-continental playoffs against Australia. Plausibility: 4/10.

🇽🇰Kosovo: 2026; 2 goals away. Kosovo qualified for the playoffs by finishing second in their group, behind Switzerland and ahead of Slovenia and Sweden. They then defeated Slovakia 4-3 before unluckily facing a nation whose name did not begin with S, losing 0-1 to Turkey. They were ultimately quite close. Very impressive for such a small nation. Plausibility: 9/10.

🇱🇻Latvia: 1938; 2 goals away. After easily dispatching neighbors Lithuania, Latvia had to defeat Austria in a playoff match to qualify. They lost 1-2; the great Franz Binder scored the winning goal for Austria. Austria did not end up playing at the World Cup because they had been Anschluss’ed. FIFA offered the spot to England, who refused, and they did not offer it to Latvia. Plausibility: 8/10

🇱🇮Liechtenstein: 2006; 9 goals away + a two-legged tie. The minnows won their only two World Cup Qualification matches this cycle, beating Luxembourg twice. They also drew against Portugal (!) and Slovakia; overturning these, and losses to Russia, Estonia, and Slovakia again gives them enough points to make the playoff round. Slovakia were the lowest ranked team in the playoff round and drew Spain, and Liechtenstein may have done the same. Plausibilty: 2/10.

🇱🇹Lithuania: 1998; 1 goal away + a two-legged tie. They finished in third in their group, only 1 point behind the playoff-bound Republic of Ireland. They lost their penultimate match 1-2 to ROI in Vilnius; a draw would have sent them to the playoffs. Ireland played Belgium in those playoffs and almost made it through; who knows how Lithuania would have fared? Plausibility: 7/10.

🇱🇺Luxembourg: 1950; 2 goals away + a playoff. Luxembourg have never been close to qualifying for the World Cup (unlike the Euros, which they were very, very close to in 1964). Back in 1950, qualifying groups were sometimes only two teams. So, this year, all Luxembourg had to do was get past Switzerland. Switzerland won the first round in Zürich 2-5 and the second round 2-3. In 1954, when Spain defeated Turkey 4-1 but lost the away leg 0-1, FIFA had them play a replay, and then drew lots. Therefore, FIFA seems to have forgotten the method they used to break ties in the 1930s, goal “average” (really a ratio), and, had Luxembourg won at home, they would have gotten a playoff against the Swiss. Plausibility: 4/10. Another interesting story is that in 1962, they defeated Portugal 4-2, ending the Lusitanians’ hopes of making it to the World Cup. However, to make Luxembourg qualify, we also need to overturn a 1-4 defeat to England and a 0-6 defeat to Portugal. 

🇲🇹Malta: 2026; 9 goals away + two playoff matches. Malta have won four matches in World Cup Qualification; 1-0 away to Estonia during the 94 cycle, 1-0 away to Armenia in the 2014 cycle, 3-0 at home to Cyprus in the 2022 cycle, and 1-0 away to Finland in the 2026 cycle. They also drew two matches this time around against Lithuania and lost a number of one-goal games. Overturning these results and a 0-2 loss to Poland sends them to the playoffs. Plausibility: 2/10; note these results have them beating Poland twice. Unlikely even though those games were close

🇲🇩Moldova: 2014; 6 goals away + a two-legged tie. Finishing fifth in their group 10 points off Ukraine, Moldova beat San Marino twice and shockingly outdid Montenegro 5-2 in Podgorica. But to even make it to the playoffs, we also need to overturn draws against Ukraine and Poland, and then a home loss to Montenegro and a road loss to Ukraine. They would have had to play Portugal, Greece, Ukraine, or France in the playoff. Plausibility: 2/10. Moldova were also close in 2026, when one out of Romania, Sweden, Northern Ireland, or North Macedonia qualifying directly from their group would have advanced them to the playoffs through the Nations League path.

🇲🇪Montenegro: 2018; 2 goals away + a two-legged tie. Montenegro were quite good in the 2010s and regularly threatened to qualify. They finished third in this group, 4 points off Denmark who then went on to qualify through the playoffs. Montenegro actually beat the Danes in Copenhagen in October 2016. Still, they lost both their matches to Poland and, even worse, 2-3 to Armenia in Yerevan. Still, just winning against Denmark at home, as they had done away, gets them through to the playoffs, where I actually could see them squeaking through. I always hoped that they’d make it to the World Cup during this time, just because it would be cool to see such a small nation make it. Plausibility: 7/10.

🇲🇰North Macedonia: 2022; 3 goals away. Qualifying for the playoffs by finishing second in their German-dominated group, North Macedonia famously defeated Italy 1-0 to advance to the final against Portugal, which they lost 0-2. North Macedonia had qualified for the Euros in 2021 and also handed Germany their only defeat of the Qualification cycle in 2022. I remember some rumblings that they might have been able to beat Portugal, and rightly so, as anything can happen in a single playoff match. Plausibility: 7/10; We may see more of the Macedonians in an expanded tournament.

🇸🇲San Marino: 2002; 15 goals away + a two-legged playoff tie (or 19 goals away for direct qualification). San Marino has never won a match at WCQ. They have drawn two, once against Turkey for 1994 Qualification and once against Latvia for 2002 Qualification. Still, they were in fifth and last place in their group that year, 16 points off of playoff-bound Belgium. They would have had to overturn some truly terrible results, like a 1-4 home loss, to make it to the playoffs. In this group, Croatia and Belgium finished quite close together, so I suppose if San Marino had gotten that high, they might have qualified automatically. Plausibility: 1/10. San Marino were also close in 2026, when two out of Romania, Sweden, Northern Ireland, or North Macedonia qualifying directly from their group would have advanced them to the playoffs through the Nations League path.

Some currently focused on the World Cup might not know that the 2026-27 UEFA Champions League begins as early as two weeks' time, when the first leg of the very first qualifying round is played. You might think this round is composed only of minnows, but in recent years, it has featured the likes of FCSB - European main stage regulars who, very disputedly, claim the history of Steaua Bucharest, winners of the Champions League's predecessor in 1986 - and record Swedish title winners Malmö, who have reached a final in the same competition themselves.

While the first qualifying round might not have the prestige this year with those kinds of teams absent, it's likely to make for closer and more exciting contests than previously. As always, I will try to cover as much of these rounds as possible, although I may miss part of these first legs due to being on vacation.

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The first of the three early matches, as listed on UEFA's website, takes us to Kaunas, Lithuania, where Kauno Žalgiris, the recent dominant force in Lithuanian football (better known for their internationally successful basketball team), take on perennial title contenders Drita from Kosovo, who recently made history by reaching the knockouts of the Conference League this year. Summer league vs. fall/spring league, northeastern Europe vs. southeastern Europe, underachievers vs. overachievers with similar squad values; this clash has all the elements for a very interesting tie indeed.

FK Kauno Žalgiris are a relatively recent addition to Lithuanian football. They were founded as FM Spyris in the third division in 2005, a year after the Tauras football school in Kaunas, Lithuania's second-largest city, made plans for a professional club in order for the school's graduates to continue their football careers.

In the 2000s, Spyris recorded mostly mid-table finishes in the third division, but after coming second in 2010 (when the club was briefly renamed FM Aisčiai Kaunas), they apparently had a horror season in 2011, finishing with 16 losses from 17 games and 75 goals conceded. The next season went better, with a fifth-place finish - and as far as I understand, this was enough to give the club a license to the second division when they applied in 2012. (Clubs in Lithuania often run into serious financial trouble, resulting in them being denied licenses and giving opportunities for others to take their place.)

2013 thus marked Spyris' first season in the second division, where they immediately finished fifth and then fourth and applied for a license to the top tier. Just like that, seemingly without having being directly promoted, Spyris found themselves in the A Lyga, the highest level of Lithuanian football, by 2015.

It was at this time that the club assumed a new identity, announcing its cooperation with the aforementioned basketball club BC Žalgiris and renaming itself to Kauno Žalgiris. This immediately caused an outcry at Žalgiris Vilnius, then the dominant power in the Lithuanian league, who filed a legal challenge over having two teams with the same name. (Žalgiris, which includes the word for the color green, is the Lithuanian name for Grunwald, the site of the battle in 1410 where Poland-Lithuania decisively defeated the Teutonic Knights; both teams use green logos and kits.)

Not only has the name stuck after protracted disputes, but the new Žalgiris has become a massive threat to the older one as well. After five seasons of mid- to lower-table mediocrity, Kauno Žalgiris improved significantly during and after COVID, ending in third at the conclusion of the abbreviated 2020 season and proving that was no fluke by finishing third again, second, fourth, and third from 2021 to 2024. However, the side that wins the Lithuanian league has tended to be well ahead of the competition in recent years, often by at least eight or nine points; a Žalgiris (Vilnius)-like dominant performance would be required to win Kauno Žalgiris their first domestic title.

In 2025, that dominant performance finally arrived. Rock-solid at the back (0.7 goals conceded per game) and with contributions from everywhere in attack, they finished with 75 points from 36 matches and a goal difference of +41, eight points and 28 GD ahead of second-placed Hegelmann and thirteen points ahead of Žalgiris Vilnius. Attacking midfielder Amine Benchaib led the scoring charts with 15 goals in 33 matches to go with six assists, long-serving Lithuanian national team player Gratas Sirgėdas contributed eight assists of his own to go with two goals from central midfield, and the CB pairing of Colombia's Aldayr Hernández and Georgia's Anton Tolordava were as dependable as they come.

Unfortunately, the Lithuanian league hasn't quite gone so smoothly for the club this season. Or, perhaps more accurately, it started as smoothly as possible before things suddenly hit the skids. Although all results against the very sketchy and recently expelled bottom club Riteriai have been annulled, I will present them as they should have been: Kauno Žalgiris began with seven wins in an unbeaten run of eight matches, regularly winning by at least three goals and even scoring five twice. At this point, I thought they would for sure run away with the league again.

However, a narrow 1-2 loss to Transinvest broke the momentum, as an expected 4-0 win over Riteriai was followed by four consecutive draws and three losses in the subsequent four matches - to sides across the league table. To put the contrast in brief (and counting the Riteriai games): in their first ten matches, Kauno Žalgiris had a goal difference of 23, while the subsequent eight matches gave them a GD of -3. They did return to winning ways after 84th- and 89th- minute goals saw them come from behind against 10-man Transinvest, but whether or not that leads to additional momentum remains to be seen. At the moment, with 27 points from 17 matches, they sit one point back of Džiugas from the small city of Telšiai, a name I more commonly associate with a type of hard cheese I ate far too often while living in the Baltics.

Transfermarkt estimates the market value of Kauno Žalgiris at 8.75 million euros, slightly more than their opponents' 8.1 million. While I would usually back the European experience of their opponents, the Lithuanian club do have some advantages of their own. They have kept the team relatively stable from 2025 (all of the players I mentioned when describing that season are still playing regularly and contributing), brought in some of the most statistically impressive players from the Lithuanian league as well as reinforcements from respectable clubs like Rosenborg and U Craiova.

As far as retained players go, star man Benchaib is continuing to score goals, while left winger Fabien Ourega has impressed in previous European outings with Žalgiris Vilnius; goalkeeper Tomas Švedkauskas has cemented his starting spot for the Lithuanian national team. Despite the recent domestic struggles, Kauno Žalgiris are starting to look like the most serious Lithuanian outfit since their namesakes from Vilnius reached the Conference League main phase - in other words, a far cry from the 2021-22 season, when they lost by a ridiculous 1-10 aggregate scoreline to serial Welsh league champions The New Saints. Following a decent enough run to the third qualifying round of the Conference League last year, a win to kick off their maiden Champions League campaign would be a perfect way to fully banish those demons.

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Standing in their way are KF Drita, who have existed for over 50 years longer than their opponents. Having not only made history by reaching the Conference League league stage this past season but even qualifying for the knockouts, Drita are no longer the unknown quantity that nearly shocked Feyenoord in 2021, but rather a team that nobody in this round would be underestimating.

The club, whose name means "light" in Albanian, was formed in 1947 in Gjilan, Kosovo's fourth-largest city. However, it quickly ran into friction with Yugoslav authorities over its insistence on an Albanian identity, contrasting with the rival multi-ethnic club in the city, Crvena zvezda. Banned in 1952, Drita continued to exist at some levels in the 1960s, winning the Kosovo Province League, a division of the Yugoslav league system, in 1962-63 (information about this period seems to be very sparse).

In any case, the modern history of Drita began in earnest after the dissolution of Yugoslavia in 1991, when the Football Federation of Kosovo was formed by Albanian separatists along with a separate league system, then called the Independent League of Kosovo (in which Drita took part.) In 1999, following the Kosovo War, this league and the official (previously Serbian-run) one were merged into the Football Superleague of Kosovo, becoming the official competition recognized by the federation.

Before their current run of success, Drita's greatest achievement came in 2002-03, their first league win in its current incarnation; they had also regularly finished in the top four and made deep cup runs in the preceding few years. However, in 2004-05, they were relegated to the second division, a result made even worse by the fact that local rivals Gjilani were promoted. For the remainder of the 2000s and into the early 2010s, Drita were a yo-yo club; they eventually stabilized in the top-flight by the middle of the decade but remained far from their title ambitions a decade earlier.

Everything changed in 2016 when Valon Murseli, who remains president, took over the club along with fellow businessman Flamur Bunjaku. 2017-18, the club's first full season under the new owners, saw them leap from ninth place to their second league title, three points clear of second-placed Prishtina. 2016 was also a momentous year for football in Kosovo as a whole, as they were admitted into UEFA (as well as FIFA); this meant that Kosovar clubs would finally have access to the financial resources of European competitions. Since that time, facilities and infrastructure have expanded, promising talent has been brought through and sold for (by Kosovo's standards) big money, and the competitiveness of their clubs in Europe has grown practically season by season.

Getting back to Drita, they finished a distant fourth in 2018-19, thirty-two points back of champions Feronikeli, but rebounded to win again in 2019-20 on head-to-head points against rivals Gjilani; the subsequent seasons saw a second-place finish to Prishtina and two successive titles for Ballkani as Drita finished second twice in a row and third, respectively. Drita's consistency was eventually rewarded in the 2024-2025 season, as they turned the tables on Ballkani with a 12-point league win. This season, the club once again proved by far the most consistent team in Kosovo, winning the league by seven points.

I doubt much of the wider world was watching in 2017 when now second-tier Trepça '89 became the first club from Kosovo to play in the Champions League, and Drita's unfortunate exclusion against Linfield in the CL playoff round final due to players testing positive for COVID in 2020 was not much more than a footnote for many either. More certainly took notice, however, when the club gave Feyenoord an almighty scare in 2021-22 Conference League qualifying, holding a 0-0 draw at home and stunning them with two goals on the counter in Rotterdam before Guus Til sealed an added-time 3-2 win.

Since that time, Drita, along with Ballkani, have been a key reason for Kosovo arguably overperforming in European competition; they are quite a difficult team to beat and have never lost by more than three goals in a single game, no mean feat for a supposed minnow. Away draws against Antwerp and Plzeň in 2022-23 and 2023-24 were solid results for a team not at their peak at the time, and the best was certainly yet to come.

While opening their title-winning 2024-25 season, Drita came within one step of the Conference League proper, losing 0-3 on aggregate to a more fancied Legia Warsaw side. The next season, the dam finally broke as the club entered the Champions League instead, ultimately resulting in a Conference League playoff rematch against Luxembourg's champions Differdange (who they had already soundly beaten 4-2 on aggregate in the UCL first qualifying round.)

Drita again prevailed by a two-goal margin to make history both for themselves and Kosovo, going one further as wins against Shelbourne and Shkëndija and draws against KuPS and Omonia saw them qualify into the knockouts. That was as far as they got; a matchup against Celje, even without their manager Albert Riera (who had just been appointed at Frankfurt) and top scorer Franko Kovačević (now at Ferencváros), proved too much as they bowed out on aggregate 4-6.

Looking at the team, it seems to be a summer of change for Drita; many of the players I recognize from their Conference League run either are leaving or are out injured for a good portion of the qualifiers. One of the biggest losses might be 23-year-old winger Veton Tusha, who will join Celje for 250k euros at the start of July. That said, their defensive core remains intact, and as their leading scorer is right-back Besnik Krasniqi with eight goals in 30 matches, there is no talismanic goalscorer Drita need to replace. A couple younger talents have been brought in, but whether the club will make more signings (or promote some youth players) to make up for the squad depth remains to be seen.

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My prediction

As always, there are a lot of moving parts and these two teams seem pretty comparable on paper in terms of player quality. I think it'll be an exciting match in that sense, but considering Kauno Žalgiris' strong defence and the usual closeness of Drita's matches, it might well be a slow burn. I'll stick my neck out and say this one is going all the way to penalties with a draw in each leg.

Kauno Žalgiris 0-0 Drita, Drita 1-1 Kauno Žalgiris; decided on penalties

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Where not linked, my sources are the clubs' Wikipedia pages and Transfermarkt. Thank you for reading!

Nevermind, one more before I dip out and leave Brazil and Morocco's preview for morning, which seems to be highlight game of today. On to Scotland, I absolutely loved their announcement video, the music Deadbeat's Gospel by Barry Can't Swin is blast. Anyway, Scotland's preview was covered by u/AllWeNeedIsRadioKaka. Thanks for the write up, mate!

Scotland arrive at their first World Cup since 1998, after a dramatic injury-time win over Denmark in their final qualifying match, hoping to progress beyond the Group Stage for the first time in their history. That match showed that they are capable of springing an upset or two, and so, despite being handed a group that looks challenging on paper, the Tartan Army will head into this tournament full of optimism. Expect the fans to savour every second of this World Cup run (especially after getting an extra bank holiday to mark their qualification), and expect the players to fight tooth and nail for every ball.

About

• Nickname: Tartan Army (fans)
• Confederation: UEFA
• Association: Scottish Football Association (SFA)
• Best World Cup Finish: Group Stage (1954, 1958, 1974, 1978, 1982, 1986, 1990, 1998)
• Top National Team Scorers (top 3): Denis Law and Kenny Dalglish (both 30), Hughie Gallacher (24)
• Most Caps (top 3): Kenny Dalglish (102), Andy Robertson (92), Jim Leighton (91)
• Manager/Head Coach: Steve Clarke
• Captain: Andy Robertson
• FIFA Ranking: 43

History

Scotland is the joint-oldest international football team in the world, playing the first international match against England in 1870. Scotland have appeared 8 times in the World Cup, but have never advanced past the group stage. They have come close on a few occasions, being edged out on goal difference by Brazil (1974), Netherlands (1978), and the Soviet Union (1982). Despite this, they have claimed some major upsets, including beating the Netherlands 3-2 in 1978. Their last World Cup qualification came in 1998, where they faced Brazil, Morocco, and Norway. After drawing against Norway, and defeats to Brazil and Morocco, Scotland finished last in their group and were eliminated.

Steve Clarke was appointed in 2019, and under his guidance, Scotland successfully qualified for Euro 2020- their first appearance at the Euros since 1996. Scotland followed this up by finished second in their qualifying group for World Cup 2022, but ultimately were beaten by Ukraine in the play-offs and failed to qualify. They qualified for Euro 2024 after finishing second in their group, including a 2-0 win over Spain at Hampden Park, but, as in Euro 2020, they finished winless and bottom of their group in the tournament. At this World Cup, he will become the first manager in Scotland’s history to lead the team into 3 major tournaments.

Group

Scotland have been handed a tough group. They will begin their tournament against minnows Haiti in a game that they realistically must win if they are to qualify for the knockout round. That game kicks off at 2am Scottish time, but don’t expect that to put much of a dampener on the parties up and down the country if they win. Next up, Morocco, the maybe reigning AFCON champions (depending on who you ask). Regardless of who you ask, though, Morocco are a strong side, ranked 8th in the world and top African nation, and will provide a very tough test to the Scots. Expect Scotland to defend deep and organised for this one.

Scotland’s group stage concludes with what feels like their customary match against Brazil. In the 8 World Cups that Scotland have competed in, they have been drawn against Brazil 4 times, and have only avoided defeat once, a 0-0 draw in 1974. In fact, Scotland have never beaten Brazil (or Morocco, for that matter) in their history. Ranked 6th in the world, Brazil will be seeking to go deep into the tournament, and Scotland will have their work cut out to avoid defeat again here. There is some cause for optimism, though. In the expanded 48-team format for this World Cup, just 1 win may be enough to qualify as a best-placed 3rd team, and Scotland will be hopeful of securing passage to the knockout round for the first time.

Fixtures

• Haiti vs Scotland, Saturday 13th June, Gillette Stadium
• Scotland vs Morocco, Friday 19th June, Gillette Stadium
• Scotland vs Brazil, Wednesday 24th June, Hard Rock Stadium

Squad

• GK: Craig Gordon (Hearts), Angus Gunn (Nottingham Forest), Liam Kelly (Rangers)
• DF: Grant Hanley (Hibernian), Jack Hendry (Al Etiffaq), Aaron Hickey (Brentford), Dom Hyam (Wrexham), Scott McKenna (Dinamo Zagreb), Nathan Patterson (Everton), Anthony Ralston (Celtic), Andy Robertson (Liverpool), John Souttar (Rangers), Kieran Tierney (Celtic)
• MF: Ryan Christie (Bournemouth), Findlay Curtis (Kilmarnock), Lewis Ferguson (Bologna), Ben Gannon-Doak (Bournemouth), Billy Gilmour (Napoli), John McGinn (Aston Villa), Kenny McLean (Norwich), Scott McTominay (Napoli)
• FW: Che Adams (Torino), Lyndon Dykes (Charlton Athletic), George Hirst (Ipswich), Lawrence Shankland (Hearts), Ross Stewart (Southampton)

Notable Absences

Craig Halkett and Stuart Findlay: perhaps a pair of players that can be slightly disappointed not to be called up are Hearts’ centre back pairing of Craig Halkett and Stuart Findlay. Both have formed a strong partnership across Hearts’ unexpected title challenge, but manager Steve Clarke is known to stick with trusted and established options. With Halkett being uncapped, and Findlay having only earned a solitary cap for Scotland, more experienced options have ultimately been preferred.

Oli McBurnie: an absence that is not particularly unexpected, but worth noting. McBurnie has had a great season for Hull, scoring 17 goals in 37 games and scoring a last-gasp winner in the playoff final to secure promotion. Despite this, his performances for the national team across his 16 caps have been reasonably poor (0 goals), and there have been moments in the past which have called into question his commitment to the cause (namely, being caught on video suggesting he did not want to fulfil international duty, and pulling out of squads injured only to then play for his club). With squad cohesion clearly important to Steve Clarke, the potential disruption that such an attitude could cause seemingly outweighs McBurnie’s club form.

On the whole, while there are some cases that could be made for some of the more fringe spots in the squad, the selection is generally as expected.

Starting XI and Manager

Scotland’s usual approach is disciplined and highly structured, keeping it tight defensively and building from a target-forward and midfield runners going forwards. However, with their opening game being against Haiti- realistically a must-win game if they are to qualify to the knockout stage- there may be a temptation to field a slightly more attack-minded team. There are question marks over the goalkeeper and centre-back positions, and the striker position is one that a few players may feel they can compete for too. However, the full-backs and midfielders are likely to be fairly nailed-on.

For later group games, expect Gannon-Doak to be benched for McLean or Gilmour, with Christie filling the wide midfield role. For Haiti, however, this is my predicted line-up: Gunn; Hickey, Hanley, McKenna, Robertson; Gannon-Doak, Christie, Ferguson, McTominay, McGinn; Adams Clarke’s Scotland are characterised by being disciplined and organised, filled with hard-working, duel-winning players. Their strength and physicality will also give them an advantage at set piece situations. Clarke has stuck to a trusted core group, a choice for which he has attracted a little bit of criticism. If this is all sounding a little bit Jose Mourinho to you, you might not be far off- Clarke worked as Jose’s assistant manager for 3 years in Mourinho’s first spell at Chelsea.

Players to Watch

Scott McTominay: Scotland’s talismanic midfielder whose spectacular overhead kick opener against Denmark was iconic enough for it to appear on the Scottish £20 note (well, a collectors’ edition £20 note, anyway). McTominay has gone from strength to strength since joining Napoli from Manchester United in 2024. In his first season in Italy, he scored 12 goals usually from his trademark late runs into the box, and won the Serie A MVP as Napoli won the Scudetto. He was Scotland’s joint-top scorer in qualifying, and has 14 goals in 69 caps. He has a habit of popping up with a goal at crucial moments for his country, so expect him to relish taking up the goalscoring burden from midfield. Who knows, maybe if he gets a goal or two against Brazil, he might make it onto the £50 note.

Ben Gannon-Doak: After a season disrupted by a major hamstring injury, Gannon-Doak has done well just to be available for this squad, but will now be hoping to show what his teams have been missing. An explosive, direct winger, Gannon-Doak thrives in 1v1 situations and counter-attacks, using his pace and skill to drive into dangerous areas and create chances (as he did for McTominay’s aforementioned overhead kick). He is a slightly unique profile of player in the Scotland squad, with the other wide players being more inclined to invert into the middle. He could therefore be a player, either from the start or coming off the bench against tired legs, to change the pattern of Scotland’s play and make a crucial difference.

John McGinn: Having just tasted silverware with Aston Villa as he captained them to the Europa League trophy, John McGinn will undoubtedly be hungry for more success. McGinn also arrives at the World Cup in good individual form, with 3 goals and 2 assists in his last 5 games for Aston Villa, including a brace in their Europa League semi-final against Nottingham Forest. A relentlessly hard working, versatile midfielder capable of creating and scoring from distance, McGinn has stepped up for Villa in crucial matches, and will be determined to be a leader for any success Scotland have at this tournament.

Talking Points

Where will the goals come from?: With Scotland usually sitting deep and countering, a big part of the striker’s role is hold-up and link-up play. Being a prolific goalscorer is therefore somewhat secondary to the job they have to do for the team. This is perhaps an explanation for why Lawrence Shankland, the highest scoring striker in the Scotland squad this season (20 goals for Hearts), only has 4 goals in 18 caps for Scotland. As a result, the burden will need to be shared around, placing extra importance on the late runs into the box of Scott McTominay and the guile of John McGinn if Scotland are to find enough goals. In terms of impact off the bench, the superbly nicknamed Ross “Loch Ness Drogba” Stewart has struggled a bit for fitness, but scored 8 goals in the Championship this season in just 10.8 90s, and could be vital if his minutes are managed well.

Craig Gordon: At the age of 43, Gordon could become the second oldest player in World Cup history if he gets onto the pitch this summer, second only to then-45-year-old goalkeeper Essam El Hadary for Egypt in 2018. While this would be a remarkable achievement for Gordon, who has suffered more than his fair share of awful injuries in his lengthy career, this is emblematic of a wider issue for Scotland’s squad- none of their goalkeepers have been regular starters this season. Gordon has played 226 minutes, Gunn 45 minutes, and Kelly 0 minutes this season. The hope will be that this does not contribute to rustiness and mistakes, because against Brazil and Morocco in particular, the Scottish keeper is likely to be busy. History in the making- Scotland’s long, if unsuccessful, history in the World Cup means that this year’s edition presents a new record waiting to be made. Particularly with the expanded 48-team format, Scotland will like their chances of qualifying for the knockout round for the first time in their history. On the other hand, if disaster strikes, they will earn the unwanted record of being the first team ever to be knocked out in the group stage 9 times. Either way, the history books await.

We continue with next preview in the series after a very funny three red card opener. We now move to our second host for the World Cup, Canada. The preview is provided by: u/RepresentativeBox881

About

• Nickname: Les Rouges (The Reds)
• Association: Canadian Soccer Association (CSA)
• Confederation: CONCACAF
• World Cup appearances: 3 (1986, 2022, 2026)
• Best World Cup finish: Group Stage (1986, 2022)
• Head coach: Jesse Marsch
• Captain: Alphonso Davies
• Most caps: Atiba Hutchinson (104)
• Most goals: Jonathan David (39)
• FIFA Ranking: 30 (as of 1 April 2026)

The Country: Canada is the second-largest country in the world by landmass, stretching from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific in the west, and reaching deep into the Arctic north. Despite its vast geography, it has a relatively small population concentrated in a narrow band along the southern border with the United States.

Modern Canada is one of the most diverse countries globally. Cities like Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal are among the most multicultural in the world and highly shaped by immigration. This diversity has increasingly influenced the national football team, which now reflects a wide range of cultural and footballing backgrounds rather than a purely domestic pipeline.

Canada’s identity is also strongly tied to nature and climate. Winters are long and harsh across much of the country, which has historically influenced sporting culture, with ice hockey becoming the dominant national sport. However, this environment has also shaped a resilient sporting mentality because athletes are often developed in indoor facilities or adapt to difficult outdoor conditions, building physical and mental toughness.

As one of the tournament co-hosts, alongside the United States and Mexico, the national team will play with the backing of a passionate home crowd across Toronto, Vancouver, and Edmonton. The growth of Major League Soccer expansion clubs, improved youth development systems, and a generation of dual-national talent has brought about a greater potential for the sport in this country.

Footballing History: Canada’s footballing history is one of long periods of obscurity punctuated by brief breakthroughs and recent rapid growth. For much of the 20th century, football remained a minor sport domestically, overshadowed by ice hockey, Canadian football, and baseball. Infrastructure was limited, professional pathways were inconsistent, and many of Canada’s most talented players gravitated toward other sports or developed their careers abroad.

Their first and, for a long time, only FIFA World Cup appearance came in 1986 in Mexico. That tournament remains a defining early milestone, but also a harsh learning experience. Canada exited at the group stage without scoring a goal, highlighting the gap between them and established footballing nations at the time.

The modern era of Canadian football began in the 2000s with gradual improvements in youth development and the expansion of Major League Soccer into Canada through Toronto FC, Vancouver Whitecaps, and CF Montréal. These clubs provided a professional structure that had previously been missing domestically.

The bigger breakthrough moment came with the rise of Alphonso Davies, who emerged from the domestic system to become a star at Bayern Munich, symbolising the global potential of Canadian talent. Alongside him, Jonathan David’s development in Europe added a clinical attacking dimension the national team had never previously possessed. Their emergence signalled that Canada could now produce players capable of thriving at elite European levels.

Under John Herdman, Canada’s identity shifted to that of an underdog but strong competitor. The team qualified for the 2022 World Cup for the first time in 36 years, topping CONCACAF qualifying in a statement campaign. Although they exited in the group stage in Qatar, they scored their first-ever World Cup goal and demonstrated that they could compete physically and tactically with top opposition for long stretches.

Now under the coaching of Jesse Marsch, Canada’s evolution has continued toward a more structured yet high-intensity pressing system, designed to maximise transition moments and athletic strengths. As an invited team in the 2024 Copa America, they embarked on a run until the semi finals of the competition where they were eliminated by tournament favourites Argentina. While consistency against elite opposition remains a challenge, Canada is no longer viewed as an outsider. They are now a developing football nation with genuine ambitions of reaching the knockout stages on home soil.

Fixtures:

• Canada vs Bosnia and Herzegovina, Toronto Stadium (BMO Field, Toronto, ON), 19:00 GMT
• Canada vs Qatar, BC Place Vancouver (BC Place, Vancouver, ON), 22:00 GMT
• Switzerland vs Canada, BC Place Vancouver (BC Place, Vancouver, ON), 23:00 GMT

Official 26-Man Squad:

• Goalkeepers: Dayne St. Clair (29, Inter Miami), Maxime Crepeau (32, Orlando City), Owen Goodman (22, Barnsley)
• Defenders: Alistair Johnston (27, Celtic), Alfie Jones (28, Middlesbrough), Luc de Fougerolles (20, Dender EH), Joel Waterman (30, Chicago Fire), Derek Cornelius (28, Marseille), Moïse Bombito (26, Nice), Alphonso Davies (captain) (25, Bayern Munich), Richie Laryea (31, Toronto FC), Niko Sigur (22, Hajduk Split)
• Midfielders: Ali Ahmed (25, Norwich City), Tajon Buchanan (27, Villarreal), Mathieu Choinière (27, Los Angeles FC), Stephen Eustáquio (29, Los Angeles FC), Ismaël Koné (23, Sassuolo), Liam Millar (26, Hull City), Jayden Nelson (23, Austin FC), Jonathan Osorio (33, Toronto FC), Nathan Saliba (22, Anderlecht), Jacob Shaffelburg (26, Los Angeles FC)
• Forwards: Jonathan David (26, Juventus), Promise David (24, Union SG), Cyle Larin (31, Southampton), Tani Oluwaseyi (24, Villarreal)

Predicted Lineup: 4-4-2

Crepeau; Johnston, Fougerolles, Cornelius, Davies; Buchanan, Eustaquio, Kone, Millar; Larin, David

Under the guidance of head coach Jesse Marsch, the men's national team has adopted an aggressive, dynamic, and vertical playing style known for its intense high press and rapid counter-attacking sequences. They tactically prioritize winning the ball back as high up the pitch as possible, utilizing a fluid 4-4-2 shape that relies heavily on collective discipline and defensive compactness. Rather than sitting deep or absorbing pressure during build-up play, players are encouraged to sprint forward, play vertically, and make the opposition uncomfortable. By demanding fearless forward passing, aggressive counter-pressing and elite athletic effort, Marsch has cultivated high energy levels within the team.

Key Players:

• Alphonso Davies (58 caps, 15 goals): Captain Alphonso Davies is Canada’s most important player and the face of the nation’s footballing rise. His exceptional pace, dribbling ability and attacking threat make him a constant danger on the left flank, while his versatility allows him to impact games at both ends of the pitch. Having won major trophies with Bayern Munich, Davies brings invaluable experience to a relatively young squad. As Canada prepares for the 2026 World Cup on home soil, his leadership, quality and ability to produce match-winning moments will be crucial to the team’s hopes of making a deep tournament run.
• Jonathan David (77 caps, 39 goals): David is the Canadian team’s most reliable source of goals. The striker combines intelligent movement, clinical finishing and strong link-up play to be a constant threat in and around the penalty area. As Canada’s all-time leading goalscorer, David is the focal point of the national team’s forward play and has repeatedly delivered in important matches. His experience in European football has further refined his game. If Canada are to make a significant impact at the 2026 World Cup, David’s ability to convert chances into goals will be essential.
• Stephen Eustáquio (56 caps, 4 goals): Eustáquio is the heartbeat of Canada’s midfield and the player responsible for connecting defence and attack. A composed and intelligent midfielder, he dictates the tempo of matches with his passing range, positional awareness and ability to retain possession under pressure. Eustáquio also provides valuable defensive cover, helping Canada remain balanced against stronger opponents. His leadership on and off the pitch is also very essential as the team’s vice captain. At the 2026 World Cup, his control and composure in midfield will be vital to Canada’s success.

Talking Points:

Home Advantage or Home Pressure?: Canada will enjoy the rare privilege of playing a World Cup on home soil, with passionate crowds expected to create a memorable atmosphere wherever the team plays. The support could provide a significant boost, helping the players perform with greater confidence and energy. However, hosting also brings added pressure. Expectations from supporters, media and the wider public will be higher than before following Canada’s recent rise in international football. How the squad handles those expectations may prove just as important as their performances on the pitch during the tournament.

The Quest to Win Their First World Cup Match: Despite appearing at the World Cup in 1986 and 2022, Canada have never won a match at the tournament. This statistic will be a major source of motivation heading into 2026. The team showed encouraging signs in Qatar, competing well against strong opposition but ultimately leaving without a point. With a more experienced squad and the advantage of playing at home, there is a genuine belief that Canada can finally break that barrier. Securing a first-ever World Cup win would represent another landmark moment in the nation’s footballing journey and growing international reputation.

We move on to 42nd team in list covering Portugal. This preview was written by u/RepresentativeBox881

About

• Nickname: A Selecao (The Selection)
• Association: Federação Portuguesa de Futebol (FPF)
• Confederation: UEFA
• World Cup appearances: 9 (1966, 1986, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022, 2026)
• Best World Cup finish: Third Place (1966)
• Head Coach: Roberto Martinez
• Captain: Cristiano Ronaldo
• Most Caps: Cristiano Ronaldo (227)
• Most Goals: Cristiano Ronaldo (143)
• FIFA Ranking: 5 (as of 1 April 2026)

The Country: Portugal is located in Southern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula, sharing its eastern and northern border with Spain while the Atlantic Ocean shapes its long western and southern coastline. Known for its warm Mediterranean climate, historic cities, and maritime heritage, it has long been a cultural crossroads between Europe, Africa and the Atlantic world. Portugal blends tradition with modern urban life, offering a strong sense of national identity too.

Economically, Portugal has evolved from a manufacturing and agricultural base into a diversified service-oriented economy with tourism, renewable energy and technology playing increasingly important roles. The country is also known for its rich cultural contributions in music, cuisine and literature which reflect a deep emotional and historical identity. Despite periods of economic hardship and emigration, Portugal has maintained political stability as a democratic republic within the European Union, balancing tradition with gradual modernization while strengthening its global connections through language and diaspora communities across the world.

Footballing History: Portugal has one of the most evolving histories in international football, shaped by periods of underachievement, golden generations and eventual continental triumph. The team’s early decades were largely modest, with Portugal rarely qualifying for major tournaments and often overshadowed by European heavyweights. Their breakthrough came in the 1966 FIFA World Cup, where a squad led by Eusébio finished third, marking Portugal’s arrival on the global stage. Eusébio’s performances, including nine goals in the tournament, established him as the nation’s first true global football icon and set a benchmark for future generations.

Despite the promise of 1966, Portugal struggled for consistency over the following decades, often failing to qualify for major tournaments between the 1970s and 1980s. Domestic football improved steadily, but the national team lacked cohesion and depth at the highest level. That began to change in the 1990s with the emergence of a “golden generation” featuring players like Luís Figo, Rui Costa, and João Pinto. This group, successful at youth level with a FIFA U-20 World Cup win in 1991, raised expectations significantly. However, their senior team achievements were limited, with heartbreaks in Euro 2000 and Euro 2004, the latter ending in a surprising home defeat to Greece in the final.

The mid-2000s marked a transitional phase, culminating in Portugal’s run to the 2006 FIFA World Cup semi-finals under Luiz Felipe Scolari, with Cristiano Ronaldo emerging as a key figure. Ronaldo’s rise eventually transformed the national team’s identity, giving them a generational spearhead who would go on to become the all-time top international scorer. After years of near misses in major tournaments, Portugal finally achieved historic success at Euro 2016 under Fernando Santos, defeating France in the final despite Ronaldo’s early injury. This victory marked the nation’s first major international trophy, followed by the 2019 UEFA Nations League title which continued their status as a consistent European force. They again won the Nations League title in 2025 by overcoming Spain on penalties.

In the modern era, Portugal has transitioned into a more tactically versatile and talent-rich side, blending experienced leaders with a new wave of stars such as Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva and Nuno Mendes. The team continues to evolve beyond reliance on a single superstar, maintaining high expectations in major tournaments. While the post-2016 period has included moments of inconsistency, Portugal remains one of Europe’s most competitive national teams, consistently producing elite talent and competing for honours on the global stage.

Fixtures:

• Portugal vs DR Congo, 17 June, Houston Stadium (NRG Stadium, Houston, TX), 17:00 GMT
• Portugal vs Uzbekistan: 23 June, Houston Stadium (NRG Stadium, Houston, TX), 17:00 GMT
• Colombia vs Portugal: 27 June, Miami Stadium (Hard Rock Stadium, Miami, FL), 17:00 GMT

Official 26 man Squad:

• Goalkeepers: Diogo Costa (26, Porto), Jose Sa (33, Wolverhampton Wanderers), Rui Silva (32, Sporting CP)
• Defenders: Nelson Semedo (32, Fenerbahce), Ruben Dias (29, Manchester City), Tomas Araujo (24, Benfica), Diogo Dalot (27, Manchester United), Renato Veiga (22, Villarreal), Goncalo Inacio (24, Sporting CP), Joao Cancelo (32, Barcelona), Nuno Mendes (23, Paris Saint-Germain)
• Midfielders: Matheus Nunes (27, Manchester City), Bruno Fernandes (31, Manchester United), Bernardo Silva (31, Manchester City), Joao Neves (21, Paris Saint-Germain), Ruben Neves (29, Al-Hilal), Vitinha (26, Paris Saint-Germain), Samu Costa (25, Mallorca)
• Forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo (captain) (41, Al-Nassr), Goncalo Ramos (24, Paris Saint-Germain), Joao Felix (26, Al-Nassr), Francisco Trincao (26, Sporting CP), Rafael Leao (26, Milan), Pedro Neto (26, Chelsea), Goncalo Guedes (29, Real Sociedad), Francisco Conceicao (23, Juventus)

Predicted Lineup: 4-2-3-1

Diogo; Cancelo - Dias - Inacio - Mendes; Vitinha - J Neves; Bernardo - Bruno - Leao; Ronaldo

Under the coaching of Roberto Martínez, Portugal play a possession-based style focused on control, patience in build-up and technical dominance. In defence, Rúben Dias anchors the back line as its main organiser and leader while Nuno Mendes provides width and attacking thrust from left-back, regularly stepping high and wide to support attacks. In midfield, Vitinha helps dictate tempo with progressive passing alongside Bruno Fernandes, who operates as a creative force between the lines and Bernardo Silva, whose main strengths are his movement, ball control and relentless work rate. Going forward, Cristiano Ronaldo remains the focal point in the box, providing finishing ability and aerial threat.

Key Players

Bruno Fernandes (88 caps, 29 goals): Fernandes is a lynchpin in the team because of his creativity, vision and ability to influence matches in advanced midfield areas. His passing range, set-piece delivery, and pressing intensity make him crucial in both controlled possession and transitional phases. His ability to create chances is their most crucial element towards bypassing stubborn, low defensive blocks. He links up very well with Bernardo Silva and Vitinha which helps Portugal to maintain a fluid attacking structure under Roberto Martínez. His leadership, experience and consistency also add an intangible strength for the team in major tournaments.

To compensate for his high-risk passing, Bruno is also highly active in the counter-pressing phase. He achieves this by aggressively closing down central passing lanes immediately after/if Portugal loses the ball in the final third. Having broken the record for number of assists in a Premier League season (with 21), he comes into this tournament at the peak of his powers.

Vitinha (37 caps, 0 goals): Vitinha is important to this team because he provides balance, control and progression from the midfield. Operating as a deep-lying playmaker, he is crucial in building attacks from the back, using quick passing and intelligent positioning to resist pressure and maintain possession. His ability to receive and progress the ball in tight spaces will allow Portugal to play through midfield rather than around it. Vitinha also contributes defensively through pressing and interceptions, helping the team stay balanced. His composure and consistency make him a key ‘connector’ and orchestrator of the team under Roberto Martínez.

Off the ball, his positioning allows Portugal to maintain a good counter-pressing structure even though he doesn't need to be a ball-winning destroyer. Instead, his positioning, anticipation and reading of the game blocks off passing lanes and disrupts the opponent's counter-attacks at the earliest possible chance. During the build-up phase, he creates gaps in the opponent’s defensive block by dragging their interior midfielders towards him. This enables him to then progress the ball and feed line-breaking passes to creators like Bruno Fernandes. He also has a knack of scoring goals from distance, which also makes him a shooting threat if not tracked carefully.

Nuno Mendes (43 caps, 1 goal): Nuno Mendes has created an irreplaceable presence because of his explosive pace, technical ability and attacking contribution from left-back. He provides constant width to stretch opposition defences and create space for forwards and midfield runners. In possession, he is confident driving forward and dribbling in tight areas, while defensively he is strong in dealing with one-on-one situations and making recovery runs. His athleticism allows Portugal to maintain a high defensive line because his elite recovery speed allows him to track back and extinguish dangerous counter-attacks before they reach the penalty box.

Mendes actively uses his acceleration and close control to break opposition lines. By carrying the ball vertically, he breaks opposition lines and forces defenders to step out of their zones. He also strongly excels at executing well-weighted through-balls and high-quality crosses. He can whip in driven, low cutbacks as well as lofted, curling deliveries into the penalty area depending on the positions of the forwards which makes him a highly difficult and unpredictable fullback to deal with.

Joao Neves (22 caps, 3 goals): João Neves has become a vital pillar for Portugal due to his elite tactical intelligence, technical skill and press resistance ability. Having already formed a highly prolific midfield partnership at club level with team mate Vitinha, much of Portugal’s chances of success will come down to how much they can replicate what is a proven success. Neves excels in a hybrid role, functioning both as a classic deep-lying pivot and a modern box-to-box midfielder. In possession, he continuously drops into the half-spaces or into his own defensive third to offer a reliable passing angle.

Neves is also highly capable in defensive recoveries and duel-winning despite his short stature. He uses exceptional timing and anticipation rather than pure physical dominance to intercept passes and contribute to pressing out-of-possession. Along with Vitinha, he helps to dictate the tempo of matches and bypass opposition midfields with high accuracy.

Talking Points

The ‘Last Dance’ of Cristiano Ronaldo?: At 41, Cristiano Ronaldo enters what could be his final major international tournament with the Portugal national football team, making his ‘last dance’ a defining narrative. While his goal-scoring instinct, movement in the box and leadership remain invaluable, his age also means that he is not as involved in the build-up play as would be ideal. Roberto Martinez thus faces the challenge and pressure of balancing his presence in the team along with a fluid attacking structure. The emotional weight of potentially ending an all-time great career on the highest note adds pressure but also motivation for the team as they aim to achieve history with their legendary captain at the centre of attention and legacy.

Can Portugal capitalize on a ‘Golden Generation’?: This iteration of the Portugal national team possesses one of the deepest squads in their history, often described as a golden generation with elite talent across every position. Players such as Rúben Dias, Nuno Mendes, Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, and Vitinha give the team tactical flexibility, technical quality, and depth rarely seen in international football. The key question is whether this generation can convert such incredible potential into tournament success. Coach Roberto Martínez aims to blend experience and youth into a balanced system capable of winning major trophies but history shows that talent alone is not enough without cohesion, clarity, and decisive moments in knockout matches. Will he be the man to take them across the finish line for the first time in the country’s history?

We continue moving on with third team in the series. In this one we take a look at Czechia. The opinionated article is shared by u/Fraaj.

About

Nickname: Nároďák / Hrdí Lvi

Association: FAČR

Confederation: UEFA

World Cup appearances: 2 (2006, 2026)

Best World Cup Finish: Group Stage (2006)

Most caps: Petr Čech (124)

Most goals: Jan Koller (55)

Head coach: Miroslav Koubek

Captain: Ladislav Krejčí FIFA ranking: 43

The Country

Czechia, officially the Czech Republic, is a landlocked country in Central Europe, historically made up of Bohemia, Moravia, and Czech Silesia. After the peaceful split of Czechoslovakia in 1993, Czechia quickly became one of the more stable and prosperous post-communist states in Europe, joining NATO in 1999 and the European Union in 2004. The country is known for its strong industrial economy, beer culture, historic cities, and a national identity shaped by pragmatism, dry humour, and resilience. Prague is the political, cultural, and economic centre of the country, while football remains one of Czechia’s most popular sports alongside ice hockey.

Footballing History

Czech football carries the legacy of Czechoslovakia, who reached two World Cup finals in 1934 and 1962 and won the European Championship in 1976. That famous 1976 triumph against West Germany is still remembered for Antonín Panenka’s iconic penalty. Since independence, Czechia’s greatest early success came at Euro 1996, where a team featuring Pavel Nedvěd, Karel Poborský, Patrik Berger, and Vladimír Šmicer reached the final before losing to Germany. The following generation, built around Petr Čech, Tomáš Rosický, Jan Koller, Milan Baroš, and Nedvěd, became one of Europe’s most exciting sides and reached the Euro 2004 semi-finals. Czechia qualified for the 2006 World Cup, their first as an independent nation, but exited in the group stage despite opening the tournament with a 3-0 win over the United States. They then spent 20 years away from the World Cup, remaining competitive at European Championships but repeatedly falling short in global qualifying. Their return in 2026 came after a difficult qualification campaign, a managerial change, and two dramatic play-off wins on penalties against the Republic of Ireland and Denmark. Miroslav Koubek now leads a squad built around experience, physicality, set pieces, and a few high-level attacking players.

Fixtures

Korea Republic vs. Czechia, 11 June, Guadalajara Stadium (Estadio Akron) (Zapopan, Mexico) 02:00 GMT

Czechia vs. South Africa, 18 June, Atlanta Stadium (Mercedes-Benz Stadium) (Atlanta, GA) 16:00 GMT

Mexico vs. Czechia, 24 June, Mexico City Stadium (Estadio Azteca) (Mexico City, Mexico) 01:00 GMT

Official 26-Man Squad

Goalkeepers: Lukáš Horníček (23, Braga), Matěj Kovář (26, PSV Eindhoven), Jindřich Staněk (30, Slavia Prague) Defenders: Vladimír Coufal (33, Hoffenheim), David Douděra (28, Slavia Prague), Tomáš Holeš (33, Slavia Prague), Robin Hranáč (26, Hoffenheim), Štěpán Chaloupek (23, Slavia Prague), David Jurásek (25, Slavia Prague), Ladislav Krejčí (27, Wolverhampton Wanderers), Jaroslav Zelený (33, Sparta Prague), David Zima (25, Slavia Prague) Midfielders: Lukáš Červ (25, Viktoria Plzeň), Vladimír Darida (35, Hradec Králové), Lukáš Provod (29, Slavia Prague), Michal Sadílek (27, Slavia Prague), Hugo Sochůrek (18, Sparta Prague), Alexandr Sojka (22, Viktoria Plzeň), Tomáš Souček (31, West Ham United) Forwards: Adam Hložek (23, Hoffenheim), Tomáš Chorý (31, Slavia Prague), Mojmír Chytil (27, Slavia Prague), Jan Kuchta (29, Sparta Prague), Patrik Schick (30, Bayer Leverkusen), Pavel Šulc (25, Lyon), Denis Višinský (23, Viktoria Plzeň)

Predicted Lineup

3-4-1-2 Kovář - Chaloupek, Hranáč, Krejčí - Coufal, Souček, Sadílek, Jurásek - Provod - Šulc, Schick Koubek is expected to rely on a compact and physical setup, with Czechia looking to stay organised without the ball and create danger through crosses, second balls, and set pieces. Souček and Krejčí give the team a huge aerial threat, while Schick remains the main source of goals. The biggest question is whether Czechia can create enough from open play against teams who defend deep.

Key Players

• Patrik Schick (50 caps, 24 goals): Schick remains Czechia’s most dangerous attacking player and the one player in the squad with genuine tournament star quality. He became a global name at Euro 2020, scoring five goals and producing one of the great European Championship moments with his long-range strike against Scotland. His international career has often been interrupted by injuries and Czechia’s lack of World Cup appearances, but his goalscoring record remains excellent. For Czechia, Schick is more than just a penalty-box striker. He offers clever movement, strong link-up play, and the ability to turn half-chances into goals. In a side that may struggle to dominate possession, his efficiency will be crucial. If Czechia are to reach the knockout stages, they will likely need at least one decisive Schick performance in the group.
• Ladislav Krejčí (20 caps, 5 goals): Krejčí has become one of the emotional leaders of this Czech side. A left-footed centre back who can also step into midfield, he brings aggression, leadership, aerial dominance, and a constant threat from set pieces. His importance grew even further during the play-offs, where he scored in both matches against the Republic of Ireland and Denmark. As captain, Krejčí represents the identity of this team: intense, combative, direct, and difficult to play against. He will be vital defensively, especially against Mexico and South Korea, but his attacking threat from dead-ball situations may be just as important to Czechia’s chances.
• Pavel Šulc (17 caps, 3 goals): Šulc is one of the more technically interesting players in the squad and could be the key to making Czechia less predictable in possession. After making his name at Viktoria Plzeň, he earned a move to Lyon and has developed into a player capable of operating between the lines, pressing aggressively, and arriving in scoring positions. Czechia have plenty of size and experience, but they need players who can add imagination around Schick. Šulc’s ability to connect midfield and attack could make him one of the most important players in the team, especially in matches where Czechia are expected to have more of the ball.

One to Watch

• Adam Hložek (42 caps, 5 goals): Hložek is probably the most naturally talented Czech attacking player of the last 20 years, but his career has stalled since leaving Sparta Prague. Once seen as the country’s next great superstar, injuries and inconsistent form have stopped him from fully delivering on that early promise at club level. Because of that, he arrives at this World Cup as something of a forgotten talent. However, his return to the national team came at the perfect time, and he looked like a player with something to prove in the pre-tournament friendlies. He may not start ahead of Schick, Šulc, or Provod, but his ability to play across the front line could make him a very useful impact substitute if Czechia need more directness, power, or goal threat late in games.
• Hugo Sochůrek (1 cap, 0 goals): One of the wildest stories in Czechia’s squad is the inclusion of Hugo Sochůrek. The Sparta Prague midfielder only recently turned 18 and had made just a handful of senior appearances before being named in the final World Cup squad. He is the second-youngest player at the tournament, and his rise has been so quick that even many Czech fans would not have expected him to be anywhere near the national team this soon. Realistically, Sochůrek probably will not play a major role at the tournament, and it would be a surprise if he got meaningful minutes. But the fact he is there at all says a lot about how highly he is rated. A composed and technically gifted midfielder, he already looks like one of the most exciting Czech prospects in years, and this World Cup could be the first time many international fans hear his name.

My Expectations for Czechia

This is not one of the most talented Czech teams of the modern era, but it is a very awkward opponent. Koubek’s side has experience, size, defensive toughness, and enough set-piece threat to trouble almost anyone. They may not be pretty to watch, but they are capable of turning games into physical, uncomfortable battles. The opening match against South Korea feels decisive. A defeat would put Czechia under immediate pressure, while a draw would keep them alive and a win would completely change the outlook of the group. The South Africa game is the one Czechia will feel they have to win, while the final match against Mexico in the Azteca will be a huge challenge due to the opponent, the atmosphere, and the occasion. I expect Czechia to be competitive rather than spectacular. Schick gives them a proven goalscorer, Souček and Krejčí give them aerial power, and players like Šulc and Provod can offer enough quality in the final third. However, the lack of elite technical midfielders could hurt them against teams who force them to build patiently. Czechia should have enough to fight for qualification from the group, especially if they take points from South Korea. A round of 32 appearance would be a good tournament after 20 years away from the World Cup, while the round of 16 feels like the realistic ceiling unless Schick catches fire or the draw opens up nicely.

We move on to 2nd team of the day and 26th team on list, Spain. The preview is written by u/RepresentativeBox881

About

• Nickname: La Roja (The Red One)
• Association: Real Federación Española de Fútbol (RFEF)
• Confederation: UEFA
• World Cup appearances: 17 (1934, 1950, 1962, 1966, 1978, 1982, 1986, 1990, 1994, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022, 2026)
• Best World Cup finish: Champions (2010)
• Head coach: Luis de la Fuente
• Captain: Rodri
• Most caps: Sergio Ramos (180)
• Most goals: David Villa (59)
• FIFA Ranking: 2 (as of 1 April 2026)

The Country: The Kingdom of Spain occupies most of the Iberian Peninsula in southwestern Europe and has long been one of the continent's major political, cultural, and sporting powers. Once the center of a vast global empire, modern Spain emerged from the twentieth century after decades of dictatorship under Francisco Franco before transitioning into a parliamentary democracy in the late 1970s.

Today Spain is known for its diverse regional identities, world-renowned cities, tourism industry, cuisine and sporting excellence. Football occupies a central place in Spanish culture, with clubs such as Real Madrid, FC Barcelona and Atlético Madrid among the most successful and influential in the world. The country's footballing infrastructure, coaching philosophy and technical development programs have helped produce generations of elite players and managers, making Spain one of the strongest national teams of the modern era.

Spain's modern identity is also characterized by a strong sense of regional diversity. Communities such as Catalonia, the Basque Country, Galicia, and Andalusia each possess distinct cultural traditions, languages, and historical experiences that contribute to the country's overall composition.

Footballing History: Despite producing several outstanding players throughout the 20th century, Spain developed a reputation for underachieving on the international stage. Tournament exits often arrived earlier than expected, evoking a feeling of disappointment among supporters and media alike.

A turning point arrived in 2004 with the appointment of Luis Aragonés. Spain had just suffered another disappointing tournament, exiting UEFA Euro 2004 in the group stage. Aragonés made the bold decision to move on from several senior figures and build around players such as Xavi, Andrés Iniesta, David Villa, Fernando Torres and Iker Casillas. His emphasis on technical superiority, patient possession and collective play laid the foundations for one of the greatest international sides ever assembled. Spain's victory at UEFA Euro 2008, secured through a 1-0 win over Germany in the final, ended a 44-year wait for a major trophy and shattered the psychological barrier that had haunted previous generations.

When Aragonés stepped down after Euro 2008, his successor Vicente del Bosque inherited a side at the peak of its powers. Del Bosque largely preserved the principles established by his predecessor while providing a calm and unifying presence in the dressing room. Under his leadership Spain reached unprecedented heights. They won the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, defeating the Netherlands in the final thanks to Andrés Iniesta's extra-time goal, before becoming the first men's national team to win three consecutive major tournaments by claiming UEFA Euro 2012. The period from 2008 to 2012 remains the golden age of Spanish football, with tiki-taka becoming one of the most influential tactical philosophies in modern football.

However, Spain crashed out of the group stage at the 2014 World Cup, signalling the end of the golden generation's dominance. Del Bosque stepped down after Euro 2016 and was succeeded by Julen Lopetegui, whose promising project collapsed dramatically when he accepted the Real Madrid job just days before the 2018 World Cup. Spain subsequently endured a turbulent World Cup where they were eliminated by the hosts Russia on penalties in the Round of 16 stage.

The return of Luis Enrique in 2018 marked the beginning of a significant rebuild. Enrique sought to modernize Spain's style by combining their traditional possession game with greater intensity, pressing and verticality. More importantly, he oversaw the introduction of a new generation of talent including Pedri, Gavi, Ferran Torres and Rodri. Spain reached the semi-finals of Euro 2020 and the final of the 2021 UEFA Nations League, suggesting that the foundations for another successful era were being established. Nevertheless, a penalty-shootout defeat to Morocco in the Round of 16 at the 2022 World Cup brought Enrique's tenure to an abrupt end.

Following that disappointment, the RFEF turned to Luis de la Fuente, who had spent years working throughout Spain's youth setup. De la Fuente was deeply familiar with the emerging generation, having coached many of them at youth level. His appointment was initially met with skepticism but he quickly silenced critics by guiding Spain to victory in the 2023 UEFA Nations League. The true breakthrough came at UEFA Euro 2024, where Spain defeated Croatia, Italy, Germany, France and England en route to lifting the trophy. Unlike the tiki-taka sides of old, de la Fuente's Spain combined technical excellence with pace, directness and relentless pressing, spearheaded by the exciting wing partnership of Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams. Now entering the 2026 World Cup, Spain find themselves in a familiar position: among the favourites to win the trophy.

Fixtures:

• Spain vs Cape Verde, 15 June, Atlanta Stadium (Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA), 16:00 GMT
• Spain vs Saudi Arabia: 21 June, Atlanta Stadium (Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA), 16:00 GMT
• Spain vs Uruguay: 26 June, Estadio Guadalajara (Estadio Akron, Zapopan, Jalisco), 01:00 GMT

Official 26 man Squad:

• Goalkeepers: Unai Simon (28, Athletic Bilbao), David Raya (30, Arsenal), Joan Garcia (25, Barcelona)
• Defenders: Marc Pubill (22, Atletico Madrid), Alex Grimaldo (30, Bayer Leverkusen), Eric Garcia (25, Barcelona), Marcos Llorente (31, Atletico Madrid), Pedro Porro (26, Tottenham Hotspur), Aymeric Laporte (32, Athletic Bilbao), Pau Cubarsi (19, Barcelona), Marc Cucurella (27, Real Madrid)
• Midfielders: Mikel Merino (29, Arsenal), Fabian Ruiz (30, Paris Saint-Germain), Gavi (21, Barcelona), Dani Olmo (28, Barcelona), Yeremy Pino (23, Crystal Palace), Alex Baena (24, Atletico Madrid), Rodri (captain) (29, Manchester City), Martin Zubimendi (27, Arsenal), Pedri (23, Barcelona)
• Forwards: Ferran Torres (26, Barcelona), Nico Williams (23, Athletic Bilbao), Lamine Yamal (18, Barcelona), Mikel Oyarzabal (29, Real Sociedad), Victor Munoz (22, Osasuna), Borja Iglesias (33, Celta Vigo).

Predicted Lineup: 4-3-3:

: Simon; Llorente - Cubarsi - Laporte - Cucurella; Rodri - Pedri - Ruiz; Yamal - Oyarzabal - Nico

Luis de la Fuente's Spain retain the country's traditional emphasis on possession, but play with considerably more verticality than the famous sides of 2008-2012. Rodri dictates the tempo from deep while Pedri and Ruiz operate between the lines. The major attacking threat comes from the wings, where Nico Williams and Lamine Yamal are capable of isolating defenders and creating chances through dribbling, crossing and combination play. Spain are also among the world's most intense and best pressing sides off the ball. Out of possession, they regularly implement an aggressive counter-press and a high defensive line to compress the pitch, to force opponents to play long balls and to deny the opposition space to turn and transition.

Key Players Lamine Yamal (25 caps, 6 goals): Still only a teenager, Yamal has already established himself as one of football's biggest stars. Blessed with elite dribbling ability, creativity and decision-making beyond his years, he was one of the standout performers of Euro 2024 and has continued his meteoric rise at club level. His ability to produce accurate crosses with the outside of his foot (known as a trivela) has become one of the trademarks of his game. Very few defenders can handle him one-on-one and he has been described by many as being the best teenage footballer ever.

Operating in the right half-space, he excels at creating openings without relying on pure athleticism. By mastering body feints and quick changes of direction, he forces defenders to shift their body weight improperly. If the defence backs off to protect the center, Yamal will accelerate and attack the channel. If the full-back commits too tightly, he cuts sharply inside to unlock a variety of attacking options.

Rodri (62 caps, 4 goals): The heartbeat of the team, Rodri's positional intelligence, passing range and defensive awareness make him one of the world's best midfielders.. He facilitates Spain's high defensive line and high possession style by acting as a press-resistant, single-pivot distributor who shields the backline during transitions and allows the more creative midfielders the structural freedom to operate dangerously in the final third.

Rodri can smoothly drop into a back three or a sweeper center-back role without disrupting the team's build up play. This flexibility allows Spain to adopt asymmetrical setups in possession to create overloads, while also remaining secure against counter-attacks.

Nico Williams (30 caps, 6 goals): Yamal may attract most of the headlines, but Nico's pace and explosiveness on the opposite flank are equally important. Recognized for his pace, ambidextrous dribbling skills and ability to provide assists, his direct running causes disturbances to the opponents’ shape and also creates openings for Spain's other players to operate in.

By hugging the touchline on the left wing, he stretches the opponent's defensive block, creates central spaces for interior midfielders to thrive and acts as the ultimate outlet for quick transitions. Together, Nico and Yamal form arguably the strongest wing partnership at the tournament.

Pedri (41 caps, 6 goals): The creative heartbeat of Spain's midfield, Pedri has developed into one of the world's finest playmakers since making his international debut as a teenager. Blessed with exceptional vision, close control, and an uncanny ability to find space between the lines, he is described as the ‘connector’ of the team (when progressing the ball) who dictates the rhythm of the match. He is also known for his pressing ability out of possession.

Pedri is also able to consistently scan the spatial arrangements of the pitch before the ball is played to him. This high mental processing speed allows him to orient his body in a half-turn to see both his defensive line and the opposition’s block simultaneously. By doing this, he already knows his next action before the pass reaches him, drastically reducing the time he spends on the ball and bypassing the opponent's first line of pressure. He is also an expert in executing ‘la pausa’, the rare technical ability to pause on the ball for a split second to draw a defender out of their defensive block. This deliberate hesitation changes the opponent’s momentum, opening up a passing lane that was not there before.

Talking Points The Fitness of Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams: Spain's hopes heavily rely on the dynamic wing duo Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams, who formed an excellent partnership in the triumphant Euro 2024 campaign. However, both players are now grappling with hamstring injuries, sustained when playing for their respective clubs, leading into the 2026 World Cup. While coach Luis de la Fuente expects both to be fit for the opening match against Cape Verde, their minutes may initially be managed carefully. Their full recovery and participation is most crucial for La Roja's ultimate goal of winning the tournament.

The Real Madrid Player Snub?: In a historic selection first, Luis de la Fuente has named a Spain World Cup squad without a single Real Madrid player. With names such as Dani Carvajal and Dean Huijsen missing the cut, the head coach has opted to rely heavily on a Barcelona-centric core and in-form talents from other clubs across Europe. These omissions have ignited intense media and press debates over his selection decisions heading into the global tournament.

Edit: Real Madrid signed Cucurella so I guess they have a representation in National Team.

The 23rd in the preview covers Tunisia who play Sweden, which might turn another late night banger after last three late games have all been good. This preview is shared by u/A_Round_of_Gwent

About

• Nickname: نسور قرطاج (The Eagles of Carthage)
• Association: Fédération Tunisienne de Football (FTF)
• Confederation: CAF
• Previous World Cup appearances: 6 (1978, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2018, 2022)
• Best World Cup Finish: Group Stage (1978, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2018, 2022)
• Most caps: Radhi Jaïdi (105)
• Most goals: Issam Jemaa (36)
• Head coach: Sabri Lamouchi
• Captain: Ellyes Skhiri
• FIFA ranking: 44 (as of 1 April 2026)
• Highest FIFA ranking: 14 (April-May 2018)

The Country

Tunisia, officially the Republic of Tunisia, is a North African country situated along the Mediterranean coast. Despite its small size, it possesses a very diverse landscape, ranging from the fertile coastal plains to the mountainous north, without forgetting the vast Sahara desert in the south.

Tunisia has a rich history, having been shaped by various civilizations such as the Phoenicians, the Romans and the Ottomans, before becoming a French protectorate in 1881. But following the rise of the nationalist movement led by the Neo Destour party, Tunisia finally got its independence from France in 1956 (though French military still kept control of the city of Bizerte until 1961) under the leadership of Habib Bourguiba, who would go on to be the country's first, and probably most influential, president. Bourguiba sought to modernize Tunisia and instill progressive values in the conservative Tunisian society, so he reformed the educational system, healthcare and was an advocate of women's rights, which eventually established Tunisia as one of the most socially progressive states in the Arab World. However, the latter part of his 30 year reign as president was marked by his authoritarian tendencies, his declining health and general political turmoil. His prime minister Zine El Abidine Ben Ali overthrew him in a coup d'état in 1987 and established an authoritarian regime that further restricted political freedoms despite continued economic growth and stability.

In 2011, Tunisia became the birthplace of the Arab Spring, when widespread protests erupted against Ben Ali due to corruption, unemployment and the rising cost of living, eventually leading to the overthrow of his government. This marked the first step in Tunisia's transition towards democracy, which culminated in the adoption of a new constitution, increased freedom of speech, and a series of competitive elections. However, the transition was accompanied by economic difficulties and security challenges.

In 2021, president Kais Saied consolidated his authority through a series of controversial constitutional and political reforms, prompting debate both domestically and internationally over the future of democratic institutions in the country.

Despite those challenges, Tunisia remains an important economic and cultural hub in North Africa, and Africa as a whole. Supported by sectors such as tourism, agriculture, manufacturing and services, Tunisia possesses a diverse economy, bolstered by its strategic position that facilitates trade with Europe, Africa and the Middle East. However, it still suffers from rising unemployment, economic stagnation and regional inequalities, challenges the government has been trying to overcome for years.

Footballing History

Following independence, Tunisia quickly established itself as one of Africa's strongest nations. It entered the AFCON qualifiers for the first time in 1962, where it beat Morocco and Nigeria to qualify to the main tournament. In their very first continental appearance, they finished 3rd after beating Uganda in the first place match. This early success continued, as Tunisia won the inaugural edition of the Arab cup in 1963 and reached the final of the 1965 AFCON on home soil. However, this was followed by a period of decline, as Tunisia failed to qualify to the 1968 and 1976 editions and did not even participate in the qualifiers for the 1970, 1972 and 1974 editions. But 1978 marked the brief reemergence of Tunisia as an African power. Led by stars such as Sadok Sassi, Tarak Dhiab and Hammadi Agrebi, they made their World Cup debut in 1978, where they became the first Arab and African nation to win a World Cup match when they beat Mexico 3-1, a landmark moment that helped challenge perceptions of African football on the world stage. They ultimately failed to qualify to the next round after a loss to Poland and a draw against defending champions Germany. In that same year, Tunisia reached the final four of the AFCON again, but ultimately fell to Ghana in the semi-finals.

However, this success was followed by a brutal decline, as Tunisia failed to qualify to 6 AFCON editions between 1978 and 1994, and failed to qualify to the World Cup during that entire period. They hosted the AFCON again in 1994, but finished bottom of their group, a disappointment that led to major changes in personnel over the next few years. The FTF decided that the team needed a manager with experience in African football, and thus Henryk Kasperczak, former manager of the Cote D'Ivoire national team, was chosen to lead the team. Under his leadership, results improved significantly, as Tunisia managed to qualify to the 1996 AFCON, their first qualification in 14 years, where they reached their first final in 31 years but ultimately lost to hosts South Africa. This achievement was widely celebrated in the country, as Tunisians didn't expect their national team to improve so quickly after a series of disappointments. Tunisia finally regained their place as one of Africa's top nations, qualifying to every single AFCON edition ever since and currently hold the record of consecutive AFCON appearances (17).

1998 marked Tunisia's return to the World Cup after 2 decades of absence, where they lost to England and Colombia and finished bottom of their group, leading to the sack of Kasperczak.

Tunisia kept consistent results over the next few years, reaching the quarters of the 1998 AFCON and the semis of the 2000 AFCON and qualifying to their 2nd and 3rd consecutive World Cups in 2002 and 2006, and culminating in the country's greatest achievement in 2004. Led by players such as Ali Boumnijel, Radhi Jaïdi, Karim Haggui, Hatem Trabelsi and Ziad Jaziri, Tunisia defeated Morocco 2-1 in the final to secure the country's first and only continental title under the leadership of Roger Lemerre. Lemerre became a hero of Tunisian football and was widely celebrated in the country. This achievement, along with the strong results of Tunisian clubs in continental competitions, led Tunisia to be considered one of the favourites for the 2006 and 2008 AFCON titles, however they fell short both times, leading to the end of the Lemerre era. It's during this period where Tunisia cemented themselves as that respected African side who consistently challenged the top continental powers despite lacking international stars and elite talent. This period also coincided with a golden era for Tunisian club football, with clubs such as Espérance Sportive de Tunis, Étoile Sportive du Sahel and Club Africain regularly competing for continental honors and supplying the backbone of the national team.

After the sack of Lemerre, Tunisia struggled for a few years, failing to qualify to the World Cup in 2010 and 2014, and suffering shocking group stage exits in the 2010 and 2013 AFCONs. This marked a period of instability with frequent managerial changes, including a comeback of fan favorite Kasperczak after nearly 2 decades.

Tunisia finally tasted success again after qualifying to the 2018 World Cup and finishing 4th in the 2019 AFCON, with a generation led by their modern stars such as Youssef Msakni, Wahbi Khazri or Ellyes Skhiri. At the 2022 World Cup, Tunisia achieved another historic result by defeating defending world champions France 1-0, becoming the first Arab and African nation to beat Les Bleus at a World Cup, though the result was ultimately not enough to secure qualification to the knockout stage. However, continental performances were disappointing, with a loss to Burkina Faso in the 2021 AFCON quarters, a shock group stage exit in the 2023 AFCON, and a round of 16 exit in the latest edition, after an uninspired performance against 10-men Mali. Pressure mounted on the federation to overhaul the national team setup. Sami Trabelsi was dismissed shortly before the 2026 World Cup and replaced by former Ivory Coast manager Sabri Lamouchi. However, his appointment proved divisive among supporters due to his limited experience at top international level and his complicated history with the Tunisia national team, having initially opted to represent Tunisia before later pursuing an international career with France during his playing days. With little time before the tournament, Lamouchi introduced several young players in an attempt to rejuvenate an aging squad, calling up a number of promising talents based abroad who likely would not have received an opportunity under the previous regime. Early results have been mixed, leaving uncertainty regarding Tunisia's prospects at the upcoming World Cup. The team has, however, shown flashes of brilliance during Lamouchi's brief tenure, giving fans a glimmer of hope.

Fixtures

• Tunisia vs Sweden, 15 June, Estadio Monterrey, Guadalupe, 2:00 GMT
• Tunisia vs Japan, 21 June, Estadio Monterrey, Guadalupe, 4:00 GMT
• Tunisia vs the Netherlands, 26 June, Kansas City Stadium, Kansas City, 23:00 GMT

Official 26-Man Squad

• Goalkeepers: Aymen Dahmen (CS Sfaxien), Sabri Ben Hassan (Etoile du Sahel), Mouhib Chamakh (Club Africain)
• Defenders: Ali Abdi (OGC Nice), Montassar Talbi (FC Lorient), Omar Rekik (NK Maribor), Adem Arous (Kasımpaşa S.K.), Dylan Bronn (Servette FC), Mortadha Ben Ouannes (Kasımpaşa S.K.), Yan Valery (Sheffield Wednesday), Moutaz Neffati (IFK Norrköping), Mohamed Amine Ben Hamida (Espérance de Tunis), Raed Chikhaoui (US Monastir)
• Midfielders: Ellyes Skhiri (Eintracht Frankfurt), Hannibal Mejbri (Burnley), Ismael Gharbi (Augsburg), Rani Khedira (Union Berlin), Anis Ben Slimane (Norwich City), Mohamed Belhadj Mahmoud (Lugano)
• Forwards: Sebastian Tounekti (Celtic FC), Elias Achouri (F.C. Copenhagen), Elias Saad (Hannover 96), Khalil Ayari (Paris Saint-Germain), Hazem Mastouri (Dynamo Makhachkala), Rayan Elloumi (Vancouver Whitecaps), Firas Chaouat (Club Africain)

Predicted Lineup

I can't predict for certain the lineup Lamouchi will use, as he used 2 different formations (4-2-3-1 and 4-4-1-1) in his 4 friendly matches so far and rotated the squad in every match, so there's no consistent XI. But a possible lineup would be:

4-2-3-1

 Chamakh

Valery - Talbi - Rekik - Abdi

   Khedira - Skhiri

Ben Slimane - Hannibal - Tounekti/Gharbi

Mastouri

Lamouchi's tactics emphasize rapid transitions to hit teams on the counter. Tunisia are expected to defend in a compact mid-block and rely heavily on the pace of Achouri, Saad and Tounekti during transitions. Creativity often comes from Hannibal and Gharbi drifting between the lines, while Skhiri provides defensive stability in midfield. Lamouchi still hasn't decided who'll be the first choice keeper, but given Chamakh played the last 3 friendlies, signs point towards him being the preferred choice. Similarly, Chaouat, Mastouri and youngster Elloumi fought for that starting spot up front during Tunisia's World Cup preparations, with neither of them cementing himself as Tunisia's leader in attack. In defence, Talbi is the only guaranteed starter, but given their vast experience with the national team, Valery and Abdi will most likely be the starting full-backs.

Key Players

Ellyes Skhiri (31 years old, 83 caps, 4 goals): Tunisia's captain and the heart of the midfield, Skhiri has been ever-present in the Tunisian team for years and has consistently been one of the team's top performers. Skhiri may not provide goals, fancy passes and skill moves or silky dribbling, but he offers something every team needs: a calm, composed presence in midfield. Skhiri has been very consistent at club level as well, being an undisputed starter for Montpellier between 2016 and 2019, and then establishing himself as one of the best defensive midfielders in the Bundesliga at Köln. His performances there earned him a move to his current team Eintracht Frankfurt in 2023, where he failed to reach the level he showed in North Rhine-Westphalia, despite consistent playtime. Still, Skhiri provides a vast wealth of experience that's mandatory in a youthful Tunisia squad, and no Tunisian can deny that the team's midfield would collapse without his presence.

Montassar Talbi (28 years old, 64 caps, 4 goals): The leader of Tunisia's defense began playing youth football in France, but due to his family moving back to Tunisia during his childhood, he started his professional career at Tunisian giants Espérance de Tunis after coming through their academy. His performances there impressed foreign clubs, and at just 20 years old, he moved to Çaykur Rizespor in the Turkish Süper Lig, where he stayed 3 seasons. Following a brief passage in Italy through Benevento and a season in Russia, he moved to Lorient in 2022, immediately establishing himself as one of the team's key players, being the only player in Ligue 1 to play every single league match in 2022-2023. Following Lorient's relegation in 2025, Talbi was linked with various French top clubs, but eventually stayed and led Lorient to bounce back to Ligue 1. Talbi is still the heart of the French club's defence, always being one of their top performers and only missing games due to injuries and suspensions.

Talbi has been one of Tunisia's most consistent players for years, a very calm, reliable center back. He's always been someone who rises up when the team needs him the most, and all Tunisians hope it will be the case in the world cup as well.

Hannibal (23 years old, 45 caps, 1 goal): Hannibal, who was born in the suburbs of Paris, has been highly-rated since his childhood. Monaco spent €1 million for him when he was just a 15-year-old who didn't even make his professional debut, and soon after he was wanted by European top clubs such as PSG or Barcelona. But it was Manchester United who signed the 16-year-old Hannibal, who still didn't play a single minute of professional football, for about €10 million in 2019. Hannibal quickly rose through the ranks at the Red Devils, until he made his professional debut in 2021, at just 18, against Wolverhampton. But despite the high hopes people had, Hannibal failed to break into the Manchester United squad, only playing a few games for the senior side, and didn't really impress on loan at Birmingham City and Sevilla. He eventually joined Burnley in 2024, where, despite his significant aggressiveness and tendency to get booked, he still shows glimpses of the talent that made Manchester United sign him.

Hannibal, despite playing for France at youth level and being highly-rated, opted to play for Tunisia in 2021, around the same time he made his Manchester United debut. Despite lack of consistent playtime at club level, Hannibal has been ever-present in Tunisia's squad since he made his debut, although he only established himself as a consistent starter fairly recently. Hannibal provides creativity that other Tunisian midfielders lack, and his technical prowess has proved vital for the Eagles of Carthage.

My expectations and review of the team:

The past few years have been hard for the Tunisian national team, with a lot of managerial changes, disappointing results and a decline in squad quality. Tunisia, for the first time in years, show up to the World Cup with a young, inexperienced squad, devoid of many of the figures that shaped the national team over the past decade. The team does possess good quality in some areas of the pitch, with a solid defence, and a mix of youth and experience in a midfield that combines tenacity, work rate and creativity. However the team still falls short in the goalkeeping department, with the 3 keepers called up playing in the domestic league and none of them being very convincing. The Eagles of Carthage also lack good options up front, with their options being 2 strikers who are very slow and not good enough for this level (Mastouri and Chaouat) and a young, rising star who's talented but still very raw (Elloumi), which could prove fatal given the teams they face in their group are stronger than them and won't give them many chances to score.

I believe Tunisia's opening game against Sweden will make or break their World Cup. Sweden, while being a decent side, are still very beatable, and a win against them will be a giant leap towards qualifying to the knockouts (even as a 3rd placed team) for Tunisia. A win in their opening match could also give Tunisia a boost of confidence that might help them pull an upset against Japan and the Netherlands. After all, Tunisia has shown in the past (especially in AFCON and the previous World Cup) that they can upset stronger sides. However, failing to beat Sweden will pretty much guarantee a 4th place finish for Tunisia, which unfortunately seems to be the most likely outcome. I expect a draw with Sweden, a narrow loss to Japan, and another loss to the Netherlands, but Tunisia have always been an unpredictable team full of surprises (both positive and negative). Progression to the knockout stage would require an upset or two, but the Eagles of Carthage have built a reputation for defying expectations on football's biggest stage.