Preview Podcast:
Nickname: مُحَارِبِي الصَّحْرَاء (The Desert Warriors)
FIFA Ranking: 34
Best Ever Finish (or debut): Round of 16 (2014)
How they Qualified: Topped their qualifying group seven points clear and with just one loss.
Group Schedule:
Head Coach: Experienced Bosnian head coach, Vladimir Petkovic, took charge in February 2024 and has largely done well with the national team. With experience in top European clubs and the Swiss national team, Petkovic has been praised for bringing back competition in the squad. He is known to be tactically flexible and will adjust his system based on the opponent.
Star Player: The captain, and possibly the greatest Algerian player, is Riyad Mahrez. The 34-year-old is currently with Al-Ahli in the Saudi Pro League, but is mostly known for his time with Leicester City and Manchester City. He has won the Premier League five times and the UEFA Champions League once, alongside a long list of other club trophies. He led the Desert Warriors to their second-ever AFCON victory in 2019 and is less than a handful of goals away from the all-time goalscoring record. Mahrez is a left-footed player who usually plays on the right wing, allowing him to cut inside to deliver and finish the final ball.
Unsung/Up-and-Coming Player: Rayan Aït-Nouri is a 24-year-old left back or left wingback who has already established himself as a starter in the national team. Currently playing for Manchester City, Aït-Nouri is a graduate of Angers academy and later moved to Wolves, where he had a breakout season in 2024-25. In the summer of 2025, he signed with Manchester City for a fee up to £37 million and has been an important player for the Cityzens since.
Style/System/Expectations: This is likely the last run with the national team for core players like Mahrez, Baghdad Bounedjah and Aissa Mandi. That said, there’s an exciting young generation that will be looking to take over like Anis Hadj Moussa, Farès Chaïbi and Ibrahim Maza. Algeria relies on its huge diaspora population, especially in France, to bring in new faces into the national team. Some of the biggest players to play for Algeria, like Mahrez, are those from the diaspora communities. The Desert Warriors are expected to at least make it out of their group, but a deep run would be a welcome surprise.
Main thing to Watch: Despite winning AFCON in 2019, this is Algeria’s first World Cup since 2014. Players and staff will have to manage the occasion and not let it affect the on-pitch play.
Legendary Player: Rabah Madjer is one of, if not, the greatest Algerian players of all time. Madjer player for Racing Paris, Tours and Valencia, but is mostly known for his time with Portuguese giants Porto. There he won Primeira Liga three times and the UEFA Champions League once, scoring a historic and beautiful backheel in the final. With the national team, Madjer played 86 times and scored 28 goals, including the country’s first-ever World Cup goal.
Biggest Soccer Moment: In the 1982 World Cup, Algeria upset reigning European champions West Germany 2-1, a win widely considered as one of the greatest upsets in World Cup history. Despite collecting six points in the group stage, Algeria were eliminated thanks to a notorious match known as the Disgrace of Gijon. After Algeria defeated Chile the previous day, West Germany and Austria knew going into their match that a West German win by 1 or 2 goals would qualify them both, while a larger German victory would qualify Algeria over Austria. The Germans attacked for the first 10 minutes and scored. After that goal, the two teams kicked the ball around aimlessly for the rest of the match.
Prediction: Round of 32
Preview Podcast:
Nickname: La Selección (The Selection)
FIFA Ranking: 2
Best Ever Finish (or debut): Winners (1978, 1986, 2022)
How they Qualified: Finished first in the CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers, nine points clear of second place Ecuador.
Group Schedule:
Head Coach: Lionel Scaloni is still at the helm after leading Argentina to the historic third World Cup trophy. He took over in 2018 and success has been a common occurrence since, Argentina won Copa América twice and the World Cup once during his reign. Known for his man management, Scaloni focuses on camaraderie and communication just as much, if not more than, just tactics. His ability to unify the team and have clear objectives have served Argentina well during his tenure.
Star Player: Lionel Messi, the greatest player of all time, is still part of this Argentina team. The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner leads the country in caps and goals, and no one is even remotely close to his records. Listing all of Messi’s records and awards is an impossible task, from the start of his professional career in 2004, the Barcelona icon has achieved every success imaginable for his clubs and country alike. This is most likely his last World Cup and he will be looking to go out on top.
Unsung/Up-and-Coming Player: Franco Mastantuono is an 18-year-old Real Madrid midfielder and one of the brightest talents in world soccer. He started his career at River Plate where he became their youngest ever goalscorer and the second youngest player to score in a Superclásico against arch rivals, Boca Juniors. After establishing himself as a starter, he signed with Spanish giants Real Madrid for a deal worth €45 million.
Style/System/Expectations: Scaloni’s tactics revolve around balancing grit and flair, with a huge emphasis on team-first play. When Messi is on the pitch, which is more often than not, the team plays to get the ball to Messi in the final third; This strategy has clearly worked for La Selección. Argentina has a very deep squad, including some of the best players in the world, like Julián Álvarez, Alexis Mac Allister, Enzo Fernández and Lautaro Martinez. The expectations for Argentina are as high as they can be, and anything other than winning the trophy would not count as a success.
Main thing to Watch: Messi’s health and readiness is Argentina’s biggest concern. At 38-years-old, Messi is still playing almost every available minute with his club Inter Miami. As the World Cup approaches, Miami will be competing on multiple fronts and it’s unclear whether he will be rested prior to the tournament.
Legendary Player: Diego Armando Maradona, known as El Pibe de Oro ("The Golden Boy"), is one of the greatest players of all time. He played in four World Cups and won the 1986 edition with Argentina where he was awarded the Golden Ball as the tournament's best player. Maradona was the first player to set the world record transfer fee twice, in 1982 and 1984. In the club game, he is mostly remembered by his time at Napoli where won numerous accolades and led the club to their first and second Serie A titles. In late 2020, at the age of 60, Maradona suffered cardiac arrest and died in his sleep at his home. Thousands of tributes from around the world poured in from clubs, players and fans.
Biggest Soccer Moment: During the 1986 World Cup quarterfinal, Argentina beat England 2-1 thanks to two historic Maradona goals. The first, which became known as the "Hand of God," Maradona mischievously scored with his fists, fooling the referee and most spectators. The second was a 66 yard dribble past five England players and was voted as the “Goal of the Century" by FIFA.
Prediction: Final
Preview Podcast:
Nickname: Socceroos
FIFA Ranking: 26
Best Ever Finish (or debut): Round of 16 (2006, 2022)
How they Qualified: Topped their group in the second round and finished second in the third round, losing only one match throughout the entire qualifiers.
Group Schedule:
Head Coach: Tony Popovic was announced as the new head coach after two games in the third round of AFC qualifiers and he led the Socceroos to crucial wins over Japan and Saudi Arabia. Popovic was a member of the 2006 golden generation, he has 58 caps with the national team and knows the program well. He’s introduced a new level of rigor within the squad, including a strict nutrition routine to help the players be in the best shape. The other thing Popovic focused on is a clean slate, where veteran status didn’t guarantee a spot in the squad which allowed for younger players to break through. Popovic is known for his pressing style and making the game difficult for opponents.
Star Player: Alessandro Circati is a 22-year-old central defender and the youngest captain in Australian history. He started his career with Perth Glory’s youth and second teams before making the jump to the Italian Serie A with Parma. After impressing with the youth setup, Circati started playing with the senior squad and became an important piece in the 2025-26 season. Born in Italy, Circati played for the U20 team of his birth country before switching to the Socceroos in 2023. With his age and ability, Circati is likely to make a jump to an even bigger club in the near future.
Unsung/Up-and-Coming Player: Nestory Irankunda is a 19-year-old striker currently playing for Watford in the Championship.Irankunda is regarded by many within the Australian media as one of the greatest talents developed in the country. His goal-scoring prowess received many plaudits from media and pundits who recognised his skills and techniques. His parents were originally from Burundi, but fled their home due to the civil war escalating at the time. His father led his family to a refugee camp in Tanzania where Nestory was born. When he was three months old, the family made the move to Australia.
Style/System/Expectations: The Soccerroos have a pressing style based on certain triggers. They are known to generally have less possession than the opponent and focus on transition moments. Australia has a number of young talents like Circati, Irankunda and Jordan Bos who will be looking to impress during the tournament. This will also likely be the last world cup for veterans like Mathew Ryan, Milos Degenek and Cameron Burgess. With three teams possibly getting out of Group D, Australia will be aiming to at least get to the round of 32.
Main thing to Watch: Australia has a good amount of younger players who are ready to prove themselves at the highest level like Circati. Tournaments often affect transfer fees and destinations, if given a proper chance, some of the young players might be on the move following the tournament.
Legendary Player: Tim Cahill scored 50 goals in 108 caps from 2004-2018, making him the leading goalscorer for Australia. Considered a Millwall and Everton legend, Cahill spent most of his career in England. He was named both Everton Player of the Season and Everton Players' Player of the Season in his debut season, and in the following year he was named as one of 50 nominees for the Ballon d'Or. Cahill was the first Australian to score at a World Cup and his five goals in 2006, 2010 and 2014 are the most by any Australian in the men's World Cup. Cahill is known for his headers and has scored many of his goals that way. Mostly played as an attacking midfielder, he also had some stints as a striker. He is famous for his regular goal celebration of shadow boxing around the corner flag.
Biggest Soccer Moment: Prior to the 2006 World Cup, Australia had to face Uruguay in a two-legged playoff match for qualification to the final tournament. Uruguay was ranked 18th at the time, while Australia were 49th. The Socceroos lost the first leg, but won the second leg, and after two periods of extra time, a penalty shootout decided the winner. Australia won the penalty shootout 4–2, making Australia the first ever team to qualify for a World Cup via a penalty shootout. Australian goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer made two saves, with John Aloisi scoring the winning penalty for a place in the World Cup, Australia's first qualification in 32 years. The 2006 Golden Generation didn’t stop there, at the tournament they advanced from their group and only lost to eventual champions Italy 1-0 in the round of 16.
Prediction: Group stage
Preview Podcast:
Nickname: Das Team (The Team)
FIFA Ranking: 24
Best Ever Finish (or debut): Third place (1954)
How they Qualified: Topped their qualifying group only conceding four goals in eight matches.
Group Schedule:
Head Coach: Legendary German coach Ralf Rangnick took over in 2022 and things have been going fairly well since. Rangnick is regarded as the "godfather" of modern German soccer and is credited with developing Genenpressing and popularising zonal marking. He is also credited for influencing Thomas Tuchel, Julian Nagelsmann, Jurgen Klopp and many others. Before Austria, Rangnick spent almost 10 years with Red Bulls soccer operations across various roles and had a small stint at Manchester United.
Star Player: Former Bayern Munich and current Real Madrid defender, David Alaba, has been at the highest levels of soccer for over 15 years. The 33-year-old is the captain and the second most capped player for Austria. Known for his versatility and being a two way player, Alaba has played in multiple positions in defense and midfield. He has won 12 league and four UEFA Champions League titles with his clubs, and is 10-time winner of Austrian Footballer of the Year.
Unsung/Up-and-Coming Player: Nicolas Seiwald is a 24-year-old center midfielder playing for RB Leipzig and is a Red Bull player through and through. Seiwald already has 42 caps for the national team and has been a consistent fixture with Austria, at one point Seiwald didn’t miss a single minute in 31 games for Rangnick. He is praised for his availability, pressing and physical attributes.
Style/System/Expectations: Under Rangnick, Austria has fully transformed into “energy drink/Red Bull soccer” with a huge focus on pressing and counterpressing. They have produced a few great players in the previous decade like Alaba, Marko Arnautovic and Marcel Sabitzer, while getting up in age, these players continue to play a massive part for the national team.
Also, players like Bayern Munich’s Konrad Laimer and Tottenham’s Kevin Danso are in their prime and will be looking to prove themselves. Austria have at times punched above their weight, but it seems like a big moment is still on the horizon for Das Team. The expectation is still to make it out of the group stage, however, with this being their first World Cup since 1998, not much is expected more than that.
Main thing to Watch: Austria play with an intense playing style which asks a lot physically and mentally from players. With the long club season and a longer World Cup, maintaining the intensity throughout the tournament might become a challenge.
Legendary Player: Matthias Sindelar, nicknamed the "Mozart of football," was the star of the legendary Austrian “Wunderteam” that went on incredible runs in the early 1900s. He became a big figure for Austrian identity after refusing to play for the German national team following the Nazi invasion. He and the Wunderteam played their last match in 1938 against Germany where the result was supposedly pre-determined to be a draw. Sindelar took the field in the second half and scored twice for Austria to win 2-0. He was found dead 10 months later with conspiracies surrounding the events.
Biggest Soccer Moment: In 1978, Austria made their first World Cup in 20 years. After finishing at the top of their group, they qualified to the second group stage, but lost their first two games. In the third game, Austria faced off against West Germany, in a match that is known in Austria as Das Wunder von Córdoba (The Miracle of Córdoba) and in Germany as Die Schmach von Córdoba (The Disgrace of Córdoba). The game is fondly remembered by fans of the Austria national team for being the first time in 47 years that Austria had defeated a team from either the Western or Eastern side of the then-partitioned Germany.
Germany had a chance to make the final or the third place game while Austria were already eliminated. Hans Krankl’s 87th minute winner to put Austria 3–2 ahead crashed the Germans' dreams and eliminated them from the tournament.
Prediction: Round of 32
Preview Podcast:
Nickname: The Red Devils
FIFA Ranking: 8
Best Ever Finish (or debut): Third place (2018)
How they Qualified: Finished unbeaten at the top of group J in the European qualifiers.
Group Schedule:
Head Coach: French manager Rudi Garcia took over the Red Devils in January 2025 after making his name at club level with Lille and Roma, where he won multiple titles. Garcia has implemented a fluid style with Belgium adapting to their opponents, but has stuck with the 4-3-3 while doing that. He has been praised for giving opportunities to young players and introducing new faces into the national team.
Star Player: Kevin De Bruyne is considered one of the best players of his generation and at 34-years-old, he is still contributing for club and country. He has over 420 goal contributions for his clubs, the overwhelming majority of those came during his 10 year career at Manchester City, where he won six Premier League titles and a Champions League. He also won 12 other cup competitions with the Cityzens where he was awarded the Player of the Season four times. Known for his link-up play and unmatched passing and creativity, he has been the linchpin of Belgium’s golden generation. He ranks sixth in all-time caps and second in all-time goals for the Red Devils.
Unsung/Up-and-Coming Player: Malick Fofana is a 20-year-old winger currently playing for Lyon in Ligue 1. Fofana joined Gent and made his debut for the first team in July 2022 at the age of 17. After his impressive performances, he earned a transfer to Lyon for a fee up to €22 million. Since his move he has been an important player for Lyon, playing regularly and contributing to goals. Fofana made his debut with the national team in 2024 and scored his first goal in 2025. Many big clubs were linked with him like Liverpool and Chelsea, but he chose to stay at Lyon.
Style/System/Expectations: With Garcia’s 4-3-3 system, Belgium have focused on being more organized defensively and more lethal in transition moments. They have at times struggled with creativity when in possession, especially when trying to break down opponents who sit deep. While most of the players from the 2018 golden generation have retired, a few remain. De Bruyne, Thibaut Courtois and Romelu Lukaku continue to be a vital part of the national team. Belgium’s current squad has fewer players at the highest level of the game. That said, players like Manchester City’s Jérémy Doku, Arsenal’s Leonardo Trossard and Aston Villa’s Amadou Onana will have to be the difference maker for Belgium to make a run.
Main thing to Watch: The Red Devils were handed a somewhat “easy” group, especially in comparison with other top European nations and their group from 2022. Collecting all nine points might provide the necessary spark for a deep run, on the other hand, any hurdle might affect the mood more than usual.
Legendary Player: Despite his early retirement, Eden Hazard is considered one of the greatest Belgian players of all time. Known for his dribbling, creativity, and vision, he is regarded as one of the best wingers of his generation. Hazard started his career with Lille in Ligue 1, where he became an instant fan favorite, winning the domestic double in 2010-11 and Player of the Year. He then spent seven seasons with Chelsea where he is considered a legend, winning two Premier League titles, as well as numerous cups and individual awards. He joined Real Madrid in 2019 for a transfer fee of up to €150 million, making him one of the most expensive players in history. However, injuries and lack of fitness, led him to limited minutes and eventually retirement. He ranks fourth in all-time appearances and second in all-time scoring for Belgium, and was often seen as the face of the golden generation.
Biggest Soccer Moment: There was a lot of hype for Belgium heading into the 2018 World Cup. The Golden Generation was in their prime, playing at the highest levels of the game, and expectations were high. Belgium started with five consecutive victories (including group wins over Panama, Tunisia and England). In the round of 16 match against Japan, Belgium were down 2–0, eventually turning the tide and winning 3–2 with goals from Jan Vertonghen and late substitutes Marouane Fellaini and Nacer Chadli. Belgium then defeated World Cup favourites Brazil 2–1 on the back of an early Fernandinho own goal and a goal by De Bruyne, reaching the semi-finals for the second time in their history. They lost to France 0–1 in the semifinal, but rebounded to win 2–0 in their second victory over England during the tournament to secure third place. While not getting over the finish line, that was still their best ever World Cup result.
Prediction: Round of 16
Preview Podcast:
Nickname: Seleção (The Selection)
FIFA Ranking: 5
Best Ever Finish (or debut): Winners (1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002)
How they Qualified: Finished fifth in the CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers
Group Schedule:
Head Coach: Legendary Italian manager Carlo Ancelotti took over the program in May 2025. Ancelotti is often regarded as one of the best managers of all time, however, he has had mixed results with the Seleção since his arrival. Ancelotti has at times been criticized for his risk-adverse style, though he has also been largely praised for his man management and letting the players “play.” Unlike other top managers, he doesn’t have a specific system, rather he adapts his style to the strengths of his players. Ancelotti has won the UEFA Champions League five times, a record for a manager, and is the only manager to take part in six Champions League finals. He is also the only manager to win league titles in all of Europe's top five leagues.
Star Player: Vinícius Júnior is a 25-year-old Real Madrid winger and one of the best players in the world. Vini Jr. was bought by Real Madrid for £38 million at the age of 16, which was a national record for a player under 18. He has since been an important player for Los Blancos, helping the club achieve two La Liga-Champions League doubles. He was named The Best FIFA Men's Player in 2024, and finished runner-up in the Ballon d'Or voting in the same year. With Brazil, Vini Jr. was a key member of the youth setups where he helped his teams win multiple championships. He has yet to fully establish himself with the senior team as Brazil have mostly struggled in recent major tournaments. Known for his pace, technique and dribbling ability, making him a nightmare for opposition defenders.
Unsung/Up-and-Coming Player: Estêvão is a 18-years-old winger, currently playing for Chelsea in the Premier League. In 2018, at the age of 10, Estêvão signed a professional contract with Nike, making him the youngest Brazilian player to sign with the company. After a successful youth career, he played with Brazilian giants Palmeiras, making his debut at the age of 16. Estêvão played his final game for Palmeiras in the quarter-finals of the 2025 Club World Cup, facing the team he was set to join, Chelsea. He scored the equaliser against his future club, though Palmeiras were ultimately eliminated. He hit the ground running with his new club, scoring important goals in the league and Champions League.
Style/System/Expectations: Aside from the two mentioned above, the Brazilian squad is still full of big names. Bruno Guimarães, Rodrygo and Gabriel Magalhães are all considered amongst the best in the world in their positions. While Brazil has always been able to produce top talents, it has been a long time since the Seleção put it all together. The pressure continues to build as it has been 23 years since Brazil won the World Cup and six years since their last Copa America victory. There’s hope that Ancelotti will bring back the free-flowing and entertaining style of soccer to the national team. That said, results are the most important thing for Brazil and anything other than the trophy would be a let down.
Main thing to Watch: Neymar, who currently plays domestically with Santos, surpassed Pele’s number of goals and claimed the top goalscorer chart for Brazil with 79. He also has 128 appearances, the second most in history. It’s still up in the air whether or not he’ll be part of the World Cup squad as he has yet to be called up by Ancelotti.
Legendary Player: Edson Arantes do Nascimento, better known by his nickname Pelé. Possibly the most recognizable name and face in the world. Widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, he was among the most successful and popular sports figures of the 20th century. His 1,279 goals in 1,363 games, which includes friendlies, is recognised as a Guinness World Record. In 1999, he was named Athlete of the Century by the International Olympic Committee and was included in the Time list of the 100 most important people of the 20th century. He won three World Cups, 1958, 1962 and 1970, the only player to do so. With 77 goals in 92 games for Brazil, Pelé held the record as the national team's top goalscorer for over fifty years.
Biggest Soccer Moment: Brazil were able to add a record fifth star to their crest after winning the 2002 World Cup final. The match took place in front of 69,029 spectators in the International Stadium in Yokohama, with an estimated 1.1 billion watching on television. With a brace by legendary striker, Ronaldo, Brazil solidified itself as the best soccer nation in the world.
Prediction: Quarterfinal
Preview Podcast:
Nickname: Les Rouges (The Reds), The Canucks
FIFA Ranking: 27
Best Ever Finish (or debut): Group stage (1986, 2022)
How they Qualified: Co-Host
Group Schedule:
Head Coach: Jesse Marsch was hired in May of 2024 to lead Canada’s golden generation. Marsch has led Canada to unprecedented success, reaching the semi final of Copa America and winning friendlies against European oppositions away from home. Before Canada, Marsch coached three different Red Bulls clubs in New York, Salzburg and Leipzig, as well as Leeds United in the Premier League. He is known for his intense pressing style and making the game as difficult as possible on opponents, regardless of ball possession.
Star Player: Alphonso Davies is the country’s most high-profile player in history. After starting his career in Vancouver, Davies earned a move to German giants Bayern Munich. Known for his pace, dribbling and creativity, he is considered amongst the best left backs in the world. He was born as a Liberian refugee in Ghana, but moved with his family at a young age to Edmonton, Canada. Davies represents a modern Canadian success story, taken in by his community, was the recipient of inner city/low-income programs and has risen through the ranks to bring success to his adopted country
Unsung/Up-and-Coming Player: Ismael Kone is a 23-year-old Marseille midfielder, currently on loan to Sassuolo in Serie A. After impressing with CF Montreal in MLS, Kone signed for Watford for a fee around $8m. He was then sold to Marseille for $12m in 2024 and has gone on a couple of loans since. With 37 caps to his name already, Kone plays an important role for both club and country, and he continues to improve in his development.
Style/System/Expectations: Aside from Davies and Kone, Canada have multiple players at the game’s highest level. Jonathan David with Juventus, Tajon Buchanan with Villareal and Stephen Eustaqio with FC Porto are just some of the names that are a part of Canada’s golden generation. Canada have been able to hold their own against superior opponents, even grinding out results at times. Their relentless, team first mentality could see them make a deeper run in the World Cup than many anticipate.
Main thing to Watch: For a country dominated by hockey, Canada has a rich soccer history dating back to the 1800s. This World Cup will be a celebration of how far soccer has come in the country. Following the successes of hosting the women’s World Cup in 2015, Canadians are looking forward to see their team play on home soil.
Legendary Player: Atiba Hutchinson experienced Canada's lows himself, playing for a team ranked 122 in the world and 16th in CONCACAF back in 2014. Then there was the high of leading his country out at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar after a 36-year absence by the Canadian men. He is the all time caps leader for Canada with 104 and had a 20+ year club career with top clubs like FC Copenhagen and Besiktas. He won Canadian player of the year six times before he retired in 2023.
Biggest Soccer Moment: During the 2024 Copa America in the United States, Canada shocked many by advancing to the semifinal. After losing their opening game 2-0 to Lionel Messi’ Argentina, they beat Peru 1-0 and drew Chile 0-0 to qualify from the group stage. They beat Venezuela in penalty shootouts in the quarterfinals, but lost to Argentina again in the semis. While they lost the 3rd place match in shootouts against Uruguay, Canada were able to reach a level that seemed impossible for them in the past.
Prediction: Round of 16
Preview Podcast:
Nickname: Tubarões Azuis (Blue Sharks), Crioulos (Creoles)
FIFA Ranking: 67
Best Ever Finish (or debut): Debut
How they Qualified: Topped their qualifying group losing only once
Group Schedule:
Head Coach: Pedro “Bubista” Brito, was the head coach and architect of Cape Verde’s first World Cup appearance. After finishing his playing career, Bubista coached a few clubs in Cape Verde before taking over the national team in 2020. He guided the Tubarões Azuis to AFCON 2021 qualification, as well as AFCON 2023 where they reached the quarterfinal. After securing World Cup qualification, he was named 2025 CAF Coach of the Year. He is known to prioritize building a strong Cape Verde Identity and requires players to speak Cape Verde Creole while with the national team.
Star Player: Center forward Dailon Livramento has already scored important goals for Cape Verde and will be looking to score their first World Cup goal. Born and raised in Rotterdam in the Netherlands, he started his career with a couple of Dutch clubs before moving to Hellas Verona in Italy. After one season in Serie A, Livromento is currently on loan with Portuguese top division club Casa Pia. He led the Crioulos in goals in World Cup qualifiers, most importantly scoring the winner and only goal against Cameroon.
Unsung/Up-and-Coming Player: Goalkeeper and captain Vozinha has over 80 appearances for the national team since making his debut in 2012. The 39-year-old has split his career between Europe and Africa, he is currently with Chaves in the Portuguese second division. With his experience on the international stage, Vozinha has not only witnessed, but also experienced the rise of Cape Verde soccer.
Style/System/Expectations: Capo Verde usually setup in a 4-2-3-1 with emphasis on wide play. Most national team players have a mix of experience in Europe’s lower leagues and divisions, there are Cape Verde players playing in Ireland, Israel, and Romania. Only Logan Costa at Villareall plays in the top 5 European leagues. The team draws heavily on its diaspora players, mixing them with native Cape Verdeans. With a team of relatively unknown players and this being the debut for the Sharks, expectations are not very high. However, there’s a certain feeling amongst the group and they’ll be looking to shock the world.
Main thing to Watch: Match against Saudi Arabia, their closest opponent on paper. If they can pull a win, it’s possible that they can qualify to the next round with those three points.
Legendary Player: Lito was one of the first high-profile players to choose to represent Capo Verde, which started a trend for the national team. Born in Capo Verde before independence from Portugal, his family moved to the mainland and he was raised there. His career which lasted almost 20 years saw him make more than 400 appearances at club level and 47 caps for the Sharks.
Biggest Soccer Moment: Cape Verde and African heavyweights Cameroon were head-to-head in Group D in CAF World Cup qualification. After losing the first match 4-1 in Cameroon, it was time for the Crioulos to host. In a close match, Livramento’s goal in the 54th minute was enough to be the decider and clear the path for Capo Verde to qualify to the World Cup.
Prediction: Group stage
Preview Podcast:
Nickname: Los Cafeteros (The Coffee Growers), La Tricolor (The Tricolour), La Sele (The Sele)
FIFA Ranking: 13
Best Ever Finish (or debut): Quarterfinal (2014)
How they Qualified: Finished third in the CONMEBOL qualifiers, tied in points with Uruguay, Brazil and Paraguay.
Group Schedule:
Head Coach: Néstor Lorenzo has been the head coach of Colombia since 2022. The Argentine spent most of his managerial career as an assistant, including seven years with Colombia. Under his leadership, Colombia went on a 28-game win streak, only ending at the Copa America final in 2024 against Argentina. Known for his man management and connection with the players, Lorenzo seems to have all the right qualities to lead Colombia into the World Cup.
Star Player: Winger Luis Díaz is amongst the most exciting players in world soccer. The former Barranquilla and Atlético Junior man, made his name at Porto and earned a move to Liverpool where he became a world renowned name. Currently with German giants Bayern Munich, Díaz cost the Bavarian €75 million. That price is seemingly worth it as he has become one of the key performers in the Bundesliga and Champions League. At 28-years-old, he is already Colombia’s fourth top goalscorer and has been crucial to all of their recent success.
Unsung/Up-and-Coming Player: Yaser Asprilla continues to be one of the most exciting players to come out of South America. The 21-year-old models his game after the great Ronaldinho and is a daring, quick attacker who plays with confidence beyond his young age. Asprilla started in the Colombian league before making the jump to Watford, and later to Girona in La Liga. He is already becoming an important part of the national team, scoring twice in 11 appearances, but will be looking to play an even bigger role in 2026.
Style/System/Expectations: 2014 World Cup hero James Rodríguez is still an important part of the team despite being 34-years-old. Other than Rodríguez, Colombia has some talented players at top European clubs like Daniel Munoz, Luis Suárez and Jhon Lucumi. Lorenzo generally sets the team in a 4-2-3-1 in an attempt to control the midfield and allow for creative players to get on the ball. Colombia will be looking to match or best their best performance in the World Cup, which saw them reach the quarterfinal in 2014.
Main thing to Watch: Rodríguez is chasing both the appearance and goal records for Colombia, both seem possible as he is only seven appearances and five goals away.
Legendary Player: Carlos Valderamma is synonymous with Colombia and is often considered the greatest Colombian player of all time. His iconic hair made him stand out, but it was his elusive play style that captured the imagination of those who watched him. After spending most of his career playing in South America and Europe, Valderrama joined Tampa Bay Mutiny in Major League Soccer’s first season. He became one of the most recognisable players in the league and helped popularise it. He played in MLS for seven seasons with the Mutiny, Miami Fusion and Colorado Rapids, and is one of the most decorated players in the league’s history.
Biggest Soccer Moment: At the 2014 World Cup, Colombia took the world by storm. Led by legendary manager Jose Pekerman, they rolled through the group stage with a perfect record, playing some of the most exciting and captivating soccer. They then beat Uruguay in the round of 16 to face Brazil in the quarterfinal. The magical run came to an end against the host amidst some controversial referring decisions. James Rodríguez was one of the best things to come out of the run, he won the Golden Boot and was included in the All Star Team. Despite falling short, Los Cafeteros’ run unified the country.
Prediction: Round of 16
Preview Podcast:
Nickname: Vatreni (Blazers), Kockasti (Checkered Ones)
FIFA Ranking: 10
Best Ever Finish (or debut): Runners-up (2018)
How they Qualified: Finished undefeated and six points clear at the top of their qualifying group.
Group Schedule:
Head Coach: Zlatko Dalić has been in charge of the Croatian national team since 2017 and is widely regarded as the greatest coach in the history of the Croatian national team. He led the nation to a historic silver medal in the 2018 World Cup, then followed it up with a third-place finish in the 2022 edition. He is praised for his relationship with the players, fostering a positive environment and uniting the group for a common goal.
Star Player: Luka Modrić is not only Croatia’s captain and all-time caps leader, he is also an icon. He is often listed as one of the greatest midfielders of all time, thanks to his heroics with the national team and his 13-year stint with Real Madrid. Modrić has won numerous individual awards, including the Ballon d'Or in 2018, making him the first player other than Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo to win the award since 2007. He has won 34 trophies during his club career, including six UEFA Champions Leagues and four La Liga titles.
Unsung/Up-and-Coming Player: Luka Vušković is a 19-year-old defender currently on loan from Tottenham to Hamburg. Vušković came through and broke into the Hajduk Split squad at a young age, and became the youngest Croatian to make a league debut and the youngest to score. Known for his height and ability in both boxes, Vušković has played for the Croatian youth teams, and already has two caps with the national team.
Style/System/Expectations: Due to being at the helm for almost a decade, Dalić is very familiar with his squad. Over the years Croatia have been known for their defensive solidity, organization and pragmatism, 2026 will not be any different. Though only a few players from Croatia’s second “golden generation” remain, others have come through to take over. Players like Josko Gvardiol, Josip Stanisic and Franjo Ivanovic are eager to shine with the national team. It’s rare for teams to make three deep runs in a row, so it’s hard to expect Croatia to do it again. That said, no one expected the 2018 or the 2022 run, there’s a possibility that Dalić and Modrić have one more in the bag.
Main thing to Watch: Modrić is currently fifth in all-time international caps worldwide. He is less than 10 matches away from joining Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi in the top three. Kuwait’s Bader Al-Mutawa is currently second, but Messi and Modrić are expected to surpass him due to him being retired.
Legendary Player: Davor Šuker is Croatia's all-time top scorer with 45 goals and was part of the country’s first golden generation. Šuker scored six goals in seven matches to win the Golden Boot in the 1998 World Cup and help Croatia finish third in the tournament. His 19-year career, which included playing for Sevilla, Real Madrid and Arsenal, was full of individual and team accolades.
Biggest Soccer Moment: The 2018 World Cup was the birthplace of Croatia’s second golden generation. They topped their group, including a win over Messi’s Argentina, and beat Denmark in penalty shootouts during the round of 16. Another penalty shootout win against the hosts Russia saw them reach the semis, where they came from behind to beat England 2-1. Despite losing the final 4-2 to France, the team had a heroes welcome back home and were praised around the world. While players like Modrić, Ivan Rakitić, Mario Mandžukić, Ivan Perišić and Dejan Lovren became national icons.
Prediction: Round of 16
Preview Podcast:
Nickname: The Blue Wave
FIFA Ranking: 82
Best Ever Finish (or debut): Debut
How they Qualified: Finished top of their group in both rounds of qualifying, but it wasn’t decided until the final whistle of the last game of qualifying.
Group Schedule:
Head Coach: Legendary Dutch coach Dick Advocaat took charge in January 2024, following fellow country-men like Patrick Kluivert and Guus Hiddink. Advocaat set a goal to make the national setup more professional and instill a desire to avoid defeat at all costs. His experience with seven other national teams played a huge part in his appointment. The 78-year-old has had 28 different coaching stints throughout his career in 12 different countries.
Star Player: Tahith Chong is an attacking or wide midfielder currently with Sheffield United in the Championship. Chong joined the Manchester United Academy aged 16, after progressing through the Feyenoord youth system. To find minutes, he went on a few loans before landing at Birmingham City. After impressing with the Blues, he was signed by newly-promoted Premier League Club, Luton Town. After back-to-back relegations, he signed with Sheffield United where he is working towards becoming a regular. He featured for the Dutch youth teams before switching to the Blue Wave in August 2025. In his second game with the national team, he scored a brace against Bermuda.
Unsung/Up-and-Coming Player: Sontje Hansen is a 23-year-old winger who currently plays for Middlesbrough in the Championship. After impressing at youth levels, he signed with Ajax, making his professional debut with Jong Ajax at the age of 17. Struggling to find minutes with the first team, he moved to NEC also in the Eredivisie immediately becoming an important player for the club. After 72 appearances with NEC, he signed with Middlesbrough for £3.4 million and is fighting for minutes in the English second division. Like many of his teammates, he played for the Netherlands youth teams, but switched to Curaçao in September, 2025.
Style/System/Expectations: Advocaat relied heavily on integrating members of the diaspora. Most of the squad were born in the Netherlands, including the starting 11 in the decisive last qualifying match. Only one member of their recent 25-man squad was born in Curacao while the rest were born in the Netherlands, but qualified to represent the Blue Wave based on their ancestry. Curaçao will be looking to shock people in the World Cup, they are ranked 82nd in the world and many expect them to compete.
Main thing to Watch: With the recent trend of players switching to their parents’ or ancestors' countries, Curaçao might recruit some other top players before the world cup.
Legendary Player: Eloy Room is the starting goalkeeper for Curaçao and is tied for most caps for the country with 68. He started his career in the Netherlands playing for Vitesse and PSV, before signing with the Columbus Crew of MLS. He was one of the first players to make the switch from the Netherlands to Curaçao back in 2015. He also plays a role in recruiting players to the current national team.
Biggest Soccer Moment: Jamaica and Curaçao were head to head throughout the qualifiers, but thanks to goals from Livano Comenencia and Kenji Gorré, Curaçao beat Jamaica 2-0 at home. It all came down to the last day of qualifying in the reverse fixture, a draw or a win will see Curaçao through. After 90 minutes the game was still 0-0, but Jamaica were awarded an injury-time penalty that was overturned after a video assistant referee consultation. Curaçao finished top of the group and became the smallest country in land area and population to make the World Cup.
Prediction: Group stage
Preview Podcast:
Nickname: La Tri
FIFA Ranking: 23
Best Ever Finish (or debut): Round of 16 (2006)
How they Qualified: Finished second place in the CONMEBOL qualifiers only behind Argentina
Group Schedule:
Head Coach: Sebastián Beccacece became the head coach in August 2024. Since his appointment, he has brought an energetic, high-intensity approach, emphasizing structure, collective cohesion, and tactical discipline. While Ecuador is his first national team job, he has had assistant and head coaching jobs with clubs in Argentina, Chile and Spain. Beccacece has made Ecuador a tough opponent to beat and put them amongst the elite in South America.
Star Player: Moisés Caicedo is one of the most expansive soccer players in history, costing his current club Chelsea £100 million. The central midfielder started his career with the renowned Ecuadorian club Independiente del Valle before joining Premier League side Brighton & Hove Albion. After two seasons with the Seagulls that included a loan to Beerschot, Caicedo broke through the first team in 2022-23 and established himself as a starter. Since his move to Chelsea, he has been a vital piece for the London club and has established himself as one of the best midfielders in the league. He won the UEFA Conference League, the Club World Cup and player of the season with the Blues in 2024-25. At 24-years-old, he already has 58 caps with the national team and was part of the 2022 World Cup and 2024 Copa America squads. Known for his defensive abilities in the middle of the pitch, he is also a capable passer and often plays as a box-to-box midfielder.
Unsung/Up-and-Coming Player: Kendry Páez is an 18-year-old attacking midfielder or winger currently on loan from Chelsea to Strasbourg. He made history as the youngest ever goal scorer in a CONMEBOL World Cup qualifier at just 16 years and 161 days old. Unlike more defensive minded players in the squad, Páez offers vision, ball control and the ability to unlock defenses. He is also a graduate of Independiente del Valle and already has 23 caps with La Tri.
Style/System/Expectations: The manager has shown a preference for 4-4-2 formations since taking the role, but adopted a 4-2-3-1 for key World Cup qualifiers. Ecuador can absorb pressure very well and can stay compact, limiting their opponents’ opportunities. La Tri are reliant on quick transitions and counterattack, with the pace of the fullbacks and wingers being essential. With star players like Pervis Estupinan, Willian Pacho and Caicedo, Ecuador will be looking to make their name known on the world stage.While they’ll likely be a tough opponent in the World Cup, concerns over their goalscoring ability might prevent them from making a run.
Main thing to Watch: Recently, Ecuador have been able to produce top talents in world soccer, especially through Independiente del Valle. The World Cup might be a catalyst for another young talent to breakthrough and earn a high-profile move to a big European club.
Legendary Player: While his career is ongoing and he is expected to be at the 2026 World Cup, Enner Valencia is already a legend in Ecuador. He has the all-time scoring record for the Ecuador national football team with 48 and is fifth in all-time appearances with 103. He became the first South American to score in six consecutive World Cup matches for his country after scoring in the 2014, 2018 and 2022 tournaments. At 36-years-old, Valencia has played for seven clubs in five different countries throughout his career. He made his debut for the national team in 2012 and plays a huge part on and off the pitch.
Biggest Soccer Moment: After qualifying for their first World Cup in 2002, Ecuador reached the round of 16 in the 2006 tournament. Finishing second in their group after wins over Poland and Costa Rica, Ecuador exited the tournament losing 1-0 to England.
Prediction: Quarterfinal
Preview Podcast:
Nickname: The Pharaohs
FIFA Ranking: 35
Best Ever Finish (or debut): Round of 16 (1934)
How they Qualified: Qualified at the top of their group winning 8/10 matches and only conceding twice.
Group Schedule:
Head Coach: Egypt’s legendary striker and all-time goalscorer Hossam Hassan has been serving as a manager since February of 2024. As a player, he was part of the 1990 World Cup and won the AFCON three times. Hassan is looking to bring that pedigree back to the national team and lead a talented Egyptian squad. He has made an effort to integrate young talents into the national team setup, especially the standouts from the 2024 Olympics. While his playing career is amongst the best in the country, his coaching career which started in 2008, has yet to reach a similar status.
Star Player: Mohamed Salah is the greatest Egyptian, and possibly African, player of all time. He is widely regarded as one of the best wingers of all time, and is the all-time top foreign goalscorer in the Premier League and the all-time top African goalscorer in the UEFA Champions League. Salah started his career domestically with Al-Mokawloon before making the jump to Europe. After some ups and downs, Salah signed with Liverpool in 2017 and has since become a club legend. He played a major part for the Reds, winning two Premier League titles, a UEFA Champions League and a plethora of other cups and individual awards. Salah is known for his speed, technical ability and clinical finishing, but his influence spans beyond the pitch, especially in his home country. He is only a few goals away from becoming Egypt’s all time goalscorer and is likely to take over Hassan’s record.
Unsung/Up-and-Coming Player: Omar Marmoush will be looking to establish himself as a true star of this Egyptian side. After impressing domestically, Marmoush earned a move to Wolfsburg in Germany and had his breakout season in 2022-23. He then signed with Eintracht Frankfurt where he became one of the most sought after players in the world, scoring 37 goals in 67 matches. In January 2025, Marmoush signed with Manchester City for a deal worth £59 million and has played an important part for the club since.
Style/System/Expectations: Egypt currently has a good mix of experienced players alongside some in-prime talents, in addition they have a couple of Premier League superstars. All signs point towards a better World Cup in 2026. Mostly set up in a 4-3-3, Egypt at times will shift to a back 3/5 as needed or throughout the match. Egypt’s team is often about Salah, but veteran players like Trezuguet and Zizo will need to have a good tournament for Egypt to leave its mark.
Main thing to Watch: For a team that has dominated Africa, Egypt has only made two World Cups since 1934, both of which ended in the group stage. Will the expanded formula finally see Egypt get back to the knockout stage?
Legendary Player: Mohamed Aboutrika is an icon on and off the pitch, not just in Egypt, but in the region as a whole. He played 100 games and scored 38 goals with the national team, scoring the winner in two straight AFCON finals. He is also considered a legend for Al Ahly, where he played 286 games and scored 122 goals. His trophy shelf is second to none, with two AFCONs, Seven Egyptian Premier Leagues, Five CAF Champions Leagues, Four Egyptian player of the year, Four CAF Team of the Year and BBC African Footballer of the Year. Off the field, Aboutrika is known for being the model athlete and has supported many causes during and after his career. He was outspoken about a lot of political and religious issues including the situation in Palestine and world hunger.
Biggest Soccer Moment: In 2010, the Pharaohs won their third consecutive African Cup of Nations, an unprecedented run of dominance, by defeating Ghana 1-0. That capped off a reign of AFCON dominance that started in 2006 when a group of mostly domestic players stunned a star-studded Ivory Coast team that included Didier Drogba and Yaya Toure in front of their home crowd at Cairo international stadium. Two years later they knocked off Samuel Eto’s Cameroon for their second straight AFCON title, and then in 2010, sealed their dominance against Ghana.
Prediction: Group stage
Preview Podcast:
Nickname: The Three Lions
FIFA Ranking: 4
Best Ever Finish (or debut): Winners (1966)
How they Qualified: Won all eight of their qualifying games and did not concede any goals.
Group Schedule:
Head Coach: Thomas Tuchel took over as manager in March of 2025, becoming only the third foreign coach and the first German to take the job. After a tame start, Tuchel turned things around and has found success with the Three Lions. Under his leadership, England became the first European nation to secure qualification for the 2026 World Cup and have only lost once since he took over. Tuchel emphasizes tactical flexibility and attacking intent, often using 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 that can adapt to different opponents. Tuchel has had some tension with the English media, though results and performances have not suffered.
Star Player: Harry Kane is already the historic top goalscorer for England, and he is not too far from the caps record for the nation. At 32-years-old, Kane has been a big part of England’s biggest success at major tournaments, including winning the Golden Boot at the 2018 World Cup. He has been unstoppable at the club-level with Bayern Munich, leading the Bavarians to the Bundesliga title in 2024-25, while averaging near one goal per game.
Unsung/Up-and-Coming Player: Elliot Anderson is a 23-year-old Nottingham Forest central midfielder who is starting to leave his mark on the national team. Anderson started his career at Newcastle and later moved to Forest for a reported fee of £35 million. Since the move, he has been a very important player for the tricky trees. The box-to-box midfielder is known for his workrate, great passing and ball-carrying ability.
Style/System/Expectations: It took a bit of time, but Tuchel’s system seems to be in full effect for the Three Lions. There’s a clear focus on high pressing, attacking full-backs and exploiting space. Just like recent major tournaments, England are not short on talent. Players like Declan Rice, Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Bukayo Saka all play a major role for their clubs and country alike. There are also players like Reece James, Eberechi Eze and Marc Guéhi who are the stars of their clubs and are looking to leave their mark on the national team. England will be expected to finally bring the World Cup trophy home.
Main thing to Watch: This might be the last chance for Harry Kane to bring football home and win the World Cup after 60 years of hurt. He will be almost 37-years-old when the next World Cup kicks off, making it unlikely for him to take a part.
Legendary Player: Sir Robert Charlton is widely considered one of the greatest players of all time, he was a member of the England team that won the 1966 FIFA World Cup, the year he also won the Ballon d'Or. He is also considered a legend at Manchester United where he played for almost his entire career. Charlton was the long-time record goalscorer for both Manchester United and England, and it took decades until he was surpassed.
Biggest Soccer Moment: England hosted the 1966 World Cup, then reached the final, after topping their group and beating Argentina and Portugal. At the final, England beat West Germany 4-2, with Geoff Hurst scoring the first hattrick in a World Cup final. Head coach Alf Ramsey, Geoff Hurst, Bobby Charlotton and the rest of the 1966 team became legends in English and world soccer history.
Prediction: Semifinal
Preview Podcast:
Nickname: Les Bleus (The Blues)
FIFA Ranking: 3
Best Ever Finish (or debut): Winners (1998, 2018)
How they Qualified: Topped their qualifiers group and were undefeated
Group Schedule:
Head Coach: Legendary player and now manager, Didier Deschamps, has been with the French national team since 2012. After leading Les Bleus to the 2018 World Cup victory, Deschamps became the third man to win the World Cup as both a player and a manager. While he has often divided opinion, the results speak for themselves. Aside from the World Cup win, Deschamps led France to a Nations League title in 2020-21, Euro final in 2016 and World Cup final in 2022. He is known to be a bit pragmatic tactically, with a huge focus on transition moments.
Star Player: Kylian Mbappé is often listed as the best player of the current era. He is the second-most-expensive player in the history of the game, thanks to his €180 million transfer from Monaco to Paris Saint-Germain, where he became the club’s all-time top goalscorer. Currently with Spanish giants Real Madrid, the 27-year-old winger is at the peak of his game, averaging almost one goal contribution per match. Known for his speed, ball control and dribbling, Mbappe has also been a prolific goalscorer throughout his career. With the national team, he played a major part in the 2018 World Cup victory and all of the other recent French successes. With only two goals separating him from the all-time record for Les Bleus, he will most certainly claim that honor before or during the World Cup.
Unsung/Up-and-Coming Player: Bayern Munich winger Michael Olise is one of the most talented players in world soccer. The 23-year-old was born in London to a Nigerian father and French-Algerian mother, and had a unique path to the French national team through the English leagues. Known for his creativity, vision and passing, Olise is a versatile forward who thrives in fluid systems. After becoming an integral part of Bayern Munich’s title winning squad, he has become a constant fixture with the national team in 2025.
Style/System/Expectations: Based on pedigree, depth and talent, France can make a strong case for their squad to be the best in the world. Les Bleus have world-class players like Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembélé, Arsenal’s William Saliba and Real Madrid’s Eduardo Camavinga. In addition France has a plethora of young and emerging talents like Hugo Ekitike, Bradley Barcola, Rayan Cherki and many others. The French will rely on their experience at big tournaments and the sheer quality of the squad. They will go into every game at the World Cup as favorites and are one of the main candidates to lift the trophy.
Main thing to Watch: Will France tie Brazil’s (1994,1998, 2002) and Germany’s (1982, 1986, 1990) record of three consecutive World Cup finals? Deschamps has already announced that this will be his last tournament with the national team, and he will be looking to make it a memorable one.
Legendary Player: Zinedine Zidane is widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time. Renowned for his elegance, vision, passing, and ball control, Zidane was a playmaking forward who captured the imagination of soccer fans around the world. He won the 1998 Ballon d’Or and countless other individual accolades.He played for Cannes, Bordeaux and Juventus before becoming the centerpiece of Real Madrid’s “Galacticos.” For Les Blues, he won the 1998 World Cup, scoring a brace in the final, and the 2000 Euros where he was named Player of the Tournament. He also received the Golden Ball at the 2006 World Cup, despite his infamous sending off in the final against Italy.
Biggest Soccer Moment: France were the hosts of the 1998 World Cup and had a team full of players who’ll later become legends of the game. They finished the tournament undefeated, cruising through the group stage, then beating Paraguay, Italy and Croatia to reach the final. France defeated Brazil 3-0 and lifted the trophy for the first time in their history at the Stade de France. France’s “class of 98” included Thierry Henry, Emmanuel Petit, Lillian Thuram, Zinedine Zidane, Laurent Blanc, Youri Djorkaeff, Bixente Lizarazu, David Trezeguet, Patrick Vieira, Didier Deschamps, Marcel Desailly, Robert Pires and Fabien Barthez.
Prediction: Final
Preview Podcast:
Nickname: Die Mannschaft (The Team)
FIFA Ranking: 9
Best Ever Finish (or debut): Winners (1954, 1974, 1990, 2014)
How they Qualified: Topped their qualifying group with just one loss and +13 goal difference
Group Schedule:
Head Coach: In September 2023, Julian Nagelsmann was named the new head coach. After some mixed results, Germany picked up big wins against France and the Netherlands before Euro 2024 on home soil. At the tournament they reached the quarterfinal, losing to eventual champions Spain. The German team has started to look better under Nagelsmann, but is yet to fully click like previous generations. He is known for his versatility with formations and maintaining possession. Nagelsmann’s teams often utilize gegenpressing, whereby the team, after losing possession, immediately attempts to win it back, rather than falling back to regroup.
Star Player: Florian Wirtz is an attacking midfielder currently with Liverpool in the Premier League. Wirtz rose through the youth system at 1. FC Köln before moving to Bayer Leverkusen in 2020. Shortly after making his debut at the age of 17, Wirtz became an important player for Leverkusen. He was pivotal for Leverkusen during their unbeaten domestic double in the 2023–24 season. He was named the Bundesliga Player of the Season, scoring 18 goals and providing 14 assists. Wirtz transferred to Liverpool for a club-record fee of approximately £100 million, marking him one of the most expensive players in history. He played through Germany’s youth teams and made his senior debut in 2021. He is a versatile attacker known for his technique, final ball and workrate.
Unsung/Up-and-Coming Player: Newcastle’s Nick Woltemade has emerged as one of the most exciting strikers in world soccer. He started with Werder Bremen, and had a stint with Stuttgart before moving to Newcastle in the summer of 2025 for a reported fee of up to £70 million. He hit the ground running with his new club, scoring in his Premier League and Champions League debuts. Playing mostly with Germany’s youth teams, he didn’t make his senior debut until June 2025. He’s a tall and versatile forward with agile dribbling and strong technical ability, which makes him difficult for opponents to mark. He excels at dropping deep to receive the ball with his back to goal to link play, but can also operate as a more traditional number nine.
Style/System/Expectations: The German squad is full of young talents who are in or near their prime, players like Angelo Stiller, Aleksandar Pavlovic and Karim Adeyemi will be looking to leave their mark on the national team. At the same time, the team has a good group of veteran players like Jamal Musiala, Joshua Kimmich and Leon Goretzka who will continue to play their parts. With Germany being one of the top producers of talent, it would not be shocking if Nagelsmann and the squad turn things around in 2026. While Germany are not favorites to win, history has shown that they are never too far from achieving big things.
Main thing to Watch: Jamal Musiala became one of the most exciting players in the world both with the national team and Bayern Munich. At just 22-year-old, Musial has already achieved more than a lot of players achieve in their entire career. In July 2025, he suffered a fractured fibula along with a dislocated and broken ankle after colliding with Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma during the quarterfinal of the 2025 Club World Cup. As he slowly makes his recovery, Musiala will only have half a season with Bayern Munich before the World Cup starts. It will be interesting to see if he can go back to his incredible pre-injury form.
Legendary Player: Franz Beckenbauer, nicknamed der Kaiser ("the Emperor"), is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential players of all time. He is one of three men, along with Brazil's Mário Zagallo and France's Didier Deschamps, to have won the World Cup as a player and as a manager; he lifted the World Cup trophy as captain in 1974, and repeated the feat as a manager in 1990. At club level with Bayern Munich, Beckenbauer won the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1967 and three consecutive European Cups from 1974-1976. He also became the manager and later president of Bayern Munich following his playing career. Beckenbauer died in January 2024, at the age of 78, due to natural causes. A memorial service was held at Allianz Arena on 19 January.
Biggest Soccer Moment: The 2014 World Cup was memorable for the Germans, not just because they lifted the trophy, but also because of their semifinal victory. Against Brazil, at Estádio Mineirão, Germany scored four goals in just less than seven minutes and were 5–0 up by the 30th minute with goals from Thomas Müller, Miroslav Klose, Sami Khedira and two from Toni Kroos. Germany's 7–0 lead in the second half was the highest score against Brazil in a single game. It was Brazil's worst ever World Cup defeat, whilst Germany broke multiple World Cup records with the win including the first team to reach four consecutive World Cup semi-finals, the first team to score seven goals in a World Cup knockout phase game, the fastest five consecutive goals in World Cup history (with four of the goals scored in just 400 seconds), and the first team to score five goals in the first half in a World Cup semifinal.
Prediction: Quarterfinal
Preview Podcast:
Nickname: Black Stars
FIFA Ranking: 72
Best Ever Finish (or debut): Quarterfinal (2010)
How they Qualified: Topped their qualifying group six points clear.
Group Schedule:
Head Coach: Otto Addo is in his second spell as the Black Stars head coach, in his first he led the team through the 2022 World Cup. Addo became the first Ghanaian to play for and coach the Ghana national team at the World Cup, the first Ghanaian coach to win a match at the World Cup and the first Ghanaian to lead the country to two different World Cups. While the World Cup qualifiers have been positive under Addo, he has divided opinions after missing out on AFCON and losing most of their friendlies.
Star Player: Mohammed Kudus is an attacking midfielder currently with Tottenham in the Premier League. A product of the Right to Dream Academy, Kudus played for Nordsjælland, Ajax and West Ham before making his £55 million move to Spurs. He is a creative player known for his dribbling and explosive style, with a great eye for goal. Kudus has been part of the Ghanaian national team since 2019, and won Ghanaian Footballer of the Year in 2023. He has also contributed regularly in big moments, including two World Cup goals.
Unsung/Up-and-Coming Player: Antoine Semenyo is one of the most exciting up-and-coming players in world soccer. Semenyo started his career with Bristol City before making the jump to the Premier League with Bournemouth in 2023. He impressed with the Cherries and eventually became one of the most exciting players in the league. In January 2026, Semenyo completed a £64 million move to Manchester City. Known for his rapid speed and dribbling, Semenyo is talented, two-footed winger with elite ball carrying ability.
Style/System/Expectations: Ghana’s two most capped players are the Ayew brothers, Andre with 120 and Jordan with 117, it’s also possible for both to feature during the World Cup. That said, there’s a young generation of Ghanaian youth who are making their way into the national team like Abdul Fatawu, Christopher Bonsu Baah and Jonas Adjei Adjetey. Addo urged the fans to keep expectations realistic for the World Cup and results have not gone their way. While the talent is clearly still there, something seems to be stopping Ghana from flourishing. They are the lowest ranked team in the group, but will be looking to get a couple of results and maybe qualify as a best third.
Main thing to Watch: Missing AFCON means that the players have less time to work together. With the busy club season, it’ll be on Addo and his staff to ensure cohesion within the Black Stars’ squad.
Legendary Player: Asamoah Gyan is the top African goalscorer in the history of the World Cup. A prolific striker, Gyan is the all-time leading goalscorer for Ghana and is responsible for six of Ghana’s 18 World Cup goals. He started his almost 18-year career in his native Ghana, before spells in Italy, England, UAE, China and Turkey. With 51 goals for the national team and over 270 in his career, Gyan is an icon in Ghana and Africa.
Biggest Soccer Moment:At the 2010 World Cup, Ghana beat Serbia, drew Australia and lost to Germany to qualify to the round of 16. There they beat the United States 2-1 after extra time to become only the third African nation to reach the World Cup quarterfinal. They controversially lost to Uruguay in penalties after the infamous Luis Suárez handball incident. Despite exiting the tournament, that Ghana generation went down in the history books.
Prediction: Group stage
Preview Podcast:
Nickname: Les Grenadiers (The Grenadiers)
FIFA Ranking: 84
Best Ever Finish (or debut): Group stage (1974)
How they Qualified: After advancing to the third round of the CONCACAF qualifiers, Haiti finished at the top of their group. Haiti entered the last qualifiers window needing to win both their remaining matches and have other group results go their way in order to qualify. A 1-0 win over Costa Rica, followed by a 2-0 win over Nicaragua sealed the deal for the Haitians.
Group Schedule:
Head Coach: Haiti’s manager, Sebastien Migne has yet to step foot in the country. Due to the ongoing security and political crisis in, the national team played all of its qualifying fixtures at neutral sites. "It's impossible [to visit] because it's too dangerous," Migne told France Football magazine. "I usually live in the countries where I work, but I can't here. There are no more international flights landing there." Under Migne Haiti has been successful with a 13W-4D-4L record. This is the fifth national team Migne has been a part of and the first one outside of Africa.
Star Player: Jean-Ricner Bellegarde is an attacking midfielder playing for Wolves in the Premier League. Born in France, Bellegarde represented his birth nation at youth levels, but his Haitian descent qualified him to make the switch in 2025. Since the switch, the 27-year-old has been the highest profile in the team and has played all six matches he has been eligible for. After impressing with Lens and Strasbourg in Ligue 1, Bellegarde joined Wolverhampton Wanderers on a five-year deal for £12.8m in 2023. Following his switch of international allegiance, Bellegarde became the first Haitian-represented player to feature in the Premier League.
Unsung/Up-and-Coming Player: Don Deedson Louicius opened up the scoring against Nicaragua in the game that booked Haiti’s spot in the World Cup. The 24-year-old winger was born in and played his youth career in Haiti. Later he joined the Atlanta United Academy in the United States. He was signed to a professional contract in Denmark and spent six seasons there with Hobro and Odense Boldklub in the second and first divisions. He later joined FC Dallas in Major League Soccer in the summer of 2025. He has 28 caps and 10 goals with the national team.
Style/System/Expectations: The Haitian squad is entirely foreign-based and there are multiple players at high-level European clubs. Josue Casimir with Auxerre, Frantzdy Pierrot with AEK Athens and Carlens Arcus with Angers all play an important role for club and country. Making the World Cup is an incredible achievement on its own for a country like Haiti. That said, playing with nothing to lose and everything to gain might raise the level of the squad. If Haiti can get a point in this tough group, it’ll be celebrated for years.
Main thing to Watch: For a country that has suffered a tremendous amount, relative sporting success can lead to a much needed celebration and unity. When Haiti punched their World Cup ticket, celebrations lasted for hours in the streets, even in dangerous areas.
Legendary Player: Though his career is ongoing, Duckens Nazon is already considered a legend. He is tied for fourth most caps for the country and is the historic goalscorer with 44 goals. The 31-year-old striker has played for 13 clubs in eight different countries. He has scored many important goals for the country, including a second half hat trick against Costa Rica in the most recent qualifiers.
Biggest Soccer Moment: Haiti is the only Caribbean nation to qualify more than once for a World Cup, their other appearance was in 1974 in West Germany. They drew a tough group consisting of Italy, Argentina and Poland. Against Italy, Haiti took a shock lead when star forward Emmanuel Sanon scored shortly after halftime, beating Italy star keeper Dino Zoff and slipping it into an empty net. The goal ended Zoff's record run of 1143 minutes without conceding a goal in international matches. The Italians woke up and eventually came back to win 3-1.
Prediction: Group stage
Preview Podcast:
Nickname: Team Melli
FIFA Ranking: 20
Best Ever Finish (or debut): First round/Group stage (1978, 1998, 2006, 2014-2022)
How they Qualified: Finished top of their group losing only once in the third round of AFC qualifiers.
Group Schedule:
Head Coach: Ardeshir "Amir" Ghalenoei was appointed as the head coach in March of 2023. He was undefeated in his first 18 matches (mostly friendlies). His first loss came at the 2023 Asian cup semifinal where they lost 3-2 to host and eventual champion Qatar. Iran went on another unbeaten run after that, this time it was 12 games, but Qatar yet again, ended the run by serving the Persians their only defeat in World Cup qualifiers. Despite the overwhelmingly positive results, Ghalenoei is viewed as a “boring” and “kick and rush” type of coach who focuses on defensive stability and long balls.
Star Player: Mehdi Taremi continues to be the most recognizable name in the Iran squad, even at 33-years-old. The Olympiacos striker is known for his finishing ability and attack prowess, he has scored many important goals for club and country throughout his career. After starting his career domestically, Taremi had a short stint in Qatar before making the jump to Europe, where he played for Rio Ave, Porto and Inter Milan. He is in the top 10 in most caps for the national team and third in all-time scoring.
Unsung/Up-and-Coming Player: Allahyar Sayyadmanesh is a winger currently playing with Westerlo in the Belgian top division. The 24-year-old was named one of the 16 best young talents in World Football by the Guardian, and Iranian Young Player of the year in 2019. After impressing domestically, Sayyadmanesh played in Turkey, Ukraine and England before landing in Westerloo. He has been an important piece for De Kemphanen since he joined, playing regularly and contributing to goals.
Style/System/Expectations: Iran’s defensive style has been very effective in Asia, but it’s hard to tell if it’ll work on the world stage. With this likely being the last World Cup for star players like Sardour Azmoun, Mahedi Taremi and Saman Ghoddos, and with the expanded format, Iran will be extra motivated to make it out of their group.
Main thing to Watch: As history has shown, politics can be and often are involved in Iran sports, the ongoing tensions with Israel have already caused a friendly against Chile to be canceled. With the World Cup being in North America, this is possibly the biggest worry for Team Melli and its fans.
Legendary Player: Ali Daei, a legend of Iran and Asian soccer. On 17 November 2004, Daei became the first male footballer with 100 international goals when he scored four times against Laos in a 2006 World Cup qualifier. He captained the national team from 2000-2006 and was the world’s top international goalscorer with 109 goals until Cristiano Ronaldo, then Leo Messi passed him. He had a 20-year-career in his native Iran, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. However, he came into prominence during his time in Germany with Arminia Bielefeld, Bayern Munich and Hertha Berlin.
Biggest Soccer Moment: Iran and the United States were in the same group during the 1998 World Cup in France. Longtime political adversaries, dating back to the Iranian revolution and Iran hostage crisis, the Iran-US match was described as the most politically charged game in World Cup history. However, in an act of defiance against all forms of hatred or politics in sports, both sides presented one another with gifts and flowers and took ceremonial pictures before the match kickoff.
Prediction: Round of 32
Preview Podcast:
Nickname: The Elephants
FIFA Ranking: 42
Best Ever Finish (or debut): Group stage (2006, 2010, 2014)
How they Qualified: Narrowly topped their group by finishing with 26 points, Gabon finished with 25. They were undefeated throughout the qualifiers and did not concede a single goal.
Group Schedule:
Head Coach: Emerse Faé took over in the middle of AFCON 2023 and led the Elephants to the trophy on home soil. Ivory Coast have been on the rise under Faé, he has an overwhelmingly positive record with the nation and has already qualified the team to the 2026 World Cup and 2025 AFCON. Faé is known for his dynamic and attacking football philosophy, emphasizing ball possession and rapid transitions. He has also brought life to this Ivorian team that desperately needed it after the terrible start to AFCON 2023. Faé was a former player with the Elephants, featuring in 41 matches. Before taking over the national team, his coaching experience included second and youth teams.
Star Player: Franck Kessié is the captain of Côte d'Ivoire and currently plays for Al-Ahli in the Saudi Pro League. After starting his career domestically and earning a move to Atalanta in Italy, Kessié had his breakthrough on loan with AC Milan, which later became permanent. He became an important player for Milan in his five seasons there, playing 223 matches and winning the Serie A title in 2021-22. Kessié then signed with Barcelona and played one season there, helping them win the La Liga title and Supercopa de España in 2022-23. He has been at Al-Ahli since summer 2023 and has already won the AFC Champions League and the Saudi Super Cup. The 29-year-old has played a vital role with the national team since his debut in 2014, including winning the AFCON title in 2023. With 96 caps, he ranks seventh in the country’s history.
Unsung/Up-and-Coming Player: Amad Diallo, known often as Amad, is a 23-year-old winger or wingback currently playing for Manchester United. Born in the Ivory Coast, Amad moved to Italy as a child. He joined the Atalanta youth system in 2015, where he won two Campionato Primavera 1 titles. In 2021 Amad signed with Manchester United for a reported fee of up to €37 million. After impressing while on loan, he returned to the Red Devils in the 2023-24 season and had his breakthrough. He has been an important player since and won the 2023-24 FA Cup, where he scored the decisive goal in 4-3 victory over Liverpool in the quarterfinal. He has 11 caps and two goals with the national teams since making his debut in 2021. Amad is a quick and dynamic player with a high technical ability with versatility in skillset and position.
Style/System/Expectations: Most of the Côte d'Ivoire players are with teams in top European leagues. In recent years, they have been able to add a number of dual-citizens to the squad from the diaspora abroad. They still produce quality players domestically who often go on to play for top teams around the world. The squad has a good mixture of young talents and experienced players like Ousmane Diomande, Evan N'Dicka and Odilon Kossounou. The Elephants will be looking to finally reach the knockout stage at the World Cup, with the way they have been performing, that goal seems achievable.
Main thing to Watch: Will Emerse Faé be able to keep a high morale within the squad and continue his successful journey? With limited experience before the national team, Faé was able to prove himself by bringing the right “vibes” back into the side and winning a trophy. If he is able to continue this trend, he will be a highly sought after head coach following the World Cup.
Legendary Player: There’s no player more closely associated with the Elephants than Didier Drogba. He is the former captain and all-time top scorer with 65 goals over 12 years with the national team. He is also a legend with Chelsea where he won the UEFA Champions League and four Premier League titles. Drogba was named the African Footballer of the year in 2006 and 2009 and has won a myriad of individual and team awards. Following Chelsea his career took him to China, Turkey, Canada and the United States. He is widely considered one of the best African players of all time and was inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame in 2022. He is also known for his philanthropic work throughout his career and afterwards. His involvement in the peace process led to Time magazine naming Drogba one of the world's 100 most influential people for 2010.
Biggest Soccer Moment: Drogba and the rest of the squad who qualified for the 2006 World Cup left their mark on the county on and off the pitch. A conflict had been ongoing since 2002 between the government and a domestic insurgency that had left thousands dead and over a million people displaced. On October 8, 2005, after the Ivory Coast beat Sudan to book their ticket to Germany 2006, cameras were invited into the locker room during the celebrations, and Drogba grabbed the mic and made a direct plea to the country to stop the violence. The scenes of the entire Ivorian team on their knees begging for the violence to be stopped were some of the most powerful in the sport’s history. The squad’s plea and actions helped the ceasefire and their performance on the pitch often united Ivorians.
Prediction: Round of 32
Preview Podcast:
Nickname: サムライ・ブルー (Samurai Blue)
FIFA Ranking: 18
Best Ever Finish (or debut): Round of 16 (2002, 2010, 2018, 2022)
How they Qualified: First team to qualify for the World Cup after the hosts, they only lost once in both rounds of AFC qualifying
Group Schedule:
Head Coach: Hajime Moriyasu was appointed as head coach in 2018 and led Japan to the Round of 16 in the 2022 World Cup and a final in the 2019 Asian Cup. After five years managing Sanfrecce Hiroshima, Moriyasu took over the Japan U23 team, later becoming an assistant for the national team in the 2018 World Cup. He is known for his good man management and developing young players while keeping other generations moving and churning.
Star Player: Takefusa Kubo, known as Take Kubo, is a right winger who plays for La Liga side Real Sociedad. He has been dubbed "Japanese Messi" by Japanese football fans because of his technical ability. He impressed domestically from a young age and later moved to Spain to be a part of FC Barcelona historic academy, La Masia. Due to the club’s violation of FIFA rules for minors, Kuba returned to Japan. After a few domestic seasons he signed with Real Madrid, but never played a match for Los Blancos, spending his time on loan. Kubo signed for Real Sociedad in summer of 2022 and has established himself as a starter since. He has been instrumental for the Japanese youth and national teams as well.
Unsung/Up-and-Coming Player: Zion Suzuki is a 23-year-old goalkeeper currently playing with Parma in the Italian Serie A. Despite the young age for his position, Suzuki is the full time starter for the national team. Before Parma he impressed domestically with Urawa Red Diamonds and on loan to Sint-Truiden in Belgium. Suzuki is half Japanese and half Ghanaian, and was born in Arkansas in the United States. He has exclusively represented Japan since the U15 level.
Style/System/Expectations: Moriyasu often sets up with a 3-4-2-1 shape focused on ball possession and quick passes. Most of the Japanese squad play in Europe with a good amount of them playing for the top leagues like Takumi Minamino, Daichi Kamada and Wataru Endo. Japan dominates the region and often has good World Cup performances, the expectations are to take this to the next level in 2026 by making a deep run.
Main thing to Watch: In 2018, Japan beat Colombia, and in 2022 they beat both Germany and Spain. The Samurai Blue have built a reputation of winning against the odds and will be looking to do the same in 2026.
Legendary Player: Kazuyoshi Miura, often referred to as “King Kazu,” is a 58-year-old player who’s still playing professionally with Yokohama FC. Over the years, Miura has shattered many records for the oldest player and goalscorer domestically and worldwide. He is the oldest professional player to score in a match and has the second longest professional career in history. He has 90 caps with Japan and 55 goals, in 1992 he became the first Japanese player to win Asian Player of the Year.
Biggest Soccer Moment: Japan, alongside South Korea, were chosen as cohosts of the 2002 World Cup, making it the first tournament to take place outside of Europe or the Americas. The infrastructure of the sport in the country saw a massive update and the sport reached a new level of popularity. Japan exited the tournament in the round of 16, their best performance at a World Cup to date, but the lasting legacy of hosting turned them into an Asian powerhouse.
Prediction: Round of 32
Preview Podcast:
Nickname: النشامى (The Chivalrous Ones)
FIFA Ranking: 64
Best Ever Finish (or debut): Debut
How they Qualified: Topped their group in the second round and finished second in the third round to earn automatic qualification.
Group Schedule:
Head Coach: Former Moroccan international Jamal Sellami took charge in summer of 2024. Taking over from fellow countryman Hussein Ammouta, Sellami has continued Jordan’s upwards trajectory. Under his leadership, Jordan qualified for their first ever World Cup and made the Arab Cup final in 2025. He was granted Jordanian citizenship by a royal decision from King Abdullah II in recognition of his significant contributions to Jordanian soccer.
Star Player: Musa Al-Taamari is a right winger currently with Rennes in Ligue 1. The 28-year-old is the star of this Jordan side with 85 caps and 23 goals to his name. After impressing domestically, Al-Taamari made the jump to APOEL in Cyprus, then OH Leuven in Belgium. He later joined Montpellier, becoming the first Jordanian to sign in one of the top five European Leagues. In early 2025, Al-Taamari switched to Rennes for a reported fee of 9 million euros. He is a left-footed right winger known for his dribbling ability and trickery.
Unsung/Up-and-Coming Player: Ali Olwan is just four goals away from matching the all-time goalscoring record for Jordan. At just 25-years-old, Olwan is a true “fox in the box” finisher. He started his professional career in 2018 and has played in Jordan, Qatar and Malaysia, before signing with Iraqi side Al-Karma in summer of 2025.
Style/System/Expectations: Jordan are on a historic and unprecedented run. While soccer has always been a big part of Jordanian life, the national team has never found this much success. Most of the Jordanian players are in the domestic league, with others scattered around other leagues in the region. What Jordan lack in experience they make up for in desire and belief, a recurring theme for some 2026 World Cup participants. Not much is expected from this squad, but if they are able to get a result or two, they’ll enter the history books and be celebrated back home.
Main thing to Watch: Since the beginning of the 2023 Asian Cup, Jordan have been able to keep up, and at times best, superior opposition. That said, most of the success has been regional, Jordan will need to translate that into the world stage if they want to get out of the group.
Legendary Player: Amer Shafi has the record for most appearances for Jordan with 179. The former starting goalkeeper was part of Jordanian teams that reached the play-offs and were close to qualifying to the 2006 and 2014 World Cups. He is the third most capped goalkeeper in world soccer only behind Mohamed Al-Deayea with Saudi Arabia and Gianluigi Buffon with Italy.
Biggest Soccer Moment: In the 2023 Asian Cup, Jordan finished third in the group, but with a win against Malaysia and draw against giants South Korea, they still qualified to the knockout stage. There Jordan defeated Iraq and Tajikistan to shock the continent and reach the semifinal, Jordan faced South Korea again, but this time winning 2-0 with Al-Taamari scoring one and setting up the other, helping Jordan reach their first ever Asian Cup final. Though they lost to host Qatar, the historic performances left a huge mark on the country and set the team up for success.
Prediction: Group stage
Preview Podcast:
Nickname: Taeguk Warriors
FIFA Ranking: 22
Best Ever Finish (or debut): Fourth(2002)
How they Qualified: Undefeated and topped their group in both rounds of AFC qualifiers.
Group Schedule:
Head Coach: Hong Myung-Bo was part of the historic 2002 team and returned for his second stint as manager in July 2024. As a manager Hong led Ulsan HD to two consecutive K League titles before returning to the national team. He was boo’d by Korean home fans in his first game in charge and has been criticized for his style of play. Hong is committed to playing a back five and staying organized defensively.
Star Player: Son Heung-min has the most appearances for South Korea and is four goals away from becoming their historic goalscorer. The forward is a superstar in world soccer, making a name for himself with Tottenham, where he played 454 games and scored 173 goals. He signed with Los Angeles FC in the summer of 2025 and immediately hit the ground running with 15 goal contributions in 13 games.
Unsung/Up-and-Coming Player: Yang Min-Hyeok is a 19-year-old Tottenham player who’s currently on loan with Portsmouth in the Championship. At 18-years-old, he made his K League debut with Gangwon FC and won Young Player of the Year honors. He played in two World Cup qualifiers with the national team and has been a regular in the Portsmouth squad.
Style/System/Expectations: While Son is the star, there are other good talents on the team as well, including Bayern Munich defender Kim min-jae, PSG midfielder Lee Kang-in and Wolves forward Hwan Hee-chan. The Taeguk Warriors have been perpetually stuck between the group stage and round of 16, but with the expanded World Cup, they will be looking to finally break that cycle.
Main thing to Watch: Known as the “Red Devils,” the South Korean fans are amongst the best in the world. They have organization and displays, which is rare for national teams.
Legendary Player: Park Ji-sung played a huge part in South Korea’s run in 2002 and has 100 caps for the country. He is one of the greatest and most successful Asian players, having won 19 trophies in his career. He found most of his success with Manchester United where he featured in 205 games and became the first Asian player to win the UEFA Champions League. He also has two Eredivisie and four Premier League titles, as well as other cups and shields.
Biggest Soccer Moment: After winning the bid to co-host the 2002 World Cup on home soil, things were not going well for the Koreans ahead of the tournament. Things improved tremendously as the group stage started, they topped their group by beating Poland and Portugal. They beat Italy 2-1 in the Round of 16, tying the game in the 88th minute then winning on a golden goal. Then got past Spain in the quarterfinals thanks to penalties after a scoreless game, making them the first and only Asian team to make the semifinal.
Prediction: Round of 32
Preview Podcast:
Nickname: El Tri
FIFA Ranking: 15
Best Ever Finish (or debut): Quarter-finals (1970, 1986)
How they Qualified: Co-Host
Group Schedule:
Head Coach: Javier Aguirre is in his third stint as Mexico manager. Under his guidance, El Tri won the Gold Cup twice (2009, 2025), CONCACAF Nations League once (2024-25). He also led the team to the Copa América final (2001), and the round of 16 in the 2002 and 2010 World Cups. Despite his relative success, Aguirre divides opinions in Mexico. Tensions reached a new height at the end of 2024, when a fan struck him with a beer can. Mexico has had some positive results since and players don’t seem to share the same opinion as some fans. “[He] is very important for us, a bit like a father for all of us,” is how Edson Álvarez described him.
Star Player: Raúl Jiménez is a striker currently playing for Fulham in the Premier League. He has 121 caps for the national team and 44 goals, making him the third all-time goalscorer, only eight goals away from the record. Jiménez is known for his physical presence in the penalty area and his ability in the air. He causes constant pressure to opposing defenders and has nearly 200 career goals..
Unsung/Up-and-Coming Player: Gilberto Mora is a 17-year-old attacking midfielder, playing with his boyhood club Tijuana in Liga MX. He made his breakthrough in 2024 becoming Tijuana's youngest-ever player and the third-youngest player to debut in the league. Mora is known for his smooth technical and ball-carrying abilities. He is already being touted as Mexico’s future star.
Style/System/Expectations: Though Mexico have been dominant in the region, they have struggled in friendlies in preparation for the World Cup. They’ll be reliant on experienced veteran players like Edson Álvarez, Erik Lira and Hirving Lozano to change the mood internally and perception externally. With this being a home World Cup, Mexico has a huge advantage over other nations and will be expected to make a deeper run than usual.
Main thing to Watch: Mexico doesn’t play a lot of games at home and often opts to move its friendlies to the United States. In the two previous World Cups they’ve hosted, they reached the quarterfinal, their highest ever finish. The home field advantage provides a huge positive, but it’s also a risk if the home fans turn on the national team, as has happened in recent matches. Starting off with the right results will put everyone at ease, but a hurdle or two might be costly.
Legendary Player: Hugo Sánchez is widely regarded as the greatest Mexican footballer of all time and one of the greatest strikers of all time. Playing mostly in La Liga, he is the fifth highest scorer in the history of the league, the fourth highest scoring foreign player after Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Karim Benzema, and is the seventh highest goalscorer in Real Madrid's history. He scored a total of 562 senior career goals for both club and country in 956 matches, amassing a total of five Pichichi top goal scorer trophies in Spain. He has 58 caps and 29 goals for Mexico playing in three World Cups.
Biggest Soccer Moment: Mexico won the gold medal in London during the 2012 Olympics, defeating Brazil 2-1. Oribe Peralta scored the fastest goal in Olympic history just 28 seconds into the match to give Mexico the lead and then scored again in the 75th minute. Despite Brazil scoring, Peralta’s two goals were enough to bring Mexico its first soccer gold medal. Brazil's team was heavily favored and featured world-renowned stars like Neymar, Thiago Silva, Marcelo, and Hulk.
Prediction: Round of 32
Preview Podcast:
Nickname: The Atlas Lions (Arabic: أُسُودُ الأَطلَس)
FIFA Ranking: 11
Best Ever Finish (or debut): Fourth 2022
How they Qualified: Topped their qualifications group with a perfect record and +20 goal difference.
Group Schedule:
Head Coach: Walid Regragui, the hero who led Morocco to a historic fourth-place finish in the 2022 World Cup has continued with the national team. He has 44 caps as a player and has been coaching Morocco since August 2022. Before the national team, Regragui won the Moroccan league title and the CAF Champions League with Wydad AC. Regragui has focused on shifting the way Morocco play to a more expansive system with ball possession and methodical build-up play.
Star Player: Achraf Hakimi is considered one of the best right-backs in the world. With his current club, Paris Saint-Germain, he has already won four league titles, five domestic cups and the 2024-25 UEFA Champions League. A product of the Real Madrid academy, Hakimi played for the Spanish giants as well as Borussia Dortmund and Inter Milan. He started playing with Morocco at the U20 level and made his senior team debut in 2016 at 17-years-old. He has the third most appearances for the Atlas Lions with 88 and currently captains the side. Hakimi ranked 6th in the 2025 Ballon d’Or, the highest position ever achieved by a Moroccan player.
Unsung/Up-and-Coming Player: Bayer Leverkusen left-winger Eliesse Ben Seghir is Morocco’s biggest prospect. The 20-year-old was born in France and played for some French youth teams, but ultimately chose to represent Morocco. He started his professional career with Monaco and slowly integrated into the first team. He had a breakout season in 2024-25 and earned a €30 million transfer to Bayer Leverkusen. Known for his dribbling and technical ability, Ben Seghir has experience playing through the middle as well as out wide.
Style/System/Expectations: After shocking the world in 2022, Morocco have continued their development of players, coaches and recruitment. However, things might be different in 2026 as the Atlas Lions established themselves as one of the best teams in the World. Teams playing Morocco will probably approach games more cautiously, especially with the recent change in tactics. Regragui told L’Équipe “Our offensive statistics speak for themselves, and it is unfortunate that we are viewed in the same light as the World Cup, when it is clear that there is a difference between the national team before the World Cup and after it. We are today an attacking team that depends on possession.”
Main thing to Watch: Morocco have earned their way to the top of the game and have been one of, if not, the best team in Africa. With that said, expectations are higher than they have ever been for the country. Will Morocco rise up to the occasion and continue their tremendous success?
Legendary Player: The 1998 African Footballer of the year, Mustapha Hadji, is one of the best Moroccan and African players of all time. He played as an attacking midfielder and was known for his technical ability, vision and pace. He scored 13 goals for the national team, but will always be remembered for this great goal against Norway in the 1998 World Cup. That goal and his overall performance in the tournament earned him moves to big European clubs like Coventry City, Aston Villa and Espanyol.
Biggest Soccer Moment: After eliminating their former colonizers Spain in the round of 16, Morocco were face to face with Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal in the quarterfinal. The estimated value for the Moroccan squad before the start of the tournament was €416.80m while Portugal's was around €1 billion. Youssef En-Nesyri’s goal in the 42nd turned out to be the winner after a great team effort from the entire squad, especially goalkeeper Yassine Bounou. Celebrations were in place throughout the country, the large diaspora populations and of course for everyone who made it to Qatar
Prediction: Quarterfinal
Preview Podcast:
Nickname: Oranje
FIFA Ranking: 7
Best Ever Finish (or debut): Runners-up (1974, 1978, 2010)
How they Qualified: Topped their qualifying group undefeated with a +23 goal difference
Group Schedule:
Head Coach: In April of 2022 Ronald Koeman took over for the retiring Louis Van Gaal, and led the Dutch to the Euro 2024 semifinal. This is his second stint coaching the national team following his 11 year career as a player where he was capped 78 times. Koeman has held some high-profile coaching jobs in the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and England. With the national team, has at times been criticized for his “boring” and “uninspiring” style. While the Dutch have not been the most beautiful in styles, they have been fairly efficient under him.
Star Player: Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk is still the star and captain of the Dutch national team. At 34-years-old, he is still considered amongst the best center backs in the world. Before Liverpool, Van Dijk spent three seasons at each of Groningen, Celtic and Southampton, winning two Scottish titles along the way. With the Reds, he established himself as one of the best players in the world winning two Premier League titles and a UEFA Champions League. He also won six other cup competitions and a plethora of individual awards, including PFA and Premier League player of the season. Van Dijk represented the Netherlands at youth levels and made his senior international debut in 2015. He took over as the captain in March 2018 and led his side to the final of the inaugural UEFA Nations League, quarterfinal of the 2022 World Cup and semifinals of Euro 2024.
Unsung/Up-and-Coming Player: Xavi Simons is a 22-year-old attacking midfielder or winger currently playing for Tottenham. Originally a product of Barcelona's La Masia, Simons has been an online phenom since he was 13-years-old. Six years later he signed for Paris Saint-Germain and made his pro debut. He found more minutes with PSV and later shined with RBLeipzig. In summer 2025, Simmons signed with Tottenham Hotspur for a fee believed to be around £51.8 million. After playing at the youth levels, he was called up to the 2022 World Cup, becoming the youngest player in the Dutch squad. He made his Netherlands and World Cup debut in a 3–1 win over the United States in the round of 16, becoming the youngest player to feature in the knockout stages of the World Cup for the Netherlands. He is an important piece for Koeman in attack and often links up play with the players around him.
Style/System/Expectations: Koeman usually opts for a variation of 4-3-3, sometimes it can look like a 4-2-3-1 or 4-1-2-3. For most of their history, the Netherlands have been a producer of top talents, it’s no different this time. Most of the Dutch squad are early in their prime years, but Koeman still relies on some experienced veterans like Nathan Ake, van Dijk and Memphis Depay, the latter is the country’s all-time top goalscorer with 55. The new generation of Dutch players are ready to make a name for themselves, many have made big club moves in recent years and are on the verge of becoming stars like Simons, Ryan Gravenberch, Jurrien Timber and Tijjani Reijnders. The Dutch have a strong squad and an experienced manager, they are expected to be one of the better teams in the World Cup, but not necessarily title contenders.
Main thing to Watch: Can the Dutch finally put everything together and win the World Cup? They are the only team to finish runners-up three times and not win the tournament. Just like 2026, they’ve always had strong squads full of stars, but they have yet to make it past the finish line.
Legendary Player: Johan Cruyff is regarded as one of the greatest players in history and as the greatest Dutch footballer ever, he won the Ballon d'Or three times, in 1971, 1973, and 1974. At club level, Cruyff started his career at Ajax, where he won eight Eredivisie titles, three European Cups, and one Intercontinental Cup, playing in 329 matches and scoring 257 goals. In 1973, Cruyff moved to Barcelona for a world record transfer fee, helping the team win La Liga and Copa del Rey. Cruyff led the Netherlands to the final of the 1974 World Cup with three goals and three assists; he received the Golden Ball as player of the tournament. Cruyff was a proponent of the football philosophy known as Total Football because of the far-reaching impact of his playing style and his coaching ideas, he is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in modern football, and he is also regarded as one of the greatest managers of all time. The Cruyff turn (known as "Cruijff turn" in Dutch), is a dribbling trick named after Cruyff who used it often during the 1974 World Cup. On the morning of March 24, 2016, in a clinic in Barcelona, Cruyff died at the age of 68, surrounded by his wife, children, and grandchildren. People and organizations around the world paid tributes to him.
Biggest Soccer Moment: The Netherlands’ only major hardware came from the 1988 European Championship in West Germany. They lost the first game to the Soviet Union 1-0, but won 3-1 against England thanks to a Marco Van Basten hattrick. They then beat the Republic of Ireland 1-0 to make it to the semis. They beat hosts and rivals West Germany 2-1 with the leveler coming from Ronald Koeman and the winner from Marco Van Basten in the 88th minute. In the final they defeated the Soviet Union 2-0 with goals from Ruud Gullit and an all-time great volley from Van Basten, who finished as golden boot winner on 5 goals. Players from that squad went on to do great things in both their playing and coaching careers including Van Basten who won the Ballon d'Or three times, in 1988, 1989 and 1992 and managed the national team.
Prediction: Quarterfinal
Preview Podcast:
Nickname: All Whites
FIFA Ranking: 87
Best Ever Finish (or debut): Group stage (1982, 2010)
How they Qualified: Cruised through the OFC qualifiers winning all five of their games with a combined score of 29-1. The All Whites became the first OFC team to qualify directly to the World Cup.
Group Schedule:
Head Coach: Aside from short stints elsewhere, head coach Darren Bazeley has been involved with the New Zealand setup since 2011. He served in various assistant and youth level roles within the New Zealand teams. Bazeley took charge on an interim basis in March 2023 and was confirmed later in the year. His New Zealand side have been able to take care of business against their OFC opponents. They’ve also gotten some good results in friendlies, like beating China and drawing Ireland and the United States.
Star Player: Chris Wood will most likely end his career as the greatest New Zealand player of all time. Wood has the most caps and goals for the All Whites and has been the biggest name to come out of New Zealand soccer. Known for his holdup play, aerial dominance and finishing ability, Wood has played his entire professional career in the English football pyramid. He has featured for 12 different clubs and is currently with Premier League side Nottingham Forest.
Unsung/Up-and-Coming Player: Luke Brooke-Smith is a winger currently with Wellington Phoenix in the A League, he made history by becoming the youngest player to feature for the club. He earned his first senior national team callup in September 2025, making him the youngest All White in 45 years. While still playing on the New Zealand youth teams, Brooke-Smith is making a push for a spot in the national team roster in 2026.
Style/System/Expectations: New Zealand are in an interesting place where OFC competitions are not competitive enough, but everything outside of it seems too difficult. They have been able to grind out some draws and occasional wins against superior opponents and will be looking to do the same in 2026. They are likely to sit back and defend while hoping to catch their opponents on the break.
Main thing to Watch: Chris Wood was part of the 2010 New Zealand side to go to the World Cup, but he was unable to score a goal. For all he has done for the national team, he will be doing his best to score a World Cup goal to solidify his spot as the country’s greatest of all time.
Legendary Player: Wynton Rufer spent most of his professional career in Switzerland and Germany, achieving his greatest success at Werder Bremen, where he won a total of four major titles and finished the top scorer in the 1993–94 UEFA Champions League. He was named the Oceania Footballer of the Century and is considered an icon, especially considering the time of his career.
Biggest Soccer Moment: In the 2010 World Cup, New Zealand were drawn against the defending champions Italy with a star-studded squad with the likes of Fabio Cannavarro, Danielle DeRossi and Giorgio Chiellini. Despite the massive gulf in quality, New Zealand were able to draw the game 1-1, with a goal from Shane Smeltz. There were four amateurs in the New Zealand squad. One of them, Andy Barron, who works in a bank, came on as a sub against Italy. Other New Zealand players were from the lower leagues of England, the A league and some other lower leagues around the world
Prediction: Group stage
Preview Podcast:
Nickname: Røde, Hvite, Blå (Red, White and Blue)
FIFA Ranking: 29
Best Ever Finish (or debut): Round of 16 (1938, 1998)
How they Qualified: Topped their qualifying group, which included Italy, winning all eight matches with an astonishing +32 goal difference
Group Schedule:
Head Coach: Former player and legend Ståle Stolbakken took over the national team in 2020 and has led the Norwegian golden generation to some unprecedented success. Under Stolbakken, Norway scored 37 goals in the European qualifiers, more than any other team, they also achieved a perfect record. Other than the national team, Stolbakken has managed in the Bundesliga, Premier League, as well as two long spells at FC Copenhagen.
Star Player: Erling Haaland is the greatest goalscorer in world soccer and has shattered many records throughout his career. Haaland is known for his ruthlessness and robot-like intensity, which has earned him the nickname, The Terminator. At just 25-years-old, he’s already Norway’s leading goalscorer and the greatest Norwegian player of all time. The Manchester City star has won the Premier League twice and the UEFA Champions League once, playing a huge role in the Cityzens success. He has earned the Premier League Golden Boot twice and the European Golden Shoe once.
Unsung/Up-and-Coming Player: Antonio Nusa is a 20-year-old winger with a very high potential. Nusa started his career domestically with Stabæk before moving to Club Brugge, and eventually landing with RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga. Capable of playing on both flanks, Nusa is known for his explosiveness and his Neymar-esq movement. His role with club and country has continued to grow and he is showing no signs of slowing down.
Style/System/Expectations: Aside from Haaland, Norway have one of the deepest attacks in Europe with players like Martin Ødegaard, Alexander Sørloth and Jørgen Strand Larsen. They also have young players wanting to showcase their talent like Nusa, Oscar Bobb and Andreas Schjelderup. However, to make a run at the World Cup, Norway will need more than just their star players. Stolbakken seems like the right man for the job and has already proven that Norway can compete with the best in the world. Simply based on the quality of their attack, the Norwegians will be looking to make it out of the group stage and possibly make a deep run.
Main thing to Watch: Haaland at a major national team tournament. This marks Norway’s first appearance in the World Cup since 1998, the only major tournament they qualified for during the period was Euro 2000.
Legendary Player: John Arne Riise is Norway’s caps leader and is best known for his time at Liverpool, where he was considered amongst the best full-backs in the world. Riise was a major player during Liverpool’s Champions League triumph in 2004-05, providing a vital assist in the final. Known for his incredibly powerful shots, his goal against Manchester United in 2001 became known as a Riise Rocket after being clocked at over 70 mph.
Biggest Soccer Moment: In their third World Cup appearance in 1998, Norway opened their campaign with a 2-2 draw with Morocco and a 1-1 draw with Scotland. They needed to win their third and final game of the group stage in order to advance into the next round, that match was against reigning world champions and eventual finalist Brazil. Norway did what many thought was impossible and beat Brazil 2-1 thanks to two late goals by Tore André Flo and Kjetil Rekdal.
Prediction: Round of 32
Preview Podcast:
Nickname: Los Canaleros (The Canal Men), La Marea Roja (The Red Tide)
FIFA Ranking: 30
Best Ever Finish (or debut): Group stage (2018)
How they Qualified: Topped both of their qualifying groups and finished the qualifiers undefeated.
Group Schedule:
Head Coach: Thomas Christiansen is the head coach for Los Canaleros, the Danish-Spanish former player has been with the national team since 2020. His tenure has been largely successful with Panama often punching above their weight. Panama under Christiansen have finished as runners-up in both the Gold Cup and CONCACAF Nations League in recent years. With over 75 games in charge, Christiansen is the coach with the most matches in Panama’s history.
Star Player: Adalberto “Coco” Carrasquilla stardom continues to rise with the national team. The 26-year-old versatile midfielder plays a vital role for Pumas in Liga MX, as well as the national team. After breaking through with Tauro FC in Panama, Carrasquilla played for Cartagena in Spain. He came to his own in MLS with the Houston Dynamo, before breaking the club-record transfer fee and moving to Pumas. With the national team, he has occupied different roles and is often the best progressor of the ball. His high-intensity, mixed with technical ability and vision, playstyle make him a tough task for oppositions on both sides of the ball.
Unsung/Up-and-Coming Player: Aníbal Godoy is the heart and soul of this Panama side, he is the captain and most capped player in the country’s history. Godoy started his career in Panama before moving to Hungary, but he has spent the majority of his time in MLS. Godoy played important roles for the San Jose Earthquakes and Nashville SC, and he is currently doing the same with San Diego FC. Known as a destroyer in midfield, Godoy can also be effective on the ball and in attack.
Style/System/Expectations: Panama under Christiansen play a "stubborn" defensive style that relies on organization, structure and attacking transitions. The squad is made up mainly of in-prime or post-prime players, which allows Christiansen to lean on player’s experience in his system. This is Panama’s second ever World Cup, they weren’t able to pick up any results in their debut. The goal this time is to pick up some points and be a tougher opponent to superior oppositions.
Main thing to Watch: Will Panama’s “stubberness” translate to the world stage? Los Canaleros have been a tough opponent in the region, but have yet to be truly tested outside of it.
Legendary Player: Luis "El Matador" Tejada is Panama’s history top goalscorer and of the legendary 2018 World Cup team. Tejada had 25 stints with 21 different clubs, in six different countries. He was a constant threat for the national team throughout his career that lasted 17 years. He was at the forefront of Panama’s success and contributed with big moments, including his overhead kick goal against Mexico, which became synonymous with his name. Tajada died in early 2024, tributes to him from fans, media and players poured in after his passing.
Biggest Soccer Moment: Panama qualified to the 2018 World Cup after defeating Costa Rica 2−1 in their final qualifying match, which meant they pipped the United States. Román Torres, who scored the winning goal in the 87th minute, was subsequently considered a national hero. The day after the match, the President of Panama Juan Carlos Varela declared a national holiday to commemorate the achievement, stating on his Twitter profile: "The voice of the people has been heard... Tomorrow will be a national holiday."
Prediction: Group stage
Preview Podcast:
Nickname: Los Guaraníes or La Albirroja
FIFA Ranking: 39
Best Ever Finish (or debut): Quarterfinal 2010
How they Qualified: Qualified by finishing sixth in the CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers.
Group Schedule:
Head Coach: Gustavo Alfaro has a long resume of club and national team experience, mostly in South America. He took charge of the national team in August of 2024 and helped Paraguay qualify to their first World Cup in 16 years. Since taking charge,Paraguay have emphasized defensive organization, a compact shape, and counter-attacking transitions. Alfaro is also known to focus on set-pieces and use them as an important part of the game.
Star Player: Attacking midfielder Miguel Almirón, is one of the best players in Paraguay history. Almirón began his career at Cerro Porteño and transferred to Lanús in 2015. After winning the 2016 Argentine Primera División, he signed for Atlanta United for $8 million. He was named in the MLS Best XI for both of his seasons in the league and helped Atlanta lift the MLS cup in 2018. He signed for Premier League side Newcastle United for £21 million, the highest fee for an MLS player. After appearing in 223 matches and winning an EFL Cup with the Magpies, he returned to Atlanta in January 2025. He made his debut with the national team in 2015 and has 73 caps. Known for his pace, work rate and technical ability, Almirón can play as an attacking midfielder or winger.
Unsung/Up-and-Coming Player: Diego Gómez is a 22-year-old midfielder with Premier League side Brighton. Gómez began his career at Libertad in Paraguay then had a short stint at Inter Miami of MLS before moving across the pond at the start of 2025. He has been a leader with the youth national teams captaining the U20 and U23 sides. With 21 caps for the senior team and continued progression with Brighton, Gómez has a huge potential to become the next star in Paraguay. He is a versatile midfielder who can operate across central, attacking and wide roles.
Style/System/Expectations: Historically, Paraguay’s style is built on organization, grit and resilience, their philosophy has been rooted in discipline, defensive strength and collective spirit. This is true under Alfaro as well, however, they’ve added more technical and attacking nuances without abandoning their defensive minded style. Aside from Almirón, Gómez and Strasbourg’s Julio Enciso, the majority of the squad will hail from South America’s top leagues, like captain Gustavo Gomez and Ramon Sosa who both play for Palmeiras. Paraguay clearly has enough talent to at least get through the group stage, and as previous World Cups have shown, teams who play collectively can make deep runs.
Main thing to Watch: While Paraguay have been defensively solid for the most part, but at times looked out of ideas in attack. With the stakes raised and the spotlight of the sport’s highest level, will defensive stability and togetherness be enough for La Albirroja?
Legendary Player: José Luis Chilavert. one of the most unconventional and influential players in Paraguay’s soccer history. He was captain of the national side, his leadership, personality and ability to influence matches made him not just a great player, but a national symbol of competitiveness and ambition. Chilavert was the Paraguay goalkeeper from 1989-2003 and a club legend at Velez Sarsfield in Argentina. As a free kick and penalties specialist, he scored 67 career goals, including 8 for Paraguay, making him one of the highest-scoring goalkeepers in history.
Biggest Soccer Moment: At the 2010 World Cup, Paraguay topped Group F after draws with Italy and New Zealand and a win over Slovakia. They faced Japan in the round of 16 and after a scoreless draw, Paraguay advanced via penalties where they scored all five of their kicks. They played a tough match against Spain in the quarterfinal and were only bested by a David Villa goal in the second half. The quarterfinal exit was the best performance in the nation’s history and put their resiliency and work ethic in full display.
Prediction: Round of 32
Preview Podcast:
Nickname: Seleção das Quinas (Team of the Quincunxes)
FIFA Ranking: 6
Best Ever Finish (or debut): Third place (1966)
How they Qualified: Topped their qualifying group only losing once in six matches.
Group Schedule:
Head Coach: Roberto Martínez took over Portugal in January 2023, after six years in charge of the Belgian golden generation. He led Portugal to the quarterfinals of the 2024 Euros and a victory in the UEFA Nations League in 2024–25. Martínez prefers his teams to play a possession-based style with focus on sequences and passing. Overall, Martinez has divided opinions amongst fans and media in Portugal, with many thinking that he isn’t the right man for the job.
Star Player: Cristiano Ronaldo, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner, is the only player to compete with and be remotely close to Lionel Messi. The current Al-Nassr forward is considered by many to be the greatest player of all time. He has been an icon throughout his career with Sporting CP, Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus, winning seven league titles, five UEFA Champions Leagues and a plethora of other trophies. He has the most international appearances and international goals in the history of the game. He also led Portugal to their first major trophy during the 2016 Euros. Ronaldo has broken almost every record out there, but currently he is working towards becoming the first player to score 1,000 official career goals.
Unsung/Up-and-Coming Player: João Neves is a 21-year-old box-to-box midfielder currently with Paris Saint-Germain in Ligue 1. He is already making his name as one of the best midfielders in the world, with an unprecedented trophy case for a player of his age. He’s quick, technically gifted and a great passer, all while having great work rate and defensive competency.
Style/System/Expectations: Ronaldo will be a 41-year-old once the World Cup kicks off, the conversation of whether Portugal can step out of his shadow has been ongoing for a decade. Portugal have an incredibly talented squad with the likes of Vitinha, Rafael Leao and Pedro Neto, but Ronaldo will still dominate the conversation. If Martínez can use Ronaldo’s presence as a motivator rather than a deterrent, Portugal will be one of the favorites to win the tournament.
Main thing to Watch: Can Portugal make the semifinal again? Despite having one of the most talented squads in the World, Portugal has only made the semifinal twice, the latest being in 2006.
Legendary Player: Eusébio, nicknamed the "Black Panther", the "Black Pearl" or "O Rei" ("The King"). is considered one of the greatest players of all time as well as Benfica's best player ever. He was known for his speed, technique, athleticism and right-footed shot, making him a prolific goalscorer.
Biggest Soccer Moment: In the 2016 Euros, Portugal started their campaign with three disappointing draws, but still qualified to the knockout round as one of the best third-place teams. They defeated Croatia, Poland and Wales to reach the final against hosts France. After a goalless 90 minutes that saw Ronaldo substituted in the 25th minute due to an injury, the match went to extra time. Unexpectedly, it was Éder who netted the ball from distance in the 109th minute to give Portugal its first ever major trophy.
Prediction: Quarterfinal
Preview Podcast:
Nickname: The Maroons, The Maroon One (Arabic: العنابي)
FIFA Ranking: 51
Best Ever Finish (or debut): Group stage (2022)
How they Qualified: Entered the AFC qualifiers in the second round and topped their group undefeated to advance to the third round. They finished fourth, meaning they would go to yet another round of qualifiers. They drew Oman 0-0 and beat the UAE 2-1 to advance to the final tournament.
Group Schedule:
Head Coach: Spanish head coach Julen Lopetegui took over the Qatar national team in May 2025. Lopetegui has had mixed results with the Maroons and has been criticized at times for being too cautious and playing not to lose instead of playing for the win. Qatar under him have improved in dead ball situations, which was key in their vital win against the UAE. Lopetegui has had multiple high-profile jobs before Qatar, including Spain, Real Madrid and West Ham United.
Star Player: Akram Afif is undoubtedly the biggest star on the current team and possibly in the history of Qatar. The 28-year-old has featured 129 times for the Maroons and scored 41 goals. The left winger is known for his flashy style and hard-to-miss hair. Afif has already won the Asian Cup with Qatar twice, 2019 and 2023, as well as Asian Footballer of the Year twice, 2019 and 2023. With his club Al Sadd, Afif has won the Qatar Stars League five times, alongside other cup competitions. Like many Qatari national team players, Afif is a beneficiary of the naturalisation system and is an Aspire Academy graduate.
Unsung/Up-and-Coming Player: Ayoub Al Ouwi is a 20-year-old right back currently playing for Al-Gharafa in the Qatar Stars League. He received his first cap in October 2025, starting both of Qatar’s decisive games against Oman and UAE. After impressing in his initial test and helping Qatar qualify to the World Cup, Al Ouwi has been a constant feature for his club and the national team.
Style/System/Expectations: Aspire is a sports academy dedicated to scout and develop Qatari athletes. The Aspire generation includes a group of elite players who developed and played through the youth teams together. Qatar were able to win the AFC U19 Championship in 2019, with a lot of the same players helping the senior team win the Asian Cup in 2019 and 2023. Qatari soccer has a huge Spanish influence and many big Spanish stars have played and coached in the country.
Main thing to Watch: After winning two consecutive Asian Cups, Qatar are looking to take the next step of becoming an elite team in world soccer. The “Aspire generation” is more experienced now having already played in one World Cup. The 2026 World Cup will be used to measure just how successful the entire experiment has been for the national team.
Legendary Player: Sebastián Soria is considered one of the best and most successful naturalized players. Born in Uruguay, Soria moved to Qatar in 2004 to play for Al-Gharafa at the age of 21. Later, he became a citizen of the country and represented the national team on 124 occasions, netting 39 goals. Eight years after his last appearance for the national team, he was called up by Lopetegui for the October 2025 international break and subbed in against the UAE. Soria has over 450 league appearances and over 210 goals in the Qatar Stars League, at the age of 41, he is still playing for Qatar SC.
Biggest Soccer Moment: After a fairly disappointing World Cup, Qatar started the 2023 Asian Cup with three wins without conceding a goal. They beat Palestine and Uzbekistan to reach the semifinal, where they faced Asian powerhouse Iran and narrowly won 3-2. In the final Afif scored a penalty hat-trick and led his country to a second successive Asian Cup victory.
Prediction: Group stage
Preview Podcast:
Nickname: الأخضر (The Green One)
FIFA Ranking: 60
Best Ever Finish (or debut): Round of 16 (1994)
How they Qualified: Finished the third round of AFC qualifiers in third place and advanced to round four. Beat Indonesia and drew Iraq to secure the automatic spot.
Group Schedule:
Head Coach: Herve Renard led Saudi Arabia to its greatest victory, defeating eventual champions Argentina in the 2022 World Cup. Renard coached the Green from 2019-2023, before returning to the national team again in late 2024. Renard is known for his intense style of coaching and his animated figure. He demands a lot from his players, especially physically due to his pressing and intense style.
Star Player: Salem Al-Dawsari has over 100 caps for the national team and over 450 appearances for his club Al-Hilal. The 34-year-old winger is considered amongst the best in Asia, winning the AFC Player of the Year twice in 2022 and 2025. Known for his rapid speed, technical ability and clinical finishing, Al-Dawsari is undoubtedly Saudi Arabia’s talisman. With Al-Hilal, he has won seven Saudi Pro League titles, two AFC Champions League titles as well as many domestic cups.
Unsung/Up-and-Coming Player: Musab Al-Juwayr is a 22-year-old midfielder who won Saudi Pro League Young Player of the Season in 2024–25 and already has over 30 appearances with the national team. Al-Juwayr came through the ranks with Al-Hilal, but had his breakthrough on loan at Al-Shabab where he was able to earn the Rising Star of the Month award eight times. At the beginning of the 2025-26 season, he signed permanently with Al-Qadisiah and has been an important player there.
Style/System/Expectations: Saudi Arabia under Renard generally line up in a 4-2-3-1 and focus on pressing and direct plays. The overwhelming majority of the Saudi squad play in the domestic league, and there’s a sense of unity and pride within the locker room. With the expansion of the World Cup and the advancement of Saudi soccer, expectations are higher than usual for the Green. A big win similar to 2022 will still be shocking, but more is needed for the Saudis to truly leave their mark.
Main thing to Watch: After the big investment in the domestic league and the national team, 2026 is as good of a time as ever for Saudi Arabia to showcase the results of their project.
Legendary Player: Majed Abdullah is considered one of the best Saudi players of all time. Known as the Arabian Pele, Adbullah is a record goalscorer for both club and country, with 72 goals in 117 games for Saudi Arabia from 1978-1994 and he scored 189 league goals for Saudi club Al-Nassr where he spent his entire 21 year career. Revered for his incredible dribbling skills, nose for the goal, and loyalty to Al-Nassr, Abdullah has an enviable trophy cabinet with four Saudi league titles, four Saudi King’s Cup victories, two Asian Cups and three times winner of the Asian Player of the Year award.
Biggest Soccer Moment: In their opening match of the 2022 World Cup, Saudi Arabia upset Argentina 2–1 with second half goals from Saleh Al-Shehri and Salem Al-Dawsari, ending an Argentine unbeaten streak of 36 games dating back to 2019. The Saudi King declared a holiday after the win.
Prediction: Group stage
Preview Podcast:
Nickname: No nickname, but the supporters are known as The Tartan Army
FIFA Ranking: 36
Best Ever Finish (or debut): Group stage (1954-1958, 1974-1990, 1998)
How they Qualified: A spectacular victory over Denmark on the final day of qualifying ensured that Scotland topped their group and punched their ticket to their first World Cup in 28 years.
Group Schedule:
Head Coach: Steve Clarke took charge of Scotland in 2019 and led them to back-to-back Euros qualifications in 2020 and 2024. He is the longest serving manager in terms of games managed and the first Scottish manager in history to qualify for three major competitions. Clarke has received some criticism from fans for this cautious style, but he has generally been able to deliver good results.
Star Player: 29-year-old midfielder Scott McTominay is one of, if not, the most important players for Scotland. A product of Manchester United's youth academy, he made his senior debut for the club in May 2017. McTominay went on to make 255 appearances for the Red Devils, winning the FA Cup and the EFL Cup. In 2024, McTominay signed for Napoli in a deal worth £25.7 million. Since the move he emerged as a focal player to the club winning the Serie A title in his debut season, and being named the league's Most Valuable Player. He received a nomination for the prestigious Ballon d'Or award for his performances in the season. He has 67 appearances and 14 goals for the national team. In the decisive game against Denmark, McTominay opened the scoring in the third minute with a stunning bicycle kick, a move which commentator Steven Thompson compared to basketball player Michael Jordan.
Unsung/Up-and-Coming Player: Ben Gannon-Doak is a 20-year-old winger playing for Bournemouth in the Premier League. Gannon-Doak started his career with Celtic and then moved to Liverpool where he became the youngest Scottish player to appear in the Premier League. Unable to find minutes with Liverpool, he went on loan to Middlesbrough where he impressed and played regularly. He made a permanent transfer to the Cherries in summer of 2025 for an initial fee of £20m with a further £5m in add-ons. He scored his first senior international goal in a qualifier match against Greece in November 2025. Three days later, Gannon-Doak provided an assist for Scott McTominay’s infamous bicycle kick goal.
Style/System/Expectations: Scotland has some stars and well-known players, including captain and Liverpool left back Andrew Robertson, former Arsenal star Kieran Tierney and Aston Villa’s Jon McGinn. However, Scotland’s biggest strength seems to be their sheer will and mentality. The squad has shared some insane on-field moments and a magical qualifying campaign together, something that’ll surely help them in 2026. With third place teams having a chance of qualifying, Scotland will be hoping to break the Group stage curse they’ve struggled with throughout their World Cup history.
Main thing to Watch: The Tartan Army are amongst the best traveling fans in the world. They are known for their fun environments and friendly behavior. They are also regularly involved in charitable work. They'll be looking to bring their infamous party atmosphere to the 2026 World Cup.
Legendary Player: Kenny Dalglish is a Liverpool, Celtic and Scotland legend. Known for his technical skill and creativity, he was amongst the best players in the world. He started his career at Celtic and scored 111 goals during his time there to help the club win four league titles and four cups. With Liverpool, he won Six English League titles, four League Cups, an FA Cup and three European Cups. He finished his career with the Reds with 355 appearances and 118 goals. He played in three World Cups and is the all time caps leader with 102. He is also tied for all-time lead goalscorer with 30 goals.
Biggest Soccer Moment: Scotland achieved a famous 3-2 victory over the Netherlands in the 1978 World Cup group stage, a match most remembered for Archie Gemmill's iconic solo goal. Despite the win, it was not enough for Scotland to advance past the first round of the tournament.
Prediction: Round of 32
Preview Podcast:
Nickname: Lions of Teranga
FIFA Ranking: 19
Best Ever Finish (or debut): Quarterfinal (2002)
How they Qualified: Topped their qualifying group and finished undefeated with a +19 goal difference
Group Schedule:
Head Coach: Former player and assistant coach Pape Thiaw took over as head coach at the end of 2024. Under Thiaw, Senegal secured World Cup and African Cup of Nations qualifications. They also became the first African country to defeat England in a football match at senior level, after their 3-1 victory at the City Ground.
Star Player: Sadio Mané is considered one of the best African players of all time. The Liverpool legend spent most of his career with the Reds, winning one UEFA Champions League, one Premier League and four other cup competitions. The 33-year-old winger is currently in the Saudi Pro League where he plays a vital part for Al-Nassr. With the national team, Mané is the all-time top goalscorer for Senegal and led the nation to their first ever African Cup of Nations victory in 2022. The two-time African Footballer of the Year is known for his speedy runs and incredible eye for goal. He is also known for his incredible philanthropy work, especially in his hometown, Bambali.
Unsung/Up-and-Coming Player: Lamine Camara is a 22-year-old midfielder currently with Monaco in Ligue 1. Camara has played an important role for the Lions of Teranga since making his debut in 2022, helping the team win the 2022 AFCON and the 2023 U20 AFCON. He can play as box-to-box or defensive midfielder, and is known for his excellent passing and freekick delivery.
Style/System/Expectations: Under Thiaw, Senegal have mostly continued what former manager Aliou Cissé set up. They are a capable transition and pressing team, but can also possess the ball and build up play when needed. Most of the Senegalese players are based at top European sides and have a lot of experience at the highest levels. With a healthy mix of emerging talent and veteran players, Senegal will be looking to replicate the heroics of the 2002 team and make a deep run. Considering their recent results and depth, that seems possible.
Main thing to Watch: Senegal are placed in the “group of death” with France and Norway. Getting a result against one of their European opponents would set them up nicely for the remainder of the tournament.
Legendary Player: Henri Camara is the third in all-time caps for Senegal and is considered one of the best players for the country. The striker was part of the legendary 2002 World Cup team, where he scored two important goals during the tournament. With 29 goals, he is the second top goalscorer for Senegal, only behind Mané. Camara played for 19 clubs across France, Switzerland, England, Scotland and Greece during his 20-year career.
Biggest Soccer Moment: In their first ever World Cup appearance in 2002, Senegal upset its former colonial rulers, and reigning world cup champions France. The 1-0 win thanks to a goal from Bouba Diop is still remembered as one of the greatest World Cup upsets ever. The Lions of Teranga didn’t just shock the world there, they continued their run and reached the quarterfinal.
Prediction: Round of 16
Preview Podcast:
Nickname: Bafana Bafana
FIFA Ranking: 61
Best Ever Finish (or debut): Group Stage (1998, 2002, 2010)
How they Qualified: Narrowly topped their qualifying group with 18 points, earning big results against Benin and Nigeria who finished with 17 points.
Group Schedule:
Head Coach: Hugo Broos took charge in May 2021. He led the Bafana Bafana to a third place finish in the 2023 AFCON beating Morocco and Cape Verde on the way. After securing qualification for the World Cup, he announced that he would retire from coaching after the tournament. He helped South Africa return to being a power in the continent with his disciplined style and clear communication. “The biggest improvement since my arrival has been the mentality and professional attitude — the belief in our own qualities,” Broos told CAFOnline.
Star Player: Lyle Foster has solidified himself as a starting forward for South Africa, with him being only 25-years-old, the best is seemingly yet to come. His €10 million transfer to Burnley is a record for a South African. He has impressed with the Clarets, featuring in over 80 games and contributing to 21 goals, in both the Championship and Premier League. With 10 goal contributions in 23 games, he is undoubtedly South Africa’s star.
Unsung/Up-and-Coming Player: Relebohile Mofokeng is a highly-rated midfielder known for his dribbling and playmaking. Playing for his boyhood club Orlando Pirates, he won the South African Young Player of the Season award in 2024. After playing for the U20 national team, Mofokeng has six caps and one goal for the senior squad.
Style/System/Expectations: There’s no denying that South Africa has improved tremendously under Broos. That said, impressing at the World Cup might still be a tall ask. Bofana Bofana will likely set up in an organized defensive structure and look to hit teams on the counter. If they are able to get out of the group stage, it would be a historic achievement.
Main thing to Watch: The opening match of the World Cup is Mexico vs. South Africa, a repeat of the 2010 opener. The two teams played to a 1-1 draw, but the match had a historic significance of being the first World Cup match to be played in Africa. This time the match is in the Azteca, which also holds a historic significance as Mexico will become the first country to host the tournament on three separate occasions.
Legendary Player: Benni McCarthy is South Africa’s all-time leading goal scorer with 31 goals in 79 appearances. He is also the only South African to win the UEFA Champions League, doing so with Porto in 2004. Aside from Porto, he also played for big clubs like Ajax, Celta Vigo and Blackburn Rovers and has over 200 career goals.
Biggest Soccer Moment: "TSHABALALAAAA!!! GOAL BAFANA BAFANA! GOAL FOR SOUTH AFRICA! GOAL FOR ALL AFRICA!” Historic words said by commentator Peter Drury as Siphiwe Tshabalala scored the first goal at the 2010 World Cup. From the amazing commentary, to the sound of the vuvuzelas in the stands and the incredible team dance/celebration, that goal was iconic.
Prediction: Group stage
Preview Podcast:
Nickname: La Roja
FIFA Ranking: 1
Best Ever Finish (or debut): Winners (2010)
How they Qualified: Finished undefeated in qualifiers group with a +19 goal difference
Group Schedule:
Head Coach: Luis De la Fuente has been with the Spanish federation since 2013 coaching the U19, U21, U23 and finally taking over the national team in December 2022. Under his leadership, Spain has been a dominant force in world soccer, winning the 2022-23 Nations League and 2024 Euros along the way. Due to his time with the youth teams, De la Fuente has worked with and continues to choose many of the players from the current team. He explained his philosophy by stating that "I come from a grassroots background. Our commitment, to the people we trust in the youth system, is not a pose, it is a conviction."
Star Player: At just 18-years-old, Lamine Yamal is one of the biggest stars on the planet. A product of La Masia, Yamal had his big breakthrough with Barcelona in the 2023-24 season. He became the youngest player to be nominated for the Ballon d'Or (at age 17) and also won the Kopa Trophy in 2024 and 2025, presented to the best young player in the world. In the following season, he was integral to Barcelona winning a domestic treble of the La Liga title, the Copa del Rey, and the Supercopa de España. At 18-years-old, Yamal finished as runner-up for the 2025 Ballon d'Or. A left-footed forward with elite dribbling, excellent passing and chance-creating abilities, Yamal is able to play in multiple positions in the front line. He became the youngest player to represent and score for Spain at age 16, also playing an important role in Spain’s Euro 2024 victory.
Unsung/Up-and-Coming Player: In a Spanish squad full of emerging and veteran stars, Mikel Merino might go unnoticed. However, the 29-year-old, jack of all trades has played a huge role for La Roja. Merino worked with head coach De la Fuente in the youth levels and has been a consistent fixture for the senior team. A midfielder by trade, Merino has a special knack for goalscoring which allows him to play further forward, sometimes even as a striker. His bizarre success up top gave Spain the winning goal against Germany in the Euro 24 quarterfinal. Merino scored six goals in six World Cup qualifiers, while also scoring important goals for his club, Arsenal.
Style/System/Expectations: Spain often dominate possession under De la Fuente and suffocate their opponents with the ball. They have also started using a more traditional centre-forward and delivering more crosses to the box, something that was often avoided previously. The Spanish squad has a great balance of youth players mixed with experienced veterans. In addition, even the youth players in the squad like Nico Williams, Pedri, Dean Huijsen and Pau Cubarsi are vastly experienced playing a huge role for both club and country. As the current European champions and with a star-studded squad, Spain is undoubtedly one of the favorites to lift the World Cup trophy.
Main thing to Watch: Yamal has been under tremendous pressure on and off the pitch, which is likely to continue throughout the tournament. If the youngster can lead Spain to the trophy while blocking out the noise, he would solidify himself amongst the greatest to ever play the sport, all before turning 20.
Legendary Player: Spain’s greatest glory was forged by Andrés Iniesta’s right boot in the 2010 World Cup final. Aside from that goal, Iniesta was already a hero for club and country based on what he provided on the pitch. Widely regarded as one of the greatest midfielders of all time, he was lauded for his balance, ball control and incredible skill in close spaces. Iniesta's 35 trophies, which include nine La Ligas and four UEFA Champions League titles with Barcelona, make him the most decorated Spanish footballer of all time. A member of Spain’s golden generation, Iniesta was a vital part of the Euro 2008, World Cup 2010 and Euro 2012 victories for his country.
Biggest Soccer Moment: In the final of the 2010 World Cup, Spain defeated the Netherlands 1–0, with the latest winning goal in a World Cup final (116th minute) by Iniesta. The win gave Spain their first World Cup title, becoming the eighth team to win it. This made them the first new winner without home advantage since Brazil in 1958, and the first team to win the tournament after having lost their opening game.
Prediction: Final
Preview Podcast:
Nickname: A-Team, Nati (National Team), Rossocrociati (Red Crosses) and Devils rouges (Red Devils). One per each language spoken in Switzerland
FIFA Ranking: 17
Best Ever Finish (or debut): Quarterfinals (1934, 1938, 1954)
How they Qualified: They topped their group and finished the qualifiers undefeated, coinciding only two goals.
Group Schedule:
Qatar - 06/13 - Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, California, United States
European Play-Off A - 06/18 - SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, California, United States
Canada - 06/24 - BC Place, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Head Coach: Murat Yakin took over the national team in 2021 after coaching a few Swiss clubs. He was at the helm for the 2022 World Cup and 2024 Euros. As a player, he has 49 caps for Switzerland from 1994-2004. He led the team to an infamous 2-0 victory over reigning champions Italy in the 2024 Euro round of 16, later falling to England in penalties. Yakin generally opts for a 4-3-3 formation and focuses on build up play and keeping possession of the ball.
Star Player: Granit Xhaka is a 33-year-old midfielder currently playing for Sunderland in the Premier League. Xhaka has the most caps in Switzerland history with 143 as well as 16 goals. He has played a huge role for the national team since his debut in 2011, and has captained the side since 2024. Xhaka has over 600 appearances for his clubs Basel, Borussia Mönchengladbach, Arsenal, Bayer Leverkusen and Sunderland. He is known to be a leader in the locker room for both club and country. On the pitch, he is known for his intensity, engine and strikes from distance.
Unsung/Up-and-Coming Player: Johan Manzambi is a 20-year-old Freiburg midfielder, he has played an important role for the club since his breakthrough in early 2025. With the national team, he has played eight matches and scored three goals. Swiss newspaper Blick wrote in 2024 that he is a "fast box-to-box player who is dynamic and energetic". Due to his success at a young age, he is being linked with big clubs like Borussia Dortmund and Chelsea.
Style/System/Expectations: Core veteran players like Gregor Kobel, Manuel Akanji, Breel Embolo, Ruben Vargas and Ricardo Rodriguez are likely to continue with the national team during the World Cup. This is also the third major tournament for Yakin with the squad, and expectations are high for the Swiss. Considering the expanded tournament format, they are likely to play inferior opponents, especially in the earlier rounds. The Nati will need to turn possession into chances, while being careful with their high line defense.
Main thing to Watch: Switzerland have exited in the round of 16 in three consecutive World Cups. They’ve always had top players and often get unexpected positive results. That said, they haven’t been able to turn that into a deep run in either the World Cup or Euros. With the new format and an easy group on-paper, this might be their chance.
Legendary Player: While his club career is currently ongoing with Basel, Xherdan Shaqiri has retired from international soccer. Shaqiri has played for some of the biggest clubs in the world like Inter Milan, Bayern Munich and Liverpool. He was the most important player for Switzerland during multiple tournaments. He has the third most caps for the country with 125 caps and the fourth most goals with 32. He has the most goals for Switzerland in the World Cup and Euros, with five in each. He is nicknamed "the Alpine Messi" and "the magic dwarf".
Biggest Soccer Moment: The Euro 2024 tournament was a major success for Switzerland. During the Round of 16, Switzerland caused a major upset by defeating defending champions Italy and reaching the Quarter-Finals for the second time in their history.
Prediction: Round of 16
Preview Podcast:
Nickname: نسور قرطاج (Eagles of Carthage)
FIFA Ranking: 40
Best Ever Finish (or debut): Group stage (1978, 1998-2006, 2018, 2022)
How they Qualified: Topped their qualifying group with nine wins and one draw. They didn’t concede a single goal throughout the qualifiers, becoming the first team in history to achieve this feat.
Group Schedule:
Head Coach: Sami Trabelsi took over for his second stint in February of 2025 and things have been going well under his leadership. Trabelsi played for the national team during the 1998 World Cup and has 81 caps. He’s known to instill strong organization defensively and team-first mentality on both sides of the ball. Trabelsi usually employs a 433 or 4231, but the principles of his style do not change regardless of shape or formation.
Star Player: Hannibal Mejbri is a 22 year-old midfielder currently playing for Burnley in the Premier League. Mejbri joined Monaco in 2018, later he was sold to Manchester United for a fee up to €10 million. After a couple of loan spells, he signed permanently with then Championship side Burnley and was a huge part of their promotion into the Premier League. Though his minutes are not as consistent, he is still playing an important role for the Clarets. He originally started with the France youth teams, but was called up to Tunisia's first team in 2021 and has since played 37 games with his parents homeland. He’s an energetic, dynamic and determined player on the pitch who doesn’t shy away from defensive and pressing phases.
Unsung/Up-and-Coming Player: Ismaël Gharbi is a 21-year-old attacking midfielder currently on loan from Braga to FC Augsburg in the Bundesliga. Gharbi is a product of Paris FC and Paris Saint-Germain youth academies and was a highly regarded young player. He was born in France to a Tunisian father and Spanish mother, he represented both Spain and France at youth levels, before opting to represent Tunisia at senior level. Gharbi is a versatile and technically sound player, aside from his primary position as an attacking midfielder, he can also play as a wide and central midfielder.
Style/System/Expectations: Similar to their north African neighbors, Tunisia have a large population of foreign born dual-citizenship players. Tunisia have already utilized these players in the past, but there has been a larger focus in recent years due to the success of a similar system in Morocco. Players like Hannibal Mejbri, Ellyes Skhiri and Elias Saad have all decided to play for Tunisia and have already solidified their spots within the national team. Even with a strong domestic league, most players in the national team play their soccer outside of the country, including a good amount playing in European leagues. The Eagles of Carthage will be hoping to break the group stage curse in their seventh World Cup appearance.
Main thing to Watch: Though Tunisia is a smaller country in size and population, the fans are known for their passion and coordination, especially for big occasions. The Tunsian league has multiple top-tier fan bases and they all unite behind the national team.
Legendary Player: Hatem Trabelsi is considered one of Tunisia’s best ever players and one of the best right-backs in Africa. After starting with his hometown club Sfaxien, he moved to Ajax in the Netherlands where he became an important piece and played in 145 matches. In 2003 he was in the top 50 Ballon d'Or nominees, the only other right-back nominated was Cafu. With the national team, he played in every game during the 2002 and 2006 World Cuss, he also played every game in the 2004 AFCON which Tunisia won.
Biggest Soccer Moment: Tunisia were selected to host the 2004 AFCON, it was the third time in the country’s history. After a fairly seamless group stage, the Eagles advanced to the final by defeating El-Hadji Diouf’s Senegal and Jay-Jay Okocha’s Nigeria. It was their North African rivals in the final, Morocco. After going up in the fifth minute, Morocco tied things up right before half time, but Ziad Jaziri scored the winner in the 52nd minute to ensure the trophy for the hosts In front of 60,000 spectators at home soil, Khaled Badra and Riadh Bouazizi lifted the trophy after receiving it from President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali
Prediction: Group stage
Preview Podcast:
Nickname: La Celeste (Sky Blue) Las Charruas (The Charruas)
FIFA Ranking: 16
Best Ever Finish (or debut): Winners (1930, 1950)
How they Qualified: Finished fourth in the CONMEBOL qualifiers to earn an automatic spot
Group Schedule:
Head Coach: Legendary Argentine coach, Marcelo Bielsa, took over as head coach in 2023. Under his leadership, Uruguay finished third in the 2024 Copa America and defeated both Argentina and Brazil in the qualifiers. Known for his high-tempo style, this is Bielsa’s third national team job after Argentina and Chile. The 70-year-old has also coached 10 clubs in six different countries throughout his career. Despite the overall positive results, multiple reports have suggested that players are unhappy with his man-management, which has caused some internal issues.
Star Player: Federico Valverde is one of the most versatile and talented players in world soccer. With over 340 appearances for Real Madrid and over 70 caps for the national team, Valverde is the most important player in the Uruguay squad. His versatility allows him to fulfill multiple roles in defense, midfield and even in attack. He has won three La Liga and two UEFA Champions League titles with Los Blancos. Known for his incredibly powerful shots from distance, tireless engine and technical ability, he has scored some amazing goals throughout his career.
Unsung/Up-and-Coming Player: 24-year-old Manchester United midfielder Manuel Ugarte has become an important piece for Bielsa and played every game of the World Cup qualifiers. Known for his well timed tackles and overall defensive excellence, Ugarte also plays a huge role with the Red Devils in the Premier League.
Style/System/Expectations: Uruguay play an extremely demanding style and at times that has proven costly to players physically. That said, there’s no denying that the chaos is entertaining and they have been able to produce good results. The start of Bielsa’s reign was far more positive, after the reports of internal issues and a 5-1 thrashing against the United States, huge question marks are being asked about the manager and the squad. Regardless of the situation, Uruguay is expected to make the knockout round and possibly make a deep run.
Main thing to Watch: Following the loss to the United States, Bielsa gave a 105-minute press conference addressing multiple issues, while also saying that he is fully committed to the job. With vibes at an all-time low, can the legendary manager turn things around?
Legendary Player: José Leandro Andrade was regarded as one of the finest players in the world during his time, contributing to the Uruguay national team's dominance in the 1920s, winning two consecutive Olympic gold medals and the inaugural World Cup. Nicknamed "the Black Marvel," Andrade played as a wing-half and was known for his speed and technical ability. Aside from his excellence on the pitch, he was amongst the first black stars in soccer and faced many challenges due to his race.
Biggest Soccer Moment: After winning the first ever World Cup, Uruguay and South America had to watch Italy lift the following two editions. The 1950 tournament held in Brazil was supposed to bring the World Cup trophy back to the continent, and specifically Brazil. Against the odds, Uruguay made the final and defeated the hosts 2-1 with goals from Juan Alberto Schiaffino and Alcides Ghiggia.
Prediction: Round of 32
Preview Podcast:
Nickname: USMNT (The United States Men’s National Team)
FIFA Ranking: 14
Best Ever Finish (or debut): Third place (1930)
How they Qualified: Co-Hosts
Group Schedule:
Head Coach: After stints with top clubs in Europe like Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea, Mauricio Pochettino took charge of the USMNT in September 2024. Positive results were hard to come by at the beginning of his helm and included a disappointing exit in the CONCACAF Nations League. Pochettino led the national team to the Gold Cup final, though the US lost to Mexico, results and performances have improved tremendously since. While his specific style remains to be clear, his pressing and team-first principles evident within the team.
Star Player: Captain America, Christin Pulisic. The 27-year-old winger currently with AC Milan is well within his prime years and is producing at a high level for both club and country. Starting at the Borussia Dortmund academy and later the first team, Pulisic was dubbed as a soccer prodigy and took on a savior-like persona with the national team. He left Germany and signed for Chelsea in a transfer worth $73 million, making him the most expensive North American player of all time. He won the 2020-21 UEFA Champions League with the Blues, but ultimately left for the search of more minutes. Pulisic signs with Italian giants AC Milan where he has played a huge role for the club and was the top scorer in the 2024-25 season. Four-time U.S. Soccer Male Player of the Year, Pulisic ranks fourth in the all-time goalscorers for his country.
Unsung/Up-and-Coming Player: Diego Luna is an attacking midfielder or winger currently with Real Salt Lake in Major League Soccer. The 22-year-old started his national team career in January 2024 and later became a constant fixture in 2025. He was part of the US team that reached the Gold Cup final, scoring three times and earning a spot on the tournament’s best XI. Despite his position, and in addition to his technical ability, Luna is known for his grit and hard work. In a friendly against Costa Rica, Luna was elbowed in the face, leaving him bloodied with a broken nose. Despite this he returned to the field to play through until halftime and provided an assist before going to the hospital for treatment. Following the match, Pochettino praised Luna's character and described him as someone with "big balls.”
Style/System/Expectations: This is the second World Cup on home soil and expectations are high. The US squad is younger in age, but most of the players have been a part of the setup for a long time and have valuable experience in MLS or in top European leagues. Veterans like Weston McKennie, Tyler Adams and Sergino Dest will need to aid Pulisic in order for the US to have a strong showing. Pochettino has divided opinion with his player selection and disregard to the player or their club’s status. Introducing a merit-base system has revitalized the program and has allowed for other talents to emerge like Luna, Alex Freeman and Sebastian Berhalter.
Main thing to Watch: Many view this generation of US soccer as a golden one, but results have yet to show that. If the USMNT are able to make a deep run, this generation will be remembered as one of the best. That said, if they are able to reach the semifinal, they will undoubtedly be the true and only US golden generation.
Legendary Player: Clint Dempsey is often mentioned as the best American of all time, his success in Europe and domestically has made him an icon in American soccer. He is tied for all-time leading goalscorer, alongside Landon Donovan, for the USMNT and is fourth in all-time appearances. Splitting his career between MLS and the Premier League, Dempsey became well known during his time with Fulham, where he was the club’s top goalscorer and Player of the Season two seasons in a row. Later in his career, he was part of Seattle’s dominant side winning the US Open Cup in 2014 and MLS Cup in 2016. He was US Soccer Player of the Year three times, won the Gold Cup three times and was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 2022.
Biggest Soccer Moment: Under legendary head coach Bruce Arena, the US qualified for the 2002 World Cup and reached the quarterfinals, their best finish in a World Cup since 1930. The USMNT opened their campaign with a 3-2 win over Portugal. With Portugal having the likes of Luís Figo, Rui Costa and Nuno Gomes, the US were a massive underdog. Despite drawing and losing their following two games, the Americans made it into the round of 16 where they defeated Mexico 2-0 with goals from Brian McBride and Landon Donovan. In the quarterfinals, the USMNT narrowly lost 1-0 to Germany, after being controversially denied a penalty when Torsten Frings handled the ball to prevent a Gregg Berhalter goal.
Prediction: Quarterfinal
Preview Podcast:
Nickname: White Wolves
FIFA Ranking: 50
Best Ever Finish (or debut): Debut
How they Qualified: Finished in the top two in the second and third round of AFC qualifiers.
Group Schedule:
Head Coach: Legendary Italian defender and 2006 Ballon d’Or winner, Fabio Cannavarro, is the man leading the white Wolves. He was hired for the job in October 2025, after Uzbekistan secured qualification with former manager Timur Kapadze. Cannavarro’s managerial career has not been as successful as his playing career, though his experience will be valuable going into the first World Cup in the country’s history.
Star Player: Eldor Shomurodov is the captain and focal point of the Uzbekistan attack. He is the national team’s all-time top goalscorer with 43 goals in 88 caps. Shomurodov has played most of his career in the Italian Serie A with Genoa, Roma, Spezia and Cagliari. He is enjoying a great 2025-26 season so far on loan with İstanbul Başakşehir from Roma. Known for his physicality and final ball quality, he is the first name in the team sheet for the White Wolves.
Unsung/Up-and-Coming Player: Manchester City defender Abdukodir Khusanov is the first and only Uzbak to play in the Premier League. After playing domestically and in Belarus, Khusanov impressed with Lens in Ligue 1 and a €40 million transfer to the blue side of Manchester. At 21-years-old, Khusanov already has over 20 caps for the national team and is the country’s most-known star.
Style/System/Expectations: With only a few games on the job, Cannavarro’s style is yet to be established. In addition to his experience, Uzbekistan are hoping the Italian coach can provide some defensive stability. About half of the Uzbak squad play in the domestic league, while the other half is spread around leagues in Türkiye and the Middle East. As this is their first appearance, expectations are fairly low for Uzbekistan, any points at the tournament would be viewed as success.
Main thing to Watch: Uzbekistan have been close to the World Cup on multiple occasions, they have also been a tough opponent regionally. With their fighting spirit and belief, they will be at the top of the “possible upset” rankings in summer 2026.
Legendary Player: One of the biggest reasons that the White Wolves were able to overcome their World Cup curse and finally qualify is a man who the Guardian called “Mr. Uzbekistan football”, Timur Kapadze. As a player, Kapadze played most of his career domestically and made 119 appearances for the national team, making him the second in all-time caps. As a coach, he led the U-23 team to a bronze medal at the 2022 Asian Games and secured Olympic qualifications. He took over the national team in January 2025 and helmed Uzbekistan into their first ever World Cup.
Biggest Soccer Moment: Uzbekistan lost only once in the third round of the AFC qualifiers and finished six points clear of third place UAE to clinch the automatic World Cup spot. They are the first team from Central Asia and only the third former Soviet team to make the World Cup.
Prediction: Group stage
Preview Podcast:
Nickname: La Tri
FIFA Ranking: 23
Best Ever Finish (or debut): Round of 16 (2006)
How they Qualified: Finished second place in the CONMEBOL qualifiers only behind Argentina
Group Schedule:
Head Coach: Sebastián Beccacece became the head coach in August 2024. Since his appointment, he has brought an energetic, high-intensity approach, emphasizing structure, collective cohesion, and tactical discipline. While Ecuador is his first national team job, he has had assistant and head coaching jobs with clubs in Argentina, Chile and Spain. Beccacece has made Ecuador a tough opponent to beat and put them amongst the elite in South America.
Star Player: Moisés Caicedo is one of the most expansive soccer players in history, costing his current club Chelsea £100 million. The central midfielder started his career with the renowned Ecuadorian club Independiente del Valle before joining Premier League side Brighton & Hove Albion. After two seasons with the Seagulls that included a loan to Beerschot, Caicedo broke through the first team in 2022-23 and established himself as a starter. Since his move to Chelsea, he has been a vital piece for the London club and has established himself as one of the best midfielders in the league. He won the UEFA Conference League, the Club World Cup and player of the season with the Blues in 2024-25. At 24-years-old, he already has 58 caps with the national team and was part of the 2022 World Cup and 2024 Copa America squads. Known for his defensive abilities in the middle of the pitch, he is also a capable passer and often plays as a box-to-box midfielder.
Unsung/Up-and-Coming Player: Kendry Páez is an 18-year-old attacking midfielder or winger currently on loan from Chelsea to Strasbourg. He made history as the youngest ever goal scorer in a CONMEBOL World Cup qualifier at just 16 years and 161 days old. Unlike more defensive-minded players in the squad, Páez offers vision, ball control and the ability to unlock defenses. He is also a graduate of Independiente del Valle and already has 23 caps with La Tri.
Style/System/Expectations: The manager has shown a preference for 4-4-2 formations since taking the role, but adopted a 4-2-3-1 for key World Cup qualifiers. Ecuador can absorb pressure very well and can stay compact, limiting their opponents’ opportunities. La Tri are reliant on quick transitions and counterattack, with the pace of the fullbacks and wingers being essential. With star players like Pervis Estupinan, Willian Pacho and Caicedo, Ecuador will be looking to make their name known on the world stage.While they’ll likely be a tough opponent in the World Cup, concerns over their goalscoring ability might prevent them from making a run.
Main thing to Watch: Recently, Ecuador have been able to produce top talents in world soccer, especially through Independiente del Valle. The World Cup might be a catalyst for another young talent to breakthrough and earn a high-profile move to a big European club.
Legendary Player: While his career is ongoing and he is expected to be at the 2026 World Cup, Enner Valencia is already a legend in Ecuador. He has the all-time scoring record for the Ecuador national football team with 48 and is fifth in all-time appearances with 103. He became the first South American to score in six consecutive World Cup matches for his country after scoring in the 2014, 2018 and 2022 tournaments. At 36-years-old, Valencia has played for seven clubs in five different countries throughout his career. He made his debut for the national team in 2012 and plays a huge part on and off the pitch.
Biggest Soccer Moment: After qualifying for their first World Cup in 2002, Ecuador reached the round of 16 in the 2006 tournament. Finishing second in their group after wins over Poland and Costa Rica, Ecuador exited the tournament losing 1-0 to England.
Prediction: Quarterfinal
Preview Podcast:
Nickname: The Blue Wave
FIFA Ranking: 82
Best Ever Finish (or debut): Debut
How they Qualified: Finished top of their group in both rounds of qualifying, but it wasn’t decided until the final whistle of the last game of qualifying.
Group Schedule:
Head Coach: Legendary Dutch coach Dick Advocaat took charge in January 2024, following fellow country-men like Patrick Kluivert and Guus Hiddink. Advocaat set a goal to make the national setup more professional and instill a desire to avoid defeat at all costs. His experience with seven other national teams played a huge part in his appointment. The 78-year-old has had 28 different coaching stints throughout his career in 12 different countries.
Star Player: Tahith Chong is an attacking or wide midfielder currently with Sheffield United in the Championship. Chong joined the Manchester United Academy aged 16, after progressing through the Feyenoord youth system. To find minutes, he went on a few loans before landing at Birmingham City. After impressing with the Blues, he was signed by newly-promoted Premier League Club, Luton Town. After back-to-back relegations, he signed with Sheffield United where he is working towards becoming a regular. He featured for the Dutch youth teams before switching to the Blue Wave in August 2025. In his second game with the national team, he scored a brace against Bermuda.
Unsung/Up-and-Coming Player: Sontje Hansen is a 23-year-old winger who currently plays for Middlesbrough in the Championship. After impressing at youth levels, he signed with Ajax, making his professional debut with Jong Ajax at the age of 17. Struggling to find minutes with the first team, he moved to NEC also in the Eredivisie immediately becoming an important player for the club. After 72 appearances with NEC, he signed with Middlesbrough for £3.4 million and is fighting for minutes in the English second division. Like many of his teammates, he played for the Netherlands youth teams, but switched to Curaçao in September, 2025.
Style/System/Expectations: Advocaat relied heavily on integrating members of the diaspora. Most of the squad were born in the Netherlands, including the starting 11 in the decisive last qualifying match. Only one member of their recent 25-man squad was born in Curacao while the rest were born in the Netherlands, but qualified to represent the Blue Wave based on their ancestry. Curaçao will be looking to shock people in the World Cup, they are ranked 82nd in the world and many expect them to compete.
Main thing to Watch: With the recent trend of players switching to their parents’ or ancestors' countries, Curaçao might recruit some other top players before the world cup.
Legendary Player: Eloy Room is the starting goalkeeper for Curaçao and is tied for most caps for the country with 68. He started his career in the Netherlands playing for Vitesse and PSV, before signing with the Columbus Crew of MLS. He was one of the first players to make the switch from the Netherlands to Curaçao back in 2015. He also plays a role in recruiting players to the current national team.
Biggest Soccer Moment: Jamaica and Curaçao were head to head throughout the qualifiers, but thanks to goals from Livano Comenencia and Kenji Gorré, Curaçao beat Jamaica 2-0 at home. It all came down to the last day of qualifying in the reverse fixture, a draw or a win will see Curaçao through. After 90 minutes the game was still 0-0, but Jamaica were awarded an injury-time penalty that was overturned after a video assistant referee consultation. Curaçao finished top of the group and became the smallest country in land area and population to make the World Cup.
Prediction: Group stage
Preview Podcast:
Nickname: Vatreni (Blazers), Kockasti (Checkered Ones)
FIFA Ranking: 10
Best Ever Finish (or debut): Runners-up (2018)
How they Qualified: Finished undefeated and six points clear at the top of their qualifying group.
Group Schedule:
Head Coach: Zlatko Dalić has been in charge of the Croatian national team since 2017 and is widely regarded as the greatest coach in the history of the Croatian national team. He led the nation to a historic silver medal in the 2018 World Cup, then followed it up with a third-place finish in the 2022 edition. He is praised for his relationship with the players, fostering a positive environment and uniting the group for a common goal.
Star Player: Luka Modrić is not only Croatia’s captain and all-time caps leader, he is also an icon. He is often listed as one of the greatest midfielders of all time, thanks to his heroics with the national team and his 13-year stint with Real Madrid. Modrić has won numerous individual awards, including the Ballon d'Or in 2018, making him the first player other than Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo to win the award since 2007. He has won 34 trophies during his club career, including six UEFA Champions Leagues and four La Liga titles.
Unsung/Up-and-Coming Player: Luka Vušković is a 19-year-old defender currently on loan from Tottenham to Hamburg. Vušković came through and broke into the Hajduk Split squad at a young age, and became the youngest Croatian to make a league debut and the youngest to score. Known for his height and ability in both boxes, Vušković has played for the Croatian youth teams, and already has two caps with the national team.
Style/System/Expectations: Due to being at the helm for almost a decade, Dalić is very familiar with his squad. Over the years Croatia have been known for their defensive solidity, organization and pragmatism, 2026 will not be any different. Though only a few players from Croatia’s second “golden generation” remain, others have come through to take over. Players like Josko Gvardiol, Josip Stanisic and Franjo Ivanovic are eager to shine with the national team. It’s rare for teams to make three deep runs in a row, so it’s hard to expect Croatia to do it again. That said, no one expected the 2018 or the 2022 run, there’s a possibility that Dalić and Modrić have one more in the bag.
Main thing to Watch: Modrić is currently fifth in all-time international caps worldwide. He is less than 10 matches away from joining Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi in the top three. Kuwait’s Bader Al-Mutawa is currently second, but Messi and Modrić are expected to surpass him due to him being retired.
Legendary Player: Davor Šuker is Croatia's all-time top scorer with 45 goals and was part of the country’s first golden generation. Šuker scored six goals in seven matches to win the Golden Boot in the 1998 World Cup and help Croatia finish third in the tournament. His 19-year career, which included playing for Sevilla, Real Madrid and Arsenal, was full of individual and team accolades.
Biggest Soccer Moment: The 2018 World Cup was the birthplace of Croatia’s second golden generation. They topped their group, including a win over Messi’s Argentina, and beat Denmark in penalty shootouts during the round of 16. Another penalty shootout win against the hosts Russia saw them reach the semis, where they came from behind to beat England 2-1. Despite losing the final 4-2 to France, the team had a heroes welcome back home and were praised around the world. While players like Modrić, Ivan Rakitić, Mario Mandžukić, Ivan Perišić and Dejan Lovren became national icons.
Prediction: Round of 16
Preview Podcast:
Nickname: Los Cafeteros (The Coffee Growers), La Tricolor (The Tricolour), La Sele (The Sele)
FIFA Ranking: 13
Best Ever Finish (or debut): Quarterfinal (2014)
How they Qualified: Finished third in the CONMEBOL qualifiers, tied in points with Uruguay, Brazil and Paraguay.
Group Schedule:
Head Coach: Néstor Lorenzo has been the head coach of Colombia since 2022. The Argentine spent most of his managerial career as an assistant, including seven years with Colombia. Under his leadership, Colombia went on a 28-game win streak, only ending at the Copa America final in 2024 against Argentina. Known for his man management and connection with the players, Lorenzo seems to have all the right qualities to lead Colombia into the World Cup.
Star Player: Winger Luis Díaz is amongst the most exciting players in world soccer. The former Barranquilla and Atlético Junior man, made his name at Porto and earned a move to Liverpool where he became a world renowned name. Currently with German giants Bayern Munich, Díaz cost the Bavarian €75 million. That price is seemingly worth it as he has become one of the key performers in the Bundesliga and Champions League. At 28-years-old, he is already Colombia’s fourth top goalscorer and has been crucial to all of their recent success.
Unsung/Up-and-Coming Player: Yaser Asprilla continues to be one of the most exciting players to come out of South America. The 21-year-old models his game after the great Ronaldinho and is a daring, quick attacker who plays with confidence beyond his young age. Asprilla started in the Colombian league before making the jump to Watford, and later to Girona in La Liga. He is already becoming an important part of the national team, scoring twice in 11 appearances, but will be looking to play an even bigger role in 2026.
Style/System/Expectations: 2014 World Cup hero James Rodríguez is still an important part of the team despite being 34-years-old. Other than Rodríguez, Colombia has some talented players at top European clubs like Daniel Munoz, Luis Suárez and Jhon Lucumi. Lorenzo generally sets the team in a 4-2-3-1 in an attempt to control the midfield and allow for creative players to get on the ball. Colombia will be looking to match or best their best performance in the World Cup, which saw them reach the quarterfinal in 2014.
Main thing to Watch: Rodríguez is chasing both the appearance and goal records for Colombia, both seem possible as he is only seven appearances and five goals away.
Legendary Player: Carlos Valderamma is synonymous with Colombia and is often considered the greatest Colombian player of all time. His iconic hair made him stand out, but it was his elusive play style that captured the imagination of those who watched him. After spending most of his career playing in South America and Europe, Valderrama joined Tampa Bay Mutiny in Major League Soccer’s first season. He became one of the most recognisable players in the league and helped popularise it. He played in MLS for seven seasons with the Mutiny, Miami Fusion and Colorado Rapids, and is one of the most decorated players in the league’s history.
Biggest Soccer Moment: At the 2014 World Cup, Colombia took the world by storm. Led by legendary manager Jose Pekerman, they rolled through the group stage with a perfect record, playing some of the most exciting and captivating soccer. They then beat Uruguay in the round of 16 to face Brazil in the quarterfinal. The magical run came to an end against the host amidst some controversial referring decisions. James Rodríguez was one of the best things to come out of the run, he won the Golden Boot and was included in the All Star Team. Despite falling short, Los Cafeteros’ run unified the country.
Prediction: Round of 16
Preview Podcast:
Cape Verde/Cabo Verde
Nickname: Tubarões Azuis (Blue Sharks), Crioulos (Creoles)
FIFA Ranking: 67
Best Ever Finish (or debut): Debut
How they Qualified: Topped their qualifying group losing only once
Group Schedule:
Head Coach: Pedro “Bubista” Brito, was the head coach and architect of Cape Verde’s first World Cup appearance. After finishing his playing career, Bubista coached a few clubs in Cape Verde before taking over the national team in 2020. He guided the Tubarões Azuis to AFCON 2021 qualification, as well as AFCON 2023 where they reached the quarterfinal. After securing World Cup qualification, he was named 2025 CAF Coach of the Year. He is known to prioritize building a strong Cape Verde Identity and requires players to speak Cape Verde Creole while with the national team.
Star Player: Center forward Dailon Livramento has already scored important goals for Cape Verde and will be looking to score their first World Cup goal. Born and raised in Rotterdam in the Netherlands, he started his career with a couple of Dutch clubs before moving to Hellas Verona in Italy. After one season in Serie A, Livromento is currently on loan with Portuguese top division club Casa Pia. He led the Crioulos in goals in World Cup qualifiers, most importantly scoring the winner and only goal against Cameroon.
Unsung/Up-and-Coming Player: Goalkeeper and captain Vozinha has over 80 appearances for the national team since making his debut in 2012. The 39-year-old has split his career between Europe and Africa, he is currently with Chaves in the Portuguese second division. With his experience on the international stage, Vozinha has not only witnessed, but also experienced the rise of Cape Verde soccer.
Style/System/Expectations: Capo Verde usually setup in a 4-2-3-1 with emphasis on wide play. Most national team players have a mix of experience in Europe’s lower leagues and divisions, there are Cape Verde players playing in Ireland, Israel, and Romania. Only Logan Costa at Villareall plays in the top 5 European leagues. The team draws heavily on its diaspora players, mixing them with native Cape Verdeans. With a team of relatively unknown players and this being the debut for the Sharks, expectations are not very high. However, there’s a certain feeling amongst the group and they’ll be looking to shock the world.
Main thing to Watch: Match against Saudi Arabia, their closest opponent on paper. If they can pull a win, it’s possible that they can qualify to the next round with those three points.
Legendary Player: Lito was one of the first high-profile players to choose to represent Capo Verde, which started a trend for the national team. Born in Capo Verde before independence from Portugal, his family moved to the mainland and he was raised there. His career which lasted almost 20 years saw him make more than 400 appearances at club level and 47 caps for the Sharks.
Biggest Soccer Moment: Cape Verde and African heavyweights Cameroon were head-to-head in Group D in CAF World Cup qualification. After losing the first match 4-1 in Cameroon, it was time for the Crioulos to host. In a close match, Livramento’s goal in the 54th minute was enough to be the decider and clear the path for Capo Verde to qualify to the World Cup.
Prediction: Group stage
Preview Podcast:
Nickname: Les Rouges (The Reds), The Canucks
FIFA Ranking: 27
Best Ever Finish (or debut): Group stage (1986, 2022)
How they Qualified: Co-Host
Group Schedule:
Head Coach: Jesse Marsch was hired in May of 2024 to lead Canada’s golden generation. Marsch has led Canada to unprecedented success, reaching the semi final of Copa America and winning friendlies against European oppositions away from home. Before Canada, Marsch coached three different Red Bulls clubs in New York, Salzburg and Leipzig, as well as Leeds United in the Premier League. He is known for his intense pressing style and making the game as difficult as possible on opponents, regardless of ball possession.
Star Player: Alphonso Davies is the country’s most high-profile player in history. After starting his career in Vancouver, Davies earned a move to German giants Bayern Munich. Known for his pace, dribbling and creativity, he is considered amongst the best left backs in the world. He was born as a Liberian refugee in Ghana, but moved with his family at a young age to Edmonton, Canada. Davies represents a modern Canadian success story, taken in by his community, was the recipient of inner city/low-income programs and has risen through the ranks to bring success to his adopted country
Unsung/Up-and-Coming Player: Ismael Kone is a 23-year-old Marseille midfielder, currently on loan to Sassuolo in Serie A. After impressing with CF Montreal in MLS, Kone signed for Watford for a fee around $8m. He was then sold to Marseille for $12m in 2024 and has gone on a couple of loans since. With 37 caps to his name already, Kone plays an important role for both club and country, and he continues to improve in his development.
Style/System/Expectations: Aside from Davies and Kone, Canada have multiple players at the game’s highest level. Jonathan David with Juventus, Tajon Buchanan with Villareal and Stephen Eustaqio with FC Porto are just some of the names that are a part of Canada’s golden generation. Canada have been able to hold their own against superior opponents, even grinding out results at times. Their relentless, team first mentality could see them make a deeper run in the World Cup than many anticipate.
Main thing to Watch: For a country dominated by hockey, Canada has a rich soccer history dating back to the 1800s. This World Cup will be a celebration of how far soccer has come in the country. Following the successes of hosting the women’s World Cup in 2015, Canadians are looking forward to see their team play on home soil.
Legendary Player: Atiba Hutchinson experienced Canada's lows himself, playing for a team ranked 122 in the world and 16th in CONCACAF back in 2014. Then there was the high of leading his country out at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar after a 36-year absence by the Canadian men. He is the all time caps leader for Canada with 104 and had a 20+ year club career with top clubs like FC Copenhagen and Besiktas. He won Canadian player of the year six times before he retired in 2023.
Biggest Soccer Moment: During the 2024 Copa America in the United States, Canada shocked many by advancing to the semifinal. After losing their opening game 2-0 to Lionel Messi’ Argentina, they beat Peru 1-0 and drew Chile 0-0 to qualify from the group stage. They beat Venezuela in penalty shootouts in the quarterfinals, but lost to Argentina again in the semis. While they lost the 3rd place match in shootouts against Uruguay, Canada were able to reach a level that seemed impossible for them in the past.
Prediction: Round of 16
Preview Podcast:
Nickname: The Red Devils
FIFA Ranking: 8
Best Ever Finish (or debut): Third place (2018)
How they Qualified: Finished unbeaten at the top of group J in the European qualifiers.
Group Schedule:
Head Coach: French manager Rudi Garcia took over the Red Devils in January 2025 after making his name at club level with Lille and Roma, where he won multiple titles. Garcia has implemented a fluid style with Belgium adapting to their opponents, but has stuck with the 4-3-3 while doing that. He has been praised for giving opportunities to young players and introducing new faces into the national team.
Star Player: Kevin De Bruyne is considered one of the best players of his generation and at 34-years-old, he is still contributing for club and country. He has over 420 goal contributions for his clubs, the overwhelming majority of those came during his 10 year career at Manchester City, where he won six Premier League titles and a Champions League. He also won 12 other cup competitions with the Cityzens where he was awarded the Player of the Season four times. Known for his link-up play and unmatched passing and creativity, he has been the linchpin of Belgium’s golden generation. He ranks sixth in all-time caps and second in all-time goals for the Red Devils.
Unsung/Up-and-Coming Player: Malick Fofana is a 20-year-old winger currently playing for Lyon in Ligue 1. Fofana joined Gent and made his debut for the first team in July 2022 at the age of 17. After his impressive performances, he earned a transfer to Lyon for a fee up to €22 million. Since his move he has been an important player for Lyon, playing regularly and contributing to goals. Fofana made his debut with the national team in 2024 and scored his first goal in 2025. Many big clubs were linked with him like Liverpool and Chelsea, but he chose to stay at Lyon.
Style/System/Expectations: With Garcia’s 4-3-3 system, Belgium have focused on being more organized defensively and more lethal in transition moments. They have at times struggled with creativity when in possession, especially when trying to break down opponents who sit deep. While most of the players from the 2018 golden generation have retired, a few remain. De Bruyne, Thibaut Courtois and Romelu Lukaku continue to be a vital part of the national team. Belgium’s current squad has fewer players at the highest level of the game. That said, players like Manchester City’s Jérémy Doku, Arsenal’s Leonardo Trossard and Aston Villa’s Amadou Onana will have to be the difference maker for Belgium to make a run.
Main thing to Watch: The Red Devils were handed a somewhat “easy” group, especially in comparison with other top European nations and their group from 2022. Collecting all nine points might provide the necessary spark for a deep run, on the other hand, any hurdle might affect the mood more than usual.
Legendary Player: Despite his early retirement, Eden Hazard is considered one of the greatest Belgian players of all time. Known for his dribbling, creativity, and vision, he is regarded as one of the best wingers of his generation. Hazard started his career with Lille in Ligue 1, where he became an instant fan favorite, winning the domestic double in 2010-11 and Player of the Year. He then spent seven seasons with Chelsea where he is considered a legend, winning two Premier League titles, as well as numerous cups and individual awards. He joined Real Madrid in 2019 for a transfer fee of up to €150 million, making him one of the most expensive players in history. However, injuries and lack of fitness, led him to limited minutes and eventually retirement. He ranks fourth in all-time appearances and second in all-time scoring for Belgium, and was often seen as the face of the golden generation.
Biggest Soccer Moment: There was a lot of hype for Belgium heading into the 2018 World Cup. The Golden Generation was in their prime, playing at the highest levels of the game, and expectations were high. Belgium started with five consecutive victories (including group wins over Panama, Tunisia and England). In the round of 16 match against Japan, Belgium were down 2–0, eventually turning the tide and winning 3–2 with goals from Jan Vertonghen and late substitutes Marouane Fellaini and Nacer Chadli. Belgium then defeated World Cup favourites Brazil 2–1 on the back of an early Fernandinho own goal and a goal by De Bruyne, reaching the semi-finals for the second time in their history. They lost to France 0–1 in the semifinal, but rebounded to win 2–0 in their second victory over England during the tournament to secure third place. While not getting over the finish line, that was still their best ever World Cup result.
Prediction: Round of 16
Preview Podcast:
Nickname: The Red Devils
FIFA Ranking: 8
Best Ever Finish (or debut): Third place (2018)
How they Qualified: Finished unbeaten at the top of group J in the European qualifiers.
Group Schedule:
Head Coach: French manager Rudi Garcia took over the Red Devils in January 2025 after making his name at club level with Lille and Roma, where he won multiple titles. Garcia has implemented a fluid style with Belgium adapting to their opponents, but has stuck with the 4-3-3 while doing that. He has been praised for giving opportunities to young players and introducing new faces into the national team.
Star Player: Kevin De Bruyne is considered one of the best players of his generation and at 34-years-old, he is still contributing for club and country. He has over 420 goal contributions for his clubs, the overwhelming majority of those came during his 10 year career at Manchester City, where he won six Premier League titles and a Champions League. He also won 12 other cup competitions with the Cityzens where he was awarded the Player of the Season four times. Known for his link-up play and unmatched passing and creativity, he has been the linchpin of Belgium’s golden generation. He ranks sixth in all-time caps and second in all-time goals for the Red Devils.
Unsung/Up-and-Coming Player: Malick Fofana is a 20-year-old winger currently playing for Lyon in Ligue 1. Fofana joined Gent and made his debut for the first team in July 2022 at the age of 17. After his impressive performances, he earned a transfer to Lyon for a fee up to €22 million. Since his move he has been an important player for Lyon, playing regularly and contributing to goals. Fofana made his debut with the national team in 2024 and scored his first goal in 2025. Many big clubs were linked with him like Liverpool and Chelsea, but he chose to stay at Lyon.
Style/System/Expectations: With Garcia’s 4-3-3 system, Belgium have focused on being more organized defensively and more lethal in transition moments. They have at times struggled with creativity when in possession, especially when trying to break down opponents who sit deep. While most of the players from the 2018 golden generation have retired, a few remain. De Bruyne, Thibaut Courtois and Romelu Lukaku continue to be a vital part of the national team. Belgium’s current squad has fewer players at the highest level of the game. That said, players like Manchester City’s Jérémy Doku, Arsenal’s Leonardo Trossard and Aston Villa’s Amadou Onana will have to be the difference maker for Belgium to make a run.
Main thing to Watch: The Red Devils were handed a somewhat “easy” group, especially in comparison with other top European nations and their group from 2022. Collecting all nine points might provide the necessary spark for a deep run, on the other hand, any hurdle might affect the mood more than usual.
Legendary Player: Despite his early retirement, Eden Hazard is considered one of the greatest Belgian players of all time. Known for his dribbling, creativity, and vision, he is regarded as one of the best wingers of his generation. Hazard started his career with Lille in Ligue 1, where he became an instant fan favorite, winning the domestic double in 2010-11 and Player of the Year. He then spent seven seasons with Chelsea where he is considered a legend, winning two Premier League titles, as well as numerous cups and individual awards. He joined Real Madrid in 2019 for a transfer fee of up to €150 million, making him one of the most expensive players in history. However, injuries and lack of fitness, led him to limited minutes and eventually retirement. He ranks fourth in all-time appearances and second in all-time scoring for Belgium, and was often seen as the face of the golden generation.
Biggest Soccer Moment: There was a lot of hype for Belgium heading into the 2018 World Cup. The Golden Generation was in their prime, playing at the highest levels of the game, and expectations were high. Belgium started with five consecutive victories (including group wins over Panama, Tunisia and England). In the round of 16 match against Japan, Belgium were down 2–0, eventually turning the tide and winning 3–2 with goals from Jan Vertonghen and late substitutes Marouane Fellaini and Nacer Chadli. Belgium then defeated World Cup favourites Brazil 2–1 on the back of an early Fernandinho own goal and a goal by De Bruyne, reaching the semi-finals for the second time in their history. They lost to France 0–1 in the semifinal, but rebounded to win 2–0 in their second victory over England during the tournament to secure third place. While not getting over the finish line, that was still their best ever World Cup result.
Prediction: Round of 16
Preview Podcast:
Nickname: Das Team (The Team)
FIFA Ranking: 24
Best Ever Finish (or debut): Third place (1954)
How they Qualified: Topped their qualifying group only conceding four goals in eight matches.
Group Schedule:
Head Coach: Legendary German coach Ralf Rangnick took over in 2022 and things have been going fairly well since. Rangnick is regarded as the "godfather" of modern German soccer and is credited with developing Genenpressing and popularising zonal marking. He is also credited for influencing Thomas Tuchel, Julian Nagelsmann, Jurgen Klopp and many others. Before Austria, Rangnick spent almost 10 years with Red Bulls soccer operations across various roles and had a small stint at Manchester United.
Star Player: Former Bayern Munich and current Real Madrid defender, David Alaba, has been at the highest levels of soccer for over 15 years. The 33-year-old is the captain and the second most capped player for Austria. Known for his versatility and being a two way player, Alaba has played in multiple positions in defense and midfield. He has won 12 league and four UEFA Champions League titles with his clubs, and is 10-time winner of Austrian Footballer of the Year.
Unsung/Up-and-Coming Player: Nicolas Seiwald is a 24-year-old center midfielder playing for RB Leipzig and is a Red Bull player through and through. Seiwald already has 42 caps for the national team and has been a consistent fixture with Austria, at one point Seiwald didn’t miss a single minute in 31 games for Rangnick. He is praised for his availability, pressing and physical attributes.
Style/System/Expectations: Under Rangnick, Austria has fully transformed into “energy drink/Red Bull soccer” with a huge focus on pressing and counterpressing. They have produced a few great players in the previous decade like Alaba, Marko Arnautovic and Marcel Sabitzer, while getting up in age, these players continue to play a massive part for the national team.
Also, players like Bayern Munich’s Konrad Laimer and Tottenham’s Kevin Danso are in their prime and will be looking to prove themselves. Austria have at times punched above their weight, but it seems like a big moment is still on the horizon for Das Team. The expectation is still to make it out of the group stage, however, with this being their first World Cup since 1998, not much is expected more than that.
Main thing to Watch: Austria play with an intense playing style which asks a lot physically and mentally from players. With the long club season and a longer World Cup, maintaining the intensity throughout the tournament might become a challenge.
Legendary Player: Matthias Sindelar, nicknamed the "Mozart of football," was the star of the legendary Austrian “Wunderteam” that went on incredible runs in the early 1900s. He became a big figure for Austrian identity after refusing to play for the German national team following the Nazi invasion. He and the Wunderteam played their last match in 1938 against Germany where the result was supposedly pre-determined to be a draw. Sindelar took the field in the second half and scored twice for Austria to win 2-0. He was found dead 10 months later with conspiracies surrounding the events.
Biggest Soccer Moment: In 1978, Austria made their first World Cup in 20 years. After finishing at the top of their group, they qualified to the second group stage, but lost their first two games. In the third game, Austria faced off against West Germany, in a match that is known in Austria as Das Wunder von Córdoba (The Miracle of Córdoba) and in Germany as Die Schmach von Córdoba (The Disgrace of Córdoba). The game is fondly remembered by fans of the Austria national team for being the first time in 47 years that Austria had defeated a team from either the Western or Eastern side of the then-partitioned Germany.
Germany had a chance to make the final or the third place game while Austria were already eliminated. Hans Krankl’s 87th minute winner to put Austria 3–2 ahead crashed the Germans' dreams and eliminated them from the tournament.
Prediction: Round of 32
Preview Podcast:
Nickname: Socceroos
FIFA Ranking: 26
Best Ever Finish (or debut): Round of 16 (2006, 2022)
How they Qualified: Topped their group in the second round and finished second in the third round, losing only one match throughout the entire qualifiers.
Group Schedule:
Head Coach: Tony Popovic was announced as the new head coach after two games in the third round of AFC qualifiers and he led the Socceroos to crucial wins over Japan and Saudi Arabia. Popovic was a member of the 2006 golden generation, he has 58 caps with the national team and knows the program well. He’s introduced a new level of rigor within the squad, including a strict nutrition routine to help the players be in the best shape. The other thing Popovic focused on is a clean slate, where veteran status didn’t guarantee a spot in the squad which allowed for younger players to break through. Popovic is known for his pressing style and making the game difficult for opponents.
Star Player: Alessandro Circati is a 22-year-old central defender and the youngest captain in Australian history. He started his career with Perth Glory’s youth and second teams before making the jump to the Italian Serie A with Parma. After impressing with the youth setup, Circati started playing with the senior squad and became an important piece in the 2025-26 season. Born in Italy, Circati played for the U20 team of his birth country before switching to the Socceroos in 2023. With his age and ability, Circati is likely to make a jump to an even bigger club in the near future.
Unsung/Up-and-Coming Player: Nestory Irankunda is a 19-year-old striker currently playing for Watford in the Championship.Irankunda is regarded by many within the Australian media as one of the greatest talents developed in the country. His goal-scoring prowess received many plaudits from media and pundits who recognised his skills and techniques. His parents were originally from Burundi, but fled their home due to the civil war escalating at the time. His father led his family to a refugee camp in Tanzania where Nestory was born. When he was three months old, the family made the move to Australia.
Style/System/Expectations: The Soccerroos have a pressing style based on certain triggers. They are known to generally have less possession than the opponent and focus on transition moments. Australia has a number of young talents like Circati, Irankunda and Jordan Bos who will be looking to impress during the tournament. This will also likely be the last world cup for veterans like Mathew Ryan, Milos Degenek and Cameron Burgess. With three teams possibly getting out of Group D, Australia will be aiming to at least get to the round of 32.
Main thing to Watch: Australia has a good amount of younger players who are ready to prove themselves at the highest level like Circati. Tournaments often affect transfer fees and destinations, if given a proper chance, some of the young players might be on the move following the tournament.
Legendary Player: Tim Cahill scored 50 goals in 108 caps from 2004-2018, making him the leading goalscorer for Australia. Considered a Millwall and Everton legend, Cahill spent most of his career in England. He was named both Everton Player of the Season and Everton Players' Player of the Season in his debut season, and in the following year he was named as one of 50 nominees for the Ballon d'Or. Cahill was the first Australian to score at a World Cup and his five goals in 2006, 2010 and 2014 are the most by any Australian in the men's World Cup. Cahill is known for his headers and has scored many of his goals that way. Mostly played as an attacking midfielder, he also had some stints as a striker. He is famous for his regular goal celebration of shadow boxing around the corner flag.
Biggest Soccer Moment: Prior to the 2006 World Cup, Australia had to face Uruguay in a two-legged playoff match for qualification to the final tournament. Uruguay was ranked 18th at the time, while Australia were 49th. The Socceroos lost the first leg, but won the second leg, and after two periods of extra time, a penalty shootout decided the winner. Australia won the penalty shootout 4–2, making Australia the first ever team to qualify for a World Cup via a penalty shootout. Australian goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer made two saves, with John Aloisi scoring the winning penalty for a place in the World Cup, Australia's first qualification in 32 years. The 2006 Golden Generation didn’t stop there, at the tournament they advanced from their group and only lost to eventual champions Italy 1-0 in the round of 16. .
Prediction: Group stage
Preview Podcast:
Nickname: La Selección (The Selection)
FIFA Ranking: 2
Best Ever Finish (or debut): Winners (1978, 1986, 2022)
How they Qualified: Finished first in the CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers, nine points clear of second place Ecuador.
Group Schedule:
Head Coach: Lionel Scaloni is still at the helm after leading Argentina to the historic third World Cup trophy. He took over in 2018 and success has been a common occurrence since, Argentina won Copa América twice and the World Cup once during his reign. Known for his man management, Scaloni focuses on camaraderie and communication just as much, if not more than, just tactics. His ability to unify the team and have clear objectives have served Argentina well during his tenure.
Star Player: Lionel Messi, the greatest player of all time, is still part of this Argentina team. The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner leads the country in caps and goals, and no one is even remotely close to his records. Listing all of Messi’s records and awards is an impossible task, from the start of his professional career in 2004, the Barcelona icon has achieved every success imaginable for his clubs and country alike. This is most likely his last World Cup and he will be looking to go out on top.
Unsung/Up-and-Coming Player: Franco Mastantuono is an 18-year-old Real Madrid midfielder and one of the brightest talents in world soccer. He started his career at River Plate where he became their youngest ever goalscorer and the second youngest player to score in a Superclásico against arch rivals, Boca Juniors. After establishing himself as a starter, he signed with Spanish giants Real Madrid for a deal worth €45 million.
Style/System/Expectations: Scaloni’s tactics revolve around balancing grit and flair, with a huge emphasis on team-first play. When Messi is on the pitch, which is more often than not, the team plays to get the ball to Messi in the final third; This strategy has clearly worked for La Selección. Argentina has a very deep squad, including some of the best players in the world, like Julián Álvarez, Alexis Mac Allister, Enzo Fernández and Lautaro Martinez. The expectations for Argentina are as high as they can be, and anything other than winning the trophy would not count as a success.
Main thing to Watch: Messi’s health and readiness is Argentina’s biggest concern. At 38-years-old, Messi is still playing almost every available minute with his club Inter Miami. As the World Cup approaches, Miami will be competing on multiple fronts and it’s unclear whether he will be rested prior to the tournament.
Legendary Player: Diego Armando Maradona, known as El Pibe de Oro ("The Golden Boy"), is one of the greatest players of all time. He played in four World Cups and won the 1986 edition with Argentina where he was awarded the Golden Ball as the tournament's best player. Maradona was the first player to set the world record transfer fee twice, in 1982 and 1984. In the club game, he is mostly remembered by his time at Napoli where won numerous accolades and led the club to their first and second Serie A titles. In late 2020, at the age of 60, Maradona suffered cardiac arrest and died in his sleep at his home. Thousands of tributes from around the world poured in from clubs, players and fans.
Biggest Soccer Moment: During the 1986 World Cup quarterfinal, Argentina beat England 2-1 thanks to two historic Maradona goals. The first, which became known as the "Hand of God," Maradona mischievously scored with his fists, fooling the referee and most spectators. The second was a 66 yard dribble past five England players and was voted as the “Goal of the Century" by FIFA.
Prediction: Final
Preview Podcast:
Nickname: مُحَارِبِي الصَّحْرَاء (The Desert Warriors)
FIFA Ranking: 34
Best Ever Finish (or debut): Round of 16 (2014)
How they Qualified: Topped their qualifying group seven points clear and with just one loss.
Group Schedule:
Head Coach: Experienced Bosnian head coach, Vladimir Petkovic, took charge in February 2024 and has largely done well with the national team. With experience in top European clubs and the Swiss national team, Petkovic has been praised for bringing back competition in the squad. He is known to be tactically flexible and will adjust his system based on the opponent.
Star Player: The captain, and possibly the greatest Algerian player, is Riyad Mahrez. The 34-year-old is currently with Al-Ahli in the Saudi Pro League, but is mostly known for his time with Leicester City and Manchester City. He has won the Premier League five times and the UEFA Champions League once, alongside a long list of other club trophies. He led the Desert Warriors to their second-ever AFCON victory in 2019 and is less than a handful of goals away from the all-time goalscoring record. Mahrez is a left-footed player who usually plays on the right wing, allowing him to cut inside to deliver and finish the final ball.
Unsung/Up-and-Coming Player: Rayan Aït-Nouri is a 24-year-old left back or left wingback who has already established himself as a starter in the national team. Currently playing for Manchester City, Aït-Nouri is a graduate of Angers academy and later moved to Wolves, where he had a breakout season in 2024-25. In the summer of 2025, he signed with Manchester City for a fee up to £37 million and has been an important player for the Cityzens since.
Style/System/Expectations: This is likely the last run with the national team for core players like Mahrez, Baghdad Bounedjah and Aissa Mandi. That said, there’s an exciting young generation that will be looking to take over like Anis Hadj Moussa, Farès Chaïbi and Ibrahim Maza. Algeria relies on its huge diaspora population, especially in France, to bring in new faces into the national team. Some of the biggest players to play for Algeria, like Mahrez, are those from the diaspora communities. The Desert Warriors are expected to at least make it out of their group, but a deep run would be a welcome surprise.
Main thing to Watch: Despite winning AFCON in 2019, this is Algeria’s first World Cup since 2014. Players and staff will have to manage the occasion and not let it affect the on-pitch play.
Legendary Player: Rabah Madjer is one of, if not, the greatest Algerian players of all time. Madjer player for Racing Paris, Tours and Valencia, but is mostly known for his time with Portuguese giants Porto. There he won Primeira Liga three times and the UEFA Champions League once, scoring a historic and beautiful backheel in the final. With the national team, Madjer played 86 times and scored 28 goals, including the country’s first-ever World Cup goal.
Biggest Soccer Moment: In the 1982 World Cup, Algeria upset reigning European champions West Germany 2-1, a win widely considered as one of the greatest upsets in World Cup history. Despite collecting six points in the group stage, Algeria were eliminated thanks to a notorious match known as the Disgrace of Gijon. After Algeria defeated Chile the previous day, West Germany and Austria knew going into their match that a West German win by 1 or 2 goals would qualify them both, while a larger German victory would qualify Algeria over Austria. The Germans attacked for the first 10 minutes and scored. After that goal, the two teams kicked the ball around aimlessly for the rest of the match.
Prediction: Round of 32