<rss xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0">
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			<title>Latest Sports News &amp; Videos from FOX Sports</title>
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		<pubDate>Sat, 13 Jun 2026 12:39:19 -0400</pubDate>
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				<title>
					<![CDATA[2026 World Cup Quarterfinal Odds: Which Squads Will Make Final 8?]]>
				</title>
				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/2026-world-cup-quarterfinal-odds-which-squads-will-make-final-8</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/2026-world-cup-quarterfinal-odds-which-squads-will-make-final-8</guid>
				<category>soccer</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Which countries will make it to the quarterfinals? Check out the latests odds.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Sat, 13 Jun 2026 12:06:21 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[Winning two knockout stage games? That means you're really in the running to win the World Cup. Let's check out the odds for which countries will make it to the quarterfinals at FanDuel Sportsbook as of June 13. This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. To Reach Quarterfinals France: -165 (bet $10 to win $16.06 total)Spain: -155 (bet $10 to win $16.45 total)England: -130 (bet $10 to win $17.69 total)Portugal: -120 (bet $10 to win $18.33 total)Argentina: -115 (bet $10 to win $18.70 total)Brazil: +100 (bet $10 to win $20 total)Belgium: +130 (bet $10 to win $23 total)Germany: +155 (bet $10 to win $25.50 total)Netherlands: +150 ((bet $10 to win $25 total) USA: +195 (bet $10 to win $29.50 total)Norway: +230 (bet $10 to win $33 total)Mexico: +240 (bet $10 to win $34 total)Colombia: +280 (bet $10 to win $38 total)Switzerland: +290 (bet $10 to win $39 total)Uruguay: +330 (bet $10 to win $43 total)Morocco: +340 (bet $10 to win $44 total)Japan: +380 (bet $10 to win $48 total)Türkiye: +400 (bet $10 to win $50 total)Croatia: +430 (bet $10 to win $53 total)Ecuador: +450 (bet $10 to win $55 total)Canada: +500 (bet $10 to win $60 total)Austria: +550 (bet $10 to win $65 total)Senegal: +600 (bet $10 to win $70 total)Ivory Coast: +650 (bet $10 to win $75 total)Egypt: +800 (bet $10 to win $90 total) Here's what to know about this oddsboard. Recent History: The quarterfinals are kinda a given for France, at least in recent years. The French have made it to at least the quarterfinals in five of the last seven World Cups, and they have made the final in four of the last seven years, winning the tournament twice. As for Spain, it has only made the quarterfinals twice in the past seven tournaments, but did win it all in 2010. Brazil has made it to at least the quarterfinals for eight consecutive tournaments. The Host Nations: Canada has never won a World Cup match in two tournament appearances, but it did get its first draw in this year's opener. As for Mexico, it has two quarterfinal appearances all time (1970 and 1986), and the USA has one QF appearance (2002).]]>
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					<![CDATA[2026 World Cup Odds: Which Player Will Lead the Tournament in Assists?]]>
				</title>
				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/2026-world-cup-odds-who-will-have-most-assists</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/2026-world-cup-odds-who-will-have-most-assists</guid>
				<category>soccer</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[The world's biggest playmakers are set to shine at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Check out who is favored to notch the most assists.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Sat, 13 Jun 2026 11:54:19 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[Passing the ball is just as important as scoring it. In the 2022 World Cup, Bruno Fernandes, Harry Kane, Lionel Messi, Antoine Griezmann and Ivan Perišić were all tied for the tournament lead in assists. In the 2024 European Championship, 18-year-old phenom Lamine Yamal led the tournament with four assists. At the time, he was only 16. Christian Pulisic enters the tournament with 19 career assists for the U.S. men's national team and is coming off a 2025-26 Serie A campaign in which he was one of just two players to post at least 10 goals and nine assists. So who will emerge as the tournament's top playmaker this summer? Let's take a look at the odds at FanDuel Sportsbook as of June 13. This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. Player to Assist Most Goals Bruno Fernandes: +550 (bet $10 to win $65 total)Michael Olise: +1000 (bet $10 to win $110 total)Lionel Messi: +1400 (bet $10 to win $150 total)Lamine Yamal: +1400 (bet $10 to win $150 total)Jeremy Doku: +1600 (bet $10 to win $170 total)Viní Jr.: +1800 (bet $10 to win $190 total)Kylian Mbappé: +2200 (bet $10 to win $230 total)Kevin De Bruyne: +2200 (bet $10 to win $230 total)Florian Wirtz: +2200 (bet $10 to win $230 total)Raphinha: +2700 (bet $10 to win $280 total) Here's what to know about this oddsboard: Talk About Bruno: Not only did Fernandes have the most assists in just four matches in 2022, he also just won Premier League Player of the Season with a record 21 assists for Manchester United. With Portugal expected to make a deep run, Fernandes is now the favorite at +900 to record the most assists this summer. The Contenders: Second on the oddsboard is Michael Olise, who is making his first career World Cup appearance. Olise recorded a staggering 29 assists in all competitions for Bayern Munich during the 2025-26 season and has 51 assists in 63 total matches with the club. Global superstars Messi and Yamal round out the top four on the assists oddsboard, as both currently sit at +1400. Messi has eight career assists in the FIFA World Cup, which is tied for the most in tournament history. Yamal will look to replicate his Euros' success in his World Cup debut.]]>
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					<![CDATA[2026 World Cup Round of 16 Odds: Which Teams Will Make It?]]>
				</title>
				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/2026-world-cup-round-of-16-odds-who-will-make-round-16</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/2026-world-cup-round-of-16-odds-who-will-make-round-16</guid>
				<category>soccer</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Which squads are favored to make it to the Round of 16 in the expanded field? See the latest odds.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Sat, 13 Jun 2026 11:52:22 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[After the World Cup group stage, things go from intense to do-or-die. In previous years, the Round of 16 was the first knockout stage match, but with an expanded field of 48 teams— it is now the second. Let's check out the odds for which countries are favored to win at least one knockout stage game and make it to the Round of 16, at FanDuel Sportsbook as of June 13. This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. To Reach Round of 16 France: -450 (bet $10 to win $12.22 total)Spain: -370 (bet $10 to win $12.70 total)England: -330 (bet $10 to win $13.03 total)Portugal: -300 (bet $10 to win $13.33 total)Germany: -270 (bet $10 to win $13.70 total)Brazil: -260 (bet $10 to win $13.85 total)Argentina: -260 (bet $10 to win $13.85 total)Belgium: -250 (bet $10 to win $14 total)USA: -210 (bet $10 to win $14.76 total)Mexico: -185 (bet $10 to win $15.41 total)Switzerland: -160 (bet $10 to win $16.25 total)Netherlands: -140 (bet $10 to win $17.14 total) Norway: -130 (bet $10 to win $17.69 total)Colombia: -120 (bet $10 to win $18.33 total)Türkiye: +100 (bet $10 to win $20 total)South Korea: +105 (bet $10 to win $20.50 total)Ecuador: +110 (bet $10 to win $21 total)Canada: +115 (bet $10 to win $21.50 total) Here's what to know about this oddsboard. The Favorites: France and Spain are favored to win the tournament, making them heavy favorites to at least reach the second round of the knockout stage. In 2014, France made it to the quarterfinals, followed by a championship in 2018 and a runner-up finish in 2022. The last time it failed to make it out of the group stage was back in 2010. For Spain, it lost in the Round of 16 in both 2022 and 2018, and failed to make it out of the group stage in 2014, after winning the World Cup in 2010. The Host Nations: Each of the three host nations — the USA (ninth on the oddsboard), Mexico (10th) and Canada (18th) — are in the running to make it out of their respective groups and win their Round of 32 matchup. Mexico has a familiar relationship with the round of 16, having lost in that round every tournament from 1994 to 2018 — seven straight tournaments. In 2022, Mexico didn't make it out of group play. As for the USA, it made the Round of 16 in 2022, did not qualify for the tournament in 2018, and made the Round of 16 in 2014 and 2010. Lastly, Canada has never won or drawn a match at the World Cup, let alone make it out of the group stage.]]>
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					<![CDATA[Chris 'The Bear' Fallica's Match Day 4 World Cup Best Bets, Picks, Predictions]]>
				</title>
				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/chris-the-bear-fallicas-match-day-4-world-cup-best-bets-picks-predictions</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/chris-the-bear-fallicas-match-day-4-world-cup-best-bets-picks-predictions</guid>
				<category>soccer</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Chris "The Bear" Fallica delivers his daily best bets for the World Cup. Here's what he's backing on Day 4.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Sat, 13 Jun 2026 11:12:36 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA["Bear Bets" are real wagers that Chris "The Bear" Fallica is actually making. The United States powered past Paraguay in front of an electric Los Angeles Stadium home crowd on Friday night, and Brazil will make its debut on Saturday. We're really in the thick of the excitement now. Well, let's bet on it. This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. World Cup Best Bets — Sunday, June 14 Germany vs. Curaçao Germany has not made it out of the group stage in the last two World Cups but should have little trouble here as a massive favorite in this match. Betting matches like this can be tough, as we know Germany will win. It's just a question of how many goals the team scores and if it gets lazy defensively late and allows something easy when the score is 4-0 or so. I’ll shoot for a few things here, so follow along. I'll wager on Nick Woltemade anytime goal, Nico Schlotterbeck anytime goal and Over 7.5 corners for Germany. It looks like Julian Nagelsmann has finally found the correct role for Woltemade and Schlotterbeck is always a danger in the air on set pieces. Germany should have all the ball and, with constant pressure on Curaçao, should accumulate a ton of corners. The Netherlands vs. Japan The Netherlands' defense is the strength of its team, with players like Virgil van Djik, Denzel Dumfries and others. However, it can have trouble scoring at times and that might be the case here against a feisty Japanese side that isn’t afraid to be the aggressor and will keep pressure on the Netherlands. I give Japan a good chance at getting at least a draw out of this. Ivory Coast vs. Ecuador I’m so intrigued by this matchup. I think the Ivory Coast has real dark-horse potential after running through qualifying without allowing a goal. It has a great combo of youth up front and experience in midfield and defense. Can the team generate scoring chances against an Ecuador side that finished second behind Argentina in qualifying and conceded just five goals? But it also offers next to nothing in the attack. This one has rock fight written all over it. Expect a low-scoring game — likely 0-0 half — and then one of the Ivory Coast’s young attackers like Guessand, Diamonde or Diallo will have a chance to give the Elephants all three points in the second half. Sweden vs. Tunisia People know the names Alexander Isak and Victor Gyorkeres from watching the English Premier League, but I’m not sure the duo has its way here. Tunisia is a buttoned-up defensive machine. It didn't allow a goal in qualifying and will be quite content to absorb pressure and keep everyone behind the ball. I’ll take a rare stab at the nil-nil.]]>
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				<title>
					<![CDATA[Australia vs. Türkiye Prediction, Odds, Picks For World Cup Match]]>
				</title>
				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/2026-world-cup-australia-turkiye-odds-prediction-picks</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/2026-world-cup-australia-turkiye-odds-prediction-picks</guid>
				<category>soccer</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Check out the odds for the Australia vs. Türkiye Group D matchup at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Sat, 13 Jun 2026 11:00:39 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[Australia and Türkiye will face each other in their opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Sunday, June 14, 2026, at BC Place Vancouver on FS1. This is Australia's sixth straight World Cup appearance. In the last five, they've been eliminated in the group stage three times and in the Round of 16 twice, including the 2022 tournament in Qatar where they lost to the eventual champion in Argentina. Australia finished second behind Japan in Asian qualifying, even though it didn’t lose to the Samurai Blue in either meeting. Its only loss during the group stage came against Bahrain. The Socceroos enter the tournament after a 1-1 draw against Switzerland and 1-0 defeat to Mexico in two preparation friendlies leading up to the World Cup. On the other hand, this is Türkiye's first World Cup appearance in 24 years, having last qualified in 2002 where they took home the bronze medal. Türkiye booked its place at the 2026 World Cup after finishing second behind Spain in UEFA Group E, and then advancing through the UEFA playoffs. They sealed qualification with a 1-0 win over Kosovo in the final. Türkiye has carried over its momentum from the final, winning two recent friendlies against North Macedonia and Venezuela by a combined score of 5-2. This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. Australia vs. Türkiye Odds Moneyline Spread Over/Under Total Odds: 2.5 Australia vs. Türkiye Prediction, Pick From FOX Sports Research: How to Watch Australia vs. Türkiye Let's take a look at some other bets for the match. Anytime Goalscorer Props Tie No Bet Both Teams to Score]]>
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					<![CDATA[2026 World Cup Odds: How Far Will Team USA Go?]]>
				</title>
				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/2026-world-cup-odds-how-far-will-team-usa-go</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/2026-world-cup-odds-how-far-will-team-usa-go</guid>
				<category>soccer</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Check out the latest 2026 FIFA World Cup odds for Team USA after its dominating 3-0 win over Paraguay.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Sat, 13 Jun 2026 00:17:11 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[The U.S. men's national team could not have dreamed of a better start to the 2026 FIFA World Cup. After an early own goal in the seventh minute, Folarin Balogun added two first-half goals in the 31st and 45th minutes to give USA a commanding 3-0 lead at the break. From there, they cruised to a 4-1 opening match win, putting the entire world on notice. After USA's win on Friday, they are now heavily favored at -10000 to qualify from Group D. So when will the USA lose? Or, especially after Friday's dominance, will it even lose at all? Let's check out the updated odds for the Americans' stage of elimination at FanDuel Sportsbook, as of June 12. Team USA — Stage of elimination odds Last 32: +135 (bet $10 to win $23.50 total)Last 16: +185 (bet $10 to win $28.50 total)Quarterfinals: +380 (bet $10 to win $48 total)Semifinals: +1000 (bet $10 to win $110 total)Runner-up: +2500 (bet $10 to win $260 total)Group stage: +3500 (bet $10 to win $360 total)Outright winner: +3500 (bet $10 to win $360 total) This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. After USA's opening win against Paraguay, the Americans are expected to make it out of the group stage but fall in the first knockout stage game. The second result on the oddsboard is the "Last 16," meaning the USA would make it out of the group stage and win one knockout stage game, before falling in the second knockout stage game. How would that result stack up against previous results? Well, at the 2022 World Cup, Team USA made it to the Round of 16, which was viewed as a stellar accomplishment. In 2018, the USA did not qualify for the World Cup, and in 2014 and 2010, the Americans also made it to the Round of 16. Their best result this century occurred in 2002, when the Americans made it all the way to the quarterfinals before being eliminated. In 1998, Team USA lost in the group stage, in 1994, it fell in the Round of 16, and in 1990, it also fell in the group stage. But after the opening match win, expectations have been raised and a deep tournament runs seems very possible. The biggest change on the oddsboard Friday night occurred in the outright winner and group stage markets. USA now has the same odds of winning the World Cup as they do of being eliminated in the group stage. The Stars and Stripes are currently both +4000 to lift the trophy and get eliminated in the group stage.]]>
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					<![CDATA[Scotland vs. Haiti Prediction, Odds, Picks For World Cup Match]]>
				</title>
				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/2026-world-cup-scotland-haiti-odds-predictions-picks</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/2026-world-cup-scotland-haiti-odds-predictions-picks</guid>
				<category>soccer</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Check out the odds for the Scotland vs. Haiti Group C matchup at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Fri, 12 Jun 2026 20:46:53 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[Scotland and Haiti are set to face off in their 2026 FIFA World Cup Group C opener on Saturday, June 13, 2026, at Boston Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts on FOX. Scotland is making its first World Cup appearance of the 21st century after a 28-year wait. Scotland punched its ticket to the 2026 World Cup in dramatic fashion, scoring twice in stoppage time against Denmark in UEFA play to secure direct qualification. The Tartan Army enter the tournament on fire, beating both Curaçao and Bolivia by a combined score of 8-1 in two friendlies over the last few weeks. Meanwhile, Haiti returns to the World Cup stage for the first time in 52 years, with its only previous appearance coming in 1974. Haiti booked its place in the 2026 World Cup by finishing atop of Group C in the final round of CONCACAF play. The team recorded three wins and two draws across six matches, all of which took place outside the country. Can Haiti shock the world and win its first ever World Cup game? Let’s check out the odds for the Scotland vs. Haiti Group C matchup at FanDuel Sportsbook as of June 12. This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. Scotland vs. Haiti Odds Moneyline Spread Over/Under Total Odds: 2.5 Scotland vs. Haiti Prediction, Pick From FOX Sports Research: How to Watch Scotland vs Haiti Let's take a look at some other bets for the match. Anytime Goalscorer Props Tie No Bet Both Teams to Score]]>
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					<![CDATA[USA vs. Paraguay Prediction: History Shows USA Needs Christian Pulisic to Deliver]]>
				</title>
				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/usa-vs-paraguay-prediction-history-shows-usa-needs-christian-pulisic-deliver</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/usa-vs-paraguay-prediction-history-shows-usa-needs-christian-pulisic-deliver</guid>
				<category>soccer</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Colin Cowherd and Bruce Arena talk about Christian Pulisic and why a USA victory over Paraguay would position the team to win the group.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Fri, 12 Jun 2026 19:00:51 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[In the 26 games in which Christian Pulisic scores, the U.S. men's national team has lost just twice with an astounding 21 wins to go with four draws. Let that sink in as the World Cup co-hosts open Group D play against Paraguay on Friday night in Los Angeles. At just 27 years old, Pulisic has already made 84 appearances for the U.S. men's national team. He has averaged more goals per game than U.S. greats Clint Dempsey and Landon Donovan. Yet heading into Friday's opener, Pulisic, who ranks No. 79 on our Top 100 Players in the 2026 World Cup List, only has one goal for the USA since November 2024. If "Captain America" finds the back of the net against Paraguay, history suggests the United States will be in good shape. In fact, a goal would put Pulisic in exclusive company. He would join Dempsey, Donovan and former U.S. standout Brian McBride as the only Americans to score in multiple World Cups. In other words, if the U.S. wants to open tournament play with a victory, it needs its captain to deliver. "Set him up for success and it all rolls downhill after that," FOX Sports' Colin Cowherd said of Pulisic during a recent airing of "The Herd." "We've got other top players. Weston McKennie has been around. Sergiño Dest is very good. Tyler Adams is a tough guy. But it will all begin and end with Christian Pulisic." Former U.S. men's national team coach Bruce Arena agreed, emphasizing the importance of getting the Americans' top scorer involved early and leaving Los Angeles with three points. "Obviously, the starting point is to get three points tonight," Arena told Cowherd when asked what to expect from the U.S. during the World Cup. "If they do that, then they position themselves to win the group." A victory would put the United States in a strong position atop a Group D field that also includes Australia and Türkiye. Arena noted that winning the group could lead to a favorable Round of 32 matchup and potentially open a path to a deeper tournament run. "There are a lot of positives ahead, but it is critically important that we win tonight and position ourselves to win the group," Arena said. The U.S. is 5-2-2 all-time against Paraguay, including a 2-1 victory in the teams' most recent meeting last November. This marks the second World Cup matchup between the two sides, with the Americans winning the first meeting, 3-0. All eyes will be on Mauricio Pochettino's squad Friday night, especially Pulisic, whose importance to the Americans' success cannot be overstated. "If he has a goal or an assist, we are exceptional," Cowherd added. "If he doesn't score, we are slightly above average. "It's about players, not plays. That's all competition. This is easily our most talented squad. It will all come down to keeping Pulisic healthy."]]>
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					<![CDATA[Brazil vs. Morocco Prediction, Odds, Picks For World Cup Match]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/2026-world-cup-brazil-morocco-odds-prediction-picks</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/2026-world-cup-brazil-morocco-odds-prediction-picks</guid>
				<category>soccer</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Check out the odds for the Brazil vs. Morocco Group C matchup at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.]]>
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				<pubDate>Fri, 12 Jun 2026 18:13:27 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[Brazil and Morocco are set for a top-tier 2026 FIFA World Cup Group C showdown on June 13, 2026, at New York New Jersey Stadium on FOX. The last time the World Cup was held in the United States, Brazil lifted the trophy. That 1994 win gave them a then-record fourth title, and after adding another in 2002, they have more than any other nation. Brazil qualified for the World Cup by finishing fifth in the 10-team table in South American qualifying. However, if it weren't for the expanded format, Brazil would have been lingering in danger on a tough path via the intercontinental playoffs. The Seleção come into the tournament on fire, winning three straight friendlies against Croatia (3-1), Panama (6-2) and Egypt (2-1). However, Brazil will be without its all-time leading goalscorer as Neymar Jr. is out in this opening match. Morocco is coming off a historic breakthrough at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, where it finished fourth and defeated powerhouses Belgium and Portugal, while also earning a draw against Spain. They secured qualification for the 2026 World Cup by winning Group E of the CAF qualifying competition. Morocco finished with a perfect record, securing their spot with two matchdays to spare. The Atlas Lions also come into the tournament in great form, beating Burundi and Madagascar by a combined score of 9-0, before drawing a very solid Norway team 1-1 last Sunday. Can Morocco continue its World Cup brilliance from 2022? Or will Brazil get off to a great start in its chase for a sixth trophy? Let’s check out the odds for the Brazil vs. Morocco Group C matchup at FanDuel Sportsbook as of June 12. This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. Brazil vs. Morocco Odds Moneyline Spread Over/Under Total Odds: 2.5 Brazil vs. Morocco Prediction, Pick From FOX Sports Research: How to Watch Brazil vs. Morocco Let's take a look at some other bets for the match. Anytime Goalscorer Props Tie No Bet Both Teams to Score]]>
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					<![CDATA[2026 World Cup: Canada's Odds Fall After Opening Draw]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/2026-world-cup-odds-canada-les-rouges</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/2026-world-cup-odds-canada-les-rouges</guid>
				<category>soccer</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[See how Canada's odds were affected after its opening draw in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Fri, 12 Jun 2026 17:31:31 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[As one of three co-host nations, Canada's first 2026 FIFA World Cup match ended in a 1-1 draw against Bosnia and Herzegovina. After allowing an early goal in the 21st minute off a corner kick, Canada leveled the score with a 78th minute equalizer from Cyle Larin. While many thought Friday would finally be the day, Canada have still never won a FIFA Men's World Cup match. But it could have been much worse, as they were trailing for the majority of the match. With the draw, Canada's odds have only dropped slightly. Prior to the match, Canada had 200-1 odds to win the World Cup. That number has now fallen to 250-1. Additionally, its odds to win Group B have dropped from +180 to +240. The good news is that its odds to advance to the knockout round remained the same at -1000. After its opening draw vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina, here are the updated odds for how Canada will fare in this year's tournament as of June 12. This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. Team Canada — Stage of Elimination Last 32: +105 (bet $10 to win $20.50 total)Last 16: +210 (bet $10 to win $31 total)Group stage: +450 (bet $10 to win $55 total)Quarterfinals: +700 (bet $10 to win $80 total)Semifinals: +2500 (bet $10 to win $260 total)Runner-up: +8000 (bet $10 to win $810 total)Outright winner: +25000 (bet $10 to win $2,510 total) Canada to Qualify from Group B: -1000 (bet $10 to win $11 total) Canada Group B Winner: +240 (bet $10 to win $34 total) Canada Top Goalscorer (as of June 11) Jonathan David: +150 (bet $10 to win $25 total)Cyle Larin: +600 (bet $10 to win $70 total)Promise David: +1000 (bet $10 to win $110 total)Tani Oluwaseyi: +1100 (bet $10 to win $120 total)Alphonso Davies: +1200 (bet $10 to win $130 total)Tajon Buchanan: +1600 (bet $10 to win $170 total)Jacob Shaffelburg: +1800 (bet $10 to win $190 total)Nathan Saliba: +1800 (bet $10 to win $190 total) What to know: Canada has only qualified to play in the global event three times — 1986, 2022 and now 2026. While the Canadians ended a 36-year-long drought with their appearance in 2022, it was short-lived, as they got ousted in the group stage with a record of 0-0-3. They will look to build off their strong momentum from their fourth-place finish at the 2024 Copa América tournament. After recording its first ever men's World Cup point, Les Rouges will look to get in the win column in its remaining two group games against Qatar and Switzerland.]]>
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					<![CDATA[2026 World Cup: Mexico's Odds Surge After Opening Match Win Over South Africa]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/2026-world-cup-odds-mexico-win-over-south-africa</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/2026-world-cup-odds-mexico-win-over-south-africa</guid>
				<category>soccer</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[El Tri often makes the Round of 16 but fails to get past that point. Will the 2026 FIFA World Cup bring different results?]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Fri, 12 Jun 2026 17:15:02 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[As one of three host nations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, El Tri will look to make this summer its year to finally go deeper than the Round of 16. Mexico opened its World Cup campaign with a dominant 2-0 win over South Africa at Mexico City Stadium on Thursday. Julián Quiñones quickly got things started with a goal in the ninth minute, which was followed by Raúl Jiménez's first career World Cup goal in the 67th minute after a South Africa red card. Because of their ideal first result, Mexico has surged from +6500 to +4500 on the oddsboard to win the World Cup. They are now also -185 to win Group A, a major jump from the -140 number they were at before the tournament began. Just how big was Mexico's win over South Africa? El Tri now has a better chance of making the final than being eliminated in the group stage. Can they build off their opening match and make a deep run in this tournament? Let's check out the updated odds for Mexico as of June 12. This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. Team Mexico — Stage of Elimination Last 32: +130 (bet $10 to win $23 total)Last 16: +150 (bet $10 to win $25 total)Quarterfinals: +400 (bet $10 to win $50 total)Semifinals: +1200 (bet $10 to win $130 total)Runner-up: +2800 (bet $10 to win $290 total)Group stage: +4000 (bet $10 to win $410 total)Outright winner: +4500 (bet $10 to win $460 total) Mexico to Qualify from Group A: -10000 (bet $10 to win $10.10 total) Mexico Group A Winner: -185 (bet $10 to win $14.76 total) Mexico Top Goalscorer Raúl Jiménez: -115 (bet $10 to win $18.70 total)Julián Quiñones: +150 (bet $10 to win $25 total)Santiago Giménez: +1400 (bet $10 to win $150 total)Armando González: +1400 (bet $10 to win $150 total)Roberto Alvarado: +1800 (bet $10 to win $190 total)Guillermo Martínez: +2500 (bet $10 to win $260 total)Alexis Vega: +3000 (bet $10 to win $310 total)What to know: Mexico has made a habit of being in the running, but never really being in the running. Make sense? Consider this: El Tri made it out of the group stage in seven consecutive World Cups (1994-2018), but never made it past the Round of 16 in any of those years. In 2022, Mexico failed to make it out of the group stage, and it will look to get back to its winning ways in 2026, as it is heavily favored to win Group A after its opening win against South Africa. Mexico will face South Korea and the Czech Republic in its final two group games. Prior to the tournament, Jiménez was the clear favorite to lead Mexico in goals this summer at +220. Now, after his 67th minute header that found the back of the net vs. South Africa, he is -115. Quiñones, who many believe can be one of the breakout players of the tournament, has surged from +750 to 150 after his goal on Thursday.]]>
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					<![CDATA[Top 100 World Cup Moments, Ranked: Legends, Icons, And Memorable Games]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/world-cup-100-best-moments-messi-maradona-ronaldo-pele-mbappe-usa</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/world-cup-100-best-moments-messi-maradona-ronaldo-pele-mbappe-usa</guid>
				<category>soccer</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[The World Cup is defined by memorable moments. Counting down to the top 100 of all-time.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Fri, 12 Jun 2026 16:01:25 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[What comes to mind when you think of the top men's FIFA World Cup moments? It could be Diego Maradona carving through England's defense for the Goal of the Century. Or, a legend like Pelé or Lionel Messi raising the trophy up high into the sky. Or something more controversial, like Cristiano Ronaldo's wink after getting Wayne Rooney sent off. We counted down the most iconic, most controversial, most defining moments in tournament history. What ended up being the BEST moment? Relive them all, and especially the one that took our top spot. JUMP TO: 100-90 | 89-80 | 79-70 | 69-60 | 59-50 | 49-40 | 39-30 | 29-20 | 19-10 | 10-1 No. 100: Pure Control, Pure Class, Pure Messi In 2018, the pressure on Lionel Messi was building. Argentina's star captain had gone scoreless through two games, including a 3-0 loss to Croatia. He needed to do something against Nigeria. That's when the Messi magic appeared. Argentina went on to win the game and advance. An unbelievable first touch from Lionel Messi that saved Argentina. And while La Albiceleste were eliminated by eventual champions France in the round of 16, Messi's sublime goal was perhaps the best of the tournament. No. 99: Red Card for … Celebrating?! Vincent Aboubakar made history for Cameroon when he scored a game-winning goal against Brazil in 2022, the first time an African country had defeated the five-time champions in a World Cup setting. The problem was that he was then sent off for excessive celebration. The Indomitable Lions were still eliminated despite the win, with the Brazilians advancing to the knockout rounds. Nonetheless, it was punishment worth the moment of shirtless joy. It even seemed like the referee felt a bit bad for having to hand out that red card. No. 98: Cuauhtémoc Blanco Leaps Into History Trying to shake off around two defenders? You should think about trying this trademark move created by one of the greatest Mexican players to ever live. It was so nice, it's known throughout the world as the "Cuauhtemiña." At the 1998 World Cup, Cuauhtémoc Blanco clamped the ball between his feet did his best impression of a kangaroo by hopping between two South Korean defenders. It may not have produced a goal, but the player from el barrio bravo de Tepito produced a move that has immediately leaped into the hearts and minds of soccer fans since. No. 97: Klinsmann's Roundhouse Flick Long before he coached the United States men's national team at the 2014 World Cup, Jürgen Klinsmann scored a ton of goals for Germany, including this stunner against South Korea. Klinsmann, who four years earlier had helped his country win the World Cup for the third time, would turn what looked like a routine pass reception with his back to the goal into one of the most memorable goals of USA ‘94 with one swivel of his hips. No. 96: This Free Kick Changed USA Soccer History The U.S. men's national team hadn't made a splash at the World Cup in decades – but that all changed it the USA hosted the 1994 edition. It was thanks to a wonder-goal against Switzerland by the USA star Eric Wynalda. Wynalda's unstoppable, curling free kick just before the teams headed to the dressing rooms nearly blew the roof off the Silverdome in suburban Detroit. The match ended 1-1. That point, plus an upset win over Colombia a few days later, was enough to send the USA to the second round, where they took eventual champ Brazil to extra time before losing 1-0. No. 95: One Of the Best Opening Goals Ever In 2006, Germany legend Philipp Lahm scored one of the best opening goals to a World Cup ever. From a distance, Lahm (wearing a cast on his right arm following a recent injury) curled the ball perfectly into the top corner past Costa Rica keeper José Francisco Porras. Of course, it was even sweeter as the Germans were hosting the tournament with high hopes of winning it all on home soil. The hosts fell in the semifinals but Lahm's amazing technique and control on this goal in Munich will be one of the tournament's highlights. No. 94: A Volley For The Ages Tim Cahill is arguably Australia's best men's soccer player ever and that's due to his ability to score in big moments at the World Cup. That included this spectacular volley at the 2014 tournament in Brazil, where he showed his technique and ability against the Netherlands. A looping long pass from one side to the Porto Alegre pitch to the other, Cahill one-timed the shot into the net at the perfect angle as the ball kissed the underside of the bar. A stellar goal followed by his trademark fighting-the-corner-flag celebration. No. 93: This Rule Proved Too Cruel A new rule was introduced in the 1998 World Cup round of 16: Golden Goal. Score in extra time, and it’s over. Hosts France were deadlocked with Paraguay at 0-0 going into extra time in their round of 16 matchup at Lens. The ball found Laurent Blanc at the edge of the six-yard box, and he buried it to end the match at 1-0. France advanced; Paraguay was eliminated on the spot. France went on to win it all, but it would be one of the final few countries to benefit from the cruel rule, as it was scrapped altogether six years later. No. 92: First Back-to-Back Champs It didn't take long for the World Cup to have its first dynasty. After lifting the trophy on home soil at the second-ever World Cup in 1934, Italy did it again at France 1938, stamping its legacy forever. Italy might not be the most famous repeat World Cup champions of all time, but it will go down in history as the first. No. 91: A Goal That Deserved A Happier Ending Archie Gemmill’s wonder goal for Scotland in the 1978 FIFA World Cup would have sent them to the knockout stage if they hadn’t fallen short on goal difference against the Netherlands. Gemmill had Scottish fans dreaming of an upset against one of the world's best sides. In the 68th minute, the diminutive midfielder danced away from three Dutch defenders before lobbing a left-footed finish over the keeper Jan Jongbloed. With a two-goal lead, it seemed Scotland would advance. But it was to no avail as the Dutch scored minutes later, leaving the heartbroken Scots wondering what could have been. Instead, the Netherlands advanced on goal-difference and would go on to make a second consecutive World Cup final appearance. No. 90: The Ultimate Team Goal 25 passes. Nine players. One iconic goal for Argentina. At the 2006 World Cup (the first one in which Lionel Messi appeared), Argentina faced a stern test against Serbia in the group stage. It was one of those games where the underdogs knew they would have to be sharp on defense to keep a far more talented Argentina side at bay. Except it didn't work that way, and Argentina pounced from the get-go with an early goal in the sixth minute by Maxi Rodriguez. And that's when the Albiceleste magic took over. In the 31st minute, a patient ballet of teamwork that involved a combination of on-target passes led to Hernán Crespo looping a ball to early-match substitute Esteban Cambiasso. Goal, Argentina. Four more followed – including Messi's first ever at a World Cup.  But Cambiasso's strike stood above all that day. No. 89: A Controversial Goal Affects Three Teams One of the toughest groups at the 2022 World Cup featured Germany (four-time champions), Spain (2010 champions), always talented Japan, and feisty Costa Rica. So you knew that this group was going to have some fireworks. That happened on the final matchday. Germany facing Costa Rica and Japan taking on Spain with all four teams having hope of advancing. At halftime of both matches, it seemed like Spain and Germany would advance, while Japan and Costa Rica would go home. But the script was then ripped apart. In the 51st minute of the Japan-Spain game, Kaoru Mitoma chases the ball down — it looks out. But he crosses it to Ao Tanaka, who scores off an improbable angle. VAR says the ball remained in play by the slimmest of margins. The goal stands. Japan topped the group. Spain also advanced. Germany was eliminated despite beating Costa Rica. Joy and heartbreak all around. No. 88: Three Yellow Cards And One Red-Faced Referee Soccer is known for its simplicity of rules when compared to other major sports. And one of the most well-known rules is that when you get two yellow cards, that equates to a red card and therefore an automatic dismissal from the game. Which is why an error by England official Graham Poll at the 2006 World Cup was so memorable. Poll had shown Croatia's Josip Šimunić two yellow cards in the group-stage finale against Australia, but the player inexplicably stayed on. Only until a third card was shown to Šimunić that the defender actually left the pitch. It was the last World Cup game Poll ever worked as he asked not to be considered for future tournaments on account of his unforgettable mistake. No. 87: Matador Magic! A Star Rises For Mexico at France '98 When your nickname is "El Matador," you better have a killer instinct in front of the net. Luis Hernandez had that and then some as a star striker for Mexico at the 1998 World Cup. By beating South Korea and tying Belgium in their first two group stage games at France ‘98, Mexico appeared well-positioned to progress to the knockout rounds. Still, advancing was not guaranteed. And with the Netherlands looming in their final first-round match, the nerves of El Tri fans were, understandably, frayed. They stayed that way until almost the last kick of the ball. Mexico was losing 2-1 to the Dutch as the contest entered stoppage time. In the other Group E finale being played simultaneously, the Koreans and Belgians were tied. If El Tri lost and Belgium managed to score a late winner, they’d advance at Mexico’s expense. Hernandez, with his trademark flowing blonde hairstyle, wasn’t about to leave anything to chance. Instead of relying on another result, the striker known as "El Matador" pounced on a botched clearance in the box by Dutch center back Jaap Stam and stabbed the ball into the net. The goal pulled Mexico level in the 94th minute. When the final whistle blew moments later, Mexico was en route to the round of 16. No. 86: Hungary's Record Scoreline El Salvador was desperate to produce a respectable showing in just its second tournament appearance, having lost all three of their games and failing to score a goal at the 1970 event. But a lack of funding meant they took just 20 players, two short of the roster limit, and were the last team to arrive for competition. Add in an overly aggressive gameplan from young coach Mauricio "Pipo" Rodriguez, and the result was a 10-1 loss to Hungary in their opener. It remains the most lopsided scoreline in World Cup history. The performance was so humiliating that when ES forward Luis Ramírez Zapata scored to make it 5-1, some of his teammates implored him to tone down his celebration, lest he make the Hungarians angry. Maybe he did; László Kiss came off the bench to score a seven-minute hat trick (also a record) and Hungary added two more goals before the final whistle to complete the rout. No. 85: Bulgaria's Superstar Takes Over Summer of '94 Bulgaria were considered an afterthought. But one man made sure the world remembered them. At the 1994 World Cup, Hristo Stoichkov couldn't be stopped. After converting two penalties against Greece, the Barcelona legend scored against Argentina to secure a place in the knockout round. Then, the magic really started. In the Round of 16, Stoichkov bagged a 6th minute goal, as Bulgaria took down Mexico on penalties. Next came defending champions Germany. Trailing 1-0 in the 75th minute, he and Yordan Letchkov scored three minutes apart for the win. Stoichkov and Bulgaria would ultimately lose in the semifinals, but it was truly an unforgettable run. No. 84: No Era Penal Mexico benefited from some good fortune just to make it to Brazil 2014 — if not for a late goal by their archrival United States versus Panama, El Tri would've failed to qualify out of CONCACAF — but there they were, just moments away from finally reaching the elusive quinto partido, or fifth game, at a World Cup. Then their luck ran out. With just two minutes of the 90 to play, the Dutch made it 1-1 through Wesley Sneijder. Mexico captain Rafa Márquez was then whistled for tripping Arjen Robben inside the penalty box deep into second-half stoppage time. Replays showed that Robben had theatrically embellished the contact, if there was any at all. It wasn't a penalty. That didn't matter. VAR was still four years away from its World Cup debut. Without video review, the call on the field stood, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar scored from the spot, and Mexico were eliminated in the round of 16 for the sixth straight tournament. No. 83: Sneijder Stands Tall in Dutch Rally At 5-foot-7, Wesley Sneijder was never an imposing figure for the Netherlands. But he knew how to rise in big moments, such as his standout two-goal performance against Brazil in the 2010 World Cup quarterfinals. The Brazilians were up early on Robinho's goal in the quarterfinal match, playing about as sound as anyone else in the tournament. But then the Dutch took over. Sneijder first had a deep wide cross that seemingly floated forever and slipped past Brazil keeper Julio Cesar's punchout before skimming off Felipe Melo’s head and into the net. Then it was the diminutive dynamo who scored again to complete the comeback, sneaking through the penalty area and finding space for an improbable header. Even he couldn't believe it, grasping his forehead in delight. But it's the win that kept the Netherlands marching on and eventually reaching the final. No. 82: No Option For Zaire In Loss To Brazil Zaire’s qualification for the 1974 World Cup was a watershed moment for the country. They were the first team from sub-Saharan Africa to make it, and just the third from that continent overall. But what should have been a joyous tournament for Zaire's players turned sinister. After losing their opener 2-0 to Scotland, the players were informed that they wouldn’t be paid their World Cup bonuses. They intended to boycott their next match, against Yugoslavia, but relented after threats from the country’s president, dictator Mobutu Sese Seko. Following a 9-0 loss — tied for the most one-sided scoreline in World Cup history — Mobutu told the team not to bother coming home if they lost to Brazil by more than four goals. So, down three late in the game, Zaire’s Mwepu Ilunga raced from the defensive wall and booted the ball down the field. He was yellow-carded for time-wasting, but it was worth it: Brazil didn’t score again, and the match finished 3-0. A lackluster but perhaps life-saving performance for a country who are now trying to qualify in 2026 – this time with hopes of a better outcome. No. 81: South Korea Saves Mexico; Germany Hopes Dashed "¡Coreano! Hermano! Ya eres mexicano!" At the 2018 World Cup, this is how Son Heung-min and South Korea ousted the defending champions and helped out a very grateful Mexico squad. Despite losing to Mexico in their opening match, 2014 tournament winners Germany liked their odds of reaching the knockout stage at the 2018 edition in Russia. All the Germans had to do was beat South Korea by two goals to guarantee a spot in the business end of the competition. As expected, Die Mannschaft dominated the Taeguk Warriors through nearly 90 minutes, but the match was still scoreless. Germany was desperate and pushed as many players as possible forward. Then South Korea pounced on the opportunity as Kim Young-gwon first scored. It was then Son who sealed the whole group's fate with a second goal as time wound down. That meant Germany was out. Mexico, despite getting pummeled by group winners Sweden, were also advancing. A sigh of relief for El Tri fans, who gratefully serenaded Korean players and fans in Russia – and even held celebrations outside of South Korea's diplomatic offices across Mexico. No. 80: Did He Really Mean To Score That Goal? The old saying is that you can make your own luck. And this memorable goal by Maicon, which defied odds and angles, is an example of that. In the summer of 2010, the Brazilian right-back was at his absolute peak. A Treble-winning elite defender for Inter Milan and a stalwart for his country at the summer's World Cup. And it was against North Korea that Maicon produced his signature moment continues to be debated. As Maicon barreled down the flank and into the 18-yard box and caught up to a pinpoint pass by Elano, he powered a shot that whizzed behind keeper Ri Myong-guk and into the net on the tightest of angles. It seemed that Maicon was trying to actually cross to Luis Fabiano, but instead did the job himself. A celebration followed that seemed more relief than joy, and one of the best "Did he mean to do that?" moments in soccer lore was born. No. 79: USA's Pulisic Delivers a Winner The United States men's national team faced immense pressure to make it out of a tough Group B at the 2022 FIFA World Cup after failing to qualify for Russia 2018. The problem? It only managed two points after its matchups with Wales and England. With the U.S. in desperate need of three points in its final group stage match against Iran, Christian Pulisic put his body on the line to get his team on the board, diving in front of a cross to beat the two defenders marking him and colliding with Iran goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand in the process. This goal sent the U.S. through — and gave Christian Pulisic his World Cup moment. In the 2022 World Cup Group Stage, the United States needed a win to advance. In the 38th minute, Weston McKennie sent in a cross Pulisic was forced off as a result of the collision, but his goal ended up being the difference for the U.S. as it advanced to the round of 16 with a 1-0 win and three much-needed points. No. 78: Richarlison's Wonder Goal Brazil entered the 2022 FIFA World Cup as one of the favorites to go the distance, and that hype only got louder after Richarlison's master class in the Seleção's group stage opener against Serbia. After failing to score in the first half, Richarlison scored a second-half brace, and his second goal will go down as one of the most skillful goals in World Cup history. Richarlison volleyed a cross from Vinicius Junior in the air to himself and scored with an acrobatic scissor kick. Brazil would ultimately bow out of the tournament in the quarterfinals, but it made its mark on the tournament thanks to Richarlison. No. 77: Don't Count Out Dempsey and the USA At the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, the soccer gods did the United States no favors. A group stage that included tournament heavyweights Germany, a Cristiano Ronaldo-led Portugal squad, and Ghana (the team that had ousted the USA in two straight World Cups). Pundits had written off the USA even before the team reached the tournament, thinking there would be no way coach Jurgen Klinnsman's squad would survive a tough group. Against Ghana, Clint Dempsey scored the fastest World Cup goal in USA history. Ghana equalized before John Brooks rose to the occasion and netted a header for the dramatic game-winner. Against Portugal, Jermaine Jones smashed a stunner that was mooted after Ronaldo's last-second equalizer. A loss to Germany still saw the USA advance into the knockout stage thanks to a goal differential over Portugal. With tough-as-nails playmakers such as Dempsey, Jones and keeper Tim Howard, this USA squad proved a lot of folk wrong. No. 76: Sunday Oliseh's screamer vs. Spain There's something to be said for sheer power. Pretty passing sequences and deftly placed shots are nice and all, but sometimes you don't want to watch the lock get picked — you want to see a ball hit with enough force to blow the entire house down. That's what Sunday Oliseh gave us in Nigeria's first match of the 1998 World Cup. The defensive midfielder wasn't known for scoring — he managed only one other goal in 53 international appearances — but he knew what to do when a Spain clearance fell to him 30 yards from goal with about 12 minutes remaining in the game. Fernando Hierro and Raul scored for Spain on either side of halftime, but Nigeria equalized twice. With time running short, Hierro cleared a Super Eagles throw-in deep in his own end. Oliseh caught it on the half-volley and thundered a low strike just inside the post past stunned La Roja backstop Andoni Zubizarreta. The kick couldn't have been more ferocious. Not only was it enough to give Nigeria the win, but it also helped propel them to the top of Group D. Spain, meanwhile, failed to survive the group stage. Talk about a powerful shot. No. 75: Van Bronckhorst's Blast Giovanni van Bronckhorst wasn’t known as a scorer throughout his long and decorated international career for the Netherlands, for good reason. In 106 appearances with the Oranje, the outside back managed just six goals. And at age 35 in 2010, many wondered if the veteran would even crack Dutch coach Bert van Marwijk’s final 23-man roster for the tournament in South Africa. Van Bronckhorst didn’t just make it, he was named captain. And in the semifinal against Uruguay, he opened the scoring with an audacious, 40-yard, left-footed strike that grazed diving La Celeste keeper Fernando Muslera’s fingertips and kissed the inside of the far post before settling into the net. The only World Cup goal Van Bronckhorst ever scored helped send his country to the title match for the third time, and it remains among the most spectacular in tournament history. No. 74: Five Goals in One Game! Salenko Makes History You’ve heard of a hat trick. But what about a Salenko?When you score five goals in a single game, you’re worthy of having the feat named after you. At the 1994 World Cup, Russian striker Oleg Salenko found the net five times in a 6-1, group stage victory over Cameroon.The win wasn’t enough to help the Russians reach the knockout stage, but Salenko’s record-setting day did go a long way toward him becoming the only player in World Cup history to win the Golden Boot as top scorer despite only participating in the first round.Salenko also scored from the penalty spot against Sweden to finish USA ‘94 with six goals, the same number as Bulgarian striker Hristo Stoichkov, with whom he shared the award. Not bad for a guy who played in four fewer matches. No. 73: Rivaldo’s Oscar-Worthy Diving Performance We all know soccer stars have a penchant for the dramatic. But Brazilian legend Rivaldo may take the Oscar for an all-time acting performance for his inexplicable dive at the 2002 World Cup.During a group stage match, Turkiye's Hakan Ünsal, annoyed that Rivaldo was taking his sweet time preparing to take a corner kick, booted the ball off the Brazilian’s legs. Rivaldo collapsed and began rolling on the turf holding not his thigh — but his face.Ünsal was shown a red card and the ridicule against Rivaldo began. In an era before social media, the video went viral and shown over sports and news and late-night shows alike across the globe. Rivaldo was fined (but not suspended) by FIFA but he also got the last laugh — Brazil won its fifth (and its most recent) World Cup title. No 72: Rooney’s Red and Ronaldo’s Wink A heated moment at the world’s biggest stage between two World Cup heavyweights involved a pair of Manchester United superstar teammates.Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney were among the faces of global soccer at the 2006 World Cup. So, when England and Portugal were pitted in the quarterfinals, the world knew sparks would fly.In the second half, Rooney stamped on Portugal’s Ricardo Carvalho and the referee reached for red. Ronaldo had been pleading to the ref that his Man United teammate should be sent off, and that’s when the cameras caught it: a sly, almost celebratory wink toward the Portugal bench right after Rooney’s dismissal.Portugal would survive on penalties as Ronaldo scores the decider. England’s dream of a World Cup title ends. And that wink — love it or hate it — becomes a defining, unforgettable and controversial moments in World Cup history. No 71: Kuwait's Princely Protest On a list of most bizarre World Cup moments, this would have to be near the top. At the 1982 event in Spain, first time qualifier Kuwait had just gone 4-1 down to France with 10 minutes left in their group stage match. Inside the stadium, Kuwaiti Prince Fahad Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah took exception, contending that a whistle from the crowd sounded before Les Bleus scored their fourth goal, causing Kuwait’s players to stop defending thinking Soviet referee Myroslav Stupar had halted the game. The Prince strode onto the field and threatened to pull his country’s players off of it if the ref didn’t reverse his decision — which he did! But France scored again anyway to restore the lopsided victory. The Prince was later fined by FIFA, and Stupar never worked a World Cup match again. Kuwait were eliminated in their final first round match, a 1-0 loss to England. They haven’t been back to a World Cup since. No. 70: The 'Saudi Maradona' Diego Maradona wasn’t the only player to dribble through an entire team and score at a World Cup. And if we’re being fair, the incredible solo goal Saeed Al-Owairan managed to pull off for Saudi Arabia at USA ‘94 was every bit as pretty. Al-Owairan’s run and finish didn’t come in the knockout stage, as Maradona’s slalom had eight years earlier. It didn’t come against England or any other former champion. It began deeper in his own half, though, and he beat one more would-be defenders. And while the Argentine legend picked the lock by calmly rolling the ball home after rounding keeper Peter Shilton, Al-Owairan blasted the door down with a ferocious shot past Belgian netminder Michel Preud'homme. The goal was meaningful, too. Not only did Al-Owairan’s unforgettable strike give Saudi Arabia a 1-0 win, it also sealed their passage to the second round — the only time the country has survived group play. No. 69: The Goal that Saved Germany This goal gave Germany hope — at least for one more game. On the brink of elimination in the group stage at Russia 2018, defending champions Germany were awarded a free kick from just outside the box in the 95th minute. Kroos lined the ball up from a difficult angle and curled the ball into the top left corner of the goal. Germany lives to see another day. Unfortunately for Germany, it only delayed the inevitable. Days later, Germany lost to South Korea and crashed out of the group. A masterpiece in a World Cup that ultimately slipped away. No. 68: Soccer in the USA, Changed Forever In 1994, the United States hosted the World Cup, marking just the second time ever a North American country had hosted the tournament. Across stadiums known for Super Bowls and college football games, more than 3.5 million people attended the tournament with an average of nearly 69,000 spectators per match. It's still the most attended World Cup of all-time. The USA would lose in the Round of 16 to eventual champion Brazil, but the landscape of American soccer was forever changed. A new men’s professional league, Major League Soccer, would be founded two years after the tournament. Stateside soccer fans began to wake up early on the weekends and follow the heroics of European teams and leagues. Soccer truly became part of the sports mindset in this country. Now it’s 2026 and the World Cup is returning to the U.S., co-hosted alongside Mexico and Canada. In many ways, it’s a bookend for the growth of the sport here in the country. But in others, it’s the beginning of a new chapter, with this generation now getting to see up close and personal the greatest sporting event in their own backyard. No. 67: Argentina Sends Mexico Home TWICE! Losing to the same opponent in the same stage in consecutive World Cups can definitely leave fans salty. Which is why a lot of Mexico fans don’t have much love for Argentina. In 2006, Mexican fans could be forgiven for thinking that maybe this was the year their team would advance to the quarterfinals for the first time away from home soil. Argentina and Maxi Rodriguez had other ideas. With the game tied 1-1 and halfway through the first additional 15-minute period, Rodriguez volleyed a curling shot past the outstretched glove of goalkeeper Oswaldo Sanchez and into the side netting. The supernaturally beautiful strike was enough to send Argentina into the last eight. To nobody’s surprise, it was also named the goal of the tournament. Four years later and with the legendary Diego Maradona in charge, Carlos Tevez became the hero (or the culprit) in Argentina’s round-of-16 win over Mexico with a long-range golazo in a 3-1 win in which he scored twice. Same opponent. Same round. Two unforgettable goals. Mexico’s quest of reaching a quarterfinal at a non-hosted World Cup continues to this day. Will that change this summer? No. 66: David Villa Fuels Spain's First World Cup There was a time when Spain memorized the soccer world its midfield mastery, playmaking prowess and incredible chemistry. It led to a golden era for La Roja in which the team won three major titles – the 2008 Euro, the 2010 World Cup, and the 2012 Euro – in a span of four years. The 2010 squad in South Africa was incredibly special and one man provided the scoring prowess that its trademark possession-based system (often labeled as tiki-taka) to make it all click. David Villa scored five of Spain's eight goals at the tournament, and added one assist. He finished as the joint top goalscorer of the tournament along with Thomas Muller, but the German star won the Golden Shoe due to having more assists. No matter. David Villa lifted the hardware that mattered. Villa remains Spain's top goalscorer. No. 65: Diego Forlán’s Mastery of the Infamous ‘Jabulani’ Ball The beauty of each World Cup is how each edition weaves in the traditions and characteristics of the host nations. That’s especially true when the official ball is unveiled. At the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, the Jabulani ball was noted for some of its aerodynamic quirks when in flight. Decorated with African-inspired designs with the name from a Zulu phrase of "be happy," it symbolized South Africa’s culture and remains among the most iconic World Cup balls. It was also hard for some of the players to control it. It floated and dipped and knuckled in all sorts of ways. But one player is arguably synonymous with the ball — Diego Forlán. The Uruguayan striker helped his team reach the World Cup semifinals, the deepest run they since winning its second title in 1950. And while Uruguay failed to reach the final, it was the third-place match against Germany that Forlán scored the goal of the tournament. Five goals overall. Golden Ball winner. In a World Cup featuring a unique ball, Diego Forlán mastered the one thing no one else could. No. 64: The Best Team Ever … To NOT Win a World Cup? The Brazil national football team of 1982 were absolute artists. Led by the elegance of Zico, the intelligence of Sócrates, and the rhythm of Falcão, this team moved like music — fluid, fearless, and beautiful. Every pass had purpose, every attack felt inevitable. Nonetheless, the ultimate objective of winning a World Cup (and one without the legendary Pelé) ultimately fell short during that summer in Spain. But this team will be remembered for being as talented – if not more – than teams that have won the whole thing. Brazil steamrolled its group stage competition against the USSR, Scotland and New Zealand by an aggregate total of 10 goals to 2. In the second phase of the tournament, the Brazilians dominated its fierce rivals Argentina (led by Maradona) before losing an epic 3-2 thriller to eventual champions Italy. No. 63: The Best Team Ever … To NOT Win a World Cup? The pressure was on the host nation in the opening match of the 2010 World Cup. South Africa had both the privilege and responsibility of hosting the tournament's first game on African soil, but fans across the continent feared the worst. There were questions about whether the team affectionally known as Bafana Bafana — which got an automatic berth as the home team — could compete with the best in the sport. South Africa had won just one of its six outings over its two previous World Cup appearances, in 1998 and 2002, and the country had failed to qualify for the 2006 event. In other words, the pressure was on. So when Siphiwe Tshabalala hit a long-range missile past Mexican goalkeeper Oscar Perez and into the very top corner of the net in front of a packed stadium in Johannesburg, the entire continent erupted. It turned out to be the high point for the hosts, who conceded a late equalizer to El Tri and eventually became just one of two home sides not to qualify for the knockout stage (Qatar also failed in 2022). But Tshabalala's effort will forever live on. No. 62: Beckham Bends It to Save England David Beckham's time at the 1998 FIFA World Cup will forever be overshadowed by the red card he received in England's Round of 16 matchup with Argentina — so much so that many forget that he was actually the Three Lions' saving grace in the group stage of the tournament. In 1998, Beckham was on the cusp of soccer superstardom and just becoming a global icon we now know him for. With England facing elimination in its final group stage match against Colombia, England coach Glenn Hoddle gave into the pressure to play Beckham after sitting his young star in the first two group stage matches. Beckham proved himself to his skeptic coach by scoring his first international goal for England and doubling England's lead over Colombia. England went on to win the match 2-0 and advanced as the runner-up in Group G behind Romania. And that ubiquitous term "Bend it like Beckham" began to filtrate across the world. No. 61: Biggest Robbery Ever? USA Not Awarded A Handball The United States men’s national team could have made the 2002 FIFA World Cup final. In fact, they should have at least made the semifinals. And yet, they didn’t. Why? An obvious handball that wasn’t called in the quarterfinal against Germany. Arguably the most controversial moment involving the USA at any World Cup tournament. In 2002, the USA was primed for a run at the tourney co-hosted by South Korea and Japan. Led by a young core that included emerging talented duo Landon Donovan and Brian McBride, the USA defeated Portugal 3-2 and finished runner-up to group winners South Korea. In the Round of 16, they recorded a 2-0 victory over rivals Mexico behind goals from McBride and Donovan. Next, it was on to the quarterfinal against powerhouse Germany. Michael Ballack got the Germans out to an early 1-0 lead in the 39th minute. The Americans responded with several attacking plays to start the second half. - What if … the USA had been awarded THAT handball? But in the 50th minute, everything changed. Off a corner kick by Donovan, the ball landed to a wide-open Gregg Berhalter, who took a shot at goal from just a few yards out. German keeper Oliver Kahn was able to barely save the shot, but the ball would bounce off midfielder Torsten Fring' arm. Immediately, USA players began clamoring for a handball, and when the replay was shown — it was clear as day. However, referee Hugh Dallas didn't call it. And with VAR not yet in existence, the call was irreversible. Had it been called, the USA would have been awarded a penalty kick, and Frings would have been sent off, and the Stars and Stripes would have kept the momentum against a 10-man German side. Germany survived and eventually made it to the final, where they would fall to Brazil. As for the Americans? It remains the biggest "what if" moment in its soccer history. No. 60: Senegal Roars Into the Limelight In the 2002 FIFA World Cup, Senegal came with little to no expectations. But, after a shocking win against defending champions France, The Lions of Teranga wrote a Cinderella story like no other. France, also the reigning European titleholders at the time, probably had a more talented team than the one they fielded during their triumphant run to the trophy four years prior. They were significantly more experienced. Senegal, by contrast, were participating in their first World Cup. The former French colony took a 30th minute lead on a goal by the wonderfully-named Papa Bouba Diop, who shot the ball while in a seated position. Senegal rode the momentum generated by their tournament-opening victory all the way to the quarterfinals. As for Les Bleus? Not only did France also fail to win either of their next two games, they exited the competition after the group stage without having managed a single goal. No. 59: David Luiz Caps Off Goal With Karate-Kick Celebration When Brazil hosted the 2014 World Cup, the whole event felt like one never-ending party. And the host team, fully aware of the pressures and expectations on their shoulders, needed to put on a show.The quarterfinals saw Brazil take on South American rivals Colombia, a squad that became one of the darlings of the tournament behind star midfielder James Rodriguez. But the Brazilians weren’t going to back down. And one of its most vocal leaders, defender David Luiz, ensured they’d keep the run going with a stunning second-half free-kick goal from 40 yards out that effectively sealed the game.Equally memorable as his knuckle-balling goal that befuddled Colombia keeper David Ospina was Luiz’s celebration, not to mention his signature locks of bouncing curly hair. As the goal sailed into the net, Luiz feverishly ran and karate-kicked the corner flag as his teammates joyously mobbed him.A moment that felt like Brazil’s last hurrah of the tournament. Captain Thiago Silva would be forced to miss the semifinal match against Germany for yellow card accumulation. Superstar Neymar suffered a devastating back injury that also kept him out of the semifinal. How did that turn out? We’ll get to that soon enough. No. 58: An Unlikely Hero in France's 2018 Run During the 2018 Round of 16, France was trailing Argentina by a goal and were in danger of being eliminated. After letting an early lead slip away, Les Bleus needed to keep up with La Albiceleste’s firepower and an unassuming hero stepped up. Just before the hour mark, French defender Lucas Hernandez sent over a cross that took a pair of bounces before landing in front of teammate Benjamin Pavard, who had never scored an international goal up to this point in his career. Pavard would hit a half-volley with his right foot, which created a top-spin effect that sent the ball swerving into the top-left corner, far beyond reach of Argentinian goalkeeper Franco Armani. The goal would flip the momentum back on France’s side as a then 19-year-old Kylian Mbappe scored twice in a four-minute span to give his country the lead and eventually a 4-3 victory. Pavard’s goal would later be voted as the goal of the tournament as France went on to defeat Uruguay, Belgium, and Croatia to lift the nation’s second World Cup Trophy. No. 57: 16 Yellow Cards and 4 Reds? The ‘Battle of Nuremberg’ No match in World Cup history has seen more cards given out. Portugal and Netherlands turned this 2006 Round of 16 clash into a record-breaking foul fest. By the time the final whistle blew, referees had shown 16 yellow cards and 4 reds, both World Cup records that still stand today. A 21-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo left early due to injury in tears. Luis Figo connected with a headbutt. Players argued, pushed, and collided for 90 minutes. In the midst of all the chaos, Maniche scored the lone goal in the 23rd. Portugal won 1-0 and advanced. But the scoreline was almost an afterthought. The "Battle of Nuremberg" remains the most ill-tempered match the World Cup has ever seen. No. 56: Italy Upset By North Korea at 1966 World Cup The most unlikely World Cup upset is not Saudi Arabia defeating Argentina in Qatar in 2022. That honor actually belongs to North Korea, who stunned Italy during the 1966 World Cup in England, the only country other than Brazil with multiple world titles to that point. The newcomers' prospects looked grim after a 3-0 loss to the Soviet Union and a 1-1 draw with Chile, leaving them as massive underdogs for their final group match in Middlesbrough. However, the unthinkable happened when Pak Doo-ik scored just before halftime. North Korea's defense held firm, securing a 1-0 victory that eliminated the Italians and made North Korea the first Asian team to reach the knockout stage. They nearly repeated the miracle in the quarterfinals, racing to a 3-0 lead against Portugal before eventually collapsing in a 5-3 loss. North Korea didn’t qualify again for 44 years and is still chasing its second tournament win. No. 55: Saudi Arabia's Upset Over Argentina Stunned the World We all remember how the 2022 World Cup ended, with Lionel Messi lifting the trophy for Argentina after the insane win over France in the final at Qatar's Lusail Stadium. But do you recall how Argentina's World Cup campaign started at that very same stadium only weeks before? What was supposed to be a routine group-stage opener against a less heralded Saudi Arabian side turned into one of the most memorable upsets ever at the World Cup. Messi even had his team up by a goal early thanks to a penalty, but two second-half goals saw the Saudis rally and get the win. Salem Al Dawsari's eventual game-winner was one of the tournament's most memorable goals, and included his iconic celebration flip. The result was a wakeup call for one of the tournament favorites. One that they would bounce back and eventually make their way to the final. As for the Saudis? They became overnight legends with the country even declaring a holiday for their Green Falcon heroes. No. 54: Ronaldinho's Fantastic Free Kick Whether it was a calculated masterpiece or a fortunate fluke, Ronaldinho’s epic 50-yard free kick against England in the 2002 quarterfinals remains one of the World Cup’s best goals in the tournament’s history. After Michael Owen and Rivaldo traded first-half goals, Brazil earned a set piece deep in midfield five minutes after the break. Expecting a routine cross, England goalkeeper David Seaman drifted off his line. Instead, Ronaldinho lofted a daring strike that sailed over the backpedaling keeper and tucked neatly under the crossbar. The goal secured a 2–1 lead that Brazil never relinquished, sending one step closer toward their record fifth world title. Regardless of whether it was intended to be a shot or cross, the audacity of the strike solidified Ronaldinho’s legend in football history. No. 53: Never Doubt Cristiano Ronaldo On the second day of the 2018 World Cup, Cristiano Ronaldo delivered a performance for the ages, netting a legendary hat trick to rescue a 3–3 draw against rivals Spain. This clash of titans became an instant classic, fueled entirely by Ronaldo’s individual brilliance. He opened the scoring early with a composed penalty and restored Portugal’s lead before halftime with a powerful strike that slipped through David de Gea’s grasp. After Spain surged ahead 3–2, the stage was set for a final act of heroics. In the dying minutes, Portugal earned a free kick at the edge of the box. With the world watching, Ronaldo curled a sublime, dipping shot around the wall and into the top corner. De Gea didn't even move. This stunning equalizer completed his hat trick, making him the oldest player to score three goals in a World Cup match and cementing this masterclass as an all-time tournament highlight. No. 52: When Ronaldo Became King The 2006 World Cup in Germany served as the ultimate stage for Ronaldo Nazário to cement his status as football’s premier "O Fenômeno." Entering the tournament just behind the legendary Gerd Müller’s long-standing record of 14 goals, the Brazilian striker carried the weight of historical expectation on his shoulders. The record-breaking moment arrived in the Round of 16 against Ghana. In typical R9 fashion, he timed a clinical run to perfection, immobilized the goalkeeper with a signature step-over, and slotted the ball into the net. This 15th career World Cup goal officially moved him past Müller, establishing a new benchmark that would stand for eight years. While Miroslav Klose eventually surpassed this total in 2014, Ronaldo’s achievement remains a pinnacle of sporting excellence. It wasn't just about the volume of goals, but the artistry and dominance he displayed across three different tournaments cemented his legacy as one of the greatest strikers to ever step foot on the pitch. No. 51: Croatia's Insane Run For generations, the World Cup final was an exclusive club. Between 1978 and 2014, every championship match featured previous finalists, with no new nation reaching the ultimate stage since 1974. In 2018, Croatia decided to crash the party. Led by Luka Modric, they defied the "usual suspects" narrative to become the second-smallest nation ever to reach the final. While their path through Denmark, Russia, and England was arguably smoother than France’s gauntlet against powerhouses like Argentina and Belgium, their ascent wasn't a total fluke as Croatia previously secured a third-place finish in 1998. Ultimately, France claimed the trophy in a 4-2 thriller, but by ending a 44-year drought for first-time finalists, the "Vatreni" proved that the sports world's most prestigious stage was no longer reserved solely for the traditional powers. No. 50: Best Mexico Goal Ever Manuel Negrete’s iconic goal against Bulgaria in 1986 is a cornerstone of World Cup history. In front of over 114,000 fans at the Estadio Azteca, the Mexican midfielder played a quick one-two with current national team head coach Javier Aguirre before launching into a sideways scissor kick, beating the Bulgarian keeper without the ball ever touching the ground. The goal paved the way for a 2-0 victory, sending Mexico to the quarterfinals for only the second time in their history. Mexico has not returned to that stage in the decades since, but the goal’s reputation has never faded. In 2018, a global FIFA fan vote officially recognized the strike as the greatest goal in the tournament's history. Negrete’s effort remains a definitive highlight of the 1986 tournament, perfectly capturing a rare moment of home-nation triumph while marking the last time Mexico reached the quarterfinals or as fans famously refer to it, "el quinto partido." No. 49: Heartbreak for Maradona History refused to repeat itself during the 1990 World Cup. Four years after Diego Maradona hoisted the trophy in Mexico City, he returned to the final seeking a historic back-to-back title. However, Rome offered no encore for the Argentine captain. Instead, it provided the opportunity for West German revenge. The match reflected the tournament’s broader tactical issues, defined by the lowest goals per game average at any World Cup. In response, FIFA implemented a pair of rule changes for future editions of the tournament, adding an extra point for wins to reward offensive play and preventing goalkeepers from collecting back-passes with their hands. For the first time in World Cup history, a team was held scoreless in the final, Argentina also became the first defending champion to reach the final, only to leave as runners-up. The stalemate finally ended in the 85th minute when Andreas Brehme slotted home a clinical penalty. As the whistle blew on a 1-0 victory, Maradona’s dream of a repeat vanished, replaced by the sight of West Germany lifting the trophy they had lost to him and Argentina just four years prior. No. 48: No Red Card?! De Jong's Studs-Up Kick Shocks Spain The 2010 World Cup final is often remembered for a single shocking moment: Nigel de Jong’s flying, studs-to-the-chest kick on Spain’s Xabi Alonso. In any other setting, the challenge would undoubtedly be a red card, yet on soccer’s biggest stage, De Jong somehow escaped with only a yellow. Referee Howard Webb later admitted his view was obstructed from behind Alonso, leaving him—unlike a billion stunned viewers at home—unaware of the tackle's true brutality. In an era eight years before VAR could intervene, the "Oranje" midfielder remained on the pitch, fueling a physical encounter that featured 14 yellow cards, the most ever in a final. Spain secured their first-ever world title when Andrés Iniesta scored the decisive goal in extra time. The Netherlands were left with a third final defeat, but De Jong’s kick remains one of the most controversial moments in tournament history. No. 47: James Rodríguez and Colombia Delight the World in 2014 Entering the 2014 World Cup as a rising talent playing for Monaco, James Rodríguez used the stage in Brazil to cement himself as a national hero. While he arrived with only five international goals, he departed as the tournament’s most electrifying force. The 22-year-old orchestrated a run that redefined Colombian soccer history, propelling Los Cafeteros to their first-ever quarterfinal. His signature moment came in the Round of 16 in an unreal sequence of technical perfection where he cushioned the ball on his chest before turning and sending a volley that deflected off the crossbar and into the net. That "turn-and-strike" missile earned the FIFA Puskás Award for the year's most beautiful goal and secured him the Golden Boot for most goals scored at the tournament. Rodriguez’s 2014 run reached a climax when he signed with Real Madrid later that summer becoming the face of his national team almost overnight. No. 46: Beckham and Owen — Remembered For Different Reasons The 1998 World Cup Round of 16 clash between England and Argentina remains defined by two moments at opposite ends of the emotional spectrum: Michael Owen and David Beckham. The match in Saint-Étienne, France, reached a fever pitch when 18-year-old Owen produced one of the greatest solo goals in history. After collecting the ball at midfield, the teenager moved past two defenders before firing a shot into the corner, far beyond reach of the keeper. However, the celebratory energy turned to anger shortly after halftime. After being fouled by Diego Simeone, Beckham—still lying on the turf—retaliated with a bad-tempered flick of his heel. Simeone might’ve exaggerated the contact on his end, but it was too late for Beckham as referee Kim Milton Nielsen booked him for a red card. England battled to a 2-2 draw with ten men but ultimately fell on penalties. While Owen’s wonder goal launched a superstar, Beckham was cast as a national pariah, a shadow he wouldn't escape until his redemptive free-kick against Greece years later. No. 45: Goals, Tussles and Drama: Argentina-Netherlands Had It All From last-minute goals to heated confrontations and a dramatic penalty shootout, this unforgettable battle had everything football fans search for. The 2022 quarterfinal match between Argentina and the Netherlands was an unforgettable battle in the latest meeting between the two rivals. Lionel Messi’s march toward the final seemed certain as Argentina coasted to a 2-0 lead. But Wout Weghorst had other plans and the "Battle of Lusail" soon descended into beautiful, tactical carnage. As tackles flew and a record 18 yellow cards were brandished, the tension hit a breaking point. In the 101st minute, a daring, low-pass free kick fooled the world, allowing Weghorst to equalize and send the match into extra time. Ultimately, Argentina’s Emiliano Martínez would become a national hero. During the shootout, the Argentine keeper’s heroics, ignited by pure defiance, denied the Dutch twice and kept Messi’s dream of lifting the World Cup trophy alive. It was a night defined by fury and flair, cementing its place as one of the most chaotic matches in World Cup history. No. 44: Italy Stifles Hosts Germany's Dream of World Cup Glory In the dying minutes of a grueling 2006 World Cup semifinal match between Germany and Italy in Dortmund, the atmosphere was suffocating. Despite the roar of 65,000 fans at the Westfalenstadion, the overwhelming majority of whom were supporting the hosts, Germany remained deadlocked with Italy late in extra time. Just as a penalty shootout seemed inevitable, Italy struck. Andrea Pirlo delivered a sublime, no-look pass to the unmarked Grosso, who sent a first-touch curling shot past the diving Jens Lehmann. The stadium went silent. As a desperate Germany scrambled forward for an equalizer, Alessandro Del Piero punctuated a clinical counterattack a minute later to secure a 2-0 victory. Germany’s dream of winning a World Cup on home soil vanished. The dramatic ending propelled the Azzurri to the final, where they defeated France to claim their fourth World Cup title. No. 43: The Inaugural World Cup in 1930 Makes History The 1930 World Cup in Uruguay marked the beginning of a new dawn for global soccer. In an era without qualification, every FIFA nation was invited, and 13 teams – including the United States – gathered in Montevideo for the inaugural tournament. As the reigning back-to-back Olympic champions from 1924 and 1928, Uruguay was the choice for the inaugural host, over several European bidders. The atmosphere reached a climax during the final at the Estadio Centenario, where over 90,000 fans packed the stands for a battle between the hosts and Argentina. The first World Cup final was famously defined by a dispute over the equipment. Both teams insisted on using their own ball. To settle it, an Argentine ball was used for the first half and a Uruguayan one for the second. Down 2–1 at the break, La Celeste switched to their preferred ball and the hosts took total control, netting three unanswered goals after the break to secure a 4-2 victory. FIFA President Jules Rimet presented the original trophy that would later be named after him to the winners, formalizing Uruguay’s status as the world’s first official champion. As for the USA? That team finished in third place, still the best ever position by the men's team at any World Cup. No. 42: The Secretary of Defense In the 2014 World Cup Round of 16, Tim Howard’s record-setting performance rewrote the history books and earned him the nickname 'The Secretary of Defense.'. In Salvador, Brazil, Belgium’s high-caliber offense launched wave after wave of attacks, only to be met by a one-man barricade. Though Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku eventually found the net, Howard refused to yield, finishing the night with 16 saves—the most ever recorded in a World Cup match. Tim Howard’s performance was nothing short of heroic. By the time the match reached extra time, he had already racked up 11 saves. "I don't know how you're going to survive the mobs when you come back home, you're going to have to shave your beard so they don't know who you are,"  former President Barack Obama said to Howard over the phone. Despite a heartbreaking 2-1 loss, Howard was the undisputed Man of the Match and delivered arguably the most memorable individual performance in American soccer history. No. 41:  Maradona, Argentina Win Memorable Title in '86 The 1986 World Cup in Mexico cemented Diego Maradona's reputation as the greatest player on the planet; Argentina's little magician scored five times (including two of the most famous strikes in the sport's history), led the Albiceleste to their second title and was overwhelmingly voted the Golden Ball winner as the tournament's top player. The only thing Maradona didn't do, it seemed, was score the World Cup-winner for his country. That honor instead fell to Jorge Burruchaga, who capped a wildly entertaining final by breaking a 2-2 tie against West Germany with just four minutes of regular time remaining. The Germans, trailing 2-0 deep into the second half, had stormed back. They had marked Maradona out of the game to that point, with Lothar Matthäus never more than a yard away from his fellow No. 10. And they had all the momentum following Rudi Völler's 83rd minute strike in front of more than 114,000 spectators at Estadio Azteca. Burruchaga changed all that with one slick run and finish after receiving a slick seeing-eye pass from — who else? — El Diego. No. 40: Portugal Roars Back Behind the ‘Black Panther’ In 1966, North Korea arrived at the World Cup quarterfinals as the ultimate underdog in the quarterfinals against Portugal. Having already stunned the world by eliminating Italy— widely considered one of the tournament's greatest upsets — North Korea became the first Asian nation to reach the World Cup knockout stage. Within 25 minutes, the North Koreans seemed poised for an even bigger miracle at Goodison Park after storming to a shocking 3-0 lead over Portugal. However, the momentum shifted behind the brilliance of Eusébio. The reigning Ballon d’Or winner delivered a legendary performance, spearheading a relentless Portuguese rally. Portugal roared back, scoring five unanswered goals, four of which were netted by Eusébio himself. The ‘Black Panther’ would go on to win the Golden Boot as he finished with nine goals. Portugal’s journey eventually ended in the semifinals against the host nation and eventual champions, England. To this day, the 5-3 result remains one of the greatest comebacks the World Cup has ever seen. No. 39: A Germany Legend Seals A Title At Home Gerd Müller scored an astonishing 68 goals in just 62 games over the course of his international career, but one of them stands out above the rest. During the 1974 World Cup final, West Germany was locked in a 1-1 stalemate against the Netherlands, at Munich's Olympiastadion. Müller scrambled back to control a pass in the area, pivoted, and instinctively slotted a low shot past the keeper. That chaotic yet beautiful goal put the Germans ahead 2-1 and secured the nation’s second world championship. It was more than just a trophy-winner; it was Müller's 14th and final World Cup goal, cementing his legacy as one of the best finishers to ever play the game. Müller's parting gift gave his home crowd a memory that would last a lifetime. No. 38: Frank Lampard's Goal That Wasn't Against Germany Everyone in the stadium seemingly saw this goal—except the referee. When England met Germany in the 2010 World Cup Round of 16, history repeated itself in the most ironic way possible. In the 1966 final, Geoff Hurst scored a controversial "phantom goal" against West Germany that led to England’s only title. Forty-four years later, Germany finally got their revenge. With England trailing 2-1, Frank Lampard launched a screamer off the crossbar. Replays showed the ball bounced clearly past the goal line, but the officials ruled it no goal. Tens of millions of fans watched the robbery unfold live on television. Deflated, England collapsed to a 4-1 loss—their worst World Cup defeat ever. But the injustice wasn't for nothing. This massive blunder helped usher in Goal-Line Technology in 2014 and later VAR in 2018. No. 37 Garrincha steps up in place of the injured Pelé When Brazil arrived in Chile for the 1962 World Cup, the plan for every opponent was simple: Stop Pelé. But two games in, disaster struck the Seleção, Pele, the world’s greatest player was forced out due to injury. When a Brazilian legend fell, a hero rose — Manuel Francisco dos Santos — aka Garrincha. Garrincha decimated England in the quarterfinals with two goals, then broke Chilean hearts with two more in the semis. Even though he was booked for a red card against Chile, he was cleared for the final where he led Brazil to a 3-1 victory over Czechoslovakia. Pelé was limited to the role of spectator, but Garrincha led Brazil to become only the second team to win consecutive titles and became the first player to win both the Golden Boot as the tournament’s top scorer and Golden Ball as its best player in World Cup history. No. 36: Mbappé, France End Croatia's Unlikely Run An unconventional scoreline with the unlikely finalist. The crowning moment for a talented youngster. The 2018 World Cup final stood out on its own. Unlike previous World Cup finals, Croatia and France came to play in 2018. The Croatians – in their first final ever of a major tournament – were all over Les Bleus early, but France took the lead against the run of play on an 18th-minute own goal by Mario Mandžukić. Ten minutes later, the score was even again courtesy of Croatian veteran Ivan Perišić. The video assistant referee then awarded a penalty to France after spotting a handball in the box. Antoine Griezmann converted it to restore his team's advantage at the half. That's when a memorable second half broke out. France star midfielder Paul Pogba restored the two-goal before Mandžukić made up for his earlier error to give Croatia some life. But Kylian Mbappé then scored the clincher as he became the first teenager since Pele to score in a final. France stood as 4-2 winners (the highest-scoring World Cup final since 1966) for its second World Cup title. No. 35: Paolo Rossi's Return Paolo Rossi had barely played in two years. Banned for his involvement in the betting scandal that rocked Italian soccer in 1980, the forward returned to the field with club side Juventus with just three games left in the 1981-82 Serie A season. That was enough for Azzurri manager Enzo Bearzot, who controversially included Rossi on his roster for the 1982 World Cup in Spain. It looked like a severe miscalculation at first. The striker went scoreless through Italy’s first three games, and Bearzot was under intense pressure to drop him from the starting lineup. That he didn’t succumb to it looks like a masterstroke now. While Rossi didn’t score as Italy first defeated defending champion Argentina, he exploded for three goals in the Azzurri’s fifth game, a 3-2 triumph over Brazil that sent his country to the final four. The seal broken, Rossi had both goals in the 2-0 semifinal victory over Poland in the semis before finding the target for the sixth time in three matches in the final, a 3-1 win over West Germany that gave the Italians their first title since 1938. Not only did Rossi take home the Golden Boot as the tournament’s goal leader, he also won the Golden Ball as MVP. No. 34: South Korea's Historical Semifinal Run Came With Controversy The benefits of home-field advantage are given for any World Cup host. South Korea’s bordered on the absurd in their Round of 16 meeting with Italy in 2002. South Korea stunned Italy in one of the most controversial matches in FIFA World Cup history during the 2002 World Cup Round of 16, featuring disputed referee calls, a disallowed Italian goal, and Ahn Jung-hwan’s dramatic Golden Goal winner. The Azzurri might have known it wouldn’t be their night when the Koreans were awarded a phantom penalty just three minutes in. The effort was saved by Gianluigi Buffon, the last bit of good fortune they’d get. With VAR still 16 years away, Italy had two apparent goals — including one in extra time — controversially ruled offside. They also saw maestro Francesco Totti shown a second yellow card during the additional half-hour for diving; replays suggested it should’ve been a foul and a potentially match-deciding penalty instead. Italy just couldn’t beat both the host and the officiating; Ahn's game winner for the South Koreans mercifully ended the contest with just three minutes left. No. 33: No ‘Last Dance’ For Maradona The 1994 World Cup in the USA was to be the fourth and final trip to the planet’s greatest sporting event for Argentina superstar Diego Maradona. After leading the Albiceleste to the 1986 title in Mexico and then to a runner-up finish four years later in Italy, he had dreams of going out on top. In their first game against Greece. Maradona scores and celebrates wildly—eyes wide, veins bulging, screaming into the lens and for one moment, it looked like redemption. Days later, Maradona tests positive for a banned substance. Despite Maradona's claims that the drug was taken as part of a weight-loss regimen, FIFA upheld the ban. The 33-year-old icon is removed from the tournament—and from the World Cup camp entirely. Maradona never plays for Argentina again. That celebration becomes the last image the world sees of Maradona on the biggest stage. No. 32: Götze, Germany Break Messi's Heart in Rio de Janeiro Mario Götze scored one of the most iconic goals in FIFA World Cup history, delivering Germany a dramatic 1-0 victory over Argentina in the 2014 World Cup final in Brazil with a stunning extra-time finish. Götze’s unforgettable game winner at the iconic Maracanã stadium in Rio de Janiero crushed Lionel Messi’s World Cup dream and secured Germany’s fourth FIFA World Cup title in one of football’s greatest finals. But the 2014 World Cup finale still wasn't what anyone would describe as a thing of beauty. With just seven minutes of extra time to go and still no goals on the scoreboard, the possibility that this would become just the third World Cup championship match to be decided by the dreaded penalty kick tiebreaker felt inevitable. One moment of artistry by Götze changed all that. In the 113th minute, Götze found himself on the end of a cross from fellow substitute André Schürrle. Götze caught the ball on his chest and before letting it hit the ground, side-volleyed it with his left foot across Argentine keeper Sergio Romero and inside the right post. It's arguably the prettiest World Cup-winning goal of all time. No. 31: Mario ‘El Matador’ Kempes Secures Argentina's First Star Long before Lionel Messi and Diego Maradona became household names, Mario Kempes was the hero who established Argentina as a global soccer powerhouse. Known as "El Matador," Kempes spearheaded the nation’s journey to its first-ever World Cup title in 1978 on home soil. While he started the tournament slowly, he exploded in the knockout stages, eventually leading the competition in scoring with six goals. His most iconic moment came during the final in Buenos Aires against the Netherlands. With the match deadlocked in extra time, Kempes found the back of the net in the 105th minute to put Argentina ahead 2-1. That strike secured the trophy and earned him both the Golden Boot and the Golden Ball as the tournament's MVP. He remains one of only three players in history to win the World Cup, the top scorer award, and the MVP trophy in the same year—a feat even Messi and Maradona never achieved. No. 30: ‘Dos a Cero' The United States had stunned Portugal — one of the pre tournament favorites — in their 2002 opener. They’d tied co-host South Korea in their second group stage game. Yet there they were on the brink of elimination, down 3-1 to Poland late in their third before the Koreans gave them a gift by knocking the Portuguese out and sending the US on to the knockout stage. The Americans got another gift in the round of 16: a date with neighbor and chief rival Mexico. It wasn’t that El Tri was weak; Javier Aguirre’s team had surprised most observers by topping a group that contained three time champion Italy. (The Azzurri would win a fourth title four years later.) Mexico was a familiar foe, though. And the U.S. had beaten them before – including a 2-0 win in 2001 to open the final round of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying. Brian McBride gave the Stars and Stripes an early lead, and Landon Donovan – later named the tournament’s best young player — put El Tri away with a later second-half header. The U.S. would torment Mexico by the same "dos a cero" score line often over the next two decades, including in qualifying for the 2006, 2010, 2014 and 2022 World Cups. But the one that eliminated their arch nemesis on the global stage remains the mother of them all. No. 29 The Flying Dutchman: Van Persie's Acrobatic Feat Shocks Spain The 2014 World Cup group stage presented the Netherlands with a haunting sense of déjà vu. A rematch of the 2010 Final against a Spanish side that had previously left them in tears. When Xabi Alonso buried a first-half penalty, it seemed the "Oranje" were destined for another heart-wrenching "what if." Then, the trajectory of international soccer shifted. In the 44th minute, Daley Blind launched a speculative diagonal ball toward Robin van Persie. Rather than controlling the pass, the veteran striker launched himself into the humid Brazilian air. In a moment of pure physics-defying brilliance, the "Flying Dutchman" met the ball with a looping header that sailed over a stunned Iker Casillas. That single, parallel-to-the-pitch header ignited a 5-1 demolition that shattered the Spanish era of dominance. One moment of aerial magic gave an entire nation the satisfying feeling of revenge and placed Van Persie’s effort into World Cup immortality. No. 28 Just Fontaine’s Untouchable Record In the world of international soccer, some records are chased, while others are simply untouchable. In 1958, French striker Just Fontaine didn't just win the Golden Boot; he authored a feat of scoring geometry that defies modern logic. Over just six games in Sweden, Fontaine somehow found the back of the net 13 times—a mark that has stood the test of time. While legends like Ronaldo, Gerd Müller, and Miroslav Klose eventually surpassed his total tally, they required multiple tournaments to do so. Fontaine did it in his one and only trip to the world stage. From a hat-trick opener against Paraguay to a four-goal masterclass against West Germany, his one-touch lethality was unstoppable. To put his dominance in perspective: in the 66 years since, only one Golden Boot winner has even broke double digit goals in the tournament, West Germany's Gerd Müller scored 10 in 1970. Some records may not be meant to be broken. No. 27: Banks Denies Pelé It's often called the best save in soccer history. In England's group stage match against mighty Brazil at the 1970 World Cup, Gordon Banks, the gentlemanly Three Lions keeper, raced across this line and somehow kept out what looked like a certain goal from none other than Pelé himself. Unmarked at the far post, Pelé met Jairzinho's cross from the right side perfectly. "I hit that header exactly as I had hoped. Exactly where I wanted it to go. And I was ready to celebrate," Pelé, who became close friends with Banks over the decades following their shared moment on the biggest stage, said following the Englishman's death in 2019. "He came from nowhere, and he did something I didn't feel was possible," the Brazilian great added. "He pushed my header, somehow, up and over. And I couldn't believe what I saw. "Even now when I watch it, I can't believe how he moved so far, so fast." No. 26: Ronaldo's Redemption Four years after suffering a seizure on the day of the 1998 World Cup final, then sleepwalking through France’s commanding 3-0 win, Brazilian striker Ronaldo had a chance to make things right. It’s not that the first World Cup Ronaldo played in — he was the youngest member of Brazil’s triumphant 1994 squad at 17, though he didn’t appear in a match — was a failure. Despite falling at the final hurdle, Ronaldo won the Golden Ball as the best player at France ‘98. Brazil expects to win every World Cup, of course. And in Japan in 2002, Ronaldo and the Seleção got another chance when they reached the championship game for the third World Cup straight. Ronaldo wasn’t about to let his chance at redemption pass by. He scored both goals in Brazil’s 2-0 win over Germany, and finished as tournament’s leading scorer. No. 25: Morocco's Magical Run Morocco made history at the 2022 FIFA World Cup by becoming the first African nation ever to reach the semifinals of the tournament. Led by unforgettable performances, passionate supporters, and stunning upsets over football giants, Morocco’s magical run inspired millions around the world. No. 24: Two Superstars, One Unforgettable Bite One bite changed the entire 2014 World Cup. In a moment that stunned football fans everywhere, Luis Suárez sank his teeth into Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini and turned a tense knockout clash into one of the most infamous moments in World Cup history. The furious defender showed the puncture marks to the referee, while Suárez — perhaps realizing he’d bitten off more that he could chew — began theatrically checking his teeth as if Chiellini had shouldered him in the chops. Inside the stadium, it was hard to know what the fuss was about. Outside of it, the replays beamed across the globe showed millions what had happened. But Brazil 2014 was the last World Cup not to use video assistant referees, and the man in the middle that day missed the chomp. FIFA wasn’t amused, though, banning Suárez — who had been involved in biting incidents twice before — for nine international games. No. 23: Its Milla Time: Cameroon's 1990 Run In 1990, a 38-year-old Roger Milla led an underdog Cameroon straight into the World Cup quarterfinals. Cameroon’s "Indomitable Lions" shocked the globe from the jump, topping a brutal group that featured Romania, the Soviet Union, and the reigning champions, Argentina, led by Diego Maradona. But it was the Round of 16 where Milla truly cemented his legendary status. Coming off the bench against a fierce Colombia squad, the charismatic veteran unleashed a masterclass in extra time as Milla danced past the Colombian defense to fire in the opener. Just minutes later, he boldly pickpocketed Colombia's eccentric goalkeeper, René Higuita, near the halfway line, walking the ball into an empty net. Milla’s four goals in the tournament propelled Cameroon to become the first African nation to ever reach the quarterfinals, shattering the glass ceiling for future generations. His World Cup story didn't end there, either. Four years later in 1994, Milla found the back of the net again, becoming the oldest player to ever score in a World Cup at 42 years old. No. 22: England's Penalty Curse Begins England’s futility in penalty shootouts — the Three Lions lost their first three World Cup tiebreakers and are 1-3 on penalties at the European Championship — is a punchline these days. But back in 1990, England fans had every reason to believe their team would spot-kick its way past old enemy West Germany and into the World Cup final for the first time since winning it all 24 years earlier. Bobby Robson’s team had been the better one for much of the game despite falling behind on the hour mark, so when Gary Lineker equalized in the 80th minute to send the game to extra time, the momentum was on the English side. Then Stuart Pearce and Chris Waddle failed to convert from 12 yards, and the Germans went on to win the World Cup for the third time. It was a crushing psychological blow, apparently; the Lions shootout misery repeated itself again and again through the years afterward. England did finally win its first World Cup match on penalties almost three decades later, though, beating Colombia in the quarters in 2018. No. 21: The Men's World Cup's All-Time Leading Scorer Records are made to be broken, and Miroslav Klose made it his mission to break the all-time goalscoring record at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil at the age of 36. Klose made an instant impact in Germany's group stage match against Ghana, coming on as a substitute in the 69th minute and scoring two minutes later. The goal put his all-time tally for World Cup goals at 15, which tied Brazilian legend Ronaldo Nazário's record. Klose sealed the all-time record in Germany's 7-1 thrashing of Brazil in the semifinals. He is still the sole record-holder, though Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé could break the record with high-scoring showings at the 2026 World Cup. No. 20: The Win That Changed U.S. Soccer The United States has come a long way as a soccer nation, and it all began in 1994, when the U.S. hosted the FIFA World Cup for the first time. Entering the tournament in 1994, the U.S. had not won a World Cup match since 1950, when it stunned England in Brazil. That all changed with another milestone win against World Cup favorites Colombia in the group stage to advance to the knockout stage of the tournament. The U.S. caught a break in the 35th minute with an own goal by Andres Escobar, and it capitalized on that mistake by Colombia with a goal of its own 17 minutes later by Earnie Stewart. The result was the start of a soccer renaissance in the United States. No. 19: Bergkamp Settles It It took Dennis Bergkamp just three touches to score one of the greatest World Cup goals of all time. The score tied at one, the Netherlands’ quarterfinal meeting with Argentina at France ‘98 seemed destined for extra time before the silky-smooth Dutch forward intervened. Netherlands left back Frank de Boer started the play with a long, diagonal crossfield pass to Bergkamp. It arrived high enough that many superb players would have had trouble controlling it. But Bergkamp was known for his immaculate touch, and he killed the ball dead with an outstretched right foot. There was still plenty to do, though, what with Albiceleste defender Roberto Ayala closing in quickly. Bergkamp’s second touch might have been sweeter than his first; he undressed Ayala with a left-footed stab that he knew would set up his shot. He wasn’t about to squander it, beating Carlos Roa with the outside of his right foot to send Argentina home and exact some revenge in the process; it was the first World Cup meeting between the countries since the Albiceleste beat the Oranje in the final 20 years earlier. And it was almost all thanks to Bergkamp. No. 18 Suárez’s Controversial Save This might be the most controversial save in World Cup history. Deep into extra time of the 2010 quarterfinal, Uruguay and Ghana were locked at 1-1. Ghana was on the verge of making history as the first African team to reach a World Cup semifinal—on African soil. With seconds left, the ball was heading straight into an open net. Ghana’s destiny was certain. Until Luis Suárez stood on the goal line and made a split-second calculation. Knowing the consequences, he threw up his hands and batted the ball out of the air. It was an instant red card and a penalty kick for Ghana. It was dark arts of the highest order, but sound, stone-cold logic: sacrifice himself to give his country a lifeline. The gamble paid off. Asamoah Gyan stepped up and smashed the penalty against the crossbar. Reprieved, Uruguay conquered the ensuing shootout to advance to the final four. Suárez went down in infamy as a villain to the world, but a hero to his nation, cementing his blatant handball as the ultimate, rule-bending "save of the tournament." No. 17: The Birth of Total Football One team changed football forever. And they didn’t even need to win. In 1974, following a 36-year World Cup absence, the Netherlands arrived and broke every rule in the book. Orchestrated by manager Rinus Michels and led by the brilliant Johan Cruyff, they unleashed a radical philosophy: Total Football. It was a fluid system where every player could play every position. The whole team defended; the whole team attacked. It was chaos. Perfect chaos. Cruyff, a tactical savant, was given a license to roam, dismantling giants like Argentina and Brazil on their way to the final. Against West Germany, the Dutch struck in under two minutes, leading before the Germans even touched the ball. Total football wasn’t foolproof. Cruyff was relentlessly man-marked out of the game, and clinical striker Gerd Müller had the final say, securing the trophy for Germany. The Netherlands lost the final, but their DNA is everywhere. Fifty years later, every great modern team is still chasing the ghost of Total Football from 1974. No. 16: Landon Donovan’s Last-Gasp Miracle Is this the most iconic goal in American soccer history? Going into their final group-stage match of the 2010 World Cup against Algeria, the equation for the United States was brutally simple: win, or go home. Ninety agonizing minutes had passed, and the scoreboard remained stuck at 0-0. The American dream was down to its final breaths, suffocating under the weight of impending elimination. Then, in the 91st minute, chaos turned into destiny. U.S. goalkeeper Tim Howard confidently claimed an Algerian cross, spun around, and didn't look back. He unleashed a massive, pinpoint outlet throw to Landon Donovan, igniting a furious, length-of-the-field counterattack. Donovan fed Jozy Altidore, whose cross found Clint Dempsey. Though Dempsey's initial shot was blocked, Donovan never stopped running. He trailed the play perfectly and smashed the rebound into the back of the net. In just a matter of seconds, the United States went from the bottom of the group to the very top, leaping over England to win the group. Donovan’s legendary strike catapulted the U.S. into the Round of 16 and created a definitive "where were you?" moment for American sports, proving you’re never truly out until the final whistle blows. No. 15: The Miracle Of Bern At the 1954 FIFA World Cup in Switzerland, West Germany had to face Hungary—a legendary squad dubbed the "Mighty Magyars" that had not lost a single match in four years. Their first meeting in the group stage was an absolute disaster for the Germans, resulting in a brutal 8-3 thrashing. Yet, West Germany held on, fighting their way all the way to the final where the Golden Team awaited them once again. History seemed destined to repeat itself when, within the first eight minutes of the match, Hungary had already scored twice. But the Germans refused to break. In a stunning display of resilience, they responded with two goals of their own in the next ten minutes, leveling the score and turning the final into an absolute war of attrition. The two teams battled through the mud and rain until the 84th minute, when Helmut Rahn picked up a loose ball at the edge of the box and fired home the winning goal. The shocking 3-2 victory etched "The Miracle of Bern" into football history, permanently signaling the rise of a new global powerhouse. No. 14: The Game of Their Lives To say that the United States was a heavy underdog going into its World Cup meeting with England at the 1950 World Cup doesn’t do justice to the mismatch it was. England, competing in the tournament for the first time, was arguably the best team in Brazil and one of the favorites to lift the trophy after trouncing defending champion Italy 4-0 weeks before the competition began. The members of the U.S. squad, on the other hand, weren’t even full-time professionals. The Americans arrived in Brazil having played just seven international games over the previous 16 years (in part because of World War II), getting outscored 45-2. The Yanks were going to lose. The only question was by how much. Except they didn’t. In one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history, the U.S. stunned the Three Lions 1-0 in Belo Horizonte on Joe Gaetjens’s first half goal. England was eliminated after also dropping its next match, to Spain. Same for the U.S., who were knocked out following a 5-2 defeat to Chile. The Americans wouldn’t qualify for another World Cup for 40 years. 13. The "Ghost" Goal that Crowned England England likes to claim that it invented the sport as we know it today, and that’s true. What’s also true is despite the head start they enjoyed over every other nation in the world, they haven’t been very successful at it. Soccer (an English word, by the way) has been deeply ingrained in British culture for well over a century. It was and is immensely popular. Yet England’s national team has hoisted the World Cup just once, way back in 1966, in their only appearance in a final on a goal that probably shouldn’t have counted at all. By contrast, later-coming rivals like Brazil, Germany and Italy have 13 World Cup titles between them. England didn’t participate in the first three World Cups because of a dispute with FIFA, and they didn’t go any further than the quarterfinals in the first four tournaments they entered. With the 1966 event staged on home soil, though, the Three Lions were determined not just not to embarrass themselves on the global stage, but to win the trophy for the first time. After reaching the final at Wembley Stadium in London, England was minutes away from beating West Germany when the visitors equalized. Geoff Hurst restored England’s advantage in extra time, putting them up 3-2 — although television replays never showed the ball crossing the line. German players protested to no avail, and Hurst put the game away when he made it 4-2 seconds before the final whistle. Still, the did-it-or-didn't it debates raged on for decades. In 1996, researchers at Oxford University's department of engineering science concluded that it hadn’t —meaning England’s lone World Cup win came on a phantom goal. No. 12: Heartbreak For Italy After Baggio Skies Penalty Losing a World Cup is never easy, let alone on penalties. And even more so when one of the game's greatest players badly missed the ultimate decider. Roberto Baggio remains one of Italy's most iconic players ever, but a costly lapse by "The Divine Ponytail" would see his team lose in a heartbreaking fashion to Brazil in the 1994 final at the Rose Bowl. Baggio had arguably been the tournament’s outstanding player prior to that fateful final, leading his team past talented squads like Nigeria and Spain before securing Italy's place in the final by scoring twice against Bulgaria in the semis. What should have been an entertaining final for the ages between Brazil and Italy was anything but as the star-studded squads went scoreless through 120 minutes. With a possible title of the line, the normally steel-nerved Baggio sent his attempt high into the stands. No. 11: The Semifinal Deemed ‘Game Of The Century’ The "Game of the Century" at the 1970 FIFA World Cup delivered one of football’s greatest matches as Italy and West Germany battled through an unforgettable semifinal filled with drama, extra-time chaos, and legendary goals. From Franz Beckenbauer’s dislocated shoulder to Italy’s historic 4-3 victory, this iconic clash forever changed World Cup history. Tied 1-1 at the end of 90 minutes in their 1970 World Cup semifinal in front of more than 100,000 fans at Azteca Stadium in Mexico City, West Germany and Italy exploded for five goals during the half-hour of extra time, with the Azzurri ultimately prevailing on Gianni Rivera’s 111th minute winner. Never before had five World Cup goals been scored during extra time, let alone between two of the sport’s most decorated teams with a spot in the final at stake. The record stands to this day. No. 10: The Most Dazzling Display In A Final At the 1970 FIFA World Cup final, Brazil defeated Italy 4-1 with a dazzling display of teamwork, creativity, and flair. Broadcast in color for the first time, the match showcased one of the greatest teams ever assembled and cemented Brazil’s place in World Cup history. Led by the incomparable Pelé, Brazil’s iconic 1970 squad capped their resounding triumph over Italy in front of more than 100,000 fans in Mexico’s City’s cavernous Estadio Azteca with a masterpiece. Among the legends on the field for Brazil included Rivellino, Carlos Alberto, Brito, Clodoaldo, and Gérson – all names that became synonymous with the "Jogo Bonito" style of play. The image of Pelé playing and winning his last ever major international tournament stands the test of time. It would be 24 long years before Brazil won another World Cup. But this is the team and style that continues to live among the pantheon of greats. No. 9: Spain's Long Awaited Moment Of Glory Spain reached the summit of world football in 2010, defeating the Netherlands to win their first-ever FIFA World Cup title. Andrés Iniesta’s legendary extra-time goal completed one of the most dominant eras ever seen in international football. The 2010 World Cup final was a contest between the best two teams never to have won it all. Spain's golden generation of players had captured the 2008 European Championship, their second continental crown. On the other was the Netherlands, winners of the 1988 Euros and the World Cup runner-up at both the 1974 and 1978 events. The slick-passing Spanish were the favorites and the far better squad. The Dutch knew it. So rather than attempt to stand toe-to-toe with La Roja, the Netherlands decided instead to slow the game to a crawl by setting up in a cynical, defensive posture and fouling at every opportunity. The Oranje strategy nearly backfired in the first half when Nigel de Jong committed a clear red card offense by kicking Spain midfielder Xabi Alonso in the chest. But the referee's view of the infraction was blocked, and with VAR still eight years away, De Jong stayed on the field. The match remained scoreless into the second half of extra time. Thankfully, Iniesta scored the winner for La Roja with just four minutes to spare, avoiding a penalty shootout. Spain would go on to win the 2012 Euros, too. They remain the only national team in history to prevail at three consecutive major tournaments. No. 8: The Hero That France Needed At the 1998 World Cup final, Zinedine Zidane rose to the occasion with two first-half goals to lead France past Brazil and secure the nation’s first World Cup title. On the biggest stage in soccer, Zizou delivered a performance that would define his legendary career. Led by superstar striker Ronaldo, four-time World Cup winner Brazil entered France ‘98 as the favorite and defending champion. The host nation was looking to become just the seventh team to hoist the trophy and the sixth to do it on home soil. Led by their dynamic midfielder in Zidane, Les Bleus made sure the trophy stayed in Paris. The impact of the win by the French team, which was largely made up of players whose parents hailed from the country's former colonies in Northern Africa and the Caribbean — Zidane himself has Algerian roots — went well beyond sport. It was also credited with uniting a changing nation behind one common cause. No. 7: A Celebration Worth a Thousand Words At the 1982 FIFA World Cup final, Marco Tardelli scored a crucial goal for Italy against West Germany before unleashing one of the most iconic celebrations in sports history. His emotional sprint and unforgettable scream captured the joy, pressure, and passion of winning a World Cup. Even for the most focused and disciplined athlete, the emotion just takes over. That’s what happened to Tardelli when the Italian midfielder gave his country a 2-0 lead over West Germany in the final at Spain ’82 in front of a packed Santiago Bernabaeu Stadium in Madrid. As consequential as the tally was, Tardelli’s reaction would become far more memorable than the goal itself. With tears of joy rolling down his cheeks, Tardelli ran across the field shaking his head from side to side in disbelief, repeatedly yelling "goal" as if to convince himself that the feat he had just accomplished actually happened. The raw emotion of the moment was visceral, and it resonated with fans across the globe — which is why it remains the most unforgettable World Cup goal celebration of all time. No. 6: The Original GOAT Announces Himself Pelé announced himself to the world during his FIFA World Cup debut in 1958, beginning one of the greatest careers in football history. At just 17 years old, Pelé’s brilliance helped lead Brazil toward their first-ever World Cup title. Pelé was the youngest player in the history of the World Cup when he made his delayed tournament debut for Brazil at the 1958 event. Soon he’d show exactly why coach Vicente Feola included the injured 17-year-old prodigy on his roster. Slowed by a knee problem upon his arrival in Sweden, Pelé recovered enough to start in his country’s third match, in which he registered an assist in a win over the Soviet Union. After that, he exploded. He scored the only goal in a quarterfinal win over Wales, then recorded a hat trick in a 5-2 semifinal win over France. In the final against the hosts in Stockholm, Pelé scored two more times, including an astonishing solo effort where he coolly lobbed the ball over a helpless Swedish defender’s head before slotting it home. It is still one of the most jaw-dropping goals in World Cup history, one that helped the Seleção secure the first of their record five World Cup crowns. No. 5: The Day Brazil's Dream Came To Halt At the 2014 FIFA World Cup, Brazil entered the semifinals hoping to win a title on home soil but instead suffered a historic 7-1 defeat to Germany. In one of the most shocking matches ever played, a nation’s dream turned into an unforgettable World Cup nightmare. Even though heavyweights Germany stood between Brazil and a spot in the final, there was an air of expectation around the country that the outcome was preordained — that the Seleção would reach and then win the World Cup final on home soil, exorcizing the demons of 1950 when Brazil was stunned by Uruguay. It would be an understatement to say things didn't go according to plan. Instead of achieving what many Brazilians felt was their destiny, the home side imploded without injured star Neymar and suspended defensive anchor Thiago Silva. It was 5-0 for the visitors before the match was 30 minutes old. By the time it was over, they'd suffered a 7-1 loss to the eventual tournament champs. The most lopsided semifinal result ever didn't just match the worst loss in Brazil's proud history. It also snapped a 62-game home unbeaten streak dating to 1975.  Given the stakes and the stage, it's the most eye-popping result ever in World Cup play — not to mention a national humiliation on par with that famous 1950 defeat. No. 4 Zinedine Zidane's Headbutt And Ensuing Red Card At the 2006 FIFA World Cup final, France captain Zinedine Zidane was one match away from a storybook ending to a legendary career, only to exit the sport in the most shocking fashion imaginable. In an unforgettable clash with Italy, a maestro's final masterclass transformed into a stunning moment of madness that left the world in disbelief. With the hopes of his nation on the line, Zidane looked poised to repeat his 1998 heroics when he audaciously chipped a 7th-minute penalty past Gianluigi Buffon. Italy's Marco Materazzi soon answered with a powerful equalizer, locking the two heavyweights in a grueling, high-stakes stalemate that pushed into extra time. Both men had scored their team’s lone goals, but their date with destiny was far from over. Deep into extra time, in the 118th minute, the match’s two protagonists crossed paths again. Following a sharp exchange of words, Materazzi’s psychological warfare cracked the Frenchman's icy composure. In a flash, Zidane turned and drove his forehead straight into the Italian defender’s chest. The resulting red card was a devastating eruption, leaving the world to watch in silence as one of the greatest to ever play the game walked past the trophy and off the pitch forever. France would go on to lose the ensuing penalty shootout, cementing the headbutt as Zidane's final, haunting moment in professional football—an image forever suspended in time. No. 3 The Day 173,000 Fans Went Absolutely Silent At the 1950 FIFA World Cup, Brazil entered the final match needing only a draw on home soil to secure their first-ever title, but instead suffered a heartbreak so impactful it permanently altered the nation's footballing identity. In front of an estimated 173,000 fanatical supporters packing Rio de Janeiro's legendary Maracanã stadium, a celebration decades in the making turned into an unforgettable national tragedy. Coming off a 12-year tournament hiatus due to global conflict, there was an absolute air of certainty across the country that the Seleção were destined for glory. When Friaça scored early in the second half to put the hosts up 1-0, the trophy felt entirely secure. But Uruguay refused to follow the script. The underdogs mounted an unthinkable comeback, striking twice to take a shocking 2-1 lead. The result triggered a generational change as Brazil chose to completely abandon their traditional white uniforms, switching to the iconic yellow kits they wear today. Years later, Uruguayan hero Alcides Ghiggia would famously note that only three people had ever managed to silence the Maracanã: the Pope, Frank Sinatra, and him. No. 2: Diego Maradona's ‘Hand of God’ and ‘Goal of the Century’ At the 1986 FIFA World Cup, Diego Maradona treated the world to the ultimate display of footballing duality during a high-stakes quarterfinal clash against England, decades before the internet would marvel at Lionel Messi's modern imitations. Just minutes after scoring his infamous, rule-bending "Hand of God" goal, the Argentine maestro decided to remove even a shred of doubt about his transcendent greatness. What followed was an individual masterclass that would forever define the beautiful game. Picking up the ball a daunting 60 yards away from the English net, Maradona embarked on a breathtaking, physics-defying journey towards goal. He sliced, glided, and spun past five English defenders who were left grasping at the air. Accelerating toward the penalty box, he got past goalkeeper Peter Shilton, tumbling toward the grass while clipping a precise strike into the back of the net. The magical solo effort proved to be the decisive blow, breaking English hearts and leading Argentina on a march toward the World Cup trophy. No. 1: Best Final Ever? The Night Messi Completed His Trophy Cabinet The 2022 FIFA World Cup final delivered one of the greatest matches in sports history, as Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé battled in an unforgettable showdown for the world title. From dramatic comebacks to a legendary penalty shootout, this final became an instant classic. Mbappé and France were looking to repeat. Only Argentina and Messi, needing the ultimate prize to fill his trophy case after a storied career for club and country, stood in their way. Argentina held onto a two-goal lead thanks to goals Messi and Angel Di Maria with the title in sight. But then with about 10 minutes left, Mbappé converts a penalty. A minute later, he scores again. Game on in Qatar. In extra time, Messi scores again. Mbappe responds for a hat trick. And with France looking to seal the win in the final moments, Emiliano Martinez stands tall for the save of the tournament. To penalties we go. Mbappé converts. So does Messi. But two misses for France then allows unlikely hero Nahuel Molina seal it for Argentina. Heartbreak for Les Bleus. Relief for Messi. Euphoria for Argentina. A GOAT’s legacy secured.]]>
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					<![CDATA[Switzerland vs. Qatar Prediction, Odds, Picks For World Cup Match]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/2026-world-cup-switzerland-qatar-odds-prediction-picks</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/2026-world-cup-switzerland-qatar-odds-prediction-picks</guid>
				<category>soccer</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Check out the odds for the Switzerland vs. Qatar Group B matchup at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Fri, 12 Jun 2026 14:43:33 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[Switzerland and Qatar will face off in their 2026 FIFA World Cup Group B opener on Saturday, June 13, 2026, at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium in Santa Clara, California on FOX. Switzerland secured a spot at the 2026 World Cup by finishing as winners of UEFA Group B, securing the automatic spot reserved for group winners. The team went unbeaten in the group with four wins and two draws. Switzerland comes into the tournament off a 4-1 friendly win over Jordan and a 1-1 draw against Australia in the last two weeks. They will look to replicate their recent World Cup success and even take a step forward after being eliminated in the Round of 16 in four of its last five tournaments. Meanwhile, Qatar qualified for the 2026 World Cup by finishing at the top of Group A in the fourth round of AFC qualifying rounds. As hosts of the 2022 World Cup, Qatar lost all three games, scoring just one goal while allowing seven. They will look to flip the script four years later in their second World Cup tournament ever. Let’s check out the odds for the Switzerland vs. Qatar Group B match at FanDuel Sportsbook as of June 12. This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. Switzerland vs. Qatar Odds Moneyline Spread Over/Under Total Odds: 2.5 Switzerland vs. Qatar Prediction, Pick From FOX Sports Wagering Expert, Chris "The Bear" Fallica: How to Watch Switzerland vs. Qatar Let's take a look at some other bets for the match. Anytime Goalscorer Props Tie No Bet Both Teams to Score]]>
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					<![CDATA[Chris 'The Bear' Fallica's Match Day 3 World Cup Best Bets, Picks, Predictions]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/chris-the-bear-fallicas-day-3-world-cup-best-bets-picks-predictions</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/chris-the-bear-fallicas-day-3-world-cup-best-bets-picks-predictions</guid>
				<category>soccer</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Chris "The Bear" Fallica delivers his daily best bets for the World Cup. Here's what he's backing on Day 3.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Fri, 12 Jun 2026 11:54:32 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA["Bear Bets" are real wagers that Chris "The Bear" Fallica is actually making. The first two days of the World Cup saw two matches each. But now, the soccer bonanza begins. Four matches will take place on Saturday, headlined by Brazil vs. Morocco. Here's how I'm wagering on match day 3 of the tournament. This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. World Cup Best Bets — Saturday, June 13 Qatar vs. Switzerland Qatar appear ticketed for the bottom of the group, and while this appears to be the brain-deadest of plays, at near even money, I’ll back the Swiss’ best goalscorer. He scored twice in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and four times in qualifying for the 2026 World Cup. I think he'll find the back of the net here. Brazil vs. Morocco The group will be tilted heavily in the direction of a winner here, as these two are separated by just one spot in the FIFA rankings. I don’t think this is a great Brazil side. The midfield is old, and despite a central defensive core of Gabriel and Marquinhos, along with Alisson in net, Brazil has conceded in five straight friendlies, all against World Cup teams. While Abde Ezzalzouli is out with a knee injury, Brahim Diaz and Ayoub El Kaabi are more than capable of making Brazil pay. Of course, with Raphinha and Vini Jr., Brazil have plenty of ability to score as well. The reward for winning is huge, so I expect both teams to go for it. Haiti vs. Scotland If Haiti is to get a result, this is its best chance — early in the tourney and against someone other than Brazil or Morocco. We know what we’ll get from Haiti: defend, and hope for a counter. That should result in Scotland having most of the ball and Haiti’s legitimate chances few and far between. The Scottish defense shouldn’t be under too much stress and be forced into conceding corners. Australia vs. Türkiye Australia can be difficult to break down, so the best strategy might not be to try and pass through it, but to fire as many balls towards the goal as possible. That means Juventus leading scorer Kenan Yildiz should have a big part in doing just that. I thought about looking at the Australia team total Under, as leading goalscorer Kusini Yengi is out, and even a total cards Over 3.5 (remember Türkiye during Euro 2024). But I’ll opt for the Yildiz shots prop as my top play here.]]>
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					<![CDATA[USA vs. Paraguay Prediction, Odds, Picks For World Cup Match]]>
				</title>
				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/2026-world-cup-usa-paraguay-odds-prediction-picks</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/2026-world-cup-usa-paraguay-odds-prediction-picks</guid>
				<category>soccer</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Check out the odds for USA’s opening match against Paraguay in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Thu, 11 Jun 2026 21:33:27 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[The U.S. men's national team will open its 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign against Paraguay on June 12, 2026, at Los Angeles Stadium. USA enters the tournament under head coach Mauricio Pochettino, who took over following the team's early exit from the 2024 Copa América in which they failed to advance out of their group. They automatically qualified for the World Cup as one of three co-host nations. After dropping two friendlies against Belgium and Portugal by a disappointing combined score of 7-2 in late March, USA bounced back with a 3-2 win over Senegal in a friendly on May 31st. They followed that win with an encouraging performance against powerhouse Germany in which they lost 2-1 in a competitive match. On the other hand, Paraguay is making its first World Cup appearance since 2010. They qualified for the World Cup by finishing sixth in the competitive CONMEBOL (South American) qualifiers, securing the final automatic spot with 28 points. The two sides met in a high-intensity friendly last November, offering a strong preview of this opening World Cup matchup. USA came away with a 2-1 win over Paraguay in Pennsylvania. Can the U.S. get off to a dream start on home soil and tally three points in their opening match? Or will Paraguay play spoiler? Let’s check out the odds for the USA vs. Paraguay opening match at FanDuel Sportsbook as of June 11. This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. USA vs. Paraguay Odds Moneyline Spread Over/Under Total Odds: 2.5 USA vs. Paraguay Prediction, Pick From FOX Sports Research: How to Watch USA vs. Paraguay Let's take a look at some other bets for the match. Anytime Goalscorer Props Tie No Bet Both Teams to Score]]>
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					<![CDATA[Real Madrid Bringing Back Coach José Mourinho For Second Stint]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/real-madrid-bringing-back-coach-jose-mourinho-second-stint</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/real-madrid-bringing-back-coach-jose-mourinho-second-stint</guid>
				<category>soccer</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Real Madrid is bringing back José Mourinho for a second stint some 13 years after he left the club.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Thu, 11 Jun 2026 15:14:19 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[Real Madrid is bringing back José Mourinho for a second stint some 13 years after he left the club, the Spanish powerhouse said Thursday. The Portuguese coach joins on a three-year contract and will officially take charge on July 13, when the preseason starts, the club said. Mourinho left no one in Spain indifferent to his abrasive, yet undeniably successful, managerial style when he first coached Madrid from 2010 to 2013. During his first run, he led Madrid to a Spanish league title and a Copa del Rey crown. Yet he is more remembered for his confrontational personality that ended up splitting his own squad and alienating all but the most hardcore fans, as well as a large part of the local media. He will now inherit an underachieving team and rejoin a club in disarray. Madrid hasn’t won a major title in two years with superstar striker Kylian Mbappé onboard. The club went through two coaches in Xabi Alonso and Álvaro Arbeloa this season. Reporting by The Associated Press.]]>
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					<![CDATA[Canada vs. Bosnia And Herzegovina Prediction, Odds, Picks For World Cup Match]]>
				</title>
				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/2026-world-cup-canada-bosnia-herzegovina-odds-predictions-picks</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/2026-world-cup-canada-bosnia-herzegovina-odds-predictions-picks</guid>
				<category>soccer</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Check out the odds for the Canada vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina Group B matchup at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Thu, 11 Jun 2026 15:02:07 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[Canada will face Bosnia and Herzegovina in their opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Friday, June 12, 2026, at Toronto Stadium on FOX. This historic fixture marks the first-ever men's World Cup match played on Canadian soil. Canada automatically qualified alongside the United States and Mexico as co-host nations. They’ll look to build on their fourth-place finish at the 2024 Copa América tournament as they chase their first-ever win at the FIFA Men's World Cup. Canada has appeared twice in 1986 and 2022, but is still searching for its first victory, having lost all six matches across those tournaments. They head into their World Cup opener with three draws in their last four matches against the Republic of Ireland, Tunisia and Iceland, while their only win came against Uzbekistan on June 1st. On the other hand, Bosnia and Herzegovina secured the final spot in Group B after a stunning penalty shootout victory over four-time champions Italy in the European playoff final. Since that historic win, Bosnia and Herzegovina has drawn 0-0 with North Macedonia and 1-1 with Panama in its final two friendlies before the tournament. This is the first time Bosnia and Herzegovina has appeared in the World Cup since 2014. Can Canada finally earn its first-ever World Cup win, or will Bosnia and Herzegovina keep its dream run going? Let’s check out the odds for the Canada vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina Group B match at FanDuel Sportsbook as of June 11. This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. Canada vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina Odds Moneyline Spread Over/Under Total Odds: 2.5 Canada vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina Prediction, Pick From FOX Sports Research: How to Watch Canada vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina Let's take a look at some other bets for the match. Anytime Goalscorer Props: Tie No Bet: Both Teams to Score:]]>
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					<![CDATA[The Friendly Wager: Back Red, White & Blue Fireworks Against Paraguay]]>
				</title>
				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/2026-world-cup-odds-back-usa-fireworks-against-paraguay-friendly-wagers</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/2026-world-cup-odds-back-usa-fireworks-against-paraguay-friendly-wagers</guid>
				<category>soccer</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[The World Cup is here, so Sammy P is diving into some friendly wagers for the big event. Here's where he's putting his money.]]>
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				<pubDate>Thu, 11 Jun 2026 11:30:41 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[World Cup fever is running rampant with the globe’s most popular sporting event officially kicking off Thursday. FOX Sports is your place for all things World Cup. We’ve decided to put together a "Friendly Wager" concept for the 2026 event, which will consist of me siphoning bets from the week’s biggest games. If you like sharp soccer plays, Chris "The Bear" Fallica has you covered. If you want bigger payouts and more recreational action, I’m your huckleberry. Fire in the hole! This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. United States vs. Paraguay Coming in hot. I’m told the Americans’ offense is better than people think, led by Christian Pulisic, Folarin Balogun and Haji Wright. If that’s the case, I think we should bet on some red, white and blue fireworks in the first group match against Paraguay on Friday night. The game total is only 2.5, so we’ll need the USA to do some heavy lifting, but it’s not impossible. Side note, I eyed the versatile Weston McKennie to score the most American goals throughout the World Cup at 14/1. There’s potential if he maximizes opportunities. Mikel Oyarzabal Most people are betting on Kylian Mbappé and Harry Kane in this market, so you’re definitely not getting a fair shake with those two. If you dive a little bit deeper down the board, you find the dangerous Spanish striker Oyarzabal at double the price of Mbappé and Kane. Hey now. Spain is arguably the most complete team in the field and I don’t have many doubts about them making a deep run. A $10 bet to win $160 bucks ain’t too shabby in my book. Mexico This wager isn’t nearly as fun as the previous two, but a few of my soccer guys were happy to lay -125 and -130 on Mexico toppling South Korea, Czechia and South Africa to win the group. We have to drink a little extra juice at -140, but remember, Mexico is hosting this year. There’s a lot to like about their roster and while South Korea and Czechia could certainly present challenges, it feels like Mexico is Mexico’s biggest obstacle. If El Tri plays to its strengths and doesn’t buckle under pressure, we’ve got a winner. I’ll be back with more Friendly Wagers next week.]]>
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					<![CDATA[Ultimate World Cup Rules Guide: Tiebreakers, VAR, Cooling Breaks And More]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/world-cup-rules-var-water-break-penalty-tiebreaker</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/world-cup-rules-var-water-break-penalty-tiebreaker</guid>
				<category>soccer</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Breaking down the key rules you'll want to know during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Thu, 11 Jun 2026 11:06:29 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[Wait, what just happened? Why did he get a yellow card? Why is he kicking from there? What's the deal with these water breaks? These are a handful of questions that fans during the 2026 FIFA World Cup may be asking, and we're here to deliver clear explanations. With the help of FOX Sports' World Cup rules experts — Dr. Joe Machnik and Mark Clattenburg, both of whom are former referees — we're breaking down major, simple and new rules to help guide you through the 48-team tournament. From new additions to tiebreaker rules to more VAR and so much more, we've got you covered. "The World Cup is the world's biggest soccer event, and therefore, what you have is different continents, different federations — they all have their different interpretations when it comes to the laws of the game," Clattenburg said. "We have six federations, and they all have to come together under the same rules," Clattenburg added. "And what they have to understand is that FIFA [has] different interpretations." Here's our ultimate rules guide for the 2026 World Cup. JUMP TO: Tiebreaker Rules | Big Changes | VAR | Cooling-Off Breaks | Extra Time | Yellow/Red Cards | Penalties | Kicks | Handballs | Offside | Referees What Are The Biggest New Features For The 2026 World Cup? The 2026 FIFA World Cup will feature 48 teams, broken into 12 groups of four. It's a 16-team expansion from the 2022 World Cup, which featured 32 teams. The knockout stages will also include 16 more teams than in 2022, as 32 of the 48 teams will move onto play in the win-or-go-home elimination matches. There are three host countries: USA, Canada and Mexico, with 16 different cities hosting matches. What Are The 2026 World Cup Group Stage Tiebreaker Rules? When two teams are tied on points, there are seven different factors that ultimately determine their order. These tiebreakers separate group winners from runner-ups, which is important as group winners receive favorable knockout round opponents. These tiebreakers separate second-place from third-place finishers, which is notable as second-place finishers of each group automatically advance. Furthermore, these tiebreakers separate the eight out of 12 third-place teams that advance to the knockout stage. Here are the tiebreakers in order of importance: What Are The Biggest Rule Changes For The 2026 World Cup? The 2026 World Cup features new innovations to enhance the product on and off the pitch. The speed and flow of the match will never be smoother than at the 2026 World Cup, where officials will have the liberty to institute timers that speed up dead-ball restarts and substitutions. More so, players who wish to return after sustaining an injury will need to leave the pitch, which could deter embellishing. "We see players going down to stop the game — whether they're injured or not," Machnik said. "But if the referee has to stop the game to deal with a player, that player will have to leave the field of play and will not be permitted to come back into the game for at least a minute." Additional rule changes include expanding the opportunities to use Video Assistant Review (VAR). VAR can now be used to determine corner kicks from goal kicks and challenge second yellow cards. There will also be cooling-off periods and water breaks that occur around the 22-minute mark of each half. "The game is going to look a lot different from the last World Cup, or from even international games that we've been watching throughout the soccer season," Machnik said. "It's going to be actually played in quarters. There's a mandatory three-minute cooling break in each half." So, What Exactly Changed To Enhance The Speed And Flow Of The Matches? Ahead of the World Cup, enhanced measures have been taken to improve the flow of matches. Referees will have the authority to institute a five-second timer if they feel players are taking too long over throw-ins and dead-ball goal kicks. They can institute a 10-second timer for substitutions if players are wasting time entering and leaving the pitch. If players take too long to sub, the player subbing in will have to wait one minute, Clattenburg explained. "The substitutions, I think, is a very good rule," Clattenburg said. "This is a big change in football because, many times, the substitution player takes his time leaving the field of play and nothing happens. We add the time on. Do we really get the added on time? I'm not sure. So this is a good message that if you take more than 10 seconds, the substitution player is not allowed on the field for one minute. A lot can change in one minute — you can have a goal." Additionally, any player whose injury stops the run of play must remain off the pitch for a minute if they're healthy enough to return. This is meant to deter players from flopping as a way to waste time. "That's going to also enhance game flow and eliminate, hopefully, some of those opportunities where players fake injuries to stop game flow or whatever," Machnik added. How Does VAR Work? And How Has It Expanded For The 2026 World Cup? VAR is the abbreviation for Video Assistant Review. It's a system that helps the referee by reviewing decisions with video footage. "The whole purpose of VAR was to prevent a game from being decided on a clear and obvious era by the referee," Machnik said, noting that penalty kicks, offside, yellow or red cards and the ball crossing the goal line completely are the system's primary focus. It's like a combination of MLB's ABS — which uses a completely automated system to review balls and strikes — and the NFL's review system, which involves a team located in New York manually reviewing play and providing advice to the referees on site. "Every decision that the VAR makes — where they're sending down a play for the referee to look at — will come from Dallas," Machnik said. VAR can be used in a multitude of situations. When reviewing a goal, it mimics ABS, where an automated system determines if the soccer ball entirely crossed the plane of the goal. The same goes for reviewing an offside call — an automated system informs the ref if the player was indeed beyond the last defender when their teammate passed the ball. VAR can also be used to determine a foul or penalty. In this case, the referee will watch back the action, oftentimes gaining advice from another group of officials, to determine if a foul occurred, should be held up or overturned. The same thing goes for a handball call. But even with VAR, infringements like these are ruled on at the ref's discretion. "We are talking about the best VARs in the world, and they have the best judgment when to interfere and not," Clattenburg said. "And I believe that we have the best referees in the world operating in this tournament, so you will see better decision-making." For the World Cup this summer, VAR's duties will be expanded. VAR will now help determine who was the last to touch a ball before it went out of bounds, resulting in a goal kick or corner kick. It can also be used if a player is awarded a second yellow card, meaning they'd be sent off. "I'm skeptical. I'm very nervous about this," Clattenburg said about a second yellow card scenario. "If they get it right, I think it could be a good moment. But if they don't get it right, I think football fans will be more frustrated." What Are The Cooling-Off Breaks At The World Cup? The cooling-off (or water) breaks are a new addition at the 2026 World Cup. Regardless of weather or other circumstances, there will be one each half of each game at the 22-minute and 67-minute mark. Each break lasts three minutes, and are instituted when a natural stoppage of play occurs around those minute marks. "This will not be exact because it depends on the motion of the match, and how the match is being played, and how natural it can be," Clattenburg said. "For example, if there was an injury, they will do the cooling break then. And they will do it in the second half at the same but not the exact moment — 25 minutes, 22 minutes. It will be judged on [a natural] break." What Is Extra Time At The World Cup? Extra time is similar to "overtime" in most American sports. Starting in the knockout rounds, when two teams are tied at the conclusion of the 90 minutes of regulation, the match continues into extra time. Extra time consists of two 15-minute halves, regardless of how many goals are scored. If the two teams remain tied at the conclusion of those two separate 15-minute periods, the match will go to a penalty shootout. Substitution rules also change in games that extend to extra time. In regulation, each team is allowed five substitutions. In extra time, teams are awarded an extra one. How Do Yellow And Red Cards Work At The 2026 World Cup? Yellow cards and red cards are used to discipline players who commit unethical acts on the pitch, and sometimes off of it. Yellow cards are often given to a player upon first offense, especially if they commit a minor infringement or harmless tackle — although warnings can be assessed in those situations, too. Red cards can be given upon first offense if a player commits an extremely harmful tackle or does something egregious to directly prevent a goal, like a purposeful handball or tackle inside the box. Red cards are also dealt when a player gets their second yellow in the same match. When you get a red card, you're ejected from the rest of that game — plus, your team must play the remainder of the match down a player. Players will be suspended for one game if they are shown a yellow card in two group-stage games. Any yellow cards accumulated in the group stage, though, do not carry over to the knockout rounds. Players’ card tallies are wiped clean twice during the tournament: after the group stage and after the quarterfinal. How Do Penalty Kicks Work At The World Cup? The most pressure-packed scoring opportunity in soccer might be the one where no one is defending: the penalty kick. A "PK" is a one-on-one duel between a field player and a goalkeeper in which the field player tries to score a direct kick from the penalty spot. A penalty kick is awarded when a player commits a foul — tripping, pushing or a handball — inside the penalty area, which is a large 18-yard box that extends from the goal line into the field of play. The total width of the box is 44 yards. How Do Penalty Shootouts Work At The World Cup? First, they only happen in the knockout rounds and not during the group stage. But during the knockout rounds, if the score of a game is still tied after extra time, the winner is determined with a penalty shootout. So how does it work? Each team picks five players, each player will take a penalty kick and whichever team finishes with the most goals wins. However, if they're still tied after each team takes five penalty kicks, then they continue alternating shots until someone comes out on top. Penalty Kick, Corner Kick, Free Kick: What's The Difference? A penalty kick is taken from the spot 12 yards away from the goal. It's instituted when the official stops play for an infringement that occurred inside the box. Defenders must wait outside the box, and can't move until the penalty kick taker starts their motion. The goalkeeper has freedom of movement as they're the only opponent in between the penalty taker and the goal. A corner kick is taken from the flag parallel to the goalposts, 20 yards away from the goal on either side. It's instituted when a defending player kicks the ball beyond the out-of-bounds line behind the goal. Corner kicks are good opportunities to create scoring chances. Teams often cross the ball directly from the corner flag, seeking a header or shot on goal or pass it onto a teammate and try to work toward an attempt. Free kicks can be taken from anywhere inside the lines of the pitch. They are similar to penalty kicks, in which they are instituted after an infringement, such as an illegal tackle, handball or an offsides call. They offer opportunities to kickstart an attack or get an attempt on goal. Many players will shoot directly off the free kick if they feel they are close enough to challenge the goalkeeper. The opposing team has the right to set up a wall of defenders 10 yards from the spot of the free kick. What Is A Handball At The World Cup? The most important thing to remember is that FIFA has a different interpretation of what constitutes a handball compared with the federations, Clattenburg explained. And this can lead to confusion and anger. When the official calls a "handball", the opposing team receives a free kick from the spot of the infringement. If it occurs inside the box, they're awarded a penalty kick. Handballs are largely subjective to the official's discretion. If a player's hand — which includes the entire arm up until the bottom of the armpit — deliberately or unnaturally obstructs or aids the run of play, or a goal, from occurring, the official will whistle play dead and often show that player a card. "You will see probably less handballs than we see around the world of football," Clattenburg added. "Penalties will be less given for handballs with FIFA tournaments, and this is an understanding that it's not always consistent around the world." How Does Offside At The World Cup Work? Offside is an infringement a referee calls when an attacking player is behind the last defender when their teammate passes the ball or puts in a cross. If the ball ricochets off a defender to an attacking player in an offsides position, the official will whistle the play dead. But if a player with clear possession passes the ball to their teammate or the goalkeeper and an opponent in an offside position intercepts it, the official will not whistle the play dead. Offside rulings result in a free kick for the defending team from the spot of the infringement. Why Are There Three Referees On The Field During 2026 World Cup Matches? In all, there are 52 referees with a whistle and 20 VARS, Machnik said, noting that's more than 20 additional officials compared with Qatar in 2022. There are three officials on the pitch, each with different responsibilities. The center referee operates in the field-of-play, always hovering in the proximity of play to manage the action. The center referee calls fouls and penalties, and issues yellow and red cards. They signal the start of the match with their whistle, and the end of each half. There are two sideline officials. Their main duties are to determine if a player is offside. They decipher corner kicks from goal kicks, and which team was the last to touch the ball before it went out of bounds. Sideline officials can also advise the center referee on foul calls when they occur in their line of sight. There's a fourth official, who does not manage the action on the pitch. By holding a scoreboard, they signal the amount of injury time after each half and visually communicate substitutions. They also supervise the antics of the players on the bench and the manager. "The laws are all designed to keep the game safe for the players and enjoyable for the spectators," Machnik said. "As you get to know more about the game and enjoy it, you realize that it's not glorified keepaway. It's a real, a beautiful game." 2026 FIFA World Cup: How To Watch The 2026 FIFA World Cup will run from June 11–July 19, 2026. Spread across three countries, the tournament will culminate with the final on July 19 at New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. All 104 tournament matches will air live across FOX and FS1 with every match streaming live and on-demand within both the FOX One and the FOX Sports app. The opening match on June 11 between Mexico and South Africa (3 p.m. ET) will stream for free on Tubi, as well as the USA's opening match against Paraguay on June 12 (9 p.m. ET).]]>
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					<![CDATA[South Korea vs Czechia Prediction, Odds, Picks For World Cup Match]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/2026-world-cup-south-korea-czechia-odds-predictions-picks</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/2026-world-cup-south-korea-czechia-odds-predictions-picks</guid>
				<category>soccer</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Check out the odds for the South Korea vs. Czechia Group A matchup at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Wed, 10 Jun 2026 21:50:55 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[South Korea will face Czechia in their opening Group A match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on June 11, 2026, at Guadalajara Stadium on FS1. South Korea secured its place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup by finishing in the top two of Group B in the third round of AFC qualifying, extending its streak to 11 consecutive appearances dating back to 1986. Led by captain Son Heung-min, the squad blends experience and attacking firepower, making it a dangerous opponent in any matchup. Czechia, meanwhile, has qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a 20-year absence, securing their spot with a dramatic 3-1 penalty shootout victory over Denmark in the UEFA playoffs. South Korea comes into the tournament off two wins in friendlies against El Salvador (1-0) and Trinidad and Tobago (5-0). Czechia also comes in with good form, beating both Guatemala (3-1) and Kosovo (2-1) in two friendlies over the last 13 days. Let’s check out the odds for the South Korea vs. Czechia match at FanDuel Sportsbook as of June 10. This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. Moneyline Spread Over/Under Total Odds: 2.5 South Korea vs. Czechia Prediction, Pick From FOX Sports Research: How to Watch South Korea vs. Czechia Let's take a look at some other bets for the match. Anytime Goalscorer Props: Tie No Bet: Both Teams to Score:]]>
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					<![CDATA[2026 World Cup Simulated 100,000 Times: Here Are The Results]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/2026-world-cup-simulated-100000-times-results</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/2026-world-cup-simulated-100000-times-results</guid>
				<category>soccer</category>
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				    <![CDATA[What if the World Cup was simulated 100,000 times? Here are the results.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Wed, 10 Jun 2026 21:48:15 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[If the 2026 FIFA World Cup were played not once but 100,000 times, who would lift the trophy most often? That's the question Sportradar put to an AI simulation engine, which ran the entire 48-team tournament across one hundred thousand universes. Sportradar is a sports technology company that provides real-time sports data and stats to media companies, betting services and professional leagues. The results of the simulation reveal the favorites, the dark horses worth backing to advance, and how the host nations performed. Let's take a look: This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. There were no surprises when it came to which teams won each of the 12 groups in the sims, as all the betting favorites had the highest probability of winning their respective groups and did so at least 40% of the time. There were some surprises, however, when it came to group runners-up. For instance, in Group A, South Korea has qualified for the last 11 World Cups but finished behind Czechia—a team that hasn't participated in a World Cup in 20 years. Similarly, in Group B, Canada, which is 0-0-6 (W-D-L) all-time at the World Cup, finished ahead of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the team that knocked Italy out of this year's tournament. Below are the eight third-place teams that had the highest probability of making the knockout stage based on the sims. Three African teams are expected to be in this group, along with two European teams, two Asian teams, and one South American squad. France vs. Spain was the most common matchup in the final, occurring nearly 7,000 times (7%); both teams won the tournament 16% of the time. Brazil vs. Spain was the second-most common matchup in the final, occurring nearly 5,000 times (5%); Brazil won the tournament 10% of the time. England vs. Portugal was the "least common" final matchup, occurring 2,494 times (2.5%). The usual suspects won the tournament the most, as Spain, France, England, Brazil, and Argentina won the title a combined 63,000 times out of the 100,000 sims. Portugal won the tournament in 8,000 simulations, which was the highest total of any team without a title. There were also only 5,443 simulations (5.4%) in which a team outside of Europe or South America won the tournament; Japan had the most instances of winning under these parameters at 1,415 (1.4%). The U.S. reached the semifinal in 9,794 simulations (9.8%) and the final in 3,913 (3.9%); there were also 1,297 simulations (1.3%) in which the U.S. won the title. Mexico reached the semifinal in 7,272 simulations (7.3%) and the final in 2,555 (2.6%); there were also 936 simulations (0.9%) in which Mexico won the title. Canada reached the semifinal in 4,174 simulations (4.2%) and the final in 1,158 (1.2%); there were no simulations in which Canada won the title. Kylian Mbappé scored the most goals in more than 13,000 simulations (13%). Harry Kane won the Golden Boot the second-most times, doing so in 12,000 simulations (12%). The number of goals required to win the award is expected to be eight; the winner scored eight goals in 26,000 simulations while scoring seven came in second at 22,000.]]>
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					<![CDATA[2026 World Cup Odds: El Tri Heavily Favored in High-Handle Tourney Opener]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/2026-world-cup-odds-el-tri-heavily-favored-high-handle-tourney-opener</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/2026-world-cup-odds-el-tri-heavily-favored-high-handle-tourney-opener</guid>
				<category>soccer</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Bettors are digging Mexico in the highly-anticipated World Cup opener. Patrick Everson breaks down the action.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Wed, 10 Jun 2026 21:34:59 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[World Cup odds kick off in a big way on Thursday, with Mexico vs. South Africa. As a tournament co-host — along with the USA and Canada — Mexico wants to make a splash from the outset. And El Tri is a significant favorite to do just that in a 3 p.m. ET match on FOX. Caesars Sports head of soccer trading Mark Bickerdike breaks down Mexico vs. South Africa odds and action. This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. Favorite Finding Favor No matter who Mexico was paired with, this match was destined to get a lot of action. You’ve got a popular team at home, in the first match of the 2026 World Cup. That’s a fine recipe to attract the public betting masses. "Absolutely. With it being the first game, you’ve got the climate buildup for the whole tournament," Bickerdike said. "Historically, the first games of the tournament are high handle, and I don’t see this being any different." When Caesars first posted this match, Mexico was a -185 favorite in three-way betting, which accounts for all outcomes in 90 minutes plus injury time. South Africa opened as a +550 underdog, with Draw at +280. Now, as of 6:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Mexico is an even stronger favorite at -245, with South Africa +700 and Draw +330. "Mexico is very popular. It’s fairly one-way traffic on this match. Mexico is also popular in parlays," Bickerdike said. "Given the fact that their group is fairly favorable, that’s only going to enhance the interest in Mexico. "It’s very rare that we’re not rooting for the Draw. That’s the best result."]]>
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					<![CDATA[2026 World Cup Power Rankings: Every Team Ranked From 48 to 1]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/2026-world-cup-power-rankings-alexi-lalas</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/2026-world-cup-power-rankings-alexi-lalas</guid>
				<category>soccer</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[FOX Sports' Alexi Lalas power ranked all 48 World Cup teams ahead of the 2026 tournament. Where did your team land?]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Wed, 10 Jun 2026 19:51:39 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[Ready for the soccer smorgasbord that will be the 2026 FIFA World Cup? You better be because you know I am. I'm ready for 48 teams from around the globe to take part in what will be an epic party spread across three nations, including the United States. But let's be real. There are teams that are better than others. Some will have a legit shot at winning it all. And some will just enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience. So now it's time to rank all 48 teams. And remember, these are my power rankings. If you don't like them, you can get your own. Odds to win the World Cup: +250000 (T-36th)Key player: Winger Derrick Etienne Jr. (Toronto FC) Hey, when you're at the bottom, there's nowhere to go but up. This will be Haiti's second World Cup and first since 1974. Group C opponents: Scotland (June 13), Brazil (June 19), Morocco (June 24) Odds to win the World Cup: +250000 (T-36th)Key player: Midfielder Leandro Bacuna (Iğdır FK) Curaçao is the smallest nation in the World Cup with a population of about 158,000. Size doesn't matter … until it does. Group E opponents: Germany (June 14), Ecuador (June 20), Ivory Coast (June 25) Odds to win the World Cup: +250000 (T-36th)Key player: Midfielder Adalberto Carrasquilla (Pumas UNAM) Panama returns to the World Cup after missing out on 2022. It gets a brutal group against England, Croatia and Ghana. The Panamanians will be lucky to score a goal. Group L opponents: Ghana (June 17), Croatia (June 23), England (June 27) Odds to win the World Cup: +250000 (T-36th)Key player: Striker Lyle Foster (Burnley) South Africa is going to need a bigger vuvuzela to make an impact at this World Cup. It will have a solid chance to shake things up in the opening match of the tournament against Mexico. Group A opponents: Mexico (June 11), Czechia (June 18), South Korea (June 24) Odds to win the World Cup: +250000 (T-36th)Key player: Winger Ryan Mendes (Iğdır FK) Cape Verde is an incredible story, but this team will be happy just to be involved in the World Cup and collect the gift bag. Group H opponents: Spain (June 15), Uruguay (June 21), Saudi Arabia (June 26) Odds to win the World Cup: +250000 (T-36th)Key player: Striker Chris Wood (Nottingham Forest) The Kiwis qualified directly from the Oceania region, which is the weakest confederation in international soccer. I'll leave it at that. Group G opponents: Iran (June 15), Egypt (June 21), Belgium (June 26) Odds to win the World Cup: +250000 (T-36th)Key player: Striker Ayman Hussein (Al-Karma) The good news for Iraq: It's back in the World Cup for the first time in 40 years! The bad news: The Iraqis will face France, Senegal and Norway in their group games. Group I opponents: Norway (June 16), France (June 22), Senegal (June 26) Odds to win the World Cup: +250000 (T-36th)Key player: Forward Akram Afif (Al Sadd) Qatar is back after scoring one goal and losing all three of its games as the host nation in 2022. Group B opponents: Switzerland (June 13), Canada (June 18), Bosnia and Herzegovina (June 24) Odds to win the World Cup: +250000 (T-36th)Key player: Defender Abdukodir Khusanov (Manchester City) Almost the entire Uzbekistan team plays its club soccer in its home country, so I'm not expecting much from it this summer. Group K opponents: Colombia (June 17), Portugal (June 23), Congo DR (June 27) Odds to win the World Cup: +250000 (T-36th)Key player: Striker Cédric Bakambu (Real Betis) DR Congo is back in the World Cup after 52 years. Its reward: an opening match against Portugal. It will be hoping to channel Saudi Arabia's 2022 team, which opened the tournament with a shocking win over Argentina. Group K opponents: Portugal (June 17), Colombia (June 23), Uzbekistan (June 27) Odds to win the World Cup: +150000 (35th)Key player: Midfielder Ellyes Skhiri (Eintracht Frankfurt) Tunisia has never advanced out of the group stage at a World Cup, although it won games at each of the last two tournaments. I'm still not expecting this team to make the knockout stage this summer. Group F schedule: Sweden (June 14), Japan (June 20), Netherlands (June 25) Odds to win the World Cup: +250000 (T-36th)Key player: Winger Musa Al-Taamari (Rennes) The only parting gift Jordan should expect to get from the World Cup this summer is an autograph from Lionel Messi in its final Group J game. Group J opponents: Austria (June 16), Algeria (June 22), Argentina (June 27) Odds to win the World Cup: +250000 (T-36th)Key player: Midfielder Jackson Irvine (St. Pauli) There are no stars to be found on this team, but the underdog role suits the Australians. They could be a spoiler in Group D against the United States, Türkiye and Paraguay. Group D opponents: Türkiye (June 13), USA (June 19), Paraguay (June 25) Odds to win the World Cup: +15000 (23rd)Key player: Winger Wilfried Zaha (Charlotte FC) The Ivorians didn't qualify for either of the last two World Cups and have never made it out of the group stage. That will be a tough task this year in a group with Germany and Ecuador. Group E opponents: Ecuador (June 14), Germany (June 20), Curaçao (June 25) Odds to win the World Cup: +35000 (29th)Key player: Winger Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) Egypt has never won a World Cup game. That could change this summer with matches against Iran and New Zealand in the group stage. Group G opponents: Belgium (June 15), New Zealand (June 21), Iran (June 26) Odds to win the World Cup: +25000 (28th)Key player: Winger Riyad Mahrez (Al-Ahli) The Algerian attack is strong, led by winger Riyad Mahrez and a solid supporting cast. This team’s potential downfall: its defense. Group J opponents: Argentina (June 16), Jordan (June 22), Austria (June 27) Odds to win the World Cup: +40000 (T-30th)Key player: Striker Edin Džeko (Schalke 04) Did the Bosnians peak by beating Italy to qualify for this tournament? That will be the big question for this team entering the tournament. Bosnia and Herzegovina will face Canada on home soil and a tough matchup against Switzerland in Group B. Group B opponents: Canada (June 12), Switzerland (June 18), Qatar (June 24) Odds to win the World Cup: +250000 (T-36th)Key player: Winger Salem Al-Dawsari (Al-Hilal) Just 56 days before its first game of the tournament, Saudi Arabia moved on from manager Herve Renard. It was a bold move for a team that faces Uruguay and Spain in its first two games of the tournament. Group H opponents: Uruguay (June 15), Spain (June 21), Cape Verde (June 26) Odds to win the World Cup: +75000 (34th)Key player: Winger Alireza Jahanbakhsh (Dender EH) Iran enters the tournament with a lot of uncertainty, but it can make some noise in a group that is pretty tame after Belgium with Egypt and New Zealand. Group G opponents: New Zealand (June 15), Belgium (June 21), Egypt (June 26) Odds to win the World Cup: +50000 (33rd)Key player: Midfielder Tomáš Souček (West Ham United) Czechia thrives through set pieces, physicality and its size. Those tools will only get you so far against the best teams in the world. Group A opponents: South Korea (June 11), South Africa (June 18), Mexico (June 24) Odds to win the World Cup: +40000 (T-30th)Key player: Winger Antoine Semenyo (Manchester City) Ghana will have a young and inexperienced squad this summer. It's more of a project capable of making more noise in four years instead of now. Group L opponents: Panama (June 17), England (June 23), Croatia (June 27) Odds to win the World Cup: +20000 (26th)Key player: Midfielder Scott McTominay (Napoli) After a horrible showing at Euro 2024, Scotland is back at its first World Cup since 1998. Scottish supporters are great, but their team will need to win its first game against Haiti to have any success this summer. Group C opponents: Haiti (June 13), Morocco (June 19), Brazil (June 24) Odds to win the World Cup: +17500 (T-24)Key player: Midfielder Miguel Almiron (Atlanta United) If Paraguay is going to have any success this summer, it's not going to be pretty. The goal for this team will be to muck it up and grind it out in a competitive Group D with the United States, Türkiye and Australia. Group D opponents: USA (June 12), Türkiye (June 19), Australia (June 25) Odds to win the World Cup: +17500 (T-24th)Key player: Striker Viktor Gyokeres (Arsenal) Sweden didn't win a single game in UEFA qualifying but made it to the playoff round thanks to its success in the UEFA Nations League. The Swedes punched their ticket to the World Cup thanks to impressive wins in March over Ukraine and Poland. Group F opponents: Tunisia (June 14), Netherlands (June 20), Japan (June 25) Odds to win the World Cup: +10000 (21st)Key player: Midfielder Marcel Sabitzer (Borussia Dortmund) The Austrians are back at the World Cup for the first time since 1998, and they're sneaky good. Powered by a strong midfield, Austria could give Argentina problems in Group J. Group J opponents: Jordan (June 16), Argentina (June 22), Algeria (June 27) Odds to win the World Cup: +12500 (22nd)Key player: Winger Sadio Mané (Al Nassr) The African champions (allegedly) come into this tournament as a popular dark-horse pick. Unfortunately, Senegal was paired with France and Norway, so it faces an uphill battle. Group I opponents: France (June 16), Norway (June 22), Iraq (June 26) Odds to win the World Cup: +22500 (27th)Key player: Defender Alphonso Davies (Bayern Munich) Canada avoided Italy after Bosnia and Herzegovina's upset in qualifying in late March, but be careful what you wish for. The Canadians have more talent than ever, but it won't be smooth sailing for them this summer. Group B opponents: Bosnia and Herzegovina (June 12), Qatar (June 18), Switzerland (June 24) Odds to win the World Cup: +7000 (T-17th)Key player: Midfielder Arda Güler (Real Madrid) A new sense of pragmatism may enable the Turks to live up to the hype around their young team. This team will be the Americans' biggest competition in Group D. Group D opponents: Australia (June 13), Paraguay (June 19), USA (June 25) Odds to win the World Cup: +40000 (T-30th)Key player: Winger Son Heung-min (LAFC) The Koreans have a good team, but they did not get any luck from the draw. South Korea will play all of its games in the group stage in Mexico. Group A opponents: Czechia (June 11), Mexico (June 18), South Africa (June 24) Odds to win the World Cup: +7000 (T-17th)Key player: Midfielder Granit Xhaka (Sunderland) The Swiss national team is like the country's banking system: safe, boring and effective. Switzerland is not going to dominate in attack, but it will be efficient and be a tough out for any opposition. Group B opponents: Qatar (June 13), Bosnia and Herzegovina (June 18), Canada (June 24) Odds to win the World Cup: +5000 (T-12th)Key player: Midfielder Takefusa Kubo (Real Sociedad) Japan beat England at Wembley Stadium in London in late March. It was an impressive victory that saw the Japanese clean up on — and off — the field. Group F opponents: Netherlands (June 14), Tunisia (June 20), Sweden (June 25) Odds to win the World Cup: +8000 (20th)Key player: Midfielder Moises Caicedo (Chelsea) Ecuador has a golden generation of players here, featuring Caicedo and defenders Piero Hincape and Willian Pacho. Believing in this team, though, is fool's gold. Group E opponents: Ivory Coast (June 14), Curaçao (June 20), Germany (June 25) Odds to win the World Cup: +3000 (10th)Key player: Striker Erling Haaland (Manchester City) Norway will be a sexy dark-horse pick after dominating qualifying, which includes two wins over Italy. The Norwegians will need more than just Haaland if they want to really compete this summer, though. Group I opponents: Iraq (June 16), Senegal (June 22), France (June 26) Odds to win the World Cup: +6000 (T-15th)Key player: Midfielder Federico Valverde (Real Madrid) Uruguay's golden generation, which was led by strikers Luis Suárez and Edinson Cavani, has given way to a bronze-ish generation. That doesn't mean this team will be a pushover, though. Group H opponents: Saudia Arabia (June 15), Cape Verde (June 21), Spain (June 26) Odds to win the World Cup: +6000 (T-15th)Key player: Striker Raúl Jiménez (Wolves) Mexico gets all of its group-stage games on home soil. That's a positive on paper, but if results don't go their way, the Mexicans will be in trouble. Group A opponents: South Africa (June 11), South Korea (June 18), Czechia (June 24) Odds to win the World Cup: +5000 (T-12th)Key player: Defender Achraf Hakimi (PSG) Everyone's darling from 2022 is no longer a surprise. Morocco is not going to sneak up on opposition this summer. Group C opponents: Brazil (June 13), Scotland (June 19), Haiti (June 24) Odds to win the World Cup: +5500 (14th)Key player: Winger Christian Pulisic (AC Milan) Nothing beats home cooking, but the United States might need a double helping of it this summer if it wants to contend. The Americans enter the tournament coming off a win over Senegal and loss to Germany in friendlies. Group D opponents: Paraguay (June 12), Australia (June 19), Türkiye (June 25) Odds to win the World Cup: +2200 (9th)Key player: Midfielder Kevin De Bruyne (Napoli) Belgium was drawn into an easy group (Egypt, Iran and New Zealand), so advancing from there won't be a problem. The sum of the Belgians' parts will dictate whether they're a contender in the knockout rounds, though. Group G opponents: Egypt (June 15), Iran (June 21), New Zealand (June 26) Odds to win the World Cup: +7500 (19th)Key player: Midfielder Luka Modrić (AC Milan) Croatia is the favorite of dads and old guys everywhere. Modrić is in the final chapter of his international career and leads a Croatian team that has shown it's more than capable of beating any team in this tournament. Group L opponents: England (June 17), Panama (June 23), Ghana (June 27) Odds to win the World Cup: +1300 (7th)Key player: Midfielder Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich) Even a mediocre German team is still German. While manager Julian Nagelsmann's squad lacks truly elite players, it will still be a force to be reckoned with this summer. Group E opponents: Curaçao (June 14), Ivory Coast (June 20), Ecuador (June 25) Odds to win the World Cup: +1700 (8th)Key player: Defender Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool) While the Dutch have a strong team, it's not quite ready for prime time to truly compete with the top-tiered teams. There is quality around the field on this team, but the Netherlands isn't among the favorites. Group F opponents: Japan (June 14), Sweden (June 20), Tunisia (June 25) Odds to win the World Cup: +900 (5th)Key player: Winger Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid) It's rare that Brazil enters a World Cup this low in anyone's rankings. I like the idea of the Brazilians entering this tournament with low expectations attached to them. That might make them more dangerous. Group C opponents: Morocco (June 13), Haiti (June 19), Scotland (June 24) Odds to win the World Cup: +750 (4th)Key player: Striker Cristiano Ronaldo (Al Nassr) The dynamic surrounding Ronaldo will make or break this tournament for Portugal. The 41-year-old is missing one major trophy in his career, and that's the World Cup. Will the attention he draws be a help or a hindrance? Group K opponents: DR Congo (June 17), Uzbekistan (June 23), Colombia (June 27) Odds to win the World Cup: +1000 (6th)Key player: Forward Lionel Messi (Inter Miami) In a vacuum, I'd have Argentina higher, but no team has won back-to-back World Cups since Brazil way back in 1958 and 1962. There is no doubt, though, that the Argentines remain serious contenders, led by one of the best players ever in Messi. Group J opponents: Algeria (June 16), Austria (June 22), Jordan (June 27) Odds to win the World Cup: +4000 (11th)Key player: Midfielder James Rodríguez (No club) I see the heat and environment in the United States favoring South American teams this summer. Colombia has shown it can compete with the best at these big tournaments, and it has a star in attack (winger Luis Díaz) who could lead it to the promised land. Group K opponents: Uzbekistan (June 17), DR Congo (June 23), Portugal (June 27) Odds to win the World Cup: +700 (3rd)Key player: Midfielder Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid) It pains me to say this, but this is the best England team in decades. With striker Harry Kane leading the attack and Bellingham and Declan Rice in midfield, this could be the year that England breaks through and wins a major international trophy. Group L opponents: Croatia (June 17), Ghana (June 23), Panama (June 27) Odds to win the World Cup: +460 (1st)Key player: Midfielder Pedri (Barcelona) This is not your parents' Spain, which won the Euros twice and the 2010 World Cup. It's better. The Spaniards won Euro 2024 and have not lost since March 2024 — plus, only twice since the start of 2023. Group H opponents: Cape Verde (June 15), Saudia Arabia (June 21), Uruguay (June 26) Odds to win the World Cup: +500 (2nd)Key player: Striker Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid) The combination of talent, depth and arrogance in this square … it's like a lethal French perfume. Manager Didier Deschamps' team has everything needed to send him off with a win this summer in his final major tournament in charge. Group I opponents: Senegal (June 16), Iraq (June 22), Norway (June 26) 2026 FIFA World Cup: How To Watch The World Cup will run from June 11–July 19, 2026. Spread across three countries, the tournament will culminate with the final on July 19 at New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. All 104 tournament matches will air live across FOX and FS1 with every match streaming live and on-demand within both the FOX One and the FOX Sports apps.]]>
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					<![CDATA[Breaking Down 1 World Cup Player To Watch From All 48 Teams]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/world-cup-top-players-48-countries-teams</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/world-cup-top-players-48-countries-teams</guid>
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				    <![CDATA[What to know about these key World Cup players, from living legends to goal machines and youngsters.]]>
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				<pubDate>Wed, 10 Jun 2026 17:55:52 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[The 2026 FIFA World Cup will ultimately come to life because of its constellation of stars, and this summer’s tournament will be full of them. From living legends like Argentina’s Lionel Messi and Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo to goal machines Kylian Mbappé of France and Erling Haaland of Norway — these are the names who’ll take center stage starting in June. Here’s one player from each of the 48 World Cup squads worth keeping a close eye on. JUMP TO: Group A | Group B | Group C | Group D | Group E | Group F | Group G | Group H | Group I | Group J | Group K | Group L 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP GROUP A Raúl Jiménez | Forward | Mexico Age: 35National team appearances: 126Club: Wolves (England) Jiménez is part of Mexico’s veteran core. He scored nine of El Tri’s 22 goals in 2025, including a brace in both the Nations League semifinal and final. Jimenez also netted the winning goal in the Gold Cup semifinal and added another in the win over the U.S. in the tournament final. Jimenez, who has already played in three World Cups, has also scored ten goals for Fulham across all competitions this season and is in ideal form entering an important summer with a World Cup on home soil. Notable stat: Jiménez has scored 45 goals for Mexico, which is two shy of moving into second all time and nine shy of breaking the record held by Javier "Chicharito" Hernández. Jimenez's European club career includes stops at Atlético Madrid, Benfica, Wolverhampton and Fulham. Lyle Foster | Forward | South Africa Age: 25National team appearances: 31Club: Burnley (England) Foster brings a strong attacking presence to the Bafana Bafana. He’s fast and can be dangerous in the buildup, but his teammates need to find ways to get him the ball. The 25-year-old striker plays for Burnley in the Premier League, where he has scored three goals this season. Foster netted two goals and had two assists in the Africa Cup of Nations as South Africa made it to the round of 16. Notable stat: Foster has made nearly 100 appearances for Burnley since joining the club in 2022 and has scored 10 goals for South Africa in 31 appearances. Son Heung-min | Forward | South Korea Age: 33National team appearances: 145Club: LAFC (United States) Known as "Sonny," South Korea's undisputed star and captain will be a fan favorite. Son is South Korea’s most-capped player and is close to becoming the program’s all-time leading goal-scorer — perhaps he’ll break that record over the summer. At the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, he led the Taegeuk Warriors to a dramatic group-stage win over Portugal, but they fell in the Round of 16 when they lost to Brazil. The winger is in good form for LAFC and leads MLS this season in assists. Notable stat: Before his move to LAFC in 2024, Son spent 10 seasons at Tottenham, where he scored 173 goals in 454 appearances. Tomáš Souček | Midfielder | Czechia Age: 31National team appearances: 90Club: West Ham United (England) Bayer Leverkusen striker Patrik Schick will likely score goals this summer, but Souček will provide reliability in the midfield for Czechia. Souček has been the team's longtime captain, and he led the squad to qualify for the World Cup by beating both Ireland and Denmark on penalties during the UEFA playoffs in March. Souček was also nominated as the Czech Footballer of the Year in 2025. Notable stat: Souček has made more than 270 appearances for West Ham United since 2019. 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP GROUP B Alphonso Davies | Forward | Canada Age: 25National team appearances: 58Club: Bayern Munich (Germany) Davies will wear the armband for the co-hosts this summer and is looking to bounce back after what's been an injury-marred season for his club. The Bayern Munich standout, UEFA Champions League winner and former FIFA Best XI selection scored the first World Cup goal in Canada’s history in 2022 at Qatar. His main attribute is his versatility. He often plays left back for Bayern but takes a more attacking position for Canada. In Bayern's Bundesliga-clinching win on April 19, he scored his first goal of the season. Notable stat: Davies has made more than 240 appearances for Bayern Munich since joining the team in 2018. Esmir Bajraktarević | Forward | Bosnia and Herzegovina Age: 21National team appearances: 16Club: PSV Eindhoven (Netherlands) It's easy to pick 40-year-old talisman striker Edin Džeko, but let's go with surprise star Bajraktarević. The 21-year-old MLS academy product — he was born and raised in Appleton, Wisconsin, after his parents fled the war-torn Baltic state in the 1990s — converted the decisive penalty attempt against Italy in March's World Cup playoffs. Cut from the U.S. Olympic team in 2024 before switching international allegiances, the player who has been affectionately nicknamed the "Milwaukee Messi" now returns to his native country for this summer's World Cup. Notable stat: Bajraktarević has made nearly 40 appearances for Dutch club PSV Eindhoven since joining that team in 2025 from MLS club New England Revolution. Almoez Ali | Forward | Qatar Age: 29National team appearances: 126Club: Al-Duhail (Qatar) Though he’s not yet even 30, Ali has already made well more than 100 appearances for Qatar and is the Maroons' all-time top scorer with 60 international goals. The Sudan-born striker was also part of the 2022 World Cup squad for Qatar, which hosted the tournament. Notable stat: Ali led Qatar to two AFC Cup titles and was the top scorer in the 2019 edition. Manuel Akanji | Defender | Switzerland Age: 30National team appearances: 81Club: Inter Milan (Italy) Although defensive midfielder Granit Xhaka is the captain, look for Akanji to also take on a big responsibility. The Manchester City man, who’s on loan at Inter Milan this season, has helped get the Italian club two domestic trophies. For Switzerland, he's been an anchor for a defense that conceded just two goals in six games in the final round of UEFA’s 2026 World Cup qualifying tournament. Notable stat: Since 2017, Akanji has made more than 330 appearances for Borussia Dortmund, Manchester City and Inter Milan. 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP GROUP C Raphinha | Forward | Brazil Age: 29National team appearances: 39Club: Barcelona (Spain) On a star-studded roster, who do you pick? Let's lean on Raphinha. While Real Madrid winger Vinícius Júnior gets most of the plaudits, the Barcelona attacking midfielder has arguably been the better player over the last year, despite some hamstring injuries. Raphinha was the lone Brazilian to earn a Ballon d’Or nomination in 2025, and his ability to also play on the wings will keep opponents on their toes this summer. Notable stat: Raphinha has made more than 170 appearances for Barcelona since joining the club in 2022 from Leeds United, totaling more than 130 goal contributions. Brahim Díaz | Forward | Morocco Age: 26National team appearances: 26Club: Real Madrid (Spain) Paris Saint-Germain defender Archaf Hakimi is seen as a top-10 player in the world, but Brahim Díaz could be a breakout star for Morocco at this World Cup. The Real Madrid midfielder scored five goals for the Atlas Lions in the Africa Cup of Nations, and fans are hoping that was just the jumping off point. Díaz played for the Spanish youth national team before committing to Morocco and is a rising star who former manager Walid Regragui said could be "the best player in the world." The 26-year-old was not part of Morocco's 2022 World Cup team, which made it to the semifinal, but he could be a reason why the squad makes another deep run in 2026. Notable stat: The 26-year-old has made nearly 300 appearances in his time with Manchester City, AC Milan and Real Madrid; he appeared in 12 Champions League games this season as well. Johny Placide | Goalkeeper | Haiti Age: 38National team appearances: 80Club: Bastia (France) Placide could be very busy this summer. The 38-year-old French-born goalkeeper has been Haiti’s captain for the last 15 years and will backstop the team's effort this summer in a group that includes five-time champion Brazil and 2022 semifinalist Morocco. Notable stat: Placide has been a part of Haiti's two bronze-medal finishes at the Caribbean Cup, coming in 2012 and 2014. Scott McTominay | Midfielder | Scotland Age: 29National team appearances: 70Club: Napoli (Italy) McTominay has had a renaissance over the past year. The 6-foot-3 attacking midfielder led Napoli to the Italian title last season, earning a Ballon d’Or nomination along the way. It was his spectacular bicycle kick that opened the scoring in Scotland’s World Cup qualifying clincher over Denmark. A former Manchester United player, McTominay will be the focal point for the Tartan Army. Notable stat: McTominay was named the 2024-25 Serie A Footballer of the Year, becoming the first Scottish player to win the Italian award. 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP GROUP D Weston McKennie | Midfielder | United States Age: 27National team appearances: 66Club: Juventus (Italy) Has McKennie now surpassed AC Milan’s Christian Pulisic — who struggled mightily in early 2026 — as the Americans' most influential player? The all-action Juventus midfielder is having a career season (four goals during Champions League competition) in which he’s been the best player for Italy’s most successful club. It was promising that he scored for the USA in the March friendly against Belgium, despite the 5-2 loss in Atlanta. Now a veteran presence for the Stars and Stripes, McKennie can further solidify his stardom on home soil this summer. Notable stat: McKennie has made more than 220 appearances for Juventus since joining the club in 2020, with more than 50 goal contributions in that span. His 64 caps are third-most among active players behind Pulisic's 84 and Tim Ream's 80. Miguel Almirón | Midfielder | Paraguay Age: 32National team appearances: 76Club: Atlanta United (United States) Almirón is familiar to fans on three continents, having moved from Cerro Porteño in his native country to Argentine club Lanús to MLS side Atlanta United to Premier League mainstay Newcastle United before returning to Atlanta last year. With Paraguay being the USA's opening match opponent, Almirón could also help spoil the Americans’ party during group stage action. Notable stat: Almirón made 223 appearances for Newcastle United from 2018 to 2025, scoring 30 goals and 12 assists. Jordan Bos | Defender | Australia Age: 23National team appearances: 27Club: Feyenoord (Netherlands) The 23-year-old Feyenoord left back is a quicking turning heads in European club soccer. Bos has experience scoring against the USA, and he could do so again when the Socceroos take on the co-hosting team in Seattle in group-stage play. Last October, he had the Aussies’ lone goal in a 2-1 loss to the U.S. in an exhibition match in Denver. He scored in his next two appearances, too, including a game-winner over Cameroon in March. Notable stat: Bos made 46 appearances in two seasons for Westerlo (Belgian Pro League) before making his move to the Dutch Eredivisie. Kenan Yıldız | Forward | Türkiye Age: 21National team appearances: 28Club: Juventus (Italy) Expect a tough matchup for the USA when it takes on Yıldız and Türkiye in what could be the Group D decider this summer. Real Madrid forward Arda Güler is continuing to shine this season (despite suffering an injury on April 23), but 21-year-old Juventus playmaker Yıldız has already established himself as one of the game's most gifted youngsters in global soccer. In 2024-25, the Juventus winger scored Serie A’s "Goal of the Season." Notable stat: In 42 appearances for Juventus this season, Yildiz has scored 11 goals and recorded 10 assists. 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP GROUP E Florian Wirtz | Midfielder | Germany Age: 23National team appearances: 41Club: Liverpool (England) Wirtz may be struggling this season with Liverpool, but he'll give Germany a shot at making a deep run at the World Cup. The 23-year-old midfielder helped Bayer Leverkusen go undefeated en route to winning the German title two seasons ago before being named Bundesliga Player of the Year in 2025. He then moved to Liverpool later that year on a blockbuster $156 million transfer deal but continues to adjust to life in the Premier League. In March, Wirtz scored his 10th goal in just 39 games for his country. Notable stat: Before moving to Liverpool this season, Wirtz scored 57 goals and 65 assists in 197 appearances for Bayer Leverkusen from 2019 to 2025. Eloy Room | Goalkeeper | Curaçao Age: 37National team appearances: 72Club: Miami FC (United States) With debut team Curaçao facing some stiff competition in this group, Room figures to be plenty busy for the Blue Wave this summer. Tied for the most caps (with former Aston Villa striker Leandro Bacuna) in Curaçao’s history, Room's journeyman career has taken him across several clubs in the Netherlands and Belgium. He did have a notable stint in MLS as he helped the Columbus Crew win the 2020 MLS Cup. Room now plays for Miami FC in the USA’s second-tier USL Championship. Notable stat: Room recorded a clean sheet for the Columbus Crew in the 3-0 victory in the 2020 MLS Cup final over the Seattle Sounders. Franck Kessié | Midfielder | Ivory Coast Age: 29National team appearances: 102Club: Al-Ahli (Saudi Arabia) Kessié is not just Ivory Coast’s heart-and-soul central midfielder, but he is also the Elephants’ captain. Now playing his club ball in Saudi Arabia, the 29-year-old’s resume includes stints with European juggernauts Barcelona and AC Milan. A good showing this summer at the World Cup could land him a return to a European club. Notable stat: During his time at AC Milan and Barcelona, Kessie totaled 266 appearances, scoring 40 goals and 19 assists. Moisés Caicedo | Midfielder | Ecuador Age: 24National team appearances: 61Club: Chelsea (England) Regarded as perhaps the finest defensive midfielder in the game, Caicedo will lead a stacked Ecuador side that also features 36-year-old all-time scoring leader Enner Valencia and young Paris Saint-Germain defender Willian Pacho. La Tri is seen as a dark-horse side, but Caicedo helped Chelsea win the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup and is the linchpin in Ecuador's lineup. Notable stat: Caicedo's transfer from Brighton Hove &amp; Albion to Chelsea in 2023 was the fourth-most expensive for a central midfielder in the world at $129.5 million, according to Transfermarkt. 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP GROUP F Virgil van Dijk | Defender | Netherlands Age: 34National team appearances: 92Club: Liverpool (England) Van Dijk is the best center back in the world. The main thing about the 6-foot-5 stalwart defender is his leadership. He captains both his Liverpool club and his country, and his energy and tone trickle down to his teammates. He’s literally and figuratively the quarterback of his back line. He’s composed on the ball, rarely makes mistakes, wins one-on-one battles and is a bully in the air. He’ll turn 35 during the World Cup, but his age doesn’t matter — van Dijk is a reason why the Oranje are automatically contenders against any opponent. Notable stat: One of the most decorated Dutch players of all time, van Dijk is a former English Premier League Player of the Season and five-time Team of the Season selection. Takefusa Kubo | Forward | Japan Age: 25National team appearances: 49Club: Real Sociedad (Spain) Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo is a key player for Japan, but will he be able to come back in time for the World Cup after ankle surgery in February? Regardless, the Samurai Blue will need players like Kubo to step up. The Real Sociedad winger, who was once dubbed the "Japanese Messi," has looked good following his return from a hamstring injury in January. He's been a key contributor for Real Sociedad, which won the Spanish Copa del Rey in April. Notable stat: Kubo played for Barcelona’s youth academy and was acquired by Real Madrid in 2019, never making an appearance for the team but totaling more than 200 appearances in La Liga play for Mallorca, Villarreal, Getafe and Real Sociedad. Viktor Gyökeres | Forward | Sweden Age: 28National team appearances: 33Club: Arsenal (England) Sweden will have two elite strikers in Liverpool's Alexander Isak and Arsenal's Gyökeres, but the latter has been a bit more prolific this season. The Arsenal star scored four goals in Sweden’s two playoff games against Ukraine and Poland. Isak is working his way back from surgery on a fibula fracture last December, which means Gyökeres is the most in form at the moment to lead the Swedish attack this summer. Notable stat: Before moving to Arsenal this season, Gyökeres scored 97 goals and 28 assists in 102 appearances for Sporting Lisbon. Hannibal Mejbri | Forward | Midfielder Age: 23National team appearances: 45Club: Burnley (England) Mejbri will wear the number 10 for the African side this summer as they look to qualify for the knockout stages for the first time in their history. He is a huge key piece of this national team, as he is closing in on 50 caps despite only being 23.The former Manchester United player will come into this tournament motivated, as he was part of a Burnley side that got relegated this season.Notable stat: Mejbri has made more than 100 senior appearances across England and Spain, including stints with Manchester United, Birmingham City, Sevilla, and Burnley. 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP GROUP G Jérémy Doku | Forward | Belgium Age: 24National team appearances: 42Club: Manchester City (England) Napoli midfielder Kevin De Bruyne? Real Madrid keeper Thibaut Courtois? We're going with standout winger Jérémy Doku. Belgium boasts elite players up and down its lineup, including veteran defender Thomas Meunier and captain Youri Tielemans, but the 24 -year-old Manchester City dangerman — a key threat — is its undisputed game-breaker. He scored against the USA in the March friendly, and the Red Devils will go as far as he takes them. Notable stat: Since signing with Manchester City in 2023, Doku has made more than 120 appearances for the team, with 20 coming in the Champions League. Mohamed Salah | Forward | Egypt Age: 33National team appearances: 116Club: Liverpool (England) Mohamed Salah is easily the greatest player in the country’s history with 67 goals. The Pharaohs captain and Liverpool icon, who'll leave the club this summer, could overtake current national team coach Hossam Hassan’s Egyptian record of 69 goals in what could be his final World Cup. Notable stat: Salah is a two-time African Footballer of the Year winner and a two-time English Premier League Player of the Season. He's won nine major trophies with Liverpool — including two league titles and the Champions League. Mehdi Taremi | Forward | Iran Age: 33National team appearances: 105Club: Olimpiacos (Greece) Taremi stands out for Team Melli. The talented striker is Iran's captain and best player, having played across several prominent European teams. A key factor for Greek power Olimpiacos, Taremi was a UEFA Champions League runner-up with Inter Milan last season. Notable stat: In 225 combined appearances with Porto and Inter Milan, Taremi scored 94 goals and added 65 assists. Chris Wood | Forward | New Zealand Age: 34National team appearances: 90Club: Nottingham Forest (England) If New Zealand score any goals this summer, it'll likely be by Chris Wood. The 34-year-old Premier Leaguer has more goals and caps than any player in the country’s history. The 6-foot-3 Nottingham Forest striker also wears the armband for the Kiwis under English coach Darren Bazeley. Notable stat: Wood’s career includes stops all around the English Premier League, having played at Leicester City, Leeds United, Burnley and Newcastle United before making the move to Nottingham Forest in 2023. 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP GROUP H Lamine Yamal | Forward | Spain Age: 18National team appearances: 25Club: Barcelona (Spain) World Cup fans will be relieved that Yamal is expected to be in action this summer for Spain, despite a hamstring injury that will keep him out of Barcelona’s final stretch. This will be the 18-year-old’s first World Cup, and he will be an absolute delight for fans. He’s creative and unafraid on the ball and is a force in the attack, when healthy, be it for Spain or his club Barcelona. While this will be his debut on the global stage, Yamal has already won a Euros medal, and his unique talent already has soccer fans wondering if he’s the best player in the world already or if it's only a matter of time. Notable stat: He is the most expensive player in the world at $235.5 million, according to Transfermarkt. At age 17, he became the first player ever to score or assist in the quarterfinals, semifinals and final of a single European Championship during the 2024 edition. Dailon Livramento | Forward | Cape Verde Age: 25National team appearances: 20Club: Casa Pia (Portugal) Livramento carries the hopes and dreams of this island nation off the coast of Africa. The 25 -year-old plays in Portugal and has scored the two most important goals in his nation’s history: the opener in a 3-0 win over Eswatini during World Cup qualifying and then the game-winner against Cameroon, clinching a spot for this summer's tournament. Notable stat: Livramento spent the early part of his career playing in the Netherlands before making the move to Italy for Hellas Verona in 2024 and made 31 appearances. Salem Al-Dawsari | Forward | Saudi Arabia Age: 34National team appearances: 110Club: Al-Hilal (Saudi Arabia) Al-Dawsari is one of the best players in Saudi football history and has made more than 100 appearances for his country. The 34-year-old midfielder plays for Al-Hilal and captains his national team. He scored a stunning goal in the win over Argentina at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. With a team like Spain looming in the group stage, perhaps he’ll have more heroics up his sleeve this summer. Notable stat: Al-Dawsari is a two-time Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Player of the Year winner (2022, 2025) who has scored more than 140 goals for Al-Hilal while leading the team to six Saudi Pro League titles. Federico Valverde | Midfielder | Uruguay Age: 27National team appearances: 73Club: Real Madrid (Spain) Valverde is one of Uruguay’s more familiar and established players. He has experience and has Champions League, La Liga and FIFA Club World Cup titles to his name. Valverde has more than 70 caps for La Celeste and was on Uruguay's rosters for both the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. Notable stat: Considered one of the best midfielders in the world, Valverde has made more than 360 appearances for Real Madrid since joining the team in 2018. 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP GROUP I Kylian Mbappé | Forward | France Age: 27National team appearances: 98Club: Real Madrid (Spain) Mbappé was the leading scorer at the last World Cup with eight goals — including a hat trick in the final — and he’s arguably still the world’s best player when at the height of his powers. Since 2022, he has made the move from Paris Saint-Germain to Real Madrid, where he continues to shine. Already a World Cup winner from the 2018 tournament, a second one would further solidify his case of being among the best of all time. Notable stat: Mbappé is just one of two players ever to record a hat trick in a World Cup final, joining England's Geoff Hurst. He is also five goals away from breaking the all-time record of 16 set by Germany's Miroslav Klose. Idrissa Gueye | Midfielder | Senegal Age: 36National team appearances: 131Club: Everton (England) Sadio Mané was a mainstay for clubs like Liverpool and Bayern Munich, but don't overlook Gueye, who is Senegal’s captain and most capped player. The current Everton and former Paris Saint-Germain midfielder remains a key player for his country even at age 36. Notable stat: Gueye has made more than 380 combined appearances for Aston Villa, Paris Saint-Germain and Everton. Ali Al-Hamadi | Forward | Iraq Age: 24National team appearances: 19Club: Luton Town (England) Al-Hamadi has carved out a respectable club career in England, where he moved with his family as a child. His opening goal against Bolivia in March's intercontinental playoff led to Iraq clinching its first World Cup appearance since 1986. Notable stat: Al-Hamadi made 11 appearances in the English Premier League for Ipswich Town in the 2024-25 season. Erling Haaland | Forward | Norway Age: 25National team appearances: 50Club: Manchester City (England) Haaland is the sport’s most prolific scorer with an astonishing 55 goals in just 48 games for Norway. Still only 25, no player in international soccer history hit the half-century mark in fewer matches than it took the 6-foot-5 striker. He's already won every major club trophy with Manchester City, including the 2025 Champions League, and now he'll want to make his mark on the international level. Notable stat: Haaland holds the records for the fastest player to reach 100 Premier League goals, in addition to being the fastest player to reach 50 Champions League goals. 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP GROUP J Lionel Messi | Forward | Argentina Age: 38National team appearances: 199Club: Inter Miami (United States) The 2026 World Cup is also known as Messi’s Last Dance. He led Argentina to a thrilling victory over France to win the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and has helped La Abiceleste win the last two Copa América crowns. Messi will turn 39 during the World Cup, but his place and status on the team is as strong as ever. Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni has said Messi can and will be part of the national team for as long as he wants. Now playing at Inter Miami in MLS, winning a World Cup on American soil could be a fitting end to a legendary career. Notable stat: No player has won the Ballon d’Or more times than Messi with eight, and he also holds the record for most matches played in World Cup history, along with being tied for the fourth-most goals ever with 13. Riyad Mahrez | Forward | Algeria Age: 35National team appearances: 114Club: Al-Ahli (Saudi Arabia) Mahrez is considered Algeria's best player, winning multiple club trophies with Manchester City and being part of Leicester City's improbable 2015-16 Premier League title team. Now playing club ball in Saudi Arabia, Mahrez will take part in his first World Cup after having led Les Verts to the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations title. Another notable name on Algeria's roster is Granada goalkeeper Luca Zidane, the son of France legend Zinedine Zidane, who switched international allegiances in 2025. Notable stat: Mahrez spent 10 seasons in the English Premier League, where he scored 82 goals and 63 assists in 284 appearances for Leicester City and Manchester City. Marcel Sabitzer | Midfielder | Austria Age: 32National team appearances: 98Club: Borussia Dortmund (Germany) Sabitzer scored the winning goal to beat the Netherlands in the group stage of the 2024 Euros. The 32-year-old midfielder has made 95 appearances for his national team and has scored 23 goals, and he's an integral piece of this squad. Notable stat: Sabitzer has been playing top flight European football since 2014, making more than 330 appearances for clubs like RB Leipzig, Bayern Munich, Manchester United and Borussia Dortmund. Musa Al-Taamari | Forward | Jordan Age: 29National team appearances: 90Club: Stade Rennais (France) There are a few players on this World Cup debut team who are based in Europe, and Al-Taamari is one of them. He predominantly plays right wing for French side Stade Rennais FC, where he’s scored three goals and had five assists in Ligue 1 this season. He will be one of the most important parts of Jordan’s attack. Notable stat: Al-Taamari has made more than 80 appearances in France’s Ligue 1 since 2023, playing for Rennes and Montpellier. With 23 international goals, he is 11 shy of breaking the all-time record for Jordan. 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP GROUP K Cristiano Ronaldo | Forward | Portugal Age: 41National team appearances: 227Club: Al-Nassr (Saudi Arabia) Just like Messi, this is expected to be Ronaldo’s last World Cup. But unlike Messi, Ronaldo has yet to lift the sport's most prestigious trophy. It’s truly the only accolade that’s eluded him in his career, and there’s nothing the 41-year-old forward wants more. Now, Ronaldo isn’t the most important player for Portugal anymore, but he’s still captain and the face of the team. He would give anything to ride off into the retirement sunset on top of the football world. Notable stat: On pace to be the first player to officially eclipse 1,000 career goals scored, Ronaldo is the only player in World Cup history to have scored in five different editions of the tournament. Aaron Wan-Bissaka | Defender | Congo DR Age: 28National team appearances: 9Club: West Ham United (England) Wan-Bissaka is a household name among Premier League fans. With more than 200 appearances for Crystal Palace, Manchester United and West Ham United, the 28-year-old fullback has carved a solid club career in England. Had he not gotten injured before two of England’s Euro 2020 qualifiers seven years ago, he’d likely be permanently cap-tied to the Three Lions under FIFA rules. Instead, he switched to the country of his roots last year. Now he’ll represent the Leopards on the biggest stage of all. Notable stat: Wan-Bissaka was named the West Ham United Player of the Season in 2024-25 and the Crystal Palace Player of the Season in 2018-19. Abdukodir Khusanov | Defender | Uzbekistan Age: 22National team appearances: 26Club: Manchester City (England) Football fans should be somewhat familiar with this City center back. The 22-year-old defender has had a quick rise from playing youth soccer in Uzbekistan to now thriving as the first player from his country to feature regularly in the Premier League. He was a standout defender in the Carabao Cup final win against Arsenal. Notable stat: Khusanov has made more than 40 appearances for Manchester City this season, including six in the Champions League. James Rodriguez | Midfielder | Colombia Age: 34National team appearances: 126Club: Minnesota United (United States) The main scoring threat for Los Cafeteros will be winger Luis Diaz, but James Rodriguez will serve as captain for Colombia. The 2014 Golden Boot winner will turn 35 during the World Cup, and while the former Real Madrid and Bayern Munich striker’s club fortunes have changed — his short-term deal with MLS side Minnesota United hasn't gone as planned due to a brief hospitalization in March with dehydration — he remains an important player for Colombia. Notable stat: Rodriguez is four appearances and six goals shy of breaking the Colombia national team record in both categories. 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP GROUP L Harry Kane | Forward | England Age: 32National team appearances: 113Club: Bayern Munich (Germany) England is going to need Kane to score some goals this summer. The 32-year-old star striker is the Three Lions' all-time record holder with 79 goals in 113 appearances, and he has 52 this season for his club Bayern Munich. However, this was an area where Kane struggled four years ago in Qatar, only scoring two goals at the 2022 World Cup. Kane will be motivated to do everything to finally bring an international title home. Notable stat: Kane is the English Premier League’s second all-time leading scorer with 213 goals to his name. Luka Modrić | Midfielder | Croatia Age: 40National team appearances: 198Club: AC Milan (Italy) Of course, it’s the 40-year-old midfielder, who will be playing in his fifth World Cup. Like peers Messi and Ronaldo, we are expecting this to be his last one. He’s become a footballing icon with flair on the pitch with his technical ability and overall presence, as well as off of it — as his long hair and headband make him impossible to miss. He figures to reach the 200-game mark during this summer’s tournament. Notable stat: The greatest Croatian player of all time, he is the overall leader in appearances with 196 and, most notably, won the Ballon d’Or in 2018. Antoine Semenyo | Forward | Ghana Age: 26National team appearances: 34Club: Manchester City (England) Semenyo has been a revelation for Manchester City this season (14 goal contributions in 27 appearances), and that bodes well for the Black Stars. And with Tottenham forward Mohammed Kudos still recovering from a hamstring injury sustained in January, there's further responsibility on Semenyo's shoulders this summer. Notable stat: The 26-year-old scored 32 goals and 13 assists in 110 appearances for Bournemouth before being acquired by Manchester City in January of this year. Adalberto Carrasquilla | Midfielder | Panama Age: 27National team appearances: 73Club: Pumas UNAM (Mexico) Carrasquilla is a dynamic and impactful midfielder for Panama. He received a red card in a 2024 Copa América group stage match against the U.S. that forced his team to play down a man — though the Panamanians still managed to pull off the victory and eliminate the Americans. He’s a veteran for his national team with 73 appearances and will play an important role for his side as it prepares to face a challenging group. Notable stat: Carrasquilla won the Golden Ball at the 2023 Gold Cup, where Panama finished as runners-up to Mexico. How To Watch The 2026 FIFA World Cup The World Cup will run from June 11 to July 19, 2026. Spread across three countries, the tournament will culminate with the final on July 19 at New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. All 104 tournament matches will air live across FOX (70) and FS1 (34) with every match streaming live and on-demand within both the FOX One and the FOX Sports apps. A record 40 matches, more than one-third of the tournament, will air in prime time across FOX (21) and FS1 (19).]]>
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					<![CDATA[USA's 2026 FIFA World Cup Roster: The 26 Players Ready To Make History]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/usmnt-world-cup-roster-2026-pulisic-mckennie-weah-adams</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/usmnt-world-cup-roster-2026-pulisic-mckennie-weah-adams</guid>
				<category>soccer</category>
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				    <![CDATA[These are the 26 players who'll represent the United States men's national team at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.]]>
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				<pubDate>Wed, 10 Jun 2026 17:26:03 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[They come from all parts of the country and even from across the globe. Small towns and big cities. Sons of former soccer greats and even a Super Bowl winner. These are the 26 players who'll represent the United States men's national team at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Spread across three countries — the U.S., Canada and Mexico — this summer's World Cup will be the biggest ever held. And these 26 players will have the rare honor of playing soccer's marquee tournament as co-hosts. It's time to get to know them. What makes them special and what stands out about their journey. The country and the world will be watching. JUMP TO: Forwards | Midfielders | Defenders | Goalkeepers MEET USA'S 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP ROSTER Brenden Aaronson | No. 11 Age: 25Club: Leeds United (English Premier League) Brenden Aaronson broke through with the Philadelphia Union when he was only 18 years old, and the expectations for his career have been sky-high ever since. He played two seasons for the Union from 2019-2020, when he had seven goals and nine assists in 51 matches and helped the team win the 2020 Supporters Shield as the best regular-season MLS team. He joined Austrian club Red Bull Salzburg in January 2021. Then just 19 years old, Aaronson’s transfer fee was the highest for a U.S.-based homegrown player in MLS history. He scored nine goals and had nine assists in two seasons, before joining Premier League club Leeds United in 2022 on a $30 million transfer fee. He has made 57 appearances for the USA and scored nine goals and seven assists. Did You Know: Back in the day, they used to call Aaronson the "Medford Messi" for his creativity, technical skill and attacking ability — along with his hometown. That nickname isn’t used much in the Premier League, but it was fun when he was first starting out in his pro career. Stat: Aaronson has made more than 100 appearances combined in the Premier League and Bundesliga. – Laken Litman Folarin Balogun | No. 20 Age: 24Club: AS Monaco (French Ligue 1)U.S. fans are counting on the New York-born, London-raised Folarin Balogun to score the bulk of the goals this summer. The hard-running striker found the net 18 times in 40 UEFA Champions League and Ligue 1 last season. Known as "Balo," the Arsenal academy graduate excels at stretching defenses, combining with Pulisic and finishing with a precision that the U.S. squad has lacked historically. The soft-spoken forward is expected to spearhead the American attack when their World Cup campaign kicks off against Paraguay in Los Angeles on June 12. "My mind naturally wanders to the opening game of the World Cup, and just the atmosphere," Balogun told me last September. "It's almost like a freeze-frame, like a perfect image in my mind." It’s about to become reality. Did You Know: Eligible to play for the U.S., England or Nigeria (homeland of his parents), Balogun represented the Three Lions at the youth national team level. Within the youth academies of England and Arsenal, Balogun played alongside midfielder Yunus Musah, who started each of the USA’s four games at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. Stat: Balogun scored in eight straight Ligue 1 matches for Monaco earlier this season, tying the all-time club record. – Doug McIntyre Ricardo Pepi | No. 9 Age: 23Club: PSV Eindhoven (Dutch Eredivisie) Ricardo Pepi is fighting to be the team's go-to striker. He’s a proven scorer with his club, where he’s netted 19 goals across all competitions for PSV during the 2025-26 season. But he hasn’t quite had the same success with the national team, scoring a total of 13 goals in 37 appearances since he made his debut with the squad in 2021. Granted, he’s been passed over at times, like when former manager Gregg Berhalter decided not to take him to the 2022 World Cup. Those experiences have helped shape Pepi and have given him a chip on his shoulder. He’s anxious to perform for the U.S. this summer. Did You Know: There have been rumors for months about Pepi potentially transferring from PSV to Premier League club Fulham. A previous deal collapsed in March, but there’s still a chance the clubs will reach an agreement in the future. Stat: Pepi has scored more than 55 goals in league competition over the past four seasons. — Litman Christian Pulisic | No. 10 Age: 27 Club: AC Milan (Italian Serie A)The U.S. men’s team’s undisputed headliner since he was a teenager, Christian Pulisic mostly lived up to the billing at the last World Cup in 2022, when his game-winning goal over Iran sent the Americans to the round of 16. Lightning quick, Hershey, Pennsylvania’s favorite son glides by the world’s best defenders and scores with ease when he’s at the height of his powers. But he had been struggling mightily heading into what should be a defining World Cup on home soil. The top scorer in the first half of Italy's Serie A season, Pulisic finished the campaign goalless since December, and finally broke his scoreless streak with the USMNT against Senegal on May 31. Fans of the home team are hoping that means the floodgates are finally open for the main event. So, for that matter, is Pulisic. "I know a ball will hit off my knee and go in, and then things will change," he said in March. "I'm not going to panic. Better now than in the summer. Things are going to change." Did You Know: Pulisic’s father, Mark, was a professional indoor soccer player who played NCAA soccer at George Mason University, where he met Christian’s mom. Kelley Pulisic was a member of GMU’s women’s team. A diehard New York Jets fan, Christian watched Gang Green play in London in 2021, the same year he won the UEFA Champions League with Chelsea. He remains the only American ever to play in the final of Europe’s top club competition. Stat: His 33 goals are the fifth-most in U.S. men's national team history, and his 86 appearances are the most of any active player. — McIntyre Tim Weah | No. 21 Age: 26Club: Marseille (French Ligue 1) Tim Weah has been a regular in the U.S. squad since his debut in 2018 when he was just 18 years old. Since then, he’s made 51 appearances and scored seven goals, including in the USA’s opening match of the 2022 World Cup when he found the back of the net in the first half against Wales. He has one of the most powerful shots on the team, is incredibly soft-spoken and humble, but also brings the vibes. If you’re wondering where the music is coming from in the locker room or on the team bus, you can usually find Weah holding the boombox. Did You Know: Weah’s father, George Weah, was the top scorer in UEFA Champions League in 1995 and became the first African player to win the Ballon d’Or that same year. The elder Weah is also the former president of Liberia. But the one thing George was never able to do that Tim will now have done twice? Play in a World Cup. Stat: During his time at Juventus, Weah made 78 appearances and recorded seven goals along with seven assists.  – Litman Haji Wright | No. 19 Age: 28Club: Coventry City (English Premier League starting in 2026-27) Haji Wright is a physically imposing player for the U.S. front line. At 6-foot-3, he’s dangerous in the box and a one-on-one threat. He’s scored 18 goals in 43 appearances for his club this season, and in February, he had a hat trick against Middlesbrough. Wright made his debut with the USA in June 2022, ahead of that summer's World Cup and scored in his first match on a penalty kick vs. Morocco. He’s recorded 20 appearances and scored seven international goals. Did You Know: Wright was one of only three U.S. players to score a goal at the 2022 World Cup. Tim Weah scored in the first match, Christian Pulisic in the third, and then Wright had what everyone likes to describe as an accidental goal in the round of 16 match vs. the Netherlands when a cross from Pulisic ricocheted perfectly off his heel and into the back of the net. Stat: In the past six seasons, Wright has scored more than 90 goals in his time in the Danish Superliga, Turkish league and English Championship. – Litman Alex Zendejas | No. 26 Age: 28Club: Club América (Liga MX)While he’s only been on the fringes of the national team since Pochettino took over in 2024, Alex Zendejas made his one start under the Argentine count with a spectacular game-winning goal over Japan in an exhibition last September, and he was surprisingly active in limited action against Senegal. And he has been brilliant playing for Mexico's most decorated club for the better part of two years, donning the iconic No. 10 shirt for Las Aguilas. A diminutive left-footed winger who can also create in a more central role, Zendejas was born in Mexico and made two senior appearances for El Tri before committing his future to the U.S. in 2023. Did You Know: Zendejas grew up in El Paso, Texas, and represented the U.S. at youth level. In 2015, he was teammates with future national team mainstays Tyler Adams and Christian Pulisic at the CONCACAF U-17 Championship. Stat: Zendejas was a Liga MX All-Star in 2025 and also named to the CONCACAF Champions Cup Best XI in 2024. He's won four Liga MX titles — three with América and one with bitter rivals Chivas. – McIntyre Tyler Adams | No. 4 Age: 27Club: AFC Bournemouth (English Premier League) Tyler Adams is the heartbeat of this team. When he was just 23 years old, Adams captained the squad through the 2022 World Cup, and was always impressive during high-stakes moments during the tournament. Adams tells it like it is, be it in the press conference or in the locker room, and holds his teammates accountable. He’s relentless, demands the best from his team and is the squad's toughest player. He’s a pest on the field and does his damnedest to make it impossible for opponents to get by him and is always going to battle for 50–50 balls. Did You Know: Adams has two sons under the age of three. Stat: Adams was named U.S. Soccer Player of the Year in 2022 and has made more than 150 combined appearances in the Premier League and Bundesliga. – Litman Sebastian Berhalter | No. 14 Age: 25Club: Vancouver Whitecaps (Major League Soccer) At first glance, you might just think of Sebastian Berhalter as former U.S. player and manager Gregg Berhalter’s son. But he’s made his own name quickly, especially when it comes to set pieces. Berhalter takes pinpoint corners and flawless free kicks. He laughs when people ask what the trick is to his service, but his answer is always the same. And it’s uncomplicated: He just works hard. Which makes sense for someone like Berhalter, who is so meticulous and particular when it comes to his preparation and routine. He was born in London when his father was a player for English club Crystal Palace. Sebastian was also part of the Columbus Crew academy, where Gregg was coach of the MLS club. Did You Know: Four years ago, Sebastian was at the 2022 World Cup in the U.S. Soccer Friends and Family Program while his dad was coaching the team. Now, they’ve essentially swapped places with Sebastian on the field and his dad cheering in the stands. Stat: Berhalter was named an MLS All-Star in 2025, making 47 appearances and scoring eight goals last season. – Litman Weston McKennie | No. 8 Age: 27Club: Juventus (Italian Serie A) A starter in all four U.S. games at Qatar 2022, McKennie heads into his second World Cup as arguably America’s best soccer player, coming off a career-best season in Italy. The rangy Texan never stops running. His long throw-ins are de facto set plays, and he is especially adept at arriving as a late runner into the box and scoring; see his opener against Belgium in March or the nine he bagged in almost 40 games for Juventus in 2025-26. Did You Know: The son of an Air Force officer, McKennie was born in Washington state and spent four years of his childhood living in Kaiserslautern, Germany, while his father was stationed at Ramstein Air Base nearby. He met U.S. legends Landon Donovan and Carlos Bocanegra there in 2006, when the American squad played a friendly there ahead of that year’s World Cup in Germany. Stat: McKennie has made more than 220 appearances for Juventus since joining the club in 2020, with more than 50 goal contributions in that span. — McIntyre Gio Reyna | No. 7 Age: 23Club: Borussia Mönchengladbach (German Bundesliga) The silky smooth attacker and one-time teenage prodigy — Reyna turned 20 while the U.S. squad was preparing for its first game at the last World Cup in Qatar — has been beset by injury over the last four years. He’s featured sparingly at club level as a result, including this season. After leaving Borussia Dortmund last summer, he was limited to just four starts during this Bundesliga season. Reyna still managed to help the U.S. win CONCACAF Nations League titles in 2023 and 2024 and started all three games for the Stars and Stripes two years ago at Copa América. He also scored in his first match under Pochettino, a 2-1 win last November against Paraguay — the Americans’ opening opponent at this World Cup. Did You Know: The son of two-time U.S. World Cup captain Claudio and former U.S. women’s national team winger Danielle Egan, Reyna credits his love of soccer to his older brother, Jack, who died of cancer at 13 in 2012. "Some people think that my dad made me a good player," Reyna told the Players Tribune in 2020. "But when I was growing up in Manchester, where Dad was playing for Manchester City, the one who always played with me in the backyard was Jack." Stat: Reyna has scored nine goals for the national team in 38 appearances. — McIntyre Cristian Roldan | No. 15 Age: 31Club: Seattle Sounders (Major League Soccer) Pochettino once told reporters that Christian Roldan is the "perfect player" because he "has a little bit of everything." Asked why he thinks the U.S. coach views him that way, Roldan said he thinks it’s because he’s always ready. "I got on the quickest flight, dropped whatever I was doing," Roldan said of when he was called in by Pochettino last fall. "I take a lot of pride in what I do every day and so when my name was called upon, I was ready. And I think he appreciated that. It really meant the world, I think, to him staying ready even though my name wasn’t on a preliminary roster." Did You Know: Roldan was part of the 2022 World Cup roster, but didn’t play. He said it was a "huge honor" to be there, but it was difficult to watch from the bench. "It was my dream to make the World Cup," Roldan said in March. "I have so much experience at the club level, and I was just ready for that opportunity to come. And whether it comes this World Cup or not, you know, it still pains me that I didn’t see the field. As a professional, as a competitor, that’s what you want. You want to be in those pressure moments. But I was thankful to be there." Stat: Roldan has made 47 appearances for the national team.  – Litman Malik Tillman | No. 17 Age: 24Club: Bayer Leverkusen (German Bundesliga) It was almost exactly four years ago when Malik Tillman was officially cleared to represent the U.S. after FIFA approved his one-time switch from Germany. Tillman, whose mother is from Germany and father is from the U.S., grew up playing in the Bayern Munich academy. He debuted for the U.S. team on June 1, 2022, and has made 30 appearances since then. While he didn’t make the 2022 World Cup roster, he’s featured more with the team since Pochettino became manager and was on a hot streak last summer during the Gold Cup when he scored three goals. Did You Know: Tillman played alongside U.S. teammate Chris Richards in the Bayern Munich academy. In addition, his brother, Timothy Tillman, has also represented the U.S. men's national team. Stat: Tillman has recorded more than 50 goal contributions in the past three seasons for PSV and Bayer Leverkusen. — Litman Max Arfsten | No. 18 Age: 25Club: Columbus Crew (Major League Soccer) Max Arfsten is another player who has made a lasting impression on Pochettino. The left back earned his first cap with the senior team in January 2025 and has made 20 appearances with one goal since then. Arfsten has had to rise quickly within the squad, earning playing time at left back while regular starter Antonee "Jedi" Robinson was out of the team due to injury. Arfsten has made the most of his opportunity and earned a spot on his first World Cup roster. Did You Know: During the offseason, Arfsten partners with the gym Core 3 Method in his hometown of Fresno to play soccer with kids and adults with disabilities. "I go there to give back to my community," Arfsten said in an interview with the local CBS outlet earlier this year. "I’m a big advocate for giving back to my community where I’m from. It’s a pretty underserved community, and I enjoy using the platform that I have to have a positive impact." Stat: Arfsten was named an MLS All-Star in 2025, making 37 appearances and recording seven goals along with six assists. — Litman Sergiño Dest | No. 2 Age: 25Club: PSV Eindhoven (Dutch Eredivisie)One of the most skillful players in national team history, Dest is finally fully healthy after an ACL tear suffered just before the 2024 Copa América. In 2019, the two-footed fullback chose to play for the U.S. over the three-time World Cup runner-up Netherlands, where he was born and raised to a Dutch mom and American service member dad. Dest started Champions League games for Ajax as a teen, played with Lionel Messi at Barcelona and had a stint with seven-time European champ AC Milan before returning to the Eredivisie with PSV. He’s since won three straight league titles. Did You Know: In an effort to recreate the streetball style he learned as a youth, Dest used his own money to build Sergiño Dest Court in his hometown of Almere. "It's small, so you can go alone or with a couple friends, and you learn how to not just [boot] the ball forward and run. You have to control it in tight spaces," he told me of the idea behind the facility before it opened two years ago. "I feel like some skills are getting slowly, slowly out of the game…it's a way to get all these skills." Stat: Dest was named the U.S. Soccer Young Male Athlete of the Year in 2019 and was also named the Ajax Talent of the Year in 2020, also known as the Marco van Basten award. – McIntyre Alex Freeman | No. 16 Age: 21Club: Villarreal (Spanish La Liga) Alex Freeman has been part of the U.S. senior team for barely a year. The 21-year-old fullback made his debut on June 7, 2025, in a friendly vs. Türkiye ahead of the Gold Cup. His performance throughout that summer’s tournament impressed Pochettino so much that he became a regular in the squad. Freeman was part of MLS club Orlando City from 2022-26 before making a big move to Europe and joining Villarreal earlier this year. While he hasn’t broken into the starting lineup on a regular basis, he did seek advice from Pochettino before moving overseas and decided this would be the best move for his career in the long run. Did You Know: His father, Antonio Freeman, played wide receiver for the Green Bay Packers and helped the team win a Super Bowl. In retirement, he’s turned into his son’s No. 1 fan. "When I was younger, I played all the sports and when it came time, I chose [soccer] and I feel like he was supporting me the whole time," the younger Freeman told me last June about choosing fútbol over football. Stat: Freeman was named an MLS All-Star in 2025 and also selected as the MLS Young Player of the Year.  — Litman Mark McKenzie | No. 22 Age: 27Club: Toulouse (French Ligue 1)The veteran center back is headed to his first career World Cup after being among the final cuts in 2022. Bronx-born but raised in Delaware, McKenzie played college soccer at Wake Forest before turning pro with the Philadelphia Union. He’s been in Europe since 2021, when he left the Union for Belgian club Genk, and made 28 starts in France’s Ligue 1 this year with Toulouse. Did You Know: A forward as a youth, McKenzie grew up watching Arsenal and idolized French World Cup winner and current FOX Sports analyst Thierry Henry. "Getting to meet him was really special," McKenzie told me in March. They met "when he was coaching Montreal in 2020, my last season with the Union. I also met him unofficially at a New York Red Bulls game back when I was 12. Got a chance to get a shirt signed by him." Stat: McKenzie was named to the 2020 MLS Best XI prior to his move to Europe. — McIntyre Tim Ream | No. 13 Age: 38Club: Charlotte FC (Major League Soccer) Tim Ream is the oldest player on the squad. The seasoned veteran started every match and played every minute at center back during the 2022 World Cup and has a glimmering club résumé that includes a nine-year period where he featured prominently at Fulham. He left the Premier League club as a legend, making 312 appearances for the Cottagers, which was more than any other player in the 21st century besides captain Tom Cairney. Ream is a tremendous asset for the U.S., where he takes on the role of a composed and reliable leader who serves as an anchor for a young group. Did You Know: Pochettino named Ream as the U.S. captain this summer, putting him in a familiar spot. He’s worn the armband in nearly every match he’s played under this coaching staff. Stat: In his career, Ream made 97 appearances in the Premier League and was named Player of the Year twice at Bolton and once at Fulham.  — Litman Chris Richards | No. 3 Age: 26Club: Crystal Palace (English Premier League)Despite a recent injury, the USA’s top defender will anchor the co-hosts’ backline during the tournament — Richards’ first after injury kept him off of then-coach Gregg Berhalter’s final 26-player list four years ago. The FC Dallas youth product, who made his professional debut with Bayern Munich in 2019, helped Palace win the 2025 FA Cup and reach the 2026 UEFA Conference League final. Did You Know: The son of a former professional basketball player, Richards now stands 6-foot-2. That wasn’t always the case. "I was probably 5-foot-5, 140 pounds, soaking wet until I was 16," he told me last October. That summer, I probably grew five to six inches and gained 40 pounds." Stat: Chris Richards was named to the 2025 Gold Cup Best XI of the Tournament. He, alongside current U.S. teammate Matt Turner, joined former the legendary Tim Howard as only three USA players to be FA Cup winners. – McIntyre Antonee "Jedi" Robinson | No. 5 Age: 28Club: Fulham (English Premier League) Robinson is one of the most important players on this U.S. team. He started every match of the 2022 World Cup, was considered the best left back in the Premier League last year and was voted U.S. Soccer’s Male Player of the Year in 2024. Robinson has experienced injuries and setbacks over the last year and told reporters in March that at one point he feared he wouldn’t make it back in time for this summer’s World Cup. But Robinson is fully fit and in form now for both club and country (see his strong goal against Germany, for example). And it’s a good thing, because as teammate Tim Ream said last camp, he’s "extremely difficult to replace." Did You Know: Robinson has gone by the nickname "Jedi" since he was a kid. The reason? He loved Star Wars and used to dress up as characters. The delightful moniker has stuck with him ever since. Stat: Robinson was named the Fulham Player of the Season in the 2023-24 campaign and also was named the U.S. Soccer Player of the Year in 2025.  — Litman Miles Robinson | No. 12 Age: 29Club: FC Cincinnati (Major League Soccer) The 6-foot-2 center back was projected as a possible starter before the last World Cup in Qatar, only to suffer an Achilles rupture ahead of the tournament. Four years on, Robinson is headed to his first World Cup. The fleet-footed former Syracuse University standout has made 40 international appearances for the Stars and Stripes, and he scored the extra-time goal in the 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup final that won the U.S. the title over chief rival Mexico. Robinson also has won an MLS Cup, in 2018 with Atlanta United, where he spent seven seasons before signing with FCC two years ago as a free agent. Robinson is the highest paid defender in MLS at nearly $4 million, according to the MLS Players Association. Did You Know: Named after Jazz legend Miles Davis, Robinson’s father, Jeff, is a professional musician. Stat: Robinson has done lots of winning. He was on the American squads that hoisted the CONCACAF Nations League trophy in 2023 and 2024, and also claimed the Campeones Cup and U.S. Open Cup during his time with Atlanta. — McIntyre Joe Scally | No. 23 Age: 23Club: Borussia Mönchengladbach (German Bundesliga) The versatile 23-year-old isn’t as attack-minded as the fleet-footed likes of Sergiño Dest, Alex Freeman or Tim Weah. But the stay-at-home defender gives Pochettino options. Although he’s naturally a right back, Scally has top-level experience as a left back, center back and even at defensive midfielder. Before moving overseas, the Long Island native played for MLS side NYCFC and was in the Pigeons’ academy with current club and U.S. teammate Gio Reyna. Did You Know: In May, Scally became the youngest non-German player to play 150 games in the Bundesliga — all with ‘Gladbach. He was also the youngest member of the USA’s 2022 squad, at just 19. Stat: Scally made 34 appearances for 'Gladbach last season. — McIntyre Auston Trusty | No. 6 Age: 27Club: Celtic (Scottish Premiership) Timing can be everything when it comes to the World Cup. Take Trusty, who’s played in the Premier League and Champions League but who has made just eight U.S. appearances since his 2023 debut. He wasn’t even playing for Celtic midseason, but the left-footed defender — another Philadelphia Union product — impressed versus Portugal in March then helped the Hoops win the Scottish title on the final day of the season. In the end, that was enough to earn him one of Pochettino’s 26 golden tickets. Did You Know: Trusty committed to playing for NCAA powerhouse University of North Carolina but elected to sign a homegrown contract with the Union instead. Before joining Celtic in 2023, he appeared in 33 Premier League matches for Sheffield United. Stat: Trusty has won two Scottish Premiership titles with Celtic. — McIntyre Chris Brady | No. 25 Age: 22Club: Chicago Fire (Major League Soccer)Although he's made one senior international appearance, Brady is considered one of the country’s brightest goalkeeping prospects — potential that head U.S. goalkeeper coach Toni Jiménez and deputy Jack Robinson noticed shortly after joining the national team in late 2024. But that doesn't mean he’s inexperienced; a starter for the Fire at 19, Brady has already amassed more than 100 regular season MLS appearances. Did You Know: He’s World Cup-bound now. But less than two years ago, Brady was unceremoniously cut from the U.S. team that competed at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris — a squad reserved almost exclusively for players 23 years old or younger, with just three overage spots permitted on the 18-man roster. Stat: Brady recorded six clean sheets last season in MLS play. — McIntyre Matt Freese | No. 24 Age: 27Club: New York City FC (Major League Soccer) This time a year ago, the Harvard graduate had never logged a minute for the senior U.S. national team. Fast-forward 12 months, and Freese will likely start for the Americans at soccer’s highest level. This remarkable ascent began with his star turn at last summer's CONCACAF Gold Cup, where "Matty Ice" prevailed in a penalty shootout over a Costa Rica squad led by Real Madrid legend Keylor Navas. He finished the year with 12 consecutive starts for his country and was superb in a pre-World Cup tune-up in March, despite a 2-0 loss to Portugal. Did You Know: High achievement runs in his family. His father, Dr. Andrew Freese, who died of cancer in 2021, was a pioneering gene-therapy researcher who earned his PhD in neurobiology from MIT, while his grandfather, Jack Geary, was an AFL quarterback and Air Force pilot. Freese honors the latter by wearing No. 49 for NYCFC. Stat: Freese was named a finalist for the 2025 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year award. — McIntyre Matt Turner | No. 1 Age: 31Club: New England Revolution (Major League Soccer) Matt Turner started every match for the U.S. at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. He remained the Americans’ No. 1 up until Matt Freese unseated him just before the 2025 Gold Cup. Turner, a resilient player who never gives up on anything, is still fighting to prove himself to U.S. manager Mauricio Pochettino and his staff. On the club front, Turner took a tour throughout several Premier League teams, playing for Arsenal, Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace. He joined French club Lyon last summer, but was quickly loaned out to the Revs a couple months later, where he has been the starting goalkeeper ever since. Did You Know: Turner didn’t even start playing soccer until he was a teenager. He ended up playing at Fairfield University, and while he wasn’t selected in the 2016 MLS Draft, he made an impression during a preseason trial with the Revs and shortly thereafter signed a contract with the club. Stat: Turner has made 54 appearances for the national team, with 27 clean sheets. — Litman]]>
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					<![CDATA[2026 World Cup Odds: Back Mexico Against South Africa in Low-Scoring Match]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/world-cup-day-1-best-bets-mexico-south-africa</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/world-cup-day-1-best-bets-mexico-south-africa</guid>
				<category>soccer</category>
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				    <![CDATA[Mexico should benefit from home-field advantage on Day 1 of the World Cup. Here's how Will Hill is wagering on El Tri.]]>
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				<pubDate>Wed, 10 Jun 2026 16:40:14 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[Mexico and South Africa open the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Thursday afternoon in what should be an exciting showcase for everything El Tri has built so far. Mexico is the -240 favorite to win, while South Africa is +750. The draw is priced at +340, with the Over/Under for total goals set at 2.5. Mexico has dominated CONCACAF over the past few years. Looking at FIFA World Rankings, Mexico has a distinct advantage. It ranks 15th in the world, while South Africa is 60th. But from a tactical standpoint, Mexico is in a very dominant position. This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. El Tri is a possession-based team, but it doesn't mind conceding possession and defending in a low block. That’s what makes it effective in this match. Not only has Mexico done well in front of net by scoring its chances, but the Mexican squad is also defending at a high level. El Tri has conceded just twice in eight unbeaten matches in 2026, including a 5-1 beatdown of Serbia. This is a South African team that will try to take its chances but lacks quality in front of net. I like the Under in this match, and I feel that this being the opening game of the tournament lends itself to an Under. With the expanded field, it’s reasonable to expect teams like South Africa to know that, if players can grind out points in the group stage, they have a chance to be one of the third-place teams that advances to the next round. Every point these teams earn will matter, which likely means a more conservative approach. If you want to get creative, parlaying Mexico to win the match with the alternate total of Under 3.5 goals gets the price down to reasonable -130 odds and gives some wiggle room compared to the standard total of 2.5. Mexico has the good fortune of opening the tournament on its own turf in front of a raucous crowd, giving its players what should be a major home-field advantage. Three points are there for the taking for Mexico, and parlaying it to win with under 3.5 total goals scored is the smart way to play this match. PICK: Parlay of Mexico to win, Under 3.5 total goals scored (-130)]]>
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					<![CDATA[Mexico vs South Africa Prediction, Odds, Picks for World Cup Match]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/2026-world-cup-mexico-south-africa-odds-predictions-picks</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/2026-world-cup-mexico-south-africa-odds-predictions-picks</guid>
				<category>soccer</category>
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				    <![CDATA[Mexico and South Africa open the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Mexico City on Thursday. Check out the latest betting odds and predictions.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Wed, 10 Jun 2026 15:13:23 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[Mexico and South Africa will open the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Thursday, June 11, 2026, at the Mexico City Stadium in Mexico City. This matchup is a rematch of the 2010 World Cup opener, which finished in a 1-1 draw in Johannesburg. It marks the first time in tournament history that an opening game will be repeated. Mexico automatically qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup as one of the three co-host nations. They will look to get back to the knockout round after being eliminated in the group stage in 2022 for the first time since 1978. South Africa returns to the World Cup for the first time since hosting the tournament in 2010. They secured a place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup by finishing at the top of Group C in CAF qualifying, earning automatic qualification with 18 points. Mexico comes into the opening game of the tournament in great form, winning their last three friendlies in recent weeks by a combined score of 8-1 against Ghana, Australia, and Serbia. Meanwhile, in the last two weeks, South Africa won 1-0 and recorded a 0-0 draw against two non-World Cup teams in Jamaica and Nicaragua. Can they turn the tables and pull off a major upset to start the tournament? Let’s check out the odds for the Mexico vs. South Africa opening match at FanDuel Sportsbook as of June 10. This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. Mexico vs. South Africa Odds Moneyline Spread Over/Under Total Odds: 2.5 Mexico vs. South Africa Prediction, Pick From FOX Sports Research: How to Watch Mexico vs. South Africa Let's take a look at some other bets for the match. Anytime Goalscorer Props Tie No Bet Both Teams to Score]]>
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					<![CDATA[Chris 'The Bear' Fallica's Match Day 1 World Cup Best Bets, Picks, Predictions]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/chris-the-bear-fallicas-day-1-world-cup-best-bets-picks-predictions</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/chris-the-bear-fallicas-day-1-world-cup-best-bets-picks-predictions</guid>
				<category>soccer</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Chris "The Bear" Fallica delivers his daily best bets for the World Cup. Here's what he's backing on Day 1.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Wed, 10 Jun 2026 12:37:59 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA["Bear Bets" are real wagers that Chris "The Bear" Fallica is actually making. Are you ready for the biggest sporting event in the world? It doesn't get much better than that. Well, actually, it can get slightly better if we are able to cash in on the action. Here's how I'm wagering on match day 1 of the globe's grandest event. This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. World Cup Best Bets — Thursday, June 11 Mexico vs. South Africa It would be very surprising if Mexico were defeated here, but laying -1200 on the Mexico double chance is a little steep. Instead, I’ll look at the highest-scoring half of the match being the second half. My thought is that, in the first half, South Africa will be fresh and there’s a possibility of a 0-0 score going to halftime. However, the second half could be where the heat and elevation of Azteca take over, and we could see some breakdowns — or even a penalty. South Korea vs. Czechia This is a huge match out of the blocks, as one of these two will likely be the runner-up to Mexico in the group. And who knows, maybe one could even pull an upset of El Tri and wind up winning the group. That leads me to believe these teams will go for it, especially with the match being played later in the evening in Guadalajara. Patrik Schick gets the headlines, but Pavel Šulc had an excellent season domestically for Lyon, scoring in the playoff final vs. Denmark. I can see him in search of goal-scoring opportunities here. I'll grab the plus-money on shot attempts (which is different than shots on goal, for those new to soccer betting).]]>
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					<![CDATA[Big Bets Report: Bettor to Pocket $3.5 Million If Portugal Wins World Cup]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/big-bets-portugal-parlay-cristiano-ronaldo-world-cup</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/big-bets-portugal-parlay-cristiano-ronaldo-world-cup</guid>
				<category>soccer</category>
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				    <![CDATA[Portugal could be one fan's ticket to a seven-figure payday. Patrick Everson breaks down World Cup big bets and more.]]>
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				<pubDate>Wed, 10 Jun 2026 12:28:02 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[With the first ball still to be kicked, World Cup futures odds are taking a trove of major wagers. But very few of those bets stand to rake in seven figures on a team with a legitimate chance to win it all. One high-roller has three such tickets. Since March, the bettor has been sitting on two parlays that pay $1 million-plus apiece, and the bettor recently made another parlay play that could profit seven figures, as well. The lone remaining need for all three is something that hasn’t been done before: Portugal winning a World Cup. Read on for more on those wagers, plus an unusual parlay hinging on Colombia, along with some flier bets — including on Team USA — hoping for six- or seven-figure paydays. This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. Relying on Ronaldo Back in February and March, a Fanatics Sportsbook customer crafted a couple of parlays tied to World Cup futures. Up first was a $20,000 two-leg ticket, starting with a relatively nondescript Ecuadorian soccer match: The bettor backed Libertad Loja on the moneyline in its 1-0 win over Manta. Leg 2 is Portugal winning the World Cup. At odds of +4975, which is just shy of 50/1, that parlay would profit just shy of seven figures, at $995,000 (total payout $1.015 million). Then came a more unusual bet on March 25, tying a couple of NBA games that day — Lakers vs. Pacers and Bulls vs. 76ers — with Portugal to win the World Cup. The bettor put $10,000 on a six-leg parlay, and the first five got there that very day. Now it’s up to Cristiano Ronaldo &amp; Co. to seal the deal. At odds of +12184 (about 122/1), the high-roller would clear $1,218,400 in profit if Portugal lifts the trophy (total payout $1,228,400). More recently, the big bettor returned with a $25,000 four-leg parlay, linking Knicks-Spurs NBA Finals Game 1 with Alexander Zverev winning the French Open and Portugal winning the World Cup. At odds of +5121, another $1,280,427 in profit awaits if Ronaldo finally gets an elusive world title. Three tickets to win just shy of $3.5 million. And it’s certainly plausible. Portugal is the +900 fifth choice in 2026 World Cup futures odds. Pennies From Heaven How about this strange two-leg parlay, from FanDuel Sportsbook: Back on Dec. 26, a customer put all of 83 cents on Anthony Edwards +550 to score the first basket in the Timberwolves’ game vs. the Heat, and Colombia to win the World Cup, seven months later. I’m not sure if you’ll find an odder combination than that. Nor an odder amount wagered. Where this gets a little more interesting, though, is that Colombia was a +45000 long shot (450/1) when the bettor placed this wager. Now, Colombia is +4000, the 11th choice among the 48 teams in World Cup futures. It’s still a tough road to the title, but if Colombia makes an upstart run, then that pocket-change bet from six months ago becomes $2,433.15. You can’t argue with that kind of ROI. USA All The Way? Much like Colombia, the U.S. Men’s National Team isn’t expected to make a championship run over the next six weeks. But that’s not stopping bettors from dropping some patriotic dough on Team USA, while the country celebrates its 250th year of existence. The U.S. is currently +5000 in Caesars Sports’ World Cup futures, ahead of Friday’s opening match vs. Paraguay. One customer got in earlier, though, at significantly longer odds. The bettor put $2,000 on USA +8000, for a potential win of $160,000. At BetMGM, a customer put $1,500 on the Red, White &amp; Blue at +6600. A championship run would net just a tick shy of a six-figure profit, at $99,000. Will it happen? Almost assuredly not. But hey, the United States was also a huge underdog vs. England 250 years ago. Wing and a Prayer World Cup odds bring out the faithful bettors, even on the longest shots. As in, far longer than Team USA. For example, at DraftKings Sportsbook, Haiti is tied for dead last in World Cup championship odds, joining Curaçao and Jordan at a massive +250000. In easier-to-digest terms, that’s 2500/1. One customer figured: Why not? The bettor put $1,250 on Haiti, looking to score a $3.125 million win. At Caesars Sports, a customer put $100 on those same odds, Haiti 2500/1. If the impossible happens, then that bettor pockets $250,000. Back at DraftKings, there’s a $4,144 bet on South Korea +40000 (400/1). Such an upset would net a win of $1,657,600. Also at DraftKings, a customer put $10,000 on Senegal +11000 (110/1). If the Senegalese side makes a stunning run, then that bettor profits $1.1 million. I Like Big Bets and I Cannot Lie There are countless more wagers on World Cup futures odds and a boatload more to come. But here are a few more notable bets ahead of Thursday’s kickoff between Mexico and South Africa: Prediction markets are a hot-button issue at the moment. But Kalshi, Polymarket and others are also involved in World Cup offerings. And Kalshi might have the most unique transaction out there at the moment. Very few sportsbooks offer Yes/No options on futures bets. Circa Sports here in Las Vegas comes to mind. But such options are more common in prediction markets. So in the category of risk-a-lot-to-win-a-little, a Kalshi customer put $300,000 on Morocco not to win the World Cup. The odds of that are 98%, practically a mortal lock. Provided the world doesn’t fall off its axis, that bettor will profit … $6,000, for a $306,000 total payout. Although it’s extremely unlikely that this trader loses $300K, it’s still a good time to remind that these high-roller/high-net-worth types can afford to take such risk. Me and you? Not so much. Keep your World Cup wagering and expectations reasonable. Never bet more than you can afford to lose.]]>
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