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					<![CDATA[James Rodríguez's Incredible Summer Joins Top World Cup Moments List]]>
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				    <![CDATA[The World Cup is defined by memorable moments. Counting down to the top 100 of all-time.]]>
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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. Leading up to this summer, we're counting down the most iconic, most controversial, most defining moments in tournament history. Check out today's entry, but keep on reading as we count down to the BEST World Cup moment ever. JUMP TO: 100-90 | 89-80 | 79-70 | 69-60 | 59-50 | 49-40 | Stay Tuned For More 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.____ Continue to check back every day for more top moments as we count down to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, starting on June 11.]]>
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					<![CDATA[2026 FIFA World Cup Ultimate Fanbase! Spain vs. Argentina in the Semifinals]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/2026-fifa-world-cup-ultimate-fanbase</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/2026-fifa-world-cup-ultimate-fanbase</guid>
				<category>soccer</category>
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				    <![CDATA[Which World Cup fanbase will be the loudest? The most fun? The most passionate? Vote in our 2026 FIFA World Cup Ultimate Fanbase.]]>
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				<pubDate>Fri, 24 Apr 2026 12:44:05 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[The world's best sporting event – the 2026 FIFA World Cup — is coming this summer, and it's going to be bigger and better than ever. But which fans of the 48 teams will be the loudest? The most fun and the most passionate? Vote in our 2026 FIFA World Cup Ultimate Fanbase, sponsored by Lay's! How To Vote? Easy! All voting takes place across the @FOXSoccer social accounts. So if you don't already follow FOX Soccer, do so now! You'll be able to vote on: - Instagram- Facebook- YouTube - X Or check out the polls below.  Vote on your platform of choice and it will count! Voting will take place over the entire month of April with a winner announced on the last day of the month! The winners will get an official billboard touting your nation as the best fans in front of your team's 2026 FIFA World Cup training facility! Semifinals: How It Works? We have reached the last four teams! Brazil fans defeated Germany fans, so they'll be moving onto the final. Today's other semifinal matchup is: Quarterfinals Results - Brazil fans defeated Mexico fans while Germany fans took care of the Netherlands fans. The two winners will face off in the semifinals. Congrats! - Argentina fans defeated England fans while Spain fans handled France fans. The two winners will face off in the semifinals. Round-of-16 Results - Brazil fans defeated South Korea fans, while Mexico fans defeated Morocco fans. The two winners will face off in the quarterfinals. Congrats! - Germany fans defeated Ecuador fans, while Netherlands fans defeated Türkiye fans. The two winners will face off in the quarterfinals. Congrats! - France fans defeated Belgium fans, while Spain fans defeated Uruguay fans. The two winners will face off in the quarterfinals. Congrats! - England fans defeated Colombia fans, while Argentina defeated Portugal fans. The two winners will now advance to the quarterfinals. Congrats! Second-Round Results In Region 4 (which includes J/K/L): - England fans def. Croatia fans;- Colombia fans def. Algeria fans;- Argentina fans def. Ghana fans;- Portugal fans def. Austria fans. These four fanbases move into the quarterfinals. Congrats! In Region 3 (which includes G/H/I): - France fans def. Norway fans;- Belgium fans def. Egypt fans;- Uruguay fans def. Ghana fans;- Spain fans def. Saudi Arabia fans. Those four fanbases move into the quarterfinals. Congrats! In Region 2 (which includes D/E/F): - Netherlands fans def. USA fans;- Germany fans def. Japan fans;- Türkiye fans def. Australia fans;- Ecuador fans def. Paraguay fans. Those four fanbases move into the quarterfinals. Congrats! In Region 1 (which includes Groups A/B/C): - Mexico fans def. South Africa fans;- Brazil fans def. Switzerland fans;- Morocco fans def. Czechia fans;- South Korea fans def. Bosnia &amp; Herzegovina fans. Those four fanbases move into the quarterfinals. Congrats! Previous First-Round Results In Region 1 (which includes Groups A/B/C): - Switzerland fans def. Canada fans;- Bosnia &amp; Herzegovina fans def. Scotland fans;- Czechia fans def. Qatar fans;- South Africa fans def. Haiti fans. Those four fanbases move onto the second round. Congrats! In Region 2 (which includes Groups D/E/F): - Japan fans def. Sweden fans;- Paraguay fans def. Tunisia fans;- Netherlands fans def. Ivory Coast fans;- Australia fans def. Curaçao fans. Those four fanbases move onto the second round. Congrats! In Region 3 (which includes Groups G/H/I): - Belgium fans def. Cape Verde fans;- Uruguay fans def. New Zealand fans;- Saudi Arabia fans def. Iraq fans;- Norway fans def. Iran fans. Those four fanbases move onto the second round. Congrats! In Region 4 (which includes Groups J/K/L): - Croatia fans def. Congo DR fans;- Algeria fans def. Uzbekistan fans; - Ghana fans def. Panama fans;- Jordan fans def. Austria fans. Those four fanbases move onto the second round. Congrats! 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 (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 primetime across FOX (21) and FS1 (19).]]>
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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>
				<category>soccer</category>
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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>Fri, 24 Apr 2026 00:00:05 -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: 34National team appearances: 123Club: Fulham (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 nine 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 44 goals for Mexico, which is three 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: 30Club: 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 30 appearances. Son Heung-min | Forward | South Korea Age: 33National team appearances: 142Club: 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: 32National team appearances: 89Club: 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: 14Club: 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: 125Club: 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: 79Club: 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 on the verge of 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: 37Club: 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: 24Club: 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: 79Club: 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: 69Club: 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: 64Club: 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: 75Club: 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: 25Club: 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: 20National 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 20-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: 22National team appearances: 39Club: 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 22-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: 70Club: 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: 60Club: 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: 90Club: 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: 24National team appearances: 48Club: 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: 27National team appearances: 32Club: 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. Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane | Midfielder | Tunisia Age: 26National team appearances: 54Club: Al-Ahly (Egypt) Tunisia’s bread and butter may be its defense, but Romdhane is known for his proficiency on the ball and has a nose for goal. The 26-year-old plays for Al Ahly in Egypt, and he scored a goal against Portuguese powerhouse Porto at the 2025 Club World Cup. He also scored the goal that booked Tunisia's spot at the World Cup in a 1-0 qualifier win over Equatorial Guinea in September. The Eagles of Carthage will likely be over-matched by their group opponents, but any foe certainly has to account for Romdhane and his propensity to impact the game. Notable stat: Romdhane spent eight seasons playing at clubs in Tunisia and Hungary before moving to Al Ahly in the Egyptian Premier League in 2024. 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP GROUP G Jérémy Doku | Forward | Belgium Age: 23National team appearances: 41Club: 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 23-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: 115Club: 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: 103Club: 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: 88Club: 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: 24National team appearances: 20Club: Casa Pia (Portugal) Livramento carries the hopes and dreams of this island nation off the coast of Africa. The 24-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: 107Club: 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: 96Club: 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: 17Club: 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: 49Club: 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: 198Club: 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: 113Club: 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: 97Club: 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: 28National 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: 226Club: 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: 25Club: 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: 124Club: 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 six 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: 112Club: 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 78 goals in 112 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: 196Club: 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 (11 goal contributions in 19 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 70 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[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>
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				    <![CDATA[FOX Sports' Alexi Lalas power ranked all 48 World Cup teams ahead of the 2026 tournament. Where did your team land?]]>
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				<pubDate>Wed, 22 Apr 2026 17:47:09 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[Ready for this summer's 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 (48th)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: +200000 (T-46th)Key player: Midfielder Leandro Bacuna (Iğdır FK) Curaçao is the smallest nation in the World Cup with a population of about 156,000. 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: +100000 (T-39th)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: +80000 (38th)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 big 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: +100000 (T-39th)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: +100000 (T-39th)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: +100000 (T-39th)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: +100000 (T-39th)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: +100000 (T-39th)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: +70000 (37th)Key player: Striker Cédric Bakambu (Real Betis) Congo DR 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: +50000 (T-34th)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: +200000 (T-46th)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: +50000 (T-34th)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: +25000 (33rd)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: +30000 (T-30th)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: +35000 (T-32nd)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: +25000 (28th)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 its 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: +100000 (T-39th)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's 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: +50000 (T-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: +15000 (24th)Key player: Midfielder Tomas Soucek (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: +30000 (T-30th)Key player: Midfielder Mohammed Kudus (Tottenham) 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 (T-25th)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: +15000 (T-23rd)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: +10000 (T-20th)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 enter the summer coming off impressive wins in March over Ukraine and Poland to qualify. Group F opponents: Tunisia (June 14), Netherlands (June 20), Japan (June 25) Odds to win the World Cup: +15000 (T-23rd)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: +11000 (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: +20000 (T-25th)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: +10000 (T-20th)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: +45000 (33rd)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: +20000 (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 Wataru Endo (Liverpool) 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: +9000 (19th)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 (9th)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: +6500 (T-12th)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: +7500 (16th)Key player: Striker Raúl Jiménez (Fulham) 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: +6500 (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 will enter the summer coming off convincing losses to Belgium and Portugal in late March. Group D opponents: Paraguay (June 12), Australia (June 19), Türkiye (June 25) Odds to win the World Cup: +3500 (10th)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: +8000 (T-17th)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: +1400 (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: +2000 (8th)Key player: Defender Virgil Van Djik (Liverpool) While the Dutch have a strong team, it is not quite ready for prime time to truly compete with the top-tiered teams. There is quality around the field in 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: +800 (4th)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: +1100 (6th)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: Congo DR (June 17), Uzbekistan (June 23), Colombia (June 27) Odds to win the World Cup: +850 (5th)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 (Minnesota United) 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 Diaz) who could lead it to the promised land. Group K opponents: Uzbekistan (June 17), Congo DR (June 23), Portugal (June 27) Odds to win the World Cup: +650 (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: +500 (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: +550 (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 (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[World Cup Title Favorites? Who Could Overachieve? All 48 Teams By Tiers]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/world-cup-tiers-48-teams-favorites-sleeper-picks-usmnt-mexico-canada-argentina-england</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/world-cup-tiers-48-teams-favorites-sleeper-picks-usmnt-mexico-canada-argentina-england</guid>
				<category>soccer</category>
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				    <![CDATA[Let's dive into the World Cup field by placing all the teams into distinct tiers and who to keep an eye on.]]>
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				<pubDate>Wed, 22 Apr 2026 00:01:13 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[On July 19, one country will hoist and take home the FIFA World Cup. But on June 11, 48 different teams — from Curaçao to Portugal, Uzbekistan to France — will dream the impossible dream. One in which anything is possible. We're diving into the World Cup field by placing all the teams into distinct tiers, breaking down what to know about them and what to look for when they take the field. Some squads are feeling the pressure. Some are potential overachievers. And others are simply thrilled to be at this tournament. Here's a look at all 48 World Cup teams 50 days out from the tournament. JUMP TO: Tall Task Ahead | Will Make It Interesting | Don't Overlook Them | Can Make A Deep Run | Pressure To Perform | Title Or Bust Who doesn't love a World Cup first-timer? The island nation off the coast of Africa with a population of 500,000 (the third-smallest team ever after Iceland in 2018 and Curaçao this year) will dive into the deep end by opening up group-stage action against Spain. The Blue Sharks will be led by longtime coach Bubista, who's been in charge since 2020. Keep An Eye On: Ryan Mendes (Iğdır F.K.) is a 36-year-old winger who is Cape Verde’s captain as well as its all-time leader in goals (22) and appearances (96).Fact To Know: Teams from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) making their World Cup debut are 4-8-1 (W-L-D), and have lost four straight games (all coming in 2006). World Cup odds: +100000Odds to advance from group: +225 Group H opponents: Spain (June 15), Uruguay (June 21), Saudi Arabia (June 26) Will the Blue Wave’s Cinderella story continue this summer? The Dutch territory became the smallest nation by both population (156,000) and geographic area to ever qualify for a World Cup. But it could be rough waters for Curaçao with a group that includes Ecuador and four-time world champ Germany. And the team will have to do it without legendary Dutch manager Dick Advocaat, who managed the Netherlands the 1994 USA World Cup. Advocaat stepped back in March to care for his ill daughter. Keep an eye on: Leandro Bacuna (Iğdır F.K.) is a 34-year-old central midfielder and right back who is Curaçao's captain as well as its overall leader in appearances (70). Fact to know: CONCACAF (Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football) teams making their debut in the World Cup are 2-6-3 (W-L-D), with the USA winning in 1930 and Costa Rica winning in 1990. World Cup title odds: +150000Odds to advance from group: +800 Group E opponents: Germany (June 14), Ecuador (June 20), Ivory Coast (June 25) You have to feel good for Haiti, which returns to the World Cup stage for the first time since 1974 despite not being able to play any of its qualifying matches on home soil. It's never easy to take out more experienced CONCACAF sides like Costa Rica and Honduras, but Les Grenadiers relied on their stout defense to reach the 48-team field. Up next? Brazil, Scotland and Morocco this summer. Keep an eye on: Duckenz Nazon, who plays at Iranian club Esteghlal, is a 31-year-old striker and is Haiti’s all-time leading scorer with 44 goals. Fact to know: Haiti is looking for its first win in the World Cup ever, going 0-3-0 (W-L-D) in its only other appearance in 1974. World Cup title odds: +150000Odds to advance from group: +700 Group C opponents: Scotland (June 13), Brazil (June 19), Morocco (June 24) The last team to officially qualify for the World Cup in March, the Lions of Mesopotamia are rewarded with arguably the toughest group in the field — France, Norway and Senegal. Led by former Australia coach Graham Arnold, this Iraqi side should feel good about making just its second World Cup appearance in team history. Keep an eye on: Ali Al-Hamadi (Luton Town) is a 24-year-old striker who played for Ipswich Town and Stoke City before being loaned out to his current club. Fact to know: In its lone World Cup appearance in 1986, Iraq lost all three group matches — against Paraguay, Belgium and Mexico. World Cup title odds: +100000Odds to advance from group: +350 Group G opponents: Norway (June 16), France (June 22), Senegal (June 26) With the expanded 48-team field, Jordan will make its debut trip to the World Cup after having come close in 2014 by making the intercontinental playoffs. This team, which goes by "The Chivalrous Ones," faces a big mountain this summer in a group that includes Argentina, Austria and Algeria. Keep an eye on: Musa Al-Taamari (Rennes) is a 28-year-old winger who spent the last three seasons playing in France’s Ligue 1 and will captain Jordan. Fact to know: Teams from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) making their World Cup debut are winless, going 0-10-1 (W-L-D). World Cup title odds: +150000Odds to advance from group: +275 Group J opponents: Austria (June 17), Algeria (June 22), Argentina (June 27) The biggest name on Uzbekistan's sideline may be its coach. Fabio Cannavaro, one of the greatest defenders of all time, captained Italy to the World Cup in 2006. Along with a distinguished playing career, he's coached across several clubs in Asia. He only took over for Uzbekistan in October after the White Wolves had already secured their first-ever World Cup spot. Keep an eye on: Abdukodir Khusanov (Manchester City) is a 22-year-old center back and right back who scored in the FA Cup in 2025. Fact to know: Eldor Shomurodov (İstanbul Başakşehir) will captain the side at 30 years old and is second in the Turkish Süper Lig in goals scored this season with 16 (as of April 9). World Cup title odds: +150000Odds to advance from group: +190 Group K opponents: Columbia (June 17), Portugal (June 23), Congo DR (June 27) Congo DR wasn't supposed to make it this far, but a surprising qualifying campaign that included beating traditional African powerhouses Nigeria and Cameroon has the Leopards back in the World Cup for the first time since 1974 (when the country was known as Zaire). Congo DR needed to beat Jamaica at the intercontinental playoffs to book its spot this summer. West Ham United right back Aaron Wan-Bissaka headlines an intriguing roster with plenty of European experience. Keep an eye on: Yoane Wissa (Newcastle United) is a 29-year-old winger who has played in the English Premier League for the past five seasons, most notably scoring 49 goals for Brentford in four seasons. Fact to know: Congo DR is managed by Sébastien Desabre, who has won 29 games and drawn eight times out of 48 matches since taking over in 2022. World Cup title odds: +70000Odds to advance from group: -155 Group K opponents: Portugal (June 17), Columbia (June 23), Uzbekistan (June 27) Are we underestimating Ghana? There's individual talent here on this roster, led by Manchester City standout forward Antoine Semenyo. But Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Mohammed Kudus is still sidelined with a quad injury, and tough group stage opponents (notably England and Ghana) could leave the Black Stars in a pickle. Ghana did notably hire Carlos Queiroz, who has led three previous squads (South Africa, Portugal, Iran) to the World Cup, as manager in March. Keep an eye on: Iñaki Williams (Athletic Bilbao) is a 31-year-old striker who has been playing in Spain’s La Liga since 2014, scoring more than 100 goals in 500-plus appearances with his current club. Fact to know: Ghana has made five of the past six World Cups, most notably advancing to the quarterfinals in 2010. World Cup title odds: +35000Odds to advance from group: -155 Group L opponents: Panama (June 17), England (June 23), Croatia (June 27) New Zealand returns to the big stage for the first time since 2010 when the team notably went undefeated (three straight draws) but couldn't reach the knockout round. The return of star striker Chris Wood — who earlier this month played his first match for Nottingham Forest in nearly six months following a knee injury — will give the All-Whites some hope this summer. Keep an eye on: Marko Stamenić (Swansea City) is a 24-year-old midfielder who has scored two goals and two assists in the English Football Championship in 32 appearances (as of April 9). Fact to know: New Zealand is looking for its first-ever win at the World Cup, going 0-3-3 (W-L-D) in two previous appearances (1982, 2010). World Cup title odds: +100000Odds to advance from group: +175 Group G opponents: Iran (June 15), Egypt (June 21), Belgium (June 26) Never underestimate a tough squad from CONCACAF, and that's what Panama is. Just ask the USA, which lost to the Central American side at the 2024 Copa América and in the 2025 CONCACAF Nations League semifinals. With England, Croatia and Ghana as group-stage foes, look for Los Canaleros to try and surprise those more talented squads. Keep an eye on: Amir Murrilo (Beşiktaş) is a 30-year-old right back who made 62 appearances for Marseille from 2020 to 2026. Fact to know: Panama is looking for its first point ever at the World Cup, going 0-3-0 (W-L-D) with all matches in 2018. World Cup title odds: +100000Odds to advance from group: +220 Group L opponents: Ghana (June 17), Croatia (June 23), England (June 27) Now in their second straight World Cup, the 2022 hosts qualified for 2026 on their playing merit this time around. Led by former Spain and Real Madrid boss Julen Lopetegui, they're still looking for their first point on soccer's biggest stage. They'll have to do so in a group that includes co-hosts Canada. Keep an eye on: Akram Afif (Al Sadd) is a 29-year-old winger who has the third-most appearances for Qatar with 132 and also ranks tied-for-third in goals with 41. Fact to know: Qatar is looking for its first point ever at the World Cup, having gone 0-3-0 (W-L-D) in 2022. World Cup title odds: +100000Odds to advance from group: +300 Group B opponents: Switzerland (June 13), Canada (June 18), Bosnia and Herzegovina (June 24) Saudi Arabia made headlines in 2022 by beating eventual champion Argentina in a group-stage shocker. The Green Falcons have made it to seven of the last nine World Cups, but they'll need to pull off another monumental upset over either Spain or Uruguay in this group stage. And they'll have to do it without Herve Renard, who abruptly left as manager earlier in April. Keep an eye on: Saud Abdulhamid (Lens) is a 26-year-old right back who signed with Roma in 2024 before being loaned out to Lens last year. Fact to know: Saudi Arabia has made seven of the last nine World Cups and last made the knockout stage in 1994. World Cup title odds: +100000Odds to advance from group: +120 Group H opponents: Uruguay (June 15), Spain (June 21), Cape Verde (June 26) South Africa will play in the first match of the entire World Cup for the second time in its history and, interestingly enough, against the same opponent. In 2010, it welcomed Mexico to Johannesburg, but this time, Bafana Bafana will be visitors at the renovated Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. With a co-host and a tough South Korea team in the same group, it could be difficult to make a run this summer. Keep an eye on: Lyle Foster (Burnley) is a 25-year-old center forward who has played in France Ligue 1, the Belgian Pro League and currently plays in the English Premier League. Fact to know: South Africa took down France in the group stage in 2010, defeating it, 3-2. World Cup title odds: +80000Odds to advance from group: +150 Group A opponents: Mexico (June 11), Czechia (June 18), South Korea (June 24) Back at the World Cup for the first time since 2014, Algeria will get the honor of opening up its campaign against title-holders Argentina in Kansas City. But Les Verts will be able to compete for that second group-stage spot for the knockout round, especially with former Premier League winger Riyad Mahrez and upstart Manchester City left-back Rayan Ait Nouri. Keep an eye on: Riyad Mahrez (Al-Ahli) is a 35-year-old winger who will captain Algeria. He spent 10 seasons in the English Premier League, scoring 82 goals and 63 assists in 284 league appearances for Leicester City and Manchester City. Fact to know: Algeria is one of five CAF teams to have made the Round of 16 in the 21st century. World Cup title odds: +35000Odds to advance from group: -250 Group J opponents: Argentina (June 16), Jordan (June 22), Austria (June 27) The second opponent for the USA during the group stage, expect the Socceroos to be a tough foe in Seattle. Australia gave Lionel Messi and eventual champions Argentina a scare in the round of 16 in Qatar before losing, 2-1, and the 2026 event marks their sixth straight World Cup trip. Organized and physical under coach Tony Popovic, they’ll be a tough out. Keep an eye on: Jackson Irvine (FC St. Pauli) is a 33-year-old central midfielder who has played in the Scottish Premiership, England’s Championship and Germany’s Bundesliga. Fact to know: Two of Australia’s four total wins at the World Cup came in 2022, defeating Denmark and Tunisia. World Cup title odds: +45000Odds to advance from group: +100 Group D opponents: Türkiye (June 14), United States (June 19), Paraguay (June 25) It still feels borderline unbelievable that Bosnia and Herzegovina was able to keep Italy out of yet another World Cup. But, as one of the feel-good storylines for this summer, this team could spell some trouble — and it does play co-host Canada in group-stage play. Legendary striker Edin Džeko, now 41, is back in the spotlight — as is American-born Esmir Bajraktarević (aka, the "Milwaukee Messi") who scored the decisive penalty over Italy. Keep an eye on: Edin Dzeko (Schalke 04) is a 40-year-old striker who played for Manchester City, Roma and Inter Milan. Fact to know: Bosnia and Herzegovina is making its second appearance in the World Cup since becoming an independent nation in 1992. World Cup title odds: +25000Odds to advance from group: -475 Group B opponents: Canada (June 12), Switzerland (June 19), Qatar (June 24) Qualifying for the World Cup out of the UEFA playoffs in March, the Czechs are back for the first time since 2006. Needing penalties to oust Ireland and Denmark, the team will have to navigate a tricky group stage that includes taking on Mexico at Estadio Azteca. Keep an eye on: Patrick Schick (Bayer Leverkusen) is a 30-year-old striker who needs three goals to move into third all time for Czechia. Fact to know: Czechia became an independent nation in 1993 but made the finals twice as Czechoslovakia in 1934 and 1962. World Cup title odds: +15000Odds to advance from group: -475 Group A opponents: South Korea (June 11), South Africa (June 20), Mexico (June 24) The objective for Team Melli, which has qualified for four straight World Cup tournaments, is to finally reach the knockout stage for the first time in its team history. In a group that includes Belgium, Egypt and New Zealand, that could be a reasonable objective. Keep an eye on: Medhi Taremi (Olympiacos) is a 33-year-old striker who has played for Porto and Inter Milan. Fact to know: Iran has three wins all time at the World Cup, having beaten USA (1998), Morocco (2018) and Wales (2022). World Cup title odds: +30000Odds to advance from group: -230 Group G opponents: New Zealand (June 15), Belgium (June 21), Egypt (June 26) It's been a while since we last saw the Ivory Coast at the World Cup — its last appearance was in 2014 — and this is a different generation than when the legendary Didier Drogba was captaining the Elephants. But there is talent on this roster, and a 4-0 thumping over South Korea in a March friendly will provide momentum for this summer. Keep an eye on: Amad Diallo (Manchester United) is a 23-year-old winger who has made 63 appearances in the Premier League, scoring 11 goals and 13 assists (as of April 10). Fact to know: Ivory Coast has made three previous World Cup appearances but never advanced past the group stage. World Cup title odds: +25000Odds to advance from group: -370 Group E opponents: Ecuador (June 14), Germany (June 20), Curaçao (June 25) Under manager Graham Potter, Sweden had one of the most remarkable paths of any team that will be appearing at the World Cup. The Swedes didn't actually win a game in their initial qualifying campaign but made the World Cup playoffs due to their UEFA Nation Leagues performance. Will the team's duo of talented Premier League strikers in Liverpool's Alexander Isak and Arsenal’s Viktor Gyokeres — who scored four goals in March's playoff games — deliver this summer? Keep an eye on: Isak (Liverpool) is a 26-year-old striker who scored 62 goals and 11 assists in 109 appearances at Newcastle United before making the move to his current club. Fact to know: Sweden has made the quarterfinals three times since 1974, most recently doing so in 2018. World Cup title odds: +8000Odds to advance from group: -250 Group F opponents: Tunisia (June 14), Netherlands (June 20), Japan (June 25) With seven World Cup appearances in its history, is Tunisia ready to finally reach the knockout stage? The Eagles of Carthage know that's a tough assignment with Netherlands and Japan in their group. A fun detail — Tunisia was the first African nation to win a World Cup match when it beat Mexico in 1978. Keep an eye on: Elias Saad (Hannover 96) is a 26-year-old winger who has been playing in Germany since 2019. Fact to know: This will be Tunisia’s sixth World Cup appearance in the last eight editions of the tournament. World Cup title odds: +50000Odds to advance from group: +120 Group F opponents: Sweden (June 14), Japan (June 21), Netherlands (June 25) Back at the World Cup for the first time since 1998, Austria will rely on a strong veteran core this summer. Real Madrid defender David Alaba and Borussia Dortmund midfielder Marcel Sabitzer headline a group coached by Ralf Rangnick, who served as an interim manager for Manchester United. The Austrians can certainly hold their own in a group that includes Lionel Messi and Argentina. Keep an eye on: Alaba (Real Madrid) is a 33-year-old center back, Austria’s captain and second all time on the squad in appearances with 112. Fact to know: Austria’s best finish at the World Cup came in 1954, reaching the semifinals and finishing in third place. World Cup title odds: +10000Odds to advance from group: -340 Group J opponents: Jordan (June 17), Argentina (June 22), Algeria (June 27) Fans will know to watch out for Mohamed Salah, the Liverpool legend who announced earlier in the year that it will be his final season at Anfield. Egypt — the most successful team in Africa with seven continental titles — will lean on Salah to help get the Pharaohs out of the group stage for the first time in the World Cup. Keep an eye on: Omar Marmoush (Manchester City) is a 27-year-old center forward who scored 37 goals and 20 assists for Eintracht Frankfurt in the Bundesliga before moving to the English Premier League. Fact to know: Egypt is looking for its first win ever at the World Cup, recording a 0-5-2 (W-L-D) record in its three previous appearances (1934, 1990, 2018). World Cup title odds: +30000Odds to advance from group: -310 Group G opponents: Belgium (June 15), New Zealand (June 21), Iran (June 26) Paraguay will look to spoil the party as the first opponent for the USA in group-stage action. La Albirroja will be led by midfielder Miguel Almirón, who is a familiar face having played for MLS side Atlanta United and Premier League mainstay Newcastle United before a return to MLS. The team received some good news after a knee injury to midfielder Diego Gomez (Brighton &amp; Hove Albion) earlier in April appeared to be less serious than initially expected. Keep an eye on: Julio Enciso (Strasbourg) is a 22-year-old attacking midfielder who made 57 appearances with Brighton &amp; Hove Albion before moving to France’s Ligue 1 last year. Fact to know: Paraguay reached the quarterfinal in its last World Cup appearance in 2010, losing to Spain — the eventual champions that year. World Cup title odds: +20000Odds to advance from group: -575 Group D opponents: United States (June 12), Türkiye (June 20), Paraguay (June 25) The Tartan Army will be full voice this summer with Scotland back in the World Cup for its first appearance since 1998. The Scots will be riding the success of its star midfielder Scott McTominay, who scored an epic bicycle-kick golazo to clinch his country's spot back in November. A former Manchester United product, McTominay has found his stride with Italian club Napoli. He'll have the chance to shine this summer against Brazil and Morocco. Keep an eye on: Andy Robertson (Liverpool) is a 32-year-old left back who is Scotland’s captain and second overall in national team appearances with 92. Fact to know: In its eight World Cup appearances, Scotland has never advanced past the Group Stage. World Cup title odds: +20000Odds to advance from group: -230 Group C opponents: Haiti (June 13), Morocco (June 19), Brazil (June 24) Will history repeat itself like it did in 2002 when Senegal took down France in its opener? The Lions of Teranga won't surprise anyone like they did back then, especially as Senegal has become one of Africa's strongest sides. Led by former Liverpool and Bayern winger Sadio Mané, look for Senegal to make some noise in a group that includes tough opponents France and Norway. Keep an eye on: Mané (Al-Nassr) is a 34-year-old winger who made 269 appearances for Liverpool from 2016 to 2022, scoring 120 goals and 46 assists in that span. Fact to know: Senegal is one of just three CAF teams to have made the quarterfinals of the World Cup, doing so in 2002. World Cup title odds: +10000Odds to advance from group: -200 Group I opponents: France (June 16), Norway (June 22), Iraq (June 26) You can set your watch to South Korea being at the World Cup with the Taegeuk Warriors now making 11 straight tournament appearances. Back in 2002 as co-hosts, the squad became the first Asian team to reach the semifinals. How far can South Korea go this summer? It'll face co-host Mexico, but with plenty of European-based stars, South Korea could be the favorite in Group A. In his first full season at LAFC, Son Heung-min is in fine form — he leads MLS with seven assists — and will want to keep that up at the World Cup. Keep an eye on: Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich) is a 29-year-old center back who was named the best defender in Italy (Serie A) in 2023 and most recently won the Bundesliga title last season. Fact to know: South Korea has advanced to the knockout stage in three of the past six World Cups. World Cup title odds: +35000Odds to advance from group: -330 Group A opponents: Czechia (June 11), Mexico (June 18), South Africa (June 24) Longtime star Romelu Lukaku has been hampered by a hamstring injury, but there's still tons of experience for Belgium. The Red Devils’ golden generation — which includes Lukaku, veteran Napoli midfielder Kevin De Bruyne and all-world Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois — can make one final push for an elusive trophy. Belgium looked every bit the part in a 5-2 win over the USA in a March friendly, especially its supporting cast that includes electric Manchester City winger Jeremy Doku. Keep an eye on: De Bruyne (Napoli) is a 34-year-old midfielder who holds the record for becoming the fastest player to reach 100 assists in the English Premier League. Fact to know: Belgium’s best finish at the World Cup has come in the semifinals, doing so in 1986 and 2018. World Cup title odds: +3500Odds to advance from group: -2000 Group G opponents: Egypt (June 15), Iran (June 21), New Zealand (June 26) Runners-up in 2018. Third place in 2022. Has anyone punched above its World Cup weight more than Croatia? Already with one of the most magnificently unique kits in all of soccer, the checkered squad can't be counted out in 2026, especially with its experience level and the fact that it's led by superstar Luka Modrić. The 40-year-old midfielder and 2018 Balon d’Or winner has six Champions League trophies to his name from his time at Real Madrid. Keep an eye on: Joško Gvardiol is a 24-year-old Manchester City center back and left back who was signed for a reported $106 million by his current club in 2023, the second-biggest transfer fee in Premier League history. Fact to know: Croatia has made the World Cup six times and has advanced to the semifinals in three of those appearances. World Cup title odds: +9000Odds to advance from group: -475 Group L opponents: England (June 17), Panama (June 23), Ghana (June 27) The four-time World Cup winners’ depth took a hit when it was announced on April 18 that forward Serge Gnabry tore an adductor muscle, likely ending any hope of the Bayern Munich star playing for Germany this summer. Despite Gnabry's likely absence, Germany is always capable of making a run, if not winning it all. But since winning it all in 2014 in Brazil, the Germans have not advanced out of group stage play. Midfielder Florian Wirtz 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 and then making a big move to Liverpool. In March, the 22-year-old Wirtz scored his 10th goal in just 39 games for his country. Keep an eye on: Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich) is a 23-year-old attacking midfielder who has made over 140 Bundesliga appearances for his current club since 2019. Fact to know: No team has more appearances in the World Cup final than Germany with eight. World Cup title odds: +1400Odds to advance from group: -10000 Group E opponents: Curaçao (June 14), Ivory Coast (June 20), Ecuador (June 25) Could this be the summer of the Samurai Blue? Japan looked impressive in March in friendly wins over England and Scotland, only adding to the buzz surrounding one of Asia's most talented teams. Japan produced two of the biggest upsets in 2022 by beating Germany and Spain in the group phase, but the team has never progressed beyond the Round of 16. And as much as Japan is a delight to watch on the pitch, kudos must be given to the team's supporters, who are known for cleaning up stadiums after matches. Keep an eye on: Kaoru Mitoma (Brighton &amp; Hove Albion) is a 28-year-old winger who has made 109 appearances in the English Premier League since the 2022-23 season, recording 22 goals and 18 assists (as of April 12). Fact to know: Japan has made it to the knockout stage in four of the past seven World Cups. World Cup title odds: +5000Odds to advance from group: -340 Group F opponents: Netherlands (June 14), Tunisia (June 21), Sweden (June 25) Behind the best team to have never won a World Cup, these fans are hungry for a trophy. Just look at recent major tournaments like the men’s and women’s Euros and how the fans flood the streets in bright orange. The Dutch have plenty of individual talent to make some noise, from Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong to Liverpool duo Cody Gakpo (winger) and defender Virgil van Dijk. Four years ago, the Oranje took eventual champion Argentina to a thrilling penalty shootout in the 2022 World Cup quarterfinal. How far can this group go in 2026? Netherlands manager Ronald Koeman has a physical squad, fast wingers and a ton of players with big-game experience. Keep an eye on: Ryan Gravenberch (Liverpool) is a 23-year-old defensive midfielder who won the English Premier League last season, playing in 37 league matches for his current club. Fact to know: Netherlands has made the finals of the World Cup three times but has yet to win. World Cup title odds: +2000Odds to advance from group: -1400 Group F opponents: Japan (June 14), Sweden (June 20), Tunisia (June 25) Switzerland is as dependable as the watches produced in the country; this team is headed to its sixth consecutive World Cup. It has reached the Round of 16 in each of the last three editions. Led by Premier League veterans Manuel Akanji (defender) and captain Granit Xhaka (midfielder), the Swiss will try to make at least the quarterfinals this summer — something they haven’t managed since 1954. Keep an eye on: Xhaka (Sunderland) is a 33-year-old defensive midfielder who is the captain of Switzerland and is also their all-time leader in appearances with 144. Fact to know: Switzerland has made the knockout stage in each of the last three World Cups, as well as four of the last five. World Cup title odds: +10000Odds to advance from group: -1800 Group B opponents: Qatar (June 13), Bosnia and Herzegovina (June 18), Canada (June 24) Türkiye returns to the World Cup after a 24-year hiatus after it reached the semifinals in 2002, losing to eventual champion Brazil by a single goal. This summer in a group with Australia, Paraguay and co-host USA, the Crescent Stars are probably the favorites to come out on top. That's due to having star players across Europe's top leagues, including Real Madrid youngster Arda Güler, Juventus’ attacking midfielder Kenan Yıldız and Inter Milan veteran midfielder Hakan Çalhanoğlu. Keep an eye on: Güler (Real Madrid) is a 21-year-old attacking midfielder who has made more than 100 appearances for his current club since joining in 2023. Fact to know: This is just Türkiye’s third appearance at the World Cup, having made it in 1954 and 2002. World Cup title odds: +6500Odds to advance from group: -500 Group F opponents: Australia (June 13), Paraguay (June 19), United States (June 25) The winners of the first-ever World Cup in 1930, Uruguay wants to reach the final once again for the first time since winning its second title in 1950. Marcelo Bielsa, who took over as coach in 2023, has been criticized recently after a run of lackluster results in friendlies, which even prompted longtime striker Luis Suárez to consider returning to national team duty. But this squad still has talent, including Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo and Real Madrid midfielder Federico Valverde. It'll need to step up in a group that includes Spain and Saudi Arabia. Keep an eye on: Ronald Araújo (Barcelona) is a 27-year-old center back who has made more than 200 appearances with his current club since 2019. Fact to know: Uruguay is one of 10 nations to have made the World Cup on 15 different occasions. World Cup title odds: +6500Odds to advance from group: -800 Group H opponents: Saudi Arabia (June 15), Cape Verde (June 21), Spain (June 26) Canada returned to the World Cup in 2022 after last appearing in 1986. And now this summer, the Canadians are co-hosts. Can Wisconsin native and former MLSer Jesse Marsch manage the squad to some history by winning Canada's first World Cup game ever? Alphonso Davies, who can play as a forward or a defender, has been a pivotal player for Bayern Munich over several seasons. He remains the focal point for Canada. In a group that feels relatively winnable — although the other three teams could say the same — Canada will want to at least advance to the knockout round to make this tournament a success. Keep an eye on: Jonathan David (Juventus) is a 26-year-old striker who scored 87 goals and 17 assists in 178 Ligue 1 appearances for Lille before his move to Italy last year. Fact to know: Canada is looking for its first point ever at the World Cup, going 0-6-0 (W-L-D). World Cup title odds: +20000Odds to advance from group: -500 Group B opponents: Bosnia and Herzegovina (June 12), Qatar (June 18), Switzerland (June 24) Two losses in March to fellow World Cup teams, France and Croatia, were disappointing, but Colombia could be one of the biggest surprises this summer. Backed by big crowds, Los Cafeteros finished behind Argentina and fellow sleeper Ecuador in South American qualifying. Attacking midfielder James Rodriguez joined MLS' Minnesota United this season in an effort to get playing time ahead of the World Cup, even though he is still trying to find regular playing time and was even hospitalized for dehydration in March. Colombia's group-stage finale in Miami against Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal may be the most raucous first-round match of the tournament. Keep an eye on: Luis Díaz (Bayern Munich) is a 29-year-old winger who spent four seasons at Liverpool and currently ranks third in the Bundesliga in both goals (15) and assists (13). Fact to know: This will be Colombia’s seventh World Cup appearance, with its best finish coming in 2014 — reaching the quarterfinals. World Cup title odds: +4000Odds to advance from group: -800 Group K opponents: Uzbekistan (June 17), Congo DR (June 23), Portugal (June 27) Ecuador could be the toughest team out of South America at this World Cup, headlined by players that are making a splash across Europe. La Tri finished second in South American qualifying behind Argentina and ahead of Brazil. Defensive midfielder Moises Caicedo, who plays at Chelsea, may be the best in the world at his position. Two draws in March friendlies with Morocco and the Netherlands didn't slow down Ecuador, and the group-stage finale this summer against Germany could very well decide the group. Keep an eye on: Willian Pacho (Paris Saint-Germain) is a 24-year-old center back who has made more than 30 Champions League appearances for his current club. Fact to know: This year’s team is considered Ecuador’s golden generation, with several players playing in Europe’s top leagues. World Cup title odds: +8000Odds to advance from group: -900 Group E opponents: Ivory Coast (June 14), Curaçao (June 20), Germany (June 25) Mexico will now have hosted World Cup matches on three occasions. The previous two times? It reached the quarterfinals. It would be disastrous to not do so this time around, especially considering the home-field advantage El Tri will have. Mexico held its own at home in a March friendly against Portugal, settling for a scoreless draw before another stalemate with Belgium in Chicago. The co-host will lean on veteran Fulham striker Raul Jimenez, but it remains to be seen if the team brings young midfielders Gilberto Mora and Obed Vargas. But could an unprecedented sixth World Cup appearance be in the cards for keeper Guillermo Ochoa? Keep an eye on: Álvaro Fidalgo (Real Betis) is a 29-year-old central midfielder who made one appearance for Real Madrid in 2018 before moving to Club América in 2020, where he made 228 appearances until making the move to his current club last year. Fact to know: Those aforementioned quarterfinal finishes (in 1970 and 1986) were Mexico's best-ever finishes at the World Cup. World Cup title odds: +7000Odds to advance from group: -750 Group A opponents: South Africa (June 11), South Korea (June 18), Czechia (June 24) Morocco won't sneak up on anyone this time around. In fact, it'll face big expectations to make another deep run at this summer's World Cup. In 2022, the Atlas Lions became the first African and Arab nation to reach the semifinals. Earlier in January, Morocco hosted the Africa Cup of Nations, where it reached the final and was retroactively given the title after a controversial finish with Senegal. Mohamed Ouahbi, who led Morocco’s U-20 team to a Youth World Cup title in 2025, is now in charge of the senior side. Keep an eye on: Achraf Hakimi is a 27-year-old right back who has played for Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund and Inter Milan before making the move to Paris Saint-Germain in 2021. Fact to know: Morocco has advanced past the group stage twice, making the Round of 16 in 1986 and the semifinals in 2022. World Cup title odds: +6000Odds to advance from group: -1000 Group C opponents: Brazil (June 13), Scotland (June 19), Haiti (June 24) After a World Cup absence that stretched to 1998, Norway is back and fully looking to make its presence felt. Manchester City striker Erling Haaland and Arsenal midfielder Martin Ødegaard may be battling for Premier League supremacy, but they're poised to help Norway navigate a difficult group. Haaland — whose father, Alfie, played at the 1994 World Cup — has topped 30 goals in four straight seasons for Manchester City and, with 55 international goals heading into June, is his nation’s career leader. Keep an eye on: Ødegaard is a 27-year-old attacking midfielder who captains the Norwegian national team and has made more than 200 appearances for current club Arsenal. Fact to know: This will be Norway’s fourth appearance at the World Cup, exiting in the Round of 16 in two of those appearances. World Cup title odds: +2800Odds to advance from group: -575 Group I opponents: Iraq (June 16), Senegal (June 22), France (June 26) Playing at a World Cup on home soil for the first time since 1994, the United States is hoping to make a deep run this summer under highly paid former Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain manager Mauricio Pochettino. It won’t be easy for FIFA’s 16th-ranked squad. Since finishing fourth at the inaugural 1930 World Cup, the Americans’ best showing was a quarterfinal trip in 2002. Just equaling that feat this summer will require American star Christian Pulisic &amp; Co. to win two knockout-stage matches — one more than they’ve managed in 10 tournament appearances. Still, this USA squad is widely considered the most talented ever, with legitimate European club stars such as AC Milan’s Pulisic and Juventus’ Weston McKennie. The core that gained invaluable experience at Qatar 2022 is just now hitting its prime and has added a top striker in former England youth international Folarin Balogun, who has 18 goals for Monaco so far in 2025-26. Yet ugly March losses to Belgium and Portugal in pre-World Cup tuneups have tempered expectations, and Pulisic has been caught in an extended scoring drought for both club and country. His last goal for AC Milan came on Dec. 28, 2025, while his last goal for the Stars and Stripes was in November 2024. As of April 21, Pulisic’s scoreless streak stands at 17 games. Keep an eye on: Pulisic is a 27-year-old forward/winger and was one of two players to score at least 10 goals with at least nine assists in Serie A play last season. Fact to know: USA has made the knockout stage in five of its last eight World Cups. World Cup title odds: +6500Odds to advance from group: -575 Group D opponents: Paraguay (June 12), Australia (June 19), Türkiye (June 25) The defending World Cup champs want to become the first country to win consecutive titles since Brazil did it in 1958 and 1962. Can La Albiceleste do it, and will the team have Lionel Messi leading the way? Messi hasn't officially committed for this summer, but all signs point to the 38-year-old superstar vying for back-to-back World Cup titles. With Lionel Scaloni also back as coach after leading Argentina to glory in 2022, the team has talent across the board to make the dream a reality. Messi and Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo could become the first men to play in six World Cups. Messi already holds the record for most matches (26) and is tied for fourth in goals with Just Fontaine (France) at 13, trailing only Germany's Miroslav Klose (16), Brazil’s Ronaldo (15) and West Germany's Gerd Müller (14). Keep an eye on: Julián Alvarez (Atlético Madrid) is a 26-year-old striker who was acquired for $104 million from Manchester City in 2024. Fact to know: Argentina is one of four teams to have made six World Cup finals, winning three of them. World Cup title odds: +850Odds to advance from group: -10000 Group J opponents: Algeria (June 16), Austria (June 22), Jordan (June 27) The last time a World Cup final was held in the United States, Brazil left with the trophy in hand. That 1994 victory then led to a record fifth title in 2002, but Brazil fans have now waited nearly a quarter-century to add a sixth star to the iconic yellow jersey. The team now has its first non-Brazilian coach in legendary Italian manager Carlo Ancelotti, along with tons of talent. One player, however, who doesn't seem to fit into Ancelotti's plans this summer is Neymar. The longtime Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona star has been inconsistent since returning to Brazil to play for club Santos. That could likely see him being left off the World Cup squad altogether this summer. Keep an eye on: Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid) is a 25-year-old winger who finished as runner-up in the 2024 Ballon d’Or voting. Fact to know: Brazil is the only nation to have participated in all 23 editions of the World Cup. World Cup title odds: +850Odds to advance from group: -10000 Group C opponents: Morocco (June 13), Haiti (June 19), Scotland (June 24) Star striker Harry Kane just won the Bundesliga title with his club Bayern Munich — can he now further his trophy haul? Kane could also win a Champions League trophy with Bayern, but the ultimate prize will surely be leading England to the World Cup title in the summer. Thomas Tuchel is the man in charge of the Three Lions, and he'll have plenty of stars to make it happen. Injuries and poor form have hampered some players — such as Arsenal's Bukayo Saka and Real Madrid duo Jude Bellingham and Trent Alexander-Arnold — but this should be one of the strongest squads at the tournament. Keep an eye on: Declan Rice (Arsenal) is a 27-year-old central midfielder who was selected to the Professional Footballers’ Association Team of the Year in 2024 and 2025 for the English Premier League. Fact to know: England’s lone World Cup title came in 1966. World Cup title odds: +600Odds to advance from group: -10000 Group L opponents: Croatia (June 17), Ghana (June 23), Panama (June 27) In what was arguably the greatest World Cup final ever, France fell short on penalties to Argentina in 2022. Now, Les Bleus are stacked once again and expected to finish the job this time. The lineup will be a who's who of soccer stardom, headlined by Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembélé (Paris Saint-Germain) and star Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé. The team's depth took a hit when Liverpool forward Hugo Ekitike — who scored for France in its 2-1 friendly win against Brazil last month — went down with an Achilles injury (announced on April 16). Still, there is plenty of depth on this French side, which is looking to send out Didier Deschamps on a high note, as the longtime manager — he was a World Cup winner as a player in 1998 — will depart at the end of the summer. Keep an eye on: Michael Olise (Bayern Munich) has 29 assists in all competitions this season, three shy of joining Lionel Messi and Henrikh Mkhitaryan (Armenia's all-time goals leader) as the only players to record 32 assists in a single season this century. Fact to know: France has made four of the last seven World Cup finals. World Cup title odds: +600Odds to advance from group: -5000 Group I opponents: Senegal (June 16), Iraq (June 22), Norway (June 26) The question isn't whether Cristiano Ronaldo will be at the World Cup but whether Portugal actually need the 41-year-old superstar to lead an attack that's among the best in the world. Ronaldo had been dealing with a hamstring injury earlier and did not play for Portugal in a friendly against the United States in Atlanta in March. But he still brings a stellar résumé: a five-time Ballon d’Or winner with more international goals than any other men’s player at 143 in 266 international matches. And, like his great rival Lionel Messi, Ronaldo could also make it six World Cup tournament appearances. Keep an eye on: Vitinha (Portugal) is a 26-year-old defensive midfielder who finished third in the 2025 Ballon d’Or voting. Fact to know: This will be Portugal's seventh straight World Cup with its best finish coming in 2006 and 1966, making the semifinals. World Cup title odds: +1100Odds to advance from group: -5000 Group K opponents: Congo DR (June 17), Uzbekistan (June 23), Portugal (June 27) Not advancing beyond the Round of 16 since its lone title in 2010, Spain is now primed to reach the final thanks to a trio of Barcelona players who'll lead the squad. In attack, 18-year-old Lamine Yamal will make his World Cup debut. The defense is set and commanded by 19-year-old Pau Cubarsí. And Pedri will anchor a midfield that will also likely include Manchester City’s Rodri, following a long layoff because of a knee injury. Having won the 2023 UEFA Nations League and 2024 Euro title, La Roja will be among the most followed squads this summer. Keep an eye on: Pedri (Barcelona) is a 23-year-old central midfielder who has the highest transfer value of any midfielder in the world at $176.8 million (according to Transfermarkt). Fact to know: With its 2024 Euro title, Spain is the only country to have won that tournament three times and also the only nation to have won it in consecutive editions (2008, 2012). World Cup title odds: +450Odds to advance from group: -10000 Group H opponents: Cape Verde (June 15), Saudi Arabia (June 21), Uruguay (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 (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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				<title>
					<![CDATA[Matt Crocker Leaves U.S. Soccer: Is This A Big Deal? Does It Affect Pochettino?]]>
				</title>
				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/matt-crocker-us-soccer-pochettino-usmnt-world-cup</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/matt-crocker-us-soccer-pochettino-usmnt-world-cup</guid>
				<category>soccer</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Let's answer the four biggest questions following Matt Crocker's decision to step down as U.S. Soccer's sporting director.]]>
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				<pubDate>Tue, 14 Apr 2026 20:46:07 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[A key figurehead is leaving U.S. Soccer with the 2026 FIFA World Cup less than two months away. An unexpected twist for one of the tournament's co-hosts with the biggest edition ever of soccer's marquee event now on the horizon. Earlier Tuesday, I reported that Matt Crocker will be exiting his role as sporting director to take over a similar role with Saudi Arabia. Why did this happen, and what's next for all parties involved? Let's answer the four biggest questions following Crocker's decision. 1. What does a sporting director even do? And, is it a big deal that Crocker is leaving now? For the first question, the short answer is to hire and fire the coach. The longer answer is more nuanced: Crocker oversaw all 27 of U.S. Soccer’s national teams, set the overall on-field direction of the federation, and played a significant role in the design of the federation’s brand new $200 million-plus training facility in Fayettesville, Ga., one of the best of its kind anywhere in the world. For the second question: Yes, it’s a big deal. The U.S. men are less than two months away from their World Cup opener, one that will be played on home soil for the first time in 32 years. He’s joining a team the Americans could face in the knockout rounds of the tournament. There’s no getting around the fact that the optics here are terrible, for both the federation and Crocker alike. 2. Crocker re-hired Gregg Berhalter for the men's side in 2023 and brought in Emma Hayes for the women's side in 2024. He then replaced Berhalter with Pochettino. How would you rate Crocker's tenure? I was surprised that he rehired Berhalter, especially since Crocker had an existing relationship with current Canada boss Jesse Marsch, who at the time was turning down jobs in the Premier League. The disastrous 2024 Copa América proved that that was the wrong choice. But landing two of the best coaches in the world in Hayes and Pochettino was a huge coup for the USSF, and it almost surely wouldn’t have happened without both knowing Crocker from their time working in England. It took Hayes just 10 games to deliver the U.S. women’s fifth Olympic gold medal and first in 12 years. Even if the U.S. men faceplant at the biggest World Cup of all time this summer, the scrutiny will fall on Pochettino and his players. Whatever you think about the timing of Crocker’s departure, the Welshman is highly competent and hugely respected by soccer folks in his native Europe, which remains the center of the game’s universe. He did a good job. With the Saudis set to host the 2034 World Cup, nobody should be shocked that they apparently drove a dump truck full of money up to Crocker’s house to lure him away. 3. Speaking of Pochettino, how would this affect anything he is doing ahead of the summer's World Cup? Or, afterward? Despite saying last month that he is open to returning as U.S. coach, I don’t think that’s in the cards no matter how Pochettino’s team fares at the World Cup. (I didn’t expect Crocker to stick around long after the tournament, either.) The good news for national team fans is that when it comes to World Cup preparations or how the co-hosts perform at the competition itself, Crocker’s sudden departure doesn’t change anything. The sporting director isn’t around players the way the coaches are. He doesn’t have much to do at this stage. The coach is in place, the pre-tournery planning is done, and Pochettino and his staff and players are locked in on the main event. "My staff and I remain fully focused on preparing our team for the World Cup," Pochettino said in a statement provided by U.S. Soccer. For better or worse, how they do this summer is on them and the players alone. 4. One of Crocker's assistants is a name that USA fans would recognize. Oguchi Onyewu is a former U.S. men's team star and a two-time World Cup veteran. Is he a viable candidate to take over? Absolutely. As I reported then, Onyewu was a candidate for the job in 2023 and is so highly thought-of inside the federation's halls that they hired him as the assistant sporting director, a role that didn’t even exist at the time. Gooch is whip-smart. He speaks four languages fluently. His playing career took him to the top leagues in Belgium, England, France, Italy, Portugal, Spain, the Netherlands and MLS, which means he’s incredibly well-connected. And at 43, he’s already been an executive with clubs on either side of the Atlantic (Belgium’s Royal Excelsior Virton, Orlando City B of MLS Next Pro) and has spent the last three years working as Crocker’s right hand. Onyewu has paid his dues. He cares deeply about American soccer and the sport in the country at large. U.S. Soccer could do a lot worse.]]>
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					<![CDATA[Alexi Lalas Criticizes Matt Crocker's U.S. Soccer Exit: 'Unnecessary Own Goal']]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/ussoccer-matt-crocker-exit-alexi-lalas-world-cup</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/ussoccer-matt-crocker-exit-alexi-lalas-world-cup</guid>
				<category>soccer</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Alexi Lalas weighs in on Matt Crocker's leaving U.S. Soccer for Saudi Arabia months before the World Cup.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Tue, 14 Apr 2026 20:32:28 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[Was an unexpected departure of a key figurehead at U.S. Soccer affect the men's national team as we count down to the World Cup? According to FOX Sports' Alexi Lalas, the exit of Matt Crocker as U.S. Soccer's sporting director for a similar role with Saudi Arabia raises concern due to its timing and potential impact. "Just when I thought the United States Soccer Federation couldn't get anymore bat-crap crazy, this happens. This is insane. Not that Matt Crocker going to Saudi Arabia, in and of itself is nothing, but right before the World Cup?" Lalas said on Tuesday's edition of "Alexi Lalas' State of the Union." "He hired Emma (Hayes), he hired Mauricio Pochettino, and he's done plenty of things behind the scenes. "I just think it's a weird and I think bad look, not just for the federation, but at a time when soccer can't afford to have these bad looks." The United States is gearing up to co-host the 2026 FIFA World Cup in less than three months, but earlier Tuesday, FOX Sports' soccer insider Doug McIntyre reported that Crocker will be taking over as sporting director for Saudi Arabia, who is also competing in the World Cup. Crocker came to the U.S. in 2023 after previously serving then-English Premier League club Southampton as their director of football operations. In his three years with the federation, Crocker spearheaded the hires of U.S. women's coach Emma Hayes and U.S. men's coach Mauricio Pochettino. Assistant sporting director Oguchi Onyewu, head of women's development Tracey Kevins and Dan Helfrich, the Federation's chief operating officer, will take over Crocker's duties leading up to the World Cup. While Crocker stepped down as the tournament looms, most of the U.S. men's national team's World Cup preparation is already in place under Pochettino, who will select the finalized 26-man roster on May 26. Lalas reiterated that the timing of his exit, amid the scrutiny the U.S. has faced, could not have come at a worse time. "It's another unnecessary own goal, if you will, for U.S. Soccer at a time when American soccer and this team doesn't need it. We got enough problems and enough angst and enough criticism going on," Lalas said. "So, we'll get past this and I hope it just becomes a blip. But again, that's just a strange look."]]>
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					<![CDATA[Mascherano Steps Down As Inter Miami Coach, Four Months After Winning MLS Cup]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/mascherano-steps-down-inter-miami-coach-four-months-after-winning-mls-cup</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/mascherano-steps-down-inter-miami-coach-four-months-after-winning-mls-cup</guid>
				<category>soccer</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Javier Mascherano is out as Inter Miami’s coach, a stunning move that comes only four months after leading Lionel Messi’s club to the MLS Cup title, Guillermo Hoyos will coach in the interim.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Tue, 14 Apr 2026 14:49:06 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[Javier Mascherano is out as Inter Miami’s coach, a stunning move that comes only four months after leading Lionel Messi’s club to the MLS Cup title. Mascherano, a former teammate of Messi at Barcelona and with Argentina's national team before reuniting with him as coach, is leaving for personal reasons, the team said. Mascherano's entire coaching staff has also left the club, though the team did not reveal any specifics as to why. In Mascherano's place as coach, at least in the short term, will be Guillermo Hoyos — who is credited, at least on some level, with discovering Messi at Barcelona's academy and predicting that he could become an all-time great. Messi was 16 at the time, in the very earliest days of a career that would see him win eight Ballon d'Or trophies, the World Cup and four Champions League titles. Messi has referred to Hoyos in interviews over the years as his "futbol dad." Hoyos is Messi's coach now, though how long that'll be the case remains a bit unclear. He inherits a team that is 3-1-3 and third in Major League Soccer's Eastern Conference, but fell flat in the CONCACAF Champions Cup earlier this year — a tournament that the team made several roster moves solely with contending for that trophy in mind. "I would like to thank the club for the trust they placed in me, every employee who is part of the organization for the collective effort, but especially the players, who made it possible for us to experience unforgettable moments," Mascherano said in remarks released by the team. The move comes not even two weeks after Inter Miami opened its new stadium near Miami International Airport. The club has tied both of its first two matches in the new facility. The team also said chief soccer officer Alberto Marrero is assuming the duties of sporting director going forward, meaning he will slide into the spot that Hoyos held until Tuesday. "Javier will forever be part of this club’s history. ... We respect his decision and are deeply grateful for everything he contributed," managing owner Jorge Mas said in comments released by the team. "Wishing him nothing but the very best in his professional and personal future." Reporting by The Associated Press]]>
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					<![CDATA[USA Defender John Tolkin Injured for the 'Coming Weeks' Ahead of 2026 World Cup]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/usa-john-tolkin-injured-2026-world-cup</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/usa-john-tolkin-injured-2026-world-cup</guid>
				<category>soccer</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[United States defender John Tolkin will be out for “the coming weeks" with a knee ligament injury less than two months before the World Cup.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Mon, 13 Apr 2026 12:38:53 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[United States defender John Tolkin will be out for "the coming weeks" with a knee ligament injury, his German club said on Monday, less than two months before the World Cup. Holstein Kiel said Tolkin injured the medial collateral ligament in a second-division game against Fortuna Duesseldorf on Friday and was "being treated conservatively." "As a result, the 23-year-old will not be available to us in the coming weeks," Kiel posted on X. "We wish you a speedy recovery, dear John!" The U.S. World Cup squad will be announced on May 26. Tolkin is a contender for left back along with Antonee Robinson and Max Arfsten, who played in the losses to Belgium and Portugal two weeks ago. Tolkin has played 10 games for the U.S., most recently in a 5-1 win over Uruguay in November, and was on the U.S. Under-23 team which reached the Paris Olympics quarterfinals in 2024. Reporting by The Associated Press.]]>
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					<![CDATA[How Patrick Agyemang's Shattered World Cup Dream Changes USA's 2026 Roster]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/usmnt-stock-watch-how-patrick-agyemangs-shattered-world-cup-dream-opens-door-others</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/usmnt-stock-watch-how-patrick-agyemangs-shattered-world-cup-dream-opens-door-others</guid>
				<category>soccer</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Patrick Agyemang's season-ending injury headlines this week's USA Stock Watch.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Thu, 09 Apr 2026 20:33:54 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[As Patrick Agyemang strolled through the lobby of the U.S. men’s national team’s 5-star hotel in the swanky Buckhead district of Atlanta late last month, the mother of two young soccer fans approached the lanky young striker. "Are you a player?," she asked. Agyemang stopped, flashed his 1000-watt smile and, somewhat sheepishly, confirmed that he was and introduced himself. Witnessing this interaction was a timely reminder both of the national team's place within the larger American sports landscape and of how the coming World Cup has the power to turn someone like Agyemang — a 25-year-old former Division III college player from Connecticut who’d never represented his country at any level until last year — into a mainstream celebrity in a matter of weeks. At least it had. On Wednesday, English second-tier club Derby County confirmed that Agyemang, probably a World Cup roster shoo-in for USA coach Mauricio Pochettino even before he scored his sixth international goal against No. 9-ranked Belgium on March 28, will miss the tournament after rupturing his Achilles tendon. It’s a dream-crushing blow for Agyemang, obviously.  We’ll get to that in a minute. But it’s also a big loss for the U.S. and for Pochettino, who seemed poised to use the 6-foot-4 forward off the bench at the World Cup, or possibly even as a starter should top choice Folarin Balogun get injured or suspended. This is the greatest World Cup fear for every player everywhere: because it comes just once every four years, even a relatively minor ailment at exactly the wrong moment can ruin what’s often a once-in-a-career experience. There’s no guarantee a player who can’t participate ever gets another chance. All that said, Pochettino still has 26 available roster spots. If the assumption is that Agyemang would have taken one, an available place just opened up. That sure can’t hurt the odds of fellow strikers Ricardo Pepi and Haji Wright, who just went from probable inclusions to almost certain locks. It also boosts the chances of strikers who haven’t been called in lately (Josh Sargent, Brian White) but who are now possibly just one more injury away from serious consideration. And there could be a knock-on effect down the roster. Since there’s no like-for-like replacement for Agyemang, Poch could bring another defender or midfielder or winger that he otherwise wouldn’t. A versatile option who can plug multiple positions, like 2022 World Cup alum Joe Scally, is another possibility. We’ll find out when the former Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain manager names his selections on May 26. What’s certain is that Agyemang’s loss will be someone else’s gain. Talking to him that day in Georgia’s capital, it was clear that Agyemang fully understood that the opportunity o play in a World Cup on home soil was unique. After coming so agonizingly close to achieving every soccer player’s dream, something he said hits differently. "This career goes quick," Agyemang told me. "You have to enjoy it." Stock Up 📈 Although he didn’t add to his eight international goals last month, Balogun is now even more firmly entrenched up top. He also keeps scoring at club level, with 15 combined in the UEFA Champions League and Ligue 1. His divine chip on Sunday against Weah’s Marseille is the best of the bunch so far. The best American player on the planet throughout 2026 picked up where he left off in Juve’s first game after March’s international break. On Monday, Worldwide Wes scored his ninth goal of the season in Juve’s 2-0 Serie A win over Genoa. Somewhat lost amid the negatively that followed the defeats to Belgium and Portugal was the return of Jedi, who’d missed more than a year of national team action pre- and post-knee surgery. The left back started both games and flashed the ability that made him U.S. Soccer’s Male player of the Year in 2024. Robinson and the Cottagers return to action at Liverpool on Saturday. If there were questions about Freese status as the USA’s World Cup No. 1 before the March games, he answered them with a commanding performance in the 2-0 loss to the Portuguese. The Harvard grad, who helped the Pigeons earn a point in St. Louis last weekend, will take on Sebastian Berhalter’s Vancouver Whitecaps north of the border on Saturday. Timing is everything ahead of a World Cup and Trusty’s is good: With Miles Robinson hurt, the left-footed center back was one of the best American performers versus Portugal. He also appears to have won back his job in Glasgow, going 90 minutes in Sunday’s 2-1 win at Dundee United after sitting out four straight Scottish Premiership games. Although Poch has never seemed totally sold on Scally, a defensively sound stay-at-home right back who doesn’t attack up the flank the way Sergiño Dest or Alex Freeman or Tim Weah can, his experience at left and center back is compelling. With Dest still nursing a torn hamstring and Freeman still not starting in Spain, could that newly-open roster spot go to Joe? He played just 11 minutes for the national team in March but continues to have a fine season for Premier League Leeds. On Sunday, he won a penalty that Dominic Calvert-Lewin scored from, then converted his shootout attempt in the tiebreaker to help send Daniel Farke’s team to the FA Cup semifinals. Leeds will face Chelsea at Wembley Stadium on April 26. Left off the March roster after missing the start of the MLS season because of injury, Luna responded in the way Pochettino wanted: by getting on the scoresheet for RSL. Luna’s first goal of 2026 arrived less than three minutes into his first start. Stock Down 📉 Not to bury the lead here, but Pulisic’s struggles over the last few months is easily the biggest concern facing the national team ahead of hosting the largest World Cup in history. The 27-year-old star has now gone 13 games without a goal for the Rossoneri. He’s gone scoreless in eight for his country. Yes, there’s still time for the USA’s top attacker to find his form. If he doesn’t, it’s hard to see how the home team can make a deep run. Robinson got hurt in training in Atlanta, which isn’t his fault. Missing both games still hurts Miles, who anchors a FCC back line that has conceded 15 times in six MLS games. He was on the field when Cincy gave up five more goals in a lopsided March 19 defeat to Mexico’s Tigres that eliminated them from the Concacaf Champions Cup. Not only did the Fresno, California product struggle in his brief cameos off the bench against Belgium and Portugal (18 minutes total), Jedi’s understudy is no longer a left back at club level. In each of Arftsen's six MLS appearances this season, Crew boss Henrik Rydström has deployed Arfsten as a dedicated winger with the more defensive-minded Malte Amundsen behind him. Another player who could, in theory, benefit from the opening Agyemang’s injury created. But in the deepest position in the player pool, hard-tackling Morris’s best chance of getting a World Cup trip could be if one (or more) of Tyler Adams, Johnny Cardoso or Tanner Tessmann can’t make it.]]>
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					<![CDATA[John Strong Reacts to Patrick Agyemang Injury: 'A Blow Not to Have Him']]>
				</title>
				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/first-things-first/john-strong-reacts-patrick-ageymang-injury-a-blow-now-have-him</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/first-things-first/john-strong-reacts-patrick-ageymang-injury-a-blow-now-have-him</guid>
				<category>first-things-first</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[John Strong joined First Things First to discuss the impact of USA forward Patrick Agyemang's injury ahead of the World Cup.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Thu, 09 Apr 2026 17:39:24 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[Just how concerning was the devastating injury to striker Patrick Agyemang for the U.S. men's national team? It will leave USA coach Mauricio Pochettino without a key reserve at one of the squad's most important positions ahead of this summer's 48-team FIFA World Cup. The 6-foot-4 striker suffered a torn Achilles in Derby County's match-up against Stroke City in England's second-tier division on Monday, which will sideline him for the remainder of the English Championship season and force him to miss the World Cup with the United States. FOX Soccer play-by-player announcer John Strong made it clear that the loss of Agyemang – who was projected to make the USA's 26-man roster – leaves Pochettino in a tough spot by losing a striker who brings both physicality and depth to the table. "He was a depth piece. He's a backup option, but those things are important. It's not just about how do you start these games. How are you finishing games? What are your options when you're chasing down a goal? What are your options later in the tournament when guys are getting suspended," Strong said on Wednesday's edition of "First Things First." "So, it's absolutely a blow to not have him because Mauricio Pochettino and his staff loved Agyemang's physical profile, the way he plays the position." Agyemang is a physical forward who originally played for Charlotte FC in Major League Soccer, where he scored 10 goals in 37 league matches. Following his time in the MLS, Agyemang made the move to England to play for Derby County, where he quickly became a regular starter. The long recovery of Agyemang opens up a slew of conversations about who would replace him on Pochettino's squad. For Strong, as unfortunate as an injury is, it allows vast opportunity for guys to step up to the plate and contribute. "But, as ever, every World Cup is littered with stories of guys who get an opportunity because something awful has happened to someone else," Strong said. "And so whether that's Haji Wright or someone else, it's their job to kind of step into this void and make sure that at the end of the tournament, we're not sitting there going, gosh, if only Agyemang hadn't have blown out his Achilles, we might have done X, Y, or Z." With Monaco striker Folarin Balogun like the starter for Pochettino up top, some names to keep an eye on include PSV's Ricardo Pepi, Coventry City's Haji Wright and Toronto FC's Josh Sargent to now make the final 26-man roster. The USA's preliminary roster will be revealed on May 11 and the final 26-man roster will be announced on May 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 (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 primetime across FOX (21) and FS1 (19).]]>
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					<![CDATA[Mexico All-Time Leading Scorer Javier “Chicharito" Hernández Joins FOX Sports as FIFA World Cup 2026™ Analyst]]>
				</title>
				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/presspass/mexico-all-time-leading-scorer-javier-chicharito-hernandez-joins-fox-sports-fifa-world-cup-2026-analyst</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/presspass/mexico-all-time-leading-scorer-javier-chicharito-hernandez-joins-fox-sports-fifa-world-cup-2026-analyst</guid>
				<category>presspass</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Mexico's All-Time Leading Scorer Javier “Chicharito" Hernández Joins FOX Sports as New FIFA World Cup 2026™ Analyst. Hernández Marks Latest Star Addition to Network’s Broadcast Team Joining Thierry Henry, Zlatan Ibrahimović, Rebecca Lowe and more.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Thu, 09 Apr 2026 10:57:38 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[Hernández Marks Latest Star Addition to Network’s Broadcast Team Joining Thierry Henry, Zlatan Ibrahimović, Rebecca Lowe and more LOS ANGELES – FOX Sports, America’s English-language home for the FIFA World Cup™ 2026™, today welcomes Mexico national team legend and three-time FIFA World Cup™ veteran Javier "Chicharito" Hernández to the network’s star-studded broadcast team for the anticipated tournament. The announcement was made by FOX Sports President and Executive Producer Brad Zager ahead of host nation Mexico opening the world’s greatest sporting event vs. South Africa Thursday, June 11, on FOX. Hernández is world renowned as Mexico’s all-time leading goal scorer amassing 52 goals in 109 appearances from 2009 to 2019 with the national team. He starred for Mexico in three FIFA World Cup™ tournaments in 2010, 2014 and 2018 scoring goals in all three tournaments. "Chicharito is synonymous with El Tri and with Mexico playing a major role in the tournament, we wanted to make sure we found voices who bring instant international credibility to our coverage," said Zager. "We’re thrilled to have him going from striker to studio analyst in his television commentator debut with FOX Sports." "When the opportunity came to join a great company like FOX Sports and cover the FIFA World Cup™ this summer, it was a no brainer," said Hernández. "I’m a rookie, so I expect to have fun as an analyst and learn, but really I just want to share my perspective on how I see the beautiful game and sport that I’ve been playing my entire life with fans watching at home." From 2006 to 2025, Hernández’s nearly two-decade-long career has featured countless goals for some of soccer’s biggest club teams, including Chivas de Guadalajara, Manchester United, Real Madrid CF, Sevilla FC, Bayer Leverkusen and West Ham United. In 2020, he announced his arrival in the U.S. signing with Major League Soccer’s LA Galaxy, where he would go on to score 38 goals and six assists in 74 regular season appearances. Hernández marks the latest star addition following previous announcements welcoming Thierry Henry, Zlatan Ibrahimović and Rebecca Lowe to FOX Sports’ FIFA World Cup 2026™ broadcast team. New and returning broadcasters to the network’s roster will be revealed in the lead up to the tournament. From Thursday, June 11 through Sunday, July 19, FOX Sports will be America’s official English-language home for FIFA World Cup 2026™ presenting all 104 tournament matches live across FOX (70) and FS1 (34) with every match streaming in 4K live and on-demand on FOX One. The biggest-ever edition of the global showcase, FIFA World Cup 2026™ will be the first tournament hosted by three countries – United States, Mexico and Canada – with 48 teams playing 104 matches across 16 host cities. Eleven cities will be hosting the tournament in the U.S. including Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, New York New Jersey, Philadelphia, Seattle and the San Francisco Bay Area.]]>
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					<![CDATA[USA Forward Patrick Agyemang Will Miss 2026 World Cup With Achilles Injury]]>
				</title>
				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/2026-world-cup-usmnt-patrick-agyemangs-injury</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/2026-world-cup-usmnt-patrick-agyemangs-injury</guid>
				<category>soccer</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[United States international Patrick Agyemang will miss his home World Cup after suffering a serious Achilles tendon injury.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Tue, 07 Apr 2026 13:16:11 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[United States men's national team forward Patrick Agyemang will miss his home World Cup after suffering a serious Achilles tendon injury. Agyemang plays internationally for Derby, and injured his Achilles in their match on Monday. Agyemang was visibly emotional when he was stretchered off, with his right leg strapped, after landing awkwardly in Derby’s 2-0 victory over Stoke in the second-tier English Championship on Monday. Derby confirmed on Tuesday that the striker would miss soccer’s biggest tournament, which is being held in the United States, Canada and Mexico in June and July. "As a result of this injury, Patrick will unfortunately miss this summer’s FIFA World Cup," Derby said in a statement. "At this stage it would be wrong to put a timeline on his recovery." [World Cup Title Favorites, Sleepers, Debut Teams? All 48 Teams By Tiers] The club added that Agyemang would undergo more tests later on Tuesday and "further updates will be communicated in due course," once the extent of the injury and a potential recovery timeline are known. Agyemang has helped Derby into contention for promotion to the Premier League thanks to a team-leading 10 goals since arriving last summer from Charlotte in Major League Soccer. During the recent international break, he came off the bench for the United States and scored in a loss against Belgium and also got some minutes against Portugal. The Associated Press contributed to this report.]]>
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					<![CDATA[Four MLS vs. Liga MX Showdowns Headline 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup Quarterfinals on FS1 and FS2]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/presspass/four-mls-vs-liga-mx-showdowns-headline-2026-concacaf-champions-cup-quarterfinals-fs1-fs2</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/presspass/four-mls-vs-liga-mx-showdowns-headline-2026-concacaf-champions-cup-quarterfinals-fs1-fs2</guid>
				<category>presspass</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[FOX Sports, America’s English-language home for the world’s top international soccer tournaments, today announces coverage for the 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup Quarterfinal round. From Tuesday, April 7, to Wednesday, April 15, first-and-second-leg Quarterfinal matches will air live across FS1 and FS2 as the eight remaining clubs battle in home-and-away competition to lift the Concacaf Champions Cup trophy and qualify for the FIFA Club World Cup 2029™.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Tue, 07 Apr 2026 11:57:19 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[LOS ANGELES – FOX Sports, America’s English-language home for the world’s top international soccer tournaments, today announces coverage for the 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup Quarterfinal round. From Tuesday, April 7, to Wednesday, April 15, first-and-second-leg Quarterfinal matches will air live across FS1 and FS2 as the eight remaining clubs battle in home-and-away competition to lift the Concacaf Champions Cup trophy and qualify for the FIFA Club World Cup 2029™. The Quarterfinals kicks off tonight with a doubleheader on FS2 featuring Major League Soccer and Liga MX participants in Nashville SC vs. Club America at 7:56 PM ET and Los Angeles Football Club vs. reigning Champions Cup winner Cruz Azul at 9:56 PM ET. On Wednesday, April 8, Tigres UANL takes on Seattle Sounders FC at 8:56 PM ET on FS2, and Deportivo Toluca FC faces LA Galaxy on FS1 at 11:00 PM ET rounding out the first leg. Acclaimed play-by-play announcer John Strong and former U.S. Men’s National Team (USMNT) star and match analyst Stu Holden return as FOX Sports’ lead broadcast team calling Quarterfinal round matches and anchoring studio coverage on FS1. Top play-by-play announcer Tyler Terens pairs with former USMNT standout and match analyst Maurice Edu for additional Quarterfinal matches on FS1, including Club America vs. Nashville SC on Tuesday, April 14, and LA Galaxy vs. Deportivo Toluca FC on Wednesday, April 15. Click here to view the 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup Quarterfinals broadcast schedule. The schedule is subject to change.]]>
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					<![CDATA[Italy Soccer President And Gianluigi Buffon Resigns After Third World Cup Failure]]>
				</title>
				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/italy-soccer-president-and-delegation-chief-buffon-resign-after-another-world-cup-failure</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/italy-soccer-president-and-delegation-chief-buffon-resign-after-another-world-cup-failure</guid>
				<category>soccer</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Italy's soccer federation president has resigned amid political pressure after the national team failed to qualify for a third consecutive World Cup]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Thu, 02 Apr 2026 15:36:41 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[Italy's soccer federation president resigned amid political pressure on Thursday, two days after the national team failed to qualify for a third consecutive World Cup. Gabriele Gravina's decision was quickly followed by Gianluigi Buffon stepping down as the national team’s delegation chief and will likely lead to the ouster of Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso, too. Italy Sports Minister Andrea Abodi called for a change in the country’s soccer leadership after Gravina oversaw two sets of disappointing World Cup qualifiers. "It’s evident to everyone that Italian soccer needs to be overhauled," Abodi said on Wednesday, "and that process needs to start with new leadership at the FIGC (federation)." Italy’s chances of reaching this year’s tournament in North America ended on Tuesday after a penalty shootout loss to Bosnia and Herzegovina in a qualifying playoff. Buffon was the goalkeeper on the World Cup-winning 2006 team and is Italy’s record-holder with 176 appearances as a player. He was behind Gattuso’s hiring. "It’s only fair to leave to those who come after me the freedom of selecting who will replace me," Buffon said. "Representing the national team is an honor and a passion that has embodied me since I was a kid." Gravina took charge of the federation in 2018 replacing Carlo Tavecchio, who also stepped down after Italy failed to reach that year’s World Cup. The defeat to Bosnia added more misery for four-time champion Italy after being eliminated by Sweden and North Macedonia, respectively, in the qualifying playoffs for the last two World Cups. Italy’s World Cup struggles go back all the way to 2010 and 2014 when it failed to advance from its group on both occasions. The Azzurri’s last World Cup knockout match was in 2006 when they won the title by beating France in the final after a penalty shootout. Gravina did oversee Italy’s European Championship trophy in 2021. "Soccer has been in trouble since 2006," Italian coaches association president Renzo Ulivieri said. Players’ association president Umberto Calcagno said new regulations promoting the use of more Italian players in Serie A were necessary: "A rapid change needs to be made." An election was called for June 22 to elect a new FIGC president. Gravina also announced that he would attend a hearing in Italy’s parliament next Wednesday to discuss "the wellbeing of Italian soccer." Mancini, Inzaghi, Conte, Allegri Gattuso took over from the fired Luciano Spalletti in June with the squad already in crisis mode following a defeat at Norway in its opening qualifier. The Azzurri then went on a six-match winning streak before losing again to Norway in November to finish second in their group and end up in the playoffs again. Among those being mentioned to replace Gattuso are Roberto Mancini, Simone Inzaghi, Antonio Conte and Massimiliano Allegri. Mancini coached Italy to the European Championship title in 2021 then failed to get the Azzurri to the next year’s World Cup before bolting to take over Saudi Arabia’s national team. Inzaghi coached Inter Milan to the Serie A title in 2024 and now manages Saudi club Al-Hilal. Conte coached Italy at the 2016 European Championship and is currently at Napoli. Allegri is at AC Milan. Gravina is a UEFA vice president Gravina is also Aleksander Ceferin’s top vice president at UEFA. UEFA statutes require that executive committee members are also senior FA officials but Gravina could stay in the UEFA role as a lame duck as long as the FIGC’s new leadership doesn’t demand his removal. Gravina was re-elected last year by UEFA so he has three more years in his current term. "Gabriele is my first vice president and is very important to me," Ceferin said in Thursday’s Gazzetta dello Sport after attending the playoff in Bosnia. Euro 2032 Besides revitalizing the national team, whoever replaces Gravina will be tasked with getting Italy’s dilapidated stadiums ready to host the 2032 European Championship. Italy is slated to co-host Euro 2032 with Turkey. "I hope that the infrastructure is ready," Ceferin said. "Otherwise the tournament won’t be played in Italy." Reporting by The Associated Press.]]>
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					<![CDATA[4 Takeaways From USA's Pre-World Cup Friendly Loss to Belgium]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/usmnt-belgium-loss-5-2-world-cup-friendly</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/usmnt-belgium-loss-5-2-world-cup-friendly</guid>
				<category>soccer</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[The United States men's national team impressed early against Belgium. Then the wheels fell off.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Sat, 28 Mar 2026 23:18:57 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta) — The United States men's national team impressed early against Belgium. Then the wheels fell off. A first-half lead in Saturday’s high-profile World Cup warmup match against Belgium — FIFA’s No. 9 ranked squad — melted away as the USA conceded four straight goals in front of a heavily pro-USA crowd of 66,867 fans at the home of the Atlanta Falcons and Atlanta United. Weston McKennie put coach Mauricio Pochettino’s team ahead in the 39th minute by deftly redirecting an Antonee "Jedi" Robinson corner kick past Belgian goalkeeper Senne Lammens. The visitors equalized before the first half was over, though, when fullback Zeno Debast’s low rocket flew through a sea of bodies, past the outstretched hand of USA keeper Matt Turner and into the bottom corner of the net. Belgium got another shortly after the break, then scored three more as they ran away with the second-to-last match before Pochettino must select his final 26-player World Cup roster, though the Americans did pull one back late via second half substitute Patrick Agyemang. "Of course, [losing] 5-2 is always difficult to accept," Pochettino said afterward. "It's painful. But at the same time, I think we need to take so many positive things." Here are my takeaways: 1. USA Faltered In the Second Half Pochettino’s side entered the match on a three-match winning streak, all against World Cup-bound foes. But Belgium is better than any of those teams by some distance. And still the USA matched them almost evenly in the first half, even if the guests had almost 60 percent of possession and one more shot on target. Only a brilliant (and lucky) save by Senne Lammens on McKennie's earlier shot in the opening stanza kept the game scoreless almost until the intermission. With former Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne and current Man City star forward Jeremy Doku leading coach Rudi Garcia’s attack, Belgium tested a USA backline missing injured center back Chris Richards repeatedly, mostly to no avail. Central midfielders Tanner Tessmann and Johnny Cardoso covered when fullbacks Robinson and Tim Weah bombed forward, repeatedly frustrating the Red Devils. Tim Ream and Mark McKenzie held firm, while Turner made a series of acrobatic saves in his first start since losing the No. 1 job to Matt Freese last June. "The first half was really good," Pochettino added. "We played better than Belgium." Yet they led the contest for just six of the 90 minutes. "We created a lot of opportunities," an admittedly "frustrated" Weah told reporters in a quiet post-game moment. "When you don't put those opportunities away, and the other team has their opportunities, and they put them away, the game can change." The winning streak is over. A 5-2 loss is disappointing, at best. But based on the performance, the lopsided scoreline was probably a little bit harsh on the home squad. "This team," Belgium coach Rudi Garcia said of the USA, "is better than the result tonight." It was also a crucial, timely reminder that there are no moral victories at the highest level. It’s better to learn that lesson in March than in June. "I prefer another result," said Pochettino. "But if it needs to happen now, it's better because we know what we are going to face in the next in the next game, or in the next games." 2. Silver Linings? ‘Jedi’ and Matt Turner Stood Out Turner played every minute of the USA’s four matches at the 2022 World Cup. Antonee "Jedi" Robinson was on the field for all but the final moments of the round of loss to the Netherlands in Qatar. But both veterans had been out of Pochettino’s lineup for most of the Argentine’s tenure — Robinson because of injury, Turner because of the emergence of Freese. But both returned to Poch’s starting lineup on Saturday. And while Jedi’s return — U.S. Soccer’s male player of the year in 2024 didn’t make a single appearance last year because of knee issues — was expected, Turner’s was the biggest surprise before the match against the Red Devils kicked off. Jedi looked as good as ever, just as he has done with Fulham in the Premier League. And Turner justified Pochettino's decision by making a series of fine stops during an overall confident display, even if his poor clearance led to a goal that was only ruled out because it inadvertently deflected in off forward Charles De Ketelaere’s arm. Turner's best save of all might have been on the play that led to De Bruyne’s successful penalty, with Turner tipping the ball over his crossbar after it hit Ream’s hand and changed trajectory. "That, for me, wasn't penalty," Pochettino said, adding of Turner: "It's good to see him to perform after a long period." A visibly dejected Turner felt the hosts let the call – and the two-goal deficit – crush their resistence. "Even though it's 3-1,  there's still all to play for," he said. "We've got to stick together, and that's something that we can definitely take away from this game as a learning." 3. Pochettino Went With Best Available Players Richards wasn’t the only projected World Cup starter missing on Saturday. Tyler Adams, who captained the Americans at the last World Cup in Qatar, is injured. So is right back/winger Sergiño Dest. Yet Poch still got his best available players on the field, deploying Weah as an outside defender even with natural right back Joe Scally available. (Scally came on late in the second half.) At his core, Poch is a pragmatist. His lineup choices on Saturday confirmed as much — and provided a preview of what USA fans can expect in terms of personnel decisions when their World Cup campaign begins in earnest on June 12 versus Paraguay in Los Angeles. Who fills those spots is another matter. With just three more tuneup games to go before then, there are still plenty of lineup questions remaining. "The players that were on the bench, they were supporting the starting 11 in an amazing way," Pochettino said. "They are going to have the possibility to play in the next game." 4. Another Big Test Awaits Belgium is good. Very good. Reigning UEFA Nations League champions Portugal — FIFA’s sixth ranked side and the team that the USA will close out the March window in Tuesday's match in Atlanta — is even better. That’s a scary thought. Yet it’s also an opportunity to right Saturday’s wrongs almost immediately and end this month on a decidedly brighter note. "I want to win, first and foremost," Turner said of next Tuesday's tilt. "I want the fans to leave this stadium looking at our team and saying that that's a team I can  identify with…I think we all felt like we should have and could have done better today." 4 ½. What's Next? Time to regroup for that Tuesday game against Portugal, who took on Mexico on Saturday night at the re-opening of the famed Estadio Azteca. The Portuguese are without superstar Cristiano Ronaldo during this swing through North America, but there is still tons of quality star power, like Manchester United midfielder Bruno Fernandes and PSG dynamic duo Nuno Mendes and Vitinha. The USA will have its hands full, no doubt. The mission is still clear. "We need," Weah said, "to bounce back."]]>
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					<![CDATA[David Beckham Talks Trent Alexander-Arnold's World Cup Hopes After England Snub]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/david-beckham-reacts-to-trent-alexander-arnolds-failure-to-make-latest-england-squad-reveals-if-hed-take-real-madrid-star-to-world-cup</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/david-beckham-reacts-to-trent-alexander-arnolds-failure-to-make-latest-england-squad-reveals-if-hed-take-real-madrid-star-to-world-cup</guid>
				<category>soccer</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[England legend David Beckham has confessed he would find it "very hard" to overlook Trent Alexander-Arnold for a World Cup squad.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Sat, 28 Mar 2026 18:59:03 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[England legend David Beckham has confessed he would find it "very hard" to overlook Trent Alexander-Arnold for a World Cup squad after the Real Madrid star was hit with another international snub. He waded into the debate after Alexander-Arnold became the headline omission from Thomas Tuchel's latest 35-man selection for clashes against Uruguay and Japan. Alexander-Arnold snubbed from England squad Alexander-Arnold, who joined Real Madrid last summer, is considered one of the world's top right full-backs, making his absence from such a large Three Lions group particularly notable. The 27-year-old continues to be a polarizing figure in the national team setup due to the perceived imbalance between his attacking output and defensive consistency. Beckham has thrown his weight behind Alexander-Arnold, insisting that the former Liverpool man remains a unique talent despite his struggles to convince Tuchel. Beckham backs Real Madrid star Speaking to talkSPORT, Beckham made it clear where he stands on the debate, even if he is glad the final decision doesn't rest on his shoulders. "That’s why I’m not England manager, because I don’t have to make those decisions. But, I’m a massive fan of Trent. I’ve heard so many times about, ‘Well, he’s not as good at defending as he is [attacking]’. Well, sometimes you have to accept that. Roberto Carlos was an unbelievable defender, but also unbelievable going forward," the former Three Lions captain explained. World Cup selection dilemmas for Tuchel With the World Cup on the horizon, the pressure is on Tuchel to finalize a squad capable of winning the tournament. Alexander-Arnold's absence from the latest squad, which saw a recall for Ben White, has raised questions about his role in Tuchel plans. Beckham, however, believes the door isn't closed yet. "With Trent, would I take him? I'd find it very hard not to take someone like Trent," he admitted. "But then Thomas, he's come out and said, I think I read it this morning, that there are other players that are ahead of him at the moment. But he said 'at the moment', so that could change. "I think you said it, tonight [Friday] might prove that other players are playing that might not get in the squad, so you don't know. This is very close to picking a final squad, but I still think that Thomas is probably still considering about Trent as well." Confidence in the current England crop Under the guidance of Tuchel, England are among the favorites to lift the trophy this summer. Beckham is optimistic about the Three Lions' chances, citing the balance of youth and experience within the group, spearheaded by captain Harry Kane. "I think we're in the best place that we can be, in all honesty. I think we've got a very young, talented squad with a great captain leading us in the best of form, probably, of his life with Harry (Kane). Obviously, he's a great leader, and I think Thomas is so meticulous with how he picks the squad, how he runs the squad," the Inter Miami co-owner explained.]]>
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					<![CDATA[Could Spain, Real Madrid Legend Sergio Ramos Buy Sevilla?]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/sergio-ramos-weighing-up-final-offer-to-buy-sevilla-but-real-madrid-legend-waiting-to-find-out-if-boyhood-club-stay-in-la-liga</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/sergio-ramos-weighing-up-final-offer-to-buy-sevilla-but-real-madrid-legend-waiting-to-find-out-if-boyhood-club-stay-in-la-liga</guid>
				<category>soccer</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Real Madrid icon Sergio Ramos is preparing a definitive offer to seize control of his boyhood club Sevilla alongside First Eleven Capital.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Sat, 28 Mar 2026 18:53:54 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[Real Madrid icon Sergio Ramos is preparing a definitive offer to seize control of his boyhood club Sevilla alongside First Eleven Capital. However, the move hinges on the side's top-flight status as they battle to avoid a disastrous relegation to the second tier. Ramos twice played for Sevilla to bookend an immensely successful career with Los Blancos. A boardroom battle in the '93rd minute' The legendary defender entered his own personal "93rd minute" into the final stages of his plan to acquire Sevilla. Working alongside First Eleven Capital, Ramos has completed a rigorous due-diligence process to assess the club's financial health. With the numbers now clear, a formal offer is being prepared to transform the hierarchy at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan. This transition from pitch to boardroom represents a massive shift for the Camas-born star. After returning for a sentimental second playing stint, Ramos is now focused on a long-term vision that would see him become the primary decision-maker for the Andalusian giants. Survival dictates the final valuation The timing of the official bid remains sensitive to the club's sporting results. Sitting dangerously close to the relegation zone, Sevilla's market value fluctuates based on their league status. According to AS, Ramos and his partners are currently in a "standby" phase, waiting for mathematical certainty regarding survival before committing to a final price tag. The recent appointment of Luis Garcia as head coach until 2027 highlights the current instability. While a drop to the second tier would significantly lower the acquisition cost, it would also complicate the massive rebuilding project Ramos intends to lead. Financing secured for a majority stake The buying bloc ensures that there is already sufficient financing in place, with an investment that will eventually range between $345 million to $520m. However, the main selling families are not entirely convinced yet. In a short space of time, until the Letter of Intent (LOI) expires, there will have to be hard cash on the table, and that remains the most difficult movement in the entire operation. Ramos intends to secure a commanding stake in the club to ensure he has the final word on all major sporting and commercial decisions. According to the reports, the Camas native would own more than 70 percent of the shares, which is more than enough to govern Sevilla and implement his long-term vision for the institution. Clearing the debts for a new era While the focus is on the majority stake, the approximately 13 percent of shares belonging to the insurer A-CAP, formerly of 777 Partners, would not be included in the acquisition package. This leaves Ramos and his partners with a clear path to dominance without needing to consolidate every minor shareholder under their umbrella. In any case, besides the initial investment for the purchase of the shares, the new owners will need to make a significant capital increase of around €100 million to sanitize the entity’s damaged accounts. This cash injection is seen as vital for the club's future stability, ensuring that if Ramos does take the reigns, he does so with the financial flexibility required to restore Sevilla to the upper echelons of European football.]]>
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					<![CDATA[Mohamed Salah to MLS? The Latest on the Liverpool Legend's Potential Next Move]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/mohamed-salah-reportedly-unlikely-to-pursue-mls-move-with-liverpool-exit-on-the-horizon</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/mohamed-salah-reportedly-unlikely-to-pursue-mls-move-with-liverpool-exit-on-the-horizon</guid>
				<category>soccer</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Mohamed Salah is reportedly unlikely to move to Major League Soccer at the end of the 2025-26 season, despite repeated links to various clubs.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Wed, 25 Mar 2026 22:18:11 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[Mohamed Salah is reportedly unlikely to move to Major League Soccer at the end of the 2025-26 season, despite repeated links to various clubs. Both Chicago Fire and San Diego FC had been floated as destinations for the Egyptian, but both seem unlikely at this point, according to the Athletic. Salah announced he will depart Liverpool at the end of the season on Tuesday. Leaving Liverpool after becoming an icon Salah revealed in a video Tuesday afternoon that he will depart Liverpool at the end of the season. That came as something of a surprise, given the Egyptian had penned a two-year contract at the end of the 2024-25 campaign - his most successful individual season to date with the Reds. Since then, a number of clubs around the world have been linked with bringing in the winger at the end of the year. Why MLS clubs have been ruled out MLS clubs, though, are not among them. According to Still, there could be other clubs in the mix. New York City FC reportedly 'won't rule out' an attempt. Meanwhile, MLS Commissioner vouched for his signature at the SBJ Business of Soccer event in Atlanta: "I couldn’t say that until he announced that he was leaving Liverpool," Garber said. "But what a great player he would be in MLS. And I think we would provide him with a great platform." Saudi Pro League more likely The Saudi Pro League, however, seems a more likely destination. Al-Ittihad offered nearly $200 million for Salah in 2023, but Liverpool turned down the bid. They are said to be in the hunt for a new star man after losing Karim Benzema last month. Al Qadsiah, who have moved to a 47,000 seater stadium, are supposedly also in contention. Many have pointed out that Salah, as the world's most prominent Muslim athlete, would be an ideal fit for the league. His agent's words Yet Salah's agent has publicly urged caution. Ramy Abbas, Salah's representative, took to X to say he didn't know where Salah would be playing next season - and urged fans to be wary of rumors linking him to other clubs.]]>
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					<![CDATA[2026 NFL Draft: Meet The Kicker Who Can Make a 70-yard FG and Run a 4.5 40]]>
				</title>
				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/2026-nfl-draft-utsa-kicker-jaffer-murphy</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/2026-nfl-draft-utsa-kicker-jaffer-murphy</guid>
				<category>nfl</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[A year ago, Jaffer Murphy was scrambling to find a school to kick at after Bill Belichick wouldn't guarantee him a roster spot at UNC. Now, he's the kicker getting the most buzz in the 2026 NFL Draft after impressing at his pro day.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Tue, 24 Mar 2026 13:32:51 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[The NFL Draft is a month away, and pro days can yield the kind of ridiculous numbers that build intrigue around outside-the-box prospects you might have never heard of before. That's the case with UTSA kicker Jaffer Murphy, a former college soccer player who turned heads at the Roadrunners' pro day last week when he not only hit a 70-yard field goal, but then was timed at 4.50 seconds in the 40-yard dash. "I definitely wanted to stand out and do something that would impress the scouts," the 24-year-old told me over the phone. "I was very blessed that it went the way that it did." Murphy's path to where he is now is unique, to say the least. He was born in Liberia in West Africa, moved to the United States in 2006 and was adopted here. He played soccer, basketball and football in high school, and was talented enough to play soccer in college at Drake and Florida Gulf Coast. He decided to give college football a try in 2024, playing at Division II Erie College, going 13-for-21 on field goals and connecting from as far out as 60 yards. That got him a spot at North Carolina as a preferred walk-on in spring 2025, but after sitting down with coach Bill Belichick, he wasn't guaranteed a spot on their 105-man roster. So, he drove 20-plus hours to Texas to work out for coaches at UTSA and landed a roster spot there. He couldn't win the place-kicking job, but handled kickoffs for UTSA, with 54 touchbacks in 88 kicks and two tackles on special teams. UTSA coach Jeff Traylor had lost his kicker to Oklahoma at the end of spring drills, and said while Murphy didn't handle field goals for the Roadrunners, he was exactly what they needed on kickoffs. "We were in desperate need," Traylor told me. "He hadn't played football very long, but he was a wonderful, wonderful kid. All he needed was some time on task. He did a really good job for us on kickoffs. Super human, super athlete, and his best football is still in front of him." What made a splash was his showing at UTSA pro day last week, going 12-for-13 on field goals, connecting from as long as 70 yards, and then showing off his athleticism with a 4.50 40-yard dash. Such speed from a kicking specialist is rare, of course — Georgia's Jake Camarda ran a 4.56 at the combine in 2022 and was a fourth-round pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, spending two years as their punter. Murphy ran the 40 and did the vertical and broad jump with other UTSA draft prospects, and said scouts walked up to him and asked him if he would run the "L drill" or three-cone drill, which can show agility and quickness. He did them, and the same scouts asked if he would be comfortable doing positional drills as a defensive back, a position he'd never played or practiced at. "I'm a kicker, but I can also be an athlete, so I'd love to," said Murphy, who borrowed gloves from a teammate and went through drills, acknowledging his footwork may not be the best. "I just wanted to go out and have some fun, and they reminded me I had nothing to lose." Jacob Enns, a trainer and kicking specialist in Tampa who has worked with Murphy over the past three years, said he was making field goals from 71 yards in their second workout together, showing a natural talent for long-range kicking. "When he kicked off, the comments on his Twitter posts were 'This kid kicks like a Madden kicker,' because it looked just like a video game," Enns told me. "Now, hopefully, he'll be able to do that at the next level. ... A lot of it is God-given ability, and he has that aspect of it. When we started this journey, he told me [the NFL] was his goal. He's doing the same thing he's done each step of the way, trusting God to open the right door. He's going to keep working hard to earn his spot." Murphy is working on getting his accuracy to match his strength, and he'll need to show teams he can handle the pressure of game-on-the-line kicks in real, high-level situations. In the last game Murphy kicked a field goal, the announced attendance was 250, which came during his time at Erie College. NFL kickers come in all sizes. Daniel Carlson of the Las Vegas Raiders is 6-foot-5 and 215 pounds, while Jake Elliott of the Philadelphia Eagles is 5-9 and 167. Murphy measured at 6-1, 180 pounds at his pro day, and said he "hopefully can change the way kickers are viewed in the NFL." He's gifted with a strong leg, but how does athleticism help a kicker? That could be in coverage after a kickoff, in the potential for trick-play gimmickry on field goals and extra points. Murphy is unlikely to get drafted next month, but could land with an NFL team as an undrafted free agent or as a tryout player for rookie minicamp. If a strong-legged soccer player with little to no college football experience becoming an NFL kicker seems far-fetched, it shouldn't be. Cowboys star Brandon Aubrey, now a three-time Pro Bowl selection, played soccer at Notre Dame and in the MLS before trying football with two years in the USFL before he landed in Dallas. An even closer parallel is Lions kicker Jake Bates, who played college soccer and did kickoffs only at Texas State and Arkansas, then played a year in the UFL before making the cut with Detroit. "I love their game, love what they do, and I felt like I could go and do something that's never been done before, whether that's kicking or being utilized out on the field as well," Murphy told me. Traylor said the interest from scouts was strong enough that he'll have demand from NFL teams, either during or after the draft, but he's eager to see what he can do on a larger platform. "Great teammate, high IQ. I'm a big fan," Traylor told me. "He's going to get into a camp. He's probably got about 20 opportunities right now. We'll see how long he lasts, but he'll get into a camp."]]>
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					<![CDATA[France's Future? Zinedine Zidane Reportedly Set As Next Manager For Les Bleus]]>
				</title>
				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/zinedine-zidane-reaches-verbal-agreement-to-replace-didier-deschamps-as-france-boss-after-world-cup-2026</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/zinedine-zidane-reaches-verbal-agreement-to-replace-didier-deschamps-as-france-boss-after-world-cup-2026</guid>
				<category>soccer</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[The next manager who'll reportedly take over France is one of the game's biggest legends.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Mon, 23 Mar 2026 01:19:50 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[France are preparing for a seismic shift in the dugout as Zinedine Zidane has reportedly reached a verbal agreement to become the next head coach of Les Bleus. The legendary former Real Madrid boss is set to succeed Didier Deschamps following the conclusion of the 2026 World Cup in North America. Zidane has been out of work since leaving Los Blancos for a second time in 2021. FFF president confirms successor is in place In a significant development for the future of Les Bleus, French Football Federation (FFF) president Philippe Diallo has confirmed that the identity of the next national team manager is already decided. While Deschamps remains focused on the upcoming 2026 World Cup, the groundwork for the post-tournament transition has been completed behind the scenes. The FFF chief had previously been cautious about undermining Deschamps, but his latest comments suggest that a formal plan is now firmly in place. Zidane the chosen one for Les Bleus The name on everyone's lips is, unsurprisingly, Zidane. The former Real Madrid manager has been out of work since leaving the Santiago Bernabeu in 2021, and it is widely understood that he has rejected numerous lucrative offers from top European clubs and other national teams to wait for the France job. According to Le Parisien, Zidane has reached a verbal agreement to take the reins. Diallo’s criteria for the role seem to point directly at the legendary midfielder, as the president noted the need for a figure who commands national respect and can handle the unique pressure of the position. Diallo remains tight-lipped but confident Despite the growing certainty surrounding Zidane, Diallo has managed to keep the finer details under wrap until now. However, his recent admission has shifted the narrative from 'if' to 'when' the legendary No.10 will take over. "Yes, I know his name," the patron of the French Football Federation admitted when questioned about the future appointment. Expanding on the selection process, Diallo insisted that the role requires a very specific profile. "It takes a profile that ticks many boxes and which can also be the subject of support from the French people, since this French football team is the team of the French people," he explained. The FFF boss further noted that he had received "fewer than five applications," adding that they were "all French" because the team is one that "not everyone can pilot." The end of the Deschamps era Deschamps has enjoyed an incredibly successful tenure, leading France to World Cup glory in 2018 and a second consecutive final in 2022. However, he has already confirmed the 2026 tournament will be his final bow as the head of the national side.]]>
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					<![CDATA[USA’s Star-Spangled World Cup Jerseys Unveiled Ahead of March Friendlies]]>
				</title>
				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/usa-world-cup-kits-jerseys-2026-usmnt-uswnt</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/usa-world-cup-kits-jerseys-2026-usmnt-uswnt</guid>
				<category>soccer</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[The USA primary and secondary uniforms for FIFA World Cup 2026 were unveiled by Nike.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Mon, 16 Mar 2026 11:12:43 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[Once again, the United States men’s national team will wrap themselves in the flag when the country hosts the FIFA World Cup — this time along with Canada and Mexico — for the first time in 32 years this summer. On Monday, sportswear giant Nike officially released the U.S. men's team's primary and secondary uniforms for the 48-team soccer extravaganza, which kicks off June 11 in Mexico City. The Americans debut the next day on June 12 when they meet Paraguay in Los Angeles in the first of three group-stage games. The U.S. closes out the first round with matches against Australia and the winner of this month’s European playoff between Kosovo, Romania, Slovakia and Türkiye. With wavy red and white stripes, the primary "stripes kit" is reminiscent of the shirts the USA wore when they last hosted the planet’s biggest sporting event, way back in 1994. Same for the dark "stars kit" version — which many fans see as an obvious but subtle nod to the iconic Adidas-produced faux denim jerseys the Americans wore back then. "The match jerseys feature Nike’s latest performance innovations, including Aero-FIT technology engineered for lightweight breathability, mobility and comfort in all weather conditions," according to U.S. Soccer's official press release. Nike said it worked closely with the American players during the design process, "incorporating athlete feedback to authentically represent the team’s identity," it said. "Through a series of design workshops and listening sessions, USMNT players provided input on everything from fabric weight to seam placement." The team will debut the new duds on March 28, when they face Belgium in the first of four pre-World Cup tune-ups. All 27 of the U.S. Soccer Federation‘s national teams will wear the uniforms, including the four-time World Cup champion U.S. women's squad and the country's youth and extended teams. Adidas, Nike’s chief rival, recently re-released a line of retro denim 1994 USA World Cup gear — though the latter’s current sponsorship with U.S. Soccer prevented the former from using the official logo. Nike and U.S. Soccer will introduce a "streetwear-inspired" collection of their own this spring. 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 (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). What is the USA's Schedule for the 2026 World Cup? Christian Pulisic and the United States now know their path to glory in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final after learning their group stage opponents, which stadiums they will play at and the times for the games. All three games will be on FOX.]]>
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					<![CDATA[Argentina vs. Spain Finalissima in Qatar Called Off]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/argentina-vs-spain-finalissima-in-qatar-called-off</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/argentina-vs-spain-finalissima-in-qatar-called-off</guid>
				<category>soccer</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[UEFA said Sunday that the game between Argentina and Spain known as Finalissima was called off.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Sun, 15 Mar 2026 11:46:25 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[UEFA said Sunday that the game between Argentina and Spain known as Finalissima that was supposed to be held in Qatar has been canceled. "After much discussion between UEFA and the organizing authorities in Qatar, it is announced today that due to the current political situation in the region, the Finalissima between UEFA EURO 2024 winners Spain and CONMEBOL Copa América 2024 champions Argentina cannot be played as hoped in Qatar on 27 March," UEFA said in a statement. The game between South American champion Argentina and European champion Spain was scheduled to be held in Doha on March 27. It was going to be a marquee matchup between the teams led by Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal before this summer’s World Cup in North America. Argentina and Spain were to play at Lusail Stadium, which staged the epic 2022 World Cup final. Argentina won a penalty shootout against France after Messi scored twice and Kylian Mbappe got a hat trick in a thrilling 3-3 draw. Other venues had reportedly been considered as alternatives to Doha, including Spain's capital. UEFA, however, said all other feasible alternatives it explored "ultimately proved unacceptable to the Argentinian Football Association." "The first option was to stage the match at the Santiago Bernabéu stadium in Madrid on the original date with a 50:50 split of supporters in the stadium," UEFA said. "This would have provided a world-class setting, befitting of such a prestigious event, but Argentina refused." The option of staging the event over two legs — one in Madrid on March 27, the other in Buenos Aires before the Euros and Copa América in 2028 — was also rejected. Argentina had proposed to play the match later this year after the World Cup, but Spain had no available dates. Argentina won the inaugural edition of the Finalissima in 2022 with a 3-0 victory over Italy at Wembley Stadium in London. Reporting by The Associated Press.]]>
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					<![CDATA[Predicting USA's 2027 Women's World Cup Roster: Who Joins Trinity Rodman, Lindsey Heaps?]]>
				</title>
				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/uswnt-2027-world-cup-roster-prediction-trinity-rodman-lindsey-heaps-march-2026</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/uswnt-2027-world-cup-roster-prediction-trinity-rodman-lindsey-heaps-march-2026</guid>
				<category>soccer</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Predicting the U.S. women's national roster for the 2027 World Cup.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Wed, 11 Mar 2026 15:27:36 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[A year from now we will be getting down to the wire for the 2027 World Cup in Brazil. So what better time to make our initial roster predictions for the group Emma Hayes will call up? The U.S. women’s national team won its eighth SheBelieves Cup title over the weekend, and didn’t even have some of its most recognizable players available for various reasons. For example, Sophia Wilson and Mallory Swanson are coming back from maternity leave while Tierna Davidson and Catarina Macario are recovering from injuries. Those four players – if healthy – figure to play large roles at the tournament next summer. One thing we’ve learned from Hayes’ time as manager so far is that she’s committed to developing and growing this player pool. Not just for the 2027 World Cup, but the 2028 Olympics and the 2031 World Cup as well. And we’re seeing her do the things she’s set out to do in real time. Hayes has given 32 players caps in 32 games. She’s further established the youth programs and the U23 squad as the premier pipeline to the senior team. We’ve seen players – Michelle Cooper, Claire Hutton, Lilly Reale, Jameese Joseph, Gisele Thompson and more – who were called into the Futures Camp in January 2025 and have since worked their way to getting regular call-ups. They are competing for spots on the roster for World Cup qualifying later this year and for the big show next summer. This past training camp was a peak inside who Hayes has identified as part of a "core group." These are players who Hayes believes are ready – or nearly ready – to make a difference ahead of the 2027 World Cup. Using that as a guide, as well as noting players who haven’t been available but will be soon, here is our first edition of who we think Hayes is seriously looking at for the 2027 World Cup roster: Goalkeepers (3): Phallon Tullis-Joyce (Manchester United), Claudia Dickey (Seattle Reign), Mandy McGlynn (Utah Royals) It’s clear at this point that Tullis-Joyce is Hayes’ No. 1 option in goal. She started two of the three SheBelieves Cup matches – wins over Canada and Colombia – and kept clean sheets. She’s a budding star for her Women’s Super League club, where she won a share of the Golden Glove award last season and was named Manchester United’s Player of the Year. It’s a tall order to replace Alyssa Naeher, but Tullis-Joyce is getting more and more comfortable in each USWNT appearance. Defenders (7): Naomi Girma (Chelsea), Emily Fox (Arsenal), Emily Sonnett (Gotham FC), Tierna Davidson (Gotham FC), Lilly Reale (Gotham FC), Tara Rudd (Washington Spirit), Avery Patterson (Houston Dash) The back line is pretty much set. Fox at right back, Girma at center back – alongside Davidson or Sonnett, depending on health and opponent – and then most likely Reale on the left. Davidson hasn’t been with the team since tearing her ACL in March 2025, but she’s back with her club ahead of this NWSL season, which means a return to the USWNT in April seems probable. Reale left the SheBelieves camp with a foot injury, but Hayes is high on U.S. Soccer’s 2025 Young Female Player of the Year. Rudd, Patterson and Gisele Thompson (who is not listed here) have all seen their respective stocks rise over the past year and would be strong options to showcase the squad’s depth at a major tournament. Midfielders (7): Lindsey Heaps (OL Lyonnes), Rose Lavelle (Gotham FC), Sam Coffey (Manchester City), Claire Hutton (Bay FC), Lily Yohannes (OL Lyonnes), Jaedyn Shaw (Gotham FC), Olivia Moultrie (Portland Thorns) Hayes has so many options tactically in the midfield. There’s always the Heaps-Lavelle-Coffey formation, which relies on experience and familiarity. But off that there’s a web of different combinations Hayes can play. Coffey could be a single holding midfielder, or play in a double pivot. Shaw can come in effectively at the No. 10 position, and Hutton and Yohannes are young stars in the making who will be part of this team for a long time. This is an incredibly tight-knit unit and one that Hayes will be able to adjust when needed. Forwards (6): Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit), Mallory Swanson (Chicago Stars), Sophia Smith (Portland Thorns), Catarina Macario (Chelsea), Alyssa Thompson (Chelsea), Ally Sentnor (Kansas City Current) This is where things get the most interesting. The world saw how dynamic and dangerous a full-strength Triple Espresso can be when it led the team to gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Since then, Swanson and Wilson have had babies and been out on maternity leave. In their absences, opportunities have come to Thompson, Sentnor and Macario, who could and should all be starters. This might be the most fun position group for Hayes because if you start the Triple Espresso, for example, and need to switch things up in the second half, a tired opponent isn’t going to want to see Thompson or Macario coming off the bench.]]>
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