We all remember, nearly four years ago, when Lionel Messi lifted the World Cup trophy high into the sky in Qatar. A crowning moment for one of the game’s legends.
Now, it’s time once again to clear the calendars. We’re in store for 39 days of drama as the World Cup begins across three countries and culminates with the final on July 19.Â
That gives us one last time to make some picks on which players will shine, what to expect and, yes, decide who we expect to lift the trophy this time around.Â
Doug McIntyre: Ive said it before, so Ill say it again: The U.S. men’s national team reaches the semifinals.Â
I know. Its a long shot. But there is something special about playing on home soil, and for all the hand-wringing about how the World Cup co-hosts were outclassed by Belgium and Portugal in March, its last two pre-tourney tune-ups â a win over African powerhouse Senegal and a narrow loss to Germany in a match the Americans flat-out dominated for long stretches â were the players’ best performances under coach Mauricio Pochettino so far.Â
Something is brewing here. Add in the favorable draw the U.S. got as a seed and the power of the public behind it, and I think, with a little luck, it’s capable of matching what countries like South Korea (2002), Türkiye (2002) and Morocco (2022) have done at other World Cups this century.Â
Laken Litman: On the flip side of Doug, I think the U.S. will be eliminated following the Round of 16.Â
This team so badly wants to advance further than it ever has before, but there are too many glaring issues, starting with the back line and inexperience in goal. So it seems hard to comprehend that the Americans will get much further than they did four years ago.
Luis Miguel Echegaray: Japan will earn a semifinal spot for the first time in its history.
This team has never gone further than the round of 16, but its trajectory continues to rise, and I have been waxing lyrical about Hajime Moriyasus side for a long time. Japan is a cohesive, technically gifted unit, unafraid of anyone. I think at this World Cup, Samurai Blue will create havoc in a group they can most definitely top.
Brian Sciaretta:Â Canada goes to the quarterfinals.Â
The 2022 World Cup was disappointing for Canada, but the team has been steadily improving under American manager Jesse Marsch. The semifinal run in the 2024 Copa América was an important sign of progress for this team. Even with star forward Alphonso Davies questionable at the start of the tournament, Canada still has enough talent to win games. On top of a team that plays hard under Marsch, Canada could benefit from playing on home soil as one of the tournament’s co-hosts.
Matteo Bonetti: He was electrifying in the 2022 World Cup and was so close to tasting glory. This time around, he leads a France team that is a tournament favorite along with Spain. Hell be looking to turn the page after a tumultuous campaign with Real Madrid that was marred by intense scrutiny over the lack of major trophies. Still, he scored 42 goals in 44 games with his club side. Not bad.Â
Echegaray: If we are to believe Spain manager Luis de la Fuente, the 18-year-old phenom from Barcelona should be fit enough to see minutes in the opener against Cape Verde after recovering from a hamstring injury. And I think once he enters the pitch, he wont look back and will deliver everything we have all come to expect.Â
McIntyre: Still only 18, hes arguably the best player in the world as it is. Hes also expected to be healthy by the time Spain kicks off its World Cup campaign against Cape Verde in Atlanta on June 15. We saw his ability to rise to the occasion in a major tournament at 16; that spectacular goal in the Euro 2024 semis was the
