World Cup Preview Part 3: Groups: G, H, I
One more week
Hello and welcome to my third World Cup preview, which most people probably won't read, and among those who do, a disproportionate amount are unsubscribing. So, please don't. More history is coming soon. Anyway, here are parts one and two:
Also, the official HBH Instagram! Oh wow!
Group G Storyline:
A team I frankly didn’t think would be allowed to play, Iran has been given the chance thanks to Mexico, allowing the team to stay in the country after the United States, shamefully, turned them away, ominously “for their own life and safety.” The President has made a number of strange comments, warning the players of the country the United States is currently in conflict with. Don’t get me wrong, the Iranian regime is not good. But that isn’t the point. This is football; the players' safety should not even be in question. But maybe the United States is at a point where it genuinely cannot guarantee the safety of a few dozen.
The Iranians arrive with a dangerous squad, no joke intended, ranked 21st in the world. Of course, the group favorites are Belgium, ranked 9th. Egypt is back after missing out in 2022, bringing the greatest Egyptian, and likely the greatest African footballer ever. The dark horses are New Zealand, returning for their third World Cup and first since 2010, where they made a very good account of themselves. The politics outweigh the footballing intrigue in what should be a cut-and-dry group.
Best stadium: Lumen Field Again
Yeah, we are back on the west coast with Lumen in Seattle, SoFi in Inglewood, and BC Place in Vancouver, and that’s it this time. Three good grounds, but Lumen remains the pick of the bunch. I can’t go back and change it now, can I?
What to eat: same stuff, again.
Here’s what I said before:
“On the coast, fresh seafood is the move: salmon in Seattle and Vancouver, oysters pretty much everywhere, cioppino in San Francisco … and ceviche around Inglewood and greater Los Angeles.
Since we are once again largely on the Pacific coast, the advice remains broadly the same: go to Pike Place Market because you are a tourist, and that is what tourists do…
Vancouver’s Asian food scene is absurdly good. The city’s Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, and Japanese food is among the best in North America. Go eat dim sum, Korean barbecue, pork buns, or ramen.”
It’s too late for me to change this. I’m no quitter.
Best dressed:
I think the Belgian home kit has been red and yellow in every tournament I’ve ever seen them in. They are the Red Devils after all. Adidas gave Belgium little overlapping devil graphics on the home shirt. It’s more subtle than it sounds and actually looks good. The away is a cotton candy neon blue and pink number, with floating balls inspired by the surrealist painter René Magritte. The René Magritte. Everyone’s favorite. Somehow, Adidas makes it work.
Puma went graphic-heavy with Egypt. Angular geometric patterns across the red home shirt are meant to evoke hieroglyphics, while the away kit is white and grey with pyramid designs that look like they are firing lightning bolts. Again, better than it sounds, though not especially memorable.
Puma also makes New Zealand’s kits, the All Whites, so no prizes for guessing at least one color. Their away is a sharp white shirt with fern designs, the crest itself being a fern. The black home shirt also looks clean, with subtle Māori-inspired patterns worked into the design. Black and white, hard to fuck up.
Iran, which I think was scrambling late because of their uncertain status, has kits made by a company I had never heard of: Majid. They are mostly plain white and red, with a giant cheetah watermark. Do they even have cheetahs in Iran? Looks a bit ridiculous. Sorry, Iran, it’s not you, it’s whoever the hell Majid is.
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In a fairly weak group for kits, Belgium takes it. Speaking of:
Belgium (The Red Devils… in three languages)
A fourth- and third-place finish at the World Cup is credible for any nation. For a nation of 11.8 million, it is downright absurd. Having been ranked first in the world twice is even more absurd. Both came during the Belgian Golden Generation: first from November 2015 to March 2016. Then, after finishing third at the 2018 World Cup, only losing to eventual winners France in a razor-close semi-final, Belgium returned to number one for over three years.
But then came the poor showing at the 2022 World Cup, which felt like the end of Belgium’s real hopes of winning a major trophy. Several golden generation players remain, and most can still play excellent football, but it no longer feels like enough to get them over the top. That being said, there are some excellent young players in the side. In qualifying, Belgium dominated, going unbeaten and scoring 29 goals in eight games. The Belgians are still a dangerous side.
Manager: Rudi Garcia
Another promising player whose career was derailed by injuries, the French-born Spaniard Rudi Garcia has coached at the highest level for over 25 years. The 62-year-old did credible work in Ligue 1, most notably winning the league with Lille in 2010-11. Moves to bigger clubs in Italy and France never fully worked out, though. His last club job at Napoli lasted just five months, despite the team sitting in fourth. The sacking stemmed more from clashes with ownership than results.
Garcia seems to move on quickly from jobs, but there is no public criticism of his character. If anything, he is part of an older school of managers that wants more say in squad construction, something increasingly rare in modern football. At the international level, though, the manager still gets to pick his own team, and Garcia has done well so far with Belgium, losing only once.
Captain: Youri Tielemans
It is a bit bittersweet for me, as a Leicester City fan, seeing Youri Tielemans. There is no better word for how he plays than elegant. Excellent on the ball, a great passer, smooth dribbler, and capable of scoring a wonder goal, the 29-year-old midfielder has largely delivered on the immense promise.
A throwback to another era, Tielemans is not physically imposing and is no great defender, but he earns his place through technical brilliance, intelligence, and composure. The youngest Belgian ever to play in the Champions League, he moved from Anderlecht to Monaco, then to Leicester City, where he was excellent, most memorably scoring the winning goal in the FA Cup final from over 30 yards out.
However, during Leicester’s disastrous 2022-23 relegation season, he often looked uninterested. Speaking in hindsight, it's hard to blame him. Since joining Aston Villa on a free, he has continued to play excellent football and recently won the Europa League, scoring the opening goal in the final. Having represented Belgium at the last four major tournaments, he now captains the side.
Legend(s): Romelu Lukaku and Kevin De Bruyne
Few Belgians have ever reached the heights of the all-time leading scorer and the country’s greatest ever player.
The son of a Congolese international footballer, Romelu Lukaku, has had a long and successful career as a poacher supreme. Teenage brilliance at Anderlecht earned him his first Belgian cap at just 16 and a move to Chelsea at 18. That move came too early, but strong loan spells showed his quality, and a transfer to Everton led to four hugely successful seasons where Lukaku looked like one of the best strikers in England. That earned him a massive move to Manchester United. So, that didn’t go great.
Lukaku has become a relic of another era. At 6 foot 3 and massively built, with deceptive pace for his size, Lukaku is excellent in the air, works hard off the ball, and is better in link-up play than he gets credit for. But he is not especially technical and offers little defensively, things modern forwards are increasingly expected to provide. Still, he has scored goals everywhere he has gone. But injuries limited him this past season, and now, at 33, with a game built heavily around athleticism, he is clearly nearing the end.
He is Belgium’s all-time leading scorer and had scored at every major tournament he played in until the 2022 World Cup, where, and sorry to him, he was dreadful in a dreadful Belgian campaign. He failed to score at Euro 2024 as well and will be desperate to give a better account of himself at what is almost certainly his final World Cup.
If Youri Tielemans is elegant, Kevin De Bruyne is an artist. One of the greatest playmakers football has ever seen, De Bruyne combines outrageous vision, elite passing range, technical brilliance, and the ability to strike a ball with either power or impossible bend. He has had one of the greatest club careers of any midfielder in modern football.
Like Lukaku, teenage excellence in Belgium earned him a move to Chelsea, where he was loaned out and never given a chance. A brilliant spell in the Bundesliga led to Manchester City signing him. While he was not solely responsible for their dominance, he was absolutely central to it, helping City win seven league titles and a Champions League during his decade there.
Now 34, he remains excellent when fit, but he is increasingly unfit. For Belgium, he has had iconic moments, most notably dismantling Brazil in the 2018 quarter-finals. This is likely his last World Cup, too, and while he is no longer at his peak, he is still capable of moments that very few players in history have produced.
Star: Thibaut Courtois
I cannot mention them back-to-back without bringing up the fact that Courtois infamously stole De Bruyne’s girlfriend. De Bruyne once wrote, “Although I still cannot believe what Courtois has done, we continue to work together professionally.”
Another teenage prodigy whose excellence in Belgium earned him a move to Chelsea, Courtois instead spent three years on loan at Atlético Madrid, where he was brilliant, winning the Europa League as a 20-year-old starter, then La Liga, and reaching a Champions League final.
At Chelsea, he won two Premier League titles, though he was sometimes viewed as inconsistent, fairly or unfairly. By the 2018 World Cup, he had fully established himself as one of the world’s best goalkeepers, and his performances there earned him a move to Real Madrid. He has been one of the best goalkeepers in the world ever since, winning two Champions League titles. Courtois is enormous at 6 feet 7, yet absurdly agile. He is one of the greatest shot stoppers the sport has ever seen. He may not be elite with the ball at his feet, but he is so dominant in every other aspect of goalkeeping that it hardly matters.
One to watch: Jérémy Doku
Belgium has several excellent young players, but the most exciting is Manchester City winger Jérémy Doku. The talent has always been obvious for the Antwerp-born son of Ghanaian immigrants. One of the best dribblers in the world, Doku is frighteningly quick and almost impossible to defend one-on-one. The goals and assists just were not there.
Manchester City bought him in 2023 for a massive fee based almost entirely on raw ability, and he won the Premier League in his first season. His first two years in England were more of the same: dazzling runs, ridiculous footwork, endless flashes of brilliance, but inconsistent output. This past season, though, he began to look more complete. At 5 feet 8 and blessed with absurd acceleration and agility, he has started adding more goals, better decision-making, and some beautiful, curled finishes to his game. The talent has never been in question. The consistency, finally, might not be either.
Egypt (الفراعنة The Pharoahs)
Africa’s oldest national football team, the Pharaohs, is back after missing out in 2022. That they are ranked 29th in the world is a bit astounding, because the squad is heavily made up of domestic Egyptian league players, which, respectfully, is not great. Still, Egypt was excellent in qualifying, unbeaten throughout, though African qualifying was kind to most of the continent’s powers. Sorry Nigeria. Egypt’s strength is clearly in attack, and they should score goals here. Keeping them out at the other end is another matter entirely.
Manager: Hossam Hassan
The all-time leading scorer in Egyptian history, at least for now, Hossam Hassan was a prolific striker both domestically and internationally across three separate decades. He played at the 1990 World Cup at 24 and was still around at the 2006 African Cup of Nations at 40, which is absurd. Since retiring, he has spent years coaching in Egypt and now leads the national team. Under him, Egypt has been prolific in qualifying and performed well at AFCON this past winter.
Legend, Captain, Star: Mohamed Salah(pictured)
Quite possibly the greatest African footballer ever, the Egyptian King is the all-time leading African goalscorer in the Champions League, a Premier League and Champions League winner, and a three-time PFA Player of the Year.
Now 33, and turning 34 during the tournament, the right winger will arrive at the World Cup after leaving Liverpool following one of the greatest spells any player has ever had at the club, helping deliver their first Premier League title and another Champions League trophy. Teenage brilliance eventually brought him, like several of the aforementioned Belgians, to Chelsea, where things did not work out. But an excellent loan spell at Roma led to a permanent move there, and then Liverpool signed him for what was then a club-record £36.9 million. It was one of the great bargains in football history.
Quick, relentless, hardworking, blessed with an elite eye for goal and a left foot capable of putting the ball almost anywhere, Salah scored some of the greatest goals the Premier League has ever seen, slaloming through defenders before curling shots impossibly into the far corner. A likable figure, family man, and practicing Muslim, Salah is admired far beyond football. But he is about to turn 34 and is coming off his worst season since truly breaking out as a superstar. He has clearly lost a step. But even a diminished Salah remains capable of deciding matches on his own. With three goals, he will overtake his coach for the most goals in Egyptian history.
One to watch: Omar Marmoush
While most of Egypt’s squad plays domestically or elsewhere in the Middle East, Omar Marmoush plays for one of the best teams in the world at Manchester City. The 27-year-old striker has taken an interesting path to the top. Moving from Egypt to Germany, he always had obvious talent but struggled for consistency early in his career. Then, at Eintracht Frankfurt, after multiple loans and false starts, everything suddenly clicked.
Scoring 37 goals in just 67 appearances earned him consecutive Player of the Month awards and eventually a €59 million move to Manchester City after only a year and a half. That fee was probably an overpay, and the move itself, perhaps a strange one given he is backing up the best striker in the world or being played out of position, but none of that is Marmoush’s fault. Listed at 6 feet tall, he is probably closer to 6 feet 1, combining speed, intelligent movement, and an absolutely thunderous shot capable of producing goals from ridiculous distances. For Egypt, Marmoush looked excellent at the recent AFCON and, together with Salah, gives the Pharaohs a genuinely dangerous attacking partnership.
Iran (شیران ایران — Lions of Iran)
The 21st-ranked team in the world, Iran, is here for the seventh time and has a golden opportunity to advance from the group stage for the first time. As stated above, the road to getting here was complicated, even as they finished first in their qualifying group. The Lions bring one of the most experienced squads to the tournament and will be a difficult matchup for anyone in this group.
Manager: Ardeshir Ghalenoei
In his second stint as Iran boss, Ardeshir Ghalenoei, it's easy for me to say, is one of the most successful managers in Iran Pro League history. A diminutive midfielder, Ghalenoei played for 16 years in the league and earned 20 caps for the national team before embarking on a long and successful coaching career. With seven domestic trophies and five Manager of the Year awards, the 62-year-old is back in charge of the national team after a first tenure almost 20 years ago that was heavily criticized in the press. This time around, things have gone much better. He has won 67 percent of his matches and led Iran to the semi-finals of the previous Asian Cup.
Captain: Alireza Jahanbakhsh
Another name that is easy for me to say, the 32-year-old winger was prolific in the Netherlands, his 21 goals for AZ seeing him finish as the league’s top scorer in 2017-18. That earned him a move to England with Brighton. While he seems like a great guy, it is fair to say his first season was bad: no goals, no assists, and he often looked lost.
His second season was better, and he was overcome with emotion after finally scoring his first goal. His second was an utterly brilliant overhead bicycle kick. He is so personally likable that, despite two poor seasons, he left England a beloved figure. Returning to the Eredivisie revived his form somewhat, though he never quite reached his earlier heights again. A smooth right winger, the 5-foot-11 Jahanbakhsh is well-rounded and can deliver an excellent cross into the box. He has also been a tremendous servant for the national team: 98 caps, 17 goals, and now a fourth straight World Cup.
Legend and Star: Mehdi Taremi (Pictured)
The 6-foot-2 striker was prolific in Iran before moving to Portugal, first with Rio Ave and then with Portuguese giants Porto, where he continued to shine. A move to Inter Milan last year did not quite carry that form over, though he has remained a useful squad player. Taremi is not a pure poacher. A very good hold-up player who links play well, he is surprisingly well-rounded for a striker of his size, even as his athleticism has begun to decline. Taremi has scored 59 goals for the national team, including two at the 2022 World Cup and ten in qualifying. He gives Iran an excellent target man, someone who can hold up play, draw defenders in, and pounce on loose balls in the box.
One to watch: Dennis Eckert
Your eyes do not deceive you, Dennis Eckert was born in Germany to a German father of partial Iranian descent and a Galician mother. A former German youth international, Eckert, only just received Iranian citizenship in May so he could play at this World Cup. Speaking little to no Persian, the 29-year-old has built a credible career in the Belgian Pro League and offers Iran real versatility in attack, capable of playing in four different positions.
New Zealand (All Whites)
The All Whites, whose nickname is directly tied to the rugby team’s famous “All Blacks” moniker, are at their third World Cup. At their last in 2010, New Zealand were the only unbeaten team in the entire tournament, not losing a single game. They did not win one either, that's important, but it was still a tremendous result for a nation without much footballing tradition. Ranked 85th in the world, the chances of repeating that unbeaten run are slim to none. They qualified after beating the amateur sides of Fiji and New Caledonia. Still, there is some talent in the squad. It would not be shocking to see them steal a draw, or even a win.
Manager: Darren Bazeley
One of several managers not from the country they coach, the 53-year-old Englishman had a long career in the English Football League, playing for Watford and Wolves in the first and second divisions as a right back. Somehow, after retiring, he found his way to New Zealand, where he has worked in both the domestic league and the national team setup. Appointed manager in 2022, he has since become a New Zealand citizen.
Captain, Legend, and Star: Chris Wood
It is pretty easy to say Chris Wood is the greatest New Zealand footballer ever, given the competition isn't exactly fierce, but he has also had a genuinely excellent career. The 34-year-old poacher spent years bouncing around the Championship on loan after loan, developing a reputation as a reliable goalscorer. A dominant 2016-17 season earned him a move to Burnley, where his consistent double-digit scoring at times was all that kept them in the Premier League.
Excellent with his head and superb positionally, Wood may not outrun anyone, but he has a knack for finding the right spot in the box. Burnley were relegated the season he left, and while his move to Newcastle did not work, a transfer to Nottingham Forest proved a perfect fit. His 20 goals in 2024-25 helped Forest finish seventh, though this past season was disrupted by injury. Already New Zealand’s all-time leading scorer, Wood will also take sole possession of the national caps record at this tournament.
One to watch: Tyler Bindon
Maybe one of the least inspiring “ones to watch,” though that has more to do with the fact that Bindon is a defender. Still, he is one of the few players in the squad with genuine room to grow. The 21-year-old Auckland native is Wood’s teammate at Nottingham Forest, though he spent this season out on loan. His form in League One earned him a loan to the Championship, where he became a solid starter. Aerially dominant and physically strong at 6 foot 3, Bindon gives the All Whites l steel in defense and has the potential to grow into a legitimate Premier League player.
Group Prediction:
Belgium — 3 Wins Q
Iran — 1 Win, 1 Draw Q
Egypt — 2 Draws
New Zealand — 1 Draw
Group H Storyline
The European champions are here, joint favorites at this World Cup. A second World Cup title is very possible for Spain, given their talent, though this is an extremely young squad. That is scary, especially if they win this World Cup. But sustained dominance at the international level is exceptionally difficult. The last team to win consecutive major tournaments was, well, Spain, which won Euro 2008 and Euro 2012, with the World Cup in between. This is an excellent team. There is no reason they can't win this World Cup.
There is another World Cup-winning side in this group: Uruguay, a multiple-time winner. One of the best nations in the world at punching above their weight, they are coming off a poor World Cup by their standards and bring a solid squad filled with talent.
The Saudis were the only team to beat Argentina, the eventual champions, at the last World Cup. Their squad, made up mostly of domestic players, is full of veterans and should give a better account of itself than its 61st-place ranking suggests.
Finally, we have a World Cup debutant in Cape Verde. A genuinely impressive achievement: they finished first in qualifying, ahead of eight-time World Cup qualifiers Cameroon. The Blue Sharks are a solid side, and a quarter-final run at the 2023 AFCON showed they are much better than their 69th-place ranking. This is an intriguing group.
Best Stadium: Hard Rock Stadium
Where would you rather be, for starters? Houston, Atlanta, Zapopan, or Miami? It's Miami. Don't kid yourself, kids.
What to eat:
We've discussed most of these places already, though I'd like to add the wonderful Cuban sandwich for Miami: pressed sweet Cuban bread, pork, Swiss cheese, ham, pickles, and mustard. Yummy yummy in my tummy.
In Zapopan, in the Mexican state of Jalisco, there are birote rolls, a local sourdough often stuffed with another regional favorite, Jalisco-style carnitas: pork cooked in lard flavored with orange peel and milk. There is also birria, a savory, locally spiced stew where meat is slow-roasted until tender. For such a warm region, there is a surprising amount of stew and hearty soup. Carne en su Jugo is a comforting broth of finely diced beef, bacon, and whole beans simmered in a tomatillo and cilantro sauce. Chile de Árbol, meanwhile, gives Jalisco's signature red salsas and broths their characteristic heat and vibrant color.
So while Estadio Akron in Zapopan may be cookie-cutter, the local flavor is anything but.
Best Dressed:
The European champions go traditional with their Adidas home kit: a red base with gold logos and crest, plus subtle dark-blue pinstripes on the shoulders. Colors of the Spanish flag. The away kit is a lovely cream with red-and-gold piping on the sleeves and collar, plus an internal pattern inspired by Spanish ornamental and architectural design.
Nike gets to work with Uruguay: La Celeste, sky blue. The retro-inspired home shirt is a collared sky-blue number with a white collar. Very clean. The away, though, I'm not a fan of. It's black with electric sky-blue paneling, supposedly inspired by the Art Deco styling of the original World Cup trophy that Uruguay lifted. Sure, why not?
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In contrast to the history of Middle Eastern kits, which are often very bland, Saudi Arabia's Adidas home kit is excellent. A graphic design pattern in green and lavender covers the shirt. The green comes from the Saudi flag, the lavender from the country's spring lavender fields, while the geometric patterns draw inspiration from traditional Saudi art. It's lovely. The away kit is another minimalist off-white kit that looks great: gold accents and green numbering.
Cape Verde, the debutants, have gone with debutant manufacturer Capelli, never heard of her, and it appears Capelli just copied Japan. The home is dark blue with red accents and a familiar-looking pattern. The away uses the same design in white. Apparently, the triangular pattern is inspired by the topography of the Cape Verdean islands.
In a solid group, the Saudis take it.
Spain (La Roja, the Red One)
The European champions, ranked 2nd in the world. Co-favorites Spain went unbeaten at the Euros, scoring 15 goals and conceding just 4 in 7 games. Then, in qualifying for this World Cup, they scored 21 goals and allowed only 2 in 6 matches, winning 5 and drawing 1. They are dominant.
While this is a young squad, there is immense continuity from that Euro-winning side. A good number of these players were also at the 2022 World Cup. So while they are young, they are not inexperienced. If they do not reach the semifinals at the very least, I will be shocked.
Manager: Luis de la Fuente
There was skepticism, and even outright dismissal, when the career assistant and youth coach took over one of the world's biggest and most scrutinized national teams. Three and a half years later, it looks brilliant.
A career La Liga left back with Athletic Bilbao, de la Fuente moved into coaching and spent six years in the club's setup. From there, he worked his way through the Spanish national team system, coaching the Under-19s, Under-21s, and Under-23s. Having helped mold many of Spain's best prospects, the reins were handed to the well-regarded Riojano following a disappointing Round of 16 exit at the 2022 World Cup. Immediate success followed: Nations League winner in 2023, European champion in 2024, and Nations League runner-up in 2025. De la Fuente is no tactical revolutionary. Spain still plays to dominate possession. His real gift is man-management. Handling personalities and egos at this level is no easy feat.
Captain and Legend: Rodri
Rodrigo Hernández Cascante is the squad's most-capped player, captain, and one of the best players in his position in the world. The 6-foot-3 defensive midfielder combines physicality, strength, and stamina with immense tactical intelligence. A great tackler and ball winner, Rodri always seems to know where to be and where to put the ball. While deployed right in front of the defense, he can also unleash an absolute firebolt when given the opportunity.
A great season at Villarreal at 21 earned him a move to his home, Atlético Madrid, where another excellent campaign led to Manchester City. Arguably the most important player in City's run of four straight league titles, his injury in 2024 ended their hopes of another and has limited him over the two seasons that followed. At 29, he is still working back toward his best, but given his position and style of play, there is every reason to believe he will get there. Nearly two full years removed from his ACL, he should be at full strength for the World Cup.
Star: Lamine Yamal (Pictured)
He feels like he should be older than 18. The most dominant teenager of my lifetime, he should probably also be my one to watch, but favorites deserve a little more attention. Lamine Yamal is about as close as Barcelona could get to spawning a Lionel Messi regen, a FIFA term for when a retired player is recycled into a made-up player with the same attributes, just a different name.
A left-footed right winger blessed with immense quickness, bags of flair, and a wand of a left foot, Yamal was the standout player at Euro 2024 when he was just 16 years old, scoring a brilliant goal to kill off France.
Born in one of Barcelona's poorer neighborhoods to an Equatorial Guinean mother and Moroccan father, the practicing Muslim has had to adjust to stardom quickly, including being pursued by women considerably older than him. Which, you know, sounds fun until you remember he was a child making millions.
Anyhow, he has helped Barcelona win back-to-back La Liga titles and was brilliant this past season, scoring 16 league goals. The 2025 Ballon d'Or runner-up, a World Cup win would almost certainly make him the favorite for the 2026 award.
One to Watch: Pau Cubarsí
Honorable mention goes to the excellent and highly entertaining Nico Williams, but I'm going with the Barcelona teenager. It is exceptionally difficult for young center-backs to break through at the highest level, but the 19-year-old Catalan has already established himself for the Blaugrana. He's done it without the traits that usually make young center-backs stand out. He is neither blisteringly fast nor overwhelmingly strong.
Standing six feet tall, Cubarsí succeeds through intelligence. A Catalan in the truest sense, more comfortable speaking Catalan than Spanish, he reads the game brilliantly, knows where to position himself, and is excellent on the ball. Already capped 11 times by Spain, he will likely partner the experienced French-born Aymeric Laporte in defense.
Cabo Verde (Tubarões Azuis – Blue Sharks)
As FIFA officially knows them, Cabo Verde are at their first-ever World Cup, having fully earned the right to be here by winning their qualification group with some relish over Cameroon and Angola, both previous qualifiers.
This has not come out of nowhere. Their run at AFCON 2023 was excellent, and they bring a squad with genuine talent and, perhaps more importantly, one that has been playing together for years. Ranked 69th in the world, the Blue Sharks are largely made up of Cape Verdean natives, showcasing the remarkable footballing output of an island nation with a population of less than 500,000.
Manager: Bubista
While not his birth name, it is the name everyone uses, and frankly, it's amazing. The nickname comes from Boa Vista, his home island, the closest to Africa. Bubista spent most of his playing career in Angola and Cabo Verde while also representing the national team.
By the early 2010s, during the country's first rise on the international stage, he was already coaching in the domestic league and working as an assistant with the national team. Given the reins in 2020, the now 56-year-old has done a tremendous job. A quarterfinal appearance at AFCON and now a first-ever World Cup mean a great deal to a small island nation and its diaspora.
Captain and Legend: Ryan Mendes
Ryan Mendes has been part of every major achievement in Blue Sharks history, from two AFCON quarterfinal runs to qualification for this World Cup. The all-time leader in both appearances and goals, the 36-year-old winger has had a solid professional career. A hardworking 5-foot-10 winger who can do a bit of everything, Mendes has consistently produced his best football for the national team. With 96 caps and 22 goals, he is approaching the end of his career, and what better way to do it than by appearing at the biggest tournament in the sport?
Star: Logan Costa
The player operating at the highest level in the squad, Logan Costa's stock was rising rapidly before an ACL tear wiped out most of his season.
Born in Paris to a Cape Verdean family, the 6-foot-3 center back was not a highly touted youth prospect. However, an excellent season at Toulouse during their surprise Europa League run convinced the shrewd operators at Villarreal to sign him. Costa played very good football for their fifth-place La Liga side before suffering his injury right at the beginning of the season.
Determined to make the World Cup, he has rushed himself back and appeared in the final two matches of the campaign. He has been excellent for Cabo Verde, and if he quickly regains his form, he gives them an athletic, hardworking, old-school defender capable of frustrating any opponent.
One to Watch: Sidney Lopes Cabral
In an older squad, the Dutch-born 22-year-old has one of the brightest futures. The quick and diminutive 5-foot-9 attacking right back began his career in Germany's amateur leagues before earning a move to the country's third tier. From there, he jumped to Portugal's Primeira Liga at the start of 2025, and an excellent first half-season was enough for Benfica to come calling.
Already capped eight times by the national team, Lopes Cabral has scored three goals from defense. Not bad at all.
Saudi Arabia (الأخضر – The Green One)
Here for the seventh time, and third in a row, the Saudis struggled through an Asian qualifying group of death, drawn alongside both Japan and Australia and beating neither. Finishing third, they were forced into the next qualifying round, where they topped their group and secured their place.
The Green Ones field a veteran squad composed predominantly of domestic players from the Saudi Pro League. They were the only team to beat the eventual world champions at the last World Cup, shocking Argentina 2–1.
Manager: Giorgos Donis
The first-ever Greek Premier League Player of the Year, the 56-year-old has had an eclectic managerial career. A successful playing career in Greece led him to England, where things were less successful, and from there the former midfielder began a late-career tour of clubs and countries.
His coaching career has followed a similar path: Greece, Cyprus, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Cyprus again, Greece again, Israel, Saudi Arabia again, and now the national team. Donis had never coached an international side before being appointed just a month ago. Hervé Renard, the man who got them here, was sacked only weeks before the tournament. So the vibes are not exactly good.
Captain and Legend: Salem Al-Dawsari
Frankly, it's a shame Al-Dawsari never left Saudi Arabia. Though only 5-foot-8, the left winger is built like a brick house, combining strength, quickness, and a wonderful right foot. He loves running directly at fullbacks, cutting inside, and curling shots into the bottom corner.
At 34, Al-Dawsari has somehow only gotten better in his thirties, scoring more goals than ever and piling up appearances on Asian Teams of the Year lists. A six-time Saudi Pro League winner with Al-Hilal, he has scored three goals across two World Cups. While he will never challenge the national records for caps or goals, he is one of the most talented players ever to wear the green jersey.
Star: Saud Abdulhamid
The only player in the squad currently playing in Europe. That may sound Eurocentric, but Ligue 1 is simply a stronger league than the Saudi Pro League. The Jeddah-born right back has been excellent this season for Lens, Ligue 1 runners-up. Signed by Roma after impressing with Al-Hilal, Abdulhamid struggled to break through in the Italian capital, but a loan spell in France has seen him emerge as a genuine European-level player.
A quick and energetic fullback who is solid defensively and comfortable on the ball, the 26-year-old has already earned 53 caps and should lock down the right side of the Saudi defense for years to come.
One to Watch: Abdullah Al-Hamdan
Cristiano Ronaldo never won a league title in Saudi Arabia until Abdullah Al-Hamdan came along. The Riyadh-born forward was regarded as one of the country's brightest prospects but never quite put everything together. However, after joining Al-Nassr, the 6-foot striker became an important contributor in their late-season title push.
With 47 caps and 11 goals at just 26 years old, Al-Hamdan has often looked more promising for the national team than he has at the club level. Goals are how Saudi Arabia will shock someone in this tournament, and he may be the player tasked with providing them.
Uruguay (La Celeste – The Sky Blue)
The most dominant team of football's earliest era, Uruguay won gold medals at the first two Olympics open to professionals and then lifted the first two World Cups they entered. The inaugural tournament was held on home soil, but the truly legendary triumph came in 1950, when they stunned hosts Brazil in front of nearly 200,000 people at the Maracanã.
Since then, La Celeste has never stopped punching above their weight. Their most recent golden generation delivered a fourth-place finish in 2010 and knockout-stage appearances at the next two World Cups. That generation is gone, but the squad remains talented. Ranked 17th in the world, topping this group would be a surprise, but reaching the knockout stages should be the bare minimum.
Manager: Marcelo Bielsa
El Loco Bielsa. I don't think that requires translation. The 70-year-old Argentine is one of the best coaches at this World Cup. A professional player during the 1970s, he retired at just 25 to pursue coaching full-time. Success in Argentina and neighboring Chile earned him both national team jobs during the 2000s. In Chile, he became beloved, revitalizing the national side. From there came memorable spells with Athletic Bilbao, Marseille, and Leeds United, with whom he returned to the Premier League in spectacular fashion.
Bielsa rarely stays anywhere long, not because players dislike him, quite the opposite. Former players practically worship the devout Catholic chain-smoker who sits on a bucket during matches. The issue is that Bielsa's football is exhausting. His preferred 3-3-3-1 system is relentlessly attacking and demands an absurd amount of running. A tactical genius, he has influenced many of the game's best coaches. His obsessive tape-watching is legendary.
Since taking over Uruguay in 2023, he has guided them to a respectable third-place finish at Copa América and a fourth-place finish in South American qualifying.
Legend: Fernando Muslera
The soon-to-be 40-year-old will likely start at his fourth World Cup, having played every minute of the 2010, 2014, and 2018 tournaments.
Born in Buenos Aires, Muslera moved to Uruguay as a child and built a remarkable career, making over 400 appearances for Galatasaray and winning eight Turkish league titles.
An exceptionally athletic shot-stopper, he was brilliant at the 2010 World Cup, conceding just one goal before the quarterfinals. There, he saved two penalties to send Uruguay through. He remained solid in both 2014 and 2018 until a disastrous mistake against France ended Uruguay's quarterfinal run. By 2022, he had lost his starting role and retired from international football in 2024. Now playing in Argentina, Muslera was recalled earlier this year and appears set for one final World Cup.
Captain: José María Giménez(pictured)
Born in Toledo, the 31-year-old center back has enjoyed an excellent career. A hard-nosed defender, Giménez is a fairly one-note footballer. Fortunately, that one note is defending. Strong, fearless, aggressive, and positionally intelligent, he has been with Atlético Madrid since 2013 and, for most of the last decade, only injuries have prevented him from being a guaranteed starter.
He will earn his 100th cap during this tournament and is set to appear at his fourth World Cup, having scored the winner against Egypt in 2018.
Star: Federico Valverde
The most versatile player in world football, and even saying that undersells him. Most comfortable in central midfield, Valverde can also play right back, either wing, attacking midfield, or defensive midfield, all at an elite level.
Having joined Real Madrid as an 18-year-old, he has become one of the club's most important players, having won two Champions League titles. During a miserable season for Madrid, the 27-year-old experienced both extremes. His hat trick against Manchester City to eliminate them from the Champions League was sensational. A few months later, a season full of tensions boiled over when teammate Aurélien Tchouaméni punched him during an altercation, leaving him unconscious and requiring stitches. Even amid the chaos, Valverde remains the engine of both club and country.
One to Watch: Giorgian de Arrascaeta
In a side that struggles for creativity and needs service for Darwin Núñez, the best creator is the 31-year-old Flamengo attacking midfielder. One of the best players at this World Cup never to have played in Europe, de Arrascaeta, who is of Basque descent, possesses bags of flair, wonderful close control, and a genuine eye for goal.
His brilliance helped Flamengo win a remarkable treble: the Brazilian league, domestic cup, and Copa Libertadores. He was named South American Footballer of the Year for 2025. Capped more than 60 times, de Arrascaeta was Uruguay's standout performer at the last World Cup. If La Celeste are going to make a run this time, they'll need him to be that player again.
Group Prediction:
Spain — 2 Wins 1 draw Q
Uruguay — 1 Win, 2 Draws Q
Saudi Arabia — 2 Draws
Cape Verde— 1 Draw
Group I Storyline
Can what is arguably, and honestly probably, the most talented team in the world return to a third straight World Cup final? Les Bleus arrive as joint favorites alongside Spain, yet outside of a handful of veterans, this is a very different side from the teams that reached the 2018 and 2022 finals. The French are also no strangers to self-destruction. In 2002 and especially 2010, internal feuds did as much damage as any opponent.
Speaking of 2002, Senegal is back for a third straight World Cup. In their debut tournament, they shocked France in the opening match and marched all the way to the quarterfinals. They have yet to return to those heights, though a Round of 16 appearance in 2022 confirmed their status as one of Africa's giants and, in the eyes of many(hi), the rightful African champions.
Norway are here for only the fourth time, and for the first time this century. While their superstar is the most recognizable face, there is a genuinely impressive squad around him. Iraq, meanwhile, returns for only the second World Cup in its history and its first in 40 years. They are very much the underdogs, but playing spoiler would suit them just fine.
An intriguing group.
Best Stadium: Gillette Stadium(Boston Stadium as it will technically be known. Lmao)
Am I showing my bias? Yes. Yes, I am.
First, Philadelphia is terrible. The Linc is a nice enough stadium, but getting there is a nightmare. MetLife is enormous, corporate, and somehow manages to feel both sterile and chaotic. It's also in the middle of nowhere, New Jersey, and remains a transit headache. BMO Field in Toronto is the only true football ground of the bunch. It's also the only stadium actually embedded in its city's fabric.
But Gillette is an excellent American stadium. It has more personality than most NFL venues, with the lighthouse and brick facades overlooking the complex, and the surrounding development offers plenty of restaurants, bars, and shops. They're expensive, but generally quite good.
Just don't ask about the parking. Or how it’s not actually anywhere close to Boston.
What to Eat
We've touched on Philadelphia and Toronto before. As for East Rutherford and Foxborough:
For the New Jersey crowd, locals on Reddit recommend:
"White Mana in Hackensack for burgers, Rutt's Hut in Clifton for deep-fried hot dogs, and Clemente Bakery for an awesome Italian sub."
Another favorite:
"American Hero off Route 3. Amazing subs. Cash only."
And if you're spending the weekend:
"Rutt's Hut and Hot Grill are New Jersey hot dog staples. Very old-school looking, but a must."
In Foxborough, start right outside the stadium. There is solid pizza, Japanese food, seafood, and Davio's Steakhouse. Beyond that, Union Straw is an excellent modern American tavern with good food and drinks. At the same time, Station One offers much the same inside a renovated fire station, complete with a craft brewery, distillery, winery, and restaurant.
Best Dressed
Nike gets to work with one of the best color schemes in world football: France's deep navy blue. The French home kit is clean, featuring a subtle zig-zag pattern, white-and-red collar trim, a gold Gallic rooster, and two gold stars signifying their World Cup titles. The away kit is even more distinctive, an oxidized teal with copper accents inspired by the Statue of Liberty, France's gift to the United States.
Vibrant is the word for Senegal. Puma has gone all-in on cultural heritage. The home shirt features an off-white base, traditional symbols, and textile-inspired patterns in red, green, and yellow, with a proud lion across the chest. It's loud, but it works. The away kit shifts to a deep teal that sits somewhere between blue and green, with the patterns running vertically down the center.
Nike's Norway home kit essentially turns the national flag into a football shirt, a red base crossed by navy and white. Apparently, there are Viking horns hidden in the design. Obviously, the away kit is black. Very black. It's a black shirt. That's about all there is to say.
Iraq is another country with an unnecessary third kit. Made by Jako, the home shirt is white with black and red trim, while the away shirt is green with similar detailing. Both feature muted traditional geometric patterns. The third kit is black, though admittedly not quite as black as Norway's.
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France narrowly edges Senegal for best dressed.
France (Les Bleus... you can figure it out)
Ranked first in the world, France should reach at least the semifinals, just like fellow favorites Spain. They strolled through qualifying to get here.
For a country of France's size and footballing pedigree, its history is strange. Their first great side finished third in 1958. After that, they missed three of the next four tournaments. Another generation won Euro 1984 and reached the semifinals of both the 1982 and 1986 World Cups. Then they failed to qualify for the next two World Cups.
Since then, France has established itself as one of football's superpowers. World champions on home soil in 1998, runners-up in 2006, spectacular implosions in 2002 and 2010, then another great generation emerged in 2014 and peaked with the 2018 World Cup triumph.
Many of those players have moved on, but France's best player remains in his prime, and several veterans still play key roles. The blend of youth and experience is exceptional. Runners-up in 2022, they disappointed at both Euro 2020 and Euro 2024, which by French logic probably means they're due for a deep World Cup run. Or they'll crash and burn.
Manager: Didier Deschamps
One of only two men to captain and manage his country to a World Cup title, the 57-year-old French Basque doesn't get quite enough credit.
Part of that is because he was a defensive midfielder, famously dismissed by former teammate Eric Cantona as the team's "water carrier." Well, Deschamps won a World Cup. Cantona didn't.
An intelligent, hard-working midfielder who excelled in the less glamorous parts of the game, Deschamps captained France to the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000 titles. Upon retirement, he immediately moved into management, leading Monaco to a Champions League final before successful spells with Juventus and Marseille. Since taking over France, he has kept one of the most talented and potentially combustible squads in football focused and successful. His pragmatic approach frustrates some, but the results speak for themselves.
Captain Legend and Star: Kylian Mbappé(pictured)
Apologies to the diminutive defensive midfield great N’Golo Kanté, Arsenal’s excellent 25-year-old center back William Saliba, and reigning Ballon d’Or winner, 29-year-old Ousmane Dembélé, who all deserve a mention, but the 27-year-old Parisian Kylian Mbappé is the face of French football and arguably the greatest World Cup performer at this tournament.
A lightning-fast forward with incredible close control, Mbappé exploded onto the scene at Monaco before earning a €180 million move to Paris Saint-Germain. In his first full season there, he won the World Cup, scoring four goals and becoming the first teenager since Pelé to score twice in a World Cup match.
His years at PSG were individually brilliant but somehow never quite delivered the ultimate prize. A long-rumored move to Real Madrid finally followed, where he has continued scoring goals at an elite rate despite the endless scrutiny that comes with playing for the biggest club in the world.
Whatever the noise around him, Mbappé almost always delivers for France. Two more goals here will make him the country's all-time leading scorer.
One to Watch: Désiré Doué
With one of the best names in football, Désiré Doué is among the game's brightest young stars. Born to an Ivorian father and French mother, he comes from a footballing family. His brother Guéla will represent Ivory Coast at this tournament, while several cousins also play professionally.
A product of Rennes before moving to PSG, Doué combines flair, balance, creativity, and versatility. In some ways he resembles Mbappé, though perhaps with even better close control. He lacks Mbappé's raw pace and finishing, but the reigning Golden Boy winner is improving at a frightening rate.
Senegal (Lions de la Téranga – Lions of Teranga)
While I don't think the French players will care, French fans of a certain age may be less thrilled about being drawn with the Lions of Teranga. The reigning African champions, in any rational person's mind, bring the strongest squad Senegal have ever taken to a World Cup. It balances aging stars, some of the greatest players the country has ever produced, with an excellent younger generation.
Senegal started qualifying slowly, drawing three of their first five matches before winning the final five to top the group. Defense remains the biggest question mark, and it is a significant one, but ranked 14th in the world, Senegal are more than capable of matching the quarterfinal run they produced 24 years ago.
Manager: Pape Thiaw
One of the players from Senegal's famous 2002 quarterfinal run. Standing 6-foot-2, it's fair to say he had talent as a player, though he never exactly pulled up any trees. Since moving into coaching, however, he has been outstanding. After successful work in Senegal's domestic game, he took charge of the national team and has won roughly 75 percent of his matches.
At the most recent AFCON, Senegal looked like the best side in the tournament and were arguably the better team in the final. A controversial penalty awarded to hosts Morocco led an irate Thiaw to briefly lead his players off the pitch in protest. Morocco missed the penalty and Senegal won the match, only for the Confederation of African Football to later award the title to Morocco. Thiaw received a five-match suspension and a $100,000 fine for "unsporting conduct" and "bringing the game into disrepute," which is a rich accusation coming from one of football's more corrupt governing bodies.
Legend: Sadio Mané
We'll acknowledge that he entered into a relationship (now marriage) with a 16 year old in his late twenties and move on.
The now 34-year-old remains Senegal's all-time leading scorer, has led the country to three AFCON finals, winning one or two depending on who you ask, and is a Liverpool legend thanks to the role he played in delivering both a Premier League title and a Champions League trophy. A winger blessed with pace, stamina, balance, and deceptive strength, Mané combines technical quality with exceptional positional awareness. Versatile enough to play anywhere across the front line, he also owns the fastest hat trick in Premier League history, scoring three goals in just 176 seconds.
Now playing in the Saudi Pro League, Mané remains immensely talented. Named the best player at AFCON this past winter, he continues to be one of Senegal's most important players and should once again be central to their hopes.
Captain: Kalidou Koulibaly
Another 34-year-old plying his trade in Saudi Arabia, Koulibaly has put together a very good career. The blemish was his expensive and ultimately disappointing spell at Chelsea. Before that, however, he spent eight excellent seasons at Napoli and established himself as one of the best defenders in Europe.
Listed at just 6-foot-1, Koulibaly somehow plays much bigger. Powerful, aggressive, and still reasonably quick despite his age, he can be an absolute man mountain at the back. Comfortable on the ball and dominant in physical battles, he has often produced his best football for Senegal, earning over 100 caps and scoring a crucial goal at the last World Cup.
Star: Idrissa Gueye
Considering he is both the oldest player in the squad and Senegal's all-time appearance leader, "Legend" would fit just as well here. He and Mané are largely interchangeable in that regard. The reason Gueye gets the nod as star is simple: Senegal have attacking talent beyond Mané, but there is no replacing what the 36-year-old Idrissa Gana Gueye still provides in midfield.
After impressing with Lille, he earned a move to Aston Villa and was one of the few players to emerge from their relegation with his reputation enhanced. That led to a successful spell at Everton, a move to PSG where he won multiple trophies, and eventually a return to Merseyside.
Throughout his career, Gueye has remained one of football's premier ball-winning midfielders. His tackling, interceptions, work rate, and positional intelligence have consistently allowed him to perform at the highest level, and he continues to do so for Senegal.
As I have throughout these previews, I should mention less flattering aspects as well. While at PSG, Gueye twice sat out matches in which the team wore rainbow-themed jerseys supporting LGBTQ inclusion. He comes from a different culture and faith, and those deserve respect. Still, I find it difficult to understand refusing to wear a shirt whose message is simply that other people deserve respect too.
One to Watch: Nicolas Jackson
We have no credible information about where this man actually comes from, which is fascinating considering he has played for Chelsea and Bayern Munich, two of the biggest clubs in the world.
You're telling me nobody can pin this down? Why isn't he talking about it? Something happened, and if that's the case, it's unfortunate. But there is a story there.
Anyways, the 24-year-old, 6-foot-2 striker is one of the most entertainingly frustrating players in football. He has pace, athleticism, movement, positional awareness, and the ability to goals and goals. He also produces some of the most astonishing misses you will ever see.
For that reason alone, the man from nowhere is my one to watch.
Iraq (Usood al-Rafidayn – The Lions of Mesopotamia)
More lions! One of the last two teams to qualify, the 57th-ranked national team are here for only the second time in their history. Being pipped by Jordan for second place and automatic qualification in their Asian qualifying group was a bit of a shock, and then in the next round they were pipped by the Saudis as well. That sent them to the playoffs, where they beat the United Arab Emirates in a dramatic two-legged final. Tied 2–2 on aggregate, a 107th-minute penalty sent Iraq to their first World Cup in 40 years. They could not have been drawn into a harder group. There is experience and some talent here, but frankly, such is the quality of the opposition that even a draw would be a solid result.
Manager: Graham Arnold
One of the best Australian players of their pre-Asian Confederation era, the 62-year-old Sydney native was a solid forward who played abroad in both the Netherlands and Japan, earning 56 caps and scoring 19 goals for the Socceroos. He never got the chance to play in a World Cup due to the country's footballing limitations at the time.
After retiring, he moved into coaching and was an assistant when Australia finally reached the World Cup in 2006. He coached in both Australia and Japan before being given the national team job in 2018. Arnold led the Socceroos to the 2022 World Cup, where they performed admirably, pushing the eventual champions Argentina to the limit in the Round of 16. After a poor start to 2026 qualification, Arnold resigned and took the Iraq job months later. He has lost only three games as Iraqi boss and is a well-regarded, well-liked coach. In him, the Lions of Mesopotamia will be led and set up credibly.
Captain and Legend: Jalal Hassan
The most-capped player in the squad, the 35-year-old goalkeeper is the only Iraqi keeper to hold the starting position through three consecutive Asian Cup campaigns, and he captained Iraq to its first Arabian Gulf Cup victory in 35 years in 2023.
Having spent his entire career in Iraq, the 6-foot-2 goalkeeper is known for his bravery, regularly putting his body on the line for club and country. Once best known internationally for being sidelined for two weeks after suffering burns in the shower, he has now earned 100 caps for the national team and was excellent throughout qualification.
Star: Mohanad Ali
The 25-year-old poacher supreme is already seventh all-time in goals scored for the national team. A tremendous goalscorer in the Iraqi Stars League and now in the UAE, he has scored 108 career goals, a highly respectable return for a player his age.
Solid on the ball, good in link-up play, intelligent positionally, athletic, strong, and dangerous in the air, there is very little Ali cannot do at the level he currently plays. He now gets a chance to show what he can do on the biggest stage and perhaps, if he chooses, earn himself another opportunity abroad.
One to watch: Youssef Amyn
One of the few players in the squad playing in Europe, the German-born 22-year-old winger has clearly long been highly regarded, spending time in the systems of Borussia Dortmund and Feyenoord. He has bounced around clubs since and is now contracted to AEK Larnaca in Cyprus.
While his club career has not quite developed as he or the scouts expected, he has become an important part of the national team setup, making 25 appearances over the last three years. Quick, direct, and willing to run at defenders, Amyn is the kind of player who can create something from nothing, which Iraq may need in abundance in this group.
Norway (Røde, Hvite, Blå – Red, White and Blue)
In their first appearance at a major tournament in 26 years, Norway arrive with what is the most talented squad they have ever produced. Somehow ranked only 31st in the world, they possess a handful of world-class players, quality throughout Europe, and three players from the brilliant Bodø/Glimt side that reached the Champions League quarterfinals.
I'll say it one more time: it is frankly astounding they are ranked 31st in the world. Norway have the best striker on the planet and two others who would start for half the teams at this World Cup. They have talented young creators on the wings, a midfield that balances flair and steel, and a defense that is more hard-nosed than spectacular but still capable. Physically, this is one of the biggest teams at the tournament.
They went unbeaten in qualifying, beating Italy twice and outscoring them 7–1 on aggregate. If this team has finally arrived, the rest of the world could be in some trouble.
Manager: Ståle Solbakken
With a name like that, no points for guessing he's Norwegian. Like a few other managers at this World Cup, Solbakken played during his country's last appearance and has now led them back. Like many of his players, he was physically imposing, standing 6-foot-3 and playing as a powerful box-to-box and attacking midfielder. He earned 58 caps for Norway and later built a successful coaching career in Norway, England, and especially Denmark, where he spent more than a decade managing Copenhagen and won eight trophies.
When he took charge of Norway in 2020, they were still viewed as international minnows. As a talented young generation emerged, results remained frustratingly inconsistent, with failures to qualify for both the 2022 World Cup and Euro 2024. To their credit, the Norwegian Football Association stuck with the clearly capable coach. Now it appears to all be coming together.
Captain: Martin Ødegaard
While we cannot yet call this a golden generation, the generation that has revived Norwegian football began with Martin Ødegaard.
The son of a Norwegian professional footballer, Ødegaard was one of the most gifted young players of his generation and was signed by Real Madrid at just 16, becoming the youngest player ever acquired by the Spanish giants. He was rarely given a chance in Madrid, spending years on loan in the Netherlands and then at Real Sociedad before finally finding a permanent home at Arsenal.
An elegant left-footed playmaker, the 5-foot-10 Ødegaard is silky smooth on the ball, blessed with tremendous vision and a wand of a left foot. Twice Arsenal's Player of the Season and a regular in the PFA Team of the Year, he is renowned for his leadership and has captained both Arsenal and Norway despite still being only 27.
Legend and Star: Erling Haaland (pictured)
The best striker in the world. Haaland is a robot.The son of a Norwegian international and Premier League player, the 6-foot-5 blonde monster has scored goals for fun everywhere he has gone: Norway, Austria, Germany, and now England.
In his first season with Manchester City, he broke the Premier League record with 36 goals in 38 matches, helping the club win consecutive league titles and their first Champions League. Exceptionally fast, incredibly strong, comfortable on the ball, and armed with a rocket of a shot, Haaland is one of the last true out-and-out strikers in an era increasingly obsessed with versatility.
He's so good that it doesn't matter. His return of 162 goals in 198 games for Manchester City is unheard of in modern English football. Somehow, he has been even better for Norway, scoring 55 goals in 49 appearances. His 16 goals in qualification were four more than any other player in the world. And he is only 25.
One to watch: Antonio Nusa
The “Norwegian Neymar”, 21-year-old Antonio Nusa was born to a Nigerian father and Norwegian mother and displayed immense talent from a young age. That earned him a move to Club Brugge at just 16 before graduating to RB Leipzig in Germany.
The goals have not fully arrived yet, but the talent is obvious. Quick, creative, and fearless, Nusa is excellent with the ball at his feet and capable of playing on either wing. He delights in making full-backs look silly and provides exactly the sort of service that Haaland and the yet-unmentioned giant Alexander Sørloth thrive on.
For Norway's attack to reach its full potential, Nusa's speed and creativity will be crucial.
Group Predictions:
France: 2 Wins, 1 Draw Q
Norway: 1 Win, 2 Draws Q
Senegal: 1 Win, 1 Draw
Iraq: 1 Draw
Thanks for reading all the way through. It means a lot. I love football, and I hope you've enjoyed this and learned some background. Sending you love and good vibes.