Our writers’ World Cup 2026 predictions: Winners? Breakthrough player? Best host nation? Shocks?

We are getting closer.

There are just a few days to go until the 2026 World Cup kicks off in Mexico City. We’ve been through team analysis, stadium guides and player profiles, and now it’s time for our writers to give us their predictions for the six-week extravaganza of soccer.

The men to watch, the games not to miss, the surprises, the shocks, and how the three host nations — the United States, Mexico and Canada — will get on. Eleven of our writers have their say.

But first, meet the panel…

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• Elias Burke, football writer who has reported on the Premier League, Champions League, Championship, MLS and international football
• Henry Bushnell, senior writer covering his third World Cup (and second men’s edition)
• Carl Anka, Manchester United reporter since 2020 and writer on international football. Member of Talk of the Devils
• Felipe Cardenas, senior writer based in the U.S., with a focus on football across the Americas and beyond, covering his second World Cup
• Jack Lang, UK-based football writer who will be covering his second World Cup
• Oliver Kay, football writer for The Athletic since 2019. Will be covering his sixth World Cup and also went to the 1998 tournament as a fan
• James Horncastle, globetrotter no longer confined to Italy. An Italophile internationalist, he has lost track of which country he’s in
• Paul Tenorio, senior writer who has covered American soccer since 2007, including the USMNT and MLS at The Athletic since 2018
• Tamerra Griffin, global women’s soccer writer covering her second World Cup; was a foreign correspondent before pivoting to sport
• Joshua Kloke, Canadian soccer reporter. Has covered Canadian soccer’s rise since 2016, committed to finding the best pizza and beer this summer
• Melanie Anzidei, covering her second World Cup for The Athletic, former collegiate soccer player turned newspaper reporter turned sports writer.

Winner

Burke: As much as I’d love to say England, France are surely favourites. Results rarely go as predicted, but if France win their group, they might not face a side on a similar level until a potential semi-final against Spain.

With so much attacking firepower, we can expect them to squeeze past the European champions there and reach a third successive final, where Kylian Mbappe will lead France to his second World Cup triumph.

Anka: When the draw was made, I was backing Spain. They have Lamine Yamal. They have Rodri, who is slowly getting back to his best. Their calmness on the ball should mean they don’t tire too much in the North American heat.

This is the moment — Yamal to pip Mbappe to the trophy and declare himself the leader of the post-Messi-and-Ronaldo era.

Cardenas: It’s England, and it’s finally coming home. And no, Tom Hardy’s character from Mobland is not looking over my shoulder as I write this.

To win the World Cup, a team must suffer, have luck on their side and improve as the tournament progresses. England possess the attributes, plus they have a manager in Thomas Tuchel who understands the players.

Lang: Spain. A few injuries have chipped away at my conviction, but they still have the best balance — and the fewest weaknesses.

They have a settled system that suits their players and can thrive in the conditions: their midfield controls matches, which could be incredibly important in severe heat. And, in Yamal, they have a player who can win a tough game with a single moment of genius.

Kay: France have the strongest squad. They also still have players and a manager who won the World Cup in 2018, and others who came agonisingly close to retaining it in 2022.

If I’ve got a nagging doubt, it stems from the 2024 European Championship, when they only scored four goals in six games. Also, the pressure on Mbappe, as captain and star player, is huge.

Horncastle: Spain.

I was at their games against Italy, France and England at the last Euros and three things stood out.

They were egoless. They excelled, as always, in keeping the ball — when England equalised in the final, Spain confiscated possession until they found a late winner. Last but not least, they were quicker and more direct than in the past, with the scintillating Nico Williams and Yamal running all over defences. Together, it made Spain irresistible.

Tenorio: I am enamoured with the talent in France’s squad. Spain have been so strong, but it’s hard to overlook a team featuring Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele, Michael Olise, Desire Doue, Bradley Barcola, Marcus Thuram and Rayan Cherki.

Kloke: Spain — it’s an obvious one, but when a team have zero holes, tournament-winning experience and an easy path to the quarter-finals (provided they win Group H), the answer feels like a tap-in.

Griffin: It should be France. They have the strongest starters and bench in the tournament.

Anzidei: I hate to admit that France is a tournament favorite and can win it all. They have the roster and the depth. Mentally, they have players who know the difference between winning it all and being just one penalty kick away from a repeat on the world stage. That combination is crucial.

Bushnell: France is my pick, but to avoid redundancy… Portugal. Cristiano Ronaldo’s ego could make this look silly in a few weeks, but their midfield is absurdly good. Unparalleled. It can carry them through the tournament. And Roberto Martinez has evolved into an elite international coach.

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Team who will surprise us

Burke: I watched Ivory Coast thrash South Korea 4-0 in March, where I was reminded just how talented they are in attack. So talented, in fact, that Manchester United forward Amad may not be a guaranteed starter.

Keep an eye out for teenage sensation Yan Diomande, who moved to the United States at 15 and was playing high-school soccer four years ago. He could be in line for a big-money move to a Premier League club if he can translate his impressive form for RB Leipzig in Germany to the World Cup. The Athletic reported last week that Liverpool had stepped up their pursuit of the 19-year-old.

Anka: Senegal. The legal kerfuffle over the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final, along with a 3-2 friendly defeat to the USMNT, has taken some gloss off the Lions of Teranga, but they are a footballing powerhouse in waiting.

Group I is the closest thing we have to a ‘Group of Death’ (facing France, Iraq and Norway) in this tournament, but Senegal should fare the best of the African nations this summer.

Cardenas: It feels blasphemous to mention Brazil here, but that’s how mortal the record five-time world champions have become. That will change this summer.

Carlo Ancelotti’s side will get better, stronger and more confident with each passing match. It will start with a commanding win against Morocco on Saturday. While many people expect Brazil to underachieve, I believe they will find their form in the same setting that saw them lift the 1994 World Cup trophy.

Lang: Ecuador were the story of South American qualifying, finishing second behind Argentina (and ahead of Brazil, Colombia and Uruguay) despite a three-point deduction for a rules violation in the previous World Cup cycle.

Their success was almost entirely down to their defensive solidity — they remarkably conceded just five times across their 18 matches. They won’t win many awards for aesthetics, but they’ll take some beating.

Kay: If we’re talking about a team who could go much further than widely expected, perhaps to the quarter-finals or even beyond, then I’ll go with Jack and say Ecuador, who have a core of proven competitors and exciting young prospects. There’s always this idea that they’re mediocre once they’re away from the altitude of Quito, but they haven’t lost a game in almost two years.

Horncastle: Norway made a big impression on me in qualifying. They scored 37 goals in eight games. Erling Haaland accounted for 16 of them. Sure, their group isn’t the easiest. OK, it’s also their first World Cup appearance since 1998, so the squad isn’t used to big tournaments. But they’re stacked up front, Martin Odegaard had a successful season at Arsenal and Antonio Nusa, Jens Petter Hauge and Oscar Bobb provide depth.

Tenorio: Mexico. I really don’t think we’re talking enough about El Tri.

They are going to have a fantastic home-field advantage playing at altitude at Estadio Azteca, with the fans backing them and making it an extremely tough environment. If Mexico win their group, they will have the chance to also play two knockout games at home. That in-stadium advantage won’t go away if they make it to a quarter-final in Miami. This might not be the strongest Mexico side ever, but they could be an extremely tough ‘out’ for any opponent.

Kloke: Switzerland. We’re talking solid, structured tournament soccer here. In European qualifying, only England (zero) conceded fewer goals than their two.

Griffin: For the African teams who regularly appear in World Cups, I’m no longer surprised when they emerge from the group stage and through the early knockouts. But Cape Verde might be one of those teams that immediately captures the hearts of neutrals and could catch their opponents off-guard.

A respectable result against Spain would boost their confidence against Saudi Arabia and Uruguay and might see them make it out of their group.

Anzidei: Dare I say Argentina? There are so many naysayers. Captain Lionel Messi is playing in his last World Cup. Many will say he is not the same Messi who carried the national team to glory in Qatar, but his leadership means he does not have to be. Julian Alvarez and Enzo Fernandez stepped up previously. I’m excited to see who in this next generation does it this time.

Bushnell: A team who could surprise us and win the whole thing? Colombia. A team below the tiers of true contenders who won’t get me accused of homerism? Ivory Coast. Their talent is immense, and their 2-1 friendly win against France last week is evidence that they can give Germany and Ecuador problems in Group E.

Team who will disappoint us

Burke: Spain may struggle to replicate their excellent level from Euro 2024. Yamal may not be fit for the start of the tournament, while Williams, who was electric in Germany two years ago, has experienced a stop-start season. Ditto Dani Olmo and Rodri. They still have the talent for a deep run, but I would not be shocked if they failed to progress past the quarter-finals.

Anka: World Cups are more magical when Brazil look brilliant, but this may be the first tournament where they are not among the favourites. The five-time winners courted Ancelotti for a long time, but he cannot magically fix everything. Brazil will be OK, but are unlikely to make a deep run in the tournament. I long for the day when they are brilliant again.

Cardenas: Norway has one of the biggest names at the World Cup in Haaland. It has a very capable playmaker in Premier League winner Odegaard. But Norway hasn’t been under the stress of a World Cup since 1998. I believe the magnitude of the occasion, the summer heat and the physical toll that creates will lead to a major disappointment. Norway is a dark horse team for some. I see potential for an underwhelming tournament.

Lang: I don’t expect a complete disaster, but I cannot see Argentina getting close to defending their title. Lionel Scaloni has some fantastic options in attack, but Messi is not the player he was and the defence looks incredibly fragile.

Kay: At risk of being arrested for treason, I don’t have a great feeling about England. I’m just not convinced they have really taken shape under Tuchel yet. They might find balance and momentum as they go, like when they reached the semi-finals under Gareth Southgate in 2018, but it needs something (and not just Harry Kane) to click.

Horncastle: I’m with Jack. Four years ago, France were the first World Cup holders since 2006 not to go out in the group stage. The revamped format provides enough places that Argentina should make it through the knockouts, but the squad is more or less the same as the one that put everyone through the wringer last time round. People forget how touch-and-go it was for Argentina in Qatar. They lost their opening game to Saudi Arabia and needed to come through a penalty shootout with the Netherlands in the quarter-finals.

Alexis Mac Allister, Fernandez and Alvarez all broke into the team mid-tournament in Qatar, injecting much-needed freshness and verve. Where is that going to come from this summer?

Tenorio: I’m tempted to say England. If they win the group, they could face a showdown with Mexico in Mexico City in the round of 16. That game will be a test for any opponent. If Argentina win their group, they could face a tricky round-of-32 game against Uruguay (or Spain) in Miami.

Kloke: Argentina has failed to impress of late. They’re spending a lot of time in oppressively hot cities, too. I don’t see a repeat for the defending champions, which I suppose constitutes a disappointment.

Griffin: Argentina have not played particularly enriching friendlies in recent months, which included March fixtures against Zambia (5-0 win) and Mauritania (narrow 2-1 win). They were fueled by the desire to realize the dream of a Messi World Cup win in 2022, but without such a passionate target, they might deflate.

Anzidei: I want to have high hopes for Brazil. At last summer’s Club World Cup, the Brazilians rallied behind their favorite clubs, and I am so excited to see what the turnout will be like in East Rutherford for their opener against Morocco — but I’m expecting the Moroccans to come out on top.

Bushnell: It’d be Brazil if not for Don Carlo. Instead, I’ll go with Belgium. If you can contain Jeremy Doku, they look vulnerable. Egypt, Iran and New Zealand might represent a soft group, but I don’t think they’ll make much noise in the knockouts.

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Host nation who will go the furthest

Burke: The USMNT’s 3-2 win over Senegal will be a huge confidence booster. Perhaps their group isn’t as straightforward as it has been made out, with potentially tough matches against Paraguay, who earned as many points as Brazil in South American qualifying, and Turkey, but the U.S. have the most talent and the highest ceiling among the co-hosts.

Anka: My heart wants to say Mexico. It would be great to watch El Tri have a good tournament, and it’s a real shame the last game at Estadio Azteca comes in the round of 16.

My head says USMNT. They have the greatest squad depth, and coach Mauricio Pochettino has already shown us how he’ll use the cooling breaks to feed players extra tactical information for that extra edge.

Cardenas: Mexico was embarrassed at Qatar 2022 after failing to advance from the group stage. Four years later, at home and in front of a football-crazed nation, the stage is set for them to surprise.

Lang: I don’t think Mexico are going to win over many neutrals, but I’ve watched them a couple of times recently and was pleasantly surprised. Coach Javier Aguirre is old-school, but there are some talented youngsters — Gilberto Mora, Brian Gutierrez, Armando Gonzalez — who can provide some spark in front of a solid defence. Given their group is a shade easier than the one the U.S. find themselves in, they’d be my pick.

Kay: Mexico is the obvious, and probably the right, answer. The group stage has been relatively kind to all three host countries: one or two tough opponents, but an opportunity to progress. I hope all three reach the knockout rounds. The further the hosts progress, the better it is for the ‘feeling’ of the tournament.

Horncastle: Tough one. The USMNT have the most talent and the best coach of the three host nations. But the last two years have been distinctly underwhelming. If it clicks and Antonee Robinson and Sergino Dest are firing, Weston McKennie rediscovers the form he showed before his contract renewal with Juventus and Christian Pulisic’s performance against Senegal is an unexpected sign of things to come, then the U.S. are my pick.

Tenorio: I don’t like that this is becoming the theme of my predictions, but I’ll say Mexico. I think they reach the quarterfinals. I could see the U.S. getting there, but the safest bet is the last 16 for Pochettino’s men.

Kloke: In the interest of typical Canadian peacekeeping: every host nation gets bounced in the round of 16. I can see the U.S. succumbing to mounting pressure. I can’t see Mexico winning more than one knockout game, in part for the same reason. And while Canada has the moxie to get out of their group, the round of 16 will present formidable opponents.

Griffin: The U.S. can go further than most think, but Mexico, the host country slightly less burdened by expectations but just as fired up to impress, will go further. (Maybe this is influenced by my inner child who fan-girled over Guillermo Ochoa in his earlier Club America days.)

Anzidei: Compared to the other host teams, Mexicans are fluent in football. The passion for the sport already exists there. El Tri will be fueled by its fans. They may just have a magical run because of it.

Bushnell: The U.S. The vibes are good. The path through the knockout bracket is potentially undaunting. As I’ve said all along, this USMNT absolutely could get grouped, but could also make a semifinal. A quarterfinal is entirely realistic.

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Breakthrough player

Burke: I watched Norway dismantle Sweden 3-1 this week and was very impressed with Nusa. The 21-year-old winger played with speed and attacking purpose every time he received the ball, driving at defenders and trying to make something happen. He was linked with a move to the Premier League before joining Leipzig last summer — there is every chance he will be back on the radar of the biggest clubs in Europe after catching the eye for a dark horse contender.

Cardenas: The football world is going to find out very quickly about 17-year-old Mora. The midfielder will be one of Mexico’s most important players. Mora is truly a joy to watch. Aguirre uses him as a playmaker with freedom to roam near the opponent’s penalty area. His football is mature for his age and he glides by defenders like a young Andres Iniesta. Mora will be linked to every major European club this summer.

Anka: Bosnia and Herzegovina will win over a lot of neutrals thanks to a pair of brilliant teenage wingers. Kerim Alajbegovic will likely start on the left, and the 18-year-old jumps off the screen. He makes the sort of decisive actions in and around the penalty box that are typically mastered in your mid-twenties. He’s two-footed and loves skinning a full-back. Expect him to be linked with a move to the Premier League before the tournament is done.

Lang: Rayan. He probably wouldn’t have been in Brazil’s squad had Chelsea’s 19-year-old Estevao not picked up an injury, but there’s every chance he seizes the opportunity. He is only 19, too, but he is fast, physical, direct and clearly very confident. He may not be in Ancelotti’s starting XI against Morocco on Saturday but don’t be surprised to see him play his way into the team by the knockout stages.

Kay: I’m going to echo Felipe and say Mora, who illuminated last year’s Under-20 World Cup. I don’t know how many games he’ll start, but he is certain to catch the eye.

Horncastle: One of the Turkish boys: Arda Guler or Kenan Yildiz. It was a pleasure to watch them at Euro 2024. Guler, in particular, showed so much personality, demanding the ball from much older team-mates. Yildiz is the silkiest of dribblers.

Tenorio: I’d say Mora, and my answers have become an insanely pro-Mexico space.

Kloke: Shockingly, I am going with a Canadian. There will be more globally-recognized players breaking through, but the editors let me hang around because I (think I) know the Canadian squad well, so… Ismael Kone. At his best, the midfielder blends smoothness and power, making him one of the most distinctive players ever to come out of Canada. He dominated while at Sassuolo in Serie A and feels poised to be an important piece of Canada’s attack.

Griffin: Senegal’s Iliman Ndiaye comes alive when he dons his nation’s crest. In the Africa Cup of Nations six months ago, he dazzled along the flank with his silky dribbling, and now that he’s on the world stage, I expect him to gain fans and professional suitors.

Anzidei: Injury concerns have lingered ahead of his potential World Cup debut, but I’m excited to see 21-year-old Nico Paz, the youngest player on Argentina’s roster.

Bushnell: Diomande. Many in Europe and Africa already know the 19-year-old Ivorian winger. The whole world will in a month.

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Golden Boot winner (top goalscorer)

Burke: For an outside bet, what about Romelu Lukaku? He is incredibly prolific on the international stage with 90 goals in 126 caps for Belgium, who have a relatively kind group with Egypt, Iran and New Zealand. At 33, Lukaku is not the goalscorer he used to be, but he comes alive in a Belgium shirt and has never had any problem ‘stat-padding’ against weaker nations.

Anka: It’s not an exact science, but Golden Boot winners are typically strikers who take the penalties on teams that reach at least the quarter-finals. They tend to score most of their goals in the group stage, putting the weaker sides to the sword, before perhaps picking up an assist or two in the knockout games to help with a tiebreaker.

Congratulations to England’s Kane, who won the 2018 World Cup’s Golden Boot thanks largely to a hat-trick against Panama in the group stage. He’ll face them again in 2026, along with a Ghana side missing their two strongest centre-backs due to injury. Ooft.

Cardenas: Mbappe will run away with the Golden Boot, but walk away without his second World Cup trophy. France’s attack is dreamlike, providing Mbappe with plenty of opportunities. He also takes France’s penalties.

Lang: No prizes for originality, but Mbappe is the standout. France should go deep, and he is as close to a guarantee of goals as there is.

Kay: Since Gerd Muller in 1970, no player has scored more than eight goals in a men’s World Cup. But the expanded tournament — more games and, potentially, more of them against mediocre opponents — raises the possibility of getting beyond that figure. Part of me wonders whether Ronaldo might do it with five goals against DR Congo and four against Uzbekistan. Ultimately, my answer is Mbappe, but there’s so much potential for flat-track-bullying this summer.

Horncastle: If Argentina confound my prediction and do well, it’ll either be down to Alvarez getting hot, like he did at the previous  World Cup four years ago, or Lautaro Martinez transferring his 2024 Copa America top-scorer antics to this tournament. Martinez is close to a guarantee of 20 goals a season at Inter. His reputation outside of Italy is hurt by Alvarez taking his place in Qatar, but Martinez scored the decisive penalty in the shootout against the Netherlands, keeping Argentina and Messi’s dreams of winning the World Cup alive.

Tenorio: Haaland. I could see a couple goals in the group stage against Iraq and even Senegal if their defensive form is as bad as it was against the U.S. in Charlotte. A lot of picks for Norway to disappoint, though, so maybe this prediction does, too.

Kloke: Kane, right? Take a very winnable group for England, add in an easy path into the final eight and finish it off with expertise on penalties and he is your guy.

Griffin: Norway are unlikely to win this tournament (though they were on my shortlist of teams that will pleasantly surprise), but Haaland is not going to leave his first World Cup empty-handed.

Anzidei: Preaching to the choir, but Haaland. I expect him to leave his mark on this summer of soccer.

Bushnell: Waaaay too many obvious picks and groupthink here! I’ll go with Mikel Oyarzabal, who’s probably going to start up top for arguably the tournament’s best team, between two excellent wingers. He’ll almost certainly go deeper in the tournament than Haaland. He’ll get more service than Kane. In his past 10 matches for Spain, dating back to March 2025, he’s scored 11 goals. How has nobody else even mentioned him?!

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Golden Ball winner (best player)

Burke: While Crystal Palace fans are keen to stress that Olise was outstanding at Selhurst Park, his star has reached another level at Bayern Munich, where he is now considered one of the best players in the world. Having not featured for France at a major tournament before, Olise will end the summer as one of international sport’s household names.

Anka: On July 19, football crowns Yamal as the best footballer in the world.

Cardenas: Kane’s fabulous form with Bayern this season will continue. He’ll lead England to the promised land (meaning New Jersey on July 19) and strut away from the 2026 World Cup as its MVP.

Lang: Yamal is clearly a strong candidate but equally, this could be Spain team-mate Pedri’s big coming-out party. He is a sublime player, capable of controlling the tempo but also of shoving a knife through opposition defences. Spain’s midfield will win it for them and Pedri, 23, will be the leading man.

Kay: This tournament could go one of two ways for Mbappe. Either he enhances his legacy as one of the greatest footballers of the modern era or, like many top players before him, he struggles under the burden of his nation’s hopes and expectations at a World Cup. I’m leaning towards the former.

Horncastle: I’ve been lucky enough to watch Yamal in the flesh a few times. Nobody has a greater wow factor. He does things that make you grab the person next to you in disbelief.

Tenorio: Olise. My favorite player to watch in the world. Every time he’s on the ball, you think something special is going to happen.

Kloke: Olise. One of the most in-form and dynamic players in the world on a team poised to make a deep, deep run.

Griffin: Vitinha’s game might be quieter with Portugal than Paris Saint-Germain, but this is his moment.

Anzidei: Yamal. It may take some easing into the tournament to avoid injury, but the 18-year-old will meet the moment. I have no doubt.

Bushnell: Bruno Fernandes. Or Vitinha. Or Joao Neves. Together, they’re going to boss this tournament, and one will win the prize on behalf of all three.

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Player clubs will wish they’d signed before the World Cup

Burke: There is already a tug-of-war between Premier League clubs for Elliot Anderson, following an outstanding season for Nottingham Forest. Their owner Evangelos Marinakis already values him at over £110million ($150m), and that’s without Champions League experience or an international tournament under his belt. If, as looks likely, Anderson is still a Forest player when England kick their World Cup off on June 17, that valuation could rise by another £20m with an impressive showing.

Cardenas: PSV’s Esmir Bajraktarevic will have a big role for Bosnia. In March, the 21-year-old’s no-look penalty eliminated Italy from the World Cup play-offs and made him a national hero. He is Wisconsin-born and earned one senior cap for the USMNT, after appearing for their youth sides, but decided to represent his parents’ birth country. If Bajraktarevic emerges as one of Bosnia’s key players, he’ll have some suitors, most likely from Serie A.

Anka: When he emerged as a teenager, Takefusa Kubo was nicknamed ‘the Japanese Messi’ for the way he glides across the pitch. Now 25 and part of the strongest Japan squad in a generation, the Real Sociedad winger could power his team to the round of 16 (and possibly beyond).

Lang: Can Uzun. Turkey aren’t short on exciting young attackers but Uzun, who plays for Eintracht Frankfurt in Germany, is skilful, smart and incredibly graceful — the perfect summer fling of a playmaker. Expect some transfer buzz around the 20-year-old.

Kay: Johan Manzambi is a 20-year-old Swiss midfielder who caught the eye during Freiburg’s run to the Europa League final, and has the kind of skill set that could really stand out.

Horncastle: Carl name-checked him earlier: Alajbegovic. I was in Zenica for Bosnia’s play-off final against Italy. When the 18-year-old came on, he glided about the pitch and played with a rare elegance.

Tenorio: If we go with a USMNT tilt, it could be Folarin Balogun. The 24-year-old had 13 goals for Monaco in France’s Ligue 1 this season and another five in the Champions League. If he bangs in goals for the U.S., maybe it will draw Premier League interest for the Arsenal academy graduate.

Kloke: Again, you’re reading my answers because you want to learn about the Canadian side. So it has to be 20-year-old centre-back Luc de Fougerolles. Right, I can hear you: who? The Fulham academy graduate was on loan to Belgium’s Dender last season. Canada’s back line has been hit by injuries and their coaching staff started him in the Copa America third-place game when he was still a teenager and had played just one (one!) professional club game.

Griffin: Liverpool will be wise to sign Diomande before he pops off at this World Cup. The Leipzig winger dazzled against France in Ivory Coast’s friendly win last week, and his stock will continue to rise.

Anzidei: Seconding Felipe with Bajraktarevic. As heartbroken as I was after Italy’s catastrophic failure to qualify for the World Cup (yet again), the 21-year-old scored the match-winning penalty with such ease on the world’s biggest stage. Given his Wisconsin roots, I can see him becoming a darling of sorts among American fans and casuals.

Bushnell: Oli’s shout for Manzambi is a good one. Another is Jordan Bos, the 23-year-old Australian left-back who was excellent for Feyenoord this season. He’s going to turn heads with his defending and his attacking.

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The game I cannot wait to watch

Burke: France vs Senegal. I’m hoping for a repeat of one of the World Cup’s greatest giant-killings, when Senegal beat the defending champions and their former colonial rulers 1-0 in the first game of the 2002 finals.

Cardenas: Colombia vs Portugal. The sea of yellow at Hard Rock Stadium. Luis Diaz and Colombia’s flair versus Portugal’s ball-dominant attack. The winner of Group K will be on the line. The loser will likely face a daunting path to the semifinals.

Anka: My parents are Ghanaian. I was born in London. Felipe will attest to how happy I was when Group L was finalised. I regret not buying tickets for the ‘Danny Welbeck Derby’ on June 23.

Lang: Mexico vs South Africa. The U.S. is hosting most of this World Cup’s matches, but its southern neighbour gets the tournament up and running. The Azteca, 1pm local time, the colour and vibrancy of the Mexican support, the travelling South African fans… I cannot foresee the atmosphere being anything less than incredible.

Kay: My first one: Argentina vs Algeria in Kansas City on June 16. It’s my first opportunity to watch Messi in the flesh since he left Europe for Inter Miami three years ago. And there’s always the feeling that the holders are vulnerable in their first game — as Argentina (beaten by Belgium in 1982 and Cameroon in 1990) know well.

Horncastle: I can’t wait for Brazil-Scotland in Miami. Less as a re-run of the tournament’s opening game from 1998, more for the prospect of Scott McTominay adding to his aura. His role in Napoli’s scudetto last year and spectacular goal against Denmark have elevated the 29-year-old. I would love it if McTominay produced one of the moments of this World Cup.

Tenorio: Colombia-Portugal. It’s going to be an insane atmosphere in Miami and it sets up well for some entertaining soccer.

Kloke: Germany-Ivory Coast in Toronto. My grandparents came over on a boat from Germany generations ago and instilled a fandom for their national team that hasn’t left the family. So much so that my seven-year-old son will be going to his first World Cup game to watch Germany. My grown man’s eyes get wide just thinking and talking about it. I’m choosing to pierce through all the ugly noise that surrounds the tournament and remember what it’s like watching your first World Cup as a child. What a rush. Maybe something happens during the game and he’ll latch onto the sport and tournament for good. It happened to most of us once. It’s a good, and pure, feeling while it lasts. It’s too soon to spoil it for him.

Griffin: Brazil and Haiti are playing on Juneteenth. If you know, you know.

Anzidei: The final. No matter who is in it. East Rutherford is my hometown – and whether I’m watching from my place and hearing the sounds of the match from down the road, or lucky enough to be inside the stadium, it will be a monumental moment in the history of my small town. All because of the sport I’ve loved my whole life. I hope the area around the stadium comes alive after that final whistle. I’ll certainly be there, soaking it all in.

Bushnell: Iran in Los Angeles (against both New Zealand and Belgium). It’s going to be an incredible spectacle, in so many ways.