By Nathaniel Flowers.
With the FIFA World Cup right around the corner (yes, it’s in the winter this year), billions of football fans will be tuning in to watch their teams attempt to win the coveted Jules Rimet Trophy. The event’s abnormal timing is due to the host nation Qatar’s unplayable summer weather, as temperatures can rise to as high as 106 degrees Fahrenheit. The temperatures during the winter period are suited to that of a typical football match, with an average range of 66 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. This year’s competition is headlined by stars Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal), Lionel Messi (Argentina), and Neymar Jr. (Brazil) as they all attempt to achieve glory in what is likely their last World Cup. In total, 32 nations from 6 different continents will send arguably their best squads in hopes of lifting the trophy come December 18. The tournament starts with the group stage, where teams play a round-robin against other nations in which they have been drawn together. The top two teams from each group then reach the single-game knockout stages, the same format as NCAA’s March Madness. This year’s competition will be viewed by an estimated 5 billion people (FIFA), with the stakes higher than ever before.
Group A: Qatar, Ecuador, Senegal, Netherlands
Host nation Qatar will attempt to put on a performance similar to 2018 host nation Russia, who reached the quarter-finals, but first must overcome African champions Senegal and the Netherlands. Coming off an exhilarating win in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), defender and captain Kalidou Koulibaly and dangerous forward Sadio Mané will look to become the first African team to win the World Cup. The Dutch will also contend to come out of this stage at the top of their group, led by defender Virgil van Dijk and a strong midfield headlined by Barcelona player Frenkie de Jong. Ecuador is a team both young and old, and is set to challenge the group favorites with the likes of Frederico Valverde and seasoned veteran Edinson Cavani. Both Ecuador and Qatar will struggle against these two squads, as their squads likely cannot compete with the African and European giants. Will we see Qatar write a story akin to Russia’s 2018 squad? Most likely not, but the host nation can dream.
Prediction:
Winners: Netherlands
Runners-up: Senegal
Group B: England, IR Iran, USA, and Wales
Expect to see (and hear) English fans sing popular anthem Football’s Coming Home as they cheer on their beloved Three Lions in hopes of winning their first World Cup since 1966. While they may be seen as a possible favorite since their heartbreaking penalty shootout loss in the European Championship, manager Gareth Southgate’s squad has struggled since. Many fans believe that Southgate is incapable of bringing the best possible squad to Qatar, as it seems that he cannot move on certain players, such as Manchester United defender Harry Maguire and Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount in spite of their recent subpar performances. There will be many players deserving of a spot not making the trip, but England will still bring a strong squad with veteran striker Harry Kane leading the pack. Wales looks to spoil their British counterpart’s party as MLS star Gareth Bale will play in what could possibly be his last World Cup. The Dragons beat a solid Ukrainian squad to secure the last European spot and will compete for second place in the group alongside the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America. Seeing the USA in the World Cup might come as a surprise to many Americans as their last appearance in the competition was 8 years ago. However, this could be the strongest squad yet from the stripes and stars, as the team will be composed of players who play in Europe’s top leagues. Star Christian Pulisic, lovingly known both as “Captain America” and “The Lebron James of Soccer”, alongside Weston Mckennie and Giovanni Reyna will look to put on a show for their country where overall interest in football is on the rise. However, recent form must be looked at as the USA scored no goals in a loss against Japan and a draw with Saudi Arabia (international friendly matches). Asia’s top-ranked team, Iran, will put up a battle against the American and Welsh sides and are not to be overlooked.
Prediction:
Winners: England
Runners-up: USA
Group C: Argentina, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, and Poland
Lionel Messi, one of the greatest football players to ever live, will attempt to cement his legacy as the GOAT this winter as Argentina is playing to win. Fans around the world will cherish what will be his last few World Cup matches as the sun sets on his storied career. The Champions of South America will be bringing one of the world’s best squads in an attempt to disrupt the twenty-year pattern of European dominance. Argentina will likely breeze through their group, even with the likes of Polish superstar striker Robert Lewandowski standing in their way. Poland’s strongest aspect besides one of the world’s best strikers is their goalkeeping (Wojciech Szczęsny) and will find it difficult to compete with the well-rounded squads of Saudi Arabia and Mexico. El Tri, led by veteran keeper Manuel Ochoa, will look to overcome their recent tournament final losses to the United States and reach the knockout stages of the competition.
Prediction:
Winners: Argentina
Runners-up: Mexico
Group D: France, Australia, Denmark, and Tunisia
Shadowed by the reigning World Cup champions France, the rest of Group D will find competing with Les Bleus a colossal challenge. The world’s best players teamed up in 2018 to lift the trophy and are favorites to do it once again in 2022. Phenom forward Kylian Mbappé and Ballon d'Or winner Karim Benzema, who hasn’t played in a World Cup since 2014 due to a temporary ban, seek to become the first back-to-back winners since Brazil in 1958-1962. One of the most well-rounded squads will coast through the group stage, as the other nations will be fighting for second place. Denmark will look to add to Europe’s domination of the competition being the only other team in the group with talent from the continent’s top leagues as Christian Eriksen will play in his first major international competition since his heart scare in the 2021 European championships. Tunisia and Australia will be hoping for a miracle, as it is the only chance to reach the knockout stage.
Prediction:
Winners: France
Runners-up: Denmark
Group E: Spain, Costa Rica, Germany, and Japan
Group E will possess some of the most entertaining faceoffs in Qatar. The group contains European powerhouses Spain and Germany, nations that have both previously won the competition. Football fans will see their mouths water in the build-up to this fixture as both squads attempt to return to their glory days. Although Germany has proved itself in this competition time and time again, this youthful Spanish squad screams success. The developing Spanish midfield, led by Pedri and Rodri, resembles the same art and style performed by Andres Iniesta, Xavi, and Busquets, a midfield trio widely considered to be one of the best partnerships of all time. This style and technique of play performed by these young Spanish internationals is called “Tiki Taka” which translates to “give and go”. This method of play requires the team to move up the field through many quick short-distance passes. Although the group is overshadowed by Spain and Germany, Japan and Costa Rica offer a serious threat to the previous World Cup winners. During the international break, both Japan and Costa Rica managed to win against a dangerous-looking USMNT. The Japanese squad has seen a massive influx of top European league talent in recent years and will look to pull off a gargantuan upset alongside Costa Rica.
Prediction:
Winners: Germany
Runners-up: Spain
Group F: Belgium, Canada, Morocco, and Croatia
Group F shows a tough draw for Canada and Morocco, as 2018 finalists Croatia and semi-finalists Belgium look to go the extra step this year. Many consider this year to be Belgium’s last rays of its golden age, as experienced midfielder Kevin De Bruyne and striker Romelu Lukaku Bolingoli will have most likely started to reach the twilight of their careers by 2026. Croatia will also have lost key players by the next World Cup with captain Luka Modric set to retire from international football after this year’s competition. The two European teams are expected to dominate the Canadian and Moroccan sides due to a lack of overall skill and talent. However, if Canadian youngsters Alphonso Davies and Jonathan David manage to stay healthy, consider the North American team a dark horse if they pull off an upset and move past the group stage. Morocco wraps up the overall very strong Group F led by stars Achraf Hakimi and Hakim Ziyech. While being the #2 overall team in Africa, expect a medium performance from the Morraccans.
Prediction:
Winners: Belgium
Runners-up: Croatia
Group G: Brazil, Serbia, Switzerland, and Cameroon
Headed by #1-ranked Brazil, Group G’s runners-up is another coin toss. Brazil has shown time and time again just how strong they are, with the world’s best at nearly every position. Neymar Jr. and Real Madrid duo Vinicius Jr. and Rodrygo are a frightening sight for any defense and will assist Brazil in reaching the knockout stages seamlessly. Serbia, Switzerland, and Cameroon all have a shot at the group’s second-place spot, with the Swiss being the slight favorite of the three. Serbia missed out on the most recent European championships and will be hungry to prove themselves on the world’s biggest stage. Being the African team with the most World Cup qualifications, Cameroon looks to carry on their legacy and hope to fill in the shoes of their 1990 quarter-finalists, but certainly first must face the challenge in the group stage.
Prediction:
Winners: Brazil
Runners-up: Switzerland
Group H: Portugal, Ghana, Uruguay, and Korea Republic
Cristiano Ronaldo, arguably the best to ever play the sport alongside Messi, will too hope to get his hands on this year’s trophy. Supported by a very strong Portuguese team, Ronaldo will give his all in Qatar, doing whatever it takes to win. There is a high possibility that this will be his last World Cup, and due to his current struggles at Manchester United, this could be the last real competition he will play in. First, Portugal must overcome a solid Group H, with serious threats stemming from all other nations. Korea Republic, led by Heung-Min Son, will look to reach the knockout stages and follow up a relatively impressive 2018 campaign. The world stood at their televisions shocked as Korea defeated 2014 champions Germany and ended their hopes at a repeat. Ghana will also put up a fight in hopes of overcoming a very tough loss in 2010 at the hands (literally) of Luis Suarez and Uruguay. Expect a chippy match between the two teams as Ghana will be seeking their revenge.
Prediction:
Winners: Portugal
Runners-up: Ghana
This year’s World Cup has the potential to be the most entertaining one yet, indicated by the largest audience ever in addition to the talent. Many of the world’s best footballers will be giving their all as the sun sets on their storied careers. The sport will most likely see a spike in popularity, especially in the USA as there has never been an opportunity on the world’s biggest stage as good as this year’s. Fans from all over the globe will jump up and down with glee and fall to their knees in disappointment. Besides the wonderful matches being played, the World Cup offers a time for all fans to come together in a time where division is ever-increasing. The stakes have never been higher, and we cannot wait to see its offerings unfold before our very eyes.
Credits: Lucas Gorman
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