Day: March 2, 2026

What comes to mind when you think of the top men’s FIFA World Cup moments? It could be Diego Maradona carving through England’s defense for the Goal of the Century. Or, a legend like Pele or Lionel Messi raising the trophy up high into the sky. It could be something more controversial, like Cristiano Ronaldo’s wink after getting Wayne Rooney sent off. When the World Cup comes to North America this summer, we’ll be in store for many more moments. It remains to be seen if they’ll make the pantheon of the best. Until then, we’re counting down the most iconic, most controversial, most defining moments in men’s World Cup history. 2026 FIFA World Cup: How To Watch The World Cup will run from June 11–July 19, 2026. Spread across three countries, the tournament will culminate with the final on July 19 at New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. All 104 tournament matches will air live across FOX (70) and FS1 (34) with every match streaming live and on-demand within both the FOX One and the FOX Sports apps. A record 40 matches, more than one-third of the tournament, will air in prime time across FOX (21) and FS1 (19). [WHEN AND WHERE: Full Schedule for 2026 FIFA World Cup] Leading up to the 2026 World Cup, here’s our countdown of the 100 best men’s moments in history: No. 100: Pure Control, Pure Class, Pure Messi In 2018, the pressure on Lionel Messi was building. Argentina’s star captain had gone scoreless through two games, including a 3-0 loss to Croatia. He needed to do something against Nigeria. That’s when the Messi magic appeared. Argentina went on to win the game and advance. An unbelievable first touch from Lionel Messi that saved Argentina. And while La Albiceleste were eliminated by eventual champions France in the round of 16, Messi’s sublime goal was perhaps the best of the tournament. Until the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on June 11, FOX Sports is counting down the top 100 moments in tournament history. Check back every day for a new moment.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

As the biggest-ever edition of the global showcase, the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be the first tournament hosted by three countries — the United States, Mexico and Canada — with 48 teams competing across 16 host cities. Here’s what you need to know about the tournament: 2026 FIFA World Cup: How To Watch The World Cup will run from June 11–July 19, 2026. Spread across three countries, the tournament will culminate with the final on July 19 at New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. All 104 tournament matches will air live across FOX (70) and FS1 (34) with every match streaming live and on-demand within both the FOX One and the FOX Sports apps. A record 40 matches, more than one-third of the tournament, will air in prime time across FOX (21) and FS1 (19). [WHEN AND WHERE: Full Schedule for 2026 FIFA World Cup] Who Is Hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup? For the first time ever, there will be three countries hosting the World Cup — the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Only once in the tournament’s history have there been co-hosts, with the 2002 edition being held in South Korea and Japan. Eleven cities will be hosting the tournament in the U.S. including Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, New York/New Jersey, Philadelphia, Seattle and the San Francisco Bay Area. Canadian cities, Toronto and Vancouver, will also host games with three Mexican cities — Monterrey, Guadalajara and Mexico City — also included. For 2026, the majority of the 104 matches will be held in the U.S., with 78 games spread across 11 cities. Canada (two cities) and Mexico (three cities) will have 13 matches each. Where is the 2026 World Cup Final being played? The 2026 World Cup final will be played at New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The venue, which opened in 2010 and is also known as MetLife Stadium, is the home of two NFL teams — the New York Giants and New York Jets. The 2026 World Cup final will take place on Sunday, July 19 at 3 p.m. ET. What is the USA’s Schedule for the 2026 World Cup? Christian Pulisic and the United States now know their path to glory in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final after learning their group stage opponents, which stadiums they will play at and the times for the games. Which Teams Have Qualified for the 2026 World Cup? Of the 48 spots for the World Cup, 42 teams have qualified so far. The other six spots will be determined at the end of March via FIFA’s intercontinental playoff (two spots) and UEFA’s playoff (four spots) tournaments. The list of the qualified teams by their groups is as follows:​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Ready or not, here it comes. Only 100 days until the World Cup commences, and we’re in store for a tournament for the ages. And there will be plenty of attention on the United States men’s national team, who are one of the three tournament co-hosts alongside Canada and Mexico. There’s not much time left before the USA play their first match on June 12 against Paraguay in Los Angeles. And there are some big questions still to answer for USA coach Mauricio Pochettino. 2026 FIFA World Cup: How To Watch The World Cup will run from June 11–July 19, 2026. Spread across three countries, the tournament will culminate with the final on July 19 at New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. All 104 tournament matches will air live across FOX (70) and FS1 (34) with every match streaming live and on-demand within both the FOX One and the FOX Sports apps. A record 40 matches, more than one-third of the tournament, will air in prime time across FOX (21) and FS1 (19). [WHEN AND WHERE: Full Schedule for 2026 FIFA World Cup] Question No. 1 – USA’s World Cup Chances: How Far Can This Team Go? Don’t underestimate the power of playing at home. Back in 2002, World Cup co-hosts South Korea — which had never so much as survived group play at any previous edition — stunned the tournament by reaching the semifinals. But there’s also pressure when hosting the greatest sporting tournament on earth: Who can forget Brazil’s shocking 7-1 elimination by eventual champions Germany in 2014? Ahead of the World Cup, most pundits have the USA advancing no farther than the quarterfinals. That would both equal their best finish this century while also making some new history: now that the tournament has been expanded to 48 teams, the Americans must win two knockout games — something it has never done — just to reach the last eight. Their star coach, who has had stints at Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Tottenham Hotspur, has set the bar even higher. “We need to believe,” Pochettino said when he was hired in late 2024, “that we can win the World Cup.” Question No. 2 – USA’s World Cup Vibes: What Are They Right Now? When we last saw the USA play in November, they had just smashed two-time World Cup champions Uruguay in a friendly. That 5-1 victory was their third straight win and fourth in five games — all against 2026 World Cup participants — to close out the year. Optimism was rife. That’s exactly how the Americans want to feel when they kick off their 2026 World Cup campaign. – The 26: Who Makes the USA’s World Cup Roster? But building on those sky-high vibes could be tricky and there are some stern tests ahead. The USA will play two top-10 ranked teams in March, with Belgium and Portugal coming to Atlanta. Then it’s African champions Senegal in Charlotte on May 31 followed by Germany (another top-10 team) in Chicago on June 6 as the final preparation. Oh, all four teams will also be at the World Cup as well. Those stern tests should help the USA be at its best when the games get real. Win a combo of those four and confidence goes through the roof ahead of the actual World Cup opener on June 12 against Paraguay in Los Angeles. But that’s easier said than done. Question No. 3 – Christian Pulisic’s Health: Is There Concern? When the country’s most decorated attacking player asked Pochettino if he could skip last summer’s Concacaf Gold Cup — a request the fiery Argentine reluctantly granted — he said the break would help his body recover and allow him to perform at the height of his powers for this summer. Sure enough, Pulisic began AC Milan’s season in career-best form. But his production and playing time fell off a cliff in early 2026 as he dealt with bursitis and a lingering hamstring issue; Pulisic has started just three of the Rossoneri’s eight games since mid-January, with no goals or assists through the first two months of this calendar year. (Pulisic remains the club’s top scorer this season.) The good news is AC Milan manager Maxi Allegri said last week the American headliner is on the mend and “will definitely get back to scoring.” It’s safe to say that if the USA is to make a deep run this summer, it will depend on the status of its 27-year-old playmaker. Question No. 4 – What’s the USA’s Biggest Weakness? Every team has a weakness. For the USA heading into this World Cup, the biggest worries are regarding defense. Presumed starting goalkeeper Matt Freese, who plays for MLS side NYCFC, has made just 13 international appearances – all of them since last summer. That’s a far cry from the mid-2000s, when four grizzled Americans (Brad Friedel, Kasey Keller, Tim Howard, Brad Guzan) were Premier League regulars. The backline also has questions. Center back and captain Tim Ream, who plays for MLS club Charlotte FC, will turn 39 later this year. Fullback duo Antonee “Jedi” Robinson (who plays at Fulham) and Sergiño Dest (now at PSV) have missed significant portions of recent seasons following knee surgeries. If Pochettino plays with three central defenders, it’s still unclear who would join Ream and Crystal Palace star Chris Richards in the middle. For all his promise, Alex Freeman, the breakout young star of 2025 who now plays at Villarreal in Spain, still lacks experience. Add it up, and it’s fair to ask. Will the USA’s defense be up to the task this summer? Any successful run starts with preventing goals — something this team has struggled with at times last fall. In October, after the Americans came from behind to beat Australia — a team they’ll face again in Group D this summer — Pochettino was blunt. “[At] the World Cup,” he said following that 2-1 win. “You cannot concede that type of goal.” Question No. 5 – Pochettino’s Priorities: What’s the USA Coach Looking For? Toward the end of his roller coaster first full year in charge of the program in 2025, Pochettino began repeating a similar mantra. “We don’t need the best players,” he said, taking a page out of 1980 “Miracle on Ice” coach Herb Brooks. “We need the right players.” – How USA Hockey’s ‘Miracle on Ice’ Has Inspired Pochettino Where does that leave someone like Weston McKennie? The Juventus star has emerged as one of the best midfielders in Europe this season, but who has been called in just once since the USA lost to Canada and Panama in the Nations League finals last March? McKennie has probably played too well for Juventus not to summon and start this summer, but it’s worth remembering that Pochettino has preached camaraderie above all else. He’s reminded his so-called regulars — a term he made clear he “hates” — that no spots are guaranteed. “Culture eats strategy for breakfast,” is another of Pochettino’s favorite quotes. So, don’t be surprised if there’s a surprise or two when he drops his final 26-man World Cup roster in May.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

The United States men’s national team will play its first game at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in 100 days, and the debate over who should start at striker for Mauricio Pochettino against Paraguay isn’t close to being settled with Folarin Balogun and Ricardo Pepi trading goals every week. But for USA Soccer legend Brian McBride, the choice is clear. “I would start Flo, especially with the way that he’s been playing this year,” McBride said on Alexi Lalas’ “State of the Union.” “Form is a big thing, and if you’re playing, and you’re in-form, you just have that flow on the field. You’re not necessarily thinking, ‘Oh should I make that run?’ It’s a general thing that you get and you know. He’s got more of what we need than, say, Ricardo Pepi.” Balogun is in the midst of a bounce-back season with French club AS Monaco, recording 12 goals and four assists in all competitions this season, including five goals in the UEFA Champions League. The 24-year-old hasn’t had a season with more than 10 goals since the 2022-23 season, when he finished as one of the top scorers in Ligue 1 with 21 goals. Balogun has also started regularly contributing to the national team. After missing an entire year of international call-ups due to injuries, Balogun returned for the USA in September and made an instant impact, scoring three goals in his last five matches. The only reason Balogun isn’t a penciled-in starter for Pochettino is the person right on his tail: Ricardo Pepi. [WHEN AND WHERE: Full Schedule for 2026 FIFA World Cup] “Pepi is a great goalscorer and his movement is really good, and he’s been playing at a higher level,” McBride said. “It may hurt him that he comes off of the bench and scores goals. As a coach, you see that, and you’re like, ‘Wait a second, I can keep this as sort of a secret weapon.’” Only Pepi’s goal-scoring ability is not so much of a secret anymore. Coming off of yet another double-digit goal-scoring campaign for Dutch side PSV, Pepi has been linked with a move to the Premier League. Fulham made a $38 million transfer bid for Pepi during the January transfer window, but the deal ultimately didn’t come to fruition due to Fulham not being able to find a replacement striker in time. Fulham are still the heavy favorites to bring in Pepi this summer, and McBride sees the 23-year-old striker as a great fit for his former club. “I think it would be a good spot for him, I really do,” McBride said. “I know the club, and people there are amazing. The way that Fulham plays, you don’t ask a lot of your center forward. You have to hold the ball up every once in a while; definitely, if you can run in behind, that’s very helpful; teams tend to play a higher line against Fulham because sometimes we didn’t have that pace. “I think we’re getting there and turning the players around, and I think Ricardo can do that. He’s a willing runner, and he’s a great finisher.” Balogun and Pepi are both expected to be called up for the USA’s upcoming friendlies against Belgium and Portugal, which will be the final tuneups before Pochettino’s World Cup roster is set in May. The 2026 FIFA World Cup starts on June 11.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

When it comes to the U.S. men’s national team, there are plenty of players in the pool who fans are keeping regular tabs on. Beyond the best-friend trio of Christian Pulisic, Tyler Adams and Weston McKennie, there are other players who’ll be under the spotlight with only 100 days before the World Cup begins. USA manager Mauricio Pochettino will name his 26-man roster in May, and we’ll get a glimpse of what that looks like in a few weeks when the team convenes for training camp at the end of March. The window features two matches against European powers Belgium (March 28) and Portugal (March 31) in Atlanta, and Pochettino has notably said that the World Cup begins for his team in March. Between now and then – and really, up until Pochettino makes his final roster decision – there will be players to keep an eye on. How are they performing with their clubs? Are they healthy? How do they fit into Pochettino’s plans? The three players fit that bill and are worth monitoring between now and when the USA opens up World Cup play on June 12 against Paraguay: Folarin Balogun, Striker The USA has had a striker problem for years. There’s no Erling Haaland or Kylian Mbappe or Harry Kane or Cristiano Ronaldo in this player pool. That was an issue four years ago when former manager Gregg Berhalter brought three strikers to the World Cup in Qatar – Jesus Ferreira, Josh Sargent and Haji Wright. Only Wright scored a goal, and it was by accident in the round of 16 loss to the Netherlands. [WHEN AND WHERE: Full Schedule for 2026 FIFA World Cup] The U.S. has long been in search of a reliable, clinical finisher up top. Could Balogun be that guy this summer? Right now, he appears to be Pochettino’s top choice. In the “what have you done for me lately?” category, Balogun scored as Monaco beat Angers 2-0 in a Ligue 1 match on Saturday. He’s now scored four goals in his last four games for Monaco, bringing his total up to 12 across all competitions this season. Is he hitting his stride just in time to make his first World Cup roster? That seems to be the case for the 24-year-old, who has scored eight goals in 23 appearances for the USA. Antonee “Jedi” Robinson, Fullback Fans should be quite familiar with Jedi. He started every World Cup match four years ago at left back for the U.S., and has been a steady presence on the back line. He was considered the top left back in the Premier League last year as well. But the Fulham star has been hampered by injuries. First there was a knee issue, which required surgery and kept him out of the national team for nearly a year, including missing last summer’s Gold Cup.  He returned to the fold in October, but experienced another setback. He returned to Fulham in December, but has been on the bench recently while recovering from an ankle issue. Fulham head coach Marco Silva previously said he didn’t think Robinson’s ankle problem was serious, but we’ll see what this means in terms of playing for Pochettino in March. When Robinson has been out, Pochettino has relied on Columbus Crew’s Max Arfsten and Marseille’s Tim Weah at left wing back, so they may end up starting in his stead if he’s injured. Robinson’s health will be monitored under a microscope for the next several months because when he is fit, he’s one of the most important players Pochettino has in his pool. Matt Freese, Goalkeeper The goalkeeping situation is not 100% set, but Freese seems to have a leg up. He made his international debut last June ahead of the Gold Cup and started the USA’s final 12 games of 2025. He unseated Matt Turner, who was the starter for the Americans at the last World Cup, and hasn’t looked back. Now, Turner isn’t giving up on starting at this summer’s tournament. He’s going to keep doing everything possible to prove to Pochettino and his staff why he should be the starter. Plus, he moved back to MLS from the Premier League to get more consistent playing time and so far he’s getting it with the New England Revolution. But it’s hard to imagine Freese relinquishing his spot on top. He’s been consistent for the USA and for NYCFC, and Pochettino is a fan. But it will be interesting to watch the competition brew because you know Turner wants that spot back.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

From living legends to rising youngsters to non-stop goal machines. The 2026 FIFA World Cup is often defined by incredible individual performances, and we shouldn’t expect this summer to be any different. The 48-team World Cup will feature plenty of stars, and many more will emerge. But these are 10 players who we expect to take top billing. 2026 FIFA World Cup: How To Watch The World Cup will run from June 11–July 19, 2026. Spread across three countries, the tournament will culminate with the final on July 19 at New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. All 104 tournament matches will air live across FOX (70) and FS1 (34) with every match streaming live and on-demand within both the FOX One and the FOX Sports apps. A record 40 matches, more than one-third of the tournament, will air in prime time across FOX (21) and FS1 (19). [WHEN AND WHERE: Full Schedule for 2026 FIFA World Cup]Lamine Yamal, Forward, SpainAge: 18Club: Barcelona Out of all the stars that will light up soccer’s grandest stage this summer, perhaps there’s no more intriguing or exciting player than the 18-year-old Spanish winger. It’s Yamal’s first World Cup (of many more to come) and he has a chance to score a lot of goals and help La Roja win it all. — Laken Litman Cristiano Ronaldo, Striker, PortugalAge: 41Club: Al-Nassr FC This has to be Ronaldo’s last World Cup, right? We thought maybe the 2022 tournament in Qatar would be, but then he walked off the field in tears following Portugal’s quarterfinal loss to Morocco. So here we are: the 41-year-old superstar forward has already won everything he possibly can in this sport, except a World Cup trophy, and that’s his goal this summer. — Litman Kylian Mbappé, Striker, FranceAge: 27Club: Real Madrid Mbappé scored a hat trick in the 2022 World Cup final and France still lost to Leo Messi and Argentina in the most epic finish. Mbappé already has a World Cup trophy, winning it all in 2018, but Les Bleus’ captain is hungry and motivated for another. — Litman Ousmane Dembélé, Forward, FranceAge: 28Club: Paris Saint-Germain 2025 was a big year for Dembélé. The 28-year-old forward won a Champions League title with PSG and then took home the Ballon d’Or as the world’s best player. While he has a World Cup trophy on his resume (2018), like Mbappe, he wants another after coming so close four years ago in Qatar. — Litman Erling Haaland, Striker, NorwayAge: 25Club: Manchester City Despite his goal-scoring prowess and overall domination in the Premier League, we’ve never seen Haaland in an environment like the one he’ll be in this summer. The 2026 World Cup will not only be Haaland’s debut World Cup, but his first-ever major tournament. How far he’ll take Norway will be one of the more interesting storylines to follow. — Litman Lionel Messi, Forward, ArgentinaAge: 38Club: Inter Miami CF The GOAT hasn’t yet confirmed that he’ll lead Argentina’s World Cup title defense in the country he now plays his club soccer, but let’s be real: Although he’ll turn 39 three days before the Albicleleste’s group stage finale against Jordan in Arlington, Texas, Messi will be there. Barring serious injury, there’s no way the living legend won’t try to repeat as champs – something no team has done since Pele’s Brazil in 1962. — Doug McIntyre Harry Kane, Striker, EnglandAge: 32 Club: Bayern Munich England’s all-time top scorer led the 2018 World Cup in goals despite England’s semifinal elimination to Croatia. In 2022, the Three Lions captain missed a late penalty kick in the quarterfinals against France, ensuring that the country that invented the sport’s long World Cup drought would continue for at least another four years. Can Kane, now 32, finally help England’s men win their  first major title since 1966 this summer? — McIntyre Christian Pulisic, Forward/Winger, USAAge: 27Club: AC Milan Already considered the most gifted attacking player the U.S. has ever produced, Pulisic’s legacy will depend largely on how he performs at this World Cup on home soil this summer. At 27, the AC Milan star is just now entering his prime. He already has one tournament under his belt; in 2022, Pulisic scored the goal that beat Iran and sent the Americans to the round of 16. If the Americans are to last a little longer this summer, Puisic must lead the way. — McIntyre Vinícius Júnior, Forward, BrazilAge: 25Club: Real Madrid With Neymar Jr. having just come back from injury and no lock to make Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti’s squad, the polarizing Real Madrid star will be the face of the Seleção at this World Cup. Vini is more than capable of manning the role; the pacy winger remains one of the most electrifying forwards on Earth. — McIntyre Alphonso Davies, Fullback/Winger, CanadaAge: 25Club: Bayern Munich Still just 25, the best player in Canadian history will lead the co-hosts’ effort this summer. Davies is a legit star. The Vancouver Whitecaps product made FIFA’s year-ending Best XI as a teenager in 2020. He’s won the Champions League and FIFA Club World Cup and five Bundesliga titles, and he scored Les Rouges’ first ever World Cup goal at Qatar 2022. He’ll be looking for another first in Toronto and Vancouver this summer: Canada’s maiden World Cup win. — McIntyre​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

We’re pumped to see 48 teams, the largest field ever, at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. But some teams will carry a bit more buzz than others. From title favorites to teams under pressure. Dark horses to feel-good stories. These 12 teams will have some of the best storylines throughout the 2026 World Cup. 2026 FIFA World Cup: How To Watch The World Cup will run from June 11–July 19, 2026. Spread across three countries, the tournament will culminate with the final on July 19 at New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. [WHEN AND WHERE: Full Schedule for 2026 FIFA World Cup] All 104 tournament matches will air live across FOX (70) and FS1 (34) with every match streaming live and on-demand within both the FOX One and the FOX Sports apps. A record 40 matches, more than one-third of the tournament, will air in prime time across FOX (21) and FS1 (19). JUMP TO: Argentina | Brazil | Canada | Colombia | Curaçao | England | France | Mexico | Morocco | Portugal | Spain | USA Argentina Best World Cup Finish: Champions (1978, 1986, 2022) The defending World Cup champs want to become the first country to win consecutive titles since Brazil did it in 1958 and 1962. Can La Albiceleste do it? Well, they have the same manager in Lionel Scaloni, and you can never count out a team that’s led by Lionel Messi. And while their captain will turn 39 during the tournament, this is a deep and experienced group brimming with talent that knows how to win major tournaments (they also won back-to-back Copa América titles in 2021 and 2024). — Laken Litman Brazil Best World Cup Finish: Champions (1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002) The last two times Brazil went to a World Cup held in North America, it left with the trophy in hand. Yet the most successful country in World Cup history has now gone almost a quarter-century without adding a sixth star to its iconic yellow jerseys; the Seleção last sat at the summit of the planet’s most popular sport way back in 2002. This current 24-year drought matches the longest they’ve ever gone without hoisting a World Cup. In other words, they’re due. Brazil always has enough talent to win it all. Now it also has legendary Italian manager Carlo Ancelotti at the helm; the former Real Madrid boss is expected to provide a structure for Vinícius Júnior & Co. that helps their gifts shine bright on the biggest stage. If that happens, Brazil will be a tough out for any opponent this summer. — Doug McIntyre Canada Best World Cup Finish: Group Stage (1986, 2022) Four years ago, the Reds snapped a three-decade-plus World Cup drought by topping CONCACAF’s qualifying tournament and returning to the Greatest Show on Earth for the first time since 1986. And Canada played well in Qatar, despite losing all three of its games, including defeats against eventual 2022 semifinalists Croatia and Morocco. Now it’s hosting World Cup games on the men’s side for the first time, and the pressure to perform in front of favorable crowds in Toronto and Vancouver is different. Led by American coach Jesse Marsch, Canada will be looking not just to win a World Cup game for the first time but to advance to the knockout stage. Canada has a manageable first-round slate, even if Italy emerges from March’s UEFA playoff round and joins fellow Group B squads Qatar and Switzerland. And the Canadians have the players to do it, too, with captain Alphonso Davies and Juventus striker Jonathan David leading the way. — McIntyre Colombia Best World Cup Finish: Quarterfinals (2014) So what if Los Cafeteros didn’t even go to the last World Cup back in 2022? Four years later, Colombia could be one of the dark horses to make some serious noise this summer. The team finished South America’s World Cup qualifying tournament in third place, behind only Ecuador and defending world champion Argentina and ahead of five-time winner Brazil. The Colombians should get solid support for their first two group games, which will be played in Mexico. Meantime, the first round finale in Miami, where they’ll meet Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal, could feel like a home game given the huge ex-pat community in South Florida and Colombian fans’ willingness to travel in droves. — McIntyre Curaçao Best World Cup Finish: Will make debut in 2026 How can neutrals not love the Blue Wave’s remarkable story? In November, the Dutch territory became the smallest nation by both population (approximately 185,000) and geographic area to ever qualify for a World Cup. Just being there is a triumph for Curaçao, though the games could get ugly: Ecuador and four-time world champs Germany loom in the first round. The team also just saw coach Dick Advocaat (who managed the Netherlands at USA ’94) resign last week to care for his ill daughter. — McIntyre England Best World Cup Finish: Champions (1966) England is still looking for its first World Cup title since 1966. It seems to have the right kind of talent, depth and experience to make a run this summer. And now the Three Lions also have a Champions League winning manager in Thomas Tuchel to guide them. The stars will be out with players like captain Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka and Cole Palmer on the pitch, all of whom are tired of always falling short when it comes to winning major tournaments. England was drawn into a tricky Group L with Croatia, Ghana and Panama, so we’ll get an early look at what this squad is made of. — Litman France Best World Cup Finish: Champions (1998, 2018) Les Bleus won the World Cup in 2018 and lost the 2022 final — on penalties — to Lionel Messi and Argentina. What can France do for an encore this summer? With Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembélé and fellow star forward Kylian Mbappé leading Didier Deschamps’ attack, no wonder France is among the favorites to win the tournament outright this summer, just behind European rivals England and Spain. — McIntyre Mexico Best World Cup Finish: Quarterfinals (1970, 1986) Four years ago, Mexico failed to make it out of its group. To have the same result this time around on home soil would be disastrous, especially given its favorable draw. The previous two times a World Cup tournament has been on home soil, Mexico has reached the quarterfinals. El Tri is in Group A alongside South Korea, South Africa and the UEFA Playoff D winner. The reigning CONCACAF Nations League and Gold Cup champions have a lot of excitement surrounding the group, especially with 17-year-old Gilberto Mora looking to make a splash in his first World Cup. Expect veteran striker Raul Jimenez to rise to the occasion. — Litman Morocco Best World Cup Finish: Semifinals (2022) The Cinderella team of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Morocco was nearly everyone’s favorite story from four years ago when they became the first African and Arab nation to reach a World Cup semifinal, where they lost to France. The Atlas Lions are led by the same manager in Walid Regragui and returning talent. They lost to Senegal in a chaotic Africa Cup of Nations final in January, and will be motivated to prove themselves again this summer. Morocco was drawn into Group C alongside Brazil, Haiti and Scotland, which will make for some early intrigue. — Litman Portugal Best World Cup Finish: Semifinals (1966, 2006) Portugal has never won a World Cup, much less reached a World Cup final. Could this be the year? There was so much drama around the team four years ago when former manager Fernando Santos benched superstar Cristiano Ronaldo in Qatar. Now the team is coached by Spaniard Roberto Martinez, who led them to the 2024 Euro quarterfinal and 2025 Nations League championship, where his side defeated Spain in a penalty shootout. His relationship with the 41-year-old Ronaldo could dictate how things go for Portugal this summer. — Litman Spain Best World Cup Finish: Champions (2010) The reigning European champions are striving to win their first World Cup since 2010, and just second overall in the nation’s history. Four years ago, La Roja were knocked out in the round of 16 by Cinderella squad Morocco. This time Spain will be a tougher out with all the young attacking talent that litters this roster. From Lamine Yamal to Nico Williams to Pedri and more, this is a group that will keep getting better as these players get older, but they want to win now. — McIntyre USA Best World Cup Finish: Semifinals (1930) Playing a World Cup on home soil for the first time since 1994, the tournament co-hosts (along with Canada and Mexico) are hoping for a deep run this summer under highly regarded Argentine coach Mauricio Pochettino. The Americans’ best World Cup showing since the inaugural 1930 event – where the USA was ruled the third-place winner – was a quarterfinal trip in 2002. With the 2026 edition expanded to 48 nations, just equaling that feat would require winning an extra knockout stage match. That’s no easy feat. Still, this U.S. squad is widely considered the most talented ever, with legitimate European club stars such as AC Milan’s Christian Pulisic and Juventus’ Weston McKennie. The core that gained invaluable experience at Qatar 2022 is just now hitting its prime. Can the Americans make history? Pochettino, for his part, isn’t setting limits. “We should aspire to win it,” he said of this World Cup. “It’s important to think big.” — McIntyre​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will start in 100 days and even sooner than that, United States men’s national team coach Mauricio Pochettino will sit down and choose the 26 players he’s going to call up for the tournament. Trying to get into Pochettino’s head is dangerous, as I said before when he first started. For much of his first months, I did not see a method to the madness; now I’ve started to see more of the method, and I’m much more appreciative, optimistic and bullish about this team under Mauricio Pochettino. There are a few places where there are absolutely going to be questions, but as we are here today, 100 days out from the opening match and 101 days out from the group stage opener against Paraguay, this is the starting lineup I think Pochettino will roll out for the U.S. this summer. Goalkeeper: Matt Freese Whether that’s good or bad, you can tell us. Am I enamored with Matt Freese? Do I think he’s the best goalkeeper in U.S. history? Absolutely not — not even close, especially given our incredible history of quality goalkeepers. Is he world-class? He’s yet to show me that he’s world-class, but there’s nobody else right now that has had the consistency or confidence of Mauricio Pochettino more than Matt Freese. Defense: Chris Richards, Tim Ream. Miles Robinson Chris Richards, I think, is there in the pen and rightfully so. I do have Tim Ream in the back three, whether it’s on that left-hand side or a more central, distributing type of player in the middle. Then I have Miles Robinson. There’s a whole other slew of players out there that absolutely could go, and I think the differentiation between some of these players is minimal, but this is what it is. The only question would be whether Noahkai Banks is on the team, and if he’s on the team, I think he slots in here for a lot of people. But I think this is what Pochettino is going to go for. Midfield: Sergino Dest, Tyler Adams, Weston McKennie, Antonee Robinson On either side, I’m going to have the speedsters pushed up higher than maybe we’ve seen them in the past, when it comes to Sergino Dest on the right and Antonee Robinson on the left. Then we have Tyler Adams and Weston McKennie in the midfield — although Weston McKennie, especially given the way that he’s evolved, will kind of have carte blanche and will kind of interchange with one of the folks in the top three. Forwards: Christian Pulisic, Folarin Balogun, Malik Tillman Christian Pulisic is starting on the left, but he can go anywhere. Malik Tillman is kind of central but can go different places as long as he stays out of the way of Dest on that right-hand side and can interchange with a Weston McKennie, who I know likes to drift in late but also just likes to maraud, and I want to give him the opportunity to maraud and again, the incumbent up top is Flo Balogun.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports