With the World Cup kicking off Thursday, this special edition of Five Things From the Week highlights five storylines to pay attention to throughout the tournament.
1. The host nations
The past four years have been up and down for all three of the tournament's co-hosts. They should all get to the knockout stage. Each of them has enough talent to reach the quarterfinals or beyond. Most of the key players for all three nations are in their prime. None of them are significantly better than the other two. One host will probably have a terrific tournament, another will likely come away massively disappointed. That's the first part.
There's also the Jesse Marsch of it all. Imagine the reaction if Mauricio Pochettino can't get the U.S. past the group stage and a guy from Racine, Wisconsin, whom U.S. Soccer passed on takes Canada to the quarterfinals. Likewise, what happens to Marsch’s reputation if Canada can't win a game and the other two hosts are in the round of 16? Host nations are always a fun story, but there is a whole different level of intrigue this time.
2. The superstars
This is likely the last World Cup for two of the greatest players the sport has ever seen. They are surrounded by two of the most talented squads in the tournament. Another favorite is led by Kylian Mbappé, the best player in the world whose reputation could really use a boost. Yet another is relying on a teenage superstar recovering from a hamstring injury. This is also Erling Haaland’s first major tournament. Then there's Harry Kane and England.
Those are just some of the players who could make this tournament theirs. Does Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo capture the world's attention one last time? Does Mbappé avenge his 2022 defeat and put himself in a class of his own? Does the man known for his inability to win trophies become the one to actually bring it home? Messi and Ronaldo’s inevitable decline has left the sport wide open, creating one of this summer's most fascinating storylines.
3. The expanded field
The combination of the expanded 48-team field and three host nations that automatically qualify has opened up an opportunity for countries with very little hope of making it in the old 32-team format. It also means that two-thirds of the teams will reach the knockout stage with the addition of a round of 32. That reality raises some interesting questions, specifically when it comes to the group stage.
Are the Caracaos, Jordans and Cabo Verdes able to be competitive? One win might be all they need. On the other end of the equation, do the favorites approach the group stage any differently? How much do they care about winning the group when it will likely result in a much more favorable matchup? Having third-place teams advance adds a new element that changes the calculus for everyone.
4. The potential breakout stars
At every World Cup, there is at least one young player who bursts onto the global stage with a great tournament. Think James Rodríguez in 2014. There are plenty of candidates worth paying attention to this summer. Türkiye teammates Arda Güler and Kanan Yildiz both fit the mold. Argentina midfielder Nico Paz is getting lots of attention too. So is Ivory Coast winger Yan Diomande, who just won Rookie of the Year in the Bundesliga.
Nico O’Reilly was fantastic for Manchester City and could play a crucial role for England. Rayan’s inclusion for Brazil was a topic of conversation, and Carlo Ancelotti clearly sees something in him. Antonio Nusa is another name to keep an eye on if Norway are able to make a deep run. One of the most underrated parts of major tournaments is getting to meet the next generation of stars.
5. The weather
Last summer’s Club World Cup was a trial run of sorts. From a weather standpoint, it did not go very well. There were lightning delays, teams sending their benches to the locker room to avoid the heat and the winning manager saying the U.S. was “not the right place” to hold the competition. Oh, and the World Meteorological Organization just sent a press release about preparing for an El Niño summer.
It's going to be hot. FIFA has already incited a water bottle controversy. Games are going to be delayed because of lightning. There isn't much room for flexibility in the schedule. One way or another, weather is going to be a story. The question is how much of a talking point it becomes. Last summer demonstrated the problems summer tournaments in the U.S. pose. It will probably be even worse this time around.