The World Cup is almost here, and this year some games are being played in our own backyard at Levi Stadium in Santa Clara.
Teams worldwide have been competing to qualify for the 48-country tournament for the past couple of years. The first match will be played between Mexico and South Africa on June 11 in Mexico City.
This thrilling tournament is where all the best players in the world compete for the biggest trophy in sports while representing their country.
“The World Cup means excitement and seeing the best players, while they compete against some of the best teams in the world,” Cal High senior Addie Stockwell said.
Team USA automatically qualified for the tournament as one of the three host nations. Mexico and Canada are also hosting the month-long event.
USA will play in Group D, which includes Paraguay, Australia, and Turkey. The top two teams in each group advance to the knockout stage.
Team USA’s first game will be on June 12 against Paraguay at So-Fi Stadium in Los Angeles. In the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Team USA advanced as the second team in its group before losing to the Netherlands in the World cup’s 16 knockout stage game.
France and Spain are favored to win the World Cup this year, following by England, Brazil and defending champion Argentina.
In 2022, Lionel Messi helped Argentina win its first World Cup since 1986 by defeating France 4-2 in penalty kicks. Kylian Mbappe scored a hat trick for France in a game that was tied 3-3 after regulation and a 30-minute overtime.
Cal students believe the presence of Spain in this year’s World Cup will provide entertaining matches.
“One team that stands out to me the most is Spain,” junior JD Segura said. “Their team is so well rounded.”
Spain’s roster includes multiple talented athletes, such as Lamine Yamal, an 18-year-old forward who has been a dominant player since he joined the Spanish national team at age 16.
France is another team to expect to make a run at this year’s World Cup after winning it in 2018 and coming up just short in 2022.
“I think France has the best shot to win,” senior Justin Le said. “They have one of the most talented rosters in the World Cup.”
Mbappe, one of France’s star players, is arguably one of the best soccer players to ever play the sport, and he’s only 27. He teams up with Ballon d’Or recent winner Ousmane Dembele.
The World Cup group stage runs from June 11-27 as teams compete for a spot in the 32-team knockout stage, which begins June 28. The final will be played July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
Six games will be played in Santa Clara, including a round of 32 knockout stage game on July 1.
This is the largest World Cup in history after FIFA – international soccer’s governing body – increased the tournament from 32 countries to 48.
The World Cup was expanded to include more unrepresented teams, many of which can make an underdog run like Morocco did in 2022 where they lost in the semifinals to France.
Morocco has gotten fans hyped for this World Cup.
“I’m really excited to see Brazil vs Morocco in this World Cup,” freshman Jett McWilliams said.
