When the World Cup arrives at Lumen Field, starting on June 15, it will bring together some of the best athletes in the entire world under one roof. However, even among the best of the best, some shine more than others.
If you plan to watch or attend the upcoming games, but aren’t quite sure who’s worth paying attention to, this list can help you. We’re ranking all seven national teams who are confirmed for a Seattle visit. It’s worth saying that, though we did our research, this list is entirely subjective. If you have your own opinions that differ from ours, that’s great!
With that said, let’s begin:
#1: Belgium
We believe Belgium’s the best for one clear reason: experience. While one could knock this team for having too many veterans, they’re not showing signs of being past their prime. Kevin De Bruyne of Napoli is still an intellectually gifted midfielder capable of setting up miraculous passes and assists, even if his interest in the game is dwindling. Same goes for Romelu Lukaku, whose ability to produce scores remains unrivaled among Belgians.
Unlike others on the list, these older stars also have a strong, younger supporting cast they can rely on. The best example of this is Manchester’s Jérémy Doku, whose sheer, undeniable speed on the field makes him a formidable danger for opposing defenders.
Belgium isn’t perfect, and the experts have lingering questions about the team’s shallow talent on the defensive end. However, if anyone on this list is capable of hoisting the trophy when all’s said and done, the boys in black, yellow, and red have the best odds.
#2: Australia
The land down under has made it near the top of our pack! With a strong mix of stars like hardy goalkeeper Mathew Ryan and young wing shooter Nestory Irankunda, Australia has the necessary talent to punch above its weight. On its journey to qualification, for example, Australia had to tie and eventually defeat Japan, one of the best national teams in Asia.
Modern history suggests they’re on the rise. After flopping out of the group stage in 2014, Australia has successively gotten better with each outing, ultimately making it to the knockout stage in 2022 after a 16-year absence. They’ll almost certainly look to top themselves again this year, and they have a real chance of defeating the US, here in Seattle, on their way to it.
#3: US
As one of this year’s host nations and given, well, everything going on politically, there’s been a lot of discourse brewing over whether the US men’s team will be capable of finding success, almost a decade past failing to qualify for the 2018 games. If they really want to be taken seriously on the international scene, the moment is now to prove it.
Unfortunately, even with the resources of the richest nation on earth, the US can’t buy time. Head coach Mauricio Pochettino has only had two years to whip the team into shape, which is a high-pressure deadline by World Cup standards. The results, however, have been mixed. For every win, there’s a major loss, including a 5-2 shellacking by Belgium last March. There’s no feeling of momentum or progress, at least from the outside looking in.
The recent loss of sporting director Matt Crocker, as well as a consistent carousel of injuries from key players like Chris Richards, Miles Robinson, and John Tolkin, has forced the team to constantly scramble rather than refine their craft. Maybe the US team will find its spark once they're in front of home crowds, but friendlies haven’t always been a perfect metric for future success. Still, until proven otherwise, they remain dark horses to win it all.
#4: Egypt
Egypt has some clear strengths it can bet on. First, a generational talent in Mohamed “Mo” Salah, the Premier League phenom from Liverpool who brings exceptional goal-scoring wherever he goes. Outside of Europe, they also have seven players who all belong to Egyptian mainstay Al Ahly. There’s value in not just having great individual players but great teammates who can stay in sync with each other on the turf.
However, around World Cup years, the Egyptian team has historically fallen prone to their own weaknesses. They’ve only qualified three other times in history, and they’ve never even scratched the finals. With offensive force Omar Marmoush having an inconsistent off-year, supported by a largely so-so roster, there’s real doubt swirling around this team. Salah is incredible, but he can’t do it all.
#5: Iran
Putting aside all the wartime controversy (though it’s getting increasingly hard to do) and trusting that Iran will actually play in Seattle, we should still acknowledge that this team has a history of coming up short.
Iran can hold its own against bigger powers, but it’s been stuck in the group stage for decades because of an inability to score in the clutch. Its best wins have come from goals after the 90-minute mark, but those goals seemingly come once in a blue moon.
This time, however, Iran finds itself in an easier group than usual. If they can deliver against Egypt during this year’s Pride Game, they stand a fighting chance to proceed to the next round.
#6: Bosnia and Herzegovina
This Balkan nation recently defeated Italy in a penalty shootout, forcing them to miss a heartbreaking third straight World Cup. The loss went over horribly among Italians: the public wanted heads, journalists called the match an “apocalypse,” and the team’s leadership collapsed. Yikes…
Beyond crushing the dreams of a former European giant, there is unfortunately little else that’s memorable about Bosnia and Herzegovina. Star player Edin Dzeko is slowing down at age 40, and their outspoken coach, Sergej Barbarez, has little World Cup experience. They’re very unlikely to win it all, but as they’ve proved to Italy, they’re not to be underestimated.
#7: Qatar
You’d think that if you’re set to host the largest sporting event in the world, you’d be ready to compete in it. That’s not the case with Qatar. They flat out embarrassed themselves during their own 2022 World Cup, scoring only one goal across three games and ending up dead last in their own group stage.
Now four years on from their pratfall, I’m not convinced Qatar has fully wiped the pie off their face. They barely scraped their way into qualification, their captain is a 35-year-old who came out of retirement, and this is only their second World Cup appearance, ever.
The nation’s ambitious effort to be a contender in the World Cup is admirable. Their treatment of laborers and Queer people however, is much less so. If Qatar wants us to forget about its moral follies and simply focus on the team’s play, then they’ll need to prove themselves as one that’s actually worth watching.
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