Tuesday marked 100 days to go until the start of the FIFA World Cup, with the opening game set for Mexico City between co-host Mexico and South Africa on June 11. In addition to laying out the first edition of our Power Rankings, where our global reporters and experts voted for the top 15 contenders set to take part in this summer's competition, we're drilling deeper on the major nations and the three host nations.
Not only are we taking a first projection of their starting XIs based on form and fitness, but we are predicting their squads, formation and dissecting their strengths and weaknesses. After all, it's clear through this analysis that each of those countries expected to challenge for top honors this summer has a weakness somewhere on the pitch, so let this be a 10,000-foot view of how they're shaping up.
- World Cup 2026: Who are the faves with 100 days to go?
- Will Iran play at the World Cup? What we know, don't know so far
- State of the USMNT with 100 days until World Cup
Plenty will change over the coming weeks as players suffer injuries or new names emerge, but ESPN's writers have you covered with a first look (of many) and what you need to know.
JUMP TO: Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, England, France, Germany, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, Portugal, Senegal, Spain, USA
ARGENTINA
GROUP J
vs. Algeria (June 16, Kansas City)
vs. Austria (June 22, Dallas)
vs. Jordan (June 27, Dallas)
Projected squad: (Goalkeepers) Emiliano Martinez, Walter Benitez, Geronimo Rulli; (Defenders) Nahuel Molina, Cristian Romero, Lisandro Martinez, Nicolas Tagliafico, Valentin Barco, Gonzalo Montiel, Leonardo Balerdi, Nicolas Otamendi; (Midfielders) Alexis Mac Allister, Enzo Fernandez, Rodrigo De Paul, Leandro Paredes, Thiago Almada, Nico Paz; (Forwards) Lionel Messi, Lautaro Martinez, Julian Alvarez, Nico Gonzalez, Giuliano Simeone
Squad snapshot: Argentina enter the 2026 World Cup as defending champions and, of course, their big challenge is to remain at the top of world football. The fact that this will be the 38-year-old Lionel Messi's last appearance is an extra incentive to win the World Cup again, something no team has achieved in more than 60 years (Brazil, 1958 and 1962).
Argentina's strength lies in their solid foundation, having won the World Cup four years ago in Qatar 2022 and the past two Copa América tournaments. The weak point? Beyond that established starting XI, the rest of the squad presents more unknowns than certainties. This is especially true on defense, where options at full back are scarce, and in attack, with several promising forwards who are not yet guaranteed starting spots.
For this World Cup, coach Lionel Scaloni will have to make important decisions to ensure the generational change needed. With Ángel Di María gone, but Messi still the star, there will be room for new players to emerge, such as Valentín Barco, Franco Mastantuono and Nico Paz. -- Damian Didonato, ESPN Argentina
BELGIUM
GROUP G
vs. Egypt (June 15, Seattle)
vs. Iran (June 21, Los Angeles)
vs. New Zealand (June 26, Vancouver)
Projected squad: (Goalkeepers) Thibaut Courtois, Senne Lammens, Matz Sels; (Defenders) Arthur Theate, Maxim De Cuyper, Thomas Meunier, Zeno Debast, Brandon Mechele, Koni De Winter, Timothy Castagne, Wout Faes; (Midfielders) Youri Tielemans, Amadou Onana, Kevin De Bruyne, Axel Witsel, Hans Vanaken, Nicolas Raskin, Charles Vanhoutte, Diego Moreira; (Forwards) Jeremy Doku, Leandro Trossard, Romelu Lukaku, Lois Openda, Charles De Ketelaere, Dodi Lukebakio, Alexis Saelemaekers
Squad snapshot: On paper, at the time of writing, the Belgium team appears great. Coach Rudi Garcia has a little bit of everything at his disposal: the genius of Kevin De Bruyne, the strength of Romelu Lukaku, the best goalkeeper in the world in Thibaut Courtois, the Aston Villa double pivot (Youri Tielemans, Amadou Onana) and the trickery of Jeremy Doku. But in what shape will these players be? They have all had injuries this season, except Courtois. They could be fresh, but they could also be a bit rusty.
This is also Garcia's first tournament as an international head coach -- he's perhaps best-known for winning Ligue 1 with Lille in 2010-11 -- and he could struggle with the pressure and expectation. But there should be less pressure this time, as that seems to have disappeared once Eden Hazard retired after the last World Cup. This Belgium team are not among the favorites or even the underdogs, which could be a good thing for the team. A gentler group stage should help too. -- Julien Laurens
BRAZIL
GROUP C
vs. Morocco (June 13, New York/New Jersey)
vs. Haiti (June 19, Philadelphia)
vs. Scotland (June 24, Miami)
Projected squad: (Goalkeepers) Alisson, Ederson, Hugo Souza; (Defenders) Wesley França, Marquinhos, Gabriel Magalhães, Alex Sandro, Vanderson, Douglas Santos, Eder Militão, Alexandro Ribeiro, Danilo; (Midfielders) Casemiro, Bruno Guimarães, Andrey Santos, Ederson, Lucas Paquetá; (Forwards) Raphinha, Matheus Cunha, Vinicius Jr, Estevão, Gabriel Martinelli, Endrick, João Pedro, Neymar
Squad snapshot: Brazil are still racing against time to be ready for the World Cup. After a chaotic first three years of the tournament cycle, with two coaches fired (Fernando Diniz, Dorival Junior) during qualification, Carlo Ancelotti is doing everything he can to build a team capable of fighting for a sixth trophy. He has been in charge of the Seleção since last June, and what we've seen from him so far is a team built on the speed, technique and intelligent movement of its attacking players, without a traditional No. 9 as a reference point, and supported by a very strong midfield duo: Bruno Guimarães and returning veteran, Casemiro.
The big question is still around what role, if any, Neymar could play. Playing for Santos, the 34-year-old winger is trying to regain his best physical condition to be part of the squad, but since 2022 he hasn't really been fit enough for this kind of intensity or challenge. Ancelotti will give him a chance until the final call-up, but Brazil seem capable of moving forward without him, even if Rodrygo will miss out injured, with top players such as Raphinha, Vinicius Jr. and Estevão.
Although the team are not ready yet, Ancelotti has brought back confidence and also put the spotlight on himself. The main figure of the most successful national team in the world is now sitting on the bench -- and he speaks Italian. -- Gustavo Zupak, ESPN Brasil
CANADA
GROUP B
vs. UEFA A (June 12, Toronto)
vs. Qatar (June 18, Vancouver)
vs. Switzerland (June 24, Vancouver)
Projected squad: (Goalkeepers) Dayne St. Clair, Maxime Crepeau, Owen Goodman; (Defenders) Alphonso Davies, Moise Bombito, Derek Cornelius, Niko Sigur, Alistair Johnston, Richie Laryea, Zorhan Bassong, Luc de Fougerolles, Joel Waterman, Kamal Miller; (Midfielders) Mathieu Choiniere, Ali Ahmed, Stephen Eustaquio, Ismael Kone, Tajon Buchanan, Nathan Saliba, Marcelo Flores, Jacob Schaffelburg; (Forwards) Liam Millar, Jonathan David, Tani Oluwaseyi, Promise David, Cyle Larin
Squad snapshot: A strong core of players guided by world-class left back Alphonso Davies? Check. An XI that is almost entirely composed of players from European clubs? Check. Home-field advantage this summer? Check that one off as well. Recent success in the most recent regional competition? About that ...
Looking back at the 2025 Gold Cup, Canada were stunned after they fell to Guatemala in the quarterfinal stage. Granted, the favorites went down to 10 men during the knockout match, but that doesn't mean that the result hurt any less for head coach Jesse Marsch who lamented: "We've got to learn how to win the biggest moments." Though it's fair to point to that game as an anomaly, it would also be just as fair to highlight that days earlier, Canada also stumbled to a 1-1 draw against then-90th-ranked Curacao.
Not limited to just a couple of games and occasionally seen on a wider scale, an issue here is a lack of elite depth that can hinder Canada when needing to rotate midfield or defensive options. Even without one member in the backline, such as Moise Bombito or Davies, or Stephen Eustaquio in the midfield, things can crumble. The ability to include just Davies altogether, who could end up starting as a left winger, can make or break matches. Key figures in these areas also dealt with injury issues in the winter.
Credit should be given to Canada for significantly increasing the talent pool over the past few decades, but there's still work to be done beyond the core group. -- Cesar Hernandez
ENGLAND
GROUP L
vs. Croatia (June 17, Dallas)
vs. Ghana (June 23, Boston)
vs. Panama (June 27, New York/New Jersey)
Projected squad: (Goalkeepers) Jordan Pickford, Dean Henderson, Nick Pope; (Defenders) Nico O'Reilly, Ezri Konsa, Dan Burn, Tino Livramento, Marc Guehi, John Stones, Reece James, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Lewis Hall; (Midfielders) Elliot Anderson, Declan Rice, Jude Bellingham, Adam Wharton, Jordan Henderson, Morgan Rogers, Phil Foden, Cole Palmer; (Forwards) Anthony Gordon, Bukayo Saka, Marcus Rashford, Jarrod Bowen, Ollie Watkins, Harry Kane
Squad snapshot: England need to find only a little improvement to have a strong chance of ending a 60-year wait for a major international trophy. The FA hopes that Thomas Tuchel can provide it as an elite coach with a tactical acumen that many view as an upgrade on his respected predecessor Gareth Southgate.
The two obvious vulnerabilities in England's team are in defense and midfield. The run to the Euro 2024 final featured a series of dogged, but largely uninspired, performances as Southgate scrambled for an effective combination in central midfield. England have long lacked a No. 6 midfielder capable of dictating the tempo of a game and providing maturity in possession, but there are signs Elliot Anderson could be that player. The Nottingham Forest midfielder's emergence has been a feature of the Tuchel era, bringing composure and confidence to the base of England's engine room, but it remains to be seen whether he can translate that to the biggest stage of all.
England's center backs are not entirely convincing either, although Marc Guehi's move to Manchester City only furthers the idea he is developing into a top-class player, and so left back looks to be the biggest issue. Tuchel will have to choose between promising youngsters such as Nico O'Reilly and Lewis Hall, experienced but inconsistent options such as Luke Shaw or promising players struggling for game time such as Arsenal's Myles Lewis-Skelly.
England's strength is in attack with a rich array of options and one of the best No. 9s in world football. Harry Kane will lead the line, while Tuchel has sometimes favored Morgan Rogers' all-round contribution over the star power of Jude Bellingham in the No. 10 position. Fitting in Phil Foden, Cole Palmer, Bukayo Saka and several other strong candidates to start is Tuchel's task. He must succeed where Southgate came up just short in forging a clear identity that maximizes the individual talent at his disposal. -- James Olley
FRANCE
GROUP I
vs. Senegal (June 16, New York/New Jersey)
vs. FIFA 2 (June 22, Philadelphia)
vs. Norway (June 26, Boston)
Projected squad: (Goalkeepers) Mike Maignan, Brice Samba, Robin Risser; (Defenders) Jules Kounde, William Saliba, Dayot Upamecano, Lucas Digne, Malo Gusto, Ibrahima Konate, Lucas Hernandez, Wesley Fofana, Theo Hernandez; (Midfielders) Manu Kone, Aurelien Tchouameni, Adrien Rabiot, N'Golo Kante, Warren Zaire-Emery, Eduardo Camavinga; (Forwards) Ousmane Dembele, Desire Doue, Kylian Mbappe, Michael Olise, Rayan Cherki, Hugo Ekitike, Bradley Barcola, Marcus Thuram
Squad snapshot: For his final tournament as France coach, Didier Deschamps has finally decided to take the handbrake off and play beyond his usual conservatism and defensive 4-3-3 formation. It worked incredibly well for him through his 14 years at the helm of Les Bleus (2018 World Cup win, 2022 World Cup final, Euro 2016 final, Euro 2024 semifinal) and now he has everything he'll need to go out on a high note.
The depth of his team, especially in attacking positions, is incredible. Just take the front four, for example. Deschamps has six incredible talents to pick from: Ousmane Dembélé, Kylian Mbappé and Michael Olise are guaranteed to start. Then, Rayan Cherki, Bradley Barcola and Désiré Doué will fight for the last spot.
There is a good mix of experience and versatility in Deschamps' likely midfield options, but the fullback positions are perhaps where this team is weakest. Jules Koundé at right back and Lucas Digne at left back are not having great seasons individually with Barcelona and Aston Villa. Though I expect them to start for France this summer, they could well be targeted by opponents. -- Laurens
GERMANY
GROUP E
vs. Curacao (June 14, Houston)
vs. Ivory Coast (June 20, Toronto)
vs. Ecuador (June 25, New York/New Jersey)
Projected squad: (Goalkeepers) Oliver Baumann, Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Alexander Nubel; (Defenders) Joshua Kimmich, Jonathan Tah, Nico Schlotterbeck, David Raum, Malick Thiaw, Waldemar Anton, Ridle Baku, Antonio Rudiger, Maximilian Mittelstadt; (Midfielders) Aleksandar Pavlovic, Leon Goretzka, Angelo Stiller, Felix Nmecha, Florian Wirtz, Jamal Musiala, Lennart Karl; (Forwards) Serge Gnabry, Kai Havertz, Leroy Sane, Deniz Undav, Karim Adeyemi, Nick Woltemade, Jonathan Burkardt
Squad snapshot: The above is my educated guess at predicting the future, but there are a ton of questions. Marc-Andre ter Stegen is the best of the bunch between the posts, but after another injury he needs to prove between now and the end of the season that he's fit and productive. If he falls short, his slot could go to Jonas Urbig.
Joshua Kimmich would ideally be playing in midfield, but he has been playing right back for Germany. Carrying five center backs in the 26-man squad sounds like a lot, but it gives head coach Julian Nagelsmann the option of switching to a back three if necessary. In midfield, you'd imagine Robert Andrich might be in contention to start if he wants an extra ball-winner. (He doesn't seem to be a big fan of Angelo Stiller for that role, at least not right now.) In the front four, if Jamal Musiala and Kai Havertz prove their fitness they go straight into the starting XI; if not, there are options, with teenager Lennart Karl the ultimate wildcard of this group.
There's depth in central defense (you can chuck Yann Bisseck and Thilo Kehrer in there too) and in attacking midfield, where the combination of Musiala and Florian Wirtz, on paper, looks as good as any. Yet the center forward position is an enigma. Havertz isn't a real No. 9 striker and has started two league games over the past 13 months; meanwhile, alternatives such as Deniz Undav, Jonathan Burkardt and Niclas Füllkrug (the latter whom I don't think will make the cut) are suboptimal. Central midfield is also light, unless Nagelsmann moves Kimmich there and leaves a gaping hole at right back instead. -- Gab Marcotti
MEXICO
GROUP A
vs. South Africa (June 11, Mexico City)
vs. South Korea (June 18, Guadalajara)
vs. UEFA D (June 24, Mexico City)
Projected squad: (Goalkeepers) Guillermo Ochoa, Raúl Rangel, Luis Ángel Malagón; (Defenders) Richy Ledezma, Julián Araujo, Johan Vásquez, Luis Reyes, César Montes, Everardo López, Jesús Gallardo, Mateo Chávez; (Midfielders) Marcel Ruíz, Gilberto Mora, Erik Lira, Edson Álvarez, Orbelín Pineda, Luis Romo, Obed Vargas, Álvaro Fidalgo; (Forwards) Roberto Alvarado, Diego Lainez, Raúl Jiménez, Santi Giménez, Armando González, Alexis Vega, Julián Quiñones
Squad snapshot: Mexico are preparing to host a World Cup for the third time, their first as co-hosts with the United States and Canada. Since their hosting duties were confirmed, Mexico (and coach Javier Aguirre) have had over 30 matches to figure out which 26 players will represent the country at the World Cup. El Tri's main strength is in midfield, which includes players from Real Betis (Álvaro Fidalgo) and Atlético Madrid (Obed Vargas), as well as promising youngster Gilberto Mora and captain Edson Álvarez.
The weaknesses are in attack and defense. On defense, Mexico struggled to find reliable right backs; Julián Araujo (Celtic) and Richy Ledezma (Chivas) are the players who have shown the best form and hope to dispel Aguirre's doubts about quality depth. Elsewhere in the backline, Aguirre has a good central defensive pair to call upon, only there are no great replacements for Johan Vásquez or César Montes should one, or both, be injured. This has led Aguirre to experiment with a five-man defense.
The attack features Mexico's best player: Raúl Jiménez. Roberto Alvarado is clearly the starter on the right wing, though Aguirre has had trouble figuring out who starts on the left. Alexis Vega is expected to take the role, but there are doubts about backup options, with César Huerta injured and Hirving Lozano now without a club after ending things early in San Diego. Julián Quiñones, who has performed well in Saudi Arabia, hasn't convinced Aguirre of his quality, and time is running out to make a good impression. -- Eduardo Sanchez, ESPN Mexico
MOROCCO
GROUP C
vs. Brazil (June 13, New York/New Jersey)
vs. Scotland (June 19, Boston)
vs. Haiti (June 24, Atlanta)
Projected squad: (Goalkeepers) Yassine Bounou, Munir Mohamedi, El Mehdi Al Harrar; (Defenders) Achraf Hakimi, Romain Saiss, Nayef Aguerd, Noussair Mazraoui, Mohamed Chibi, Jawad El Yamiq, Abdelhamid Ait Boudlal, Anass Salah-Eddine, Youssef Belammari, Adam Masina; (Midfielders) Neil El Aynaoui, Azzedine Ounahi, Ismael Saibari, Sofyan Amrabat, Bilal El Khannouss, Oussama Targhalline; (Forwards) Brahim Diaz, Ayoub El Kaabi, Abde Ezzalzouli, Ilias Akhomach, Chemsidine Taibi, Youssef En-Nesryi, Eliesse Ben Seghir
Squad snapshot: Despite the failure to win the Africa Cup of Nations, after a chaotic and controversial final defeat to Senegal in Rabat, there are many positives that Morocco can take from that tournament run as they look to build on a semifinal showing at the last World Cup. Morocco entered the AFCON on the back of a long unbeaten run, and gave up only one goal -- on a penalty kick -- before extra time of the final, despite being without their best player, Achraf Hakimi, until his return during the knockout rounds, following a long-term injury in the run-up to the competition.
The strength in depth is impressive, although Lille forward Hamza Igamane underwent knee surgery after sustaining an ACL tear during the final and will sit out the rest of the season, while Azzedine Ounahi has not played since sustaining an injury midway through the tournament.
Ounahi had been identified as the team's metronome by under-pressure coach Walid Regragui -- he now looks likely to hold onto his post until the World Cup -- and Morocco are a much less fluid proposition with the Girona playmaker ruled out by injury. He has yet to return to training, and it remains to be seen how many minutes he'll be able to get under his belt before the World Cup.
Veteran midfielder Sofyan Amrabat and reserve goalkeeper Munir Mohamedi have both undergone surgery since the AFCON, but are expected to return in time, and No. 1 Yacine Bounou and Romain Saiss are currently back in action after their own injury concerns. -- Ed Dove, ESPN Africa
NETHERLANDS
GROUP F
vs. Japan (June 14, Dallas)
vs. UEFA B (June 20, Houston)
vs. Tunisia (June 25, Kansas City)
Projected squad: (Goalkeepers) Bart Verbruggen, Robin Roefs, Mark Flekken; (Defenders) Denzel Dumfries, Jurrien Timber, Virgil van Dijk, Micky van de Ven, Nathan Ake, Lutsharel Geertruida, Jeremy Frimpong, Jan Paul van Hecke; (Midfielders) Ryan Gravenberch, Frenkie de Jong, Tijjani Reijnders, Xavi Simons, Jerdy Schouten, Teun Koopmeiners, Luciano Valente, Quinten Timber; (Forwards) Donyell Malen, Memphis Depay, Cody Gakpo, Noa Lang, Emmanuel Emegha, Justin Kluivert, Brian Brobbey
Squad snapshot: The core of the squad is largely settled, but a handful of spots remain up for debate as head coach Ronald Koeman weighs his options. Starting in goal, Bart Verbruggen has been Koeman's steady No. 1 in recent years, and Robin Roefs' impressive form at Sunderland doesn't look set to change that as the World Cup approaches.
Defense is team's strongest unit. Captain Virgil van Dijk is the only guaranteed starter, and Jurriën Timber, Matthijs de Ligt and Jan Paul van Hecke are competing to partner him in central defense. Stefan de Vrij remains an experienced option, but he is not getting much playing time at Inter Milan these days and it could limit his ability to contribute. At right back, Denzel Dumfries is a near-automatic pick when fit. On the left, Nathan Aké's recent injury issues have allowed Micky van de Ven to push for a starting role instead.
In midfield, Frenkie de Jong is indispensable as he sets the tempo from deep. He has often been paired with Ryan Gravenberch, whose energy and control adds drive from midfield. Tijjani Reijnders is the leading contender for the attacking midfield role, especially with Justin Kluivert sidelined, and his versatility offers tactical flexibility. Xavi Simons is also an option for the No. 10 role, showing in the Euro 2024 semifinal against England that he is more than capable of thriving in that position.
Right wing is still up for grabs, with Simons, Jeremie Frimpong and Donyell Malen all in contention, though Malen's form gives him the edge. Cody Gakpo looks set to start on the left, while all-time top scorer Memphis Depay is expected to lead the line. -- Alain van Hilten, ESPN Netherlands
PORTUGAL
GROUP K
vs. FIFA 1 (June 17, Houston)
vs. Uzbekistan (June 23, Houston)
vs. Colombia (June 27, Miami)
Projected squad: (Goalkeepers) Diogo Costa, Jose Sa, Rui Silva; (Defenders) Diogo Dalot, Renato Veiga, Ruben Dias, Matheus Nunes, Nuno Mendes, Antonio Silva, Goncalo Inacio, Joao Cancelo; (Midfielders) Vitinha, Ruben Neves, Bernardo Silva, Bruno Fernandes, Joao Neves, Joao Palhinha, Pedro Goncalves; (Forwards) Cristiano Ronaldo, Rafael Leao, Francisco Conceicao, Joao Felix, Francisco Trincao, Goncalo Ramos, Carlos Forbs, Pedro Neto
Squad snapshot: At 41 years old, this will be Cristiano Ronaldo's last big tournament with his country and he will be both a strength and weakness. Winning a first World Cup for Portugal would be an incredible fairytale ending for one of the greatest in the sport. Many will want him to achieve that, and with the talent, depth, youth and experience in this squad, some of the world's best players in their positions (Nuno Mendes, Bruno Fernandes, Vitinha to name just three) can make it happen.
But Ronaldo could also be a problem, as we saw in Portugal's last two big competitions where the Al Nassr striker didn't score a goal. Might they be better with him starting on the bench? Only time will tell, but if Ronaldo becomes a hindrance, will head coach Roberto Martinez drop him?
The pressure is huge on Martinez. He couldn't win anything with Belgium's golden generation and now he has to deliver with Portugal's wonder generation. Can he take the heat? -- Laurens
SENEGAL
GROUP I
vs. France (June 16, New York/New Jersey)
vs. Norway (June 22, New York/New Jersey)
vs. FIFA 2 (June 26, Toronto)
Projected squad: (Goalkeepers) Edouard Mendy, Mori Diaw, Yehvan Diouf; (Defenders) Krepin Diatta, Kalidou Koulibaly, Moussa Niakhate, El Hadji Diouf, Mamadou Sarr, Abdoulaye Seck, Ismail Jakobs, Antoine Mendy; (Midfielders) Idrissa Gueye, Habib Diarra, Pape Gueye, Iliman Ndiaye, Pathe Ciss, Lamine Camara, Pape Matar Sarr, Ismaila Sarr, Mamadou Camara; (Forwards) Cherif Ndiaye, Sadio Mane, Nicolas Jackson, Boulaye Dia, Habib Diallo, Ibrahim Mbaye
Squad snapshot: Senegal will be approaching the World Cup with momentum on their side after a strong AFCON, culminating in a second continental crown despite some horrendous scenes during that astonishing final.
Defensively, Senegal conceded just twice across seven AFCON matches, but concerns were raised about the performances of skipper and veteran center back Kalidou Koulibaly, who appeared jittery and off the pace during the tournament, receiving two red cards and sitting out the final because of suspension. Considering Senegal will be up against the likes of Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland in the group stage, head coach Pape Thiaw might have to find a way to compensate for the declining 34-year-old, who will surely start if he is healthy despite his frailties.
The midfield is functional and muscular without boasting too many extra dimensions, although it should be boosted by the strength in depth afforded by Pape Matar Sarr and Habib Diarra, both of whom sat out some of the AFCON because of injury and suspension. Iliman Ndiaye and Ismaila Sarr shared minutes during the Nations Cup -- a testament to Senegal's strength in the final third -- while talented youngster Ibrahim Mbaye should be the X factor off the bench, particularly if veteran Sadio Mane's minutes need to be managed. -- Ed Dove
SPAIN
GROUP H
vs. Cape Verde (June 15, Atlanta)
vs. Saudi Arabia (June 21, Atlanta)
vs. Uruguay (June 26, Guadalajara)
Projected squad: (Goalkeepers) Unai Simón, David Raya, Joan García; (Defenders) Pedro Porro, Dani Carvajal, Marcos Llorente, Dean Huijsen, Pau Cubarsí, Robin Le Normand, Aymeric Laporte, Eric García, Marc Cucurella, Alejandro Grimaldo; (Midfielders) Martín Zubimendi, Rodri, Fabián Ruiz, Pedri, Dani Olmo, Álex Baena, Fermín López, Pablo Barrios; (Forwards) Nico Williams, Lamine Yamal, Mikel Oyarzabal, Ferran Torres, Borja Iglesias
Squad snapshot: For most international sides, losing a midfielder like Rodri -- who could well be back to his best by the finals, for what it's worth -- would represent a major setback. But Spain showed in the Euro 2024 final that the system outweighs any individual. Martin Zubimendi replaced him at half time, the structure remained intact, and England were dispatched.
Every player in contention for La Roja's squad this summer is so technically accomplished and attuned to the team's identity that personnel changes rarely feel disruptive. That is not true for many national teams, which often try to force gifted individuals into ill-fitting roles simply to accommodate big names. While that clearly defined style had drawn criticism in recent years, at times appearing labored or predictable in the final third, these days they boast genuine unpredictability and flair in 18-year-old winger Lamine Yamal -- a player with the potential to be one of the tournament's stars. -- Sam Marsden
But take a look at that back four, and the concerns about Spain become abundantly clear. Dani Carvajal, a regular starter for a decade, has barely played for Real Madrid this season. If that continues, it's hard to imagine him starting; so then it's Pedro Porro, a less reliable deputy. At center back, it's anyone's guess. Coach Luis de la Fuente's first-choice pairing has been Robin Le Normand and Aymeric Laporte, but Le Normand is now a sub at Atletico Madrid, and Laporte has been in and out at Athletic Club. Meanwhile, Dean Huijsen has had a disappointing season, and Pau Cubarsí hasn't been at his best either. What will De la Fuente do? The best defender in LaLiga has arguably been Eric García. Should he start instead? Good luck sorting this one out.
Overall, the worry is about a lack of senior players in the XI. We've mentioned Carvajal, but there's also Rodri -- slowly regaining his form at Manchester City, but displaced by Zubimendi for now -- and Álvaro Morata, the Euro 2024-winning captain, who's unlikely to make the squad. And don't forget the widely respected Mikel Merino, Spain's six-goal joint-top scorer in qualifying, who is racing against time to recover from foot surgery. That collective lack of leadership could be an issue in the pressure cooker of a major tournament. -- Alex Kirkland
UNITED STATES
GROUP D
vs. Paraguay (June 12, Los Angeles)
vs. Australia (June 19, Seattle)
vs. UEFA C (June 25, Los Angeles)
Projected squad: (Goalkeepers) Matt Freese, Matt Turner, Patrick Schulte; (Defenders) Tim Ream, Chris Richards, Mark McKenzie, Miles Robinson, Noahkai Banks, Alex Freeman, Max Arfsten, Antonee Robinson, Sergino Dest; (Midfielders) Tanner Tessman, Tyler Adams, Cristian Roldan, Aidan Morris, Malik Tillman, Alejandro Zendejas, Brendan Aaronson, Diego Luna, Weston McKennie; (Forwards) Christian Pulisic, Folarin Balogun, Ricardo Pepi, Patrick Agyemang, Tim Weah
Squad snapshot: U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino has been a bit of a tactical chameleon since taking over, playing with three at the back at times while deploying a four-man backline in other moments. For simplicity's sake, you can call it a hybrid in which one of the outside backs will often push into midfield to give the U.S. more width and at times more numbers in the center.
Based on form, the U.S. team's strength is in attack, where AC Milan's Christian Pulisic and Juventus' Weston McKennie have both had outstanding seasons with their clubs. Playing as one of the two No. 10s isn't a position that McKennie fills often, but he looked sharp in the role during the October window. (His coach at Juventus also thinks he could play the No. 9 role.)
The U.S. is well-stocked at wing back, with PSV Eindhoven's Sergiño Dest and Fulham's Antonee Robinson both adept at getting into the attack, though Dest's defending can be suspect at times. They'll flank AS Monaco striker Folarin Balogun, who has shown enough consistency for both club and country to give himself some separation from the competition.
Yet there are more questions in the back beyond Crystal Palace's Chris Richards, who is a lock to start. Can Tim Ream, at age 38, deliver another solid run of World Cup performances as he did in 2022? The performances of Toulouse's Mark McKenzie have been uneven, though he looked sharp in a 5-1 win for the USMNT over Uruguay that finished off 2025. Matt Freese has been solid in goal but lacks experience on the biggest stage.
Then there is the question of how the U.S. will handle the pressure of being hosts. The proposed roster contains 10 holdovers from the 2022 roster, so there would appear to be sufficient experience. But playing on home soil brings a unique level of pressure. The hope is that for the newcomers, their extensive club experiences will provide enough preparation. -- Jeff Carlisle
