For only the second time since 1994, the United States will host a football World Cup. Back in 1994, football was far less popular among Americans than it is today, and the US national team also lacked the star power it boasts today. With players like captain Christian Pulisic, currently at AC Milan, and Weston McKennie of Juventus, US national team coach Mauricio Pochettino, who previously managed Tottenham and Paris Saint-Germain, can now call upon several players signed to top European leagues.
Luxembourg's record international goal scorer, Amy Thompson, played college football at Stony Brook University in New York between 2015 and 2016. Now aged 31, the striker has witnessed first-hand how the sport has developed in the US, though she notes that its structure still differs from Europe.
She explains that back then, women's football was held in higher regard than men's, which has balanced out in the meantime. One of the reasons for this development is that in the US, high school and college sports are far more popular than club football, which is much less common there. This popularity is reflected in the emphasis placed on schools and universities, which even have their own leagues and championships.
The US consistently ranks among the world's sporting elite in nearly every discipline, largely thanks to a distinctive approach to sports organisation and investment compared to Europe. Major resources are dedicated to infrastructure and training methods, reflecting the high value placed on sport in American society. Thompson observes that in terms of sporting infrastructure, methods, and techniques, the US is often ahead of Europe, or at least ahead of how it was in the past, especially in the field of athletics.
In 1994, the US reached the round of 16, where they were knocked out by eventual champions Brazil. Their best World Cup result in recent memory was the quarter-finals in 2002, surpassed only by a semi-final finish in 1930. That semi-final appearance in 2002 also marked Türkiye's best World Cup showing, where they lost to Brazil but went on to secure third place.
Türkiye has waited 24 years for another World Cup appearance. Led by captain Hakan Calhanoglu of Inter Milan, and featuring talents like Arda Güler from Real Madrid and Kenan Yildiz from Juventus, the Turkish side is especially strong in attack. With this "new golden generation", Turkey is aiming to make a run in this year's tournament.
However, they must first navigate the group stage and finish ahead of Paraguay and Australia. Both teams are considered underdogs but have the potential to pull off surprises in Group D.
