In less than a week, millions of visitors from around the world will descend on Canada, Mexico, and the United States. They’re here to drink your beer, dance in your streets, sing at the top of their lungs, and cheer on their nation in the greatest sporting event on Earth: the World Cup.

If you think the Knicks celebrations outside MSG have been crazy, I promise you that’s nothing compared to witnessing thousands of drunk Dutch fans performing “Links Rechts” (look it up) in the streets of Kansas City. You can fight it, or you can join them. I promise you, the visitors will welcome your presence.

For the next month, 48 countries will compete across 16 cities in North America, all with one goal: to reach the final at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, the soccer mecca of the world for one unforgettable night.

Since I’ll be neglecting my duties at work and spending many of my nights watching these games, I figured I might as well share my thoughts with family, friends, and anyone else starved for World Cup content. While this guide will include some advanced analytics, it’s primarily aimed at the average American who may only have a passing interest in soccer. I’ll try to post a few times a week, but don’t hold me to that.

Since this tournament is being hosted in the greatest country in the world, this first post will serve as an introduction to the U.S. Men’s National Team (USMNT). I’ll post a broader World Cup preview later this week.

First, let me introduce you to the boys.

As I write this, the USMNT has completed its second tune-up match and will take on Paraguay in its home opener Friday night in Los Angeles. This edition of the World Cup features 48 nations, a significant expansion from the traditional 32-team format. The teams are divided into 12 groups of four, with the top two teams in each group automatically advancing to the knockout stage. Because of the expansion, the eight best third-place teams will also move on.

For the USMNT, winning the group would likely provide the most favorable path to a deep tournament run. This team is talented, but largely untested on the international stage. One of the privileges—and burdens—of hosting the World Cup is that you don’t have to go through qualifying, a grueling three-year journey that sends teams to the far reaches of their continent. Nothing brings an American team together quite like playing on bumpy fields in El Salvador and Honduras while opposing fans throw bottles of urine at you.

The biggest star on this team might actually be the coach, Mauricio Pochettino, better known as Poch. He has managed some of the biggest clubs in Europe and was recruited by U.S. Soccer in 2024 with one specific goal: leading the USMNT to the promised land in its home World Cup.

His tenure has had plenty of ups and downs. He has had to adapt to a completely different soccer culture and landscape than the one he knew in Europe. Fortunately, he has inherited the most talented player pool in American men’s soccer history.

The biggest difference between this generation and previous ones is where the talent lies. Historically, the United States produced hardworking teams built around defense and athleticism. This group is different. The talent is concentrated in attack, while the biggest concerns are defense and goalkeeping.

The face of the team is Christian Pulisic. Raised in Hershey, Pennsylvania, he moved to Europe at a young age—as many elite American prospects do—to pursue a professional career at the highest level. At his best, Pulisic is one of the most dangerous attacking players in the world. He has the ability to slice through defenses and create chances against elite competition. He won the Champions League with Chelsea and has become one of the standout performers for AC Milan.

Yet Pulisic’s career has also been defined by inconsistency, injuries, and stretches where the goals simply don’t come. His public disagreement with Poch after choosing to sit out the 2025 Gold Cup raised some concerns, but the two appear to have put their differences behind them.

Pulisic will be supported by striker Folarin Balogun, better known as “Balo,” along with attacking midfielders Weston McKennie and Malik Tillman. Width (stretching the field) and pace come from wingbacks Antonee Robinson and Sergiño Dest. Robinson and Dest are both established European-based defenders who can contribute at both ends of the field, a necessity for any modern outside defender.

For years, the USMNT struggled to recruit and develop elite goal-scoring forwards. That changed with the emergence of Balogun and backup striker Ricardo Pepi. Both are proven goal scorers in Europe and are regular starters for their clubs in France and the Netherlands.

McKennie has been a consistent starter for Juventus, one of Italy’s premier clubs, and brings a valuable combination of work rate, attacking creativity, and link-up play in midfield.

In midfield, everything revolves around Tyler Adams. Think of him as a free safety. He cleans up mistakes, makes the tackles that need to be made, and does all the dirty work that keeps teams alive in major tournaments.

Historically, the United States has “parked the bus” at World Cups, relying on work rate, defensive organization, and a bit of luck to advance. This team is different. They play progressive, attack-minded soccer. They press high, create chances in volume, and can score goals in bunches. Aesthetically, they may be the most entertaining USMNT side ever assembled.

What we don’t know is whether they can grind out ugly games and keep opponents off the scoresheet. That’s a crucial skill in a month-long tournament where offensive flair often gives way to defensive pragmatism. The USMNT has conceded 11 goals in its last four matches. The goals may come, but defense is what advances teams deep into the World Cup.

To strengthen the back line, Poch has often lined up with three center backs and two wingbacks. Most teams play with only two center backs. The primary reason for the adjustment is to protect 38-year-old captain Tim Ream. Ream still possesses the intelligence, positioning, and technical ability to compete at a high level, but he no longer has the speed to consistently match up with the game’s elite attackers.

The hope is that he’ll be protected by Chris Richards, the team’s best center back. Richards suffered an ill-timed ankle injury with his club team at the end of the Premier League season, and his availability for the opener remains uncertain. I don’t want to be hyperbolic, but the fate of the nation may rest on the strength of that man’s ankles.

The starting goalkeeper job has been up for grabs, but it appears Matt Freese will get the nod after starting the final tune-up match. He has looked shaky at times, but he has shown just enough to earn the opportunity.

Like many World Cups, the buildup has been accompanied by controversy. While the game itself is beautiful, the people in charge of it often are not. FIFA has gone to great lengths to make this tournament as difficult to enjoy as possible. Whether it’s gouging fans with absurd ticket prices, cozying up to politicians with meaningless awards, or demonstrating general incompetence in organization and infrastructure, FIFA continues to remind the world why it remains one of the most disliked organizations in sports.

Despite all of that, nothing brings the world together quite like the World Cup.

So if the tournament comes to your city, I encourage you to grab a beer with a Brit, dance with the Dutch, and sing with the Spaniards. Most importantly, come together with your fellow Americans and cheer the boys on.

-Eli