ESPN Previews 48 World Cup Teams Ahead of June 11 Kickoff
Updated
Updated · ESPN · Jun 4
ESPN Previews 48 World Cup Teams Ahead of June 11 Kickoff
3 articles · Updated · ESPN · Jun 4
Summary
June 11 marks the start of the first 48-team FIFA World Cup, and ESPN’s latest guide breaks down every team’s key players, fixtures, expectations and betting odds before the opener in Mexico City.
July 19 is the final date in a tournament spread across Canada, Mexico and the United States, with Argentina chasing a repeat title and Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo both set for a record sixth World Cup.
Four debutants — Cape Verde, Curaçao, Jordan and Uzbekistan — join an expanded field that also gives co-hosts Canada, Mexico and the United States home-stage chances to make knockout runs.
Spain and France enter among the leading contenders, while Brazil, England, Portugal and Germany are also framed as serious threats in what ESPN calls the biggest World Cup ever.