Overview of The Athletic’s World Cup preview
This episode of The Totally Football Show previews the upcoming World Cup from several angles: the three host nations, Scotland’s prospects, the best-looking African teams, and the leading dark horses. The central themes are that this is a huge, unusually open tournament, that coaching and squad cohesion matter more than ever, and that several teams outside the traditional powers could make deep runs.
The hosts: USA, Mexico and Canada
United States
Felipe Cardenas says the U.S. is building toward the tournament in a way that feels typical for American mega-events: the hype rises most sharply once the event is actually close. Cities like Atlanta, Seattle, and Los Angeles are already showing signs of World Cup buzz, and the infrastructure appears ready.
On the field, though, the U.S. remain a work in progress under Mauricio Pochettino:
- Results have been inconsistent.
- He has experimented with a very large pool of players.
- He is still searching for a settled XI and clear identity.
- The expectation remains at least a quarterfinal run, but there are real doubts about whether this squad can beat elite sides in knockout football.
The main concern is that this generation has yet to prove itself at the top level in major international tournaments.
Mexico
Cardenas is most bullish on Mexico as the host most likely to outperform expectations.
Why Mexico?
- They crashed out early in 2022 and hit a low point afterward.
- There’s a sense that the team has now stabilized.
- The fan base at the Estadio Azteca could be a major force.
- A young talent like Gilberto Mora is highlighted as a possible breakout player.
Mexico’s group is viewed as tricky but manageable, and the atmosphere at home could carry them into the knockout rounds.
Canada
Canada are seen as the most uncertain of the three hosts:
- They are physically strong and energetic.
- Jesse Marsch has brought edge and intensity.
- But scoring goals remains the big question.
- Their group is viewed as tougher than Mexico’s.
The panel feels Canada will compete hard, but may struggle to turn effort into wins.
Scotland: belief, chaos and hope
JJ Bull gives a characteristically passionate and optimistic Scotland outlook.
Why Scotland might surprise
Scotland’s route to the tournament was dramatic, and JJ argues they have enough spirit and directness to make life uncomfortable for better teams.
Key points:
- They should beat Haiti, who are viewed as the weakest team in the tournament.
- Matches against Brazil and Morocco are seen as difficult, but not impossible to nick.
- Scotland’s style under Steve Clarke is pragmatic, direct, and heavily based on collective effort and set pieces.
Key Scottish players
Players singled out include:
- Scott McTominay – described jokingly but affectionately as a “Ballon d’Or” type figure for Scotland
- John McGinn – a central leader and emotional engine
- Lewis Ferguson – important in midfield
- Lawrence Shankland – likely the main striker threat
- Billy Gilmour – a notable absence due to injury, though JJ is less convinced it is as disastrous as it first seems
The overall view: Scotland may lack sophistication in possession, but they have enough personality, athleticism and organization to make things awkward for opponents.
African teams: Morocco and Senegal lead the way
Meher Mazahi gives the most detailed overview of the African contenders, with a record 10 African teams in the tournament.
Morocco
Morocco are still the continent’s best hope, even though their buildup has been slightly disrupted.
Why they’re dangerous:
- They’ve built a long-term national project.
- Their youth teams have been highly successful.
- They have depth, organization, and belief after their historic 2022 run to the semifinals.
The big question is tactical: Morocco may be moving toward a more expansive style, but their previous success was built on compact defending, counterattacking, and set pieces.
Senegal
Senegal are the other major African contender.
Reasons for optimism:
- Strong talent base
- Real confidence after success on the continent
- A belief, even publicly, that they can go deep into the tournament
But there are concerns:
- Contract and federation issues around the coach
- Some uncertainty in preparation
- A tough group, including France
Still, Meher sees Senegal as a genuine contender for a top-four push if things fall right.
Other African teams mentioned
- Egypt: considered plausible to progress.
- Ivory Coast: talented but in a very difficult group.
- Algeria: difficult to read under Vladimir Petković.
- Tunisia and DR Congo: tough to beat, but with limited attacking upside.
- Ghana: weakened by the absence of Mohamed Kudus.
Dark horses: the teams to watch
Japan
Japan emerge as one of the most interesting dark horses of the whole tournament.
Why they stand out:
- They beat big teams in Qatar and have continued that form in friendlies.
- They are highly organized, energetic, and tactically modern.
- They press well, transition quickly, and don’t depend on one superstar.
Even with Kaoru Mitoma missing, Japan still have quality and depth through players like:
- Takefusa Kubo
- Daichi Kamada
- Ayase Ueda
- Ritsu Doan
- Ao Tanaka / other midfield options mentioned as part of a strong core
Dan Olowitz says Japan are no longer just hoping to be competitive — they genuinely believe they can contend for the title.
Ecuador
Felipe Cardenas’ main non-traditional pick is Ecuador.
Why they could go far:
- One of the best defensive records in qualifying
- Strong spine and structure
- Very hard to play against
- Excellent organization under their Argentine coach
The main issue is goals: if they find enough attacking output, they could be a serious threat.
Colombia
Colombia are another team to watch closely.
Why there’s excitement:
- Strong veteran leadership
- Players with real flair and personality
- James Rodríguez remains capable of elevating himself in national-team football
- Juan Fernando Quintero brings creativity and a classic No. 10 style
The panel clearly enjoys the idea of Colombia as one of the tournament’s more entertaining teams.
Norway
Colin Miller also points to Norway as a possible dark horse because of:
- Erling Haaland
- Martin Ødegaard
- A strong supporting cast
- Growing strength in Norwegian club football and a real sense of momentum
Their ceiling depends on whether their attacking talent clicks quickly enough.
Main takeaways
- Mexico is the host nation most likely to exceed expectations.
- The USA have the talent and the home advantage, but still lack proof at the highest level.
- Canada are physically competitive but remain a question mark in front of goal.
- Scotland are being treated as lovable chaos merchants with enough quality to spring a surprise.
- Morocco and Senegal look like Africa’s strongest hopes.
- Among the dark horses, Japan, Ecuador, Colombia, and Norway all have credible cases.
Bottom line
This preview presents the World Cup as wide open, with several teams outside the usual elite capable of making noise. The hosts bring a mix of hype and uncertainty, Africa’s top teams are stronger than ever, and Japan, Ecuador, Colombia, and Norway all loom as legitimate surprise packages.