Event of the Year? Who’ll Be at MetLife Stadium for the World Cup Final?
It’ll be a pretty big summer of sports in and around NYC. Not only do we have the Knicks participating in the NBA Finals for the first time since the late 1990s, but there is also the small matter of the World Cup, with several games planned for MetLife Stadium. Okay, that technically East Rutherford, New Jersey, but it’s close enough, and it’s the home of the Jets and Giants, so plenty of New Yorkers think of it as home.
Nevertheless, the important thing is that the FIFA World Cup Final will be held at MetLife Stadium on July 19th, and that is guaranteed to create a massive buzz across NYC. After all, with all due respect to the Super Bowl, the World Cup Final is the biggest sports event on the planet. Bar none.
But who might be there on July 19th? Let’s look at some of the contenders who could be bringing their fans in their droves to New York for one of the biggest parties in the city’s history:
Spain
On the eve of the tournament, according to DraftKings, Spain is the favorite to win the FIFA World Cup. That is understandable, given the European champions’ form in recent years. The Spanish are certainly not infallible, however, and there are some concerns over goalscoring.
France
Many people disagree with sportsbooks and believe France should be the favorite. Les Bleus boast an incredible squad, with key players like Michael Olise, Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé among the best attacking players in the world. Harmony among the players could be a sticking point, however.
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Argentina
The reigning champion will bring Lionel Messi for one last dance. It would be a fantastic story to see the greatest player, at least of the modern era, lift the trophy for a second time, but Argentina does not seem just as potent as it was in 2022. And the great Messi is coming to the end of his career. You can’t rule him out, though.
England
England probably has the deepest talent pool in world soccer, and will probably bring the strongest squad to the World Cup. That does not guarantee success, however, and there are always questions over just how good the starting eleven for England will be compared to other nations. The team is rightly considered one of the favorites, nonetheless.
Portugal
Can Cristiano Ronaldo emulate Lionel Messi by winning a World Cup with Portugal? Perhaps, but this will also be his last tournament, and there are some who even suggest that the Portuguese play better without the veteran forward in its starting eleven. Still, this is one of the strongest teams in the tournament. It’s all just about managing Ronaldo and his ego.
Brazil
Perennial favorites, the five-time winner has lots of question marks and no little pressure hanging over it going into the tournament. There is definitely talent in the squad, though not everyone is sure whether head coach Carlo Ancelotti is getting the best out of it.
USMNT
It couldn’t happen, could it? If the US team makes a first World Cup Final for the first time, NYC won’t be the only city buzzing with excitement. On the one hand, this remains the best US men’s team, perhaps in history. On the other hand, results have been poor of late, and one wonders if the pressure will get to the team as co-hosts.
