Canada made history — not the best kind, but history all the same — with its first point in a World Cup match on Friday, while the U.S. started its World Cup journey pasting Paraguay 4-1, playing its best half of soccer under Mauricio Pochettino and then holding on for the win.
Friday will feature four matches, with Canada's path to the knockout round made clearer with another Group B opener, Group C's openers unfolding (including arguably the best group stage matchup of the whole tournament), and a Group D opener to help put the U.S.'s path into clearer focus.
Also, I don't know how they're going to sustain this for 39 days, but the Kickback Committee folks (Matt Doyle, Susannah Fuller, and David Gass) are doing a daily podcast and YouTube live show at 8:30 am CT every day, if you want to absorb that level of content.
Let's do it group by group.
Group B
Predictions
- Projected winner: Canada (31)
- Projected runner-up: Switzerland (19)
- Projected 3rd-place team: Bosnia & Herzegovina (63)
- Projected 4th-place team: Qatar (56)
Past matches
- Canada 1, Bosnia & Herzegovina 1 (June 12, Toronto)
Today's match
- Qatar vs. Switzerland: Saturday, June 13, 2 pm (Santa Clara, Calif.)
Future matches
- Switzerland vs. Bosnia & Herzegovina: Thursday, June 18, 2 pm (Inglewood, Calif.)
- Canada vs. Qatar: Thursday, June 18, 5 pm (Vancouver)
- Switzerland vs. Canada: Wednesday, June 24, 2 pm (Vancouver)
- Bosnia & Herzegovina vs. Qatar, Wednesday, June 24, 2 pm (Seattle)
Most compelling narrative
With Canada getting a draw and just one point instead of a possible three, Switzerland has a chance to take control of the group against a Qatar team coached by Julen Lopetegui, best known for being fired by Spain on the cusp of the World Cup eight years ago it got out that he had agreed to coach Real Madrid once that tournament was over.
Player to watch
Granit Xhaka is in his fourth World Cup and is instrumental to what Switzerland does, though is now doing so with surprising Sunderland instead of the Arsenal squad that largely — for good and bad — defined him.
Group C
Predictions
- Projected winner: Brazil (6)
- Projected runner-up: Morocco (7)
- Projected 3rd-place team: Scotland (40)
- Projected 4th-place team: Haiti (83)
Today's matches
- Brazil vs. Morocco: Saturday, June 13, 5 pm (East Rutherford, N.J.)
- Haiti vs. Scotland: Saturday, June 13, 8 pm (Foxborough, Mass.)
Future matches
- Scotland vs. Morocco: Friday, June 19, 5 pm (Foxborough, Mass.)
- Brazil vs. Haiti: Friday, June 19, 7:30 pm (Philadelphia)
- Scotland vs. Brazil: Wednesday, June 25, 5 pm (Miami)
- Morocco vs. Haiti: Wednesday, June 25, 5 pm (Atlanta)
Most compelling narrative
Morocco were 2022 World Cup semifinals, are the current Africa Cup of Nations holders (albeit controversially), and they're ranked No. 7 in the world. Do they have an upset of Brazil in them? I'm feeling a draw in this one to advance more questions than get answered, but I'm also invested in the outcome for how it will impact the tournament.
Player to watch
Vinicius Júnior is one of the most exciting players of the world entering his prime. Seeing him work against Achraf Hakimi, should we get that, will have real Champions Leagues vibes as a bonus.
Group D
Predictions
- Projected winner: United States (15)
- Projected runner-up: Türkiye (23)
- Projected 3rd-place team: Australia (27)
- Projected 4th-place team: Paraguay (42)
Past match
- U.S. 4, Paraguay 1 (June 12, Inglewood, Calif.)
Today's match
- Australia vs. Türkiye, Saturday, June 13, 11 pm (Vancouver)
Future matches
- United States vs. Australia: Friday, June 19, 2 pm (Seattle)
- Türkiye vs. Paraguay: Friday, June 19, 10 pm (Santa Clara, Calif.)
- Türkiye vs. United States: Thursday, June 25, 9 pm (Inglewood, Calif.)
- Paraguay vs. Australia: Thursday, June 25, 9 pm (Santa Clara, Calif.)
Most compelling narrative
With the U.S. winning decisively, can Türkiye similarly take it to Australia and set up for a June 25 showdown at SoFi to win the group? Or will Australia be able to thwart Türkiye enough to give the U.S. a leg up?
Player to watch
We mentioned Türkiye's Arda Güler, the 21-year-old Real Madrid attacker who is a dark horse for the FIFA Young Player award in this World Cup, when rounding up the group for Friday's preview. Take a look at this match just to see him (and, of course, to scout for future U.S. games).
Where to Watch
Austin FC's viewing party moves to Inn Cahoots (1221 E. 6th Street) for the remaining 100 matches. Plenty of days left to see how the club has activated the space, but today could be a fun day to check things out.
Canada made history — not the best kind, but history all the same — with its first point in a World Cup match on Friday, while the U.S. started its World Cup journey pasting Paraguay 4-1, playing its best half of soccer under Mauricio Pochettino and then holding on for the win.
Friday will feature four matches, with Canada's path to the knockout round made clearer with another Group B opener, Group C's openers unfolding (including arguably the best group stage matchup of the whole tournament), and a Group D opener to help put the U.S.'s path into clearer focus.
Also, I don't know how they're going to sustain this for 39 days, but the Kickback Committee folks (Matt Doyle, Susannah Fuller, and David Gass) are doing a daily podcast and YouTube live show at 8:30 am CT every day, if you want to absorb that level of content.
Let's do it group by group.
Group B
Predictions
Past matches
Today's match
Future matches
Most compelling narrative
With Canada getting a draw and just one point instead of a possible three, Switzerland has a chance to take control of the group against a Qatar team coached by Julen Lopetegui, best known for being fired by Spain on the cusp of the World Cup eight years ago it got out that he had agreed to coach Real Madrid once that tournament was over.
Player to watch
Granit Xhaka is in his fourth World Cup and is instrumental to what Switzerland does, though is now doing so with surprising Sunderland instead of the Arsenal squad that largely — for good and bad — defined him.
Group C
Predictions
Today's matches
Future matches
Most compelling narrative
Morocco were 2022 World Cup semifinals, are the current Africa Cup of Nations holders (albeit controversially), and they're ranked No. 7 in the world. Do they have an upset of Brazil in them? I'm feeling a draw in this one to advance more questions than get answered, but I'm also invested in the outcome for how it will impact the tournament.
Player to watch
Vinicius Júnior is one of the most exciting players of the world entering his prime. Seeing him work against Achraf Hakimi, should we get that, will have real Champions Leagues vibes as a bonus.
Group D
Predictions
Past match
Today's match
Future matches
Most compelling narrative
With the U.S. winning decisively, can Türkiye similarly take it to Australia and set up for a June 25 showdown at SoFi to win the group? Or will Australia be able to thwart Türkiye enough to give the U.S. a leg up?
Player to watch
We mentioned Türkiye's Arda Güler, the 21-year-old Real Madrid attacker who is a dark horse for the FIFA Young Player award in this World Cup, when rounding up the group for Friday's preview. Take a look at this match just to see him (and, of course, to scout for future U.S. games).
Where to Watch
Austin FC's viewing party moves to Inn Cahoots (1221 E. 6th Street) for the remaining 100 matches. Plenty of days left to see how the club has activated the space, but today could be a fun day to check things out.
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