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NFL Week 2 roundtable: Jordan Love’s status, Bears-Texans and underrated Week 1 storylines

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NFL Week 2 roundtable: Jordan Love’s status, Bears-Texans and underrated Week 1 storylines

While Tua Tagovailoa’s concussion has been the talk of the league in Week 2, the Green Bay Packers could attempt to tread water without quarterback Jordan Love, the early Dallas Cowboys hype train looks to run through the New Orleans Saints, Joe Burrow meets Patrick Mahomes once again and the Chicago Bears and Houston Texans cap Sunday’s action.

The Athletic’s Mike Sando, Jeff Howe and Zak Keefer break down the weekend ahead.


Which storyline from Week 1 didn’t get talked about enough?

Sando: How bad the Carolina Panthers looked. It was realistic to expect some progress this season, but after losing 47-10 at New Orleans and losing top defensive lineman Derrick Brown for the season, what is the path forward?

Howe: I was impressed by the way Jalen Hurts rebounded from the Philadelphia Eagles’ horrific start, which was partly on him, of course. They opened with two turnovers, including an ugly interception and a botched snap by the center, but Hurts led the Eagles to three touchdowns and a field goal on the next four drives to seize control against the Packers. Hurts deservedly got criticized for his two picks, but they wouldn’t have won that game without his mental toughness.

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Keefer: Maybe this is because they’ve been in the spotlight for the better part of five seasons, but I thought the Kansas City Chiefs’ opening-night win over the Baltimore Ravens was extremely impressive. Not only do the Chiefs have one of the stiffest defenses in the league, but with Xavier Worthy, they also have another offensive weapon who should alleviate some of the midseason struggles they had on that side of the ball last season. The Ravens are as consistent as any team in football, and the Chiefs have now beaten them in six of the past seven games. That’s impressive. It’s not a stretch to say Kansas City can win 14 or 15 games this season and cruise to a No. 1 seed. A three-peat, assuming all the key pieces stay healthy, is very much in play.

It’s only Week 2, but did you see anything from the Cowboys to make you believe this year can end any differently? Were the Saints just playing a bad Panthers team, or is there something to believe in, in New Orleans?

Sando: It’s hard to say this Cowboys season will end any differently after watching the San Francisco 49ers dominate the New York Jets on both lines. Dallas needs regression elsewhere in the NFC to avoid falling short. On the Saints, the great start suggested they might not be a disaster. I think people forget they finished 9-8 last season.

Howe: I was fully on board with the Cowboys taking that long-awaited jump last season, but another playoff dud ruined all the goodwill they had built. They’re again one of the most talented teams in the league, so it’s looking like a similar regular season is in store. There probably isn’t anything they can do before mid-January to extinguish the doubts from the last playoff performance. The Saints are 25-26 over the past three seasons. They’ve proven capable of looking good at times and mediocre at others. This will be more about the Panthers unless the Saints prove otherwise over the next five games against high-quality opponents.

Keefer: The problem with the Cowboys is their postseason collapses of the past few years have overshadowed how consistent and productive they’ve been throughout the regular season. As long as Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb are on the field, this is one of the best offenses in football, and the way the defense played Sunday at the Cleveland Browns speaks to how much that unit can disrupt the game. As for the Saints, I’m not taking anything away from them, but this was more about Carolina — the Panthers are the least talented team in football, and it’s not even close. I’m looking forward to how New Orleans does with a much more legitimate test Sunday versus Dallas.

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Colts-Packers is an intriguing game as well. How can Green Bay tread water without Love (listed as questionable Friday) if he has to miss significant time? Though Anthony Richardson flashed the special ability in Week 1 that makes him so unique, what else do you need to see from him to believe he can take a step forward this year?

Sando: I don’t see how the Packers can tread water with Malik Willis as their interim starting quarterback. There isn’t any evidence to suggest he can play well enough consistently enough to win. For Richardson, let’s see him string together games without an injury. Then we can focus on the finer points of his play.

Howe: The Packers needed a strong September to counterbalance a challenging schedule over the final three months, so they’re in trouble if Love misses this stretch against the Indianapolis Colts, Tennessee Titans and Minnesota Vikings. They’ll need mistake-free play from Willis, a great running game, some chunk catch-and-runs from their talented receivers and takeaways on defense. That’s a lot that has to go right while Love gets healthy. Richardson looks ready to take the next step. He just needs to stay healthy to get there.

Keefer: Mike is right — nothing we’ve seen so far from Willis suggests he can step into the starting role in Green Bay and beat a pretty solid Indianapolis team. He has also only been with the Packers for about three weeks, so it’s not like he has mastered the playbook yet. As for Richardson, this season is about becoming more than a highlight reel: His highs are unreal, but he missed too many open throws Sunday — including a walk-in touchdown for A.D. Mitchell — and that was the difference in the game. But remember: That was his fifth NFL start. This will take time. He’s shown enough promise to make you think he’ll get there.

Which Texans offseason addition was more impressive Sunday: Joe Mixon or Stefon Diggs? Caleb Williams’ performance left a lot to be desired, but what positives did you take away from his debut?

Sando: Mixon became the sixth player since the start of the 2020 season to carry at least 30 times and average at least 5.0 yards per rush in a game. That’s tough work and more impressive than Diggs, whose six receptions were not remarkable.

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Howe: Wow, this would be a great barroom debate. Mixon gives the Texans an element they didn’t have last season when they finished 22nd in rushing, and C.J. Stroud was going to be great regardless of Diggs’ arrival because they’re already so good at receiver. But if Diggs comes as self-advertised and recaptures the difference-making ability, it might be enough to get the Texans over the top in the playoffs. For now, I’d say Mixon is the better answer, though. As for Williams, I’m not worried about him long-term, but I don’t know how many positives there were Sunday. More than anything, the Bears look ready to play at a high level on defense and special teams, and that could mean more to their success this season than anything.

Keefer: I covered Sunday’s Houston Texans-Colts game, and I thought Mixon was running like he was five years younger. He absolutely torched the Colts in the second half. The week before in practice, he told his offensive linemen, “Let’s go get 150 to start it off.” He finished with 159 and salted the game away late in the fourth. If he can become a consistent threat in Bobby Slowik’s scheme, this will be one of the top offenses in football. As we saw, the receiving room is stacked. As for Williams, the most encouraging takeaway was how he handled it; this was a dud of a debut, but he handled it like a veteran, praising his defense and special teams and vowing to get back to work. Having the humility to bury a bad game and start over the following week is vital for a young quarterback. He’ll get a good look at how one of the best in the league, Stroud, does it Sunday.

We had a pair of post-Achilles injury returns in Week 1 from the Falcons’ Kirk Cousins and the Jets’ Aaron Rodgers. Thoughts on both QBs? Are they rusty and in need of time, in good shape or is there some cause for concern?

Sando: They both looked good throwing the ball. The questions I have deal more with the offensive design and their play callers. Rodgers showed he can throw the ball well. But will this be a dynamic attack? Cousins threw the ball fine, but he was under pressure and got hit hard, which affected his play. Cousins also was in the shotgun or pistol way more frequently than in the past, with zero under-center play-action looks, which he has thrived on. Is that best for Cousins?

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Howe: I thought Rodgers looked good at times. The 49ers overwhelmed the Jets, who weren’t ready to compete with one of the league’s best teams. It was a nice starting point for the QB, though. Cousins was a little more concerning just because the Atlanta Falcons had so many chances to take control of the game and simply couldn’t. Maybe it’s because T.J. Watt looked like the best defender on the planet last week, so I’m interested to see more from Cousins and the Falcons as a whole.

Keefer: It’s too early to panic in either case — especially with experienced QBs like these two — but that was some bad offensive football from both teams. Rodgers still throws one of the prettiest balls in the league, but he didn’t look to be moving around the pocket all that great — certainly not like he did for most of his time in Green Bay. Some of this was probably the 49ers defense, which was excellent, but other than one good drive in the first half and the free-play touchdown, they didn’t do a thing. On the Falcons’ front, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ defense made Cousins’ life pretty miserable for most of the day — Watt was flat-out unstoppable at times. Can they protect him better? Cousins will likely settle in more as the season progresses, but Mike’s concerns about the scheme are valid. We’ll learn more Monday night.

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(Photo of Jordan Love: Wagner Meier / Getty Images)

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Thunder lose star Jalen Williams for Western Conference Finals Game 7 as hamstring injury lingers

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Thunder lose star Jalen Williams for Western Conference Finals Game 7 as hamstring injury lingers

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The Oklahoma City Thunder will be shorthanded in Saturday’s pivotal Game 7, as one of Oklahoma’s key contributors has been sidelined with an injury.

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OKC guard Jalen Williams has been ruled out for Game 7 with a hamstring issue, ESPN reported on Friday. Williams appeared to aggravate his left hamstring during the Thunder’s 122-113 victory in Game 2. He missed the next three games before returning for Game 6, but logged just 10 minutes off the bench in Oklahoma City’s loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday, which forced a winner-take-all Game 7.

“He’s obviously not 100%,” Mark Daigneault, the head coach of the Thunder, said.

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Jalen Williams watches during the fourth quarter against the San Antonio Spurs in Game One of the NBA Western Conference Finals at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on May 18, 2026. (Alex Slitz/Getty Images)

Daigneault applauded Williams for fighting through the injury and doing everything he could to help Oklahoma City.

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“He didn’t know what to expect. I didn’t know what to expect. So, it was a matter of getting him out there in kind of an insulated role and see what he can bring to the team. He’s an All-Star player, he’s an All-NBA player. He hasn’t done a full return to play [protocol] like he would if this was the regular season, and yet, he just wants to do whatever he can to try to contribute whatever he can to the team.”

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“I give him a lot of credit to get himself out there. He did the best he could. He’s certainly not the reason we lost.”

Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams reacts to a shot by forward Luguentz Dort in the third quarter against the San Antonio Spurs during game one of the Western Conference finals for the 2026 NBA playoffs at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, on May 18, 2026. (Alonzo Adams/Imagn Images)

Williams did not talk to reporters after Thursday’s game in San Antonio.

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Williams underwent surgery last offseason to repair a wrist injury but still played a key role in the Thunder’s run to the NBA Finals last season. He appeared in just 33 regular-season games before this year’s playoffs.

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Jalen Williams drives into the paint during the first quarter of Game Two of the NBA Western Conference Finals against the San Antonio Spurs at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on May 20, 2026. (Alex Slitz/Getty Images)

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The winner of Saturday’s Game 7 will advance to the NBA Finals to face the New York Knicks. New York snapped a nearly three-decade Finals drought by sweeping the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference finals.

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Southern California sprinters scorch CIF state prelims, setting up record-chasing finals

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Southern California sprinters scorch CIF state prelims, setting up record-chasing finals

Cool conditions produced a bunch of fast times Friday at the CIF state track and field championships.

Rosary Academy sprint coach Jon Gilmer was worried 4×100-meter relayers Tra’via Flournoy, Justine Wilson, Pfeiffer Lee and Maliyah Collins might get complacent at prelims, but the Royals were the top qualifiers in 45.13 seconds — nearly a full second faster than Canyon Country Canyon (46.07) — at Buchanan High School.

“It’s different not having Calabasas here,” Gilmer said. “Now we’ve got to push ourselves.”

Rosary set a state record (44.23) at the Arcadia Invitational on April 11, but lost to the Coyotes one week later at the Mt. SAC Relays. However, the anticipated state finals clash was not to be as Calabasas dropped the baton in the Southern Section finals and failed to advance.

Collins had a huge lead by the time she received the stick for the anchor leg Friday.

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“This is maybe our fourth- or fifth-fastest time but we just wanted to make finals,” said Wilson, who ran the second leg before handing off to Lee. “We want to run faster tomorrow when we go for a PR, the meet and the state record.”

Calabasas might be out of the relay, but three Coyotes remain in contention in the 100, led by Malia Rainey (the top qualifier in 11.54), Marley Scoggins (11.63) and Olivia Kirk (11.63).

Calabasas sprinter Marley Scoggins, center, wins her 100-meter heat at the CIF state track and field preliminaries on Friday.

(Steve Galluzzo / For The Times)

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Collins won her heat in 11.62, the third-fastest time.

Servite won the first heat in the boys 4×100 relay in 40.29 — two hundredths off its winning time at last year’s state finals — and is primed to defend its title in the event. Concord De La Salle (40.81) was the second-fastest qualifier, followed by the other heat winners, Rancho Cucamonga (40.87) and Loyola (40.93).

“We got the stick around pretty good today,” said Jorden Wells, who ran the first leg Friday instead of his customary second leg, which was run by Jaelen Hunter. “Did it feel different? Not really, I’ve done it before.”

Wells said his twin brother Jace will run the first leg Saturday, he will run the second while Kamil Pelovello and Benjamin Harris will stay in the third and fourth positions.

Harris, the favorite to win the 100 meters, won his heat in a wind-legal 10.36, but three others were fractions faster in wind-aided times — Elk Grove’s Cy Lugo (10.20), Will Wood’s Deshawn Seymour (10.34) and De La Salle’s Damari Dean (10.34). Newbury Park’s Jaden Griffin won the last heat in 10.37, setting the stage for an exciting finals sprint as all nine qualifiers ran under 10.48.

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Harris put himself in position for a Saturday double by winning his 200 heat in 21.10 but as he did in the 100, Lugo (the Sac-Joaquin Section record holder) had the fastest time (20.73), followed by Seymour (20.88), Camren Hughes (20.93) of Palos Verdes and Jace Wells (21.02). Jordan Wells (21.11) also made the cut.

Newbury Park’s Jaden Griffin, center, shouts after winning his heat in the 100 meters.

Newbury Park’s Jaden Griffin, center, shouts after winning his heat in the 100 meters at the CIF state track and field preliminaries on Friday.

(Steve Galluzzo / For The Times)

Servite (3:15.43) had the second-fastest qualifying time in the 4×400-meter relay behind only El Cerrito (3:14.96) of the North Coast Section.

Coming off a state-record 3:33.83 at the Masters Meet in Moorpark, Long Beach Wilson’s 4×400 girls relay had the fourth-fastest qualifying time (3:46.73) without two out of its best runners (Clara Adams and Saniah Varnado), taking second in the first heat behind San Luis Obispo (3:45.85) and safely advancing to the finals along with Heat 2 runner-up Rosary (3:45.08) and Heat 3 winner Canyon Country Canyon (3:46.77).

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Having broken the Southern Section record in the 400 meters six days earlier in 51.98, Adams put it in cruise control to win her heat in 53.53, the fastest qualifying mark. Joining her in the final will be her three relay teammates Varnado (54.42), Wilson (54.57) and Fowler (54.62). Adams later won her 200 heat in 23.60, a tenth of a second behind fastest qualifier Naiaja Sizemore of Vanden.

San Jacinto Valley Academy’s Kaahliyah Lacy ran a wind-legal 13.59 for the top qualifying spot in the girls 100 hurdles and Varnado (40.85) was the top qualifier in the 300 hurdles.

Another showdown is brewing in the boys 400, where Loyola’s Ejam Yohannes (47.08) and Hunter (47.21) won their heats in the two fastest times Friday. Hunter clocked 46.32 to set a California freshman record last spring, but lost to Yohannes by 11 hundredths of a second at the Masters Meet.

City Section champion Jayden Rendon showed good form in his bid to defend the state 300 hurdles crown, posting the fastest prelims time (36.80). He also advanced to the finals in the 110 hurdles with a 13.83 effort. Moorpark’s Davis Benson (14.03) nabbed the last spot.

Corona Santiago’s Braelyn Combe, right, wins the first heat of the 800 meters.

Corona Santiago’s Braelyn Combe, right, wins the first heat of the 800 meters at the CIF state track and field preliminaries on Friday.

(Steve Galluzzo / For The Times)

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Corona Santiago senior Braelyn Combe won her 1,600 heat in 4:46.88 and is set for a four-lap battle with San Diego Section champion Chiara Dailey of La Jolla, who won the second heat in 4:46.00. Combe is the defending champion, having edged Hanne Thomsen of Santa Rosa Montgomery by five hundredths of a second in the finals last year.

“I just wanted to advance with as little effort as possible,” Combe said. “It was not as hard as I expected. I don’t want to leave any regrets. I’m taking it one race at a time.”

Combe also had the fastest time (2:08:25) of three heats in the 800 meters.

Venice senior Lawrence Kensinger, who set the City Section shot put record with a state-leading throw of 65 feet 11 inches last week, had the third-best mark at prelims (59-6¾) and easily advanced to the finals. Defending state high jump champion JJ Harel of Sherman Oaks Notre Dame tied nine others for the second-best mark (6-6) heading into the second day.

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Aliso Niguel senior Jaslene Massey had the top marks in the girls shot put (51-3¾) and discus (175-6) and transgender athlete AB Hernandez from Jurupa Valley was the leading qualifier in the girls long jump (20-5½) and triple jump (41-8½) and was one of 13 qualifiers in the high jump.

AB Hernandez competes at the CIF state track and field preliminaries at Buchanan High School on Friday.

AB Hernandez competes at the CIF state track and field preliminaries at Buchanan High School on Friday.

(Tomas Ovalle / For The Times)

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2026 World Cup Odds: Spain Narrowly Favored Over France

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2026 World Cup Odds: Spain Narrowly Favored Over France

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We’re approaching the biggest sporting event North America has ever hosted.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup takes place across the USA, Canada and Mexico in 13 days.

Bettors and fans already have their sights set on the global spectacle, which will kick off on June 11. The World Cup final will be held at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium on July 19, 2026. 

After the World Cup groups were announced in December, Spain opened as the favorite at +450, followed by England (+550) and France (+750). 

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Now, with less than two weeks to go, Spain has slightly drifted to +475, with both France and England making up ground on the oddsboard. 

Let’s dive into the odds via DraftKings Sportsbook as of May 29.

This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports.

2026 World Cup winner odds

Spain: +475 (bet $10 to win $57.5 total)
France: +500 (bet $10 to win $60 total)
England: +650 (bet $10 to win $75 total)
Brazil: +850 (bet $10 to win $95 total)
Argentina: +900 (bet $10 to win $100 total)
Portugal: +1000 (bet $10 to win $110 total)
Germany: +1400 (bet $10 to win $150 total)
Netherlands: +2200 (bet $10 to win $230 total)
Norway: +3500 (bet $10 to win $360 total) 
Belgium: +3500 (bet $10 to win $360 total)
Colombia: +4000 (bet $10 to win $410 total)
Morocco: +5000 (bet $10 to win $510 total) 
Uruguay: +5000 (bet $10 to win $510 total)
United States: +6000 (bet $10 to win $610 total)
Switzerland: +6500 (bet $10 to win $660 total) 
Japan: +6500 (bet $10 to win $660 total) 
Mexico: +8000 (bet $10 to win $810 total)
Croatia: +8000 (bet $10 to win $810 total)
Ecuador: +8000 (bet $10 to win $810 total) 
Senegal: +9000 (bet $10 to win $910 total) 
Sweden: +10000 (bet $10 to win $1,010 total) 

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United States

The United States is led by Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, Tyler Adams, and Chris Richards, with several players competing in Europe’s top leagues. The U.S. has appeared in 11 previous World Cups, with its best finish coming in 1930 when the team reached the semifinals.

Canada

Canada’s key players include Alphonso Davies and Jonathan David, giving the squad top-tier pace and goal-scoring ability. Canada has made two previous World Cup appearances, and is still looking for its first win ever in the tournament. 

Mexico

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Mexico’s top contributors include Raul Giménez and Edson Álvarez, forming a strong mix of attacking talent and midfield stability. Mexico has played in 17 previous World Cups and reached the quarterfinals twice, in 1970 and 1986.

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Spain

Spain’s top talents include Pedri, Lamine Yamal and Rodri, forming a core that blends elite playmaking with scoring depth. Spain has appeared in 16 previous World Cups and won the tournament once, lifting the trophy in 2010. The team also won the 2024 Euros.

France

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France enters with Kylian Mbappé as the star player, with the 26-year-old just five goals shy of passing Miroslav Klose (16) for the most career goals at the World Cup. France has made 16 previous World Cup appearances and won the title twice, in 1998 and 2018.

England

England’s key players include Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice, forming one of the nation’s strongest generations in decades. England has reached 16 previous World Cups and won the trophy once, in 1966.

Germany

Germany features Florian Wirtz, Jamal Musiala and Joshua Kimmich as central figures in a talented squad. Germany has participated in 20 previous World Cups and won four titles, most recently in 2014.

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Portugal

Portugal’s top group includes Bruno Fernandes, Vitinha, with Cristiano Ronaldo still involved as the team’s all-time leading scorer and cap leader. Portugal has competed in eight previous World Cups and recorded its best finish in 2006, reaching the semifinals.

Netherlands

The Netherlands features top players such as Virgil van Dijk, Ryan Gravenberch and Denzel Dumfries, forming a core built around elite defending and midfield control. Memphis Depay should also be on the team, the country’s all-time leading goalscorer. The Netherlands has appeared in 11 previous World Cups and finished as runner-up three times, in 1974, 1978 and 2010.

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Argentina

Argentina is anchored by Lionel Messi, with Julián Álvarez, Enzo Fernández and Lautaro Martínez— headlining one of the most talented rosters in the tournament. Argentina has played in 18 previous World Cups and won three, including the most recent tournament in 2022.

Brazil

Brazil’s roster is led by Vinícius Júnior, Raphinha and Marquinhos, giving the team elite attacking and defensive quality. Brazil has appeared in every World Cup and holds a record five titles, with its most recent one coming in 2002. 

Uruguay

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Uruguay’s leading players include Federico Valverde, Darwin Núñez and Ronald Araújo, forming a core with elite midfield range and speed. Uruguay has appeared in 14 previous World Cups and won the tournament twice, in 1930 and 1950. 

Colombia

Colombia is headlined by Luis Díaz and James Rodríguez, with the former playing for Bayern Munich and the latter having a decorated World Cup résumé. Colombia has made six previous World Cupsand recorded its best finish in 2014, reaching the quarterfinals.

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Morocco

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Morocco’s key contributors include Achraf Hakimi, Noussair Mazaroui and Brahm Díaz, each with major European club experience. Morocco has appeared in six previous World Cups and achieved its historic best finish in 2022, reaching the semifinals.

Senegal

Senegal’s top players include Sadio Mané, Kalidou Koulibaly and Idrissa Gueye, forming one of Africa’s most experienced cores. Senegal has appeared in three World Cups and reached its best finish in 2002, advancing to the quarterfinals.

Ghana

Ghana is led by Mohammed Kudus, Antoine Semenyo and Inaki Williams, giving the squad strong playmaking and midfield presence. Ghana has competed in four previous World Cups and reached its best result in 2010, making the quarterfinals.

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South Korea

South Korea is headlined by Son Heung-min, supported by key players such as Kim Min-jae and Lee Kang-in. South Korea has played in 11 previous World Cups and reached its best finish in 2002, advancing to the semifinals as co-host.

Japan

Japan features Takefusa Kubo and Kaoru Mitoma as its leading players, blending top European experience with emerging talent. Japan has appeared in seven previous World Cups and reached the Round of 16 four times, its best result to date.

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Australia

Australia’s top players include Jackson Irvine and keeper Mathew Ryan as its most experienced members. Australia has competed in six previous World Cups and reached the round of 16 twice, in 2006 and 2022.

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New Zealand

New Zealand is led by all-time leading scorer Chris Wood, with 45 international goals to his name. New Zealand has appeared in two previous World Cups (1982, 2010), and did not advance from the group stage in either appearance. 

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