Sports
Three games in is too early to trust the Premier League table… or is it?
Nothing heralds the beginning of autumn more than people stating that it is “too early to look at the league table”. Listen to some and you might be convinced there was once a glorious era when those interested in football didn’t even glance at the standings until eight, 10, maybe even 12 games in.
The truth is that, even back in September 1888, when league football as a concept was only a week old, publications were printing the tables (albeit without the number of points won, as that detail had not been invented yet). Similarly, in the 1980s and 1990s, the BBC’s Ceefax news service and ITV equivalent Teletext happily displayed league tables to UK viewers after one round of games, because that was the point of that particular page. Seeing your team top of the pile after a surprise 5-0 opening-day win is a joyful sight, no matter what decade you are operating in.
The first three Matchweeks complete ✅
Here is how the current table compares to this stage last season… pic.twitter.com/6thXQaltHM
— Premier League (@premierleague) September 6, 2024
Where anti-early-table campaigners may have a point is when it comes to extrapolating how a season will go, based on the nascent standings.
Clubs have been crowned champions after starting badly, and Carlisle United won the first three games in 1974-75, their only year in the top flight, and finished last. But equally, in some seasons you can get a grasp of how things are going to turn out after only three games.
As the graph below shows, 2023-24 was one of those, with a 0.8 correlation between the table after three weeks in late August and its final form in the middle of May.
So, with a mere 7.9 per cent of the 2024-25 Premier League season completed, we asked some of our club writers how much they think the table reflects their club’s prospects for the rest of it.
Manchester City: Top of the league with a 100 per cent record and the leading scorers after three games. Is a fifth successive title inevitable?
Sam Lee: Whenever Pep Guardiola has been asked about City’s performance after these opening three games, he has not focused on many, if any, technical details or the actual quality of their displays, but the amount of commitment the players have shown in specific circumstances, such as defending throw-ins and tracking back. Those, he says, are signs that they have not dropped their motivation after winning the title for a fourth year in a row.
GO DEEPER
We examined Man City’s streak of 49 successful throw-ins. For fun.
Stuff like that will probably give the biggest indication of their levels this season, because their quality is not in doubt, but whether they actually win the league again or not is another thing entirely. Arsenal and Liverpool have missed out by the tiniest of margins in recent years, and that can even happen to City when races are so tight. But it seems that, come the end of the season, they “will be there”, as Guardiola likes to say.
Liverpool (second): Maximum points, with the division’s best defence. That’s a mirror of 2018-19. Will the rest of 2024-25 pan out in the same way? And if so, is that a decent first season for head coach Arne Slot?
Gregg Evans: Let’s not get carried away, like last season when everything looked so sweet in the early months of the campaign. Granted, this has been a decent start under Slot and, if there’s one major difference, it’s the amount of control Liverpool are starting to find in games. They appear to be better equipped to go ahead and then hold onto a lead — the issue at times was conceding the first goal so often — so that’s a good sign.
Yet to get anywhere near their 2018-19 points tally of 97, which incredibly wasn’t enough to win the title as City got 98, there needs to be a significant change in the treatment room. Liverpool didn’t fall out of last season’s title race in March and April because the players weren’t good enough, they slipped away when injuries started to bite and levels dropped on the back of rushed returns by first-team faces.
It’s simple: keep the players fit and fresh, and Slot’s side have a great chance of finishing second, or one place higher.
Arsenal (fourth): Two points dropped at home in the third game of the season, just like in 2023-24. That draw with Fulham, technically, cost them the title. Will 2024-25 be different?
Art de Roche: The main difference between last season and this one was supposed to be that Arsenal would be more settled. Mikel Arteta’s starting line-up did not evolve much with this summer’s transfer business, which has allowed some players to pick up where they left off, but the past two weeks have been tough.
New signing Mikel Merino suffered a shoulder injury in his first training session, Declan Rice was sent off against Brighton & Hove Albion and Martin Odegaard was forced off with injury playing for Norway on Monday night. While Rice will return from suspension after Sunday’s north London derby, it means Arsenal will miss the entirety of what was meant to be their first-choice midfield for at least one game. And that just increases the importance of negotiating an extremely tricky opening to the season, with a visit to Manchester City to come next Sunday.
Will Odegaard’s ankle injury undermine Arsenal’s title bid? (Mateusz Slodkowski/Getty Images)
Despite being two points off Guardiola’s side at this point last year, Arsenal still took the title race to the season’s final day. How they fare away to Tottenham Hotspur and then City in the next 10 days may determine their ceiling for 2024-25, so going into those matches with belief in each other and the system will be essential.
Newcastle United: They are fifth. Finishing there would be progress (and possibly bring Champions League qualification). Job done?
Chris Waugh: If you offered that as a final position to most Newcastle fans now, surely a decent proportion of them would take it following a turbulent summer in which the first XI simply was not strengthened and the Marc Guehi saga came to define their window. Performance-wise in these early games, Newcastle have yet to resemble an Eddie Howe outfit; there has been a lack of intensity and energy in their game. On the ball, they have been frustratingly wasteful, with a passing accuracy rate of just 73.96 per cent — the lowest in the Premier League.
But there are two ways of evaluating Newcastle’s start.
The pessimistic one is that they have been extremely lucky. There is an argument they have deserved to lose all three of their opening fixtures given the balance of play and, if they continue to labour in this way, results will turn against them.
Howe has guided Newcastle to their best start since 2011-12 (Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images)
However, the more optimistic one, which this correspondent tends to subscribe to, is that Newcastle are unbeaten, are off to their best start in a league season under Howe and have accumulated their highest number of points after three games of a top-flight campaign since 2011-12. They are yet to really get going and, once fitness levels are boosted and now that everyone inside the club can refocus with the transfer window having closed, they will improve and have a strong platform from which to build.
The club’s stated target is securing European football for 2025-26, but fifth place would still represent quite the achievement, given the lack of fresh faces.
Aston Villa: Seventh right now — that’s where Newcastle finished after being in the Champions League disrupted their 2023-24 season. Will Villa do better than that, or not?
Jacob Tanswell: Villa had injuries last season, too. And still finished fourth. They were not a team that used excuses, nor did they let an intense schedule balancing domestic and European football allow minds to become tired. In the end, they ground out Champions League qualification and that type of staying power will be needed.
Unai Emery’s side have started pretty well with two wins and one defeat — the latter coming against Arsenal in a game that could have gone either way. Villa will be aiming for a top-six finish provided injuries do not derail their hopes. Emery’s background in balancing European competitions with consistency in the league will be relied upon but a relative rejuvenation of the squad over the summer should keep it fresh.
Villa’s only defeat came to Arsenal – a game decided by fine margins (Clive Mason/Getty Images)
Tottenham (10th): Good going forward, susceptible at the back, sat in mid-table. Which of those elements will change between now and the end of the season?
Jay Harris: Spurs were the protagonists in the biggest transfer of the summer, committing £65million ($84.9m) to sign striker Dominic Solanke — but he picked up an ankle injury on his debut in the opener against Leicester City and has missed the two games since. When Solanke is up and running, head coach Ange Postecoglou will be confident his side can show a ruthlessness in front of goal that was missing in their 2-1 away defeat against Newcastle. Centre-back Micky van de Ven was unavailable at St James’ Park too, so when Spurs have their full-strength XI available they should quickly start climbing the table.
Injuries have given Postecoglou a slower start to the season than in 2023-24 (Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)
The only problem is things might get worse before Postecoglou’s side see any improvement, as they face Arsenal, Brentford and Manchester United in the next three league games.
Last season, Tottenham roared out of the blocks with eight wins and two draws from the first 10 matches before fading. This one could end up being the opposite.
Chelsea (11th): A win, a draw and a defeat. Which will the club have more of by the end of the season?
Liam Twomey: The lesson of their first three Premier League games of 2024-25 is that Chelsea under new coach Enzo Maresca are, unsurprisingly, a work in progress. Losing at home to Manchester City on the opening weekend was expected, though the comfortable manner in which the champions held Maresca’s team at arm’s length that day even when without several of their key starters was dispiriting.
One clinical four-goal half against Wolverhampton Wanderers masked the kind of chaotic game more associated with Mauricio Pochettino’s 2023-24 tenure. Chelsea were at their most convincing in the opening 45 minutes of their third match, against Crystal Palace, but lost control after the break and with it, two points.
Maresca’s squad has the talent to finish in the top four, but they are young, learning a new style of play and arguably remain a little unbalanced. Chelsea will win more than they lose, but there are going to be more mistakes along the way.
Chelsea have shown flashes of cohesion in their opening three games (Jacques Feeney/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)
The main priority for Maresca is to ensure the gap to whoever is in fourth place does not become insurmountable during these early weeks, as it soon did under Pochettino.
Manchester United (14th): Last season’s eighth-place finish was the club’s lowest since they came 13th in 1990. Could this squad feasibly finish in the bottom half?
Mark Critchley: Ask Erik ten Hag and he would tell you that his team finishing eighth was the freak result of an unrelenting injury crisis. But you could coherently argue United were lucky to end up that high — sort the final 2023-24 Premier League table by expected goal difference and United’s -12.5 puts them 15th. So yes, this squad are capable of a bottom-half finish, according to the underlying numbers at least.
Plenty has changed since last season, though. Five new signings filled every priority position targeted at the start of the summer window, Ten Hag’s backroom staff has been reshuffled and new co-owner INEOS’ key appointments to a reformed internal structure are in place.
GO DEEPER
After Arne Slot debunked Erik ten Hag’s tactical setup on live TV, how worried should United fans be?
But on the evidence of United’s opening three games, plenty of familiar issues remain. So does Ten Hag. And with no sign of the injuries letting up either, an improvement on last season is hardly guaranteed.
United’s defence has some familiar-looking gaps in it (Nick Taylor/Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Everton: Bottom after three games, again. Is another relegation battle inevitable or is this just what happens to Sean Dyche in August?
Patrick Boyland: Certainly part of this is just Dyche’s record in August. His teams are notoriously slow starters and he has the second-lowest win percentage (12 per cent) of anyone to manage more than 10 Premier League games in the first month of the season.
GO DEEPER
Dyche will be backed – and will back himself – to turn Everton’s start around
Everton have looked undercooked heading into the new campaign, a raft of pre-season injuries and the injury absence of key defender Jarrad Branthwaite leaving them vulnerable to a sloppy start. Dyche’s apparent unwillingness to make changes to an underpowered first team and blood some of the new signings has not helped either.
But a fourth successive relegation battle is not inevitable. There is over 92 per cent — 35 of the 38 games — of the season still to go, and there was enough in the first 87 minutes against Bournemouth last time out to suggest they can improve.
With tricky trips to Aston Villa and Leicester City coming in the first two matches after this international break, though, things could well get worse before they get better.
(Top photos: Getty Images)
Sports
Thunder lose star Jalen Williams for Western Conference Finals Game 7 as hamstring injury lingers
Spurs force Game 7 vs. Thunder, SGA struggles, Will Wemby carry this momentum? | The Herd
Victor Wembanyama scored 28 points and 10 rebounds in the San Antonio Spurs’ 118-91 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 6 of the WCF. Jason McIntyre says that Wemby showed up in the biggest moments, and asks if he can carry this momentum into Game 7. Plus, he discusses Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s struggles and asks if he will cost the Thunder the series.
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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.
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.
“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.
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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CLOVIS — 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.
“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)
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.
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 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).
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 at the CIF state track and field preliminaries on Friday.
(Steve Galluzzo / For The Times)
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.
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.
(Tomas Ovalle / For The Times)
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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).
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.
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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)
HOST NATIONS
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
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.
UEFA TEAMS TO KNOW
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
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.
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.
CONMEBOL TEAMS TO KNOW
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
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.
CAF TEAMS TO KNOW
Morocco
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.
AFC TEAMS TO KNOW
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.
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.
OFC TEAMS TO KNOW
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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