Kroupi enjoyed a superb first season in the Premier League following his £10m move from French side Lorient, scoring 13 goals for Bournemouth.
The France U21 star is seen as a perfect addition to an Arsenal squad that lacked creative spark for much of the season despite winning the Premier League and reaching the Champions League final.
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The Gunners appeared to be leading the race to sign Kroupi but it was reported in France last week that PSG and Chelsea were also interested in a summer deal.
It was even claimed that Kroupi favoured a move to back-to-back European champions PSG despite interest from Premier League giants Arsenal and Chelsea.
French outlet Foot Mercato said Bournemouth’s asking price for Kroupi was 100m euros (£86m), with Manchester City, Barcelona and Bayern Munich also said to be considering a move.
Mikel Arteta wants to bolster Arsenal’s attacking options (Picture: Getty)
But according to The i Paper, Bournemouth would in fact demand a fee ‘well in excess’ of £100m to sell Kroupi this summer.
The report says Bournemouth ‘expect’ Kroupi to stay on the south coast for at least one more season unless the player or his representatives start pushing for a move.
Andoni Iraola urged Kroupi to stay at Bournemouth (Picture: Getty)
‘I think Junior has been a big challenge for me this season, one of the biggest challenges because we noticed straightaway that he has special things,’ said Iraola.
‘His finishing is top for me. But we had to work a lot with him and, especially, he has had to do a lot of work that he wasn’t used to win his minutes.
‘He has become a much better player for me. I know he had a good start and scored goals but I try not to talk to him about goals because this is something which is natural and he will always have it.
‘So, I have tried to make him focus on other parts and he has improved a lot. In the past month, he has allowed us to put out a very offensive line-up because he is giving us the work rate so we can keep it all together and not suffer defensively too much.
‘He’s still very young and has just arrived into the Premier League and it’s his first season. For sure, I think he will play even more minutes next season and will continue evolving.
‘He has a high ceiling but I think this is the best place for him to continue his evolution.’
While the Premier League interest in Kroupi is coming from Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City, Louis Saha has suggested Manchester United should consider entering the race.
‘Junior Kroupi is a very and exciting player,’ Saha told Compare Bet. ‘So, yes, he is a player [former Old Trafford boss] Sir Alex Ferguson would have looked at.
‘However, given the situation at the club right now, our current number nines and forwards are too young. We need a combination of youth and experience, and the priority for me is an experienced player.
‘Kroupi can definitely manage to score a few goals, that’s for sure. But the kind of confidence you need, based on the amount of games and the amount of pressure we will have because we want to win the Champions League and the Premier League, means it’s probably a little bit early for him.
‘Let’s consider one more year where Kroupi is starting every game and isn’t a rookie anymore, and has that kind of confidence.’
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The former Spain World Cup winner will hope to bring some of his own signings to west London this summer while also sanctioning exits for a number of unwanted players from a bloated and underperforming squad.
Ex-Chelsea midfielder Andy Townsend has recommended a move for Wharton, insisting the Crystal Palace star can form part of the ‘future’ of the club’s midfield alongside Moises Caicedo.
Crystal Palace and England star Adam Wharton (Picture: Getty)
‘I could see a Moises Caicedo and Adam Wharton axis as the future of Chelsea,’ Townsend, who made over 100 appearances for the Blues, told OLBG.
‘If that’s the way that Xabi Alonso wants to do it, whether it’s a 4-2-3-1 or 3-4-3, then I could absolutely see that working.
‘I think Adam Wharton is a very classy player. He reminds me of Michael Carrick, the way Carrick used to play at Manchester United, he always looked like he had a bit of time on the ball.
Ex-Chelsea midfielder Andy Townsend (Picture: Getty)
‘He wasn’t the quickest, and you think people would be able to get him and close him down, but that rarely happened. I think Adam Wharton is similar.
‘Whenever I watch him play, he always seemingly has his next pass ready, as soon as the ball comes to him, he knows what he’s doing.
‘Missing out on the England squad may act as a little bit of an incentive to feel that it’s time to move on. Palace have just enjoyed some success and on the back of that, it would make perfect sense for him to move.
Xabi Alonso on Chelsea appointment
‘Chelsea is one of the biggest clubs in world football and it fills me with immense pride to become manager of this great club.
‘From my conversations with the ownership group and sporting leadership, it is clear we share the same ambition.
‘We want to build a team capable of competing consistently at the highest level and fighting for trophies.
‘There is great talent in the squad and huge potential at this football club and it will be my great honour to lead it. Now the focus is on hard work, building the right culture and winning trophies.’
‘I think his left foot alongside Caicedo could absolutely work at a place like Chelsea. He is a talented player.
‘In this era of players who are physical specimens, it’s nice to see someone who can do a bit of that but also has an elegance about his game. Adam Wharton has that.
‘As I said, I think the nearest comparison I could make would be to someone like Michael Carrick, he plays in a very similar way. I think he’d suit Chelsea.’
Wharton is valued at around £80m by Crystal Palace, who clinched their first European trophy last season, winning the Conference League.
Fernandez is keen to secure a move away from Chelsea and is said to be a target for Real Madrid and Manchester City. The Blues would want around £120m to part ways with the Argentine.
It was Odegaard that immediately called Arteta after Manchester City dropped points at Bournemouth to inform his manager that the title belonged to Arsenal.
Odegaard has been one of Arsenal’s most important players during the Arteta era, making over 200 appearances for the club since his move from Real Madrid.
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But injury issues meant Odegaard was only a bit-part player during Arsenal’s title win, with the 27-year-old Norway international starting less than half of their Premier League games.
Arsenal legend Merson has doubts over Odegaard’s future at the Emirates Stadium, however, and believes he is a player the club could look to sell during the summer transfer window.
Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard (Picture: Getty)
‘It’s madness for me to be saying this, but they probably will be thinking about that [selling Martin Odegaard]’, Merson said on The Sports Agents, which is available to watch/listen to now on Global Player, YouTube and wherever you get your podcasts.
‘But for me, I still think there’ll be teams queuing round the block for him… When you play in the position that Odegaard plays in, you’re screaming out for pace up front. You have to have pace.’
Asked how Arteta should use Odegaard going forward, Liverpool legend Steve Nicol said on ESPN: ‘Odegaard might be leaving Arsenal.
‘If you’re Odegaard, the club captain and 18 months ago you were the guy. All of a sudden – and I know he’s had some injuries – but there’s question marks over whether he actually starts because of Eze.
‘And maybe because of the way he’s been playing, someone else might get ahead of him as well. So if you’re Martin Odegaard, do you stick around? I don’t think you do.’
Frank Leboeuf added: ‘I agree, I agree. I’ve always liked Martin Odegaard and the way he plays because he’s very elegant, but he’s not influential anymore.
Up Next
‘He’s there to start the action, to distribute the ball horizontally. But with Eze right now the moves are not the same, he’s more vertical, more influential and he’s going to help [Viktor] Gyokeres too.
‘So it will be a hard time for Odegaard and he will have to make a very good choice, a big choice, at the end of the season.’
The last time the World Cup was on North American soil in 1994, many football fans were sceptical. But it planted the seed of America’s soccer culture today, and it has lived long in the memory of two nations in particular.
Rick Edwards is joined by Brazil fan Edson and two Ireland fans - Rodney and Phelim - who all travelled to the United States. They describe a sometimes underwhelming atmosphere gripped by the stifling heat, but punctuated with unforgettable moments for their teams.
02:20 - Expectations of the US 1994 World Cup
05:00 - The lack of a ‘soccer culture’
8:10 - Edson growing up watching Brazil
10:07 - Ireland coming up against Roberto Baggio’s Italy
16:35 - The excruciating heat
18:40 - John Aldridge’s famous outburst
20:40 - Why things ended in disappointment for the Irish
22:50 - An unconventional Brazil team
25:20 - Brazil vs Netherlands
27:10 - Phelim and Rodney causing chaos in Fort Lauderdale
29:15 - Brazil and Ireland welcomed home
32:30 - The significance of the 1994 World Cup for both nations
Virgil van Dijk, Mo Salah, Jamal Musiala and Lamine Yamal (Picture: Getty/Metro)
With legendary players like Mohamed Salah, Kevin de Bruyne and Virgil van Dijk all potentially at their last World Cup, groups E-H are full of interesting sides and great players – including Spain’s Lamine Yamal.
The teenager may be carrying an injury into the tournament but, assuming Spain manage to get through a relatively easy group, he has the ability and mentality to take the USA, Mexico and Canada by storm.
Elsewhere there are two debutants with heartwarming stories.
Caribbean nation Curacao are facing the prospect of an opening game against giants Germany but have plenty of experience – coach Dick Advocaat will become the oldest manager at the World Cup at the age of 78.
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Cape Verde will have to quieten the aforementioned Yamal but might fancy their chances of upsets against Saudi Arabia and Uruguay.
Elsewhere, we’ve got an Ecuadorian golden generation, the luckiest side at the World Cup in Sweden, and a Japanese team capable of beating the biggest teams.
Group E
Germany, Ecuador, Ivory Coast and Curacao (Picture: Metro)
Germany
Germany teenager Lennart Karl (Picture: Getty)
Story so far: Die Mannschaft have disappointed since winning their fourth title in 2014, going out at the group stage in both Russia and Qatar. An early 2-0 loss to Slovakia in qualifying could have spelled trouble, but Julien Naglesmann’s team have been unbeaten since then. Many of the usual familiar faces won’t be there – the likes of Manuel Neuer and Thomas Muller have now retired – but the squad maintains a good mix of experience and youth.
What to expect: High-octane football. Before the Premier League became the home of pressing, German football was where the hardest running was done. Naglesmann likes his teams to play right on the line between risk and reward, and with the talent of Florian Wirtz and Jamal Musiala at his disposal, it’s easy to see why.
One to watch: Had Serge Gnabry not been ruled out after a cruel injury in April, he would’ve been our pick after a stellar season. His replacement at club level could also leave a mark on this World Cup. 18-year-old Lennart Karl has burst onto the scene as the latest uber-talented attacking youngster and is exciting to watch – even if his appearances may be limited to the bench.
Fun fact: Germany won their first World Cup in 1954 in a match dubbed ‘The Miracle of Bern’, beating massive favourites Hungary after going 2-0 down inside eight minutes. It was the only competitive game the Hungarians lost between 1949 and 1956.
Curaçao
Curacao fans celebrate qualifying for the World Cup (Picture: Getty)
Story so far: And what a story it is. The tiny Caribbean island became the least-populated country ever to qualify after topping their group without losing a game. Legendary Dutch manager Dick Advocaat stepped down in February to spend more time with his sick daughter, fellow countryman Fred Rutten took charge but was turfed out by the players after two games, and Advocaat is back at the helm again. He’ll make history as the oldest coach at a World Cup, aged 78.
What to expect: In terms of points, not that much. It would be a surprise were the Blue Wave to grab a win against more experienced and talented opponents, but don’t completely write them off – a famous draw is well within reach for a squad that is full of experience.
One to watch: Eagled-eyed fans will recognise captain Leandro Bacuna, who had a decent spell at Aston Villa earlier in his career. Now 34, he shares the honour of being Curacao’s most-capped player with goalkeeper Eloy Room.
Fun fact: Curacao’s seven wins across qualifying this time around is more than they managed in 2014, 2018 and 2022 combined.
Cote D’Ivoire
Yan Diomande is a target for Liverpool this summer (Picture: Getty)
Story so far: Failure to qualify in 2018 and 2022 was seen as an embarrassment but after sacking their coach mid-tournament in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations and going on to win the whole thing, Cote D’Ivoire come into this year’s World Cup with a renewed sense of ambition to make it out of the group stage at the fourth time of asking.
What to expect: Coach Emerse Fae focused on building a strong defence as a platform for qualifying, and it worked. Expect a well-organised team who will match most sides for effort and tempo, with some magic sprinkled in from players like Amad Diallo and Simon Adingra
One to watch: Teenage winger Yan Diomande has taken German football by storm this year at RB Leipzig and has both the pace and dribbling ability to scare any defence. Think Manchester City’s Jeremy Doku but taller and stronger – there’s a reason top sides are lining up for his signature already.
Fun fact: Fullback Guéla Doué is PSG superstar Desiré’s older brother – if the pair end up playing against each other in the knockout stage it would be only the second time brothers have done so at the World Cup, after Kevin-Prince and Jerome Boateng did so in 2010 and 2014 for Ghana and Germany respectively.
Ecuador
Chelsea’s Moises Caicedo is a key player for Ecuador, and scored at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar (Picture: Getty)
Story so far: Ecuador’s rise over the past ten years has been remarkable, with a number of players now considered among the world’s best. Moises Caicedo, Willian Pacho and Piero Hincapie make up a solid defensive core that conceded just five goals in 18 games to finish second in qualifying behind reigning champs Argentina, but they do rely on their home advantage at high altitude – the last game they lost in Quito was in 2021.
What to expect: Draws. La Tri are unbeaten in 11 but nine of those finished all square. Coach Sebastian Beccacece’s defence-first approach meant Ecuador scored just 14 times in qualifying, and they still rely on former West Ham and Everton striker Enner Valencia, now 36, to lead the line up front.
One to watch: Teenager Kendry Paez is the latest off the production line at Independiente del Valle – original home of Caicedo and Pacho. The tricky winger joined Chelsea in 2025 and has been out on loan at Strasbourg and now River Plate in Argentina. He has bags of talent and could provide the spark Ecuador need.
Fun fact: Ecuador were banned from playing home World Cup qualification games in 2007 after Fifa ruled that games couldn’t take place at altitudes over 8,200 ft above sea level, citing health concerns for players. The ban was revoked in 2008 after considerable protests.
Group F
Netherlands, Japan, Tunisia and Sweden (Picture: Metro)
Netherlands
Netherlands captain Virgil van Dijk is closing in on 100 caps for his country (Picture: Getty)
Story so far: Few sides in World Cup history have more painful memories than the Netherlands, who have been runners up three times and semi-finalists twice. But they come into this summer with a typical level of Dutch confidence after going unbeaten in qualifying and conceding just four goals.
What to expect: The Dutch are one of a number of teams that could make it all the way to the final, if things go their way. Keep an eye out for a potential rematch with Argentina, who beat them in the 1978 final, 2014 semi-final and 2022 quarter-final. There’s no love lost there.
One to watch: Premier League fans will recognise a large chunk of the squad who play in England while there are even more scattered across leagues in Italy, Germany and France, but another familiar face will be key despite plying his trade in Brazil. Memphis Depay is his country’s all-time top goalscorer and raises his game when playing in orange.
Fun fact: They are technically unbeaten in World Cup games since the 2010 final, after being knocked out on penalties in 2014 and 2022.
Japan
Japan shocked Spain and Germany with group stage wins at the 2022 World Cup (Picture: Getty)
Story so far: Qualifying is a straightforward challenge – Japan have been in every World Cup since 1998, but it’s their overall performances since 2022 in Qatar that tell the real story. Coach Hajime Moriyasu has been in charge since 2018 and instilled a style of play that makes players more than the sum of their parts and has led to victories over Brazil and England in recent months.
What to expect: A team capable of challenging anyone. They may lack superstars, given Karou Mitoma’s absence, but are well-organised and possess real attacking threats through pace out wide and clever central midfielders. Japan have never made it past the round of 16 – that should change this year.
One to watch: Centre back Shogo Taniguchi is the type of player World Cups were made for. He spent most of his career at one club in Japan, before moving to Qatar and now Belgium. At 34, he’s spent plenty of time out of the European spotlight and is a key part of Japan’s three-man defence.
Fun fact: Japan may have a slight penalty advantage if any of their games need to be decided by a shootout – the J League replaced draws with penalties this season, so players still plying their trade at home will have had plenty of practice.
Tunisia
Tunisia teenager Khalil Ayari in a warm-up friendly against Canada (Picture: Getty)
Story so far: Tunisia won nine out of 10 games and didn’t concede a single goal in getting here, making them the first team in history to qualify for the World Cup without conceding. However, their performances in January’s Africa Cup of Nations left a lot to be desired, with a draw to Tanzania and loss to Mali sending them home with a whimper.
What to expect: Tunisia beat France at the 2022 World Cup and drew with Brazil in a friendly last November, so they do have pedigree against the top sides and plenty of experience to draw on. They’ll need to channel those results in a group where they are underdogs on paper – that tag seems to suit them just fine.
One to watch: Youngster Khalil Ayari is yet to make his senior debut for PSG, but the attacking midfielder has been heralded as a potential star of the future in his short career so far. He’s not likely to start but will provide trickery off the bench.
Fun fact: Tunisia made history in Buenos Aires in 1978, when they became the first Arab and African team to win a World Cup match, defeating Mexico 3-1.
Sweden
Viktor Gyökeres scored key goals to qualify Sweden for the World Cup (Picture: Getty)
Story so far: Perhaps the luckiest team to have made it to the World Cup, Sweden finished bottom of their qualifying group without winning a game but were given a playoff spot thanks to their Nations League results, and beat Ukraine and Poland to book their spot. Former Chelsea boss Graham Potter has turned the mood around since taking charge in October and is adored by Swedish fans.
What to expect: Sweden are lacking in quality across the board but with Viktor Gyokeres and Alexander Isak up front, all Potter should need to do is provide his striking pair with the platform to get their shots away on the counter attack. This is a team with history in the competition, having been runners up in 1958 and third in 1994.
One to watch: Potter seemed to stumble upon a system that works in the playoffs, and Brighton midfielder Yasin Ayari was one of the main beneficiaries. His clever passing and intensity should give Isak and Gyokeres a platform to shine.
Fun fact: No teams have played each other more at the World Cup than Sweden and Brazil, who have met seven times since the third-place match in 1938. Sweden are yet to beat their South American yellow-shirted rivals.
Group G
Belgium, Iran, Egypt and New Zealand (Picture: Metro)
Belgium
Kevin de Bruyne will look to lead Belgium by example this summer (Picture: Getty)
Story so far: The Red Devils are unbeaten since manager Rudi Garcia took over in January 2025, although draws against North Macedonia and Kazakhstan made qualification a little less straightforward than expected.
What to expect: One last rodeo for some of the country’s greats. It will be the last World Cup for legends like Kevin de Bruyne and Axel Witsel, while Romelu Lukaku and Thibaut Courtois would be lucky to make another one too. This is a side in transition from one generation to the next.
One to watch: Manchester City’s Jeremy Doku is the new star of the show – he has already made 41 appearances for Belgium despite only turning 24 in May. He’s still got some inconsistency to his game but is unstoppable on his day.
Fun fact: Belgium are the only national team to top the Fifa rankings without having won a World Cup or continental trophy.
Egypt
Mo Salah will be aiming to put a bad season at Liverpool behind him (Picture: Getty)
Story so far: Given Egypt’s status as one of African football’s dominant nations, it’s hard to believe this will only be their fourth World Cup. They made the round of 16 all the way back in 1934 but failed to get out of their group in 1990 and 2018. The Pharaohs were unbeaten in qualifying but suffered another heartbreaking loss to Senegal in the Afcon semi-final earlier this year.
What to expect: The Salah show, again. The Liverpool legend has come under criticism for a lack of trophies at international level and while that won’t change this summer, he will want to end his career on a high. Now 33, it’s hard to see him being involved at the next World Cup so this is his time to shine.
One to watch: Omar Marmoush’s time at Manchester City hasn’t exactly worked out as he wanted after joining in January 2025, but he remains the heir apparent to Salah. His speed and eye for goal will be a danger on the break.
Fun fact: From 1958 to 1961, Egypt had a political union with Syria, which saw them play under the name of the United Arab Emirates – but Fifa attributes these records to Egypt, as the team consisted solely of Egyptian footballers.
Iran
Mehdi Taremi is Iran’s top scorer at the World Cup (Picture: Getty)
Story so far: Let’s start on the pitch – Iran qualified for their fourth consecutive World Cup way back in March 2025 and finished top of their group having lost just once. Fast forward to March 2026 and the US and Israel’s war on Iran caused the suspension of the Persian Gulf Pro League, where many Iranian players ply their trade.
What to expect: It’s still hard to tell. The Iranian football federation have said Iran would compete at the tournament ‘without any retreat from our beliefs, culture and convictions’, and have demanded guarantees that all players, coaches and officials travelling with the team will receive visas, including those who completed military service with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
One to watch: Striker Mehdi Taremi made history in 2022 by becoming the first Iranian to score more than one goal at a World Cup with two against England. He’s scored 16 for Olympiakos and is his country’s second all-time top scorer.
Fun fact: Coach Amir Ghalenoei first took charge of the national team way back in 2006 but was sacked after a poor performance in the 2007 Asian Cup. He bounced around various Iranian teams since then before taking control once again in 2023.
New Zealand
Chris Wood of Nottingham Forest is New Zealand’s star player (Picture: Getty)
Story so far: One of the biggest beneficiaries of the expanded format this year. Despite routinely dominating their region, New Zealand used to also have to win an inter-confederation playoff to make the World Cup. That’s changed this time around and you can expect to see them back again sooner rather than later.
What to expect: A first World Cup win. Having lost all three games in 1982 and drawn all three in 2010, logic says they’ll win three this time around. That’s fanciful thinking, of course, but the All Whites will be hopeful of snatching one against either Egypt or Iran.
One to watch: Sheffield United defender Tyler Bindon is one of the most talented players to come out of New Zealand since Chris Wood. He’ll be familiar with his surroundings for the opening game against Iran in LA, having moved to California aged 12.
Fun fact: Coach Darren Bazeley – who made over 280 appearances for Watford as a player – will make history by becoming the first man to lead a team out at the U17 World Cup, U20 World Cup, Olympics and now senior World Cup, all with New Zealand.
Group H
Spain, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia and Cape Verde (Picture: Metro)
Spain
Lamine Yamal’s fitness heading into the World Cup is a concern, but he is still set to be one of the stars of the tournament (Picture: Getty)
Story so far: Another side that went unbeaten in qualifying, Spain have gone from strength to strength since winning Euro 2024 under manager Luis de la Fuente. Aside from a penalty shootout defeat to Portugal in the Nations League final last year, La Rioja have only lost once since 2023.
What to expect: More of the same, but slightly different. Some of the stars of that Euros win, like Nico Williams and Alvaro Morata, have featured less in recent months but the style of play is the same – keep the ball and dominate the opponent. This is a side that should go deep into the competition and are one of the favourites to win it all.
One to watch: We’ll all be watching Lamine Yamal on the right wing, but his defensive teammate at Barcelona, Pau Cubarsi, is the next off the La Masia production line. At 19 he’s already played over 100 senior games and looks set to be a stalwart of this side for years to come.
Fun fact: Spain are one of only two nations, alongside Germany, to win both the men’s and women’s World Cups.
Cape Verde
Story so far: The Blue Sharks are one of this year’s fairytales, having qualified for the first time. The country, spread across 10 islands, didn’t even enter the qualification process until 2002 and have steadily built themselves into a nation that can punch above their weight consistently – they finished ahead of relative giants Cameroon to get here and many hailed it as the greatest day in the nation’s history since gaining independence from Portugal in 1974.
What to expect: Lots of rearguard action. Like most first-timers at the World Cup, Cape Verde will be looking to keep things tight, with coach Bubista relying on the experience of Irish-based Pico Lopes at centre back to marshall the defence. Any goals will come on the break.
One to watch: Captain Ryan Mendes is the heart and soul of a team that aren’t lacking in either. The 36-year-old winger is his country’s most-capped player and top scorer, who has only improved with age while playing in Turkiye.
Fun fact: Irish-born defender Roberto ‘Pico’ Lopes was approached by the Cape Verdean federation in 2019, via Linkedin. The Shamrock Rovers centre back, who didn’t speak Portuguese at the time, thought the message was spam and ignored it for nine months before they followed up in English and he quickly made the decision to play.
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia captain Salem Al-Dawsari is capable of moments of magic (Picture: Getty)
Story so far: While the success of the Saudi Pro League is debatable, there’s no getting away from the fact the country is football mad and has been improving for years now. They’ve gone from regular four and five nil losses (and one 8-0 in 2002) to beating eventual champs Argentina 2-1 and running both Poland and Mexico close last time around.
What to expect: Potentially more of the same. The regime are gearing up to hosting the tournament in 2034 and will want their team to reach the knockouts before then. On the pitch, things may be slightly different, as long-time head coach Herve Renard was sacked in April and replaced by the Greek Georgios Donis. He’s promised attacking football.
One to watch: Winger Salem Al-Dawsari is a real leader – he’s the captain of his country and at Al Hilal ahead of the likes of Karim Benzema, and scored the stunning winner against Messi and co in 2022.
Fun fact: Saudi Arabia remain the only Asian men’s team to win any Fifa tournament after they beat Scotland in the 1989 U17 World Cup final.
Uruguay
Former Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez (number nine) leads the line for Uruguay (Picture: Getty)
Story so far: South American sides proved hard to separate during qualifying – aside from Argentina, a single point separated the five other qualifiers, including Uruguay. Legendary coach Marcelo Bielsa has been in charge since 2023 and his intense style could bring the best out of a team that always step up on the big stage.
What to expect: Bet against this team at your peril. Yes, there is a lack of obvious star power now that Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani have retired, but the two-time champions have only failed to make it out of the group stage four times in 14 appearances at the finals. One of those was last time around – they’ll do anything to stop that from happening again.
One to watch: Darwin Nunez has been away from the European spotlight since moving to Saudi Arabia from Liverpool. He’s now the team’s main man in attack and suits Bielsa’s playing style perfectly. The only question left is whether he’ll be at his powerful best or calamitous worst.
Fun fact: Uruguay are the only nation recognised by Fifa as ‘Champions of World Champions’, after they won the 1980 World Champions’ Gold Cup.
