Teams to potentially win a World Cup first time in the future

[Malty]

USA. Definitely imo. They will become a genuine playing world power within the game in the next generation

We've been saying this for years. Sleeping giants etc cliches.. they need to prove it with actions.

 

[JoeMercer'sWay]

why aren't the USA in the Copa America?

 

[Blue Haze]

why aren't the USA in the Copa America?

Not enough depth. Gold Cup this summer. Copa America next year if we're invited

 

[Bembeltown]

USA - Definitely a side you would consider in the future. They've been amazing, beat Netherlands and Germany at their own backyard and been dominant in the CONCACAF for many years. Performed great at the World Cup, before being knocked in extra time. This team obviously at their current state, have not been "world beaters" but however they possess the tag "sleeping giants". Great sporting nation and seem to dominate any sport they take seriously. With soccer getting more popular, they will obviously get better. It works proportionally. MLS has expanded and now is growing very fast. USA will surely be favourites for the 2026 World cup, I'd have to assume they get the hosting rights for 2026. It's hard to say if MLS will overtake the NHL or the MLB anytime soon but it's definitely possible. The interest in soccer is exponentially growing whilst Hockey and Baseball are becoming dying entities. I don't see MLS ever overtaking NBA or NFL though.

There is a lot of potential in the US with football (I refuse to call it soccer) and from what I read American Football (NFL) is becoming less and less popular as well, simply because parents won´t allow their kids to pick up the sports anymore due to the silly amount of injuries they pick up (concussions etc.)

That basically leaves Football in a pretty good position as a future No 1 or No 2 sport.

Back in the day the standard comment I got from "muricans" when talking about football was usually that it is boring...never really got that. The only entertaining sports in the US are Hockey and Basketball.

Football feels like a gigantic commerical break on TV and Baseball...I mean..what the hell is this sport even about. If Football is considered boring I have no idea what Baseball is!?

 

[jimharri]

Have an open-ended bet with a mate of mine on whether an Asian or an African country will win the WC first. I'm backing Asia (I think we must've made the bed after Sun Jihai had had one of his good games!)

That implies that he had more than one!

;-)

 

[aguero93:20]

I have no idea what Baseball is!?

It's like rounders, the kids version of cricket.

 

[Pell]

Not enough depth. Gold Cup this summer. Copa America next year if we're invited

Aren't they sort of merging the Copa America with the Gold Cup in the next version? I heard the 2019 version is being hosted in the US. Good idea I think. The US (and Mexico for that matter) would be much better if CONCACAF and CONMEBOL merged to form one federation, with everyone playing in the same World Cup qualifiers and cups. The US could play against the likes of Brazil, Argentina, and the other South American teams on a more regular basis, and in competitive matches, which would improve them far more than friendlies. A stronger America region would bring the best out of everyone. Australia are much better now they're playing in Asia, then Oceania, where they were racking up cricket scores nearly every match.

 

[Scaring Europe to Death]

Most of the countries mentioned have enjoyed cyclical moments of brilliance and flirted with success at major tournaments.
However you can't ignore the huge progress in the USA, and more importantly, the growth in the MLS and their domestic infrastructure.
They also seem more focussed on the progress of the national team, as opposed to a certain country, forever obsessed with Club v Country conflict.

 

[Lovebitesandeveryfing]

I honestly think football will never truly, truly take off in the States. At least, not as far as the men's game is concerned. It's true that the women's game already has taken off, big time. But if you look at the three sports that dominate, baseball, American football, and basketball, the one thing that they have in common is that scoring is pretty much constant right through the match. They seem to demand that of their sports. Americans, in my experience, just don't get that, for an aficionado, a draw can by a satisfying result, and that even a goalless draw can be acceptable, if there have been plenty of chances at both ends, posts and crossbars hit, both keepers playing blinders, etc. This is not an anti-American comment — I've been to the States (Massachussetts, California), I've had American friends — it's just what I've observed in talking to Americans over the years.
What will make it take off, if anything does, is the growing Latino-origin population.

 

[denislawsbackheel]

USA and China are the only potential first timers in the next 100 years.