Italy's Back. USMNT Is Primed. The Last World Cup Tickets Are Almost Gone.
Three months. That is all that stands between us and the biggest sporting event in the world coming to our own backyard. And this week, the drama is hitting a fever pitch — because some of the most iconic names in world soccer are still fighting for their seats at the table.
Here is what is happening right now, why it matters, and what to tell your kid the next time you are driving them to practice.
The European Playoffs Just Got Wild
This past Thursday, sixteen European nations played their playoff semifinals for four remaining World Cup spots. Four. That is it. And some of the results were jaw-dropping.
Italy — four-time World Cup champions, one of the most storied programs in soccer history — needed every minute of their 2-0 win over Northern Ireland to keep their World Cup dreams alive. Italy missed the 2018 World Cup entirely and nearly missed 2022. For years, Italian soccer has been in an identity crisis. But on Thursday night, Sandro Tonali was the difference-maker, and the Azzurri earned their place in the final. They will now face Bosnia and Herzegovina on March 31 with a World Cup spot on the line.
And it gets more dramatic from there:
- Sweden advanced past Ukraine, powered by Viktor Gyökeres — Sporting CP's striker who has been absolutely unstoppable this season with over 40 goals — and will face Poland in the final.
- Turkey booked their spot in the final against Kosovo, with Ferdi Kadıoğlu delivering the moment of the night for the Turks.
- Bosnia and Herzegovina eliminated Wales on penalty kicks, ending what would have been a dream tournament for the Welsh faithful.
- Czechia knocked out the Republic of Ireland — the kind of result that sends shockwaves through club WhatsApp groups all over Dublin (and South Boston).
The four UEFA finals are all set for Tuesday, March 31. Italy vs. Bosnia. Sweden vs. Poland. Turkey vs. Kosovo. And Denmark vs. Czechia. When those final whistles blow, the full 48-team World Cup field will be locked in. Mark your calendars — Tuesday night is must-watch soccer.
The Intercontinental Playoffs Are Just as Juicy
Europe is not the only place sorting out the final roster. Two intercontinental playoff spots are also being finalized this week. New Caledonia and Jamaica are squaring off, as are Iraq and Bolivia. The winners punch their tickets to the USA, Canada, and Mexico this summer.
For context: New Caledonia is a Pacific territory the size of New Jersey. Jamaica has never won a World Cup group stage match. These are the cinderella storylines that make the 48-team format worth getting excited about — more nations, more stories, more kids around the world watching and dreaming.
USMNT's Final Big Tests Before the Tournament
Meanwhile, Team USA is doing exactly what you want to see from a host nation three months before kickoff: testing itself against the best.
Head coach Mauricio Pochettino called a 27-player squad for this week's March camp, with the team facing Belgium and Portugal in Atlanta. Both nations rank in the FIFA top 10. This is not a soft prep schedule — Pochettino is stress-testing his starting lineup against elite European opposition, and Atlanta gets to host it.
A few names to know from this camp:
- Christian Pulisic leads the squad with 82 caps and remains the creative heart of this team. His form at AC Milan has been sharp all season.
- Weston McKennie is playing some of the best soccer of his career at Juventus, where he recently signed a big-money contract extension — the kind of form you want going into a home World Cup.
- Brenden Aaronson and Antonee Robinson round out a midfield and defensive core with serious European experience behind them.
- Sergino Dest is the notable absence — the PSV right back picked up a hamstring injury in early March and will miss this camp. The good news: he is not expected to miss the World Cup itself, with a projected four-to-six week return timeline. Plenty of runway to be fit in June.
These Belgium and Portugal friendlies are essentially a live dress rehearsal. If the US can stay competitive — or pull off a result — it sends a message to the rest of the 48-team field: the hosts are not just a good story. They are a threat.
Why This Matters for Your Soccer Kid
Here is the thing about World Cup qualification drama: it is the purest form of soccer storytelling there is. No transfers. No salary disputes. Just a country and its players with one shot to make history.
Italy was absent from the 2018 World Cup entirely. An entire generation of young Italian players missed their moment on the world stage. What Thursday's win represents is redemption — a nation fighting its way back. That is a story worth telling your kid on the way to practice.
And the USMNT story is different but equally powerful. These are players who grew up watching World Cups on TV just like your child does. Christian Pulisic was 13 years old when the US failed to qualify for the 2014 World Cup. Now he is the team's most capped player, preparing to compete in one being hosted in his own country. That arc matters.
If you want your kid to understand what they are training for — what all the cone drills and early Saturday mornings and shin guard adjustments are pointing toward — this is the week to sit down and watch some of it together.
What to Watch Next Week
Put Tuesday, March 31 on the family calendar. The four UEFA playoff finals all kick off at 7:45 PM local time in Europe (that is midday on the East Coast, around 9:45 AM Pacific). Check Paramount+ and FOX Sports for streaming rights to specific matches.
The full World Cup field will be confirmed by Wednesday morning US time. Forty-eight nations. Three host countries. Sixteen venues. A tournament that opens in Mexico City on June 11 and ends at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on July 19.
The last tickets are almost gone. And the party? It is three months away.
Want your young player ready when World Cup fever hits? The Hackk Soccer Rebounder Board is what serious solo trainers use to sharpen their first touch before the biggest moments. Because when the World Cup comes to your city, you want to be the kid who was already working.