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Billy Haisley

Japan celebrate after the FIFA World Cup Qualifier football match between Australia Socceroos and Japan on March 24, 2022 at Stadium Australia in Sydney, Australia.

Internationals

Fate Has Handed Japan A Nearly Impossible Task

Tom Ley

Soccer

Die Mannschaft Is Dead, Long Live Die Mannschaft

Albert Burneko

Alvaro Morata of Spain celebrates scoring Spain goal during the UEFA Nations League League A Group 2 match between Portugal and Spain at Estadio Municipal de Braga on September 27, 2022 in Braga, Portugal.

It Is Illegal To List Spain Among The World Cup Favorites

Defector Up All Night

Can’t Say I See Us Dropping A Game

Laura Wagner

If Nothing Else, Costa Rica Has Sentimentality On Its Side

Tunisia players celebrate during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group G match between Panama and Tunisia at Mordovia Arena on June 28, 2018 in Saransk, Russia.

Tunisia Has The Coolest Nickname In The Whole World Cup

Luis Paez-Pumar

TOPSHOT - Denmark's forward Kasper Dolberg (L) celebrates scoring the opening goal with his teammate Denmark's midfielder Christian Eriksen during the UEFA Nations League football match between Denmark and France in Copenhagen on September 25, 2022. - Denmark OUT (Photo by Liselotte Sabroe / Ritzau Scanpix / AFP) / Denmark OUT

With Christian Eriksen Back, Denmark Can Go Deeper Than Ever

France's national football team forwards Kylian Mbappe (C) and Karim Benzema (R) attend a training session at the Olympic Stadium in Helsinki on November 15, 2021, on the eve of the FIFA 2022 World Cup Qatar qualifying Group D football match between Finland and France.

The Defending World Cup Champs Are Still Absolutely Loaded

Hiving Lozano #22 of Mexico celebrates a goal against Peru in the second half at Rose Bowl Stadium on September 24, 2022 in Pasadena, California.

Mexico Is Going Nowhere

Patrick Redford

Australia Has One Cool Old Guy And One Cool Young Guy

Grzegorz Krychowiak (L) and Robert Lewandowski (R) of Poland clap for fans during the celebration after Poland qualified for the 2022 FIFA World Cup after 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifier knockout round play-off match between Poland and Sweden at Silesian Stadium in Chorzow, Poland. Poland beat Sweden 2-0.

Robert Lewandowski Alone Might Not Be Enough For Poland

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL: Lionel Messi of Argentina lifts the trophy after winning the final of Copa America Brazil 2021 between Brazil and Argentina at Maracana Stadium on July 10, 2021 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Lionel Messi And Argentina Are Ready For World Cup Glory

Ali Albulayhi of Saudi Arabia reacts during the international friendly match between Saudi Arabia and Colombia at Estadio Enrique Roca on June 05, 2022 in Murcia, Spain.

Saudi Arabia’s Coach Is Hunky But Its Team Is Junky

United States midfielder Weston McKennie (8) celebrates with forward Christian Pulisic (10), midfielder Tyler Adams (4) and teammates after scoring a goal during a CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying game between the United States and Mexico on November 12, 2021 at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati, OH.

At Long Last, The USMNT Is Back At The World Cup

Wales' striker Gareth Bale celebrates after winning the FIFA World Cup 2022 play-off final qualifier football match between Wales and Ukraine at the Cardiff City Stadium in Cardiff, south Wales, on June 5, 2022.

This World Cup Is Wales’s Last Hurrah With Gareth Bale

Ray Ratto

A Free Trip To The World Cup Will Only Cost Your Soul

Will England Ever Be Brave Enough To Reach For Greatness?

ST. POELTEN, AUSTRIA - SEPTEMBER 23: Mehdi Taremi of Iran celebrates with team mates after scoring a goal to make it 1-0 during the International Friendly match between Iran and Uruguay at NV Arena on September 23, 2022 in St. Poelten, Austria.

Iran Has More Than Just Soccer On Its Mind At The World Cup

Africa’s Best Hope For Glory Lies With Sadio Mané’s Senegal

AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS - SEPTEMBER 25: Virgil van Dijk of Netherlands celebrates after scoring a goal to make it 1-0 during the UEFA Nations League League A Group 4 match between Netherlands and Belgium at Johan Cruijff Arena on September 25, 2022 in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

The Netherlands Is Ready To Go Where It’s Never Been Before

Fans celebrate the tying goal scored by Enner Valencia of Ecuador during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 qualification match between Ecuador and Argentina at Estadio Monumental on March 29, 2022 in Guayaquil, Ecuador.

Ecuador’s Bright World Cup Future Starts Now

Qatar Bought The World Cup, Now Has To Prove It Can Play In It

Liverpool's Diogo Jota (left) and Chelsea's N'Golo Kante battle for the ball during the Premier League match at Anfield, Liverpool. Picture date: Thursday March 4, 2021. (Photo by Oli Scarff/PA Images via Getty Images)

The World Cup Injury Crisis Is Only Going To Get Worse

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<p>Charles P. Pierce is a writer at <em>Esquire</em> and the author of four books, most recently <em>Idiot America</em>, and has been a working journalist since 1976. He lives near Boston with his wife but no longer his three children.</p>
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</div>
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Charles P. Pierce

Kazuyoshi Miura of Japan falls after the FIFA World Cup Asian Qualifier final round match between Iraq and Japan at the Al-Ahly Stadium on October 28, 1993 in Doha, Qatar.

What’s Changed And What Hasn’t Since I Covered Soccer In Qatar 30 Years Ago

Neymar Jr of Brazil celebrates after scoring their side's third goal with his teammates Raphinha and Lucas Paqueta during the international friendly match between Brazil and Tunisia at Parc des Princes on September 27, 2022 in Paris, France.