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FIFA '18 International World Cup

Updated on May 15, 2018
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All things sports brought to you by The Voice of One! A mixture of sports history with current events seen through my eyes...

What is FIFA?

FIFA is an international soccer tournament contested by the men's national teams of thirty-two nations

Take the FIFA World Cup Bracket Challenge

— FIFA.Com
Source

Frankly, I did not become interested in the FIFA World Cup Tournament until 2014...

So, I'm basically a newbie, but...this much I do know! Growing up the only name which matter and we knew by heart was Pelé.

The Brazilian born Pelé is fútbol - or soccer - royalty.

Pelé is regarded by many in the sport, including writers, other players and of course fans...as the greatest fútbol player of all time.

Edson Arantes do Nascimento, known through out the world  as Pelé
Edson Arantes do Nascimento, known through out the world as Pelé

The best player for the United States is Christian Pulisic

Christian Pulisic
Christian Pulisic

But Christian Pulisic is no Pelé!

If he was any kind of savior, the Americans would be Russian bound in June. As it stands now the United States failed to qualify for the FIFA World Cup tournament for the first time since 1986 and the Americans have to wait four years for another shot.

Christian Pulisic in only 19 years old and multiple Premier League teams have shown interest in obtaining his services, but the Americans not even qualifying for the tournament is definitely a major setback for the sport in the United States.

Thirty-two nations competing for one prize...soccer is truly an international sport!

2018 FIFA World Cup Russia ~ Groups

Group A
Saudi Arabia, Russia, Uruguay and Egypt
 
Group B
IR Iran, Portugal, Spain and Morocco
 
Group C
Peru, Denmark, France and Australia
 
Group D
Argentina, Nigeria,Iceland and Croatia
 
Group E
Serbia, Costa Rica, Brazil and Switzerland
 
Group F
Mexico, Germany, Korea Republic and Sweden
 
Group G
Panama, Tunisia, England and Belgium
 
Group H
Japan, Poland, Senegal and Colombia
 

Even though this summer's FIFA World Cup in Russia is the first time in the tournament's history in which 32 teams will compete for the trophy, it is also notable for the number of heavyweight teams which failed to qualify.

Besides the United States, noticeable by their absence also will be...

Four-time champions Italy, as will one of the best teams in South America, Chile.

The Netherlands, finalists in 2010 and third place four years ago, will also be absent from Russia.

Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, Wales, and Bosnia & Herzegovina also didn't make the cut.

But the failure of all of these teams to qualify left the door wide open for teams from Iceland, Costa Rica, Panama and Saudi Arabia to make their mark on the FIFA 2018 World Cup in Russia.


Read more about my FIFA 2018 Preview at Nuts and Bolts Sports

© 2018 Julio E Olmo Sr

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