So, your team of choice has been You want to keep watching, but you may need a rooting interest to stay invested.
The idea of supporting any team but your own may be unfathomable to some, but we’re not going to call you a fair-weather fan. In fact, we’re here to help, with a handy guide to the semifinalists (the erstwhile quarterfinalists from the first version of this guide are at the bottom, if you would like to reminisce).
We’ve included the odds of each team winning the final, based on various U.S. sportsbooks as of early Sunday, and even thrown in the chants you need to fit right in. Here are your four options, in alphabetical order.
Argentina
ODDS OF LIFTING THE TROPHY: +450 (bet $10, win $45)
STAR PLAYER: Have you heard of this man called ?
WHAT TO KNOW: The Argentines are looking to become the first nation to retain the men’s World Cup title since Brazil in 1962. Messi 鈥� yes, him 鈥� is the World Cup’s all-time leading scorer with 21 goals and has a tournament-topping this year.
CHANT OF CHOICE: 鈥淰amos, vamos Argentina鈥� (鈥淟et’s go, Argentina鈥�)
CHOOSE THIS TEAM IF YOU LIKE: Safe bets, , supremely talented No. 10s.
England
ODDS OF LIFTING THE TROPHY: +325 (bet $10, win $32.50)
STAR PLAYERS: Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham
WHAT TO KNOW: It hasn’t been spoken about much … but the hasn’t won a major tournament since the 1966 World Cup. The English invented soccer but have rarely been the best at it.
CHANT OF CHOICE: 鈥淚t’s coming home鈥�
CHOOSE THIS TEAM IF YOU LIKE: lions, fish and chips, decades of pain.
France
ODDS OF LIFTING THE TROPHY: +135 (bet $10, win $13.50)
STAR PLAYERS: Kylian Mbapp茅, Michael Olise
WHAT TO KNOW: France was the champion in 2018, the runner-up in 2022 and many people’s favorite this year. France’s , Didier Deschamps, is already a World Cup great, having won the title as France’s captain in 1998 and led the team to the trophy 20 years later.
CHANT OF CHOICE: 鈥淎llez les bleus鈥� (鈥淕o Blues鈥�)
CHOOSE THIS TEAM IF YOU LIKE: Baguettes, big towers, Champagne, .
Spain
ODDS OF LIFTING THE TROPHY: +325 (bet $10, win $32.50)
STAR PLAYERS: Lamine Yamal, Rodri
WHAT TO KNOW: Spain hadn’t conceded a goal in five games, until the quarterfinal against Belgium. And the team has a winger who was a 16-year-old revelation on its way to winning the European Championship in 2024. It was his birthday on Monday, when he turned the veteran age of 19.
CHANT OF CHOICE: 鈥淟olololo鈥�
CHOOSE THIS TEAM IF YOU LIKE: Tapas, shutouts, possession soccer, .
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