World Cup Day 5: Heavyweights Begin Their Campaigns
The tournament favorites begin their campaigns as Spain, Belgium, and Uruguay take the stage.
(I’m currently in Mexico City, documenting the World Cup experience and will report from Estadio Azteca for Colombia vs. Uzbekistan on Wednesday night. Service isn’t great, so here’s a picture of Tim Payne.)
Five days into the World Cup, the favorites are beginning to emerge, but there are still plenty of surprises left.
Sunday featured 20 goals across five matches. Germany overwhelmed Curaçao 7–1, Sweden cruised past Tunisia 5–1, and Japan twice came from behind to earn a 2–2 draw with the Netherlands. Arguably the most intense match so far. Ivory Coast also made a winning return to the World Cup, defeating Ecuador 1–0.
Now, Spain, Belgium, Uruguay, and Mohamed Salah’s Egypt all make their tournament debuts.
Here’s what to watch for.
Spain Begins as One of the Favorites
Spain enters this World Cup carrying expectations few nations can match.
The reigning European champions arrive with perhaps the tournament’s deepest midfield, led by Rodri and surrounded by a new generation of talent. It’s a team that rarely looks rushed and somehow makes difficult matches look boring. That’s a compliment.
Cape Verde, meanwhile, is making history.
The Blue Sharks are appearing in their first World Cup and have become one of African football’s best stories over the past decade. Qualifying was an achievement. Now comes the difficult part.
Spain will dominate possession. Cape Verde will try to stay compact and frustrate them. The longer the match stays close, the more belief Cape Verde will gain.
Still, over 90 minutes, Spain will have too much quality.
Player to Watch: Rodri
No player controls a game quite like Rodri.
The Spanish midfielder dictates tempo, wins the ball back, and almost never seems hurried. After missing much of last season through injury, this World Cup feels like an opportunity to remind everyone exactly how important he is.
If Rodri is at his best, Spain usually is too.
Prediction: Spain 3–0 Cape Verde
Cape Verde’s story is already one of the best in the tournament. Spain, however, looks too complete to stumble in its opener.
Belgium and Egypt Meet in an Intriguing Matchup
Belgium enters another World Cup with great talent and a familiar question: Can this generation finally put together a deep run?
Kevin De Bruyne remains one of the world’s best midfielders, and Belgium still has enough quality to advance comfortably from Group G.
Egypt sees things differently.
The Pharaohs have never won a World Cup match, but under Hossam Hassan, expectations are changing. Mohamed Salah remains the face of the team, while Manchester City’s Omar Marmoush has emerged as one of Europe’s most exciting forwards.
I don’t know if Egypt is the better team.
I do know that if Salah is on the field, I have a hard time picking against him completely.
This feels like the type of match that could go either way.
Player to Watch: Mohamed Salah
There may not be a bigger individual storyline on Day 5.
At 34, the Liverpool legend has accomplished almost everything there is to accomplish at club level. But his World Cup legacy remains unfinished.
If Egypt is going to make history this summer, it will almost certainly run through him.
Prediction: Belgium 2–1 Egypt
Belgium’s depth will make the difference, but don’t be surprised if Salah produces a moment that makes everyone briefly reconsider their prediction.
Uruguay Looks Ready for a Deep Run
Watching Uruguay under Marcelo Bielsa is exhausting. They press relentlessly, attack quickly, and somehow convince every player on the field to sprint like the match ends in five minutes.
It’s chaotic. It’s entertaining. And when it works, it’s incredibly difficult to stop.
Saudi Arabia knows a thing or two about shocking the world. Four years ago, it stunned eventual champions Argentina in one of the greatest upsets in World Cup history.
This is a different challenge.
Uruguay enters with more talent, more experience, and arguably more momentum than at any point in the last decade.
A strong performance here would immediately place La Celeste among the tournament favorites.
Player to Watch: Federico Valverde
Federico Valverde plays like someone forgot to tell him conserving energy is allowed.
The Real Madrid midfielder covers every inch of the field, contributes defensively, and can decide matches with a single strike from distance.
There are flashier stars at this World Cup. There aren’t many more complete players.
Prediction: Uruguay 2–0 Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia stays organized early, but Uruguay eventually finds the breakthrough and controls the second half.
Iran and New Zealand Fight for an Early Advantage
The final match of the day may not attract the biggest audience. It could still have major implications.
Iran enters as one of Asia’s most consistent sides and a contender to advance from Group G. New Zealand returns to the World Cup for the first time since 2010 and knows every point matters in a group featuring Belgium and Egypt.
And somehow, one of the biggest stories surrounding the All Whites isn’t captain Chris Wood.
It’s Tim Payne.
The Wellington Phoenix right back became an internet sensation before the tournament after an Argentinian influencer named him the “least-known player at the World Cup.” The joke took off, and suddenly Payne jumped from four thousand to over 5 million following his journey on Instagram.
That’s part of why I love this tournament. One day you’re playing club football in New Zealand. The next, half the internet is rooting for you.
Player to Watch: Mehdi Taremi
Iran’s hopes rest heavily on Mehdi Taremi.
The veteran striker has spent years delivering goals for club and country, and his experience will be crucial in a match where chances may be limited.
Opening matches come down to moments. Iran will hope Taremi provides one.
Prediction: Iran 1–0 New Zealand
Iran has more experience at this level and enough quality to create a competitive match. But if New Zealand keeps things close into the second half, don’t rule out another surprise.
Five days in, the World Cup is beginning to take shape. The favorites are arriving. A few dark horses are emerging.
And Tim Payne is probably gaining another hundred thousand followers.