Sleeping giants that will be looking for redemption at the 2026 FIFA World Cup

FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) — The reigning World Champions come into this year’s tournament at the end of an era. It is likely that this will be the last world cup for one of the greatest players to ever grace the pitch.

At 38 years old, it is unlikely Lionel Messi will return for the 2030 World Cup, and that means that this team will be looking to send off the legendary captain with World Cup glory once again.

If they manage to retain the title, they would be the first side to do so since Brazil in 1962. But they face an uphill battle, with many key players having lost a step since their 2022 triumph.

With an aging squad dealing with injuries, the chances for a repeat of their performances in Qatar may seem small, but this squad does come in with the experience on the biggest stages.

And with some younger players like Thiago Almada, and Nico Paz looking to make an impact playing next to the Greatest of All Time, the desire is there to get him one more trophy in his illustrious career.

Brazil is a nation steeped in World Cup success. And yet they’ve failed to reach the final since their last triumph in 2002.

The five time world champions have never missed a tournament, with legendary players like Pele, Garincha, Socrates, Cafu, Ronaldo, and Ronaldinho.

For the Brazilian fans this is simply not good enough. They’re a team that expects to be the best, and anything short of that is a failure.

And leading up to 2026 this boiled over, with a political crisis in the Football Association as performances on the pitch reached their lowest since their embarrassing loss to Germany at home in the 2014 World Cup.

Now they’re looking for redemption.

Brazil are a team in transition, and it seems almost unthinkable that they won’t reach the heights they’re used to again.

But will the transition be quick enough to bring them back to the top in 2026, especially amid injury concerns and missing out on key players? You’ll have to stay tuned to find out.

Despite having four titles to their name the Germans come into this tournament as a side with all of the talent, but none of the performances.

Since their last win in 2014, Germany have been eliminated in the group stages in both 2018 and 2022.

It has been an embarrassing run for a nation that sees itself as one of the premiere sides in world football, with one of the best domestic leagues in the world turning out talented players.

They don’t lack any of the traditional values of German football, technical ability, high work rates, tactical discipline, but they have lacked the magic moments they’ve needed to take them over the top.

Now the young players in this side are looking to prove that Germany can still produce magic, and can be among the best in the world.

It’s a new generation for Germany, and they’re looking to help the members of the old guard make one last run in the tournament.

The pieces are there, but questions still remain over if they can finally return to creating the magical moments that will prove so necessary at this year’s World Cup.