The World Cup just wrapped up after six weeks, 104 games, and a pile of glittering goals. But make no mistake, it was Spain who proved they are the best side on the planet, cruising to the trophy by conceding just one goal the entire tournament. La Roja absolutely earned that title, straight up dominating Portugal, France, and Argentina on their way to the crown. Meanwhile, for those of us hoping for a deep run from the USMNT, it was a tough watch. The U.S. squad, along with Portugal, just flat-out floundered.
La Roja’s New Golden Era Just Kicked Off
After some rough outings in 2014, 2018, and 2022, Spain went all-in on homegrown talent and leadership, giving the reins to Luis de la Fuente. And man, did that pay off. Under his command, La Roja has been on an absolute tear, snatching up titles in the Nations League, the European Championship, and now, the World Cup. This is not just a flash in the pan either, you can feel it.
We are talking about a true golden generation here. Yamal is leading the charge, surrounded by pure youthful fire like Pau Cubarsi (19), Gavi (21), Yeremy Pino (23), Pedri (23), and Nico Williams (24). These guys have all been shining bright in Spanish colors, even early in their careers. And guess what? There is more talent waiting in the wings, like defenders Dean Huijsen (21) and Cristhian Mosquera (22), plus attackers Samu Aghehowa (22) and Fermin Lopez (23). The future for La Roja is ridiculously bright. Expect those trophies to keep piling up as these young studs get even better.
African Football’s Future is Looking Electric
While the knockout stages proved a step too far for most of Africa’s best teams, with only Morocco making it out of the Round of 16, the continent’s showing this World Cup signals a massive shift. African football is ready to play a starring role for years to come, no doubt about it.
Take Cape Verde, for example. They came closer than almost anyone to rattling Spain, holding La Roja to a scoreless draw! Then they delivered the game of the tournament, pushing Argentina to extra time in a brutal 3-2 loss. Senegal and Ivory Coast? They flashed serious talent against European heavyweights France and Germany. Even Egypt had Argentina on the ropes before Messi pulled off some late-game magic in the Round of 16. It is clear the continent is absolutely buzzing with footballing potential, and that is going to translate to even stronger performances in World Cups down the line. You love to see it.
So, while Spain’s new dynasty is here and African football is clearly on the rise, we are left scratching our heads about the USMNT’s performance. For those of us watching, especially with our Sounders star Cristian Roldan on that squad, seeing them flounder with Portugal was a tough pill to swallow after such a long tournament. It just means there is a lot to build on before the next one.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
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