England

• Manager: Gareth Southgate
• Nickname: The Three Lions
• FIFA ranking: 5
• Best World Cup finish: Champion (1966)
• Betting odds: +700

Player to watch

Jude Bellingham. Much of England’s success in Qatar will depend on Harry Kane’s ability to find the net consistently. The Three Lions, despite boasting an embarrassment of attacking riches, play conservative, attritional football under Gareth Southgate, meaning Kane often has to bail the team out. But while the captain remains influential as ever, Bellingham will be England’s most exciting player to watch at the World Cup. The prodigious teenage midfielder, soon to be the subject of an almighty transfer tug-of-war between Europe’s wealthiest clubs, is on the path to superstardom. His dynamism and flair from midfield can light up any match. After some very near misses in recent major tournaments, the 19-year-old could be the final ingredient to push the Three Lions over the hump. No pressure, kid.

Projected starting XI (3-4-3)

Pickford; Walker, Stones, Maguire; Trippier, Bellingham, Rice, Shaw; Sterling, Kane, Foden

Injuries have ravaged Southgate’s squad and created some questions at various positions. Reece James had almost certainly locked down the spot on the right flank before being ruled out of the competition, while Chelsea teammate Ben Chilwell would have added significant depth on the opposite side. Kyle Walker’s status is casting a big shadow, too, as the defender is recovering from groin surgery. A vital, and too often overlooked, element of Southgate’s team, the rapid Manchester City star can cover vast amounts of space defensively and move the ball from his position on the right of Southgate’s preferred back-three. If he’s unable to start, Eric Dier figures to play in his stead.

Key question

Is this the year? Enjoying a deep run to the semifinals four years ago in Russia, and then making continued gains – at least in terms of results – and coming agonizingly close to winning Euro 2020 on home soil, progress can realistically only take one form in Qatar: winning the World Cup for the first time since 1966. Anything short of that will be viewed as a failure. And, technically speaking, it will be. Southgate knows that better than anyone.

This feels like the end of a cycle for England. A defining moment. Either get over the hump and send the country into raptures or fall short again. “I know I will be judged on what happens at that World Cup,” the oft-criticized manager said of his future despite having a deal in place until 2024. “I am not arrogant enough to think that my contract is going to protect me.” If England falls short, especially in tepid fashion, heads will roll.

Iran

• Manager: Carlos Queiroz
• Nickname: Team Melli
• FIFA ranking: 20
• Best World Cup finish: Group stage (five times)
• Betting odds: +75000

Player to watch

Mehdi Taremi. Something of a late bloomer, the 30-year-old is enjoying the most fruitful portion of his career right now, consistently finding the net for FC Porto both domestically and in the Champions League in recent years; Taremi is the leading scorer for the Portuguese club this season. “I regret that this boy did not go to European football much earlier. It’s all my fault,” Taremi’s father said in an emotional interview earlier this year. Better late than never, though. Capable of playing in multiple positions for manager Carlos Queiroz, Taremi heads to Qatar in excellent form.

Projected starting XI (4-1-4-1)

Beiranvand; Moharrami, Kanaanizadegan, Khalilzadeh, Hajsafi; Ezatolahi; Jahanbakhsh, Nourollahi, Amiri, Taremi; Azmoun

The greatest concern for Queiroz heading into Qatar is the fitness and form of Sardar Azmoun. The 27-year-old forward, one of the stalwarts of the national team since he made his debut, has been dealing with a calf injury of late and has yet to score a league goal for Bayer Leverkusen this season. He’s a surefire starter if available, but if not, Taremi will likely slot into his place up front, which could force a slight change of shape.

Key question

Will Queiroz take the handbrake off at all? Realistically, probably not. Sir Alex Ferguson’s former right-hand man is a known quantity at this point. There are some burgeoning signs of greater adaptability, but since returning to the helm in September to replace Dragan Skocic, we’ve largely seen the same defensive style that dominated his first spell with the team from 2011 to 2019. But while his brand of football undoubtedly creates solidity within his team, it’s a mentally taxing style for the players to implement over 90-plus minutes. One slip, one split-second error in judgment, and Iran could suddenly be forced to chase the game, something Team Melli simply isn’t built to do under the Portuguese tactician. As a player, that weighs on you, especially under the brightest lights the sport has to offer, against the best competition.

Iran’s international tournament record under Queiroz is nothing to scoff at – 10 clean sheets in 16 matches – and includes Herculean defensive performances against the likes of Argentina, Spain, and Portugal over the years. But, with Queiroz at the helm, Iran has just one win over the past two World Cups, scoring only three goals.

United States

• Manager: Gregg Berhalter
• Nickname: The Stars and Stripes
• FIFA ranking: 16
• Best World Cup finish: Semifinals (1930)
• Betting odds: +10000

Player to watch

Christian Pulisic. The expectations levied on “Captain America” weigh heavy. The versatile Chelsea attacker is no longer a burgeoning player providing the spark. He’s now the leader of a team comprised of several players younger than him who will look to him to carry the load. It’s a lot to handle, especially for someone who doesn’t have the benefit of being a regular starter at club level. Pulisic, 24, has zestful teammates around him in the likes of Brenden Aaronson, Tim Weah, and Gio Reyna who can take some of the pressure off, but, ultimately, he needs to be at his creative best in Qatar for the United States to reach the knockout stages.

Projected starting XI (4-3-3)

Turner; Dest, Zimmerman, Long, Robinson; Musah, Adams, McKennie; Aaronson, Ferreira, Pulisic

Berhalter has an exuberant collection of wide attackers and energetic midfielders who can impact games, but the primary areas of concern leap off the page: Options at center-back and center-forward are worryingly thin. Injuries have impacted the former group, while the lack of a bona fide No. 9 was clear in qualifying; of the 21 goals the team scored in CONCACAF qualifying, center-forwards only accounted for four. Ricardo Pepi was responsible for three, and he didn’t even make the World Cup squad. If Jesus Ferreira is misfiring in Qatar, Berhalter is going to have a big problem.

Key question

Can the USMNT step up to the occasion, or will this young squad cower? The Americans have struggled to replicate their success in CONCACAF when tasked with playing more celebrated international opposition, and they head into the tournament on the back of two lifeless friendlies where they failed to muster anything of note in a 2-0 loss to Japan and a goalless draw with Saudi Arabia. “Things became pretty clear,” Berhalter said afterward. What he means by that, though, is unclear. Does he need to change his approach? With no more tuneup games scheduled before the team’s opener against Wales on Nov. 21, we won’t find out until the tournament itself.

Berhalter wants his team to be aggressive and take risks, and he has the type of energetic squad capable of doing that, but, for a variety of reasons, things have never totally clicked with the 49-year-old at the helm.

Wales

• Manager: Robert Page
• Nickname: The Dragons
• FIFA ranking: 19
• Best World Cup finish: Quarterfinals (1958)
• Betting odds: +15000

Player to watch

Gareth Bale. Who else? The undisputed talisman, Wales always looks to its record goalscorer and influential captain to deliver in the biggest moments. The 33-year-old rarely disappoints. Bale, who has a penchant for rising to the occasion when it matters most, can flip the switch like few others when he dons the dragon on his chest, regardless of what’s happening at club level at the time. Garnering little playing time in recent months with Los Angeles FC – he only played more than 60 minutes twice after joining the team in the summer – he showed off his flair for the dramatic in the MLS Cup final, scoring a 128th-minute goal that saved LAFC en route to capturing the title. This could be Bale’s swan song. What better stage than his country’s first World Cup since 1958 to provide a memorable final act?

Projected starting XI (3-4-3)

Hennessey; Ampadu, Rodon, B. Davies; C. Roberts, Ramsey, Allen, N. Williams; Bale, Moore, D. James

Aside from the influence of Bale and Aaron Ramsey in the final third, Wales will rely heavily on the wing-backs, Connor Roberts and Neco Williams, to surge forward when the team wins possession. Page’s team is comfortable sitting back and allowing the opposition to dictate the tempo and dominate the ball before looking to hit on the counterattack. When space permits on the break, Ramsey’s creativity and Bale’s bursts of explosiveness, which he now saves for the key moments, come to the forefront.

Key question

Is this the last dance for this core group of players, and if so, how far can that added motivation propel the team? Bale and Ramsey, both in their 30s, have led Wales’ recent renaissance. But unity and collective spirit have been critical in helping the Welsh not only qualify for three of the last four major tournaments but overachieve based on their overall talent level.

More than maybe any other side heading to Qatar, Page’s outfit is a team in the truest sense of the word, with everyone pulling in the same direction. Not every squad can boast that type of harmony, even at the World Cup. Another anticipated meeting with England will only help bring the team closer together.

Predictions

Opta gives England a 63% chance to top the quartet. Despite patchy recent form and much debate – bordering on outright anger – over Southgate’s squad selection and suitability as the manager of this crop of players, that’s a good reminder that England is still, easily, the most talented team in Group B. Despite similar concerns about Berhalter in the United States, the USMNT should have enough to join the Three Lions.

1. England
2. United States
3. Wales
4. Iran