BY MANUEL MARSELIANIn my second article, “The Countdown to FIFA World Cup 2026: Expert Predictions for Glory,” I invited a distinguished panel of former professional footballers to share their predictions for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The United States also impressed with its run to the knockout stage, while Cape Verde was one of the tournament’s biggest surprises. Predicting a FIFA World Cup champion is far from an exact science. That unpredictability is precisely what makes the World Cup the most captivating sporting event on the planet. As the curtain falls on another unforgettable tournament, football supporters around the world can already begin looking ahead to the next FIFA World Cup.