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USA-GERMANY

Final tune-up foe helped shape USMNT’s World Cup squad

The USA’s final pre-World Cup test comes on Saturday against Germany, the nation that helped nurture much of Mauricio Pochettino’s squad.

Most famously, Pennsylvanian Christian Pulisic made his Bundesliga debut in 2016 with Borussia Dortmund at age 17. Texan Weston McKennie followed suit in 2017 at age 18 with Schalke 04. New York product Giovanni Reyna, in 2020 at age 17, also started his pro career in Germany with Dortmund.

• More: Mike Woitalla on the USMNT’s deep German connection

ARGENTINA

Lionel Messi, the Rosario story

The life story of Lionel Messi, who is limbering up for his sixth World Cup after leading Argentina to triumph four years ago, is splashed across the walls and tower blocks of his hometown, Rosario, in giant murals.

At the age of five, the lightning-fast footwork of the kid nicknamed La Pulga (The Flea) because of his short stature, was already a source of wonder. Soon after, he joined Malvinas Argentinas, the youth academy of Newell’s Old Boys, Rosario’s top team of which he is still an avid fan.

It was at Newell’s that Messi met Coach Enrique Dominguez, who retired soon after.

“For me, he was like a gift from God,” the 72-year-old former instructor says. “One day someone asked me, ‘What do you recognize of your teaching when you see Leo play’? Nothing, because there was nothing to teach him. He knew everything already.  What Leo does on the field today he was already doing at the age of 12.”

• More: Why Messi’s childhood coach threw in the towel

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• Morocco: For a while, dual-nationals were a rarity in the Moroccan national team, but today they account for the majority of players across age groups and have become the Atlas Lions’ greatest strength. Attracting that kind of talent has become central to Morocco’s sporting strategy, not least as the Atlas Lions eye improving on reaching the semifinals in 2022. The 2026 squad includes players born in France, Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands and Canada.

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SOCCER AMERICA TRIVIA

Congratulations to William Guarini on being selected randomly as the winner of Soccer America Trivia contest #17.

Kudos to Pablo Coppola, Robert Lanza, Martin Ryan, Mike Wortham, Vladimir Shlionsky, Felipe Quiroga, David Dufty, Jerry May, Steven Torres, James Geluso, Paul Salo, Dan Sommer, Bill McManus, Bob Golden, Bradley Shafer, David Richardson and Phil Wall for also correctly answering all five questions.

Trivia contest #17
1️⃣ What is Senegal’s nickname? Lions of Teranga
2️⃣ What color is referred to in the nicknames of France, Italy and Japan? Blue
3️⃣ What type of bird is on the crest of the jerseys of Mexico, Germany and Tunisia? Eagle
4️⃣ What type of animal is on the crest of the jerseys of England, Cameroon and the Netherlands? Lion
5️⃣ What are the names of the lion and dog made famous by the 1966 World Cup? Willie & Pickles

• Play: Soccer America Trivia contest #18 (More World Cup nicknames and mascots)

Visit Soccer America’s World Cup 2026 hub for more stories.

World Cup Watch is edited by Paul Kennedy and Mike Woitalla.

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