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March Madness: Football Edition

The USMNT gets ready for a pair of friendlies in Atlanta. Photo: Adrian Laster

ATLANTA, GA–This weekend, the US Men’s National Team are preparing for a pair of friendlies against Belgium and Portugal (minus Cristiano Ronaldo) at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Saturday’s match will be at 3:30pm ET on TNT, TruTV, and HBO Max in English; and Telemundo and Peacock in Spanish.

Meanwhile in the rest of the World, the final six World Cup spots are up for grabs this international weekend. At the time of this writing, UEFA’s final matchups are set for Tuesday. Either Bosnia-Herzegovina (who beat Wales on penalties) or Italy (who beat Northern Ireland) will join Group B which features Canada, Qatar, and Switzerland. Italy is looking to go back to the World Cup for the first time since 2014. Bosnia is looking for their first ever trip to the final competition.

Path B sees Sweden (3-1 winners over Ukraine) host Poland (who just got by Albania) with the winner joining Group F with the Netherlands, Japan, and Tunisia. Path C is the one US fans will be looking at. Kosovo shocked Slovakia with a 4-3 win in Bratislava and now hoot Turkiye to go into Group D with the USA, Paraguay, and Australia. Kosovo has never been to the World Cup as an independent nation while the Turks are looking to return for the first time since their third place finish in 2002.

Finally in Path D, it’s Czechia (winners on penalties over Republic of Ireland) against Denmark (easy winners over North Macedonia). The winner in Prague will go on to Group A with Mexico, South Africa, and Korea Republic.

Path 1 will see Bolivia try to return to the show for the first time since 1994–the last time it was held in the USA–against DR Congo who last made the World Cup in 1974 as Zaire. The winner will go into Group I with France, Senegal, and Norway. Path 2 will see Jamaica play New Caledonia for the right to play Iraq (who last made the World Cup in 1986) for the last spot in the World Cup and to go into Group K with Portugal, Uzbekistan, and Colombia.

The final six spots will be decided on Tuesday and the field of 48 will be full. A mad World Cup qualifying campaign will come to an end and a potentially mad World Cup will begin in a few months’ time.

Photos by Adrian Laster