With so much focus on the U.S. men’s national team and its World Cup preparations, it’s easy to lose sight of one incredibly important side of the equation: what its opponents are doing.
The U.S.’s capacity for success in Qatar is not only down to what the Americans do, but it’s also largely dependent on how positioned for success its competition is. Like the U.S., its three World Cup group opponents, Wales, England and Iran, are also playing against Qatar-bound sides this month, with the only exception being England’s upcoming match against Italy—the reigning European champion that stunningly failed to reach the World Cup for a second straight time.