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World Cup Rondo: Are the United States Men’s National Team genuine contenders? Who has stood out the most so far? And can Curacao achieve the unthinkable?

With the World Cup now in full swing, GOAL U.S. journalists assess how the tournament has unfolded so far — and whether it has truly lived up to its immense pre-tournament hype.

Ten days in, and there’s already much to reflect on. Let’s start with the positives: there aren’t many outright poor teams in this competition. Turkey and Paraguay? Slightly underwhelming. Algeria? Somewhat disappointing. But nearly every side has shown something promising (even Tunisia, who have been quite poor, salvaged some pride by appointing Herve Renard).

Overall, it’s shaping up to be an entertaining tournament. There’s no clear front-runner. Most of the star players have turned up when it matters. And the host nations have either secured their knockout berths or are close to doing so. In short, there’s a lot to enjoy. Let the fun continue.

Of course, there are a few downsides too. Hydration breaks remain frustrating interruptions (though they’re not quite ruining football, as Uruguay manager Marcelo Bielsa suggested). It’s also unfortunate that Iran’s team can’t spend much time in the United States, considering the country is hosting the bulk of the matches.

All in all, there’s plenty to discuss, and GOAL’s writers break it all down in this latest edition of The Rondo.

Biggest surprise of the tournament so far?

Tom Hindle: When you think about it, not many of these so-called “smaller” nations are total shocks. Many have tapped into their global diasporas to assemble strong squads. Cape Verde, Curacao, and Haiti have all built rosters featuring solid European-based talent (which, fair or not, remains our measure of quality). The real surprise? No one has truly established themselves as the outright favourite. France struggled against Senegal until Mbappe did what Mbappe does. Spain still look incomplete. Jude Bellingham’s England were brilliant for 20 minutes but average otherwise. And Algeria were dreadful against Argentina.

Alex Labidou: Without a doubt, Cape Verde. They’ve proven what can happen when a team combines chemistry, complementary skill sets, good coaching, and a bit of luck. It’s probably premature to look too far ahead, but it’s intriguing to see how far this group can go.

Ryan Tolmich: Honestly, the biggest surprise is how smoothly everything has gone overall. There were plenty of pre-tournament worries, yet the event has been fun and welcoming. Sure, there have been hiccups — ticket prices, the Iran situation — but overall, it’s been a joy to watch. Packed stadiums, energetic crowds, thrilling games — it’s been a fantastic start.

Biggest disappointment so far?

TH: As a team, probably Turkey. The eternal dark horses have looked more like tame ponies. They looked strong on paper but failed to deliver on the pitch. Beyond that? Those dreaded hydration breaks again. How many times have we seen games lose momentum because of them? They’re necessary in hot conditions, sure, but indoors? Come on now…

AL: Turkey again. Some thought this team could be a contender or at least top their group, but it just hasn’t clicked. Arda Guler, arguably their star player, has already called it a nightmare he wishes would end. Sadly, there will likely be consequences after this.

RT: It’s been shocking how poor Turkey have been in their first two matches. Plenty of talk, especially from Hakan Calhanoglu, but no end product against beatable opponents. Many tipped them as a dark horse, yet they were among the first to be eliminated.

Are the USMNT legitimate contenders?

TH: Yes and no. It depends on the context of who they’ve faced. Paraguay were poor, and Australia’s manager overthought things by benching his best attacker in that 2-0 defeat in Seattle. Are the U.S. better than the side that lost to Germany a few weeks back? Absolutely. Are they good enough to take the next step? Too early to say. At the very least, they’re thrilling to watch — and that matters.

AL: This team looks built for a semifinal run — something no one predicted before the tournament began. Credit to Mauricio Pochettino for integrating players like Alex Freeman so effectively, arguably his smartest move so far. Also, for unearthing talents like Matt Freese and showing tactical adaptability, as seen when he started Folarin Balogun and Ricardo Pepi together last Friday.

RT: Depends on what you mean by “legit.” Are they good? Definitely. Are there still doubts about their ability to beat the world’s elite? Absolutely. It’s a massive improvement from previous World Cups, no question, but those lingering uncertainties won’t be answered until the knockouts. That’s when we’ll truly see where this team stands.

Can Curacao reach the round of 32?

TH: Why not? This tournament has been unpredictable, and they just need three points against Ivory Coast. Would you bet against that? I wouldn’t. They might need a bit of help from Germany, but it’s time to believe.

AL: Curacao have captured the hearts of football fans worldwide. But realistically, their journey likely ends against Ivory Coast on Thursday.

RT: As enjoyable as it’s been, the odds are stacked against them. They face an Ivory Coast side with plenty at stake, and Curacao must win to advance. They’ll need more than just heroic goalkeeping to pull it off, which makes it difficult to see them doing it.

Which superstar has impressed you most?

TH: There’s only one answer: Leo Messi. Scoring a hat-trick in the opening match? Pure class.

AL: It might sound predictable — and could change after France face Iraq later Monday — but Kylian Mbappe deserves all the praise. At 27, he’s already tied for third-most goals in World Cup history. With at least two more tournaments ahead of him, he’s on course to become the highest scorer the competition has ever seen.

Yes, his club career has faced criticism for not reaching expected heights, but on the international stage, he’s right up there with Pele and Messi — not bad company at all.

RT: Ask me again in a few days. Messi, Erling Haaland, Mbappe, and Harry Kane have all made statements, but each still has group-stage matches to play. Of the lot, probably Messi — mainly because he had the most to prove given his current club situation.

How has North America fared as host so far?

TH: Mixed results. The fans are fully engaged — though, to be fair, the Scots would find a way to party even if the World Cup were held on Mars. Infrastructure-wise? Not great. It’s unacceptable that Iran’s team can only stay in the U.S. for less than 36 hours between matches. Transportation remains an issue in some cities (looking at you, New York/New Jersey). But others, like Seattle, have done very well. Overall, let’s call it a qualified success.

AL: Honestly, it’s been a logistical headache in many U.S. cities, from poorly designed traffic systems in Kansas City to badly maintained pitches at the New York/New Jersey Stadium (often nicknamed “Craplife”).

Still, in the grand scheme, it’s exceeded expectations. Fans deserve credit for embracing the experience wholeheartedly. From Scots drinking Boston dry to Norwegians riding escalators like boats, it’s been a joy. Seeing international fans enjoy Waffle House and Chick-fil-A has been heartwarming. And to be fair, the logistical issues seem far less severe in Mexico and Canada — so kudos to them as well!

RT: Outstanding. Despite the pre-tournament pessimism, things have gone even better than expected. Not perfect, of course — the Iran situation being one example — but overall, the World Cup truly feels global. Scotland fans in Boston, Algerians in Kansas, Americans filling Seattle’s stands — it’s been a wonderful spectacle with unforgettable early memories.