If you love 'Succession,' root for France.
This is the team of backstabbing, breathtaking talent. Like the Roy family, the French national team is a collection of world-class, generational stars who are all vying for power, influence, and the final touch on the ball. The potential for glory is immense—they
won the World Cup in 2018—but the potential for a spectacular, ego-driven implosion is always simmering just below the surface. Who is the Kendall, the Shiv, the Roman of the squad? Every tournament brings a new season of corporate-style maneuvering, media leaks, and jaw-dropping displays of individual brilliance that make you wonder how they ever manage to function as a team. When they win, it’s a dynasty. When they lose, it’s a Shakespearean tragedy of their own making.
If you love 'Game of Thrones,' root for England.
Welcome to the House that Expectation Built. England, the nation that invented the modern game, carries a heavy crown. They have a massive, passionate fanbase and a ravenous press corps, all convinced that the trophy is their birthright. “It’s coming home!” is their “Our is the fury.” Yet, for decades, their story has been one of gut-wrenching near misses, unexpected betrayals (hello, penalty shootouts), and main characters being killed off just when you thought they’d finally seize the throne. Supporting England is a long, arduous, and emotionally taxing journey, filled with moments of soaring hope followed by crushing despair. You’ll spend the whole time believing this is finally their year, right up until the moment it isn’t.
If you love 'Breaking Bad,' root for Argentina.
This is a story about one man’s all-consuming quest for the one prize that will complete his legacy. For years, Argentina’s narrative has been inextricably linked to Lionel Messi, their quiet, once-in-a-century genius. Like Walter White in the final seasons, Messi has been on a relentless, legacy-defining mission to secure the one major trophy that had eluded him. The entire team, the entire nation, reoriented itself around this singular goal. The supporting cast is crucial, playing the Jesse Pinkman and Mike Ehrmantraut roles, but make no mistake: you are here to watch a master at work, operating on a different level of chemistry. Their 2022 World Cup win was the perfect series finale, but now the question becomes: what does the spinoff look like?
If you love 'The White Lotus,' root for Portugal.
Here we have a collection of beautiful, wealthy, and unbelievably talented individuals, all gathered in an idyllic location with the promise of a perfect experience. What could possibly go wrong? Everything, of course. Watching Portugal is like watching a luxury resort slowly descend into passive-aggressive chaos. The squad is stacked with stars from Europe's biggest clubs, but drama always seems to follow them. Is the aging patriarch (Cristiano Ronaldo) still the center of the universe? Who is secretly undermining whom? The soccer is often gorgeous, but the underlying tension is the real show. You’re never quite sure if you’re about to witness a moment of collective brilliance or a stunning individual meltdown.
If you love 'The Office' (U.S.), root for the Netherlands.
This is the lovable, quirky, and historically significant team that is brilliant but never quite wins the big one. The Dutch are famous for inventing “Total Football” in the 1970s, a revolutionary system that changed the sport forever—much like Dunder Mifflin’s strangely effective, nonsensical workplace culture. They play a beautiful, creative, and often hilarious brand of soccer. They are consistently good, frequently great, and have produced some of the game's most iconic characters. But when it comes to the ultimate prize, they are the kings of the heartbreaking runner-up finish, having lost in three World Cup finals. You root for them not because you expect victory, but because you love the process, the weirdness, and the undeniable heart.
If you love 'Ted Lasso,' root for the USMNT.
This one might be a little on the nose, but it’s true. The U.S. Men’s National Team is the ultimate underdog story, a group of earnest, athletic, and optimistic players trying to earn respect in a world dominated by legacy powers. Their defining characteristic is belief. They are a young squad trying to prove that their system, built on hard work and collective spirit, can compete with the European and South American aristocrats. They might not have the most decorated stars or the smoothest style, but they have heart and a growing fanbase that, like the Richmond faithful, is ready to believe in miracles. Wins feel euphoric, losses are learning experiences, and the journey is everything.
