The biggest topic of this World Cup is definitely the ‘counterattack of the underdog.’ On the 16th, the incident in which Cape Verde, a small island nation with a population of 520,000 people, drew 0-0 against Spain, which was considered the top contender for the championship, caused a huge shock to the soccer world. Spain struggled, failing to convert their nearly 70% possession rate into goals despite using world-class players such as Rodri and Yamal. This is because, as the number of participating countries increased, the weaker teams changed their strategy to 'practical soccer' by forming an extreme defensive block and aiming for a counterattack, rather than an unreasonable counterattack. According to the tournament regulations, there is a possibility that third place in the group will advance to the tournament as well, so the weak teams have set a realistic goal of preventing a major loss and earning one point, which has become an effective weapon to embarrass the strong teams.

The Korean national soccer team is also cruising along with remarkable results in this tournament. After a thrilling comeback win over the Czech Republic, Korea rose to 21st place in the current FIFA rankings and solidified its second place in Asia after Japan. In particular, the fact that Hong Myung-boho is aiming for victory in the match against Mexico by breaking the 'world cup second round no-win jinx' has been raising national expectations to the highest level. Mexico has also gained momentum by beating South Africa, so this match will be a de facto showdown that will decide first place in the group. For the Korean national team, which is about to record its first consecutive World Cup wins since the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup, this match against Mexico is expected to be an important test that will become a new milestone in the history of Korean soccer.

The world's attention is also focused on the actions of 'defending champion' Argentina and Lionel Messi in Group J. Argentina is about to face Algeria in the first match, and despite the overwhelming power difference, they must be wary of Algeria's organized defense and counterattacks led by Mahrez. Argentina, with Messi at its center, plans to break down Algeria's two-line defense through rear build-up and half-space attacks. However, as seen in previous games, as strong teams often struggle to break through dense defenses, Argentina will also need to break away from monotonous attacks and prepare various variations such as set pieces and cutbacks. The key point that will determine the outcome of this Group J is whether Messi can still show off his strong skills and lead the team to victory.

Looking at the overall flow of the competition, the World Cup is no longer just a feast for powerful teams, but has become a series of single-game matches for survival. Fans are excited for every game where superstars such as France's Mbappe, Norway's Haaland, and Argentina's Messi appear, but behind the scenes, peripheral countries such as Haiti and Panama are ready to shake the shield of powerhouses such as Brazil and Ghana. Experts warn that a team that lacks the tactical flexibility to effectively attack the halfspaces and quickly transition to the wings could become a second Spain at any time. With each match in the group stage creating tension no different from that of a tournament, this World Cup in North and Central America is becoming a symbolic competition that shows the upward standardization of soccer.