The United States men's national soccer team arrived in Qatar not only with ambitions of advancing through the group stage but also with a surprising amount of downtime between matches.
During those idle hours, the players have turned the tournament into a kind of living classroom, tuning in to every high‑profile encounter that unfolds on the world stage.
Scouting the Stars
Names like Lionel Messi, Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappé dominate their watchlists, not merely as opponents they might meet but as benchmarks of excellence they study for tactical clues.
Folarin Balogun, for instance, keeps a close eye on the scoring charts, noting how Messi’s hat trick against Algeria and his brace versus Austria revealed patterns in movement and finishing that the USMNT can adapt.
Alejandro Zendejas, who shares a personal connection with Álvaro Fidalgo of Real Betis, follows his friend’s progress in Spain, while Antonee Robinson watches Fulham teammates ply their trade abroad, using those performances as a mirror for his own game.
The practice serves a dual purpose: it sharpens tactical awareness while feeding the players’ own passion for the sport, turning rest days into scouting missions.