A bracket simulation from the Round of 32 to that July night in New Jersey. Here is one (very debatable) road to glory.
The Round of 32 reset
The new opening knockout round is where the tournament truly starts to bite. Seeds who coasted through the groups suddenly meet motivated, organised opponents with a free hit. Expect at least one giant to fall before the last 16.
This round is the trap. Survive it and the favourites usually settle into their rhythm.
Where it gets brutal
By the quarter-finals, the heat, the fixture load and the pressure have stripped the field down to the genuinely elite and the genuinely fearless. This is where squad depth and a cool head in a shootout earn their keep.
The semi-finals tend to reward the team that peaked late rather than the one that dazzled early.
July 19, MetLife
The final lands at MetLife Stadium with the continent watching. Picking a winner this far out is a fool's errand — which is exactly why it is fun.
Our bet? A side that won its group, rotated smartly, and trusted its young players when it mattered. Beyond that, the only honest prediction is that it will not go the way any of us expect.
