After disappointingly missing the 2018 World Cup finals due to a loss to Trinidad & Tobago in their final qualifier, the US is back in the tournament. This time around, it was still a close run affair in a very difficult qualifying section where the top four nations were separated by just three points, but the USA managed to claim one of the three automatic spots, just ahead of Costa Rica. Following qualification, the USA beat Morocco and Grenada while earning a draw against Uruguay, but a draw in El Salvador, only managed after an injury-time equalizer in the CONCACAF Nations League, plus defeat to Japan and a draw with Saudi Arabia in September friendlies brought some discontent. 

In four of their last seven tournament appearances, the United States has advanced to the knockout round, but in their previous nine matches against European opponents, they have failed to do so. If they want to advance this time, they will undoubtedly need to break the run as they face the two UEFA Nations in their group. Wales' form coming into the finals does not offer much optimism either, as they have not won since sealing their place in Qatar with that 1-0 success over Ukraine in the playoffs. A 1-1 draw with Belgium was the only point they managed in their recent Nations League campaign, as home and away defeats to Poland and the Netherlands saw them relegated from League A.

All eyes will be on Gareth Bale once again, as the former Real Madrid star will be the leading light for the Welsh following his heroics in the playoffs - scoring twice against Austria in the semi-final, and claiming the assist for Andriy Yarmolonke's own goal in the final. Bale will want to make sure Wales advances past the group stage once more because this could be his final match wearing the national team colors. Wales advanced past the group stage in both of their most recent outings at big tournaments, Euro 2016 and 2020.