The biggest sporting event on the planet kicks off today. For the next five weeks, the World Cup takes over. 48 nations will compete for one trophy and all of this is happening in our backyard across 16 host cities in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Aside from the World Cup, there’s plenty of other sports worth your attention this weekend. The UFC is hosting its biggest event of the year on the White House lawn, the Knicks are a win away from ending a 53-year championship drought, and the Stanley Cup Final reaches a pivotal stretch.

Here's your weekend preview starting with what matters most.

The Format: This is the first year the World Cup has expanded to a field of 48 teams (previously 32). These 48 teams will be divided into 12 groups of four during the group stage. Here’s how this stage works:

The Contenders:

Now let’s get to the team you’re actually here for.

Team USA: This is one of the most talented rosters the U.S. has brought to the World Cup built on a solid core of 13 returning players and 13 newcomers. The name you’ll hear all summer is Christian Pulisic the captain and the closest thing this team has to a household name. He spent most of the season in a brutal funk, going 20 plus games without a goal for club or country before finally breaking through with a goal and an assist in a recent win over Senegal heading into the tournament. A locked in Pulisic could carry this team past the round of 32 and beyond.

But there’s a reason why this team sits outside the top 15 in the world. Inconsistency and a massive question mark in goal. Whether they can find sudden stability in goal and not play down to weaker competition will ultimately determine if their tournament ends in a historic run or an early exit.

Group D (U.S., Paraguay, Australia, and Türkiye): The U.S. has already faced all three of these teams under coach Pochettino. They beat Australia and Paraguay in fall friendlies (Paraguay 2-1) and dropped a tight game 2-1 to Türkiye last June. This group should come down to the U.S. and Türkiye and I expect both teams to advance to the round of 32. Mark your calendars for their matchup on June 25th.

*Quick housekeeping: You'll notice "The Betting Angle" is now "Skin in the Game." Here's why. The old version included spreads and props specifically focused on winning a bet. I’m still in the business of winning money but going forward bets in this section will be tied to a key player or side so you have a reason to put some money on the game and follow the main storylines. I’ll also include a recap of my previous picks. Let’s have some fun with it and win some money 💸

Skin in the Game  [Powered by WagerXpert]: Back the U.S. to win Group D outright (+140). They’ve already beaten Paraguay and Australia this year and have the more talented roster. This group comes down to the U.S. and Türkiye. Türkiye’s weakness is finishing as they lack a top striking option and the U.S. has a strong defense that will give them plenty of issues. If the U.S. can take care of the first two and beat Türkiye this bet cashes. Remember this is for fun, not your rent money.

More about WagerXpert: All the thrill, none of the pressure. Bet against your friends on https://wagerxpert.app/ just look us up!

UFC Freedom 250: The UFC is headlining the celebration of America’s 250th birthday with a fight card staged directly on the White House lawn. Lightweight belt champion, Ilia Topuria, returns from a layoff to face interim titleholder Justin Gaethje in the main event. Both of these guys finish fights and are known for their knockout ability. Expect fireworks in this one. Co-main: Alex Pereira vs. Ciryl Gane for interim heavyweight. With a win, Alex Pereira puts himself on a shortlist of the greatest fighters of this generation.

Knicks vs. Spurs, Game 5: The Knicks started this series by stealing both games in San Antonio, splitting at MSG after completing the biggest comeback in NBA Finals history, and now they head back up 3-1 for Game 5 Saturday (8:30 PM, ABC). Can the Spurs extend the series to a Game 6 or will the Knicks finally win a Championship on the road?

Hurricanes vs. Golden Knights, Game 5: Carolina flipped this series. After going down early in this series at home, the Hurricanes stole one on the road, and evened the series at 2-2. Whoever takes tonight is in a commanding position to win the whole thing in what has been one of the most competitive back and forth Finals we’ve had in years.

Must-watch:

Worth tuning in:

— Backdrop Sports

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