World Cup Q&A: our US soccer team answers your questions on stadiums, Lalas, hydration breaks and more – live

cata_bush asks: Which team has surprised you the most so far? Disappointed you the most? Been the best “story” (whether that be an underdog, a particular narrative, or an interesting tactical setup)?

Jeff: Surprise: Cape Verde! I’ll be gutted if they can’t advance after famous draws against Spain and Uruguay – though I expect them to beat Saudi Arabia.

Disappointment: I had Ecuador into the business end because of how stout their defense is, but I completely overlooked the lack of chance creation and alternative scoring threats beyond Enner Valencia.

Best story: I expected the US to win their group; I just didn’t know they’d do it being so fun and so dominant against the types of teams (low-block, high-heart) that have historically tripped them up. And that path to a possible quarter-final could hardly be more plush.

Aintmuch asks: Do you have statistics on how many injuries were treated in 2022 and how many this WC until now? It seems the new “one minute rule” works wonders against overacting.

Pablo: I don’t have any actual data, but I agree with your suspicion. That rule, which was created and trialed in Major League Soccer (and MLS Next Pro, its developmental league,) was an instant success in the league, drastically reducing time-wasting via simulation. Another new World Cup rule – the timed substitution rule – was a similar success, and nearly entirely eliminated the issue of players lolligagging off the field when being substituted. Americans don’t always get it right when they mess with the game, but every now and again, one of our dumb ideas sticks!

Alex: I’d just add a possible side effect of this, which again I’m pointing out with no data whatsoever: It really seems like the officials are letting a lot go in this tournament. Multiple times a game I’m seeing teams caught out expecting a tactical foul call that never comes, or teams livid that what seems like pretty heavy contact in the attacking half is going unpunished. Prime example would be Messi’s first goal against Austria – there was a coming together in midfield just beforehand that I think in past tournaments would have been called, but this time it wasn’t. I wonder if the higher bar on simulation has anything to do with that.

MiffledKitty asks: Anglo-Dutch here. What are the chances of a Netherlands v England match? Slim, I hope, because if I support NL, my mum will kill me. Also who would be likely to win?

Jeff: You’re asking for the right reasons. So long as the Netherlands and England remain atop Groups F and L, respectively, they wouldn’t be able to meet until a potential final, at which point your mum is already in dreamland. If either team drops to second while the other wins the group, they could face each other in a quarter-final.

This is also the kind of family-peace reconnaissance our Bracketology project was designed to enable, still fit and firing out all the scenarios in stunning technicolor

Agorilla asks: Why are most of the World Cups recently, and future, being held in despotic regimes?

Pablo: Well, Fifa simply follows the money, and each of the last three World Cups have given them some form of carte blanche to make a shitload of it. The Qataris basically handed them a blank check, with Russia making similar concessions. Ironically I think that many American municipalities didn’t cave to Fifa’s obscene financial demands quite as much as previous hosts did, and some cities withdrew their bids, unable to see the logic in making tax concessions or spending money on infrastructure that they’d never see a return on. Still, this will be the most profitable summer in Fifa’s history, and they very much continue to view the United States as global football’s ATM.

Jan Olsson asks: Is Alexi Lalas actually a character comedian?

Pablo: It’s been fascinating to watch the discourse around Lalas, which has grown more and more hyperbolic by the day. He is by all accounts a staple in the world of American soccer commentary in no small part because of the vibe you’re talking about – and you’re not wrong, many people think he’s doing a bit. There’s a little bit of that going on, and Alexi is certainly aware of the sometimes intensely negative reaction he drives, and his employer is, too. To Fox, he keeps people talking, and that’s enough. I actually haven’t found him bad to watch this summer.

I think Zlatan is the dud at the desk, but that’s all subjective. In the States, we also have the option of just turning Fox off and watching matches on Telemundo, in Spanish. Just saying.

CaptainLib asks: Is football coming home?

Jeff: In the sense that it has many homes these days, sure. I did have some concerns about Tuchel’s squad, but maybe not the ones most people have voiced most loudly. Adam Wharton’s ball progression and positional savviness seemed like an obvious boon for the team as they tried to control games and find seams in and beyond the opposing defence. Right now, this team is struggling to create those “big” chances on which Harry Kane feasts, and their speculative shooting against Ghana showed that an organised opponent might give them fits.

Then again, some of the other pre-tournament favourites have already wobbled. My initial bracket had England out in the QF against Ecuador, when I assumed this tournament’s tactical zeitgeist would skew more defensive given the heat. With how expansive it already appears, I have England to the semi-final, but falling to whomever comes out of that possible Argentina v Portugal quarter-final.

SteveinDC asks: Now that each stadium has hosted a few games, can our panel of experts rank them in order of best to worst?

Jeff: I’ve been to three World Cup venues so far, so let’s start there. Seattle has created a genuine World Cup village around the erstwhile Lumen Field, and the stadium is famous for its volume retention. Makes for a power post-game singalong. Second for me is Vancouver, which also retains atmosphere nicely and whose dated air conditioning can be remedied with a five-dollar battery powered fan. Incredibly kind stadium staff there, too.

Los Angeles is the most impressive venue but its location doesn’t enhance the experience with supplemental shops or sips, and navigating the concourse can be a nightmare. If my experience in Atlanta for the USMNT March friendlies was at all indicative, I’d rank it between Vancouver and Los Angeles – great walkability. Our stadium guide is here

Jeff and Pablo are now here answering your questions (Alex should be here soon). We’ll post them as we get them.

We’re approaching the end of the group stages of the biggest World Cup ever. The Guardian’s coverage of the tournament has been greatly enhanced this year by the expansion of our soccer/football team in the United States.

Correspondents Alexander Abnos, Pablo Iglesias Maurer and Jeff Rueter have been as busy as you’d expect over the first few weeks of the tournament.

Since hanging out with Zohran Mamdani to play our Bracketology game before the tournament, Alex has been busy covering the United States’ impressive start to the tournament as well as Iran’s difficult trips to play in LA; Pablo had the honour of watching Lionel Messi become the World Cup’s all-time top goalscorer in Dallas and Jeff has also been on the West Coast covering the USMNT and Canada’s big 6-0 win in Vancouver.

Alex, Pablo and Jeff are here to answer your questions live. Ask them anything about the tournament so far: from the impact in the United States itself to who’s going to win the whole thing based on the first fortnight of matches.

Post your question in the comments now.