Two short months from now the best teams from the globe’s most popular sport will begin arriving in the United States for the men’s FIFA World Cup starting June 11 — the biggest event in the one true international game. Call it soccer or futbol. Call it unparalleled. A record 48 national teams will participate, and the world awaits these 104 matches across five weeks the way Americans do Super Bowl Sundays.

This tri-hosted North American World Cup will see three-quarters of all games, 78, played in the United States including the championship match, with 13 games each in Mexico and Canada. Splendidly diverse, multilingual Greater Miami always ranks among leading markets in World Cup TV ratings — a big reason Hard Rock Stadium was gifted seven matches: Four in the early group stage, one in the round of 32, a quarterfinal match and then the bronze medal (third place) game.

Global megastar Lionel Messi playing for Inter Miami — and for high-powered Argentina in the World Cup — only magnifies South Florida interest. Inter Miami, reigning Major League Soccer champion, makes its season home debut this Saturday to christen new Miami Freedom Park (a.k.a. Nu Stadium), further stoking interest for what’s ahead as MLS will pause its schedule in deference to the World Cup.

Soccer is bigger than ever in the United States, and hugely more popular than in 1994, the only other time America hosted a World Cup, with MLS and Miami landing Messi at the front of the surge.

Yes, most everything points to an exhilarating World Cup as America celebrates its 250th anniversary this summer — but with a notably ominous exception.

The U.S. team.

Host nations often enjoy a boost, a home-field advantage, and hopes have been high for a deep run by the Americans ... but those hopes have been cratering with recent poor form by the “home team.”

The United States got hammered, 5-2, by a strong Belgium side in a recent tuneup match.

“We have another opportunity against a strong team,” American star Christian Pulisic said of an ensuing test against Portugal. “We want to get a good result and feel good going into the World Cup.”

The United States lost that one, 2-0.

Former U.S. stars such as Alexi Lalas and Landon Donovan have sounded alarms about the current team.

“We were very clear in our identity. We were never worried about conceding five goals,” said Donovan, who played in three World Cups. “That would never, ever have happened. We might have lost games and we did. But that was never in the conversation — ever. For this team, I am concerned. There’s no question that conceding five goals at home three months before the World Cup is going to do psychological damage to the team and the players.”

Donovan said the U.S. team conveys a lack of “pride,” to little fire in their play. The team was an automatic entry as a host nation so avoided the rigors and pressure of qualifying competition — in some ways, perhaps a detriment to preparation.

Coach Mauricio Pochettino has drawn criticism for lineup tweaks perceived to have weakened the defense, moves that Fox Sports soccer analyst Rob Stone likened to “borderline panic.” Concern also surrounds Pulisic, whose goals drought has reached a combined career-worst 20 games with the U.S. national team and club side AC Milan.

The United States has only two tuneups left before its first World Cup match in Group D on June 12 against Paraguay at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif.. The next friendly is May 31 vs. a very solid Senegal team in Charlotte, N.C., and the last is June 6 in a sendoff vs. always-strong Germany in Chicago.

For the United States, those remaining pre-World Cup tests loom as must-wins in a way friendlies seldom are. Belief is teetering. Doubts are rising. Momentum is needed.

Thirty-two of 48 teams will advance from the group stage to the single-elimination knockout round: The top two teams from each of 12 four-team groups, as well as the eight most qualified third-placed teams based on group standings.

The United States must at least advance from group play or be seen as a massive failure. That’s expected, though not a given. There is no powerhouse in Group D, but likewise there is no cupcake against whom a victory is assured.

The Americans are 16th in the latest FIFA World Ranking. Elsewhere in Group D, Turkiye (its English spelling was changed from Turkey in 2022) is ranked 22nd, Australia is 27th and Paraguay is 40th.

The 48-team field was fully set only this week with the last six qualifiers including Turkiye making it. Notably out: Four-time World Cup champion Italy. Notably in: Iran, notable since, well, the host United States is presently dropping bombs there.

Favorites to win it all include Spain, France, Messi’s reigning champ Argentina, England, ubiquitous Brazil and perhaps Portugal.

The United States must survive group play and then avoid a quick exit in the round of 32 to see its performance judged anything close to a success.

America finished third in the inaugural 1930 World Cup but only 13 nations competed. The best U.S. modern-day performance was reaching the quarterfinals in 2002.

Meanwhile the mighty U.S. women’s national team has won four World Cups, the inevitable contrast and comparison heaping further pressure on the American men to finally break through with a World Cup showing that rivets the world’s attention.

The U.S. Olympic team enjoyed a celebratory recent Winter Games in Italy. That included gold medals in hockey by both the American men and women.

A fitting dream followup would be a deep, riveting, star-spangled run this summer by U.S. men’s soccer on home soil in a World Cup at the very center of America’s 250th birthday party.

History as well as recent performances cast the United States as an underdog; then again it was sports that asked — and answered — “Do you believe in miracles?”

If sports reminds us anything is possible and proving the doubters wrong is the powerful, magic tonic it’s made out to be, maybe the American men will have a shot at a summer surprise?

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