The 4-1 Bomb That Made NFL Stars Forget About Minicamps and Pick World Cup Winners

Yo, Seattle! Hold up! Are you watching the World Cup right now? Because our boys, the USMNT, just dropped a massive 4-1 bomb on Paraguay to kick things off, and the energy is absolutely electric! And get this, even with the NFL just wrapping up minicamps and heading into a short break, the pros are already deep into their predictions for the greatest show on turf. Forget the playbook for a second, it's all about the pitch!

USMNT Just Sent a Message, Loud and Clear

The whole world is shifting gears from American football to, well, *global* football, right? And you know what? It feels good! The FIFA World Cup is already underway, running strong through July 19, and the hype is real. It's awesome that North America is hosting games all over the continent, with matches even happening in 11 different NFL stadiums. Our very own USMNT came out absolutely firing in their opener, demolishing Paraguay with a dominant 4-1 win on Friday. That's how you make an entrance, folks! You gotta love seeing that kind of performance right out of the gate, especially when the whole world is watching. It just changes the whole vibe for the tournament, doesn't it?

NFL Guys Are Already Calling Their Shots

You’d think these NFL dudes would be totally zoned in on their own teams, even with minicamps just finishing up. But nah, the World Cup has their full, undivided attention. Take Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love, for instance. He admitted he's not super into soccer day-to-day, but even he knows this is different. He said, "World Cup, I think that's the biggest time of the year, so you've got to love it." He’s so hyped he even wants to go catch a game! But others are even deeper into it. Washington Commanders quarterback Marcus Mariota is already making bold calls. He's saying France is the team to beat, flat out calling them "the best team on paper." He's not just talking smack either, he fully expects France to win it all, and he’s got Kylian Mbappé locked in for the Golden Boot award. Mariota broke it down like a true analyst, saying, "Their strikers are out of this world. When you've got two premier strikers like that, you've got a chance to score a lot of goals. That gives them an edge." His teammate, Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin, is totally on board, picking France and Mbappé too. Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson was also mentioned among those keeping a close eye on the favorites. Across the league, the prevailing sentiment is crystal clear: everyone's saying "Allez en France!" So, while our Seahawks guys like Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Rashid Shaheed are taking a well-deserved breather before training camp hits in late July, this World Cup is gonna hold us over big time. Our USMNT is off to a flying start, and you know everyone in the Emerald City is gonna be glued to their TVs, especially with this kind of early momentum. Can our boys keep this fire burning all the way to July 19 and truly make some noise on home soil? We'll be watching every single kick, Seattle, ready to cheer them on every step of the way!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.