Opinion: Top 5 Predictions for 2024

By: Anthony Tazbaz

Image Credit: Nelson Ndongala

Top 5 Predictions for 2024

Football is called “The Beautiful Game” for many reasons, including due to the sport’s unpredictability and its handful of Cinderella runs every now and then. Like a financial analyst predicting the price of a stock or a pundit predicting the performance of a club, I posit below my top five bold predictions for 2024, ranging from European club football to international tournaments, which are in abundance this year. Let’s get to it!

1. Major Titles for Leverkusen and Munich

I will begin with a bold one! Bayer Leverkusen will win the Bundesliga and consequently break Bayern Munich’s 11-year championship run. However, I also believe that Bayern Munich will win the 2023-24 UEFA Champions League (UCL). Needless to say, it would still be a solid year for Bayern Munich, despite not winning the title. It would also be an incredible season for German club football, given the diversity of champions with three German clubs winning major titles.

While Bayern Munich is the only German club to have won the UCL title in the 21st century — in 2013 and 2020 — another UCL championship for a German club coupled with a new Bundesliga winner and perhaps another DfB Pokal champion could signify that German football is back to its old elite pedigree. It would also render the league more entertaining from a neutral perspective as it demonstrates that Bayern could still miss out on silverware at the expense of its domestic counterparts.

How it will happen: Leverkusen will maintain their excellent 2023 form and carry over that momentum into 2024. Head coach Xabi Alonso has proven to be a consistent winner and his roster of hard-working players continuously demonstrates to be worthy of achieving the pinnacle of German club football. Bayern’s squad — known for picking up injuries — will need to assess which competition should be given priority.

Thomas Tuchel should focus on UCL, given the fact that Real Madrid and Arsenal are still a roter piece or two away, Manchester City is slightly weakened and other clubs such as PSG, Barcelona, Napoli and Inter Milan are not to the level of winning the grand prize. Ultimately, in addition to potential injuries, Bayern forfeiting points for a couple of matches prior to UCL fixtures in order to rest their best players could prove to be a game changer for both the club’s ambitions and, as previously mentioned, for German football.

2. Germany will go winless at Euro 2024

Given Germany’s sluggish form over the past year and a half, Die Mannschaft may suffer one of its most underwhelming tournament campaigns in the nation’s history. Worse, it would just so happen that they would suffer such a fate as the host nation of this year’s UEFA European Championship. Drawn in Group A with Scotland, Hungary and Switzerland, each matchup will be a difficult task for a nation whose players lack extensive expertise in major international tournaments and seemingly struggle to play a cohesive game.

How it will happen: Germany’s opening match against Scotland may likely result in a draw. The Scottish, who are capable of defeating and/or upsetting major nations — notably defeating Spain 3-0 in the qualifiers and drawing 0-0 England at Euro 2020 — may prove difficult for the Germans. In particular, the Germans may have difficulty penetrating Scotland’s defence, which significantly improved over the past couple of years. Hungary, however, may surprise the German backline. The Hungarians’ dynamic attacking midfield, led by Liverpool’s Dominik Szoboszlai, could overwhelm the Germans. Their defence may also prove too strong, even for a consistent flow of German attacks. Ultimately, this match may very well end in a 1-1 or 2-2 draw.

Finally, the Swiss will also pose challenges similar to the Hungarians. A strong defence with an unpredictable attack could catch Die Mannschaft off guard and result in a draw or shocking loss. Ultimately, I believe that the hosts will end their group campaign with three draws, resulting in a third-place finish in Group A and advancing to the Round of 16 due to an even goal differential. However, I do not fancy Julian Nagelsmann’s squad advancing beyond the Round of 16, effectively ending the campaign on a winless note.

3. Uruguay will win Copa América

Another international football prediction for you! The 2024 Copa América, held in June and July in the United States, will result in an international title for Uruguay, which would result in a 15th title and a first since 2011. La Celeste (not to be confused with Argentina’s La Albiceleste) is in prime position to advance until at least the quarterfinals, with the hosts USA and either Brazil or Colombia being the only prime challengers.

Uruguay, led by “The Madman” Marcelo Bielsa, have also redeemed themselves after a porous display at the 2022 FIFA World Cup that saw the nation exit the tournament prematurely at the group stage. In the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, Uruguay sit in second place, only two points behind leaders and defending world champions Argentina. Uruguay astonished the football world with a 2-0 win against La Albiceleste in Buenos Aires, which followed an equally astonishing, yet crucial 2-0 victory against Brazil.

How it will happen: The Uruguayans, led by Darwin Nuñez and Federico Valverde, will emerge as number one in Group C, followed by the United States. They will face Colombia — supposedly finishing in second place of Group D behind Brazil — and defeat them in the quarterfinals. In the semifinals, Uruguay may face the likes of either Argentina or Ecuador, which may be their biggest challenge of the tournament. However, I sense a major upset and a matchup against Brazil in the final could indeed happen. Uruguay should once again obtain the long end of the stick and claim the Copa América, quite possibly on penalties, which seem to be Brazil’s kryptonite.

4. Liverpool will be trophyless

In what may be my boldest prediction yet, I have a strange feeling that Liverpool will play the entire 2024 calendar year without winning a single trophy. Despite currently sitting in first place of the Premier League table, being currently alive in the EFL Cup semifinals and obtaining a bye to the UEFA Europa League Round of 16, Liverpool will end the season without silverware and will consequently be ineligible to compete in the FA Community Shield and the UEFA Super Cup.

How it will happen: This month may be the most crucial yet for Liverpool. The Merseyside club will be without stars Mohammed Salah and Wataru Endō, both of whom will miss up to over a month of club football due to the AFCON and AFC Asian Cup, respectively. Moreover, defender Joel Matip will be out long-term, which thins their backline depth. Liverpool are also reportedly not planning to make major moves during the January transfer window. Should should that be the case, a short-handed squad could fumble the EFL Cup semifinals against Fulham or perhaps the final against a Chelsea squad with a lot to prove.

The Premier League lead could also slip away, whether it is Aston Villa or Arsenal creeping up or Manchester City capitalizing on the fact that they will not lose a single player to international football and Kevin de Bruyne returning from injury. With strong competition in the Europa League and the FA Cup, Liverpool could also easily let prospects to winning both trophies slip away, which may happen should injuries pile up slightly, coupled with Salah and Endo’s absences.

Ultimately, Manchester City may win the Premier League, with Liverpool losing both the EFL and FA Cups. I also believe that the Europa League has a special, yet unexpected, victor waiting for us. While Liverpool not winning may seem like a long shot, I believe that clubs such as Villarreal, Bayer Leverkusen and AC Milan could perhaps muster an upset.

I realize that I may receive a lot of backlash for this prediction, especially after Liverpool’s 2-0 FC Cup victory against Arsenal. However, we can speak for all fans and pundits that we enjoy thinking outside of the box at times.

5. No MLS Cup Playoffs for all Canadian teams

Onto my bold prediction in North America, all three Canadian clubs will miss out on the postseason in 2024. CF Montréal and Toronto FC concluded underwhelming and disastrous seasons, respectively. Despite Vancouver Whitecaps qualifying for the playoffs, they lost both of their games in the first round to Los Angeles FC and it does not look as though they may repeat postseason qualification. Although the offseason is young, neither club has made significant improvements compared to their American counterparts and Vancouver may likely lose Canadian international Richie Laryea, whose loan from Nottingham Forest expired. Admittedly, however, this prediction may be a little premature. Let’s see how I predict it to happen, shall we?

How it will happen: At the moment — and should they not make numerous major moves — Toronto FC are still miles (kilometres for its fans) away from competing in the MLS postseason, never mind placing among the top teams, which was occupied by the club in the mid-to-late-2010s. Although newly-appointed head coach John Herdman may prove to be the leader to steer the ship on course, Toronto FC will still need to add many complimentary pieces in addition to ensuring the future of both Italians Lorenzo Insigne and Federico Bernardeschi, who both expressed frustration and a degree of desire to leave the club. Bernardeschi also voiced interest in returning to Juventus, his former club.

Montréal will also need to make several moves to achieve postseason prominence. Despite narrowly missing out on the MLS Cup Playoffs by one point last season, one could argue that the squad nevertheless slightly overachieved (many predicted Montréal to finish near the bottom of the league). Their attack was among the worst in the league and their best forward, Romell Quioto, will not return to the club. However, Laurent Courtois’s imminent hiring from MLS Next Pro’s Columbus Crew II — and his experience of winning the MLS Next Pro inaugural title and reaching the final once again last year — could lay the foundation for a successful Montréal squad in a year or two.

Lastly, Vancouver — the favourites among the three to qualify — lost a couple of key players and are gradually being figured out by other clubs. This was evident last season when they managed to stay just above .500, despite having played to a more consistent level in head coach Vini Santini’s early days. It would take a lot for me to be convinced that the Whitecaps could ultimately qualify for consecutive postseasons only for the second time in the club’s history.

As well, see the top-four predictions for Europe’s top five leagues on our Football Minded podcast: Episode 6, Part I.