18 Qualified, 30 Dreams Still Alive: Morning Espresso, 9.11

The road to the 2026 World Cup is taking shape. Eighteen teams have already booked their place, while thirty more spots remain up for grabs in a qualifying race filled with surprises, setbacks, and storylines. We break down the latest developments from around the globe — from Equatorial Guinea’s failed appeal to Venezuela’s elimination and coaching change, to MLS stars leading scoring charts across multiple continents. Plus, Cristian Roldan’s unexpected impact with the USMNT, fresh faces in the U.S. youth camps in Georgia, and the latest from England, Europe, and right here in Atlanta’s college soccer scene.