The Two World Cups

[AuntAnnie]

I don’t know why I find this interesting, but I do. Watch the World Cup—the one for soccer— I
glanced at tables of top teams in the world. Only three nations are in the top 20 of the soccer
rankings AND made the top 20 in the recent world freestyle wrestling championship. Those
nations are Iran, Italy and the USA. Iran and the US are near the top of the Top 20 in wrestling,
and near the bottom of the Top 20 in soccer, with Iran at the very bottom. Italy is near the top
in soccer, but near the bottom of the top 20 in wrestling. And— mamma mia!—it did not even
make the soccer World Cup. Of the three, only the USA has made the knockout round of the
soccer world cup. I can only conclude from all this that the USA is the greatest nation on Earth.

[Theo Brixton]

The US has the size, genetic diversity and resources to put together a decent team for any sport if there is the will. I have to assume that not many members of Russia's soccer team come from Dagestan and Ossetia, whose populations seem to be ideally built for wrestling.

I always felt that with even limited infrastructure, Brazil could be a power in wrestling given the popularity and success of grappling and combat sports there.

[Theo Brixton]

Also would have helped engagement if you named the thread "One World, Two Cups"...