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The 2018 World Cup is almost upon us, and unfortunately for fans of the world's most popular sport in the United States, Italy, the Netherlands, Chile, Ireland, and others, their nations won't be represented.
While it's certainly a disappointment for those teams, especially on the American side after their 2014 run to the knockout stage, their absences offer fans a unique opportunity to adopt another nation as their own for the next month.
Below are our eight best picks for fans to cheer for at the 2018 World Cup.