On Feb. 11, Tremendous Bowl LVIII (that’s 58) shall be performed at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, and it’s a matchup that may look acquainted to these with a passing curiosity within the sport {of professional} soccer: the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs vs. the San Francisco 49ers. That is, in fact, the very same matchup we noticed in Tremendous Bowl LIV (that’s 54), 4 years in the past, when the Chiefs beat the 49ers, 31-20.
You recognize the place championship rematches are uncommon, although? The World Collection.
This century, in truth, there was just one: The Boston Purple Sox and the St. Louis Cardinals met in each 2004 and 2013. (The Purple Sox gained each.)
There are many the reason why this can prone to proceed to be unusual, however that doesn’t imply the drought gained’t finish this yr. So we’re going to take a look at each World Collection matchup this century — we’re together with 2000, which we all know just isn’t technically this century, however c’mon, don’t be so pedantic — and rank them by the chance of seeing a rematch in 2024.
1) 2017: Astros vs. DodgersThere shall be many 2024 preseason predictions that embrace this very World Collection matchup, and don’t let any lingering controversy about this Astros staff distract you from how nice the 2017 model was. The one bummer was that Sport 7 was the least thrilling one of many seven they performed. This yr was additionally the beginning of the Astros’ energetic streak of seven consecutive ALCS appearances.
2) 2021: Braves vs. AstrosAt many factors throughout the common season in each 2022 and 2023, it regarded like we might get this very rematch. It could look that approach at a number of factors in 2024 as effectively.
3) 2020: Dodgers vs. RaysUntil the Dodgers win a World Collection after a full 162-game schedule, this Collection win — unfairly, I’d very a lot argue, but it surely’s however true — shall be seen as by some means lesser. The Dodgers have clearly muscled as much as erase that kind of blasphemy from individuals’s lips: To take action towards the Rays would have a sure poetry to it.
4) 2022: Astros vs. PhilliesThese had been the 2 League Championship Collection losers final yr, so we did simply come fairly near a Fall Traditional rematch.
5) 2023: Rangers vs. D-backsIs it potential that each of those groups shall be higher, begin to end, in 2024 than they had been in 2023? Maybe. That doesn’t essentially make it probably they’ll return for the primary back-to-back World Collection matchup because the Dodgers and Yankees in 1977-78, but it surely’s definitely on the desk.
6) 2008: Phillies vs. RaysThis wasn’t simply the primary World Collection look for the Rays — it was the primary playoff look in franchise historical past. They’ve made it eight instances since then, together with another World Collection look in 2020. The Phillies are a legit contender to make it this yr, if not fairly the favourite the Dodgers are. Let’s simply hope if we get this rematch, the ultimate recreation doesn’t take three days to finish.
7) 2009: Yankees vs. PhilliesDid you hear this was the final time the Yankees made the World Collection? You may need heard one thing about that. The Phillies are nonetheless smarting from how shut they got here to creating their second consecutive World Collection final yr, and out of all of the groups the Yankees have performed within the World Collection this century, the Phils do look like the most definitely to make it again in 2024.
8) 2001: D-backs vs. YankeesOne of probably the most memorable World Collection ever ended with a Luis Gonzalez single that gave the D-backs their first (and solely) World Collection title. The Yankees have solely gained as soon as since then, and in 2023, Arizona turned the sixteenth staff to succeed in the World Collection because the Yankees final made one in 2009.
9) 2000: Yankees vs. MetsThe Subway Collection! On the time, these two franchises had been full of stars and massive personalities. There are nonetheless loads of stars round in 2024, too, though each golf equipment have so much to show after issues went off the rails a yr in the past.
10) 2018: Purple Sox vs. DodgersThe most up-to-date Purple Sox title feels, frankly, prefer it occurred a really very long time in the past. The Dodgers have constructed the sustainable success that the Purple Sox weren’t capable of handle after 2018.
11) 2003: Marlins vs. YankeesUnlike the Yankees, the Marlins did make the playoffs in 2023. That mentioned, they haven’t proven a lot urgency to construct on that success or make a direct leap ahead. It’s your name between the Mets and the Marlins right here: Whichever staff you assume shall be higher in 2024, place them increased within the rankings of a possible Yankees rematch. We went with the Mets.
12) 2010: Giants vs. RangersThe subsequent two slots, you may flip-flop, relying on whether or not you assume the Giants or the Cardinals usually tend to make the World Collection this yr. We’ll go together with the staff that didn’t end in final place in 2023.
13) 2011: Cardinals vs. RangersAfter what occurred final yr, it’s truthful to say, this World Collection would carry again so much fewer dangerous recollections for Rangers followers than it might have in any other case.
14) 2004/2013: Purple Sox vs. CardinalsIn 2023, the Cardinals completed in final place for the primary time since 1990, however they’ve bolstered their rotation and seem like one of many contenders within the forever-in-flux Nationwide League Central. The Purple Sox additionally completed in final in 2023, albeit with a greater document in a a lot more durable division. However contemplating that division and their very own state of aggressive limbo proper now, they appear simply as removed from a World Collection because the Cardinals — perhaps additional.
15) 2012: Giants vs. TigersIs this the least memorable World Collection this century? The Giants had simply gained the World Collection two years earlier, this Tigers staff solely gained 88 video games throughout the common season, and it was a sweep.
16) 2006: Cardinals vs. TigersThis was Justin Verlander’s rookie yr — so way back he went 0-for-2 on the plate and had a document of 0-2 within the World Collection — and it resulted in one of many extra stunning World Collection winners in historical past, the 83-win Cardinals. This may very well be a quiet sleeper choose: It wouldn’t be all that stunning to see every staff win its respective Central division this yr.
17) 2016: Cubs vs. GuardiansAt the time, each of those groups had been younger and full of expertise. It certain regarded like a World Collection rematch (of one of many best World Collection of the century) was very a lot within the playing cards. That wasn’t the way in which issues went.
18) 2002: Angels vs. GiantsWe can all hope that Mike Trout reaches a World Collection in some unspecified time in the future in his profession, but it surely certain doesn’t look like “the yr after Shohei Ohtani leaves” goes to be the time to do it.
19) 2019: Nationals vs. AstrosThe Astros could effectively return to the World Collection this yr. The Nationals, nonetheless …
20) 2014: Giants vs. RoyalsI was in attendance at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas Metropolis for this Sport 7, and each Royals fan I talked to was significantly despairing as a result of they thought it was their solely actual probability to win one in all these. It didn’t end up that approach.
21) 2015: Royals vs. MetsI’ll take the Giants over the Mets because the extra probably staff to succeed in the World Collection in 2024. Both approach, one other confrontation with the Royals looks like fairly a longshot.
22) 2007: Purple Sox vs. RockiesSince this World Collection look, the Rockies have made three postseasons and gained two playoff video games. Neither quantity appears to be like prone to enhance in 2024.
23) 2005: White Sox vs. AstrosFair to say: That is the simplest name on the board, on condition that the White Sox look to be rebuilding after a 101-loss season.