Erling Haaland, Martin Odegaard, et al can help Norway take down a Dutch side weary from their famous win over Brazil. That side of the draw could open up for England if they end Mexico’s interest in their home tournament. Their recent form also suggests it will be difficult to make their first knockout round appearance, having won just one of their last six matches (D3, L2). Sweden are set to make just their second World Cup appearance since 2006, despite finishing bottom of their qualifying group with two points to their name.
- Cricket and boxing are his other major sporting passions and he has covered the likes of Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury, Wladimir Klitschko, Gennadiy Golovkin and Vasyl Lomachenko live from ringside.
- All things considered, Spain are the rightful favorites to win the 2026 FIFA World Cup and are worth locking in at +450 odds.
- Lamine Yamal already looked a superstar then at 16 years old, and even though he’s just 18 now, it’s hard to see anyone stopping him.
- The 2026 World Cup will mark the end of an era in French football, with Didier Deschamps set to stand down from his role as Les Bleus’ head coach after 14 years at the helm.
- A newly expanded World Cup format will see 48 nations compete across 12 groups for football’s biggest prize in a tournament co-hosted by Canada, Mexico and the USA.
- Croatia vs Spain – Croatia’s remarkable tournament experience and resilience could make this a tightly contested encounter.
- Brazil have struggled to define a clear identity in recent tournaments, raising doubts about their ability to make a legitimate World Cup run.
- The tournament runs June 11 to July 19, 2026, and the Final is at New York New Jersey Stadium (MetLife).
- That places significant responsibility on Joao Pedro, who has impressed at Chelsea, but it remains uncertain whether that will be enough, or even if he’s locked into the XI.
The World Cup predictions page offers structured coverage of the tournament across all stages. Statistical summaries highlight performance trends across World Cup, including attacking and defensive records. The World Cup standings show current table positions, points totals, and recent form for all teams.
Knicks vs. Spurs: 3 battlegrounds to watch in Game 2 and beyond, including the KAT-Wemby clash
Bosnia’s effort and organization should not be overlooked, but overcoming a Portuguese side featuring players like Rafael Leao, Vitinha and Bruno Fernandes would require something exceptional. Group D centers on the battle between Turkiye and the United States. The recent form and questions on formation under Mauricio Pochettino for the U.S. raises concern, while Turkiye’s balance and presence of Hakan Calhanoglu give them the slight edge to win the group. Australia and Paraguay are organized enough to earn draws but remain long shots to advance ahead of the two favorites. Bosnia enter confidently after knocking out Italy and looks talented enough to win this group as long as Edin Dzeko can stay on the pitch at 40 years old. The Bosnian legend didn’t miss a minute in the playoffs against Wales and Italy despite injuring his shoulder.
World Cup 2026 Goal Stats Tracker Spreadsheet
Sport’s greatest tournament returns with an all-new expanded format as 48 nations battle it out to win the World Cup. With 104 matches taking us from the Group Stage right through to the World Cup Final, we’re in for one heck of a month of soccer drama. Reigning champions Argentina arrive with superstar Lionel Messi likely playing in his last ever World Cup, while the same could also be said for Portugal hero Cristiano Ronaldo. France are looking to reclaim glory, while England are out to end 60 years of hurt. Brazil haven’t won the World Cup since 2002 and will hope to end that drought, while host nations USA, Mexico and Canada will all look to leave their mark. Let’s break down the 2026 World Cup winner odds and give our World Cup best bets to make.
Group Match Worksheet
In addition to the top eight favourites, there are two other teams given at least a 2% chance of winning the World Cup – Norway (2.3%) and Colombia (2.0%). Canada are deemed the least likely of the host nations to go all the way, winning the tournament in just 0.4% of our simulations, though they are only a year removed from a historic tournament run. Along with the Gold Cup run, a 5-1 win over Uruguay last time out put Pochettino’s critics on notice, and the USA should feel good about their chances of being competitive in the knockout stages. Eleven of the tournament’s venues are in the USA, and Mauricio Pochettino’s side are assigned a 0.9% chance of going all the way. They will be placed in Group D, with two of their first-round games taking place in Los Angeles and the other in Seattle. Germany arguably played some of the best football at Euro 2024, ranking second for average possession (62.5%) and goals scored (11), but Nagelsmann has plenty of selection dilemmas to consider.
Free Printable Bracket
- So, let’s say no team that finishes third in their group is going to dust themselves down and win the whole thing.
- Saudi Arabia remain the wildcard, but I’m sticking with the two heavyweights to advance.
- Before making any 2026 World Cup picks or predictions, you need to see what SportsLine’s soccer insider Martin Green has to say.
- While their physicality and attacking threat stand out, their defense is arguably their greatest strength, led by Roma’s Evan N’Dicka.
- But the likes of Enzo Fernández and Julián Alvarez have kicked on in the last two years, and any team which has Messi has a chance of going all the way – a creditable 8.7% chance, according to the supercomputer.
- Les Bleus won the 2018 World Cup with a 4-2 victory over Croatia in the final, but suffered heartbreak and pain in 2022 as Argentina beat them on penalties.
- Mexico faces South Africa in the tournament opener, with the hosts looking to take advantage of home support and start with a confident performance.
- The Netherlands have reached the most World Cup finals without ever lifting the trophy (three), and they are the eighth and final team assigned more than a 5% chance of triumphing next year, at 5.2%.
- Turkey’s squad also features the likes of Kenan Yıldız and captain Hakan Calhanoglu, but Arda Guler stands out as their main creative force.
- The World Cup predictions page offers structured coverage of the tournament across all stages.
- The simulator is built around two stages that mirror the real tournament.
Cristiano Ronaldo enters what will surely be his final World Cup free to play after his ban for a red card against the Republic of Ireland was quashed. The Selecao’s depth of talent should be enough to pip Colombia to top spot. Tournament debutants Uzbekistan, playing under Italy’s 2006 World Cup-winning captain Fabio Cannavaro, and an inter-confederation path featuring DR Congo means a venture into the unknown for the two group favourites. Predictions are updated ahead of every round to provide clear insights for football fans following the tournament. Our goal is to deliver accurate match previews and analysis tailored specifically to World Cup competition. The fixtures section displays upcoming World Cup matches by matchweek, including kickoff times and scheduled pairings.
- The United States will begin play on June 12 and is a World Cup 2026 co-host alongside Canada and Mexico, but it’s European nations who top the latest soccer odds to win the tournament, per FanDuel Sportsbook.
- A World Cup prediction pool (also called a soccer pool, office pool or bracket pool) is a game where you and your friends predict the scores of FIFA World Cup 2026 matches.
- Mauricio Pochettino will spearhead the United States Men’s National Team, with ambitions of advancing to their first quarterfinal since 2002, via The Mirror US.
- Anyone who opens the link sees your World Cup 2026 predictor picks exactly as you made them.
- Their roster is stacked with talent from back to front, and the possibility of Ronaldo’s final World Cup only sharpens the focus.
- Argentina enter as defending champion, but without Angel Di Maria, one of the anchors of their last run, they lack the same spark.
- The knockout stage starts with a round of 32, meaning every prediction counts from day one.
- Spain finally won the World Cup in 2010 when they edged the Netherlands in extra time, and after winning Euro 2024 two years ago, Luis de la Fuente’s side will look to build heavily on that success.
- Brazil are the only side to qualify for every edition of the World Cup, though the Seleção cut things a little too fine this time around, finishing fifth in CONMEBOL’s qualifiers.
- I like Japan’s technical depth to edge Sweden for second, but they can still qualify to the next round as a top third-place team, with Tunisia finishing at the bottom.
FIFA World Cup Predictions
Japan beat Spain and Germany in the group stage last time around and have a recent friendly win over Brazil to their name. They remain phenomenally strong, although there are plenty of questions surrounding five-time winners Brazil under Carlo Ancelotti. Get FREE daily news and in-depth previews for games from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football — straight to your inbox. The fixture also represents the first time that the two nations have faced off since they played out a 1-1 draw in a friendly in May 2002.
Simply enter match scores, and the spreadsheet updates everything automatically—including group rankings and knockout pairings based on the new FIFA rules. USA, Mexico, and Canada are the host nations, while Argentina enters as the defending champion. The 2026 FIFA World Cup—the biggest football tournament in the world—will take place in the United States, Canada, and Mexico from June 11 to July 19, 2026. Unlike the 2022 edition held in December, the tournament returns to the traditional summer schedule, making it even more exciting for fans worldwide. Turkey vs Best 3rd place Group B/E/F/I/J – Despite their lengthy absence from football’s biggest stage, the Crescent-Stars might return with a bang.
Can Spain return to the summit?
The 2026 World Cup is co-hosted by the United States (11 venues), Mexico (3 venues), and Canada (2 venues) across 16 stadiums. The final will be played at MetLife Stadium in New York/New Jersey. Live scores for every match of the 2026 World Cup, in your timezone.
- The experienced midfielder will act as the glue between defence and attack, tasked with protecting the backline and keeping moves ticking over when his team is in possession.
- According to the official Olympics explainer, the tournament will be the largest in history, featuring 48 teams and co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
- Choose between blank fillable versions for office pools and predictions, or live versions updated with real results as the tournament progresses.
- Our goal is to deliver accurate match previews and analysis tailored specifically to World Cup competition.
- South Africa, however, will be motivated to challenge and avoid an early setback.
- The top two from each group plus the eight best third-placed teams (32 in total) advance to the knockout Round of 32.
- With more nations, an added knockout round, and third-place teams advancing, predicting the full tournament path is more complex, and more intriguing, than ever.
- Simulate or predict every match of the 48-team tournament — group stage through the final.
- In the simulator’s model, the highest-ranked nations such as France, Spain, and Argentina win most often, since match probabilities are weighted by FIFA rankings.
- It’s hard to believe that it’s been 24 years since Brazil even appeared in a World Cup Final, much less win it.
- He previously worked as fan brands editor for Manchester City at Reach Plc.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s last chance to lead Portugal to World Cup glory should begin with a relatively straightforward group-stage campaign, even though Colombia possess the quality to make life uncomfortable for the Iberians. Argentina’s quest to become just the third nation in World Cup history to successfully defend their title should face no real threat in Group J. However, there’s a good reason why Switzerland are odds-on to walk away with a top-table finish, having progressed from the group stages in four of their five World Cup appearances this century. The content on this site is for entertainment purposes only and CBS Sports makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the information given or the outcome of any game or event.
Here you’ll find match predictions, upcoming fixtures, recent results, group standings, knockout stage progress, and key statistics to help follow the World Cup tournament. With 16 extra teams compared to previous editions, the group stage alone will feature 72 matches — more than the entire 2022 World Cup. The knockout stage starts with a round of 32, meaning every prediction counts from day one. Whether you’re following the USMNT at home, cheering for Canada’s golden generation or tracking dark horses from Africa and Asia, there’s never been more football to predict. Their continued success on the international stage has carried momentum into this tournament, supported by a young and exciting group of players. Japan, meanwhile, have not displayed the same level of dominance even within their confederation.
The FIFA World Cup 2026 spreadsheets below are a complete collection of Excel templates designed to help football fans track match results, analyze statistics, and run prediction games with friends, family, or colleagues. This is the kind of group where one slow performance can end your hopes quickly. Qatar have experience, structure, and a homegrown football identity, but they do not have much margin for error against teams that are used to controlling matches in different ways.
About the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group Stage
When the tournament begins, it will have been 20 years since the Azzurri played a knockout match at the World Cup – with their most recent such game being the 2006 final. Mere weeks into Jesse Marsch’s reign, Canada reached the semi-finals on their Copa América debut, losing 2-0 to eventual winners Argentina. Only a penalty shootout denied them a bronze medal, as they lost to Marcelo Bielsa’s Uruguay in the third-place play-off. Their route to this World Cup was not completely smooth, either, as they were left needing victory over Slovakia in their final Group A game to avoid the play-offs. But they won that match by a statement 6-0 scoreline, with Nick Woltemade, Serge Gnabry and Leroy Sané among the goals.
World Cup Fantasy Rankings: Best Players for the Group Stage
Hopefully, there’s plenty riding on their match that closes the group. The United States will have no complaints over this draw and have the opportunity to make a statement by progressing as group winners. A 5-1 win over Uruguay in November means South American opposition in the form of Paraguay should not hold the fear it once did. Here, Sports Mole provides an in-depth preview for Group F of the 2026 World Cup, including predicted standings and every nation’s key player. Prediction pools are popular across the US, UK, Canada and Australia for major tournaments. With the 2026 World Cup hosted in the United States, Mexico and Canada, there’s never been a better time to start your own pool.
Group Stage Rankings
If previous World Cups are anything to go by, shocks and surprises should be a given, so all those teams will still be dreaming of a deep run. They must get past Northern Ireland and potentially Wales to make it, with both of those sides hoping to join fellow home nations England and Scotland. Inspirational Croatia captain Luka Modrić is hoping to appear at his fifth World Cup at the age of 40, and no team will want to see Croatia drawn into their group from Pot 2. It remains to be seen how the introduction of a round of 32 will affect El Tri, who lost in the round of 16 at seven consecutive World Cups before suffering a group-stage exit in Qatar. Next year, it will have been 24 years since Brazil last lifted the World Cup.
World Cup 2026 knockout stage
- Jordan will face Austria, Algeria, and defending champions Argentina in Group J, which is about as unforgiving as a debut group can get.
- Check out the soccer odds below and then visit SportsLine to see Martin Green’s best bets for the 2026 World Cup, all from the proven expert who has crushed his soccer picks, and find out.
- That previous dry spell ended, of course, in the United States, and Brazil are assigned a 5.6% chance of another stateside triumph.
- The top two from each group, plus the eight best third-placed teams (32 in total), advance to the Round of 32.
- A third option fills only the matches that remain undecided, which preserves any picks already made.
- In a three-match group, one slow start can ruin everything, and Haiti will probably need a near-perfect game to take points from Brazil or Morocco.
- Austria impressed at Euro 2024 under Ralf Rangnick and were free-scoring during the UEFA qualifiers.
- Three-time runners-up Netherlands headline Group F, which has all the makings of being one of the most competitive groups in the tournament.
- Uzbekistan are good enough to compete, but they are still among the most likely teams to be squeezed out.
- Canada will look to use their energy and attacking style, while Bosnia & Herzegovina will rely on experience and tactical structure.
I’m taking Czechia and Mexico to advance, with South Korea finishing as one of the best third‑place teams behind Son Heung-Min. Use Print / Save PDF for a printable copy, or Copy share link to create a URL that saves all of your picks so you can share https://world-cup-2026.us.com/ your predictions. The tool is a prediction model, not a forecast of guaranteed results. It uses real FIFA rankings and a weighted probability system to produce realistic outcomes, but football results are unpredictable, and the simulator is designed to reflect that uncertainty. Opening that link reproduces the exact bracket, which allows predictions to be compared or revisited later. Whether you want to forecast the whole tournament, compete with friends, or just watch the games — we’ve got you covered.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be the biggest tournament in history, featuring 48 teams, 104 matches, and a brand-new Round of 32 format. With eight third-place teams advancing from the group stage, there are 495 possible combinations that can dramatically change the knockout bracket. The FIFA World Cup brings together national teams from across the globe, competing through qualification, group stages, and knockout rounds to determine the world champion. The tournament is played every four years and is known for its high intensity, global attention, and decisive matches where form, tactics, and squad depth play a crucial role. The 2026 FIFA World Cup is the first edition to feature 48 nations and the first hosted by three countries — the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The expanded format introduces 12 groups and a Round of 32 knockout stage, making it the biggest World Cup in history with 104 total matches played across 16 iconic venues.
Can co-hosts USA celebrate the nation’s 250th anniversary in style?
The United States have also progressed to the knockout rounds in each of their last three appearances, although their journey ended in the round of 16 on every occasion, most recently following a defeat to the Netherlands in Qatar. The interpretation also included claims of symbolic ‘hints,’ such as alleged colour similarities between the official World Cup ball and Portugal’s national colours, alongside broader theories involving visual cues and predictive artwork. Lionel Messi has a couple of years under his belt now of playing on North American soil, which could put him and Argentina in good stead for the World Cup. The reigning champs don’t look as strong as they once were, but with Messi and Lautaro Martinez in attack and plenty of experience on the pitch, they can’t be counted out. Les Bleus won the 2018 World Cup with a 4-2 victory over Croatia in the final, but suffered heartbreak and pain in 2022 as Argentina beat them on penalties. ScorePoint AI treats them as probability ranges and compares them with safer markets such as BTTS and over/under goals.
Group D: Turkey vs USA Headline Group with Knockout Stakes
Factly notes the clip continues circulating due to the absence of a time reference in the original scene, allowing it to be reused across multiple World Cup cycles, including 2018, 2022, and 2026. At 41 years old, this will almost certainly be Cristiano Ronaldo’s final World Cup. CR7 has been the focal point of Portugal for more than 20 years, and with a ton of top-tier talent around him such as Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, Vitinha and Joao Felix, there’s a lot to like about the Portuguese. However, Portugal’s best hopes of winning might actually rest on not making Ronaldo the focal point, and instead focusing on their strength in depth. Apply the same AI prediction model to the tournament hub for World Cup fixtures, correct scores, BTTS, and totals. With 48 teams taking part, there also will be some new names gracing the tournament.
- France appear primed for another title push, led by the world’s top goal scorer Kylian Mbappe and reigning Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembele.
- The content on this site is for entertainment purposes only and CBS Sports makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the information given or the outcome of any game or event.
- Paraguay’s squad features several familiar names, including Brighton & Hove Albion’s Diego Gómez, Strasbourg’s Julio Enciso and Sunderland defender Omar Alderete, but Miguel Almiron stands out as their key figure.
- Germany are the supercomputer’s fifth favourites with a 7.1% chance of winning a record-equalling fifth World Cup.
- Predictions are updated ahead of every round to provide clear insights for football fans following the tournament.
- Type any scoreline and the calculator instantly shows who advances, who finishes third, and how the best-third-placed teams rank across all 12 groups.
- However, the group won’t be straightforward against an experienced Uruguay side that only allowed 12 goals in 18 CONMEBOL qualification games.
- Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku, now teammates at Napoli, and Thibaut Courtois will all feature at a fourth edition of the World Cup – no player has ever represented Belgium at more (Enzo Scifo also four).
The simulator is built around two stages that mirror the real tournament. The group stage presents all 12 groups and their 72 matches with live standings, where each group plays a single round-robin and the top two teams advance directly to the Round of 32. Once every group result is set, the knockout bracket unlocks and runs as single-elimination through the Round of 32, Round of 16, quarterfinals, and semifinals before the final. The 2026 World Cup predictor follows the official FIFA tournament format. The 12 group winners and 12 runners-up qualify automatically for the Round of 32, joined by the 8 best third-placed teams.
Group A: Czechia vs Mexico Battle, South Korea Eyeing Third-Place Path
The clip has circulated widely across TikTok and other platforms, where some users present it as evidence of a predicted World Cup 2026 final. All things considered, Spain are the rightful favorites to win the 2026 FIFA World Cup and are worth locking in at +450 odds. La Roja have a fairly straightforward group with Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia and Uruguay, and their riches in attack should see them rack up plenty of goals against their opponents. Spain showed their maturity and looked the real deal on their way to winning Euro 2024 two years ago.
Choose between blank fillable versions for office pools and predictions, or live versions updated with real results as the tournament progresses. Enter exact scorelines for any match and the built-in World Cup qualification calculator instantly recalculates group standings, points, goal difference, and qualification status. Test “what if” scenarios for any team to see exactly what they need to advance to the Round of 32. Click any team to mark them as winner, or type exact scorelines for full control over your predictions of World Cup matches. The 2026 FIFA World Cup is the 23rd edition of the men’s football world championship, hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico from June 11 through July 19, 2026. It is the first World Cup with 48 teams and the first co-hosted by three nations.
England and Croatia both have deep tournament experience, and Ghana can be chaotic and dangerous in exactly the right way for a World Cup group. Panama will compete hard, and they have enough quality to make games uncomfortable, but the odds still lean against them. The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be the biggest edition of the tournament has ever seen, with 48 teams split into 12 groups of four. FIFA’s current format sends the top two teams in each group into the Round of 32, along with the eight best third-placed teams, which means the margin for error is still very small even in an expanded tournament. Portugal enter the tournament as legitimate title contenders for good reason. Their roster is stacked with talent from back to front, and the possibility of Ronaldo’s final World Cup only sharpens the focus.
However, as the lowest-ranked side in the group, Tunisia may be seen as the most obvious candidate to finish bottom, especially as they have failed to make it out of the group stage in each of their six World Cup appearances. The Samurai Blue have been touted as a potential dark horse, despite being without the key attacking duo of Kaoru Mitoma and Takumi Minamino due to injury. Netherlands may not be among the favourites to lift the trophy, but that will not stop them from heading to North America with hopes of going one step further their runners-up finishes of 1974, 1978 and 2010. Three-time runners-up Netherlands headline Group F, which has all the makings of being one of the most competitive groups in the tournament.
Results can be chosen by hand or generated from FIFA rankings, and every complete bracket can be shared with a single link. In the simulator’s model, the highest-ranked nations such as France, Spain, and Argentina win most often, since match probabilities are weighted by FIFA rankings. Lower-ranked teams still advance regularly, so no outcome is guaranteed.
FIFA World Cup Winner Predictions: Expert Picks & Tournament Best Bets: Spain back on top
- But the jump from breakthrough side to World Cup knockout contender is huge.
- Like Messi, Ronaldo will appear at a record-breaking sixth edition of the World Cup, but of his eight goals in 22 games at the tournament, three have been penalties and none have come in the knockout stages.
- Expectations are sky-high in Mauricio Pochettino’s corner, yet the United States’ recent World Cup performances cannot inspire confidence, even though they’ve reached the knockouts in three of the last four tournaments.
- Inspirational Croatia captain Luka Modrić is hoping to appear at his fifth World Cup at the age of 40, and no team will want to see Croatia drawn into their group from Pot 2.
- With eight third-place teams advancing from the group stage, there are 495 possible combinations that can dramatically change the knockout bracket.
- Sweden are set to make just their second World Cup appearance since 2006, despite finishing bottom of their qualifying group with two points to their name.
- The FIFA World Cup 2026 simulator covers all 48 teams, 12 groups, and 104 matches in one interactive tool.
- After working in the sports betting industry for several years, Green became a professional sports writer and handicapper and has covered the game worldwide.
- Despite the promise shown by their young core, the Americans still seem a step behind the world’s true elite.
Set up a free prediction pool for the FIFA World Cup 2026 with friends, family or coworkers. Predict scores, follow live results and compete on the leaderboard. In addition to co-hosts Canada, Bosnia & Herzegovina and Qatar will also be vying for a top-two spot in this group, with all three nations seeking a maiden knockout appearance on the grandest international stage. Green has studied the 2026 World Cup draw and locked in his best bets and predictions, including his outright winner.
They have only endured one previous drought of that length since first winning the tournament in 1958, between 1970 and 1994. Deschamps also lifted the trophy as a player when he was captain in 1998 and this will be Kylian Mbappé’s first World Cup as France skipper. But most of the favourites are set, with Lionel Messi hoping to help Argentina become the first team since Brazil in 1962 to successfully defend their crown.
Despite the promise shown by their young core, the Americans still seem a step behind the world’s true elite. Christian Pulisic and Folarin Balogun have had moments at the club level, but that’s never been extended to the national team. Argentina, meanwhile, remain built for high-pressure knockout matches and possess an edge in composure and quality. I personally love this matchup, with two of Africa’s strongest sides potentially meeting in the knockout round. Ivory Coast return to the World Cup after a 12‑year absence, built around a core of prime‑age players. While their physicality and attacking threat stand out, their defense is arguably their greatest strength, led by Roma’s Evan N’Dicka.
Will England end 60 years of hurt?
There should be plenty of service for Harry Kane, who is Europe’s most in-form striker, netting 24 goals in 20 matches for Bayern Munich since the start of the season in August. But there is a competitive race for the positions behind the England skipper after Tuchel suggested Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden could not both start, while Cole Palmer’s season has barely got going due to injuries. The only one other team assigned more than a one-in-10 chance of becoming world champions is England, who are out to end 60 years of hurt at major tournaments. They could end up facing a Poland side they were unable to beat during qualification if the Eastern European giants progress from a UEFA playoff path featuring Ukraine, Albania and Sweden.
But the prospect of two icons duelling to end the tournament in the lead should be absorbing viewing. Deschamps’ reign has comprised 175 games, so if they reach the first knockout round, he will have overseen 100 games more than France’s next-longest serving boss (Raymond Domenech, 79). If Spain are to triumph, it is likely Lamine Yamal will play a key role. Their Euro 2024 triumph came the day after Yamal’s 17th birthday, as he replaced Pelé (1958, 17 years, 249 days) as the youngest player to feature in a World Cup or European Championship final.
World Cup Group Previews: Lineups, Odds, Predictions and Tactics for All 12 Groups
While it’s hard to see them going the distance, especially with 5 knockout matches now, the German’s know how to win this tournament and can’t be counted out against any opponent they come across. Spain finally won the World Cup in 2010 when they edged the Netherlands in extra time, and after winning Euro 2024 two years ago, Luis de la Fuente’s side will look to build heavily on that success. With an attack boasting wonderkid Lamine Yamal, Nico Williams, Ferran Torres and Mikel Oyarzabal, it will be a tall order for any nation to outscore La Roja. Follow the 2026 tournament with AI football predictions, fixture context, correct score probabilities, BTTS, over/under goals, and market signals as the World Cup approaches. Debutants Uzbekistan are seen as having a slightly better chance of impressing than the other new nations, as they have a 0.2% chance of going all the way. A more realistic aim might be getting through the groups after impressing in AFC qualification – beating out sides like Qatar and United Arab Emirates.
But the jump from breakthrough side to World Cup knockout contender is huge. Argentina’s quality, Austria’s organization, and Algeria’s tournament experience make Jordan a clear underdog in that group. England’s talent makes them a serious contender, but I’m backing Croatia to finish first based on their recent World Cup success under Luka Modric.
And of course, there are also six teams still to be decided in March’s play-offs. There is currently a combined 3.7% chance of any of those sides going all the way, with Italy surely the most likely candidates if they can end their World Cup exile. Croatia are another team whose best days may be behind them but can never be ruled out. Semi-finalists in both 2018 and 2022, they are assigned a 1.1% chance of glory – lower than Mexico and Uruguay (1.7%), whose coach Bielsa recently went on a rant in a press conference following speculation over his position. Colombia also deserve their lofty status in our projections, as they come in the tournament off the back of a run to the final of the 2024 Copa América, having outscored all other teams at that tournament with 12 goals.
