Brazil have struggled to define a clear identity in recent tournaments, raising doubts about their ability to make a legitimate World Cup run. Vinicius Junior has battled inconsistency, while Raphinha’s form has been disrupted by injuries. 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. Against a hungry and well‑organized Netherlands side, Brazil appear vulnerable, with this matchup favoring the Dutch. Ghana cannot be overlooked, as Antoine Semenyo provides genuine danger, but I expect the European sides to control this group with Ghana likely finishing as one of the best third-place teams.
Portugal vs Croatia Prediction
The top spot could come down to goal difference, with both teams likely taking advantage of Cape Verde. Saudi Arabia remain the wildcard, but I’m sticking with the two heavyweights to advance. This season, 51% of World Cup 2026 matches ended with over 2.5 goals, while Both Teams to Score hit in 52% of games. All completed World Cup 2026 predictions remain fully visible — review our track record anytime. The Round of 32 is a brand-new knockout stage introduced for 2026. All 32 teams that qualify from the group stage play a sudden-death elimination round before the traditional Round of 16.
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South Africa and Egypt also reached the knockouts for the first time, while pre-tournament hopefuls Turkiye and Uruguay both went home early. All eyes will be on Estadio BBVA when the Netherlands and Morocco face each other in a highly-anticipated World Cup showdown. As the two teams seem to be evenly matched ahead of this round 32 clash, our prediction leans toward a 1-1 draw. The Netherlands produced a series of convincing displays in Group F, defeating both Sweden and Tunisia while sharing the spoils with Japan… MetLife Stadium will be the centre of attention when France and Sweden lock horns in an exciting last-32 encounter.
- The group stage is finished and the Round of 32 began today with South Africa vs Canada in Los Angeles.
- I’m taking Czechia and Mexico to advance, with South Korea finishing as one of the best third‑place teams behind Son Heung-Min.
- A true David vs Goliath clash awaits as already-eliminated Jordan take on tournament favourites Argentina in their final Group J fixture, with 0-3 our predicted outcome.
- This group appears straightforward, with Brazil and Morocco standing out as the strongest sides.
- Building momentum heading into a tournament is huge, and the vast majority of nations will play friendly matches with their strongest teams in close proximity to the tournament to build a rapport between the players.
- The supercomputer is a bit kinder to Uzbekistan (0.1%) and Jordan (0.1%), but both teams will still be doing well to get out of their groups.
- They are given a 47.8% chance of topping Group A, which also contains South Korea and Czechia.
- Spain vs England – A repeat of the 2024 Euro final may produce the same heartbreaking outcome for the 1966 World Cup winners.
Two of the most talented squads, if not the top two, meet in the tournament semi-final. Spain will draw heavy support, but France’s experience in semi-finals and finals gives them an edge in pressure moments. I expect a tight match, possibly decided in extra time or penalties, with France finding a way through to a third straight final. Mexico failed to reach the knockout stage at the 2022 World Cup, having previously seen a Round of 16 exit every tournament from 1994 to 2018. History is not on their side in this matchup, as Switzerland arrive with a full-strength side built on midfield physicality and an elite attacking presence in Breel Embolo and Fabian Rieder.
USMNT scores 3 first-half goals in 4-1 win over Paraguay to open 2026 World Cup
It is 24 years since Brazil last prevailed and only once before have they endured a drought of that length since first winning in 1958, which was between 1970 and 1994. Portugal go into the World Cup with momentum after winning the Nations League under Roberto Martínez. Portugal are fifth favourites to triumph, as Cristiano Ronaldo seeks the one honour still missing from his trophy cabinet.
Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo is already the only man to score at five World Cups, as the 41-year-old strives for the one major international trophy that has eluded him. They are in an evenly matched pool, and while seen as the least likely team to win Group D, they still have a decent 17.9% hope of topping the table. The Socceroos are more likely than not to progress to the knockouts (59.2%) and have a 26.3% chance of reaching the last 16 to match their best-ever performance. Spain enter as a major tournament favorite, led by superstar Lamine Yamal. However, the group won’t be straightforward against an experienced Uruguay side that only allowed 12 goals in 18 CONMEBOL qualification games.
- 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.
- Anchored by a veteran Casemiro, who can cap off a trophy-laden career with the holy grail of international football.
- Portugal had an inconsistent group campaign, crushing Uzbekistan 5-0 but being held to draws by both DR Congo and Colombia.
- There are 12 different groups of four teams in the 2026 World Cup.
- With Javier Aguirre at the helm now, they look likely to achieve that feat again.
- FIFA Annex C determines R32 pairings based on which groups the third-placed teams come from.
- This season, 51% of World Cup 2026 matches ended with over 2.5 goals, while Both Teams to Score hit in 52% of games.
- Portugal go into the World Cup with momentum after winning the Nations League under Roberto Martínez.
- There will likely be an experienced feel to their squad, led by Fulham striker Raúl Jiménez, who is only eight away from Javier Hernández’s all-time Mexico goal record of 52.
Switzerland’s experience and defensive structure should see them through comfortably, as well. Despite being co‑hosts, Canada remain difficult to trust due to inconsistency in group play, and a lack of high-end talent to get them past better teams. Even at home in the 2022 World Cup, Qatar still couldn’t get a point and they’ll likely struggle to do so again. England vs Portugal – Ronaldo may have to take comfort from beating his arch-nemesis in the quarter-finals.
La Roja swept all before them, winning six of their seven matches inside 90 minutes and only requiring extra-time to eliminate hosts Germany in the quarter-final. They scored 15 goals in the tournament – four more than anyone else. These World Cup 2026 predictions combine the final group standings and results with our own group-by-group analysis, updated after every matchday. The picks weigh how each team actually performed, the strength of their group, and the bracket path ahead of them. This page is refreshed after each knockout round, so the picks always reflect the latest results.
The expanded 48-team format added this extra knockout round for the first time, sending 32 of the 48 teams into single-elimination ties before the Round of 16. They face Ghana and could reach the quarterfinals without meeting a top seed. The 2026 FIFA World Cup features 48 teams — the largest in tournament history. Teams are divided into 12 groups of 4, with the top 2 from each group advancing to a 32-team knockout bracket.
The draw was rated at 13.3 percent, leaving Jordan – who have already been eliminated from the 2026 tournament – with just an 8.8 percent chance of pulling off a famous upset and claiming their first-ever World Cup win. Both sides are still chasing a place in the knockout stage, with DR Congo also seeking their first-ever World Cup victory after drawing with Portugal and narrowly losing to Colombia. England are overwhelming favourites to claim all three points in New Jersey. According to the Opta supercomputer’s 25,000 pre-match simulations, the team has a 78.5 percent chance of winning. Saturday brings another big day at the FIFA World Cup, with six group-stage matches still to be played before the knockout rounds begin. So, it’s very important to keep up with any injury setbacks for players, or checking whether players will return in time to feature at the tournament.
Where can I get daily World Cup 2026 match predictions?
Within that sextet, three teams are seen as the biggest challengers to Spain and three others, while very much in the mix, might need a little more good fortune to go their way if they are to emerge triumphant. According to the Opta supercomputer, there are six other teams who should go into the tournament with strong hopes of going all the way. The generational talent Yamal is of course part of that logic.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Betting on the World Cup
At the former tournament, Ronaldo was dropped for a last-16 tie against Switzerland after a series of ineffective displays, and his replacement Gonçalo Ramos scored a hat-trick in a 6-1 win. And after Messi finally ended his wait for a World Cup win in Qatar, Portugal are assigned a 6.6% chance of giving Ronaldo his own crowning moment. 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. Messi has shown no signs of slowing down, helping Inter Miami reach the Major League Soccer Cup final while contributing a staggering 35 goals and providing 21 assists in MLS action this year. 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 defending champions won Group J with a perfect record and drew the kinder half of the bracket. Messi is in record-breaking form, and Argentina’s path to the final avoids most of the other heavyweights until the semifinals. They were the only contender to come through the group stage with a perfect record, and they did it in the toughest group in the draw. Argentina are right behind them, on the opposite side of the bracket. Here is how the leading contenders stack up as the knockouts begin.
Match Predictions
You can head to SportsLine now to see Green’s 2026 World Cup picks. They also won last summer’s Nations League, getting the better of both Germany and Spain in the semi-finals and finals, with largely the same group of players. He’s a winner and with the squad he’s picked, he obviously has a plan.
France became the sixth team to win as hosts in 1998, but no side has accomplished the feat since then. Five-time winners 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. Despite sitting a little below the top four nations, these sides are also contenders. If any of them capture form and momentum at the right time, they will prove tough to stop.
Champion: France
Only a penalty shootout denied them a bronze medal, as they lost to Marcelo Bielsa’s Uruguay in the third-place play-off. 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. But by the time next year’s tournament rolls around, it will have been 12 years since Germany played a knockout game at a World Cup.
World Cup Round of 32 picks, predictions: Best bets for every match including USA-Bosnia and Herzegovina
NFL stadiums have been retrofitted and rebranded to host the games due to FIFA rules, so you won’t see usual signage for places like AT&T Stadium; it will be labeled Dallas Stadium instead. While the field is a bit more watered-down than in previous iterations of the tournament, it’ll still be a challenge for most teams looking to advance to the Round of 32. Before the biggest FIFA tournament ever kicks off, some predictions are in order. The World Cup draw took place on Dec. 5 and the 48 teams were slotted into 12 groups of four. The teams were given a final roster deadline of June 1, so we already know who will be representing each country (click on the teams below to see each roster).
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. Mexico vs Best 3rd place Group C/E/F/H/I – Since suffering a quarter-final elimination on home soil in 1986, Mexico have reached the round of 16 in seven of their eight World Cup appearances. 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. However, history is unlikely to repeat itself this time around, at least for the back-to-back World Cup finalists.
World Cup 2026 Predictions: Winner, Knockout Bracket & Our Final Pick
- Argentina are right behind them, on the opposite side of the bracket.
- France head the betting to win the 2026 World Cup on Sunday July 19.
- Established in the UK — serving a global audience across Africa, Asia, and beyond.
- 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.
- While 47 countries won the tournament at least once in our sims overall, for the teams rated 25-48, a successful tournament would realistically constitute emerging from their groups.
- France have stumbled before, most notably conceding three goals in the 2022 final.
- Mexico are seeded comfortably and will play key matches at altitude in Mexico City, a significant advantage.
- For example, by reproducing the kind of performance they showed in the opening half-hour against Brazil.
- The 2026 World Cup will be the first with 48 teams in the field, meaning that 48 different nations will be bringing their traditions and culture to the tournament.
- The top spot could come down to goal difference, with both teams likely taking advantage of Cape Verde.
- The World Cup kicks off on June 11 – but who will lift the trophy after the final on July 19?
- If he carries them past Iran and New Zealand, advancement is realistic.
- As David faces Goliath at MetLife Stadium, we predict a routine 3-0 away win.
- Six World Cup games, knockout places on the line, Cape Verde make history and Iran wait for a place in the Round of 32.
The likes of Vinicius Jr and Raphinha will be looking forward to leaving a mark on a World Cup in a way they haven’t before. Neymar is no longer the first name on the team sheet but whatever squad the now 34-year-old is part of will still be lifted by his presence. The trend continues a shift away from the traditional black-and-white football boot, following the colourful designs that first gained popularity at the 1998 World Cup. The comments came against the backdrop of heightened tensions between Iran and the US following recent military attacks and a fragile ceasefire. Taremi urged FIFA to resolve the issues, saying the governing body had failed to provide the support promised before the tournament.
How many teams are in the 2026 World Cup?
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. I like Bosnia to top the group, with Switzerland following and Canada advancing as a top third‑place finisher. Teams can survive the group stage without being dominant, adding a new level of strategy and scoreboard-watching.
World Cup: To advance, the U.S. will have to end its five-year European curse
Make sure you stick to your research and utilise World Cup predictions when placing bets on the biggest tournament in world football. Similarly, tactics tend to play a large role for international teams. Spain for example have always played in a similar way which involves having lots of possession, whilst Italy for example have always been well-known for being resilient defensively. Three teams earn qualification for the FIFA World Cup, and two will bank their spots in the play-off tournament, with Canada, Mexico and the USA automatically entering due to being hosts. Six places are up for grabs for CONMEBOL teams, and it is a single-league format that simply decides which top six teams advance to the FIFA World Cup Finals. The team in seventh earns a spot in the FIFA Play-Off Tournament.
Germany are the supercomputer’s fifth favourites with a 7.1% chance of winning a record-equalling fifth World Cup. With a 14.1% chance, France are the supercomputer’s second favourites, just behind Spain, who beat them 5-4 in the semi-finals of the UEFA Nations League in June. Sixteen venues across the United States, Canada and Mexico will play host to the biggest-ever edition of the tournament, with the number of teams increasing from 32 and 48 and the tally of games upped from 64 to 104.
Both of these teams have enjoyed free-scoring group-stage outingsm but if Sweden enter a 90-minute shootout with Kylian Mbappe and company, they are likely to be outgunned. Morocco asked plenty of questions of Brazil during their first game and Japan can present a similar sort of technically proficient, front-footed challenge. But this is knockout soccer, and Carlo Ancelotti will find a way. There have also been stirring underdog stories, with minnow Cape Verde qualifying as Group H runners-up behind European champions Spain, and Iran similarly going through the round-robin phase undefeated against the odds.
- But they should have too much for South Africa, even if their often erratic finishing threatens to leave the game in the balance.
- Picking a winner is harder than it has ever been, and that’s precisely what makes the build-up so compelling.
- England are overwhelming favourites to claim all three points in New Jersey.
- The latest 2026 World Cup betting odds from FanDuel Sportsbook list Mexico as -182 favorites to advance to the Round of 16, while Ecuador are +148 underdogs.
- But Mexico are given only a 1.0% chance of victory, putting them behind fellow co-hosts United States, Japan and Ecuador, and level with Senegal.
- Germany are the supercomputer’s fifth favourites with a 7.1% chance of winning a record-equalling fifth World Cup.
- Leading the way is France with a chance of 18.66%, putting Les Bleus marginally ahead of Argentina’s 16.26%.
- Meanwhile, the USMNT are +6000 longshots to win on home soil, with co-host Mexico also at +6000 and Canada longshots at +17500.
- Mauricio Pochettino’s USMNT is also given great odds of making it through to the next round, sitting at 78.46%.
- This is the first time this stage has ever existed in World Cup history.
- I’m taking a risk on Jordan to claim a knockout place and Algeria edging out Austria in an upset as one of the top third-place teams to advance to the Round of 32.
- From the opening match at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City on 11 June 2026 to the Final at MetLife Stadium, New Jersey on 19 July 2026, this page is your complete prediction hub.
- After watching his team fall agonisingly short on penalties against Argentina in Qatar, he has another chance to become only the second coach to win multiple World Cups (after Vittorio Pozzo in 1934 and 1938).
Tuesday, June 16
Choose group outcomes, pick the knockout winners and discover who triumphs. Norway, Morocco, Colombia and Japan are the dark horses, and all four reached the Round of 32. Norway came through the toughest group in their first World Cup since 1998, Colombia won Group K, Morocco backed up their 2022 run, and Japan again showed they can beat anyone. None of the three co-hosts are favorites, but all three reached the knockouts and all three have a real story to tell.
Mexico vs. Ecuador: Mexico (tie no bet)
Free bets are valid 30 days, only deposits with cards, ApplePay, & Pay by Bank are eligible. Netherlands could meet a Germany or a France in the final eight, and their performances thus far have suggested that a potential challenge for the trophy is possible. Ronald Koeman’s team have scored 10 times at the 2026 World Cup and have emerged as a side to watch when it comes to a potential challenge for the trophy. Netherlands topped Group F with seven points to breeze into the round of 32, while Morocco finished second in Group C behind Brazil, also claiming seven points from three games. Gillette Stadium will play host to a fascinating last-32 contest at the 2026 World Cup on Monday, as Netherlands and Morocco lock horns in the competition.
Lionel Messi made history in the group stage, overtaking Miroslav Klose as the World Cup’s all-time leading scorer. He is the front-runner for the 2026 Golden Boot, with France’s Kylian Mbappe and Norway’s Erling Haaland the closest challengers. The award usually follows whichever star’s team runs deepest. Below are the 16 actual fixtures with our pick for each, followed by our forecast https://worldcup2026sea.com/forecasts/ through to the final.
They still should have enough to advance as one of the best third‑place teams ahead of Haiti. The 2026 FIFA World Cup introduces the most dramatic format change in tournament history, expanding to 48 teams and creating a brand-new bracket structure that reshapes how every round unfolds. 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. Our free AI tip for Belgium vs Senegal — home team wins or draw, with 89% confidence. Our AI football predictions go far beyond World Cup 2026 matches, covering more than 160 competitions worldwide. 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%).
France are the favorites to win the World Cup 2026 after a perfect group stage. They swept Group I, the toughest group in the draw, ahead of defending champions Argentina. We are calling a France vs Argentina final, with France lifting the trophy 2-1 on July 19.
With 48 teams in the 2026 World Cup, there’s more disparity across the four-team groups than we’re typically used to. Now that there are 12 groups instead of eight, it’s hard to find a Group of Death with four exceptionally strong teams. Here are Paul Carr’s power rankings of all 48 teams in the 2026 World Cup, separated into five distinct tiers. There are 12 different groups of four teams in the 2026 World Cup.
As the round of 32 prepares to get underway on Sunday, the cogs of the Opta supercomputer have been whirring to rate every team’s chances of glory. Portugal, who arrive in the US, Canada and Mexico ranked fifth in the world and fourth favourites for the tournament, are in a favourable-looking Group K alongside the likes of Colombia, DR Congo and Uzbekistan. That flexibility feels particularly important in a World Cup likely to be played in extreme temperatures.
- France (+500) and England (+650) round out the top three in the 2026 World Cup odds, while Brazil (+850) are the biggest World Cup favorites outside of Europe.
- There’s the PSG clan of Joao Neves, Nuno Mendes, Goncalo Ramos and Ballon d’Or third-place Vitinha who are coming into this off the back of a second straight Champions League win.
- Winnings paid in cash at normal odds and are topped up to the enhanced price in Free Bet Builder bets.
- The first U.S. game is the following day, as the Americans will host Paraguay at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.
- Predictions cover Final Result, Under/Over, Both Teams to Score, Correct Score, xG, Corners, and Ball Possession.
- All 12 groups, outright winner analysis, Golden Boot picks, dark horse teams, and daily tips throughout the 38-day tournament from 11 June to 19 July 2026.
- However, the model does simulate extra time and penalties, which generally favor the stronger side, in projecting which team advances.
- Brazil vs Japan – Under normal circumstances, this would be a no-brainer.
- Mohamed Salah will be motivated to prove he remains world class as Egypt’s leader, though after a season full of diminishing returns and muscle injuries, it’s a tall ask.
- The USA enter a home tournament with their strongest squad in a generation, headlined by Christian Pulisic, Gio Reyna, and Yunus Musah.
- Paraguay will be aiming to claim yet another major scalp when they face France in the World Cup last 16.
- 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.
- Our World Cup betting insights are based on extensive historical data, team form leading into the tournament, and performance trends from recent editions, providing a reliable foundation for informed betting strategies.
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- Modrić won the Golden Ball at the 2018 tournament, where Croatia was runner-up to France, and he led the team to a third-place finish in 2022.
- But when the tournament begins, the likelihood is that Ronaldo will hog the headlines, just as he did in Qatar in 2022 and at Euro 2024.
- The Oranje’s run to the semi-finals of Euro 2024 – losing late on to England – was their best at any tournament since finishing third at the 2014 World Cup.
- Netherlands have been impressive this summer, but we are expecting Morocco to record a 2-1 victory in order to progress to the round of 16.
- Firstly, England have the squad and it’s been picked for purpose by Thomas Tuchel.
- Brobbey is expected to continue through the middle for Koeman’s team, with Memphis Depay, Justin Kluivert and Crysencio Summerville set to be kept in reserve.
- They’ve been excellent in this tournament, and Sweden’s attack-oriented mindset is generally a less effective strategy for pulling off an upset than Paraguay’s more defensive stance.
For example, Australia won the World Cup 28 times in our pre-tournament sims and Scotland prevailed on 22 occasions – so fans have permission to dream. Canada also just make it into the top half of the 48 teams (they rank joint 22nd, level with Paraguay and Austria). There are two other potentially pivotal group clashes to circle on your calendar by the time we reach MD3, as France take on Norway in Foxborough on 26 June, while Colombia battle Portugal in Miami a day later. They won’t have the same surprise factor this time around but still made it to what proved to be a chaotic AFCON final this year and started the month of June sitting a lofty eighth in the FIFA world rankings. Netherlands, Norway, Belgium, Colombia and Morocco should all realistically target a long run and are dark horses to go the distance. Germany are overdue a strong result, and the supercomputer gives them a decent chance of achieving that, as they were finalists in 10.6% of sims.
This site contains commercial content and CBS Sports may be compensated for the links provided on this site. (via FanDuel Sportsbook, subject to change)See full World Cup picks at SportsLine. Luis de la Fuente’s side are arguably the best-equipped team in the tournament because they possess two attributes that are often difficult to marry together.
World Cup betting: Odds for every knockout stage team to win it all
- Established in the UK — serving a global audience across Africa, Asia, and beyond.
- While our model doesn’t deviate too much from the conventional wisdom, we don’t have teams in quite the same order.
- Mexico are seeded comfortably and will play key matches at altitude in Mexico City, a significant advantage.
- While 47 countries won the tournament at least once in our sims overall, for the teams rated 25-48, a successful tournament would realistically constitute emerging from their groups.
- In 11 of the 12 groups, a team has been picked by at least 70% of entries in Yahoo Sports’ Soccer Pick ‘Em with Fox One.
- La Albiceleste arrive in perfect form with a 100% group-stage record, winning all their group matches and conceding just 0.20 goa…
- France are seen as having the most difficult group of the leading teams, as they face Norway, Senegal and Iraq in Group I.
- But it remains to be seen whether 40-year-old goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa will earn a historic call-up.
- As David faces Goliath at MetLife Stadium, we predict a routine 3-0 away win.
- France head the betting to win the 2026 World Cup on Sunday July 19.
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. Spain’s track record in major international competitions gives them the clear edge in this scenario.
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. A lack of recent match practice against top-class European opponents could count against the Albiceleste, who also saw Ángel Di María retire from international football after the Copa América. Messi also led all players in Qatar for shots (32), chances created from open play (17) and fouls won (22), becoming the second player to top all three metrics at a single World Cup. Maradona in 1986 (30 shots, 19 open-play chances created, 53 fouls won). Southgate’s England teams were also solid at the back but rarely free-flowing.
Knockout Bracket Prediction
In a five-week knockout competition there is massive variance. Just one shock exit from a tournament favourite can cause other dominos to fall and the draw can suddenly open up for an unexpected team to challenge. But Mexico are given only a 1.0% chance of victory, putting them behind fellow co-hosts United States, Japan and Ecuador, and level with Senegal.
With the FIFA World Cup featuring 48 teams in total, this is how teams from each continent qualify for the Finals. The tournament has three different hosts, which are Canada, Mexico, and the USA, all three of which will feature in the tournament due to hosting. In 11 of the 12 groups, a team has been picked by at least 70% of entries in Yahoo Sports’ Soccer Pick ‘Em with Fox One. Yahoo users are largely united about how the group stage will play out. In the United States, all 104 matches are in English on Fox (70) and FS1 (34), and all are streamed on Fox One. In total, there are 16 stadiums spanning across the U.S., Canada and Mexico that will be used during the month-long tournament.
How many teams are in the 2026 World Cup?
- Lewandowski scored his tally in 10 games, two more than Haaland.
- Their title defence in 2014 did not make it out of the group.
- Mbappé is closing in on Olivier Giroud’s mark of 57 goals for France, having netted 55 times in his 93 caps.
- Fresh off a dominant qualifying cycle, England enter the tournament as one of the top six betting favourites to take home the most prestigious international title.
- Statistical data, team form, and recent match history are taken into account, and predictions are automatically generated by AI with an accuracy of over 71.9%.
- Before a ball has been kicked, Scotland’s likeliest result is seen as elimination in the round of 32.
- But even I can not confidently say Colombia will beat France, the most impressive team of the group stage, in a final scenario.
- Don’t be surprised if at least one traditional power exits before the quarter-finals.
- There are quite often, and unfortunately, major injuries that rule out certain players from the World Cup Finals, much to the devastation of the players themselves and their nations.
- While outright victory may be a stretch, a deep run by either CONCACAF nation feels plausible.
- During World Cup qualification, you may notice that certain teams have already qualified for the main tournament which may mean that they use some squad players or experiment with their lineup.
I’m taking Senegal to secure the needed points, though Norway could still advance as a top third‑place team if they score multiple goals against Iraq. 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.
Tunisia’s unenviable record of failing to advance from the group stage in each of their six previous World Cup campaigns suggests they could struggle to keep pace with the rest of the pack. 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. Sweden (in 1958) and Czechia (in 1934 and 1962) have both been World Cup finalists previously (the latter as Czechoslovakia) but could still miss the tournament, as could former European champions Denmark. But a stunning defeat to Guatemala, in another shootout, ended Canada’s Gold Cup campaign at the quarter-final stage and brought them crashing down to earth. There will likely be an experienced feel to their squad, led by Fulham striker Raúl Jiménez, who is only eight away from Javier Hernández’s all-time Mexico goal record of 52. Pochettino has had no choice but to experiment – in November, Giovani Reyna’s return to the squad saw him become the 51st player to start a game for the USMNT in 2025.
He just scores goals – 61 of them to be precise this season – and this summer he looks to be heading into the tournament in peak physical condition. He finally has that winning feeling at Bayern and maybe, just maybe, he’s ready to fire England to glory too. During World Cup qualification, you may notice that certain teams have already qualified for the main tournament which may mean that they use some squad players or experiment with their lineup. Furthermore, it can simply lead to a drop in motivation levels, especially if they face a team needing to win to earn a place in the World Cup Finals. Last time out in 2022, Holland reached the quarter-finals, and a win over Morocco would see them secure a spot in the round of 16 against South Africa and Canada, opening up a route into the final eight of the tournament.
It may also be the most difficult yet to make predictions for. It is Argentina who go into the World Cup as defending champions after Lionel Messi helped to guide La Albiceleste to a famous triumph in Qatar towards the end of 2022. With one of the most dramatic club seasons in recent memory only just behind us, the stakes are about to get even higher, with the biggest prize in football up for grabs at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. View RotoWire’s advanced analysis across all major sportsbooks and DFS. Meanwhile, France bring Championship pedigree, combining 2018 winners Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele with a new generation led by Michael Olise, Desire Doue and Rayan Cherki. 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.
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. England’s game control and defense will be hard to beat, but scoring on bigger stages has always been iffy. Then again, Harry Kane scored freely across Bundesliga and Champions League this season, at times playing in a deeper role than usual. The 2026 World Cup will be the first tournament to feature 48 teams, expanding from the traditional 32-team format used from 1998 through 2022. This change significantly alters both the group stage and the knockout bracket.
Colombia remain a threat thanks to Luis Diaz playing some of the best football of his career. Congo DR and Uzbekistan are unlikely to factor heavily, making this a high‑stakes, two‑team race. Spain vs England – A repeat of the 2024 Euro final may produce the same heartbreaking outcome for the 1966 World Cup winners. France vs Morocco – Another semi-final appearance is likely to elude Morocco, with Les Bleus expected to prevail on sheer firepower. Brazil vs Senegal – There’s little doubt that Senegal possess the quality and confidence to push this tie into extra time.