World Cup 2026 Predictions: Can England End 60 Years of Hurt?
The 2026 World Cup arrives with unprecedented scale and considerable uncertainty. Spread across three host nations, the United States, Canada and Mexico, this tournament represents the most radical overhaul of football's greatest spectacle in living memory. For England, it offers yet another chance to end six decades of disappointment. For Scotland, a historic first beckons.
Argentina enter as defending champions, four years after Lionel Messi's long-awaited coronation in Qatar. The great man prepares for his final bow on this stage, just as Cristiano Ronaldo, now 41, takes his sixth successive World Cup appearance. That is a record for any men's player of any nationality, one shared with Messi, who is 38. It is a tournament of endings, then, but also of new beginnings.
Yet the favourites lie elsewhere. France and Spain command the bookmakers' respect, while England are deemed to have a strong chance. France pursue a third consecutive final and a third title overall, while Spain arrive as European champions. It was Spain's victory over England in the Euro 2024 final that brought Gareth Southgate's tenure to its inevitable conclusion and ushered in the era of Thomas Tuchel.
Here, our correspondents assess the likely winners, the golden boot contender, the breakout star and the prospects for the home nations.
The Favourites: France and Spain Lead the Pack
France remain the team to beat. Didier Deschamps, whatever his critics may say of his conservative approach, has delivered when it matters. Two World Cup finals in succession speak for themselves. The disappointment of Euro 2024 should not obscure a record of tournament nous that few can match. With Kylian Mbappe, Michael Olise and Ousmane Dembele, the goals will come.
Spain tempt with a two-year unbeaten run and a midfield of extraordinary depth, but France possess the defensive solidity and tournament savvy that wins prizes. That front three of Dembele, Mbappe and Olise is absurdly gifted, and with Rayan Cherki and Warren Zaire-Emery offering creativity, Deschamps has options aplenty. In the punishing North American heat, where substitutes will prove decisive, the second-half impact of Desire Doue could prove telling.
Brazil warrant serious consideration. Carlo Ancelotti brings the cunning of a seasoned campaigner, while Vinicius Jr and Raphinha offer star power. A foundation of Gabriel Magalhaes and Marquinhos provides defensive steel. They will handle the conditions well. A quarter-final against England would capture the imagination, and should Brazil squeeze past Tuchel's side, belief in a sixth star would surge.
Spain, however, may have the strongest case of all. Their Euro 2024 redemption, following the embarrassment of defeat to Japan and Morocco four years ago, speaks to a side that has learned its lessons. Packed with young talent and suited to the conditions, they are a far cry from the underachieving outfit of decades past. Luis de la Fuente's squad received a significant boost with Lamine Yamal's fitness, initially in heavy doubt after a Barcelona season ended by injury in April. With their star man available, all the pieces appear in place for La Roja to follow their European triumph with the ultimate prize, just as they did in 2010.
Golden Boot: Mbappe Chases Immortality as Kane Eyes the Prize
Kylian Mbappe stands on the brink of history. With 12 World Cup goals already, Miroslav Klose's all-time record of 16 is within reach. His record in the blue of France is extraordinary: four goals in 2018, eight in 2022 including a hat-trick in the final. The expanded tournament offers an additional game, and the motivation of chasing immortality will drive him on. His lack of a Champions League trophy may haunt him at club level, but on the international stage, he soars.
Harry Kane, England's captain, presents a compelling case. An astonishing 61-goal season with Bayern Munich has placed him in Ballon d'Or contention. Should Tuchel's side progress far enough, Kane, their irreplaceable goalscoring outlet, could top the charts. England's group game with Panama offers a generous platform, and the extra knockout round means numerous chances to find the net, even if the campaign ends in the quarter-finals.
The longer tournament may work against those who pile up goals in the group stage, and Kane could make way for Ollie Watkins in the final group match against Panama. A bolder pick might be Charles De Ketelaere, with Romelu Lukaku reportedly