2026 FIFA World Cup Winner Predictions: Expert Picks & Tournament Best Bets: Spain back on top

05 юни 2026 FIFA World Cup Winner Predictions: Expert Picks & Tournament Best Bets: Spain back on top

Croatia, Belgium and the Dutch themselves have all got rid of the Selecao before the business end of the competition recently and history could repeat. Each of Spain and Argentina could find themselves pushed to the limit by Austria and Uruguay. Predicting the first 48-team World Cup six months out is a fool’s errand. Spain are the European champions and keen to make up for a string of underwhelming World Cup showings since their 2010 success, while England under Thomas Tuchel are looking to end 60 years of hurt. The usual suspects are likely to be in the conversation at the business end of the tournament.

FIFA World Cup Bracket Predictor: Explore All 495 Third-Place Group Scenarios

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. 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. If the Netherlands fail to top their group, Brazil will face the sort of daunting European showdown that has been their Achilles heel in recent tournaments.

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 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. 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.

Congo DR and Uzbekistan are unlikely to factor heavily, making this a high‑stakes, two‑team race. For full predictions on points, goals and assists, check out our 2026 World Cup Team Projections. Use it to pick which team qualifies from each group, then click a team in any matchup to advance them to the next round. 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 your predictions. The top two from each group plus the eight best third-placed teams (32 in total) advance to the knockout Round of 32.

Ancelotti was only in charge for the final five games of their campaign, but less than eight months into his reign, he has already overseen surprise defeats to Bolivia and Japan, as well as poor draws with Ecuador and Tunisia. 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. 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. 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).

However, this year’s Nations League triumph offers significant hope that Roberto Martínez can get the balance right even while accommodating the 40-year-old, who is still full of confidence after scoring 84 goals in 86 Saudi Pro League games. 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. 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.

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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. Short-form video platforms have further amplified the spread through edited versions that remove context and add captions implying predictive meaning. HITC reporting also notes the footage has repeatedly resurfaced during major tournaments, rebranded each time as a supposed prediction.

History

They will be placed in Group D, with two of their first-round games taking place in Los Angeles and the other in Seattle. 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. 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. 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.

• Still, when the group contains Germany plus two more physically strong and technically sharp sides, survival becomes a serious challenge.
• Group matches also allow for draws, with the likelihood of a draw decreasing as the gap in strength widens.
• 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.
• The FIFA World Cup 2026 will be held from June 11 to July 19, 2026 across the United States, Mexico and Canada.
• I’m taking Czechia and Mexico to advance, with South Korea finishing as one of the best third‑place teams behind Son Heung-Min.
• The opening matches of the FIFA World Cup 2026 promise an exciting and competitive start, as teams aim to build early momentum in the group stage.
• Three-time runners-up Netherlands headline Group F, which has all the makings of being one of the most competitive groups in the tournament.
• I personally love this matchup, with two of Africa’s strongest sides potentially meeting in the knockout round.
• He will hope to go out with a bang and cement his legacy as France’s greatest boss.
• Results can be chosen by hand or generated from FIFA rankings, and every complete bracket can be shared with a single link.

Netherlands vs Morocco – Even though the odds may be stacked against them, Morocco’s knack for upsetting elite opposition could produce the first major shock of the tournament. 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. South Korea and Czechia appear to be the likeliest candidates to challenge El Tri for the throne, but the 10-time Gold Cup winners should live up to their billing. Football’s biggest stage returns this summer as a stacked line-up of global contenders collide in pursuit of 2026 FIFA World Cup glory. Use our predictor tool to select the winners of each group and each knockout round at the 2026 Fifa World Cup. After being right three times in a row, I have been inundated by requests over the last four years to forecast the Euros, the Olympics, the Rugby World Cup, etc.

Turkey

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. Colombia remain a threat thanks to Luis Diaz playing some of the best football of his career.

I thought it would become an exercise in showing the hubris of economists who think they can forecast anything with a model, even if it is effectively a random outcome. Haiti are in one of the harshest-looking groups of the entire tournament. Group lineup shows Brazil, Morocco, Haiti, and Scotland together in Group C, which means Haiti have to survive against two established global powers and a Scotland side that knows how to make life awkward in a short tournament. Meanwhile, France bring Championship pedigree, combining 2018 winners Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele with a new generation world-cup-2026.us.com led by Michael Olise, Desire Doue and Rayan Cherki.

Mexico’s consistency makes them a reliable choice, as well as playing at home, while South Korea’s speed can be dangerous on the counterattack. South Africa faces the steepest challenge in this group and seems unlikely to get past their first three games. The automatic mode uses the official FIFA rankings published on April 1, 2026, converted into a team strength value. The probability that a team wins a given match scales with the gap in strength between the two sides. Group matches also allow for draws, with the likelihood of a draw decreasing as the gap in strength widens. Manual selection chooses a winner or a draw for each match, with standings updating instantly using the official tiebreakers.

They crashed out at the group stage at the 2002 World Cup in South Korea and Japan. Despite beating Argentina in the 2022 group stage, Saudi Arabia may once again fall short of a top-two finish, which looks reserved for Uruguay. A battle for second place ought to be far more exciting, with Iran likely to put Egypt’s credentials to the test after a decent group-stage campaign in Qatar. There’s a feeling that the Ivory Coast could pip Ecuador to a coveted second place, while it would take a major surprise for debutants Curacao to upset the established hierarchy in this group.

A total of 104 matches will be played across 16 cities, including iconic venues like MetLife Stadium (New York), Estadio Azteca (Mexico City), AT&T Stadium (Dallas) and SoFi Stadium (Los Angeles). Despite an underwhelming qualifying campaign, Carlo Ancelotti’s charges remain hot favourites to advance as group winners, with the Atlas Lions expected to settle for a runner-up finish. 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.

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Panama will compete hard, and they have enough quality to make games uncomfortable, but the odds still lean against them. If Uzbekistan were drawn into a softer section, they could have made a real case for progression. Portugal bring elite pedigree, Colombia bring athletic quality and World Cup experience, and DR Congo are exactly the sort of opponent who can turn a group into a fight for every point.

• They’ve consistently found ways to advance deep into tournaments, and that experience matters.
• Mexico, the team that defeated the USA in the Gold Cup final, are the host nation viewed as most likely to shock the world and lift the trophy, with a 1.3% probability.
• 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.
• 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.
• On 5 December, allowing fans of all nations to start plotting their routes to a possible coronation at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium.
• South Korea vs Bosnia & Herzegovina – Despite overcoming Italy in the qualifying play-offs, this tie could spell the end of Bosnia’s World Cup journey.
• Perfect for running a World Cup prediction game at the office or among friends.
• I like Bosnia to top the group, with Switzerland following and Canada advancing as a top third‑place finisher.
• Those teams round out the top 10 favourites, with Belgium next with a 1.9% probability.
• But with so many contenders in the running, who will ultimately lift the trophy?
• The opening game in Group G pits arguably the two finest Premier League players of the modern era against one another, with Kevin De Bruyne’s Belgium taking on Mohamed Salah’s Egypt.
• The 12 group winners and 12 runners-up qualify automatically for the Round of 32, joined by the 8 best third-placed teams.
• After being right three times in a row, I have been inundated by requests over the last four years to forecast the Euros, the Olympics, the Rugby World Cup, etc.
• Cape Verde (0.1%) have qualified and are the second-smallest nation by population (after Iceland in 2018) to achieve the feat.
• 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.
• 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.

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. Sport’s greatest tournament returns with an all-new expanded format as 48 nations battle it out to win the World Cup.

Which World Cup teams are most vulnerable to an early exit? The danger facing U.S. and Mexico

With a number of experienced star players such as Christian Pulisic, Giovanni Reyna and Weston McKennie in the lineup, don’t be shocked if we see Team USA make it to the Round of or maybe even further. 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. There’s a fairytale start to Group E, when four-time winners Germany take on tournament debutants and the smallest nation in World Cup history, Curacao.

World Cup 2026 Knockout Stage

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. To help soccer fans plan ahead, I created this interactive 2026 FIFA World Cup Bracket Predictor. You can rank every team in all 12 groups, select the eight best third-place finishers, build your complete knockout bracket, and see where each team could play throughout the tournament. Canada will look to use their energy and attacking style, while Bosnia & Herzegovina will rely on experience and tactical structure. With all teams eager to begin strongly, these opening games could set the tone for the rest of the tournament.

My eight teams most likely to be eliminated in the group stage are Haiti, Curaçao, Jordan, Uzbekistan, Panama, Cape Verde, Qatar, and South Africa. That does not mean every one of them will crash out, because the 2026 World Cup format gives third-place teams a lifeline. But if you are looking for the sides with the toughest path, the smallest safety margin, and the most dangerous group assignments, this is the list I would start with.

A third option fills only the matches that remain undecided, which preserves any picks already made. Each group match also displays a small probability indicator based on team strength, so the favorite in any fixture is visible before a pick is made. Pick winners group by group, or auto-simulate the full tournament using FIFA rankings. All 104 games, kickoff times, host cities, and group standings tracker. Los Guaraníes’s deepest run at the World Cup came in 2010, when they reached the quarter-finals, while the South American nation have also progressed beyond the group stage in four of their last five appearances.

• This final comes down to France’s athleticism, depth and physical dominance against Portugal’s control of possession and tempo.
• 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 tool is a prediction model, not a forecast of guaranteed results.
• Netherlands vs Morocco – Even though the odds may be stacked against them, Morocco’s knack for upsetting elite opposition could produce the first major shock of the tournament.
• To help soccer fans plan ahead, I created this interactive 2026 FIFA World Cup Bracket Predictor.
• Czechia holds a narrow edge thanks to their combination of veterans like Tomas Soucek and Patrik Schick, as well as somewhat newcomers in Ladislav Krejci and Pavel Sulc.
• Predicting the first 48-team World Cup six months out is a fool’s errand.
• Then again, Harry Kane scored freely across Bundesliga and Champions League this season, at times playing in a deeper role than usual.
• 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.
• However, the group won’t be straightforward against an experienced Uruguay side that only allowed 12 goals in 18 CONMEBOL qualification games.

FIFA World Cup 2026 Simulator: Predict All 104 Matches

Choose group outcomes, pick the knockout winners and discover who triumphs. Germany’s recent World Cup campaigns have fallen short since their 2014 triumph. While they showed promise at UEFA EURO 2024, France enter with superior depth and balance. Having reached the latter stages repeatedly, this feels like an opportunity France cannot let slip, and their overall quality should see them through. 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.

Group G: Belgium Favored While Egypt and Salah Push for Knockout Spot

Join 100+ managers already registered in the $BRACKETS League App-the premier high-performance fantasy sports playground. Predict The Cup, also known as Predicthecup, is a World Cup 2026 predictor for brackets, champions, badges, and global rankings. The World Cup simulator is completely free to use, with no signup required and no limits on how many times you can simulate the tournament. The FIFA World Cup gets underway on June 11, with 48 nations battling it out for the most coveted trophy in global soccer. 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. Just over a year after staging the FIFA Club World Cup, the United States will once again welcome the footballing world as co-hosts of the 2026 World Cup, a status that spared them the challenge of navigating qualification.

• 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.
• But the prospect of two icons duelling to end the tournament in the lead should be absorbing viewing.
• England ultimately finished Group K with eight wins – and eight clean sheets – from as many matches, becoming only the second team to win all their games in a UEFA World Cup qualifying campaign without conceding after Yugoslavia in 1954.
• The top spot could come down to goal difference, with both teams likely taking advantage of Cape Verde.
• Scotland could pose a threat with players like Scott McTominay and John McGinn, but they’re still at a disadvantage against better teams.
• A complete Python pipeline for predicting match outcomes, generatingexpected goals, and running Monte Carlo tournament simulations.Built for YouTube creators who want AI-powered soccer analysis.
• With a number of experienced star players such as Christian Pulisic, Giovanni Reyna and Weston McKennie in the lineup, don’t be shocked if we see Team USA make it to the Round of or maybe even further.
• South Korea and Czechia appear to be the likeliest candidates to challenge El Tri for the throne, but the 10-time Gold Cup winners should live up to their billing.
• The expanded 2026 format means more teams advance from the group stage into the knockout bracket, making every goal crucial.
• Panama will compete hard, and they have enough quality to make games uncomfortable, but the odds still lean against them.
• The FIFA World Cup 2026 simulator covers all 48 teams, 12 groups, and 104 matches in one interactive tool.
• Scotland and Haiti are better than just making up the numbers here but are realistically playing for one of the eight best third-place spots.

🔶 ABOUT THE FIFA WORLD CUP

The Netherlands enter as a world‑class side looking to make a statement. The production of Cody Gakpo and Donyell Malen should be enough to see them top the group. Japan and Sweden are well organized but lack the elite experience needed to challenge the Dutch. 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.

Whether you call it a prediction pool, a soccer pool, a bracket challenge or a sweepstakes — Prodefy makes it easy to create your free pool in under two minutes. Argentina vs United States – The US crashed out at this juncture in the last tournament staged on their soil, and history looks set to repeat itself against the reigning champions. We have mapped out the full World Cup picture, from the group-stage battles through to the knockout phase, outlining how the tournament could unfold from start to finish.

I expect a tight match, possibly decided in extra time or penalties, with France finding a way through to a third straight final. Should the United States advance to the Round of 16, it’s going to take some of their best performances of the past decade, maybe ever. 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. 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.

How do I change which teams are in the Round of 32?

My feeling is that Haiti are the most likely team in that group to be eliminated. 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. If they manage to stay alive until Matchday 3, they will already have done well.

World Cup 2026 Last Man Standing Game (Excel)

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. The opening game in Group G pits arguably the two finest Premier League players of the modern era against one another, with Kevin De Bruyne’s Belgium taking on Mohamed Salah’s Egypt. This is almost certainly the last hurrah for both men on the biggest international stage. Egypt progressing through CAF qualification undefeated as Belgium manage a period of transition away from their golden generation feel like relevant factors. The new format advances the top 2 from each group plus the 8 best third-place teams to a round of 32.

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.

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. While France could run them close, all signs point to Spain winning their second ever World Cup and following their 2010 success. It’s hard to believe that it’s been 24 years since Brazil even appeared in a World Cup Final, much less win it.

The other matchday one fixture looks more open, and Turkey should have enough attacking quality to get the better of Australia, setting up a race for top spot between both opening-round winners. 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. Haaland struck 16 of those goals, matching Robert Lewandowski’s 2018 record for the most prolific UEFA World Cup qualification campaign.

Bracketology: predict a path to World Cup victory

Southgate’s England teams were also solid at the back but rarely free-flowing. At Euro 2024, they recorded just 5.4 xG – Turkey, Austria and Switzerland were among the teams to better that tally. The Three Lions enter their first – and potentially only – tournament under Tuchel as third favourites with a 11.8% probability of lifting the trophy, having come up short in two European Championship finals under Gareth Southgate. Ahead of this week’s draw, we have taken a deep dive into the Opta supercomputer’s first set of World Cup predictions to assess who is most likely to lift the trophy.

The other opener between Ecuador and Ivory Coast feels like a game where a win will be richly rewarded. Brazil’s bid for a sixth world title begins in a mouthwatering showdown with Morocco, who reached the semifinals last time around and stormed through CAF qualifying. Scotland and Haiti are better than just making up the numbers here but are realistically playing for one of the eight best third-place spots. Tunisia are set to make their third consecutive finals appearance after cruising through their qualifying group, recording nine wins and one draw without conceding a single goal. South Africa are not without talent, and they arrive with the kind of national excitement that can lift a squad. Even so, the group is packed with teams that know how to handle major tournaments, and the opening match against co-host Mexico will be a fierce way to begin.

Lionel Messi will want to make more history as holders Argentina eye consecutive World Cups to sit alongside back-to-back Copas America. The general consensus is the Netherlands will come out on top in Group F, which, in theory, means there will be a three-way fight for the second automatic qualification spot. 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.

These national teams usually drive the biggest World Cup prediction searches and will be priorities for deeper pages once fixture data is live. See who AI rates for the trophy, group winners, qualification paths and possible surprises before the tournament starts. A complete Python pipeline for predicting match outcomes, generatingexpected goals, and running Monte Carlo tournament simulations.Built for YouTube creators who want AI-powered soccer analysis.

Six of the teams appearing at the tournament are still to be decided, with four qualifying via the UEFA play-offs and another two via the inter-confederation playoffs. On 5 December, allowing fans of all nations to start plotting their routes to a possible coronation at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium. They remain phenomenally strong, although there are plenty of questions surrounding five-time winners Brazil under Carlo Ancelotti.

• Turkey could be one of the surprise packages this summer, as they gear up for their first World Cup since a memorable third-place finish in 2002.
• 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.
• Brazil have struggled to define a clear identity in recent tournaments, raising doubts about their ability to make a legitimate World Cup run.
• Senegal remain a dangerous dark horse, while Norway and Erling Haaland could disrupt the group.
• This template is designed specifically for tracking goal scorers and top scorers throughout the tournament.
• Choose between blank fillable versions for office pools and predictions, or live versions updated with real results as the tournament progresses.
• Argentina dominated the CONMEBOL World Cup qualification group, finishing nine points clear of second-placed Ecuador, and last year they also retained the Copa América for the first time since 1993.
• The twelve third-place teams are compared by points, then goal difference, then goals scored, and finally FIFA ranking.
• Test „what if“ scenarios for any team to see exactly what they need to advance to the Round of 32.
• 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).
• Enter exact scorelines for any match and the built-in World Cup qualification calculator instantly recalculates group standings, points, goal difference, and qualification status.

Turkey could be one of the surprise packages this summer, as they gear up for their first World Cup since a memorable third-place finish in 2002. 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. Every four years, I write a note that has many more readers than anything else I publish. It all started 12 years ago when I used an economic model to forecast the winner of the World Cup in Brazil.

Choose the spreadsheet that best fits your needs—or download all of them—to enhance your World Cup viewing experience. The FIFA World Cup 2026 will be held from June 11 to July 19, 2026 across the United States, Mexico and Canada. It will be the first World Cup with 48 teams, divided into 12 groups of 4. Talk trash, celebrate goals and chat with your group right inside the app.

• However, this year’s Nations League triumph offers significant hope that Roberto Martínez can get the balance right even while accommodating the 40-year-old, who is still full of confidence after scoring 84 goals in 86 Saudi Pro League games.
• 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.
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• Pick winners group by group, or auto-simulate the full tournament using FIFA rankings.
• 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.
• South Africa, however, will be motivated to challenge and avoid an early setback.
• Our World Cup predictions are based on detailed analysis of team form, squad depth, tactical setups, and tournament dynamics unique to international football.
• 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.
• 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.
• A battle for second place ought to be far more exciting, with Iran likely to put Egypt’s credentials to the test after a decent group-stage campaign in Qatar.
• Japan will make an eighth consecutive World Cup finals appearance after collecting 23 points from 10 matches in the third phase of qualifying to finish above Australia and Saudi Arabia.
• But Memphis Depay remains a talisman for his nation, becoming their all-time leading scorer when he netted his 51st international goal in September.

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Le Selecao don’t have a Ronaldo or Ronaldinho in their lineup anymore, but they do have a very solid squad. Champions League finalist Marquinhos and Gabriel combine for a dream center-back pairing, while Raphinha and Vinicius Jr up top gives them an attacking edge. It awaits to be seen if Neymar will be fit, but if he is, that gives Brazil’s current odds some value.

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.

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. 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. 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.

Play-Off Hopefuls

The eight highest-ranked thirds advance to the Round of 32, and the bottom four are eliminated. Download our official World Cup 2026 wall chart with all 104 matches, kickoff times, host city locations, and the complete tournament schedule on a single printable poster. We offer a free premium printable World Cup 2026 bracket in both Letter and A4 formats. Choose between blank fillable versions for office pools and predictions, or live versions updated with real results as the tournament progresses. Pick winners group-by-group or auto-simulate every match from group stage to the final. The expanded format and increased number of matches have intensified global discussion around potential finalists, contributing to the reinterpretation of older fictional content as predictive material.

Paraguay star player: Miguel Almiron

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. 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.

I’ll take Ivory Coast’s finishing to narrowly edge Ecuador for second, though I still expect Ecuador to advance as one of the best third‑place teams. Building a perfect bracket may be unrealistic, but identifying where chaos is most likely, and where elite teams will hold firm, is the key to getting ahead. Below, you’ll find a full round-by-round projection, blending safe picks with calculated risks to map out how the 2026 World Cup could unfold.

How to create a pool

• Higher-ranked teams are favored, but upsets happen, just like in real World Cup predictions.
• Uruguay, playing under Marcelo Bielsa at a World Cup for the first time should have enough to qualify with Spain.
• 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.
• Opening that link reproduces the exact bracket, which allows predictions to be compared or revisited later.
• However, it probably won’t be enough to prevent the Selecao from edging through to the next round.
• After the top two from each group qualify, the third-place finishers from all 12 groups are compared against one another, and the eight best advance to complete the 32-team knockout bracket.
• Vinícius has played under five different head coaches since joining Real Madrid, and 149 of his 192 goal involvements for the club came during Ancelotti’s second spell in charge of Los Blancos.
• Get RotoWire’s advanced reports and tools to confidently start your best team.
• A total of 104 matches will be played across 16 cities, including iconic venues like MetLife Stadium (New York), Estadio Azteca (Mexico City), AT&T Stadium (Dallas) and SoFi Stadium (Los Angeles).
• Fresh off a dominant qualifying cycle, England enter the tournament as one of the top favourites to take home the most prestigious international title.
• Hannibal Mjebri may catch the eye as one of Tunisia’s key attackers, but the country’s captain, Skhiri, may have a bigger say in the team’s overall performance, and not just because of his role as a leader.
• Let’s break down the 2026 World Cup winner odds and give our World Cup best bets to make.

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. Get the latest World Cup 2026 predictions and betting tips, powered by our AI algorithm, NT Apex. We have analyzed 64 matches across 8 teams in the World Cup 2026, achieving a best-tip accuracy of over 71.9%. Predictions cover Final Result, Under/Over, Both Teams to Score, Correct Score, xG, Corners, and Ball Possession.

World Cup 2026 Knockout Stage

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. 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.

Unlike the 2022 edition held in December, the tournament returns to the traditional summer schedule, making it even more exciting for fans worldwide. England vs Portugal – Ronaldo may have to take comfort from beating his arch-nemesis in the quarter-finals. Brazil vs Senegal – There’s little doubt that Senegal possess the quality and confidence to push this tie into extra time. However, it probably won’t be enough to prevent the Selecao from edging through to the next round. 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.