With the 2026 FIFA World Cup, in its expanded format featuring 48 teams for the first time, set to get underway in North America this summer, people are already trying to work out which teams could go far in the competition. A lot will depend on which nations cope best with the conditions, such as the heat and travel demands, but here’s a deep dive on the teams expected to make their mark.
Spain
Spain will start the tournament as the team to beat, as indicated by World Cup betting odds online. The Spanish have a lot of things going in their favour, such as entering the competition on the back of winning Euro 2024 after overcoming a spirited England side in the final. Spain also have a history of winning the Euros and then the following World Cup. They won Euro 2008 and then triumphed at the 2010 World Cup.
What Spain also have going for them, alongside a squad littered with talent, is what should be a relatively straightforward passage out of Group H, more than likely as group winners. They take on Cape Verde and Saudi Arabia, two games they should come through unscathed, before their final group game against Uruguay, which will provide a sterner test.
France
It’s fair to say that France will be heading to North America this summer with a bit of a bee in their bonnet. They made it to the final of the 2022 Qatar World Cup, a final in which captain Kylian Mbappe scored an impressive hat-trick, but lost to Argentina in a penalty shootout. That defeat will give them the motivation they need to push hard at the 2026 World Cup, a tournament that many feel they have a great chance of winning.
Like Spain, France have a star-studded squad, especially in the attacking department. Their forward line, which is likely to feature Mbappe, Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembele, and Bayern Munich star Michael Olise, will strike fear into any defence Les Bleus come up against. Group I is a tougher assignment than Group H, with Senegal, Iraq and Norway to play, but Didier Deschamps’ side will rightly be confident.
England
England have always been tipped to do well at international tournaments, but have previously failed to live up to expectations. However, that all changed under the reign of former manager Gareth Southgate. He led the Three Lions to back-to-back European Championship finals and the semi-finals of the 2022 Qatar World Cup. England have started to look like one of the main contenders on the biggest stage in the sport, but have so far failed to back that up by lifting a trophy.
England will face Croatia, Ghana and Panama in Group L, and will be expected to make it out of the group. Any success they have could come down to two factors, the first being Thomas Tuchel. The German replaced Southgate as manager, with the belief being that his reputation as a winner can get England over the line. The other is Harry Kane. He’s currently the best striker in the world in terms of his goal haul and will give England a chance of beating anyone.
Argentina
The team not being spoken about enough ahead of the World Cup is Argentina, the reigning champions. At the 2022 Qatar World Cup, Argentina showed they had everything they needed to become world champions, including the ability to overcome adversity. They head to this World Cup believing they can defend their crown in a tournament where they will see their talisman, Lionel Messi, bow out of the international football scene. He’s certainly one player who would love to exit stage left with another World Cup to his name.
Argentina have been drawn in a favourable group alongside Algeria, Austria and Jordan. The world champions should breeze through Group J, finding their rhythm along the way, making them a force to fear later in the competition. They will also be hoping that Tottenham Hotspur central defender Cristian Romero recovers from a knee injury in time to make the squad.
Conclusion
Every team, all forty-eight of them, will dream of winning the World Cup this summer. However, it’s often the teams with quality and depth in their squad, and recent experience of doing well at tournaments, that are there or thereabouts in the final stages. Spain, France, England and Argentina tick a lot of boxes, and they’re in groups they should be able to qualify from without too much trouble. But this is football, and anything could happen.
