Ok, it’s time. We’re less than 24 hours out from the first 48-team World Cup starting and it’s time to answer the biggest question of all – who will win the 2026 World Cup?

The new extended format has thrown up the most open field in living memory, with both sides of the bracket filled with contenders, pretenders, dark horses, longshots and no hopes.

While most of the money is piling on two specific nations, we’ve crunched the numbers, assessed the full field and left no stone unturned as we attempt to answer just who will win the World Cup?

Heat, altitude and squad depth will decide everything across what is sure to be a sprawling North American summer filled with shocks, screamers and superstars. Let’s dive in, shall we? These are our 2026 World Cup tips and predictions. 

Who Will Win the World Cup 2026?

World Cup Tips and Predictions – The Contenders 

Spain

The current outright favourites, Spain arrive as European champions with the clearest identity in the tournament. 

Luis de la Fuente's side dominate possession, suffocate opponents and trust youth without hesitation. Opta rates them the most probable winners, and that ball-retention style should travel well in stifling humidity, where keeping the ball means saving legs. 

Their path looks navigable from Group H, though knockout heavyweights await. The deeper concern is over dependence on wingers Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams; if either tires or picks up a knock, their attacking spark could dim.

Even so, technical control, tactical clarity and tournament momentum make Spain the team to beat at the World Cup. 

France

France carry frightening attacking depth with the likes of Rayan Cherki, Ousmane Dembélé and Désiré Doué all perfect for breaking tired defences in 30-degree heat after 70 minutes. 

Didier Deschamps knows how to win knockout football, and Kylian Mbappé remains the most devastating transition forward alive and a deadest World Cup specialist. 

The squad's strength in depth could prove decisive over a long campaign. The one recurring worry is harmony. Keep the dressing room calm, and they look complete enough to win a second title in their last three attempts. 

Portugal

Portugal blend experience with serious individual quality and are definitely a chance of making the final.

Their squad mixes a generation of European elite talent with the enduring presence of Cristiano Ronaldo, who still craves one last defining stage. 

Tactically they can control games or counter with pace, giving them flexibility against varied opponents. A favourable position in Group K should ease them through, though a likely heavyweight quarter-final looms. 

The biggest risk is balance; leaning too heavily on a past-it Ronaldo could slow their attacking rhythm and there is a belief he’d be better off on the bench.

If his supporting cast is allowed to steal the spotlight and their all-star midfield sets the tempo to their speed, Portugal are genuine contenders rather than merely dark horses. 

Argentina 

As the current holders, Argentina cannot be dismissed, and the sweltering conditions may suit them. 

Talisman Lionel Messi still threatens magic, and the team's unity in working for him remains their greatest weapon. 

South American sides should handle the humidity better than most, an advantage that could tell in the latter rounds. 

Argentina's experience of winning under pressure is unmatched in this field. Their path could deliver a blockbuster meeting with Portugal, setting up one final Messi vs Ronaldo showdown. 

The doubt is age and renewal; some observers question whether this group still has the legs of 2022 and the drive to go back-to-back, a feat only a few nations have ever achieved.

World Cup Tips and Predictions – The Pretenders 

England 

There was national outcry when Thomas Tuchel named his England side for the 2026 World Cup and that’s not the only bad news for the Three lions. 

Their draw is looking unkind, and a possible last-16 trip to face Mexico at altitude in the Azteca, then likely Brazil or Argentina appear to await. 

Over-reliance on Kane and lingering defensive doubts remain the familiar weak spots. 

According to the odds, England are very much in the conversation, but history and the bracket suggest it could be another disappointing summer of football for those who march under St George’s cross. 

Brazil

Sure, Brazil retain the individual brilliance to win any single match, and the climate should favour their South American players. 

However, the same old questions over defensive consistency and whether this squad has the cohesion of past golden generations remain. They face a tricky group containing Morocco and a spirited Scotland, so early focus is essential. 

Brazil belong among the contenders on paper, but recent tournaments suggest they flatter to deceive once the knockout pressure intensifies and are simply living off the former glories of yesteryear thanks to those who once donned their famous five-start jersey like Ronaldo, Roberto Carlos, Ronaldinho and co. 

World Cup Tips and Predictions – The Dark Horses 

Germany 

Germany rarely arrive without ambition, and tournament pedigree alone keeps them dangerous. 

Their strength lies in structured, disciplined football and a production line of technical midfielders capable of controlling tempo. 

A clean group passage should build rhythm before the knockouts. The heat could test an ageing spine, and recent major tournaments have exposed defensive fragility and a lack of a reliable goalscorer. 

If their younger talents click and the side rediscovers its winning mentality, Germany could surge through a wide-open bracket under the guise of their young, idealistic and ambitious mentor Julian Nagelsmann.

The Netherlands 

The Netherlands are flying under the radar, exactly how they like it. They pair experienced operators with emerging talent and are worth keeping a close eye on.

Tactically they can dominate possession or sit and counter, offering useful adaptability across different opponents and conditions. 

The concern is the centre-forward position; a reliance on physical target men could blunt them against compact defences. Long balls to the likes of Brobbey and Weghorst, will only get them so far, so they will need to rediscover the compact midfield passing that made the great Dutch sides of the 80s and 90s tick. 

Japan 

Japan are the connoisseur's dark horse and are arguably pound-for-pound the most technically gifted side at the 2026 World Cup. 

They press in packs, defend with discipline and play an expansive 3-4-2-1 that troubles even elite sides - they beat Germany and Spain in 2022. They swept through qualifying impressively, and a strong knockout path is realistic

The loss of talisman Kaoru Mitoma is a big blow, and they sit in a demanding Group F, however, if everything clicks, a first-ever semi-final or perhaps beyond is well within reach.

World Cup Tips and Predictions – The Longshots 

Norway

Norway! A bunch of Vikings lifting the World Cup trophy? Surely not? Well, never say never. 

Returning to the World Cup for the first time since 1998, Norway have quite the team. 

Man City’s Erling Haaland scored 16 in qualifying; they’ve got Premier League winning midfielder Martin Ødegaard pulling strings and the stylish Antonio Nusa adding fearless flair. That attacking talent could win a knockout game or two on its own. 

The drive of a long-awaited return to the world stage should energise the group, with the major doubt being tournament inexperience and whether the defence holds against elite movement in the heat. Still, write them off at your own risk. 

USA

Crowd energy and familiarity with the conditions are real advantages for World Cup co-hosts USA, and their group looks navigable enough to reach the knockouts. 

Ricardo Pepi's sharp form offers a genuine attacking threat, as does Christian Pulisic’s output when he pulls on the Stars and Stripes. 

Also, home-nation momentum can carry a side surprisingly far, as South Korea proved in 2002.

Australia 

Why the hell not hey? Australia are well-organised, defensively committed and capable of frustrating better sides, oh and they have that famous Aussie spirit. 

The searing US conditions that will melt most other teams are nothing compared to summer in the outback and Tony Popovic’s young side of World Cup first-timers will be ready to run rings around any team that fails to adapt to the prevailing conditions. 

Who Will Win the World Cup 2026 – Final Verdict 

France 

They were a whisker away from going back-to-back in 2022 and appear primed to make amends in 2026. 

With names like Mbappe, Dembele and Olise they possess some of the world’s best and most importantly, in form players, as well as enough squad depth to field two teams worthy of challenging for the title.