Scotland could pose a threat with players like Scott McTominay and John McGinn, but they’re still at a disadvantage against better teams. They still should have enough to advance as one of the best third‑place teams ahead of Haiti. The model is intentionally calibrated to favor stronger teams without making outcomes certain.

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

Click through every round from the Round of 32 to the Final, set who advances from all 12 groups, then print your bracket or share it with friends. In the simulator’s model, the highest-ranked nations such as France, Spain, and Argentina win most often, since match probabilities are weighted by FIFA rankings. Lower-ranked teams still advance regularly, so no outcome is guaranteed. It reflects the 48-team structure, the new Round of 32 stage, and the predetermined knockout paths set out in FIFA’s tournament regulations, including how third-place teams are assigned to specific matches. The auto-simulate feature uses FIFA rankings as of April 2026 and a weighted probability model. Higher-ranked teams are favored, but upsets happen, just like in real World Cup predictions.

It’s the perfect opportunity to create your free World Cup 2026 prediction pool with Prodefy and compete with friends during the longest and most exciting tournament ever. Argentina vs Portugal – If there’s a nation equipped and motivated enough to end another title-winning campaign for Lionel Messi, it’s Roberto Martinez’s side. 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. 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. 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.

World Cup 2026 knockout stage

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. Mexico will need an all‑around effort to advance under the new knockout format, relying on far more than home support to reach the next round. The expanded structure introduced a new Round of 32 knockout stage, and the simulator reflects that format exactly, including the rule that sends the eight best third-place teams into the knockout bracket. Beyond predictions, this tool works as a full World Cup 2026 calculator. Group standings update automatically with proper FIFA tiebreakers (points, goal difference, goals scored, head-to-head).

Build your full tournament prediction, earn XP, reveal rare badges, and climb a live global ladder with your best competitive slot. We share FIFA World Cup 2026 updates for informational purposes only. A dedicated section in the simulator lists all twelve third-place teams in ranked order, with a clear cutoff line after the eighth position so that the qualifiers and the eliminated teams are easy to identify. 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. But with so many contenders in the running, who will ultimately lift the trophy? Spread across Mexico, the United States, and Canada, the tournament will captivate audiences for the next six weeks, showcasing some of the sport’s greatest talents, including Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Erling Haaland.

• But Memphis Depay remains a talisman for his nation, becoming their all-time leading scorer when he netted his 51st international goal in September.
• If Spain are to triumph, it is likely Lamine Yamal will play a key role.
• The automatic mode uses the official FIFA rankings published on April 1, 2026, converted into a team strength value.
• We share FIFA World Cup 2026 updates for informational purposes only.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• That side of the draw could open up for England if they end Mexico’s interest in their home 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.
• South Africa, however, will be motivated to challenge and avoid an early setback.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Pick winners group-by-group or auto-simulate every match from group stage to the final.
• The first three are the official FIFA criteria for comparing third-place teams.

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.

• They still should have enough to advance as one of the best third‑place teams ahead of Haiti.
• Apply the same AI prediction model to the tournament hub for World Cup fixtures, correct scores, BTTS, and totals.
• So, let’s say no team that finishes third in their group is going to dust themselves down and win the whole thing.
• 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.
• Tuchel’s task is simple – get international football’s nearly men over the line.
• The top two from each group plus the eight best third-placed teams (32 in total) advance to the knockout Round of 32.
• Saudi Arabia are the most winnable of the three matchups, but even that game could decide whether Cape Verde stay alive or go home early.
• Japan have built significant momentum in the lead-up to the tournament with six consecutive victories, including successes against Brazil and England.
• Prior to that, he built more than a decade of experience in the sports journalism industry, primarily for the Stats Perform and Press Association news agencies.
• Yamal created the most chances at the tournament, with 19, while only teammate Nico Williams (2.1) had more expected assists (xA) than his 2.0.

Turkey

France vs Morocco – Another semi-final appearance is likely to elude Morocco, with Les Bleus expected to prevail on sheer firepower. Ivory Coast vs Senegal – Senegal’s impressive results in recent tournaments point towards an emphatic victory in this all-African knockout tie. 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. While they may fall short of their top-spot aspirations, Los Cafeteros should have enough experience and firepower to leave DR Congo and Uzbekistan behind. The last time France were in the same group with Senegal, it didn’t end well.

The claim originates from a brief scene in The Simpsons Season 9 episode ‘The Cartridge Family,’ which features a fictional television advertisement showing a Mexico vs Portugal football match. The clip has circulated widely across TikTok and other platforms, where some users present it as evidence of a predicted World Cup 2026 final. All things considered, Spain are the rightful favorites to win the 2026 FIFA World Cup and are worth locking in at +450 odds. La Roja have a fairly straightforward group with Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia and Uruguay, and their riches in attack should see them rack up plenty of goals against their opponents. Spain showed their maturity and looked the real deal on their way to winning Euro 2024 two years ago.

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.

• The Netherlands have reached the most World Cup finals without ever lifting the trophy (three), and they are the eighth and final team assigned more than a 5% chance of triumphing next year, at 5.2%.
• 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.
• I personally love this matchup, with two of Africa’s strongest sides potentially meeting in the knockout round.
• Three-time runners-up Netherlands headline Group F, which has all the makings of being one of the most competitive groups in the tournament.
• Here you’ll find match predictions, upcoming fixtures, recent results, group standings, knockout stage progress, and key statistics to help follow the World Cup tournament.
• Their Group E opponents are Germany, Ecuador, and Ivory Coast, which is a very rough landing spot for a debutant.
• Cape Verde are well organized and far more disciplined than many first-time qualifiers, but Spain and Uruguay are the sort of opponents who rarely allow a debutant much breathing room.
• Japan and Sweden are well organized but lack the elite experience needed to challenge the Dutch.
• Top-ranked nations such as France, Spain, and Argentina win the simulated tournament most often, but lower-ranked teams still break through often enough to produce a different story on each run.
• Group matches also allow for draws, with the likelihood of a draw decreasing as the gap in strength widens.

FIFA WORLD CUP PREDICTIONS FAQs

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.

How are the best third-place teams ranked?

Set up a free prediction pool for the FIFA World Cup 2026 with friends, family or coworkers. France vs Spain – Only a handful of teams can stop Les Bleus from becoming the first team in World Cup history to reach three consecutive finals. Croatia vs Spain – Croatia’s remarkable tournament experience and resilience could make this a tightly contested encounter. However, Spain’s technical quality and squad depth should ultimately tip the balance in their favour. Fresh off a dominant qualifying cycle, England enter the tournament as one of the top favourites to take home the most prestigious international title.

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.

Knockouts

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.

World Cup 2026 Predictions

However, as the lowest-ranked side in the group, Tunisia may be seen as the most obvious candidate to finish bottom, especially as they have failed to make it out of the group stage in each of their six World Cup appearances. The Samurai Blue have been touted as a potential dark horse, despite being without the key attacking duo of Kaoru Mitoma and Takumi Minamino due to injury. Three-time runners-up Netherlands headline Group F, which has all the makings of being one of the most competitive groups in the tournament. Recent World Cup results provide insight into current form and momentum across the league. Perfect for running a World Cup prediction game at the office or among friends. This template is designed specifically for tracking goal scorers and top scorers throughout the tournament.

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%. The host nation could then make it two wins from two against the Socceroos on matchday two, while Turkey and Paraguay are likely to cancel each other out and share the spoils. The fixture has all the makings of a potential group decider between the two highest-ranked nations in the bracket, with both sides renewing acquaintances at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, meeting for the sixth time in their history. Here, Sports Mole provides an in-depth preview of Group D at the 2026 World Cup, including predicted standings and each nation’s key player. Excitement is building ahead of the start of the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico, with 48 nations set to battle for football’s biggest prize. Interest in the FIFA World Cup 2026 has added renewed attention on the clip.

However, no official production notes or creator statements support these interpretations. The sequence was created as a fictional advertisement within a satirical animated series and does not reference FIFA branding, national flags, or tournament forecasting. Factly notes the clip continues circulating due to the absence of a time reference in the original scene, allowing it to be reused across multiple World Cup cycles, including 2018, 2022, and 2026. Apply the same AI prediction model to the tournament hub for World Cup fixtures, correct scores, BTTS, and totals. As fixtures move closer, the hub can expand with live match links, confidence-rated picks, correct score probabilities, and post-match validation so the content becomes stronger instead of being replaced.

World Cup Bracket Breakdown: Predicting Every Round from Group Stage to Final

Saudi Arabia will fancy causing another stir after unforgettably defeating Argentina in the 2022 group stage. Uruguay, playing under Marcelo Bielsa at a World Cup for the first time should have enough to qualify with Spain. Hopefully, there’s plenty riding on their match that closes the group. The FIFA World Cup 2026 spreadsheets below are a complete collection of Excel templates designed to help football fans track match results, analyze statistics, and run prediction games with friends, family, or colleagues.

🚀 Quick Start

• Want to simulate the full tournament after finishing your group predictions?
• With limited preparation time, neutral venues, and varying styles of play, World Cup matches require a different analytical approach compared to domestic and club competitions.
• Appearing at their first World Cup since 1998, the Tartan Army are given a 0.2% chance of lifting the trophy, level with the likes of South Africa, Australia, Iran and Tunisia.
• Senegal remain a dangerous dark horse, while Norway and Erling Haaland could disrupt the group.
• Algeria are first up for Messi & Co, with tournament debutants Jordan also looking to make an impression.
• Southgate’s England teams were also solid at the back but rarely free-flowing.
• That said, Senegal appear the more complete side, with greater star power likely to make the difference.
• Morocco (1.1%) and Ecuador (1.0%) are the other teams with a greater than 1% chance of glory, with Japan (0.9%) and USA just behind.
• 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.
• Test «what if» scenarios for any team to see exactly what they need to advance to the Round of 32.
• 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.
• All things considered, Spain are the rightful favorites to win the 2026 FIFA World Cup and are worth locking in at +450 odds.

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. The top two from each group, plus the eight best third-placed teams (32 in total), advance to the Round of 32.

Real-time live scores

Our World Cup predictions are based on detailed analysis of team form, squad depth, tactical setups, and tournament dynamics unique to international football. With limited preparation time, neutral venues, and varying styles of play, World Cup matches require a different analytical approach compared to domestic and club competitions. The FIFA World Cup brings together national World Cup 2026 Bracket Predictor teams from across the globe, competing through qualification, group stages, and knockout rounds to determine the world champion. The tournament is played every four years and is known for its high intensity, global attention, and decisive matches where form, tactics, and squad depth play a crucial role.

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.

World Cup 2026 group stage

Expectations are sky-high in Mauricio Pochettino’s corner, yet the United States’ recent World Cup performances cannot inspire confidence, even though they’ve reached the knockouts in three of the last four tournaments. Before bowing out in the group stages four years ago in Qatar, Mexico had reached the knockout phase at seven consecutive World Cups. With Javier Aguirre at the helm now, they look likely to achieve that feat again. Jordan is making their first-ever World Cup appearance, and that alone makes them one of the tournament’s best storylines. Jordan will face Austria, Algeria, and defending champions Argentina in Group J, which is about as unforgiving as a debut group can get.

World Cup Group K Preview: Portugal, Colombia, Uzbekistan, DR Congo

Germany have at least scraped into Pot 1 for the group-stage draw, taking the 12th and final spot among the top seeds, ahead of Croatia, and despite question marks it would be rash not to consider them as contenders at this stage. 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.

With 48 teams taking part, there also will be some new names gracing the tournament. 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). The resurgence of James Rodríguez made headlines at that competition, as he led the way for chances created (20) and assists (six) – that latter tally equalled the record for a single edition, alongside Brazil’s Alex in 2003.

World Cup predictions 2026: Expert picks for group stage, knockout rounds after draw for FIFA tournament

Portugal went out to France at the next stage, as Ronaldo ended the tournament without a goal from 23 shots and 3.6 xG – the second-highest tally at the competition. 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). The 2026 World Cup will mark the end of an era in French football, with Didier Deschamps set to stand down from his role as Les Bleus’ head coach after 14 years at the helm.

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.

• 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).
• It reflects the 48-team structure, the new Round of 32 stage, and the predetermined knockout paths set out in FIFA’s tournament regulations, including how third-place teams are assigned to specific matches.
• Higher-ranked teams are favored, but upsets happen, just like in real World Cup predictions.
• Some of these nations can absolutely surprise people, but on paper, they are the ones most likely to fall short when the tournament begins in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
• 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.
• The fourth, FIFA ranking, serves as the simulator’s deterministic tiebreaker in place of the fair-play and drawing-of-lots rules used at the real tournament, which cannot be modeled in a prediction tool.
• The 2026 FIFA World Cup—the biggest football tournament in the world—will take place in the United States, Canada, and Mexico from June 11 to July 19, 2026.
• But the jump from breakthrough side to World Cup knockout contender is huge.
• 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.
• Get RotoWire’s advanced reports and tools to confidently start your best team.
• 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.
• The fixture has all the makings of a potential group decider between the two highest-ranked nations in the bracket, with both sides renewing acquaintances at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, meeting for the sixth time in their history.

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.

World Cup Power Rankings, Alex Morgan’s Advice for Pulisic & USMNT Stars on Home World Cup Pressure

It is a look at the teams with the toughest path, the thinnest squad depth, and the most unforgiving group-stage draw. Want to simulate the full tournament after finishing your group predictions? Use theFull Tournament Simulator to generate a complete bracket from groups to the final. The twelve third-place teams are compared by points, then goal difference, then goals scored, and finally FIFA ranking.

• Brazil vs Senegal – There’s little doubt that Senegal possess the quality and confidence to push this tie into extra time.
• Appearing at their first World Cup since 1998, the Tartan Army are given a 0.2% chance of lifting the trophy, level with the likes of South Africa, Australia, Iran and Tunisia.
• Curaçao are one of the great stories of World Cup 2026, but their story may still end in the group stage.
• Jordan’s Moussa Al Tamari is a player to watch and capable of driving a surprise run.
• Enter exact scorelines for any match and the built-in World Cup qualification calculator instantly recalculates group standings, points, goal difference, and qualification status.
• While France could run them close, all signs point to Spain winning their second ever World Cup and following their 2010 success.
• Senegal remain a dangerous dark horse, while Norway and Erling Haaland could disrupt the group.
• 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.
• France vs Morocco – Another semi-final appearance is likely to elude Morocco, with Les Bleus expected to prevail on sheer firepower.
• Les Bleus won the 2018 World Cup with a 4-2 victory over Croatia in the final, but suffered heartbreak and pain in 2022 as Argentina beat them on penalties.
• With eight third-place teams advancing from the group stage, there are 495 possible combinations that can dramatically change the knockout bracket.
• Choose between blank fillable versions for office pools and predictions, or live versions updated with real results as the tournament progresses.
• 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.

Bosnia vs. Portugal

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.

Top-ranked nations such as France, Spain, and Argentina win the simulated tournament most often, but lower-ranked teams still break through often enough to produce a different story on each run. Once a bracket is complete, a single share action copies a link containing every pick, so any prediction can be compared with others or revisited later. Mexico faces South Africa in the tournament opener, with the hosts looking to take advantage of home support and start with a confident performance. South Africa, however, will be motivated to challenge and avoid an early setback. South Korea takes on Czech Republic in a well-balanced matchup, where discipline, organization, and taking chances could be key factors.

While their physicality and attacking threat stand out, their defense is arguably their greatest strength, led by Roma’s Evan N’Dicka. That said, Senegal appear the more complete side, with greater star power likely to make the difference. This contest may be decided in extra time or penalties, favoring Senegal.

Mbappé is closing in on Olivier Giroud’s mark of 57 goals for France, having netted 55 times in his 93 caps. There is a good chance that record falls before the World Cup, but he is also chasing down Miroslav Klose’s all-time total of 16 goals at World Cups, having netted 12 times in just two editions of the tournament (four in 2018, eight in 2022). They could end up facing a Poland side they were unable to beat during qualification if the Eastern European giants progress from a UEFA playoff path featuring Ukraine, Albania and Sweden. Japan beat Spain and Germany in the group stage last time around and have a recent friendly win over Brazil to their name. The United States will have no complaints over this draw and have the opportunity to make a statement by progressing as group winners. A 5-1 win over Uruguay in November means South American opposition in the form of Paraguay should not hold the fear it once did.

Mere weeks into Jesse Marsch’s reign, Canada reached the semi-finals on their Copa América debut, losing 2-0 to eventual winners Argentina. 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. Their route to this World Cup was not completely smooth, either, as they were left needing victory over Slovakia in their final Group A game to avoid the play-offs. But they won that match by a statement 6-0 scoreline, with Nick Woltemade, Serge Gnabry and Leroy Sané among the goals.

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.

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.

Their squad is built heavily from Dutch-raised players, and the team qualified by staying unbeaten in the final phase of qualifying. Still, when the group contains Germany plus two more physically strong and technically sharp sides, survival becomes a serious challenge. Curaçao are one of the great stories of World Cup 2026, but their story may still end in the group stage. Curaçao are the smallest country ever to reach the men’s World Cup, and their debut finals appearance will be played against teams of a very different level.

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.

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.

• Spain’s track record in major international competitions gives them the clear edge in this scenario.
• Ivory Coast return to the World Cup after a 12‑year absence, built around a core of prime‑age players.
• It will be the first World Cup with 48 teams, divided into 12 groups of 4.
• Group standings update automatically with proper FIFA tiebreakers (points, goal difference, goals scored, head-to-head).
• Haaland struck 16 of those goals, matching Robert Lewandowski’s 2018 record for the most prolific UEFA World Cup qualification campaign.
• One recurring issue in recent years has been their lack of a true centre-forward.
• It’s hard to believe that it’s been 24 years since Brazil even appeared in a World Cup Final, much less win it.
• A dedicated section in the simulator lists all twelve third-place teams in ranked order, with a clear cutoff line after the eighth position so that the qualifiers and the eliminated teams are easy to identify.
• A World Cup prediction pool (also called a soccer pool, office pool or bracket pool) is a game where you and your friends predict the scores of FIFA World Cup 2026 matches.
• 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.
• While they may fall short of their top-spot aspirations, Los Cafeteros should have enough experience and firepower to leave DR Congo and Uzbekistan behind.

Cape Verde’s qualification is one of the best stories of the tournament, as they are the only African newcomers and the third-smallest nation ever to reach the World Cup. That makes them a team everyone will want to cheer for, but the draw has not been kind. Jordan have earned respect by becoming one of Asia’s most improved teams, and they will not go to North America just to make up the numbers.

Whether you’re following the USMNT at home, cheering for Canada’s golden generation or tracking dark horses from Africa and Asia, there’s never been more football to predict. A World Cup prediction pool (also called a soccer pool, office pool or bracket pool) is a game where you and your friends predict the scores of FIFA World Cup 2026 matches. Everyone earns points based on how accurate their predictions are, and the player with the most points wins. 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.

Some of these nations can absolutely surprise people, but on paper, they are the ones most likely to fall short when the tournament begins in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Get RotoWire’s advanced reports and tools to confidently start your best team. Teams can survive the group stage without being dominant, adding a new level of strategy and scoreboard-watching. This is an independent fan experience and is not affiliated with or endorsed by FIFA or any official tournament organizer.

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.

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.

But one of those squads has reached these games and lost recently, the other has reached them and won. These predictions are complicated by fact that the eight best third-place teams will also progress to the knockout rounds. Who they are and where in the draw they might land is basically impossible to forecast with any certainty. So, let’s say no team that finishes third in their group is going to dust themselves down and win the whole thing.

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.

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.