Spain, England and France all have genuine claims, but who can actually win the World Cup?
Every four years, the same debates begin. Pundits disagree, fans dig in, and then the tournament delivers something totally unexpected. The 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be played in North America, will be no different. Forty-eight nations will compete, but only one can lift the trophy on July 19. So who will it be?
With the expanded format throwing up more variables than ever before, World Cup betting online markets are tighter at the top than they have been previously. No team is clear of the rest. The race is genuinely open, which should lead to a compelling watch for fans.
Spain Are the Team to Beat
Luis de la Fuente has done something rare. He’s managed to build a team that is more than the sum of its parts while also having extraordinary individual talents. Rodri is probably the best holding midfielder on the planet. Lamine Yamal is made for the big stage. And with a total of eight Barcelona players involved, that familiarity can only be a good thing for the outright favourites to win the tournament. Spain are the team to beat, and it’s a billing they’ll enjoy living up to rather than being weighed down by the expectation placed upon them.
England’s Best Chance in Decades
Thomas Tuchel has made England resolute at the back while making them an exciting watch. Eight wins from eight in qualifying, 22 goals scored, and none conceded show the Three Lions could be in with their best chance of lifting the trophy for decades. Tuchel, a proven winner, has selected a squad that is designed to be versatile and adaptable, rather than just littered with big names. And this could prove to be a masterstroke. England are only missing that final bit to get over the line, and Tuchel could give it to them.
France Are Serial Finalists
France won the 2018 World Cup and made the final in 2022. There isn’t a team that’s as capable of going that far consistently as Les Bleus. Didier Deschamps has been key in guiding France to the success they’ve had and will be keen to deliver one final time before stepping away from the job. With the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele and Michael Olise at the top of the pitch, there’s a good chance France will be there or thereabouts once again. And this time, they will want to come out on top, rather than being beaten finalists.
Norway Have The Haaland Factor
Norway went through qualifying without losing a game and beat Italy twice along the way. Across eight games, striker Erling Haaland managed to score a stunning 16 goals, and that has been the major talking point surrounding Norway’s chances this summer. They can also call on the creativity of Martin Odegaard, now a Premier League champion with Arsenal, to provide Haaland with the chances he needs to score the goals. Odegaard registered seven assists in qualifying.
The Verdict
At this point, Spain and France feel like the two teams that have the best chance of winning the World Cup. Not just because of the talent in their ranks, but because they’re nations that have won major tournaments multiple times. However, England will believe it’s their year, and Norway will build confidence quickly if Erling Haaland can ht the ground running in front of goal.
