2026 World Cup: Who will win this summer's tournament?

The 2026 World Cup volition officially statesman connected June 11, with co-hosts Mexico opening the tourney against South Africa successful Mexico City.

It is shaping up to beryllium a fascinating carnival of football, with 48 teams bidding for glory, but determination tin lone beryllium 1 victor from the last connected July 19.

Here, Sports Mole picks retired 5 contenders for the trophy earlier revealing which squad we judge volition spell connected to triumph the tournament.

France (champions successful 1930, 2018)

Widely regarded arsenic the favourites to triumph this summer, France were World Cup champions successful 2018 and boast arguably the astir talented squad astatine the tournament.

Head manager Didier Deschamps tin telephone upon genuinely elite attacking talents specified arsenic Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele and Michael Olise, portion Desire Doue is besides seemingly successful enactment for a beardown tourney considering his signifier for Paris Saint-Germain.

Arsenal's William Saliba was 1 of the champion centre-backs successful satellite shot during the 2025-26 campaign, portion Barcelona's Jules Kounde, Bayern Munich's Dayot Upamecano and Real Madrid's Aurelien Tchouameni are besides among their world-class players.

Mbappe is the favourite to triumph the Golden Ball this summer, but the Blues person been drawn into what could perchance beryllium a tricky Group I alongside Senegal, Norway and Iraq.

France were losing finalists successful 2022 to Lionel Messi's Argentina.

Spain (champions successful 2010)

European champions Spain person lone won the World Cup connected 1 erstwhile occasion, triumphing successful 2010, but determination is nary question that they are among the favourites considering the spot and prime successful their squad, and their caller assemblage of work.

Indeed, Spain triumphed astatine the past European Championship, beating England successful the final, but it would beryllium just to accidental that they person struggled successful caller World Cups.

Since lifting the celebrated trophy successful 2010, Spain person failed to marque it past the circular of 16 astatine the tournament, including a group-stage exit successful 2014.

Lamine Yamal's fittingness has been a large talking point, with the generational endowment missing the extremity of Barcelona's 2025-26 run done injury, but helium volition beryllium progressive this summertime and could perchance assistance La Roja unafraid a celebrated win.

England (champions successful 1966)

Thomas Tuchel has been brought successful by England to triumph the World Cup, but a batch of the build-up from a Three Lions constituent of presumption has centred astir the squad selection, which was incredibly controversial.

Whether determination is capable 'talent' successful the squad to triumph the World Cup remains to beryllium seen, but determination volition beryllium a grade of anticipation connected the Three Lions, who famously won this contention successful 1966.

England reached the semi-finals successful 2018 and quarter-finals successful 2022, portion they person been runners-up successful the past 2 European Championship finals.

How the England players woody with the conditions volition person a large accidental successful whether the nationalist squad are genuine challengers for the trophy, but Harry Kane - arguably presently the champion subordinate successful the satellite - could pb the Three Lions to glory.

Argentina (champions successful 1978, 1986, 2022)

Could it beryllium back-to-back World Cups for a definite Lionel Messi?

Argentina are the reigning satellite champions pursuing their occurrence successful 2022, and they are bidding to triumph a 4th World Cup successful 2026.

There had been immoderate uncertainty whether Messi would diagnostic astatine the competition, but the 38-year-old has been selected and volition beryllium aiming to adhd to his 117 goals for the nationalist team.

Whether determination is capable prime elsewhere remains to beryllium seen, but the conditions could favour the non-European nations, and Argentina simply cannot beryllium discounted.

Brazil (champions successful 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002)

It was betwixt Brazil and Portugal for the 5th squad connected this peculiar list, and we conscionable settled connected the five-time satellite champions, who present person a genuinely elite manager astatine the helm successful the signifier of serial victor Carlo Ancelotti.

Selecao past won the World Cup successful 2002, but they person since fallen 4 times successful the quarter-finals and besides reached the semi-finals connected location ungraded successful 2014.

Brazil person prime each implicit the pitch, with Gabriel, Marquinhos, Casemiro, Vinicius Junior and Raphinha each expected to play large roles for the nationalist squad this summer.

Selecao volition request a batch of luck on the mode successful bid to assistance a sixth World Cup, but they simply person to beryllium placed successful the statement owed to their immense past successful the tournament.

Sports Mole's pick: France

We are struggling to spot past France this summer. The Blues person a sensational squad packed afloat of superior talent, and we are expecting the nationalist broadside to assistance the World Cup for a 3rd clip adjacent month.