Spain or Argentina, who will win the FIFA World Cup? Ex-player predictions

The FIFA World Cup 2026 final is not acold away, and the predictions are coming successful heavy and fast.

Spain, the reigning European champions, are eyeing their 2nd World Cup title, 16 years connected from their maiden triumph successful South Africa. But lasting successful their mode are holders Argentina, the South American giants aiming to go conscionable the 3rd state to triumph back-to-back World Cup titles.

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Stats supplier Opta predicts Spain arsenic the favourites to triumph the 2026 World Cup, with a 59.56 percent probability of lifting the trophy successful New Jersey. La Roja are besides the picks of respective erstwhile players and pundits.

Former England striker Michael Owen said satellite fig 2 Spain are the “deserved” winners of the tournament.

“Spain haven’t got the top idiosyncratic players, I deliberation France astir apt person … but Spain arsenic a squad are everything England are not – they are brave, courageous with the ball,” Owen told The Straits Times.

“Spain are conscionable a large squad that walk the shot confidently and play astonishing shot arsenic a collective.”

Spain, the reigning European champions, are looking to adhd a 2nd satellite rubric to their trophy furniture [File: Mauro Pimentel/AFP]

Zlatan Ibrahimovic, the ex-Barcelona and Manchester United striker who represented Sweden astatine 2 World Cups, expects Spain to predominate the final, which comes 2 years connected from their Euro 2024 triumph.

Spain handled France precise bully [in the semifinals]. I judge they tin grip this Argentina,” Zlatan, present a pundit connected US broadcaster Fox Sports, said.

“Argentina is not a counterattacking team. Spain are going to bash their thing. They’re going to play collectively … I judge Spain are going to predominate that game.”

Spain were besides John Terry’s favourites for glory, with the erstwhile England skipper saying connected the Sports Uncensored amusement that Luis de la Fuente’s broadside person “got excessively overmuch for Argentina”.

Former goalkeeper Iker Casillas, the Spain skipper during their maiden World Cup triumph successful 2010, expressed his assurance successful the team’s quality to bring location a second, sharing a representation of different prima halfway stitched connected the apical of their badge.

A prima represents each World Cup a squad has won.

[Translation: And wherefore not?]

While a batch of the statement centred astir a Spain win, immoderate deliberation Argentina person a chance, adjacent if it is slim.

Alan Shearer, 1 of England’s top strikers of each time, backed the reigning champions, saying connected The Rest is Football podcast, “If there’s 1 squad that tin bash it successful presumption of stopping them [Spain], it’s Argentina due to the fact that of their mentality and togetherness.

“They person been down truthful galore times and successful trouble, and someway managed to get a win. That’s what you’ve got to respect astir them.

“When you’ve got a genius successful your side,” helium added, referring to Messi, “you’ve ever got a chance.”

But however tin Argentina bushed favourites Spain successful the rubric clash?

English shot pundit Micah Richards thinks the reply to that is low-block modulation – the strategy of teams sitting backmost closest to their extremity and, aft winning possession, rapidly shifting from a compact antiaircraft signifier into an violative counterattack.

“Get the shot to Messi, whereas [Julian] Alvarez oregon [Lisandro] Martinez conscionable marque it horrible, marque it however they did with England,” helium added.

“I deliberation Argentina request to enactment successful the crippled arsenic they did against England and crook it connected erstwhile they spot a displacement successful momentum.”

Can Lionel Messi, centre, usher Argentina to their 4th World Cup triumph [Handout/Michael Regan/FIFA via Getty]

Meanwhile, different of England’s greats, Gary Lineker, stuck with his pretournament pick, Spain, but added that Argentina are “so gritty”, making the predictions a precise pugnacious choice.

“You cannot spell against that small fella [Messi]. He’s truthful great; it’s going to beryllium really, truly close. It’s genuinely 50-50.”

Unlike others, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani refused to prime a side.

“Everyone I basal for has lost,” helium said, with a laugh. “So I consciousness similar whoever I accidental is going to suffer astatine this point.

“I’m gonna accidental the classical politician’s reply – I’m excited for a bully game.”