World Cup 2026 predictor

If previous World Cups are anything to go by, shocks and surprises should be a given, so all those teams will still be dreaming of a deep run. They must get past Northern Ireland and potentially Wales to make it, with both of those sides hoping to join fellow home nations England and Scotland. Inspirational Croatia captain Luka Modrić is hoping to appear at his fifth World Cup at the age of 40, and no team will want to see Croatia drawn into their group from Pot 2. It remains to be seen how the introduction of a round of 32 will affect El Tri, who lost in the round of 16 at seven consecutive World Cups before suffering a group-stage exit in Qatar. Deschamps also lifted the trophy as a player when he was captain in 1998 and this will be Kylian Mbappé’s first World Cup as France skipper. If the Netherlands fail to top their group, Brazil will face the sort of daunting European showdown that has been their Achilles heel in recent tournaments.

World Cup Group Previews: Lineups, Odds, Predictions and Tactics for All 12 Groups

Two of the biggest superstar forwards in the game clash when Kylian Mbappe’s France take on Erling Haaland’s Norway in Group I. Norway beat Italy twice to get here and have a fine generation of talent. Senegal are live contenders in the group too and will be eyeing a repeat of their seismic win over Les Bleus at the 2002 World Cup. Co-hosts the United States, Canada and Mexico will all fancy their chances of progressing into the knockout rounds and giving fans memories to cherish. Hannibal Mjebri may catch the eye as one of Tunisia’s key attackers, but the country’s captain, Skhiri, may have a bigger say in the team’s overall performance, and not just because of his role as a leader. Fortunately for Sweden, they were handed a second chance courtesy of their Nations League performance, and under the watch of Graham Potter, they made full use of that opportunity by claiming victories over Ukraine and Poland in the playoffs.

Vini Jr, Raphinha, Cunha and… Neymar? Can Brazil Win the World Cup While Going All-Out Attack?

Panama will compete hard, and they have enough quality to make games uncomfortable, but the odds still lean against them. If Uzbekistan were drawn into a softer section, they could have made a real case for progression. Portugal bring elite pedigree, Colombia bring athletic quality and World Cup experience, and DR Congo are exactly the sort of opponent who can turn a group into a fight for every point.

World Cup 2026 Knockout Stage

The top spot could come down to goal difference, with both teams likely taking advantage of Cape Verde. Saudi Arabia remain the wildcard, but I’m sticking with the two heavyweights to FIFA World Cup 2026 advance. Sport’s greatest tournament returns with an all-new expanded format as 48 nations battle it out to win the World Cup.

World Cup Group I Preview: France, Senegal, Norway, Iraq

Let’s break down the 2026 World Cup winner odds and give our World Cup best bets to make. Adjust scores, apply official tiebreaker rules, and see which teams qualify for the knockout phase in real time. The expanded 2026 format means more teams advance from the group stage into the knockout bracket, making every goal crucial. This season, 48% of World Cup 2026 matches ended with over 2.5 goals, while Both Teams to Score hit in 51% of games. All completed World Cup 2026 predictions remain fully visible — review our track record anytime.

Erling Haaland, Martin Odegaard, et al can help Norway take down a Dutch side weary from their famous win over Brazil. That side of the draw could open up for England if they end Mexico’s interest in their home tournament. There may be some doubt as to whether the Netherlands have enough quality in their squad to go the distance, but they certainly have enough experience and talent in their ranks to secure top spot in a potentially tricky group. Their recent form also suggests it will be difficult to make their first knockout round appearance, having won just one of their last six matches (D3, L2).

Turkey’s squad also features the likes of Kenan Yıldız and captain Hakan Calhanoglu, but Arda Guler stands out as their main creative force. The United States have also progressed to the knockout rounds in each of their last three appearances, although their journey ended in the round of 16 on every occasion, most recently following a defeat to the Netherlands in Qatar. The discussion also referenced claims that ‘Portugal ended up winning,’ alongside alleged symbolic elements such as World Cup branding colours and kit-like visual patterns.

A third option fills only the matches that remain undecided, which preserves any picks already made. Each group match also displays a small probability indicator based on team strength, so the favorite in any fixture is visible before a pick is made. Pick winners group by group, or auto-simulate the full tournament using FIFA rankings. All 104 games, kickoff times, host cities, and group standings tracker. Los Guaraníes’s deepest run at the World Cup came in 2010, when they reached the quarter-finals, while the South American nation have also progressed beyond the group stage in four of their last five appearances.

Tunisia star player: Ellyes Skhiri

They will be placed in Group D, with two of their first-round games taking place in Los Angeles and the other in Seattle.
The USMNT appointed Pochettino after of a humiliating group-stage exit as Copa América hosts last year, and things did not immediately improve as the Argentine lost five of his first 10 matches at the helm.
The expanded format and increased number of matches have intensified global discussion around potential finalists, contributing to the reinterpretation of older fictional content as predictive material.
Despite an underwhelming qualifying campaign, Carlo Ancelotti’s charges remain hot favourites to advance as group winners, with the Atlas Lions expected to settle for a runner-up finish.
The FIFA World Cup 2026 simulator is an interactive tool that models the entire tournament, from the group stage through the final at MetLife Stadium.
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.
Inspirational Croatia captain Luka Modrić is hoping to appear at his fifth World Cup at the age of 40, and no team will want to see Croatia drawn into their group from Pot 2.
And of course, there are also six teams still to be decided in March’s play-offs.

Congo DR and Uzbekistan are unlikely to factor heavily, making this a high‑stakes, two‑team race. For full predictions on points, goals and assists, check out our 2026 World Cup Team Projections. Use it to pick which team qualifies from each group, then click a team in any matchup to advance them to the next round. Use Print / Save PDF for a printable copy, or Copy share link to create a URL that saves all of your picks so you can share your predictions. The top two from each group plus the eight best third-placed teams (32 in total) advance to the knockout Round of 32.

FIFA World Cup Winner Predictions: Expert Picks & Tournament Best Bets: Spain back on top

Prediction pools are popular across the US, UK, Canada and Australia for major tournaments. With the 2026 World Cup hosted in the United States, Mexico and Canada, there’s never been a better time to start your own pool. In addition to co-hosts Canada, Bosnia & Herzegovina and Qatar will also be vying for a top-two spot in this group, with all three nations seeking a maiden knockout appearance on the grandest international stage.

It uses real FIFA rankings and a weighted probability system to produce realistic outcomes, but football results are unpredictable, and the simulator is designed to reflect that uncertainty. Opening that link reproduces the exact bracket, which allows predictions to be compared or revisited later. Pochettino’s squad boasts quality throughout, with the likes of Monaco’s Folarin Balogun, Juventus’ Weston McKennie and Bournemouth’s Tyler Adams all expected to play prominent roles, but Christian Pulisic remains the standout figure. As reported by HITC, the episode contains no reference to the FIFA World Cup, 2026, or any official international competition. The match exists only within a satirical advertisement in Springfield and is not connected to structured sporting forecasts. At 41 years old, this will almost certainly be Cristiano Ronaldo’s final World Cup.

With an aging squad and lack of starpower, this is the highest Germany’s odds have been to win a World Cup in years. While it’s hard to see them going the distance, especially with 5 knockout matches now, the German’s know how to win this tournament and can’t be counted out against any opponent they come across. It gives searchers one place for dates, teams to follow, prediction markets, and the analysis workflow ScorePoint AI will apply once match-level data is available. And of course, there are also six teams still to be decided in March’s play-offs. There is currently a combined 3.7% chance of any of those sides going all the way, with Italy surely the most likely candidates if they can end their World Cup exile. Croatia are another team whose best days may be behind them but can never be ruled out.

World Cup Bracket Maker: Interactive 48-Team Simulator

In addition to the top eight favourites, there are two other teams given at least a 2% chance of winning the World Cup – Norway (2.3%) and Colombia (2.0%). 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%. Julian Nagelsmann’s side were beaten in the quarter-finals on home soil at Euro 2024, marking the first time Germany have appeared at four major tournaments (World Cup/Euros) in a row without reaching a semi-final at any of them. Sixteen venues across the United States, Canada and Mexico will play host to the biggest-ever edition of the tournament, with the number of teams increasing from 32 and 48 and the tally of games upped from 64 to 104. Much will depend on the form and fitness of key men but, all things being equal, Spain have the edge on France right now. Argentina vs. England feels like one that will need longer than 90 minutes to settle.

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.

Final 48-Team Field Confirmed

These national teams usually drive the biggest World Cup prediction searches and will be priorities for deeper pages once fixture data is live. See who AI rates for the trophy, group winners, qualification paths and possible surprises before the tournament starts. A complete Python pipeline for predicting match outcomes, generatingexpected goals, and running Monte Carlo tournament simulations.Built for YouTube creators who want AI-powered soccer analysis.

Can co-hosts USA celebrate the nation’s 250th anniversary in style?

Predictions are updated ahead of every round to provide clear insights for football fans following the tournament. Our goal is to deliver accurate match previews and analysis tailored specifically to World Cup competition. The fixtures section displays upcoming World Cup matches by matchweek, including kickoff times and scheduled pairings.

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.

World Cup 2026 Group F: Netherlands

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.

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.

World Cup winner longshot pick: Sweden (+

I’ll take Ivory Coast’s finishing to narrowly edge Ecuador for second, though I still expect Ecuador to advance as one of the best third‑place teams.
Despite being co‑hosts, Canada remain difficult to trust due to inconsistency in group play, and a lack of high-end talent to get them past better teams.
From there, single-elimination knockouts run through the Round of 16, Quarterfinals, Semifinals, and Final, exactly as the real World Cup football predictions bracket will play out.
Group lineup shows Brazil, Morocco, Haiti, and Scotland together in Group C, which means Haiti have to survive against two established global powers and a Scotland side that knows how to make life awkward in a short tournament.
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.
Spain will draw heavy support, but France’s experience in semi-finals and finals gives them an edge in pressure moments.
While the qualification rules may seem complex, all calculations are fully automated using built-in Excel formulas, so you don’t need to worry about manual ranking.
This group appears straightforward, with Brazil and Morocco standing out as the strongest sides.

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.

Will England end 60 years of hurt?

For the first time in World Cup history, the winners and runners-up of each group will be joined in the knockout round of 32 by the eight best third-placed teams.
Argentina’s quality, Austria’s organization, and Algeria’s tournament experience make Jordan a clear underdog in that group.
Debutants Uzbekistan are seen as having a slightly better chance of impressing than the other new nations, as they have a 0.2% chance of going all the way.
Fortunately for Sweden, they were handed a second chance courtesy of their Nations League performance, and under the watch of Graham Potter, they made full use of that opportunity by claiming victories over Ukraine and Poland in the playoffs.
There may be some doubt as to whether the Netherlands have enough quality in their squad to go the distance, but they certainly have enough experience and talent in their ranks to secure top spot in a potentially tricky group.
Portugal’s depth and momentum give them the edge, and I see them pulling off the upset to reach their first World Cup final.
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.
If previous World Cups are anything to go by, shocks and surprises should be a given, so all those teams will still be dreaming of a deep run.
The Oranje’s run to the semi-finals of Euro 2024 – losing late on to England – was their best at any tournament since finishing third at the 2014 World Cup.
The model is intentionally calibrated to favor stronger teams without making outcomes certain.
The new format advances the top 2 from each group plus the 8 best third-place teams to a round of 32.
Get the latest World Cup 2026 predictions and betting tips, powered by our AI algorithm, NT Apex.
But there is a competitive race for the positions behind the England skipper after Tuchel suggested Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden could not both start, while Cole Palmer’s season has barely got going due to injuries.

Le Selecao don’t have a Ronaldo or Ronaldinho in their lineup anymore, but they do have a very solid squad. Champions League finalist Marquinhos and Gabriel combine for a dream center-back pairing, while Raphinha and Vinicius Jr up top gives them an attacking edge. It awaits to be seen if Neymar will be fit, but if he is, that gives Brazil’s current odds some value.

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.

Lamine Yamal already looked a superstar then at 16 years old, and even though he’s just 18 now, it’s hard to see anyone stopping him. While France could run them close, all signs point to Spain winning their second ever World Cup and following their 2010 success. It’s hard to believe that it’s been 24 years since Brazil even appeared in a World Cup Final, much less win it.

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.

Group I: The 2026 World Cup Group of Death: France, Senegal and Norway

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be the biggest tournament in history, featuring 48 teams, 104 matches, and a brand-new Round of 32 format. With eight third-place teams advancing from the group stage, there are 495 possible combinations that can dramatically change the knockout bracket. Spain enter as a major tournament favorite, led by superstar Lamine Yamal. However, the group won’t be straightforward against an experienced Uruguay side that only allowed 12 goals in 18 CONMEBOL qualification games.

In a three-match group, one slow start can ruin everything, and Haiti will probably need a near-perfect game to take points from Brazil or Morocco.
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).
Still, when the group contains Germany plus two more physically strong and technically sharp sides, survival becomes a serious challenge.
I personally love this matchup, with two of Africa’s strongest sides potentially meeting in the knockout round.
England and Croatia both have deep tournament experience, and Ghana can be chaotic and dangerous in exactly the right way for a World Cup group.
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.
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.
Results can be chosen by hand or generated from FIFA rankings, and every complete bracket can be shared with a single link.
This is an independent fan experience and is not affiliated with or endorsed by FIFA or any official tournament organizer.
But it remains to be seen whether 40-year-old goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa will earn a historic call-up.
My feeling is that Haiti are the most likely team in that group to be eliminated.

Group K: Portugal and Cristiano Ronaldo Target First in Two-Team Race

My feeling is that Haiti are the most likely team in that group to be eliminated. In a three-match group, one slow start can ruin everything, and Haiti will probably need a near-perfect game to take points from Brazil or Morocco. If they manage to stay alive until Matchday 3, they will already have done well.

FIFA World Cup daily schedule: Every match date, kickoff time and venue for all 48 teams

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.

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.

Prediction Pass

The World Cup standings show current table positions, points totals, and recent form for all teams. While the qualification rules may seem complex, all calculations are fully automated using built-in Excel formulas, so you don’t need to worry about manual ranking. 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 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.

FIFA’s tennis-style rankings keeping these two apart until the final can really come to pass in a dream final. Argentina would dearly love to become the first country to retain the title since Italy way back in 1938, But this Spain are too young, too fast, too technical and too good. Reigning world champions Argentina confirmed their status as a tournament machine at the 2024 Copa America. Austria impressed at Euro 2024 under Ralf Rangnick and were free-scoring during the UEFA qualifiers. Algeria are first up for Messi & Co, with tournament debutants Jordan also looking to make an impression.

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.
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.
Japan beat Spain and Germany in the group stage last time around and have a recent friendly win over Brazil to their name.
With all teams eager to begin strongly, these opening games could set the tone for the rest of the tournament.
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.
He is the third player – alongside Messi and Ronaldo – able to appear at an unprecedented sixth edition of the World Cup and was selected for the Gold Cup, so watch this space.
Predictions are updated ahead of every round to provide clear insights for football fans following the tournament.
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.
For the first time in World Cup history, the winners and runners-up of each group will be joined in the knockout round of 32 by the eight best third-placed teams.
Argentina’s quality, Austria’s organization, and Algeria’s tournament experience make Jordan a clear underdog in that group.
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.
Next year, it will have been 24 years since Brazil last lifted the World Cup.

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. However, there’s a good reason why Switzerland are odds-on to walk away with a top-table finish, having progressed from the group stages in four of their five World Cup appearances this century. Every four years, I write a note that has many more readers than anything else I publish. It all started 12 years ago when I used an economic model to forecast the winner of the World Cup in Brazil.

Type any scoreline and the calculator instantly shows who advances, who finishes third, and how the best-third-placed teams rank across all 12 groups. Welcome to the most complete World Cup 2026 simulator and predictor on the web. Whether you want to simulate the World Cup match-by-match or get instant World Cup 2026 predictions for the full tournament, this free tool covers all 48 teams across 12 groups and the 32-team knockout bracket. After a 16-year absence from the World Cup, Paraguay return to the global stage following a solid qualifying campaign, sealing automatic qualification for this year’s tournament by finishing inside the top six of the CONMEBOL standings. England ultimately finished Group K with eight wins – and eight clean sheets – from as many matches, becoming only the second team to win all their games in a UEFA World Cup qualifying campaign without conceding after Yugoslavia in 1954.

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. 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. If I had to pick one of the debuting African teams most likely to be eliminated, Cape Verde would still be close to the top of the list simply because of the size of the challenge in front of them. That combination makes Panama a strong candidate for group-stage elimination. England and Croatia both have deep tournament experience, and Ghana can be chaotic and dangerous in exactly the right way for a World Cup group.

A more realistic aim might be getting through the groups after impressing in AFC qualification – beating out sides like Qatar and United Arab Emirates.
But if you are looking for the sides with the toughest path, the smallest safety margin, and the most dangerous group assignments, this is the list I would start with.
Spain will draw heavy support, but France’s experience in semi-finals and finals gives them an edge in pressure moments.
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.
Despite being co‑hosts, Canada remain difficult to trust due to inconsistency in group play, and a lack of high-end talent to get them past better teams.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be the biggest tournament in history, featuring 48 teams, 104 matches, and a brand-new Round of 32 format.
Julian Nagelsmann’s side were beaten in the quarter-finals on home soil at Euro 2024, marking the first time Germany have appeared at four major tournaments (World Cup/Euros) in a row without reaching a semi-final at any of them.
This matchup delivers a final showdown between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Hopefully, there’s plenty riding on their match that closes the group.
While the qualification rules may seem complex, all calculations are fully automated using built-in Excel formulas, so you don’t need to worry about manual ranking.
These predictions are complicated by fact that the eight best third-place teams will also progress to the knockout rounds.

Uzbekistan are good enough to compete, but they are still among the most likely teams to be squeezed out. For the first time in World Cup history, the winners and runners-up of each group will be joined in the knockout round of 32 by the eight best third-placed teams. The placement of each team will affect whom they face in the knockout round.

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.

I’ll take Ivory Coast’s finishing to narrowly edge Ecuador for second, though I still expect Ecuador to advance as one of the best third‑place teams. Building a perfect bracket may be unrealistic, but identifying where chaos is most likely, and where elite teams will hold firm, is the key to getting ahead. Below, you’ll find a full round-by-round projection, blending safe picks with calculated risks to map out how the 2026 World Cup could unfold.

Just over a year after staging the FIFA Club World Cup, the United States will once again welcome the footballing world as co-hosts of the 2026 World Cup, a status that spared them the challenge of navigating qualification.
But they won that match by a statement 6-0 scoreline, with Nick Woltemade, Serge Gnabry and Leroy Sané among the goals.
In this 2026 World Cup bracket prediction, we break down every stage of the competition, from the group winners and best third-place qualifiers to the full knockout path through the Round of 32, Round of 16, semi-finals and final.
Even at home in the 2022 World Cup, Qatar still couldn’t get a point and they’ll likely struggle to do so again.
Choose the spreadsheet that best fits your needs—or download all of them—to enhance your World Cup viewing experience.
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.
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 main challenge in Group J is identifying who finishes behind Argentina, as Lionel Messi’s final World Cup campaign makes them clear favorites.
Teams can survive the group stage without being dominant, adding a new level of strategy and scoreboard-watching.
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.

The interpretation also included claims of symbolic ‘hints,’ such as alleged colour similarities between the official World Cup ball and Portugal’s national colours, alongside broader theories involving visual cues and predictive artwork. Lionel Messi has a couple of years under his belt now of playing on North American soil, which could put him and Argentina in good stead for the World Cup. The reigning champs don’t look as strong as they once were, but with Messi and Lautaro Martinez in attack and plenty of experience on the pitch, they can’t be counted out.

Ancelotti was only in charge for the final five games of their campaign, but less than eight months into his reign, he has already overseen surprise defeats to Bolivia and Japan, as well as poor draws with Ecuador and Tunisia. And after Messi finally ended his wait for a World Cup win in Qatar, Portugal are assigned a 6.6% chance of giving Ronaldo his own crowning moment. Messi has shown no signs of slowing down, helping Inter Miami reach the Major League Soccer Cup final while contributing a staggering 35 goals and providing 21 assists in MLS action this year. Messi also led all players in Qatar for shots (32), chances created from open play (17) and fouls won (22), becoming the second player to top all three metrics at a single World Cup. Maradona in 1986 (30 shots, 19 open-play chances created, 53 fouls won).