The FIFA World Cup 2026 schedule was decided, even if six teams are yet to be decided in March 2026. Most of them are not relevant, though, so I am trying to put the favorites into spot, and see what would be, from my perspective, the path to the final and whom, normally, should be the winner? Of course, things could stay different, like it happened in 2022 (at least I’ve guessed a finalist, but not the winner!). It is interesting to scan things, teams and hopes. Being from Romania, I don’t show false expectations for our nation to qualify, because the stakes are not realistic for that. But in football, considering especially the poor level as we speak, everything can become possible. Including for Feroe Island or Malta to qualify. Especially if we will see 64 nations or more at the World Cup.
FIFA World Cup 2026 group standing:
Group A
- Mexico
- Czechia
- South Africa
- South Korea
Group B
- Switzerland
- Canada
- Wales
- Qatar
Group C
- Brazil
- Morocco
- Scotland
- Haiti
Group D
- USA
- Türkiye
- Australia
- Paraguay
Group E
- Germany
- Ecuador
- Cote d’Ivoire
- Curacao
Group F
- Netherlands
- Sweden
- Japan
- Tunisia
Group G
- Belgium
- Iran
- Egypt
- New Zealand
Group H
- Spain
- Uruguay
- Saudi Arabia
- Cabo Verde
Group I
- Norway
- France
- Senegal
- Iraq
Group J
- Argentina
- Austria
- Algeria
- Jordan
Group K
- Portugal
- Colombia
- Uzbekistan
- Jamaica
Group L
- England
- Croatia
- Ghana
- Panama
What’s next, then at the FIFA World Cup 2026?
Round of 32
- Czechia – Canada
- Germany – South Africa
- Netherlands – Morocco
- Brazil – Sweden
- Norway – Scotland
- Ecuador – France
- Mexico – Japan
- England – Saudi Arabia
- USA – Wales
- Belgium – Senegal
- Colombia – Croatia
- Spain – Austria
- Switzerland – Egypt
- Argentina – Uruguay
- Portugal – Ghana
- Türkiye – Iran
Round of 16
- Germany – Norway
- Czechia – Netherlands
- Spain – Croatia
- USA – Belgium
- Brazil – France
- Mexico – England
- Argentina – Türkiye
- Switzerland – Portugal
Quarter finals
- Norway – Netherlands
- Spain – USA
- France – England
- Argentina – Portugal
Semifinals
- Norway – Spain
- England – Argentina
Final
- Spain – England
Then, my top eight for this FIFA World Cup 2026, look like this:
- Spain
- England
- Argentina
- Norway
- Netherlands
- France
- Portugal
- USA
My expectations is that Argentina will be pushed from behind as much as possible, because of Messi, like in 2022, but as I see it, England should a dead end. I confess that Netherlands might push out Norway, because of more experience, but I will be supporting Norway this time, so I’ll bet on them. Portugal might be able to tackle Argentina, but not with Cristiano Ronaldo as a starter. USA will be put aside only by Spain, who, I see, prepared to win the second world cup title. From the last 16, indeed I see 12 from Europe, no African or Asian team. I think Mexico, and Brazil will make it thru and, the last, may have a shot. Even for the quarters, but I still see France as a favorite. We will see, in six months, how close I was. 🙂
Photo source: pixabay.com