FIFA World Cup 2026, Round Of 32: Ivory Coast vs Norway Predicted Lineups, Team News, Prediction And More Football News

The expanded format will give more teams a chance, but it will also test the endurance and tactical flexibility of every squad. The 2026 FIFA World Cup features 48 teams — the largest in tournament history. Teams are divided into 12 groups of 4, with the top 2 from each group advancing to a 32-team knockout bracket. Simulate or predict every match of the 48-team tournament — group stage through the final.

You can head to SportsLine now to see Green’s 2026 World Cup picks. All eyes, though, will be on teenage sensation Lamine Yamal, who joins Ronaldo and Messi as one of the most searched players in the world. Just 18 years old, he is tipped to be the young player of the tournament and already has the ability to spearhead his team to World Cup glory. While Messi inspired his capable but unspectacular team-mates to glory in 2022, Ronaldo arrives in North America with real quality all around him. There’s the PSG clan of Joao Neves, Nuno Mendes, Goncalo Ramos and Ballon d’Or third-place Vitinha who are coming into this off the back of a second straight Champions League win. Brilliant Bernardo Silva and the livewire Rafael Leao are in Roberto Martinez’s squad too.

Part II. Knockout stage projections ?

Statistical data, team form, and recent match history are taken into account, and predictions are automatically generated by AI with an accuracy of over 71.9%. 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. Fresh off a dominant qualifying cycle, England enter the tournament as one of the top six betting favourites to take home the most prestigious international title. 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.

Our Predictions vs Expert Picks

With Mbappe in his prime, their knockout ceiling is the highest of any contender. Independent forecasts, betting tips and match analysis for the 2026 FIFA World Cup — across the United States, Canada and Mexico. Model-driven forecasts for all world cup 2026 predictions 104 World Cup 2026 fixtures — group stage to the final. The 2026 World Cup is co-hosted by the United States (11 venues), Mexico (3 venues), and Canada (2 venues) across 16 stadiums. The final will be played at MetLife Stadium in New York/New Jersey.

England vs DR Congo Picks, Tips, Odds & Best Bets: 2026 World Cup Round of 32

Norway, meanwhile, is making its first World Cup appearance since France 1998 and has looked every bit like a dangerous dark horse. At Juve FC, Luca covers match analysis, squad news, and the longer threads that run through a Juventus season. He writes with the perspective of someone who genuinely cares about where the club is heading rather than simply reporting what has already happened. His focus tends to lean toward how the team sets up, where things break down, and what needs to change to get back to where Juventus belongs in the European conversation.

World Cup 2026 Golden Boot: Prediction, Top Scorer Race & Leaderboard

• Debutants Cape Verde finished second in Group H ahead of two-time champions Uruguay, who went home.
• Many members of the Red Devils’ ‘Golden Generation’ remain in the fold, even if the years are starting to catch up with them.
• As for Paraguay, Diego Gomez will miss the match through suspension, having picked up a second yellow card of the tournament against Australia last time out.
• All 32 teams that qualify from the group stage play a sudden-death elimination round before the traditional Round of 16.
• Coming closest to Spain in the pre-tournament predictions are France (13.0%), who have contested the last two finals, long-suffering England (11.2%) and defending champions Argentina (10.4%).
• Belgium should control this group, but the remaining positions are harder to predict.
• With 48 teams in the 2026 World Cup, there’s more disparity across the four-team groups than we’re typically used to.
• Tuchel’s task is simple – get international football’s nearly men over the line.
• This edition already attracts attention not only because of its scale but also due to the growing competition among top teams.
• I’m taking a risk on Jordan to claim a knockout place and Algeria edging out Austria in an upset as one of the top third-place teams to advance to the Round of 32.
• Germany are four-time world champions, but they were knocked out in the group stage of both the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.
• Messi has scored six goals in three World Cup 2026 group matches, meaning Cape Verde’s centre-backs Logan Costa and Roberto Lopes must track him constantly, which in turn creates space for Martinez and Alvarez to exploit.
• The defending champions won Group J with a perfect record and drew the kinder half of the bracket.
• Haaland has led from the front, while Ødegaard continues to dictate play from midfield.

From the greatest individual rivalry of the 21st century to the greatest international soccer rivalry of all time. Even if Brazil have improved as expected under Ancelotti, they are a rung below their great foes at present. Haaland’s father’s generation (Alfie actually didn’t play at the tournament in question) claimed a famous group-stage win over Brazil at France ’98.

England: 11.8%

Egypt, Mohamed Salah and all, should have more than enough to do the job here. But time and again, they flatter to deceive on this stage, and the sight of them hanging on against Iran should give Australia plenty of encouragement. A battle of the veterans as Cristiano Ronaldo and Luka Modric, both into their fifth decade, face off for the last time on the big stage. Veteran Ghana coach Carlos Queiroz knows how to navigate World Cup ties as an underdog. The pick is for Colombia to edge this, but don’t expect it to be pretty. Mexico at the Azteca, backed by a raucous home crowd, has become appointment viewing at this World Cup.

Group F: Netherlands in Control, Japan and Sweden Fighting to Advance

The teams were given a final roster deadline of June 1, so we already know who will be representing each country (click on the teams below to see each roster). The field has been supersized from 32 to 48 teams and the competition will begin in earnest on June 11 with Mexico hosting South Africa at Mexico City’s famed Estadio Azteca. The first U.S. game is the following day, as the Americans will host Paraguay at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. We have mapped out the full World Cup picture, from the group-stage battles through to the knockout phase, outlining how the tournament could unfold from start to finish. As for Paraguay, Diego Gomez will miss the match through suspension, having picked up a second yellow card of the tournament against Australia last time out. Elsewhere, the presence of departing Liverpool great Mohamed Salah means Egypt (0.4%) are among the biggest threats from the bottom half of our projections.

For full predictions on points, goals and assists, check out our 2026 World Cup Team Projections. Argentina vs Portugal – If there’s a nation equipped and motivated enough to end another title-winning campaign for Lionel Messi, it’s Roberto Martinez’s side. Argentina vs United States – The US crashed out at this juncture in the last tournament staged on their soil, and history looks set to repeat itself against the reigning champions.

Senegal remain a dangerous dark horse, while Norway and Erling Haaland could disrupt the group. I’m taking Senegal to secure the needed points, though Norway could still advance as a top third?place team if they score multiple goals against Iraq. Bosnia enter confidently after knocking out Italy and looks talented enough to win this group as long as Edin Dzeko can stay on the pitch at 40 years old. The Bosnian legend didn’t miss a minute in the playoffs against Wales and Italy despite injuring his shoulder. Switzerland’s experience and defensive structure should see them through comfortably, as well. 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.

DR Congo clinched its first-ever spot in the World Cup knockout stage, and with that, the nation was rewarded with England. Three Lions have had a tumultuous and injury-riddled group stage, but Thomas Tuchel’s squad should still come out on top. Argentina enter the tournament as defending champions, four years on from Lionel Messi’s long-awaited crowning moment, and as the all-time great prepares for his last dance on this stage. Stephen Eustaquio’s late goal sparked jubilant celebrations among the co-hosts, with head coach Jesse Marsch telling his players they had become “Canadian heroes” and inspired the next generation of footballers.

Morocco asked plenty of questions of Brazil during their first game and Japan can present a similar sort of technically proficient, front-footed challenge. It could be a question of who goes furthest of the contenders or who capitalises on weak opponents, and France have a tough group – but with Iraq in it. Anyway, the evidence thus far is that Mbappe scores goals in World Cups. The Opta supercomputer makes Germany the clear favourites to progress. Brazil have dominated this fixture over the years, winning 11 of their 14 previous meetings with Japan and losing only once. If you’re looking for a simple way to watch the World Cup in English on Fox and in Spanish on Telemundo, Xfinity makes it easy to follow the World Cup and stay connected to global soccer year?round.

World Cup Format Explained (48 Teams, Knockout Path)

It’s one thing having World Cup predictions at your disposal, but it’s important to use them correctly and alongside your own research. With the FIFA World Cup featuring 48 teams in total, this is how teams from each continent qualify for the Finals. The tournament has three different hosts, which are Canada, Mexico, and the USA, all three of which will feature in the tournament due to hosting. In 11 of the 12 groups, a team has been picked by at least 70% of entries in Yahoo Sports’ Soccer Pick ‘Em with Fox One. Yahoo users are largely united about how the group stage will play out. In the United States, all 104 matches are in English on Fox (70) and FS1 (34), and all are streamed on Fox One.

World Cup team nicknames

England finished with eight wins – and eight clean sheets – from as many matches in qualifying, becoming only the second team ever to win all their games in a UEFA campaign without conceding, after Yugoslavia in 1954. Among La Liga players, only Kylian Mbappé (48) had more goal involvements in all competitions this season than the winger’s 41 (24 goals and 17 assists). Teams will battle it out to emerge from 12 different groups and reach a knockout stage that now features a round of 32 – a new addition at international football’s showpiece event. France are the big favourites to win the World Cup ahead of Argentina, with Spain and England the only others given a greater than 10% chance at current odds. Brazil come next after beating Japan and Portugal are just outside the top five, while Mexico and Morocco are the big market movers at 28/1.

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. The last time France were in the same group with Senegal, it didn’t end well. They crashed out at the group stage at the 2002 World Cup in South Korea and Japan. A battle for second place ought to be far more exciting, with Iran likely to put Egypt’s credentials to the test after a decent group-stage campaign in Qatar.

He just scores goals – 61 of them to be precise this season – and this summer he looks to be heading into the tournament in peak physical condition. He finally has that winning feeling at Bayern and maybe, just maybe, he’s ready to fire England to glory too. Anchored by a veteran Casemiro, who can cap off a trophy-laden career with the holy grail of international football. At the back, a Champions League final defensive duo of Gabriel and Marquinhos will be difficult to top throughout the tournament. Uzbekistan came out on top in 26.8 percent of simulations, while the draw was rated at 24.3 percent, leaving the Central Asian side with an outside chance of reaching the Round of 32. Both sides are still chasing a place in the knockout stage, with DR Congo also seeking their first-ever World Cup victory after drawing with Portugal and narrowly losing to Colombia.

Final Thought

France have stumbled before, most notably conceding three goals in the 2022 final. With history on the line, I see France growing complacent, allowing Portugal to seize the moment with a historic 1–0 victory, ending Cristiano Ronaldo’s legendary career with ultimate glory. England’s talent makes them a serious contender, but I’m backing Croatia to finish first based on their recent World Cup success under Luka Modric. England’s game control and defense will be hard to beat, but scoring on bigger stages has always been iffy. Then again, Harry Kane scored freely across Bundesliga and Champions League this season, at times playing in a deeper role than usual.

Pick Your World Cup 2026 Winner

This involves two teams from CONCACAF and one team from the AFC, CAF, CONMEBOL and OFC. The two highest-ranked teams will go directly into the finals, and the four lowest-ranked nations will meet in bracket semi-finals, with the winners of the two bracket finals reaching the FIFA World Cup 26. The FIFA World Cup is one of the most highly-anticipated football events and commands enormous betting interest from players.

Fresh off a dominant qualifying cycle, England enter the tournament as one of the top favourites to take home the most prestigious international title. The White and Reds picked up four points from their three Group D matches to finish third, only behind second-placed Australia on goal difference. Germany were impressive in their opening two matches of the 2026 World Cup against Curacao and Ivory Coast, scoring nine times in two successes, and those six points saw them secure a spot in the round of 32 with a game to spare. Germany will take on Paraguay in the last-32 stage of the 2026 World Cup on Monday, with the pair battling to reach the final 16 of the tournament.

• Canada also just make it into the top half of the 48 teams (they rank joint 22nd, level with Paraguay and Austria).
• Our AI football predictions go far beyond World Cup 2026 matches, covering more than 160 competitions worldwide.
• No nation has retained the men’s World Cup since Brazil in 1962, and the expanded 48-team format adds an extra knockout round and more upset paths than any previous edition.
• While 47 countries won the tournament at least once in our sims overall, for the teams rated 25-48, a successful tournament would realistically constitute emerging from their groups.
• 1960Tips.com has been the trusted destination for free football predictions, expert VIP picks, and sports betting analysis since 2017.
• Australia and Paraguay are organized enough to earn draws but remain long shots to advance ahead of the two favorites.
• They are split into 12 groups of four, with 32 teams advancing to the knockout rounds.
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• We don’t want to overpromise, and we have a small team, so expect one update per day, but you will often see intraday updates after important matches.
• Before making any 2026 World Cup picks or predictions, you need to see what SportsLine’s soccer insider Martin Green has to say.

Saudi Arabia remain the wildcard, but I’m sticking with the two heavyweights to advance. Like Messi, Ronaldo will appear at a record-breaking sixth edition of the World Cup, but of his eight goals in 22 games at the tournament, three have been penalties and none have come in the knockout stages. 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. La Roja swept all before them, winning six of their seven matches inside 90 minutes and only requiring extra-time to eliminate hosts Germany in the quarter-final. They scored 15 goals in the tournament – four more than anyone else.

Who will be the breakout star of the tournament?

This group appears straightforward, with Brazil and Morocco standing out as the strongest sides. Brazil has elite talent, though their depth remains a concern following long-term injuries to Estevao and Rodrygo months before the tournament starts. I’m giving Morocco the edge to win the group due to their cohesion and leadership from Achraf Hakimi, as well as difference?makers like Ez Abde. Scotland could pose a threat with players like Scott McTominay and John McGinn, but they’re still at a disadvantage against better teams. They still should have enough to advance as one of the best third?place teams ahead of Haiti.

That puts them close to Switzerland, two-time winners Uruguay and Ecuador in our overall projections. After winning the Saudi Pro League with Al-Nassr, Ronaldo is eyeing the chance to bounce back from what was, by his extremely high standards, a poor major tournament at Euro 2024, an event he ended without a goal. Coming closest to Spain in the pre-tournament predictions are France (13.0%), who have contested the last two finals, long-suffering England (11.2%) and defending champions Argentina (10.4%). Forty-eight teams will battle it out for glory in North America, but who will win the 2026 FIFA World Cup? We asked the Opta supercomputer for its predictions before the tournament kicks off on 11 June. Portugal enter the tournament as legitimate title contenders for good reason.

Only one other nation – the outright favorites Spain – are likelier to win their pool than the reigning champions, with a favourable Group J draw pitting them against Austria, Algeria and Jordan. If a team wants to win the World Cup this summer, they will likely have to overcome a formidable obstacle in Spain. Man City midfielder Rodri is fit again and set to captain the team, while Yamal’s team-mate, striker Ferran Torres, is coming off an impressive campaign for title winners Barça. Mikel Oyarzabal and Mikel Merino were among Spain’s star performers in qualifying. La Roja have a greater than one-in-three chance (39.0%) of reaching the semis and made the final 25.6% of the time. We asked the supercomputer to simulate the 2026 World Cup 25,000 times, and it has produced some fascinating conclusions in its official pre-tournament predictions.

• It’s one thing having World Cup predictions at your disposal, but it’s important to use them correctly and alongside your own research.
• Similarly, during the tournament you may need to keep up with suspensions, with players potentially missing matches due to an accumulation of yellow cards or a red card.
• The match result market is heavily skewed toward Argentina, who are available at the best price of 1/6 across nine leading operators.
• Looking ahead all the way to the final, two teams stand out from the crowd.
• Lautaro Martínez, Julián Álvarez, and Enzo Fernández give them genuine quality even without Messi at his peak.
• The favoured teams, however, are France and Spain, with England deemed to have a strong chance as well.
• With the World Soccer Ticket, fans get access to top leagues, live TV, and streaming — all in one place — so you never miss the action.
• In terms of winning the tournament, USA’s chances are more remote but still respectable at 1.2%.
• There are eight LaLiga winners from Barcelona – but, tellingly, none from Real Madrid.
• We have covered the seven teams who are most likely to win the tournament, but there are also a few other potential winners.
• However, Spain’s technical quality and squad depth should ultimately tip the balance in their favour.

A lack of recent match practice against top-class European opponents could count against the Albiceleste, who also saw Ángel Di María retire from international football after the Copa América. 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). Southgate’s England teams were also solid at the back but rarely free-flowing. At Euro 2024, they recorded just 5.4 xG – Turkey, Austria and Switzerland were among the teams to better that tally. Tuchel’s task is simple – get international football’s nearly men over the line.

So who will win the World Cup 2026, and which longshot could stun the soccer world? Check out the soccer odds below and then visit SportsLine to see Martin Green’s best bets for the 2026 World Cup, all from the proven expert who has crushed his soccer picks, and find out. Now, Green has broken down the 2026 World Cup draw from all sides and released his picks, predictions and futures bets.

The best teams you won’t see at the 2026 World Cup

• 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.
• There are not expected to be any surprises in the Germany XI for this match, with Kai Havertz, Florian Wirtz and Jamal Musiala set to continue as the front three.
• Six World Cup games, knockout places on the line, Cape Verde make history and Iran wait for a place in the Round of 32.
• Croatia are another team whose best days may be behind them but can never be ruled out.
• The resurgence of James Rodríguez made headlines at that competition, as he led the way for chances created (20) and assists (six) – that latter tally equalled the record for a single edition, alongside Brazil’s Alex in 2003.
• Ancelotti is armed with attacking talent, having opted to select record goalscorer Neymar in addition to stars like Vinícius Júnior, Raphinha and Matheus Cunha.
• Brazil have dominated this fixture over the years, winning 11 of their 14 previous meetings with Japan and losing only once.
• If Spain are to triumph, it is likely Lamine Yamal will play a key role.
• France have reached the final in four of the last seven editions – twice as often as any other nation during that period – and it would be a surprise if they were not there or thereabouts once again.
• Turkey vs Best 3rd place Group B/E/F/I/J – Despite their lengthy absence from football’s biggest stage, the Crescent-Stars might return with a bang.
• Morocco have never won the World Cup, but they did reach the semi-finals of the 2022 tournament, which represented their best-ever run in the competition.
• Brazil vs Senegal – There’s little doubt that Senegal possess the quality and confidence to push this tie into extra time.

Played every four years, teams battle it out for the Jules Rimet trophy and to have their name etched in history as World Cup winners. They are in an evenly matched pool, and while seen as the least likely team to win Group D, they still have a decent 17.9% hope of topping the table. The Socceroos are more likely than not to progress to the knockouts (59.2%) and have a 26.3% chance of reaching the last 16 to match their best-ever performance. 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. The top spot could come down to goal difference, with both teams likely taking advantage of Cape Verde.

MORE FROM THE SPORTSLINE EXPERTS

It is Argentina who go into the World Cup as defending champions after Lionel Messi helped to guide La Albiceleste to a famous triumph in Qatar towards the end of 2022. With one of the most dramatic club seasons in recent memory only just behind us, the stakes are about to get even higher, with the biggest prize in football up for grabs at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Lionel Messi, finally crowned world champion, was named Player of the Tournament in what many consider the greatest World Cup final ever played.

World Cup Day 1 What to Watch: Mexico gets the tournament started as Group A begins play

While powerhouse nations like France, Argentina and Spain remain favorites, the expanded format creates more room for upsets, dark horses and unexpected runs that can completely reshape the bracket. With 48 teams in 12 groups of 4, and a new Round of 32 stage, the path to the final is longer than ever. Eight knockout rounds for the eventual winners, compared to seven previously. Don’t be surprised if at least one traditional power exits before the quarter-finals. The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be the biggest ever, with the tournament expanding from 32 to 48 teams. That also means there are more nations than ever to make soccer picks and World Cup futures bets on, ahead of the opening match taking place on Thursday, June 11.

Our free AI tip for Belgium vs Senegal — home team wins or draw, with 89% confidence. Our AI football predictions go far beyond World Cup 2026 matches, covering more than 160 competitions worldwide. 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%.

France head the betting to win the 2026 World Cup on Sunday July 19. Meanwhile, France bring Championship pedigree, combining 2018 winners Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele with a new generation led by Michael Olise, Desire Doue and Rayan Cherki. France appear primed for another title push, led by the world’s top goal scorer Kylian Mbappe and reigning Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembele. Throw in guys like William Saliba and Michael Olise, among others, and it’s hard not to like this group. Belgium should control this group, but the remaining positions are harder to predict.

Next year, it will have been 24 years since Brazil last lifted the World Cup. They have only endured one previous drought of that length since first winning the tournament in 1958, between 1970 and 1994. Germany arguably played some of the best football at Euro 2024, ranking second for average possession (62.5%) and goals scored (11), but Nagelsmann has plenty of selection dilemmas to consider.

• Nestor Lorenzo’s team look a little more battle hardened and should edge through.
• The most comprehensive World Cup 2026 predictions resource available.
• If you’re looking for a simple way to watch the World Cup in English on Fox and in Spanish on Telemundo, Xfinity makes it easy to follow the World Cup and stay connected to global soccer year?round.
• Whether you want to forecast the whole tournament, compete with friends, or just watch the games — we’ve got you covered.
• I’m taking Senegal to secure the needed points, though Norway could still advance as a top third?place team if they score multiple goals against Iraq.
• Jordan’s Moussa Al Tamari is a player to watch and capable of driving a surprise run.
• Cape Verde are not believed to have significant injury concerns heading into this fixture.
• However, SportsLine soccer expert Matt Severance is looking for a little added security by playing Mexico (tie no bet) for a -215 payout.
• France opened with a 3-1 win over Senegal and a 3-0 win over Iraq, then sealed Group I with a 4-1 win over Norway featuring an Ousmane Dembele hat-trick.

World Championship 2026 facts (last 90 games)

Ecuador shocked already-qualified Germany to reach this phase, but expect Javier Aguirre’s men to make it four wins out of four. There have also been stirring underdog stories, with minnow Cape Verde qualifying as Group H runners-up behind European champions Spain, and Iran similarly going through the round-robin phase undefeated against the odds. All the tournament favorites have come through the group stage largely unscathed.

Teams can survive the group stage without being dominant, adding a new level of strategy and scoreboard-watching. Belgium vs Best 3rd place Group A/E/H/I/J – Perhaps freeing themselves from the shackles of their trophyless ‘golden generation’ is exactly what Belgium needed to unlock their full potential. Brazil vs Japan – Under normal circumstances, this would be a no-brainer. However, Brazil’s form has been far from convincing, while Japan’s ability to compete with top sides suggests this could be far more competitive than expected. South Korea vs Bosnia & Herzegovina – Despite overcoming Italy in the qualifying play-offs, this tie could spell the end of Bosnia’s World Cup journey.

• Gabriel Avalos has only scored twice in 25 appearances for his country, but there is again set to be a spot in the final third of the field for the 34-year-old.
• He could become only the third manager to win both the UEFA Champions League and the World Cup, after Marcello Lippi (Juventus, Italy) and Del Bosque (Real Madrid, Spain).
• Six places are up for grabs for CONMEBOL teams, and it is a single-league format that simply decides which top six teams advance to the FIFA World Cup Finals.
• Emiliano Martinez is the undisputed first-choice goalkeeper, with the back four expected to feature Nahuel Molina and Nicolas Tagliafico as full-backs alongside Lisandro Martinez and Cristian Romero in central defence.
• Build your bracket, play the prediction league, and follow every match — all in one place.
• From animals to colors to local cultural symbols, every team (except one) has a special moniker that’s specific to their nation.
• Mikel Oyarzabal and Mikel Merino were among Spain’s star performers in qualifying.
• Colombia also deserve their lofty status in our projections, as they come in the tournament off the back of a run to the final of the 2024 Copa América, having outscored all other teams at that tournament with 12 goals.
• The Socceroos are more likely than not to progress to the knockouts (59.2%) and have a 26.3% chance of reaching the last 16 to match their best-ever performance.
• But Spain’s quality is highlighted by being the only team rated as more likely than not to reach the quarter-finals, which they did 52.1% of the time.
• With Messi drawing defensive attention and Julian Alvarez providing the running, Martinez is regularly afforded space inside the area and is one of the most reliable penalty-box finishers in this Argentina squad.
• 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.

They are one of six participants from South America, along with five-time winners Brazil, who are now led by Carlo Ancelotti as the Seleção seek to end a barren run since claiming their last crown back in 2002. The Three Lions’ Round of 32 match is 5pm on Wednesday before Belgium vs. Senegal, with the winner of that one setting up a meeting with USA should the Stars and Stripes beat Bosnia. View RotoWire’s advanced analysis across all major sportsbooks and DFS. This matchup delivers a final showdown between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Argentina enter as defending champion, but without Angel Di Maria, one of the anchors of their last run, they lack the same spark. Portugal’s depth and momentum give them the edge, and I see them pulling off the upset to reach their first World Cup final.

Whether you want to forecast the whole tournament, compete with friends, or just watch the games — we’ve got you covered. The last time that happened, between Argentina and West Germany in 1990, the European nation gained its revenge. France can power clear as Argentina’s exertions against Portugal and Brazil catch up with them, and Messi runs out of fairy-tales. The Netherlands have been in free-scoring form so far, plundering 10 in Group F. Ronald Koeman’s men are yet to keep a clean sheet, though, and Morocco’s vibrant attack will play fearlessly as they have all tournament. Jesse Marsch’s co-hosts missed out on top spot in Group B after defeat to Switzerland and must decamp to L.A.

• The model adjusts its odds after each game, playing out the rest of the tournament 100,000 times while giving teams credit (or blame) for their performance so far.
• The match result market is heavily skewed toward Argentina, who are available at the best price of 1/6 across nine leading operators.
• Inspirational Croatia captain Luka Modri? 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.
• Despite the promise shown by their young core, the Americans still seem a step behind the world’s true elite.
• In terms of winning the tournament, USA’s chances are more remote but still respectable at 1.2%.
• Mexico, the team that defeated the USA in the Gold Cup final, are the host nation viewed as most likely to shock the world and lift the trophy, with a 1.3% probability.
• This final comes down to France’s athleticism, depth and physical dominance against Portugal’s control of possession and tempo.
• The favoured teams, however, are France and Spain, with England deemed to have a strong chance as well.
• Similarly, during the tournament you may need to keep up with suspensions, with players potentially missing matches due to an accumulation of yellow cards or a red card.
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• Furthermore, it can simply lead to a drop in motivation levels, especially if they face a team needing to win to earn a place in the World Cup Finals.

National Leagues

• If Norway advance through the group stage, Haaland’s clinical finishing and aerial ability make him the most likely top scorer.
• Dive deeper into the tournament with our guides, analysis, and complete team profiles.
• Brazil won 57.3 percent of the 25,000 pre-match simulations, while Japan were victorious in 19.7 percent.
• Both nations are chasing a place in the last 16, but only one will keep their World Cup dream alive.
• Get FREE daily news and in-depth previews for games from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football — straight to your inbox.
• In his current role as a freelance content producer for The Sporting News, he writes betting content mostly for football but also tennis, golf, rugby union and Formula 1.
• Croatia recovered to take second in England’s group, pushing Ghana to a third-place spot.
• Scorer Market – Lautaro Martinez to Score AnytimeLautaro Martinez has scored once in the tournament and registered five goals across Argentina’s last five matches in all competitions.
• This can impact a team’s chances heavily, especially if it is a top goalscorer or stalwart defender that is essential to the way the nation plays.

Whatever your predictions, the only certainty is that we’ll all be surprised by something. For the co-hosts, Canada sits lowest in the rankings at 0.47%, with Mexico up at 1.81%. The USMNT leads the way once again at 2.45%, but there are 10 teams seen as more likely winners. Spain is backed to make light work of Austria, as is England in its meeting with DR Congo. Both sides arrived at this summer’s tournament expecting to reach the later stages and the supercomputer does not predict any early obstacles.

The United States will begin play on June 12 and is a World Cup 2026 co-host alongside Canada and Mexico, but it’s European nations who top the latest soccer odds to win the tournament, per FanDuel Sportsbook. France (+500) and England (+650) round out the top three in the 2026 World Cup odds, while Brazil (+850) are the biggest World Cup favorites outside of Europe. All three teams have a chance greater than 5% of winning the tournament, and of at least 10% to reach the final. The trio are closely matched and have regularly traded ranking positions leading up to the summer. Looking ahead, many World Cup 2026 predictions point toward a final involving two European or South American giants. France and Brazil are often mentioned as likely finalists due to their squad depth and consistency in recent matches.

With the Round of 32 underway and this 48-team field wide open, we will update these picks after every round. Debutants Cape Verde finished second in Group H ahead of two-time champions Uruguay, who were eliminated. South Africa and Egypt also reached the knockouts for the first time, while pre-tournament hopefuls Turkiye and Uruguay both went home early. France are the form pick after winning Group I with three wins from three, beating Senegal, Iraq and Norway.

The match result market is heavily skewed toward Argentina, who are available at the best price of 1/6 across nine leading operators. Cape Verde are a 19/1 shot to cause one of the tournament’s great upsets. The draw is priced at 15/2, reflecting just how unlikely a stalemate is given the gap in class between these two sides.

Turkey vs Best 3rd place Group B/E/F/I/J – Despite their lengthy absence from football’s biggest stage, the Crescent-Stars might return with a bang. 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. Appearing at their first World Cup since 1998, the Tartan Army are given a 0.2% chance of lifting the trophy, level with the likes of South Africa, Australia, Iran and Tunisia. Morocco (1.1%) and Ecuador (1.0%) are the other teams with a greater than 1% chance of glory, with Japan (0.9%) and USA just behind.

Lautaro Martínez, Julián Álvarez, and Enzo Fernández give them genuine quality even without Messi at his peak. They start as third-favourites and would be considered a major threat in any era. Mauricio Pochettino’s USMNT is also given great odds of making it through to the next round, sitting at 78.46%.

He was in the squad that swept all before them to win Euro 2024 in such impressive style just two summers ago. As the tournament draws ever closer, getting stuck into the Opta supercomputer’s projections is the perfect way to whet your appetite while brushing up on some stimulating statistics. Thankfully, we can turn to the Opta supercomputer to provide a comprehensive World Cup forecast that sets realistic expectations for supporters of all 48 nations.

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. Mexico will need an all?around effort to advance under the new knockout format, relying on far more than home support to reach the next round. 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.