At long last, after what felt like an eternity of waiting, we can finally say the magic words: the historic, 48-team 2026 FIFA World Cup starts today.
The 23rd edition of the men’s championship kicks off at the iconic Azteca Stadium in Mexico City, where co-hosts Mexico will roll out the welcome mat for South Africa.
Tomorrow, we get a double feature: Canada tackles Bosnia and Herzegovina, while the USA closes the day against Paraguay. By tomorrow night, we should have a reasonably good idea of whether any of the co-hosts are legitimate contenders or just polite party hosts.
Before a ball has even been kicked, the dreaded injury bug has already bitten a few of the 26-man squads. Brazil’s Wesley pulled up with a thigh injury against Egypt and has been swiftly replaced by Manchester United’s new signing, Ederson.
Meanwhile, German teenage sensation Lennart Karl tore a muscle in training—a harsh reminder that youth provides no immunity to bad luck. Expect a few more minor tragedies before the first round is over.
Space simply doesn’t allow me to psychoanalyse all 48 teams, so let’s break down the heavyweights who might actually go the distance, alongside a few dark horses capable of ruining your bets.
From the outset, win, lose, or nothing, I fancy Argentina. The defending champions have practically the same squad they did four years ago, and frankly, that should be a terrifying prospect for everyone else, as this team knows each other better than any other team at this year’s World Cup. As the adage goes, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”
Argentina (ranked No 7), has Lionel Messi and Rodrigo De Paul pulling the strings, a defence that loves to march forward, and a fully fit Emiliano Martinez ready to menace strikers between the uprights. I fancy them to go right down to the wire.
Brazil (ranked No 6) are always a Trini favourite, but the seleção arrives in slightly murky waters. Under the charismatic Carlo Ancelotti, they’ve had only four competitive games and haven’t exactly set the world ablaze. Take away Vinícius Jr, and the attacking depth looks unusually mortal. If Neymar’s infamous fragility rears its head, Brazil might find themselves in an involuntary rebuilding phase before the World Cup even ends.
The fifth-ranked Germans are, as always, efficient, balanced, and entertaining. They boast a lovely blend of fresh-faced youngsters and hard-faced veterans. However, their supreme talent, Florian Wirtz, spent most of his Premier League season with Liverpool looking like he was on mute. If Germany wants to reach the final, Wirtz needs to turn up the volume, big time.
Portugal (ranked No 4) can finally win it all, as they go forward with an abundance of attacking talent. At 41, Cristiano Ronaldo still bounds around with the exuberance of a teenager, assuming they manage his minutes carefully. Defensively, they are suspect, but their midfield—featuring Vitinha, João Neves, Bernardo Silva, and a red-hot Bruno Fernandes—is arguably the best on the planet. Their tactical philosophy seems to be, “if you score three, we’ll score four.”
The only glaring question mark is manager Roberto Martinez. Having masterfully achieved absolutely nothing with Belgium’s “Golden Generation,” we’ll see what he manages to do with arguably the strongest Portuguese squad in World Cup history.
To me, England’s No 3 ranking demands a raised eyebrow. Yes, Thomas Tuchel has spent the last year slowly rewiring this squad, but are they creative enough to cause actual panic among the elite? The current strategy seems to be “get the ball to Harry Kane and hope for the best.” Bukayo Saka and Marcus Rashford are electric out wide, but who on earth is going to unlock defences from the centre? I will happily wait to be proven wrong, but I’m not holding my breath.
If football were played on a spreadsheet, Spain would already be lifting the trophy. The stats are staggering: Euro 2024 champions, undefeated in qualifiers (yielding a measly two goals), the deadliest offence (featuring 18-year-old wonderkid Lamine Yamal), and the second-stingiest defence. Barring a catastrophe, their favourable draw should let them casually stroll into a potential blockbuster semifinal against France.
Speaking of which, France, the undisputed final bosses of international football, are the team to beat, no doubt. Let’s not forget Paris Saint-Germain are back-to-back European Champions, and that swagger has infected the national team. With an attacking quartet of Kylian Mbappé, Michael Olise (a favourite player with many fans), Rayan Cherki, and Ousmane Dembélé, they have the firepower to put any defence into early retirement.
The top four will almost certainly emerge from the elites above, but a World Cup isn’t a World Cup without a few genuinely inexplicable results. Let’s take a look at a few dark horses and some predictable disappointments.
Can Norway, a team that utterly failed to qualify for Euro 2024, be considered a dark horse? It borders on madness to think one can go from not qualifying for the last major tournament to winning the World Cup. But when you have the “bound-to-score” cyborg Erling Haaland and midfield maestro Martin Ødegaard, you are legally allowed to dream.
The Netherlands: Talented? Yes. Dangerous? Always. Going to win it? Probably not. The Netherlands have always been a danger, but with teams more talented than this one in previous editions, they have never won the World Cup. Even though there is some talent in this team, I foresee another classic chapter in the grand story of Dutch Disappointment.
Like the Dutch, Senegal is a genuinely talented outfit. Sadio Mané remains top-class, and players like Iliman Ndiaye and Ismaïla Sarr can flip a game on its head. Their opening clash against France will be the ultimate test of their World Cup pedigree.
Belgium is another of those unpredictable teams, as they are loaded with classy players all around the field. From their world-class goalkeeper, Thibaut Courtois, to Kevin De Bruyne’s laser-guided passes and Jérémy Doku’s sheer speed, on their day, they can upset anyone. On a bad day, well, see Roberto Martinez’s tenure.
I am not deeply in love with Croatia’s style of play, but the grandmasters of parking the bus and grinding out results demand respect. That said, Father Time is undefeated, and they might finally struggle this year.
Ivory Coast is another African team that can be dangerous. Boasting serious quality in Ousmane Diomande and Amad, they are a formidable African force. Their opener against Ecuador will tell us exactly what they’re made of.
As for the rest of the field, they are likely just there to enjoy the lovely festivities and collect the match-worn jerseys of better players. Unless some teams play out of their skins, I can’t see any of them creating a problem like Greece did in Euro 2004.
And as for our Concacaf neighbours? I would love to see them all fight tooth and nail, but outside of the USA, Mexico, and maybe Canada, I cannot see any other Concacaf team getting out of their group.
Settle in, grab your snacks, and enjoy what promises to be a wonderfully chaotic month of football.
