World Cup 2026

Egypt have stars in attack with Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush and they can carry Egypt to victory over Australia. The Premier League duo starred in a 3-1 group stage win over New Zealand and they can produce their best against the Socceroos.

Cape Verde will no doubt look to defend deep, much like the tactics they pulled off against Spain, but the Blue Sharks are in deep water against a Lionel Messi-inspired Argentina after conceding an expected goals tally of 2.32 in their 2-2 draw with a dysfunctional Uruguay side.

Australia failed to score in two of their three group stage games, and their win over Turkey came from only 28 per cent possession. Egypt are fancied to win a low-scoring last-32 contest.

Argentina will be tasked with breaking down Cape Verde’s low defensive block, and with star forward Lionel Messi already notching six goals in the World Cup, La Seleccion are fancied to win 2-0.

Colombia have kept three clean sheets in four, and they meet a Ghana side that has lost six of their last nine matches. Los Cafeteros were the stronger side in their 0-0 draw with Portugal, and they can claim a routine last 32 win to set up a deep run.

Spain are the current favourites and seem set for a deep run at the World Cup. La Roja also have a kind draw with Cape Verde and Saudi Arabia joining them in Group H. Lamine Yamal scored 16 goals in La Liga for Barcelona in 28 games and is among the contenders to top the World Cup 2026 scoring charts.

Portugal have landed in a winnable group alongside Colombia, DR Congo, and Uzbekistan. Winning that group would give them a softer run in the early knockout rounds, before a potential meeting with Argentina in the quarter-finals. They beat hosts Germany 2-1 in the Nations League semis before triumphing over Spain, and edging those big clashes suggests they could become the ninth country to win the World Cup.

World Cup surprise packages tend to have solid defensive records and a core group of quality players. Japan have some real midfield quality in Real Sociedad’s Takefusa Kubo, Eintracht Frankfurt’s Ritsu Doan, and Liverpool’s Wataru Endo. After five straight wins to nil, Japan look capable of recording their best ever tournament finish this summer. The expanded field should play into their hands, but they’ve proven capable of upsetting football’s elite in the past.

Ecuador conceded only five goals across their 18 South American qualifiers, losing just two of 18 games across the toughest qualifying route in the world. They put together an 18-game unbeaten run ahead of the tournament, which is largely built on defensive solidity. While they aren’t thrilling in the final third, being hard to beat helped take Morocco and Croatia far four years ago. In a tournament where the heat is expected to work against progressive, attacking sides, Ecuador could thrive.

Ecuador conceded only five goals across their 18 South American qualifiers, losing just two of 18 games across the toughest qualifying route in the world. They put together an 18-game unbeaten run ahead of the tournament, which is largely built on defensive solidity. While they aren’t thrilling in the final third, being hard to beat helped take Morocco and Croatia far four years ago. In a tournament where the heat is expected to work against progressive, attacking sides, Ecuador could thrive.

Kylian Mbappe finished last season as the top scorer in La Liga with 25 goals and he scored five goals in four games during qualifying. France are among the tournament favourites and are likely to reach the latter stages and they will face Iraq, Senegal and Norway in the group stages, so Mbappe may be able to score a few goals in the earlier rounds.

World Cup surprise packages tend to have solid defensive records and a core group of quality players. Japan have some real midfield quality in Real Sociedad’s Takefusa Kubo, Eintracht Frankfurt’s Ritsu Doan, and Liverpool’s Wataru Endo. After five straight wins to nil, Japan look capable of recording their best ever tournament finish this summer. The expanded field should play into their hands, but they’ve proven capable of upsetting football’s elite in the past.

Julian Alvarez has developed a reputation as a striker who raises his levels in cup competitions having scored 22 goals in 32 Champions League games for current club Atletico Madrid and Manchester City across the last three seasons. Argentina will face Algeria, Jordan and Austria in the group stages, so Alvarez could grab a few goals in the group phase and that makes him a contender to top the scoring charts.

Rayan Cherki had 12 Premier League assists for Manchester City this season and he also provided a further four in 11 games across their EFL Cup and FA Cup successes. France have an incredible attacking line-up and Cherki will be picking out passes for the likes of Kylian Mbappe and Desire Doue.

In terms of technical ability Neuer is right up there with the best stoppers of all time and the fact he is now playing for a fairly average Germany side, by their standards anyway, could actually work in his favour in the battle for Golden Glove honours as he may have more saves to make and more work in terms of organising his defence.

Lamine Yamal is the most exciting attacking talent in a strong Spain side and he has a habit of scoring eye-catching goals, those attributes can be key in deciding where the player of the tournament award ends up.

Erling Haaland had 16 goals in eight games over qualifying and enjoyed another excellent season domestically with 38 goals across all competitions. Haaland’s Norway face France, Senegal and Iraq in the group stage and he could reach four goals in those three games alone.

Since winning Euro 2024, Spain have extended their unbeaten record to 28 matches, reaching the final of the Nations League and breezing through their World Cup qualifying campaign. European sides have historically struggled in tournaments held in other continents, but that trend appears to be turning. Spain won in South Africa in 2010, followed by Germany’s success in Brazil four years later. France were a shootout away from repeating the trick four years ago. There hasn’t been a World Cup final without a European side since 1950, and the European champions can extend that streak this summer.

Joe Casey: Mexico were faultless in their three group games, winning all three without conceding. Ecuador finished second in South American qualifying, conceding just five times in 18 games, but they have struggled going forward. Just one goal might be enough to decide this clash.

Steve Davies: The Aussies have looked seriously limited thus far, somehow beating Turkey despite losing the shot count by 21 and were then played off the park for an hour by the US. Egypt went through their group schedule unbeaten with a 1-1 draw against Belgium arguably the pick of their results, and in all honesty they were unlucky not to win.

Tom Hill: Senegal look good value to beat Belgium in the last 32, despite only winning one of their group games. Senegal outclassed Iraq in a 5-0 success and Belgium did not exactly impress with two draws against Egypt and Iran.

James Mason: Norway impressed in their first two World Cup matches, beating Iraq 4-1 and Senegal 3-2. While attack is not a concern for Norway, they are less certain in defence and have kept just one clean sheet in their last ten games.

Enda McElhinney: Aside from thrashing Uzbekistan, it has been an underwhelming tournament for Portugal. Croatia showed for 45 minutes against England they remain a competent side, and they can cause problems for a dysfunctional team.

Aaron Rogan: Both teams have scored in all nine of Sweden’s matches under Graham Potter, and this feels like the end of the line for a Swedish side that finished bottom of their qualifying group. Sweden’s attacking talent should see them continue their scoring form, particularly as France haven’t looked great defensively. The French have conceded in eight of their last nine games, failing to keep clean sheets against Azerbaijan, Northern Ireland and a second-string Norway side.