Photo courtesy of Paul Kagame, CC BY-NC-ND 4.0, via Flickr.
Mascots that represent each host nation — the U.S., Mexico, and Canada — pose on a red carpet to promote the historic 2026 World Cup.
–
By Isabella Ferrou
TAMPA, Fla. — Now that the 2026 World Cup is less than 100 days away, retired players, coaches, and publications have their predictions on who will take home the title of world champion.
This World Cup makes history as the first to have three host nations: The United States, Canada, and Mexico. The last time more than one country hosted this tournament was in 2002, with Japan and South Korea. But the three host nations are not the only focal point of this World Cup. The tournament could also mark the final appearance for two of the greatest players to ever play the game, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Many people speculate that Argentina will win back-to-back World Cup titles. According to a New York Times article, five out of the seven journalists who gave their predictions favored Argentina. Many believe they have improved from the last World Cup and that Messi might not be as important for the team as he used to be.
Felipe Cardenas, a New York Times expert, said, “Messi remains a part of the team, but they’re better, more direct and faster without him on the pitch.”
In another Times article, of the 11 starting players for Argentina, six were mentioned in the 100 best players for the 2026 World Cup.
As for Portugal, while the country has a very strong team with new faces and seasoned players, its path to win the World Cup does not seem as favored as Argentina’s. According to polymarketFC, a sports betting application, only 7% of users believe Ronaldo will be able to take the win. Additionally, if Portugal were to finish top of their group, they could potentially face promising countries like Norway with Erling Haaland, host country Canada, and five-time champions Brazil.
In a press conference, Brazil’s current head coach, Carlo Ancelotti, is confident that Brazil will make it far on this big stage. While he mentioned that it was a great responsibility to perform well, he was more motivated than ever to win. Even retired World Cup champion Kaka strongly believes that Ancelotti has what it takes to bring Brazil to the final.
“Brazil will be among the favourites to win the 2026 World Cup under Ancelotti’s guidance…” said Kaka.
Other nations consistently among the favorites to win include Spain, France, and England. With their star players and experienced coaches, their teams are strong contenders to take home the title.
Spain is one of the most favored countries to win it all because of their star player, Lamine Yamal. Lamine is viewed as the perfect modern player at only 17 years old. His elite technical ability, high soccer IQ, and composure make him one of the star players in Barcelona.
CBS Sports’ power ranking placed Spain first and highlighted Lamine Yamal as a key factor of the team’s potential success. Compared to other countries, the road to the final for “La Furia Roja” is favorable for the team to make it to the end.
“They are the most likely team to win the tournament, especially after landing a manageable group in Uruguay, Saudi Arabia, and Cabo Verde,” said CBS Sports writer Francesco Porzio.
Another team that many believe is overlooked and can be a strong contender to win is Morocco. The power rankings placed the African team 10th, and Thierry Henry called them the dark horse of this World Cup.
“Don’t sleep on Morocco, they are doing very well right now [and] they won the World Cup in under 20,” Henry said on the CBS Sports Golazo show.
While the countdown to the 2026 FIFA World Cup continues, predictions and power rankings will keep evolving. Once the first whistle blows, everything comes down to the 22 players on the pitch and who wants it the most.