World Cup 2026 Predictor Pick Your Free 48-Team Bracket

My eight teams most likely to be eliminated in the group stage are Haiti, Curaçao, Jordan, Uzbekistan, Panama, Cape Verde, Qatar, and South Africa. That does not mean every one of them will crash out, because the 2026 World Cup format gives third-place teams a lifeline. But if you are looking for the sides with the toughest path, the smallest safety margin, and the most dangerous group assignments, this is the list I would start with. Cape Verde’s qualification is one of the best stories of the tournament, as they are the only African newcomers and the third-smallest nation ever to reach the World Cup. That makes them a team everyone will want to cheer for, but the draw has not been kind.

World Cup 2026 Group F: Netherlands

This contest may be decided in extra time or penalties, favoring Senegal. The 2026 World Cup will be the first tournament to feature 48 teams, expanding from the traditional 32-team format used from 1998 through 2022. This change significantly alters both the group stage and the knockout bracket.

South Korea and Czechia appear to be the likeliest candidates to challenge El Tri for the throne, but the 10-time Gold Cup winners should live up to their billing. Before bowing out in the group stages four years ago in Qatar, Mexico had reached the knockout phase at seven consecutive World Cups. With Javier Aguirre at the helm now, they look likely to achieve that feat again. The content on this site is for entertainment purposes only and CBS Sports makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the information given or the outcome of any game or event. This site contains commercial content and CBS Sports may be compensated for the links provided on this site. My feeling is that Haiti are the most likely team in that group to be eliminated.

History

The 2026 World Cup predictor follows the official FIFA tournament format. The 12 group winners and 12 runners-up qualify automatically for the Round of 32, joined by the 8 best third-placed teams. From there, single-elimination knockouts run through the Round of 16, Quarterfinals, Semifinals, and Final, exactly as the real World Cup football predictions bracket will play out. The simulator is built around two stages that mirror the real tournament. The group stage presents all 12 groups and their 72 matches with live standings, where each group plays a single round-robin and the top two teams advance directly to the Round of 32. Once every group result is set, the knockout bracket unlocks and runs as single-elimination through the Round of 32, Round of 16, quarterfinals, and semifinals before the final.

• Building a perfect bracket may be unrealistic, but identifying where chaos is most likely, and where elite teams will hold firm, is the key to getting ahead.
• 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.
• The tournament runs June 11 to July 19, 2026, and the Final is at New York New Jersey Stadium (MetLife).
• Bracket 2026 is a free World Cup predictor — rank the 12 groups, pick your champion, save locally, and share a link with friends.
• Ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 draw on Friday 5 December, the Opta supercomputer has produced its early predictions for this summer’s tournament in North America.
• FIFA has launched its World Cup Bracket Challenge through FIFA Play Zone, allowing fans to predict how the 2026 tournament will play out.
• It’s the best way to make every World Cup match more exciting.
• Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.
• While it’s hard to see them going the distance, especially with 5 knockout matches now, the German’s know how to win this tournament and can’t be counted out against any opponent they come across.
• Automatic simulation fills every match using FIFA rankings and a weighted probability model, then crowns a champion.
• 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.
• The first three are the official FIFA criteria for comparing third-place teams.
• Meanwhile, the USMNT are a +6500 longshot to win on home soil, with Mexico just behind at +7000.
• From there, users can start making picks based on how they think the group stage will unfold.
• Throw in guys like William Saliba and Michael Olise, among others, and it’s hard not to like this group.

Canada vs Bosnia & Herzegovina

• But with so many contenders in the running, who will ultimately lift the trophy?
• A 5-1 win over Uruguay in November means South American opposition in the form of Paraguay should not hold the fear it once did.
• If Spain are to triumph, it is likely Lamine Yamal will play a key role.
• Fans can use FIFA’s bracket predictor before the tournament begins to make their picks and compare them with friends, family or other fans.
• There’s rarely much to choose between France and Germany in their heavyweight encounters but the enviable array of talent Didier Deschamps has at his disposal looks too much this time around.
• 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.
• The expanded 2026 format means more teams advance from the group stage into the knockout bracket, making every goal crucial.
• South Africa faces the steepest challenge in this group and seems unlikely to get past their first three games.
• Download our official World Cup 2026 wall chart with all 104 matches, kickoff times, host city locations, and the complete tournament schedule on a single printable poster.

Football’s biggest stage returns this summer as a stacked line-up of global contenders collide in pursuit of 2026 FIFA World Cup glory. View RotoWire’s advanced analysis across all major sportsbooks and DFS. I like Bosnia to top the group, with Switzerland following and Canada advancing as a top third‑place finisher.

What this World Cup predictions hub covers

Whether you like your soccer of the European variety or that on this side of the pond, our AS USA app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more. Plus, stay updated on NFL, NBA and all other big sports stories as well as the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere. Next up, ChatGPT thew in its two cents’ worth – and also named France as the men to beat in North America.

The 2026 tournament will feature 48 teams for the first time, expanding from the 32-team format used in recent World Cups. PHILADELPHIA – The 2026 FIFA World Cup will bring a new format, a bigger field and a longer road to the final, meaning fans filling out brackets will have more picks to make than ever before. 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.

NFL TOOLS

From there, users can start making picks based on how they think the group stage will unfold. That includes choosing which teams will advance from each group and where they will finish. For the first time in World Cup history, the winners and runners-up of each group will be joined in the knockout round of 32 by the eight best third-placed teams.

• The World Cup predictions page offers structured coverage of the tournament across all stages.
• Once a bracket is complete, a single share action copies a link containing every pick, so any prediction can be compared with others or revisited later.
• A 5-1 win over Uruguay in November means South American opposition in the form of Paraguay should not hold the fear it once did.
• With the 2026 World Cup hosted in the United States, Mexico and Canada, there’s never been a better time to start your own pool.
• If Uzbekistan were drawn into a softer section, they could have made a real case for progression.
• There’s rarely much to choose between France and Germany in their heavyweight encounters but the enviable array of talent Didier Deschamps has at his disposal looks too much this time around.
• Here you’ll find match predictions, upcoming fixtures, recent results, group standings, knockout stage progress, and key statistics to help follow the World Cup tournament.
• Download our official World Cup 2026 wall chart with all 104 matches, kickoff times, host city locations, and the complete tournament schedule on a single printable poster.
• 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.
• Predictions are updated ahead of every round to provide clear insights for football fans following the tournament.

Turkey

This page provides comprehensive coverage of the FIFA World Cup, the most prestigious international soccer tournament. Here you’ll find match predictions, upcoming fixtures, recent results, group standings, knockout stage progress, and key statistics to help follow the World Cup tournament. The new format advances the top 2 from each group plus the 8 best third-place teams to a round of 32. A total of 104 matches will be played across 16 cities, including iconic venues like MetLife Stadium (New York), Estadio Azteca (Mexico City), AT&T Stadium (Dallas) and SoFi Stadium (Los Angeles). That could make the bracket less predictable, especially if a team starts slowly but still does enough to advance. It also means goal differential and group-stage results could play a major role in shaping the knockout matchups.

FIFA will no longer allow fans to bring water bottles into World Cup games this summer

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be the biggest tournament in history, featuring 48 teams, 104 matches, and a brand-new Round of 32 format. With eight third-place teams advancing from the group stage, there are 495 possible combinations that can dramatically change the knockout bracket. In this 2026 World Cup bracket prediction, we break down every stage of the competition, from the group winners and best third-place qualifiers to the full knockout path through the Round of 32, Round of 16, semi-finals and final. 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. 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.

Final 48-Team Field Confirmed

Test “what if” scenarios for any team to see exactly what they need to advance to the Round of 32. Get the latest World Cup 2026 predictions and betting tips, powered by our AI algorithm, NT Apex. We have analyzed 64 matches across 8 teams in the World Cup 2026, achieving a best-tip accuracy of over 71.9%.

Champion

• A system that blends socioeconomic variables with sporting data, it also foresaw France and Argentina’s victories in 2018 and 2022, respectively.
• Use it to pick which team qualifies from each group, then click a team in any matchup to advance them to the next round.
• I like Bosnia to top the group, with Switzerland following and Canada advancing as a top third‑place finisher.
• HITC reporting also notes the footage has repeatedly resurfaced during major tournaments, rebranded each time as a supposed prediction.
• They have only endured one previous drought of that length since first winning the tournament in 1958, between 1970 and 1994.
• Spain are the +450 favorite, just edging out the top-ranked nation in the world, France at +480.
• Spain enter as a major tournament favorite, led by superstar Lamine Yamal.
• Deschamps’ reign has comprised 175 games, so if they reach the first knockout round, he will have overseen 100 games more than France’s next-longest serving boss (Raymond Domenech, 79).
• The other matchday one fixture looks more open, and Turkey should have enough attacking quality to get the better of Australia, setting up a race for top spot between both opening-round winners.
• Should the United States advance to the Round of 16, it’s going to take some of their best performances of the past decade, maybe ever.
• The 2026 FIFA World Cup features 48 teams — the largest in tournament history.
• That combination makes Panama a strong candidate for group-stage elimination.
• I personally love this matchup, with two of Africa’s strongest sides potentially meeting in the knockout round.
• Welcome to the most complete World Cup 2026 simulator and predictor on the web.

Teams can survive the group stage without being dominant, adding a new level of strategy and scoreboard-watching. This is an independent fan experience and is not affiliated with or endorsed by FIFA or any official tournament organizer. The predictor is mobile-first — tap to rank groups and pick a champion, no drag-and-drop required. For quiniela / bolão scoring systems that reward exact scores. Use our printable variant to write score predictions next to each match by hand. You can still rank groups first for a fuller saved prediction.

• With a number of experienced star players such as Christian Pulisic, Giovanni Reyna and Weston McKennie in the lineup, don’t be shocked if we see Team USA make it to the Round of or maybe even further.
• There is currently a combined 3.7% chance of any of those sides going all the way, with Italy surely the most likely candidates if they can end their World Cup exile.
• He is the third player – alongside Messi and Ronaldo – able to appear at an unprecedented sixth edition of the World Cup and was selected for the Gold Cup, so watch this space.
• Opening that link reproduces the exact bracket, which allows predictions to be compared or revisited later.
• The recent form and questions on formation under Mauricio Pochettino for the U.S. raises concern, while Turkiye’s balance and presence of Hakan Calhanoglu give them the slight edge to win the group.
• Much will depend on the form and fitness of key men but, all things being equal, Spain have the edge on France right now.
• That said, Senegal appear the more complete side, with greater star power likely to make the difference.
• It gives searchers one place for dates, teams to follow, prediction markets, and the analysis workflow ScorePoint AI will apply once match-level data is available.
• Portugal enter the tournament as legitimate title contenders for good reason.
• And of course, there are also six teams still to be decided in March’s play-offs.

Fever defense bounces back, dream offense check-in + Olivia Miles makes history

The opening matches of the FIFA World Cup 2026 promise an exciting and competitive start, as teams aim to build early momentum in the group stage. It’s the perfect opportunity to create your free World Cup 2026 prediction pool with Prodefy and compete with friends during the longest and most exciting tournament ever. Whether you call it a prediction pool, a soccer pool, a bracket challenge or a sweepstakes — Prodefy makes it easy to create your free pool in under two minutes.

Whether you’re following the USMNT at home, cheering for Canada’s golden generation or tracking dark horses from Africa and Asia, there’s never been more football to predict. This knockout matchup is a close one, but Morocco hold the edge. Their continued success on the international stage has carried momentum into this tournament, supported by a young and exciting group of players. Japan, meanwhile, have not displayed the same level of dominance even within their confederation. Still, they should not be overlooked, as Takefusa Kubo’s creativity and their speed on the counter could make this a difficult contest.

Now, Green has broken down the 2026 World Cup draw from all sides and released his picks, predictions and futures bets. You can head to SportsLine now to see Green’s 2026 World Cup picks. Jordan have earned respect by becoming one of Asia’s most improved teams, and they will not go to North America just to make up the numbers. But the jump from breakthrough side to World Cup knockout contender is huge. Argentina’s quality, Austria’s organization, and Algeria’s tournament experience make Jordan a clear underdog in that group.

While the qualification rules may seem complex, all calculations are fully automated using built-in Excel formulas, so you don’t need to worry about manual ranking. The 2026 FIFA World Cup—the biggest football tournament in the world—will take place in the United States, Canada, and Mexico from June 11 to July 19, 2026. Unlike the 2022 edition held in December, the tournament returns to the traditional summer schedule, making it even more exciting for fans worldwide. 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.

World Cup will introduce new FIFA-approved rule changes

The 2026 FIFA World Cup features 48 teams in 12 groups of four. The top two from each group plus the eight best third-placed teams (32 in total) advance to the knockout Round of 32. Join 100+ managers already registered in the $BRACKETS League App-the premier high-performance fantasy sports playground. Build your bracket, click Share, and send the link to coworkers. For each of 12 groups, rank teams from 1st through 4th place.

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). The Three Lions enter their first – and potentially only – tournament under Tuchel as third favourites with a 11.8% probability of lifting the trophy, having come up short in two European Championship finals under Gareth Southgate. Messi (13) is one goal ahead of Mbappé, who will surely take possession of the record eventually. But the prospect of two icons duelling to end the tournament in the lead should be absorbing viewing. Deschamps’ reign has comprised 175 games, so if they reach the first knockout round, he will have overseen 100 games more than France’s next-longest serving boss (Raymond Domenech, 79). And there has been no downturn from De la Fuente’s side since.

The FIFA World Cup 2026 will be held from June 11 to July 19, 2026 across the United States, Mexico and Canada. It will be the first World Cup with 48 teams, divided into 12 groups of 4. Matches will be played across 16 cities in all three countries. Talk trash, celebrate goals and chat with your group right inside the app. England vs Portugal – Ronaldo may have to take comfort from beating his arch-nemesis in the quarter-finals.

Start a group

Just over a year after staging the FIFA Club World Cup, the United States will once again welcome the footballing world as co-hosts of the 2026 World Cup, a status that spared them the challenge of navigating qualification. However, no official production notes or creator statements support these interpretations. The sequence was created as a fictional advertisement within a satirical animated series and does not reference FIFA branding, national flags, or tournament forecasting. Factly notes the clip continues circulating due to the absence of a time reference in the original scene, allowing it to be reused across multiple World Cup cycles, including 2018, 2022, and 2026. Match-level coverage can expand as fixture and prediction data becomes available. Apply the same AI prediction model to the tournament hub for World Cup fixtures, correct scores, BTTS, and totals.

While this chatbot didn’t need to be pressed before offering up a single frontrunner, it wasn’t exactly going all in on the French, either. It described Didier Deschamps’ team as the “slight favorite” to lift the title in mid-July, ahead of a Spain side that is “probably the biggest challenger” thanks to young stars like Lamine Yamal. In an exercise of the utmost journalistic rigor, AS USA canvassed a trio of artificial-intelligence tools for their World Cup predictions. With 48 teams taking part, there also will be some new names gracing the tournament.

• However, as the lowest-ranked side in the group, Tunisia may be seen as the most obvious candidate to finish bottom, especially as they have failed to make it out of the group stage in each of their six World Cup appearances.
• The other matchday one fixture looks more open, and Turkey should have enough attacking quality to get the better of Australia, setting up a race for top spot between both opening-round winners.
• Smart Predict ranks each group by current FIFA World Ranking — the official ranking available for every qualified team.
• Deschamps’ reign has comprised 175 games, so if they reach the first knockout round, he will have overseen 100 games more than France’s next-longest serving boss (Raymond Domenech, 79).
• Should the United States advance to the Round of 16, it’s going to take some of their best performances of the past decade, maybe ever.
• The Oranje’s run to the semi-finals of Euro 2024 – losing late on to England – was their best at any tournament since finishing third at the 2014 World Cup.
• They have only endured one previous drought of that length since first winning the tournament in 1958, between 1970 and 1994.
• Spain are the +450 favorite, just edging out the top-ranked nation in the world, France at +480.
• HITC reporting also notes the footage has repeatedly resurfaced during major tournaments, rebranded each time as a supposed prediction.
• Spain enter as a major tournament favorite, led by superstar Lamine Yamal.
• Live scores for every match of the 2026 World Cup, in your timezone.
• Here, Sports Mole provides an in-depth preview of Group D at the 2026 World Cup, including predicted standings and each nation’s key player.
• The expanded format and increased number of matches have intensified global discussion around potential finalists, contributing to the reinterpretation of older fictional content as predictive material.
• The 2026 FIFA World Cup features 48 teams — the largest in tournament history.

Sweden (in 1958) and Czechia (in 1934 and 1962) have both been World Cup finalists previously (the latter as Czechoslovakia) but could still miss the tournament, as could former European champions Denmark. 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. Norway will be the team nobody wishes to draw from Pot 3, having steamrolled their way through the UEFA qualifiers with a perfect eight wins and 37 goals – the most of any team. There will likely be an experienced feel to their squad, led by Fulham striker Raúl Jiménez, who is only eight away from Javier Hernández’s all-time Mexico goal record of 52. 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. The Oranje’s run to the semi-finals of Euro 2024 – losing late on to England – was their best at any tournament since finishing third at the 2014 World Cup.

There should be plenty of service for Harry Kane, who is Europe’s most in-form striker, netting 24 goals in 20 matches for Bayern Munich since the start of the season in August. But there is a competitive race for the positions behind the England skipper after Tuchel suggested Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden could not both start, while Cole Palmer’s season has barely got going due to injuries. Mbappé is closing in on Olivier Giroud’s mark of 57 goals for France, having netted 55 times in his 93 caps. On 5 December, allowing fans of all nations to start plotting their routes to a possible coronation at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium. The United States will have no complaints over this draw and have the opportunity to make a statement by progressing as group winners. A 5-1 win over Uruguay in November means South American opposition in the form of Paraguay should not hold the fear it once did.

Against a hungry and well‑organized Netherlands side, Brazil appear vulnerable, with this matchup favoring the Dutch. Colombia remain a threat thanks to Luis Diaz playing some of the best football of his career. Congo DR and Uzbekistan are unlikely to factor heavily, making this a high‑stakes, two‑team race. 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.

After being right three times in a row, I have been inundated by requests over the last four years to forecast the Euros, the Olympics, the Rugby World Cup, etc. Every four years, I write a note that has many more readers than anything else I publish. It all started 12 years ago when I used an economic model to forecast the winner of the World Cup in Brazil.

Netherlands vs. Brazil

They could end up facing a Poland side they were unable to beat during qualification if the Eastern European giants progress from a UEFA playoff path featuring Ukraine, Albania and Sweden. Japan beat Spain and Germany in the group stage last time around and have a recent friendly win over Brazil to their name. Brazil’s bid for a sixth world title begins in a mouthwatering showdown with Morocco, who reached the semifinals last time around and stormed through CAF qualifying. Scotland and Haiti are better than just making up the numbers here but are realistically playing for one of the eight best third-place spots.

England: 11.8%

Download our official World Cup 2026 wall chart with all 104 matches, kickoff times, host city locations, and the complete tournament schedule on a single printable poster. We offer a free premium printable World Cup 2026 bracket in both Letter and A4 formats. Choose between blank fillable versions for office pools and predictions, or live versions updated with real results as the tournament progresses.

• Several years before the explosion of AI technology, Klement developed a “proprietary econometric” projection model that accurately forecast Germany as winners of the 2014 World Cup.
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• Those teams round out the top 10 favourites, with Belgium next with a 1.9% probability.
• The 48-team format adds a brand-new Round of 32 before the knockout stage you know from previous World Cups.
• One recurring issue in recent years has been their lack of a true centre-forward.
• The placement of each team will affect whom they face in the knockout round.
• 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.
• This final comes down to France’s athleticism, depth and physical dominance against Portugal’s control of possession and tempo.
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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%. Turkey booked their place at the 2026 finals via the play-offs, finishing second behind Spain in Group E of UEFA qualifying before overcoming Kosovo in the Path C decider to secure their ticket to the global stage. The USMNT has struggled mightily in recent years, but with home advantage and the leadership of head coach Mauricio Pochettino, there is every chance we see USA go on a run this tournament. Facing Paraguay, Turkey and Australia, it is very possible for the USMNT to make it through the group stage.

The placement of each team will affect whom they face in the knockout round. Want to simulate the full tournament after finishing your group predictions? Use theFull Tournament Simulator to generate a complete bracket from groups to the final. For quiniela / bolão pools that require exact scores, use the printable version and write scores next to each match. The automatic mode uses the official FIFA rankings published on April 1, 2026, converted into a team strength value. The probability that a team wins a given match scales with the gap in strength between the two sides.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s last chance to lead Portugal to World Cup glory should begin with a relatively straightforward group-stage campaign, even though Colombia possess the quality to make life uncomfortable for the Iberians. 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. However, there’s a good reason why Switzerland are odds-on to walk away Football World Cup 2026 with a top-table finish, having progressed from the group stages in four of their five World Cup appearances this century.

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%. Sixteen venues across the United States, Canada and Mexico will play host to the biggest-ever edition of the tournament, with the number of teams increasing from 32 and 48 and the tally of games upped from 64 to 104.

⚽ FIFA World Cup 2026 — AI Match Prediction Model

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. Despite beating Argentina in the 2022 group stage, Saudi Arabia may once again fall short of a top-two finish, which looks reserved for Uruguay. 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. There’s a feeling that the Ivory Coast could pip Ecuador to a coveted second place, while it would take a major surprise for debutants Curacao to upset the established hierarchy in this group.

The USMNT appointed Pochettino after of a humiliating group-stage exit as Copa América hosts last year, and things did not immediately improve as the Argentine lost five of his first 10 matches at the helm. One recurring issue in recent years has been their lack of a true centre-forward. But Memphis Depay remains a talisman for his nation, becoming their all-time leading scorer when he netted his 51st international goal in September. Vinícius has played under five different head coaches since joining Real Madrid, and 149 of his 192 goal involvements for the club came during Ancelotti’s second spell in charge of Los Blancos. But when the tournament begins, the likelihood is that Ronaldo will hog the headlines, just as he did in Qatar in 2022 and at Euro 2024.

A World Cup prediction pool (also called a soccer pool, office pool or bracket pool) is a game where you and your friends predict the scores of FIFA World Cup 2026 matches. Everyone earns points based on how accurate their predictions are, and the player with the most points wins. Spain are the +450 favorite, just edging out the top-ranked nation in the world, France at +480. England (+650) round out the top three in the 2026 World Cup odds, while Brazil (+750) are the biggest soccer favorites outside of Europe.