The 2026 FIFA World Cup has arrived! Four years after Argentina’s triumph over France in Qatar, the latest edition of the world’s biggest sporting event kicks off with Mexico vs. South Africa on Thursday at 3 p.m. ET, the first of 104 games over the next several weeks.
World Cup 2026
That means it’s time for ESPN’s writers from around the globe to make their picks on everything from silverware and most entertaining teams to which host nation is most likely to advance the furthest: the United States, Mexico or Canada.
Here’s what the 19 experts we asked think will happen, starting with the most important question: Who will lift the trophy on July 19?
It’s clear which teams our writers view as the favorites: Spain and France. The European powerhouses earned 16 out of 19 votes for winner, and Spain was the only country that appeared on every ballot.
Match Details
Interestingly, though seven writers expect Argentina to follow up their 2022 World Cup victory with another deep run in 2026, not a single one picked them to actually repeat. Can Lionel Messi & Co. defy their expectations? Their bid to go back-to-back begins Tuesday against Algeria.
– Final World Cup Power Rankings before the tournament begins
– Ian Darke’s World Cup preview: Favorites, surprises to watch, Brazil to win?
Tournament Impact
– World Cup Rank: The 50 best players in the 2026 tournament
Is there anything more certain than Spain’s Lamine Yamal being named best young player of the tournament? According to our writers, probably not. Thirteen out of 19 picked the Barcelona star for the award, and five even expect him to go home with the Golden Ball for best player, period.
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