Who are the favorites to win WC 2026?

One day Japan will have to actually live up to their hype. They've failed to do so this far, while both Senegal and Morocco have actual real world accomplishments.

 

Pulling for Japan to finally win a couple knockout rounds, but not holding my breath. They sure are fun to watch, though.

 

Yeah, I just completed my "brackets" yesterday finally and have Japan winning their group with Netherlands coming second. That said, it feels to me like one of the more unpredictable groups.

I have both Senegal and Morocco coming in second, granted their groups are more difficult to win than Japan's.

 

A couple of KO rounds will be difficult. Whether they win group F or finish second, Japan will likely have to play Brazil or Morocco in the round of 32.

 

I dont favor Japan against either Brazil or Morocco. They may have an easier path if they finish 3rd.

 

Yeah just a brutal draw for them.

 

I feel like there is going to be a strong and weak side of the bracket. Like a very noticeable difference.

It sucks, but it can also make things interesting.

 

Laid an egg in Brazil ?

It was the first WC where 2 African teams qualified for the knockouts.

Other than Argentina, world champions Germany had their 2 toughest matches against African opposition in Algeria and Ghana.

France had to break the leg of Nigerias best player and somehow escape a red card to win that match in the 2nd round.

Greece had to dive in the last second of the match and win a phantom PK to deny CIV a spot in the 2nd round.

 

You’re thinking of 2010. Algeria didn’t play the USA in Brazil in 2014.

 

12 years is a long time. CAF is represented with stronger teams, on average, in this WC. I don't think CAF's performance in 2014 down to what hemisphere the WC was played in. CAF teams did worse in the WC that was played in Africa, so I just think 2010-14 was a down period for them compared to where the likes of CIV, Senegal, Morocco are today.

CAF is up now while C'BOL is down. It goes in waves.

 

I dont think there is much of a correlation with CAF and any locations.

If anything they've generally done better in world cups outside of Europe. Americas hasn't really been bad for them tbh.

The major confederational correlation with location is that UEFA always does much worse outside of Europe. Not necessarily the very top teams but the secondary ones for sure.

CAF teams are used to playing tournaments in hot and humid conditions which should help them in this competition.

 

Generally they struggle in sub saharan hosted afcons with higher temperatures and humidity.

The last afcon they hosted was very cool and very low humidity, I'm sure that played a part in their best afcon since I've watched the tournament.

They played Norway in the same city they will play Brazil, and it was very hot. They looked good and ran a lot, but lots of guys came out around 70 minutes so who knows if they can press like that in a competitive match with less subs.

 

I wouldn’t favor them against Brazil but would against Morocco.

 

This is my bracket by the way:


My World Cup Knockout Predictions:

Round of 32:
Germany 3-1 Scotland
France 4-1 Netherlands
Czech Republic 2-2 Canada (Canada on penalties)
Japan 2-1 Morocco
Brazil 4-2 Sweden
Ecuador 2-1 Norway
Mexico 1-2 Ivory Coast
England 4-0 Senegal
Colombia 1-1 Croatia (Croatia on penalties)
Spain 2-0 Algeria
Turkey 3-1 Bosnia-Herzegovina
Belgium 4-3 South Korea
Austria 1-0 Uruguay
Paraguay 0-0 Egypt (Paraguay on penalties)
Switzerland 2-2 Argentina (Argentina on penalties)
Portugal 4-1 Ghana

Round of 16:
Germany 1-2 France
Canada 0-3 Japan
Brazil 2-1 Ecuador
Ivory Coast 0-2 England
Croatia 1-3 Spain
Turkey 4-4 Belgium (Turkey on penalties)
Austria 1-0 Paraguay
Argentina 1-3 Portugal

Quarterfinals:
France 2-1 Japan
Spain 4-0 Turkey
Brazil 3-2 England
Austria 0-0 Portugal (Portugal on penalties)

Semifinals:
France 2-1 Spain
Brazil 3-3 Portugal (Brazil on penalties)

Third Place:
Spain 2-1 Portugal

Final:
France 3-2 Brazil

 

I agree wholeheartedly with you about current argentinian president and government...its all a cruel violent shitshow and i do live here, so its all a disgrace tbh. It makes me feel more disconectted to the NT, tbh, and im the biggest futbol fan. But it also makes me wanna disconnect to all the shit thats going on by watching WC....so ill try to do that. We were a great team in 22 but we arent as sharp now, we clearly arent the favourites and our round of 16/quarters matches are very hard matchups so anything could happen, we might go out early even. Anyways, may the best team win and...peace

if we dont win id like colombia ecuador, paraguay, or brazil (sorry, i know they are rivals but i do like them) to make it, if not...the african teams.

 

You think Courtois, probably the best goalkeeper in the world, will give up seven goals to Korea and Turkey and then lose a penalty shootout?

I seriously doubt it.

 

Courtois is a great goalkeeper, but seriously Belgium’s defense is terrible and Garcia is notorious for defensive mistakes historically. Have you seen Belgium in World Cup qualification and how many goals they conceded?

 

LOL. Belgium has allowed some goals lately but not with Courtois between the posts. He’s only allowed two goals in the past couple of years, and one of those was a 90 minute consolation goal by Wales.