From a Thomas Tuchel-led England and the dominance of France, to a fairytale Cristiano Ronaldo send-off with Portugal, our panel of sports editors and football writers drop their definitive 2026 FIFA World Cup predictions. Photo: AFP
The stage is set for the most expansive tournament in football history.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off on Thursday, welcoming an expanded field of 48 nations across three host countries: the United States, Mexico and Canada. Over 39 days of intense competition, a record 104 matches will be contested before the champions lift the iconic trophy.
Here, Independent Media's sports department choose their favourites to win the championship on July 19.
The Fifa World Cup 2026 contenders.
