The 2026 World Cup is approaching and Opta’s supercomputer has made its first predictions for the potential winner of the biggest football tournament.
For the first time, the World Cup will feature 48 teams, with the tournament being held in the United States, Mexico and Canada. The competition kicks off on June 11 and the grand final will be played on July 19.
According to 10,000 simulations conducted by Opta, Spain are the main favourites to win the trophy, with a 16.1% chance. The European champions are seen as the strongest team before the start of the tournament, thanks to the quality in the group and the form of key players.
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Spain is followed by France with 13%, England with 11.2% and Argentina with 10.4%. These four nations are considered the main contenders to go all the way.
Portugal, Brazil and Germany are also in the running, but with lower odds. Portugal has a 7% chance of winning the World Cup, Brazil 6.6%, while Germany 5.1%.
Spain are also highly rated for their chances of reaching the final stages. According to Opta, “La Roja” has a more than 50% chance of reaching the quarter-finals and a 25.6% chance of playing in the final.
Lamine Yamal, who is coming off a strong season with Barcelona, also plays a key role in Spain’s hopes. The group also includes Rodri, Pedri, Ferran Torres, Mikel Oyarzabal and Mikel Merino.
Argentina enter the tournament as defending champions, with Lionel Messi expected to once again lead the team. Meanwhile, France will be looking for another major final, England aim to end their long wait for a major trophy, and Brazil are seeking a return to glory after many years.
According to Opta, only 35.9% of simulations predict that the 2026 World Cup will be won by a national team that has not previously won the trophy.