The 2026 FIFA World Cup is just over a month away, and as anticipation builds up, so do expectations. How will the host countries of Mexico, Canada and the United States fare?
Will this be the year that the trophy comes home to England (Football was founded in England in 1863)? Will we see a potential final matchup between the two goats, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi? There’s a myriad of questions and hypotheticals to run through.
With the groups finalized last week, the sporting world can begin making its predictions for this quadrennial event, which is where this story begins.
I am a relatively new fan of the world’s game, having started watching football in 2023. What drew me in is the hooligan fans, but more specifically, the famous Arsenal Football Club fan, TroopzTV. Troopz, who is only known by that moniker, is like a cross between a Philadelphia sports fan and a WWE character. Some of his rant videos could be seen as satire, but I can assure you, they are not; He’s just an overly-passionate Arsenal fan.
However, I have picked up considerable knowledge about the game and have been told by more veteran fans that I know the ball.
Does that give me the credentials to make fool-proof predictions? Likely not, but what if I do make perfect predictions?
Time to dive into it.
Group A – Mexico, South Africa, the Republic of Korea, and the Czech Republic
This group is kind of a toss-up for me, as I think any of these teams could potentially finish at the top of the group, or even in the top two spots.
In fact, with the new format, the top three teams will progress into a new 32-team knockout stage, which means that there will be significantly more games than in the past.
1. The Czech Republic
The Czech Republic should win this group based on pure talent, as they feature quality players from European teams like Patrik Schick, center-forward for Bayer Leverkusen 04 F.C. (German Bundesliga), and Pavel Šulc, attacking midfielder of Olympique Lyonnais (French Ligue 1).
In fact, the Czech Republic features six players in the top five European football leagues (France, Germany, Spain, Italy, and England), which shows some pedigree. I would be shocked if this team doesn’t at least finish in the top 2.
2. South Korea
If South Korea had Son Heung-Min, left winger for Los Angeles F.C., in his prime (U.S. MLS), they would probably be a lock for first. However, he is 33 and reaching the tail end of his career, but he probably still has some left in the tank.
As for other players, Lee Kang-in, attacking midfielder for Paris Saint-Germain F.C. (French Ligue 1) and Kim Min-jae of FC Bayern Munich (German Bundesliga) are solid players who should get an automatic qualification into the next round.
3. South Africa
For the final qualification spot in Group A, I am going with a surprising pick, with South Africa instead of Mexico. Lyle Foster, center forward for Burnley F.C. (English Premier League), is the major player in the spotlight here, but aside from that, the team doesn’t have much more eye-popping talent.
However, if they play disciplined, they could potentially earn some ties, which could get them over the line.
4. Mexico
Which means that the odd team out is Mexico, which enters the tournament with considerable pressure as a host nation. They have considerably more talent than South Africa, but do they have the composure to live up to the pressure?
I am going to go with no, but I could be talked out of that pretty easily. This will be the closest group by far, as none of these teams have players who are bona fide superstars. It means that the teams that do qualify from this group will likely run into a buzzsaw later on in the tournament.
I could be wrong, though.
Group B – Canada, Switzerland, Qatar, and Bosnia
1. Switzerland
Group B is a more normal group with two clear favorites to progress.
As for the winner, I am picking Switzerland to finish above the rest. Switzerland has a strong goalkeeper in Gregor Kobel of Borussia Dortmund F.C. (German Bundesliga), which is something that all teams need if they want to go far in the tournament.
As for infield players, Noah Okafor, left winger of Leeds United F.C. (English Premier League) and Denis Zakaria, defensive midfielder of Association Sportive de Monaco F.C. (French Ligue 1), have been solid for their clubs this season. Granit Xhaka, defensive midfielder for Sunderland United F.C. (English Premier League), brings experience and passion, along with being one of the biggest reasons for Sunderland’s success this season in their return to the English Premier League.
Switzerland’s team is consistently strong in the World Cup, and that will remain the case in 2026.
2. Canada
In second place, Canada is the clear option.
They have strong players such as Jonathan David, center forward for Juventus FC (Italian Serie A) and Ismaël Koné, central midfielder of U.S. Sassuolo Calcio F.C. (Italian Serie A). David is Canada’s biggest goal-scoring threat, so he will likely be crucial to the team’s success.
However, the major X-Factor for the host nation’s long-term success is Alphonso Davies, left back for Bayern Munich F.C. (German Bundesliga).
Davies recently suffered a right hamstring strain in Bayern Munich UEFA (Union of European Football Associations) Champions League round of 16 match, which is a nagging injury in the sporting world.
Depending on how strong Davies’ health is, Canada could finish first, but for now, I would safely place them in second.
3. Bosnia
Third place is another clear choice, being Bosnia, which is a better team than they’re given credit for.
They feature four players within the top five European football leagues, the best of which are Ermedin Demirović, center forward for Verein für Bewegungsspiele Stuttgart (German Bundesliga) and Tarik Muharemović, centerback for US Sassuolo Calcio F.C.(German Bundesliga).
Despite being ranked 65th in the FIFA World ranking, I think Bosnia could make some noise, as they feature a relatively young team (average age 26), and as the tournament goes on, fatigue could provide some interesting results.
4. Qatar
Finally, Qatar, which features no players in the top five European football leagues, will probably struggle in this tournament due to a talent gap.
They could maybe draw against Bosnia, but I don’t see them winning any games, let alone progressing to the round of 32.
Group C – Brazil, Morocco, Scotland, and Haiti
1. Brazil
Brazil, which has historically been a team that has been the crown jewel of the World’s Game, has been anything but that as of late.
They have consistently underperformed in the World Cup, having lost in the quarter-finals in 2018 and 2022, and lost agonizingly in the 2014 World Cup to Germany in the infamous 7-1 loss. Making matters worse, their past managers have been in limbo, as they have had three managers in the past three years.
However, this World Cup, “Don Carlo”, more widely known as Carlo Ancelotti, takes the helm.
Carletto is widely known as one of the greatest managers in the history of world football, having won five Champions League titles and six domestic titles in France, Spain (twice with Real Madrid), Italy, England, and Germany. He most recently managed Real Madrid F.C., winning two Champions League trophies in 2022 and 2024.
Ancelotti was brought in partially for his managerial expertise and calm demeanor, but also for his relationship with Vinícius Júnior, left winger for Real Madrid F.C. (La Liga).
Vinícius is one of the best footballers in the world, but his maturity can be questioned, particularly in 2026. While his explosiveness and talent on the left wing are incredible, he can be hard to coach.
Also, Vinícius’s form seems to drop when he plays for Brazil, which is something Ancelotti needs to improve. Regardless, Ancelotti won two UEFA Champions League UCL titles with Vinícius, which proves that he can manage the player’s ego and get the absolute best out of him.
Outside of Vinícius, Brazil has incredible talent, featuring 12 players from the top five European Leagues. This includes Matheus Cunha, center forward for Manchester United F.C. (English Premier League), Gabriel Martinelli, left winger for Arsenal F.C. (English Premier League) and Gabriel Magalhães, center back for Arsenal F.C.
Martinelli is another explosive winger off the bench for Brazil, while Magalhães is a staunch defender and excellent in set-pieces. The talent is massive for Brazil, but will they show up when the lights are the brightest?
2. Morocco
From a talent perspective, Morocco has a deep roster, featuring 15 players from the top five European Leagues.
Some key players include Achraf Hakimi, right back for Paris Saint-Germain F.C., Brahim Díaz, right winger of Real Madrid, and Ismael Saibari, attacking midfielder of Philips Sport Vereniging Eindhoven( Dutch Eredivisie). Hakimi is one of the best right-backs in world football, while Díaz is an excellent attacker, who pairs for a relentless attack on the right side.
Currently ranked eighth in the FIFA World Cup ranking, Morocco could go far in the tournament, especially if Brazil doesn’t have composure. Some could pick Morocco as a dark-horse team to win the group, but I think Brazil just has more world-class players.
3. Scotland
Scotland, which hasn’t qualified for the World Cup since 1998, is a team to watch, despite their lesser talent. They play a very pragmatic style of football, utilizing a five-defender lineup and deploying a low-block in their defensive line (Also known as “parking the bus.”)
While there could be a debate on the ethicalness of this style, it has produced results. That’s why they’re here over more talented teams like Italy and Jamaica.
Some players that define this gritty style of play are Scott McTominay, central midfielder for Napoli FC (Italian Serie A), Andrew Robertson, leftback for Liverpool F.C. (English Premier League), and Kieran Tierney, left back/center back for Celtic F.C. (Scottish Premiership).
Scotland has some talented players, don’t get me wrong, but they are here primarily due to their commitment to their system, which, if utilized properly, could result in success at the World Cup.
4. Haiti
Haiti, unfortunately, drew a hard group, as they have some talented players, featuring three from the big five European Leagues. If they had been drawn into Group A, I think they would have a chance, but this is the group they are in.
Their two best players are Wilson Isidor, center forward for Sunderland Association F.C. (English Premier League), and Jean-Ricner Bellegarde, central midfielder of Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. (English Premier League).
Haiti might have a chance at earning a draw against Scotland, which could make things interesting, but they have no chance against the giants of Brazil and Morocco, unfortunately.
Group D – United States, Paraguay, Australia, and Turkey
1. United States
As an American, I cannot pick against the United States, at least in the group stage. However, that is not the reason I am picking them to win the group.
The United States has quietly been building a solid team, and with the appointment of Argentinian manager Mauricio Pochettino, a manager with a winning pedigree, having won a French Domestic Trophy in 2022 (With Paris Saint-Germain, which is all but guaranteed to win every year, but that’s not relevant).
The U.S. has some considerable talent, featuring 14 players from the top five European leagues. The best players include Christian Pulisic, right winger for Athletic Club Milan (Italian Serie A), Weston McKennie, central midfielder for Juventus, and Malik Tillman, of Bayer Leverkusen.
I could definitely see the U.S. making it as far as the round of 16, and potentially further with the roster that they currently have. All hail Pochettino!
2. Turkey
Fans of the United States celebrated landing an easy group, and if you looked only at Australia, that is probably true. However, Turkey and Paraguay aren’t pushovers by any means.
Turkey features nine players from Europe’s best leagues, and there are some heavy hitters in the squad. Arda Güler, attacking midfielder at Real Madrid, is a young talent with excellent skills and will give opposing defenses fits on the pitch. Kenan Yildiz, left winger at Juventus F.C., is an explosive winger who will be a handful for opposing right-backs. Finally, Hakan Çalhanoğlu, defensive midfielder of Inter Milan F.C. (Italian Serie A), who is a bit older at 32, but his intelligence and anticipation are matched by few.
Turkey will give the United States a run for their money.
3. Paraguay
Paraguay is a bit of a step behind Turkey in the talent department, as they only feature two solid players: Diego Gómez, central midfielder for Brighton & Hove Albion (English Premier League), and Julio Enciso, attacking midfielder from Racing Club de Strasbourg Alsace (French Ligue 1). These two will likely perform well, but the team will likely exit in the round of 32, as teams that make it that far need world-class players, which is something Paraguay lacks.
4. Australia
Every FIFA World Cup features a team that is happy to be here. Australia is the team that is happy to be here. They have one player considered solid. That’s Alessandro Circati, center back for Parma Calcio 1913 (Italian Serie A).
The rest of the team features players from mostly second-division clubs in Europe and Major League Soccer teams in the U.S.
If Australia earns a draw at the World Cup, that would be impressive.
FIFA World Cup Contenders- Switzerland, Brazil, United States, Turkey and Morocco
Of all the teams discussed above, Brazil, Turkey, and Morocco are the most likely to make it to at least the round of 16, and in Brazil’s case, anything short of the semi-finals is a disappointment.
The United States and Switzerland will likely bow out in the round of 32, as they lag slightly behind in the world-class talent.
In next week’s issue of ShieldSource, I will be covering Groups E-H, which features teams like Germany, Ecuador, Netherlands, Sweden, Belgium, Spain, and Uruguay.