World Cup 2026 Predictions, Fixtures & AI Tips

Download our official World Cup 2026 wall chart with all 104 matches, kickoff times, host city locations, and the complete tournament https://world-cup-2026.us.com/ schedule on a single printable poster. We offer a free premium printable World Cup 2026 bracket in both Letter and A4 formats. Choose between blank fillable versions for office pools and predictions, or live versions updated with real results as the tournament progresses.

Your bracket saves locally in your browser; you can come back later or share via a link. The notes on the page explain how Annex C governs the knockout pairings. Click Share to generate a unique link you can send via WhatsApp, X, Discord, or email — friends open the link and can copy your picks to make their own. Opening that link reproduces the exact bracket, which allows predictions to be compared or revisited later.

• Many members of the Red Devils’ ‘Golden Generation’ remain in the fold, even if the years are starting to catch up with them.
• While it’s hard to see them going the distance, especially with 5 knockout matches now, the German’s know how to win this tournament and can’t be counted out against any opponent they come across.
• You can still rank groups first for a fuller saved prediction.
• Google’s chatbot did, initially, name the French among a five-team group of “top betting contenders” – a quintet which, as with CoPilot, also included Argentina, Brazil, England and Spain.
• FIFA has launched its World Cup Bracket Challenge through FIFA Play Zone, allowing fans to predict how the 2026 tournament will play out.
• Cricket and boxing are his other major sporting passions and he has covered the likes of Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury, Wladimir Klitschko, Gennadiy Golovkin and Vasyl Lomachenko live from ringside.
• Use Print / Save PDF for a printable copy, or Copy share link to create a URL that saves all of your picks so you can share your predictions.
• South Korea and Czechia appear to be the likeliest candidates to challenge El Tri for the throne, but the 10-time Gold Cup winners should live up to their billing.
• They’ve consistently found ways to advance deep into tournaments, and that experience matters.
• I’m taking Czechia and Mexico to advance, with South Korea finishing as one of the best third‑place teams behind Son Heung-Min.
• Click Share to generate a unique link you can send via WhatsApp, X, Discord, or email — friends open the link and can copy your picks to make their own.

While the qualification rules may seem complex, all calculations are fully automated using built-in Excel formulas, so you don’t need to worry about manual ranking. The 2026 FIFA World Cup—the biggest football tournament in the world—will take place in the United States, Canada, and Mexico from June 11 to July 19, 2026. Unlike the 2022 edition held in December, the tournament returns to the traditional summer schedule, making it even more exciting for fans worldwide. Argentina vs Portugal – If there’s a nation equipped and motivated enough to end another title-winning campaign for Lionel Messi, it’s Roberto Martinez’s side.

Colombia vs. Spain

After the top two from each group qualify, the third-place finishers from all 12 groups are compared against one another, and the eight best advance to complete the 32-team knockout bracket. The expanded structure introduced a new Round of 32 knockout stage, and the simulator reflects that format exactly, including the rule that sends the eight best third-place teams into the knockout bracket. La Roja swept all before them, winning six of their seven matches inside 90 minutes and only requiring extra-time to eliminate hosts Germany in the quarter-final. They scored 15 goals in the tournament – four more than anyone else.

Attack-minded USMNT try to peak at right time as World Cup nears

• Their squad is built heavily from Dutch-raised players, and the team qualified by staying unbeaten in the final phase of qualifying.
• The 2026 FIFA World Cup is the first edition to feature 48 nations and the first hosted by three countries — the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
• Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more.
• The fixture has all the makings of a potential group decider between the two highest-ranked nations in the bracket, with both sides renewing acquaintances at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, meeting for the sixth time in their history.
• Canada will look to use their energy and attacking style, while Bosnia & Herzegovina will rely on experience and tactical structure.
• The group stage presents all 12 groups and their 72 matches with live standings, where each group plays a single round-robin and the top two teams advance directly to the Round of 32.
• With a 14.1% chance, France are the supercomputer’s second favourites, just behind Spain, who beat them 5-4 in the semi-finals of the UEFA Nations League in June.
• A third option fills only the matches that remain undecided, which preserves any picks already made.
• Mohamed Salah will be motivated to prove he remains world class as Egypt’s leader, though after a season full of diminishing returns and muscle injuries, it’s a tall ask.
• This change significantly alters both the group stage and the knockout bracket.
• Argentina dominated the CONMEBOL World Cup qualification group, finishing nine points clear of second-placed Ecuador, and last year they also retained the Copa América for the first time since 1993.
• But the prospect of two icons duelling to end the tournament in the lead should be absorbing viewing.

Ivory Coast return to the World Cup after a 12‑year absence, built around a core of prime‑age players. While their physicality and attacking threat stand out, their defense is arguably their greatest strength, led by Roma’s Evan N’Dicka. That said, Senegal appear the more complete side, with greater star power likely to make the difference.

Group F: Netherlands in Control, Japan and Sweden Fighting to Advance

With history on the line, I see France growing complacent, allowing Portugal to seize the moment with a historic 1–0 victory, ending Cristiano Ronaldo’s legendary career with ultimate glory. Portugal enter the tournament as legitimate title contenders for good reason. Their roster is stacked with talent from back to front, and the possibility of Ronaldo’s final World Cup only sharpens the focus. Bosnia’s effort and organization should not be overlooked, but overcoming a Portuguese side featuring players like Rafael Leao, Vitinha and Bruno Fernandes would require something exceptional. The Netherlands enter as a world‑class side looking to make a statement.

Experience the New 48-Team Format

Canada will look to use their energy and attacking style, while Bosnia & Herzegovina will rely on experience and tactical structure. With all teams eager to begin strongly, these opening games could set the tone for the rest of the tournament. This is the kind of group where one slow performance can end your hopes quickly.

As reported by HITC, the episode contains no reference to the FIFA World Cup, 2026, or any official international competition. The match exists only within a satirical advertisement in Springfield and is not connected to structured sporting forecasts. At 41 years old, this will almost certainly be Cristiano Ronaldo’s final World Cup. CR7 has been the focal point of Portugal for more than 20 years, and with a ton of top-tier talent around him such as Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, Vitinha and Joao Felix, there’s a lot to like about the Portuguese. However, Portugal’s best hopes of winning might actually rest on not making Ronaldo the focal point, and instead focusing on their strength in depth. Several years before the explosion of AI technology, Klement developed a “proprietary econometric” projection model that accurately forecast Germany as winners of the 2014 World Cup.

The page is built for tournament intent before the first match. It gives searchers one place for dates, teams to follow, prediction markets, and the analysis workflow ScorePoint AI will apply once match-level data is available. Follow the 2026 tournament with AI football predictions, fixture context, correct score probabilities, BTTS, over/under goals, and market signals as the World Cup approaches. Debutants Uzbekistan are seen as having a slightly better chance of impressing than the other new nations, as they have a 0.2% chance of going all the way. A more realistic aim might be getting through the groups after impressing in AFC qualification – beating out sides like Qatar and United Arab Emirates.

World Cup 2026 Group D key fixture: USA vs. Turkey

• Mere weeks into Jesse Marsch’s reign, Canada reached the semi-finals on their Copa América debut, losing 2-0 to eventual winners Argentina.
• Match-level coverage can expand as fixture and prediction data becomes available.
• Predictions cover Final Result, Under/Over, Both Teams to Score, Correct Score, xG, Corners, and Ball Possession.
• Rank each of the 12 groups (including third-place candidates), pick your champion from any team, save locally, and share a link with friends.
• The match exists only within a satirical advertisement in Springfield and is not connected to structured sporting forecasts.
• The United States have also progressed to the knockout rounds in each of their last three appearances, although their journey ended in the round of 16 on every occasion, most recently following a defeat to the Netherlands in Qatar.
• Argentina vs. England feels like one that will need longer than 90 minutes to settle.
• Egypt progressing through CAF qualification undefeated as Belgium manage a period of transition away from their golden generation feel like relevant factors.
• The automatic mode uses the official FIFA rankings published on April 1, 2026, converted into a team strength value.

But a stunning defeat to Guatemala, in another shootout, ended Canada’s Gold Cup campaign at the quarter-final stage and brought them crashing down to earth. France became the sixth team to win the World Cup as hosts in 1998, but no side has accomplished the feat since then. That previous dry spell ended, of course, in the United States, and Brazil are assigned a 5.6% chance of another stateside triumph. Next year, it will have been 24 years since Brazil last lifted the World Cup.

Bracket 2026 is a free World Cup predictor — rank the 12 groups, pick your champion, save locally, and share a link with friends. The tool is a prediction model, not a forecast of guaranteed results. It uses real FIFA rankings and a weighted probability system to produce realistic outcomes, but football results are unpredictable, and the simulator is designed to reflect that uncertainty. Simulating, playing Prono, and following live results are all free. Create a free account only when you want to save your bracket or join the prediction league. Enter exact scorelines for any match and the built-in World Cup qualification calculator instantly recalculates group standings, points, goal difference, and qualification status.

Germany are the supercomputer’s fifth favourites with a 7.1% chance of winning a record-equalling fifth World Cup. The only one other team assigned more than a one-in-10 chance of becoming world champions is England, who are out to end 60 years of hurt at major tournaments. Much will depend on the form and fitness of key men but, all things being equal, Spain have the edge on France right now. Argentina vs. England feels like one that will need longer than 90 minutes to settle. But one of those squads has reached these games and lost recently, the other has reached them and won. The Netherlands’ world ranking of No. 7 feels a touch too high.

This contest may be decided in extra time or penalties, favoring Senegal. The 2026 World Cup will be the first tournament to feature 48 teams, expanding from the traditional 32-team format used from 1998 through 2022. This change significantly alters both the group stage and the knockout bracket.

World Cup Group H Preview: Spain, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia, Cabo Verde

South Korea and Czechia appear to be the likeliest candidates to challenge El Tri for the throne, but the 10-time Gold Cup winners should live up to their billing. Before bowing out in the group stages four years ago in Qatar, Mexico had reached the knockout phase at seven consecutive World Cups. With Javier Aguirre at the helm now, they look likely to achieve that feat again. The content on this site is for entertainment purposes only and CBS Sports makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the information given or the outcome of any game or event. This site contains commercial content and CBS Sports may be compensated for the links provided on this site. My feeling is that Haiti are the most likely team in that group to be eliminated.

Knockout Stage Automation:

• They fared slightly better with our model than the other first-timers Curaçao and Jordan (both 0.04%).
• England (+650) round out the top three in the 2026 World Cup odds, while Brazil (+750) are the biggest soccer favorites outside of Europe.
• Fresh off a dominant qualifying cycle, England enter the tournament as one of the top favourites to take home the most prestigious international title.
• Haaland struck 16 of those goals, matching Robert Lewandowski’s 2018 record for the most prolific UEFA World Cup qualification campaign.
• It is little surprise, then, that Spain are our predictive model’s early World Cup favourites, going all the way in 17.0% of tournament predictions.
• The predictor is mobile-first — tap to rank groups and pick a champion, no drag-and-drop required.
• The auto-simulate feature uses FIFA rankings as of April 2026 and a weighted probability model.
• Julian Nagelsmann’s side were beaten in the quarter-finals on home soil at Euro 2024, marking the first time Germany have appeared at four major tournaments (World Cup/Euros) in a row without reaching a semi-final at any of them.
• The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be the biggest tournament in history, featuring 48 teams, 104 matches, and a brand-new Round of 32 format.
• Group standings update automatically with proper FIFA tiebreakers (points, goal difference, goals scored, head-to-head).
• This knockout matchup is a close one, but Morocco hold the edge.
• At the former tournament, Ronaldo was dropped for a last-16 tie against Switzerland after a series of ineffective displays, and his replacement Gonçalo Ramos scored a hat-trick in a 6-1 win.
• Germany are the supercomputer’s fifth favourites with a 7.1% chance of winning a record-equalling fifth World Cup.
• The only one other team assigned more than a one-in-10 chance of becoming world champions is England, who are out to end 60 years of hurt at major tournaments.

The FIFA World Cup 2026 simulator is an interactive tool that models the entire tournament, from the group stage through the final at MetLife Stadium. It covers all 48 teams, 12 groups, and 104 matches of the first 48-nation World Cup, allowing match winners to be selected by hand or generated automatically from FIFA rankings. The result is a complete, shareable bracket that follows the official tournament format.

Live scores for every match of the 2026 World Cup, in your timezone. The World Cup simulator is completely free to use, with no signup required and no limits on how many times you can simulate the tournament. The FIFA World Cup gets underway on June 11, with 48 nations battling it out for the most coveted trophy in global soccer. The United States have also progressed to the knockout rounds in each of their last three appearances, although their journey ended in the round of 16 on every occasion, most recently following a defeat to the Netherlands in Qatar.

World Cup Semifinal Predictions: Our Picks

The other opener between Ecuador and Ivory Coast feels like a game where a win will be richly rewarded. To help soccer fans plan ahead, I created this interactive 2026 FIFA World Cup Bracket Predictor. You can rank every team in all 12 groups, select the eight best third-place finishers, build your complete knockout bracket, and see where each team could play throughout the tournament.

A system that blends socioeconomic variables with sporting data, it also foresaw France and Argentina’s victories in 2018 and 2022, respectively. Google’s chatbot did, initially, name the French among a five-team group of “top betting contenders” – a quintet which, as with CoPilot, also included Argentina, Brazil, England and Spain. But, when asked to single out its likeliest winner, Gemini nominated the Spaniards. Appearing at their first World Cup since 1998, the Tartan Army are given a 0.2% chance of lifting the trophy, level with the likes of South Africa, Australia, Iran and Tunisia. Pochettino has had no choice but to experiment – in November, Giovani Reyna’s return to the squad saw him become the 51st player to start a game for the USMNT in 2025. Pochettino’s side did reach the final of the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup, despite star names including Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, Folarin Balogun and Antonee Robinson missing the tournament.

Given that France have contested the last two World Cup finals, CoPilot added, their consistency at major tournaments also makes them the best bet. “No other team has matched that level of sustained performance,” the chatbot declared. Haaland struck 16 of those goals, matching Robert Lewandowski’s 2018 record for the most prolific UEFA World Cup qualification campaign. Lewandowski scored his tally in 10 games, two more than Haaland.

Track your path to 2026 World Cup glory with The Straits Times’ results simulator

In the simulator’s model, the highest-ranked nations such as France, Spain, and Argentina win most often, since match probabilities are weighted by FIFA rankings. Lower-ranked teams still advance regularly, so no outcome is guaranteed. Manual selection chooses a winner or a draw for each match, with standings updating instantly using the official tiebreakers. Automatic simulation fills every match using FIFA rankings and a weighted probability model, then crowns a champion.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s last chance to lead Portugal to World Cup glory should begin with a relatively straightforward group-stage campaign, even though Colombia possess the quality to make life uncomfortable for the Iberians. Argentina’s quest to become just the third nation in World Cup history to successfully defend their title should face no real threat in Group J. However, there’s a good reason why Switzerland are odds-on to walk away with a top-table finish, having progressed from the group stages in four of their five World Cup appearances this century.

World Cup 2026 Office Pool Spreadsheet

Netherlands vs Morocco – Even though the odds may be stacked against them, Morocco’s knack for upsetting elite opposition could produce the first major shock of the tournament. However, history is unlikely to repeat itself this time around, at least for the back-to-back World Cup finalists. Tunisia’s unenviable record of failing to advance from the group stage in each of their six previous World Cup campaigns suggests they could struggle to keep pace with the rest of the pack. Expectations are sky-high in Mauricio Pochettino’s corner, yet the United States’ recent World Cup performances cannot inspire confidence, even though they’ve reached the knockouts in three of the last four tournaments.

World Cup Format Explained (48 Teams, Knockout Path)

They have only endured one previous drought of that length since first winning the tournament in 1958, between 1970 and 1994. Brazil are the only side to qualify for every edition of the World Cup, though the Seleção cut things a little too fine this time around, finishing fifth in CONMEBOL’s qualifiers. Portugal went out to France at the next stage, as Ronaldo ended the tournament without a goal from 23 shots and 3.6 xG – the second-highest tally at the competition. Germany have at least scraped into Pot 1 for the group-stage draw, taking the 12th and final spot among the top seeds, ahead of Croatia, and despite question marks it would be rash not to consider them as contenders at this stage. After watching his team fall agonisingly short on penalties against Argentina in Qatar, he has another chance to become only the second coach to win multiple World Cups (after Vittorio Pozzo in 1934 and 1938).

Germany arguably played some of the best football at Euro 2024, ranking second for average possession (62.5%) and goals scored (11), but Nagelsmann has plenty of selection dilemmas to consider. Their route to this World Cup was not completely smooth, either, as they were left needing victory over Slovakia in their final Group A game to avoid the play-offs. But they won that match by a statement 6-0 scoreline, with Nick Woltemade, Serge Gnabry and Leroy Sané among the goals. Julian Nagelsmann’s side were beaten in the quarter-finals on home soil at Euro 2024, marking the first time Germany have appeared at four major tournaments (World Cup/Euros) in a row without reaching a semi-final at any of them. But by the time next year’s tournament rolls around, it will have been 12 years since Germany played a knockout game at a World Cup.

ABOUT OUR WORLD CUP PREDICTIONS

Two of the biggest superstar forwards in the game clash when Kylian Mbappe’s France take on Erling Haaland’s Norway in Group I. Norway beat Italy twice to get here and have a fine generation of talent. Senegal are live contenders in the group too and will be eyeing a repeat of their seismic win over Les Bleus at the 2002 World Cup. Spain are the European champions and keen to make up for a string of underwhelming World Cup showings since their 2010 success, while England under Thomas Tuchel are looking to end 60 years of hurt. Japan have built significant momentum in the lead-up to the tournament with six consecutive victories, including successes against Brazil and England. SoccerPrediction.io provides football-related statistics, analysis, and informational content for general reference purposes only. The World Cup standings show current table positions, points totals, and recent form for all teams.

We share FIFA World Cup 2026 updates for informational purposes only. A dedicated section in the simulator lists all twelve third-place teams in ranked order, with a clear cutoff line after the eighth position so that the qualifiers and the eliminated teams are easy to identify. Dive deeper into the tournament with our guides, analysis, and complete team profiles. Mauricio Pochettino will spearhead the United States Men’s National Team, with ambitions of advancing to their first quarterfinal since 2002, via The Mirror US. But with so many contenders in the running, who will ultimately lift the trophy?

Whether you want to simulate the World Cup match-by-match or get instant World Cup 2026 predictions for the full tournament, this free tool covers all 48 teams across 12 groups and the 32-team knockout bracket. Adjust scores, apply official tiebreaker rules, and see which teams qualify for the knockout phase in real time. The expanded 2026 format means more teams advance from the group stage into the knockout bracket, making every goal crucial.

Test “what if” scenarios for any team to see exactly what they need to advance to the Round of 32. Get the latest World Cup 2026 predictions and betting tips, powered by our AI algorithm, NT Apex. We have analyzed 64 matches across 8 teams in the World Cup 2026, achieving a best-tip accuracy of over 71.9%.

Ronaldo, Messi and Ochoa lead historic age-defying 2026 World Cup rosters

• Sixteen venues across the United States, Canada and Mexico will play host to the biggest-ever edition of the tournament, with the number of teams increasing from 32 and 48 and the tally of games upped from 64 to 104.
• Both teams have enough quality to make this a very close contest.
• It’s the perfect opportunity to create your free World Cup 2026 prediction pool with Prodefy and compete with friends during the longest and most exciting tournament ever.
• South Korea vs Bosnia & Herzegovina – Despite overcoming Italy in the qualifying play-offs, this tie could spell the end of Bosnia’s World Cup journey.
• Create a free account only when you want to save your bracket or join the prediction league.
• I thought it would become an exercise in showing the hubris of economists who think they can forecast anything with a model, even if it is effectively a random outcome.
• Against a hungry and well‑organized Netherlands side, Brazil appear vulnerable, with this matchup favoring the Dutch.
• France became the sixth team to win the World Cup as hosts in 1998, but no side has accomplished the feat since then.
• Vinicius Junior has battled inconsistency, while Raphinha’s form has been disrupted by injuries.
• For each of 12 groups, rank teams from 1st through 4th place.
• Argentina enter as defending champion, but without Angel Di Maria, one of the anchors of their last run, they lack the same spark.
• Kindly be advised that all odds are accurate as of the publication date and time indicated, and they may be subject to alterations.
• The tool is a prediction model, not a forecast of guaranteed results.
• Whether you want to forecast the whole tournament, compete with friends, or just watch the games — we’ve got you covered.
• Argentina would dearly love to become the first country to retain the title since Italy way back in 1938, But this Spain are too young, too fast, too technical and too good.

Portugal’s depth and momentum give them the edge, and I see them pulling off the upset to reach their first World Cup final. Group A is a difficult group, with three teams capable of advancing. Czechia holds a narrow edge thanks to their combination of veterans like Tomas Soucek and Patrik Schick, as well as somewhat newcomers in Ladislav Krejci and Pavel Sulc.

World Cup 2026 Goal Stats Tracker Spreadsheet

Algeria are first up for Messi & Co, with tournament debutants Jordan also looking to make an impression. Their recent form also suggests it will be difficult to make their first knockout round appearance, having won just one of their last six matches (D3, L2). Sweden are set to make just their second World Cup appearance since 2006, despite finishing bottom of their qualifying group with two points to their name. Here, Sports Mole provides an in-depth preview for Group F of the 2026 World Cup, including predicted standings and every nation’s key player. The World Cup predictions page offers structured coverage of the tournament across all stages. Statistical summaries highlight performance trends across World Cup, including attacking and defensive records.

Ancelotti was only in charge for the final five games of their campaign, but less than eight months into his reign, he has already overseen surprise defeats to Bolivia and Japan, as well as poor draws with Ecuador and Tunisia. And after Messi finally ended his wait for a World Cup win in Qatar, Portugal are assigned a 6.6% chance of giving Ronaldo his own crowning moment. Messi has shown no signs of slowing down, helping Inter Miami reach the Major League Soccer Cup final while contributing a staggering 35 goals and providing 21 assists in MLS action this year. With a 14.1% chance, France are the supercomputer’s second favourites, just behind Spain, who beat them 5-4 in the semi-finals of the UEFA Nations League in June. Ahead of this week’s draw, we have taken a deep dive into the Opta supercomputer’s first set of World Cup predictions to assess who is most likely to lift the trophy.

In a three-match group, one slow start can ruin everything, and Haiti will probably need a near-perfect game to take points from Brazil or Morocco. If they manage to stay alive until Matchday 3, they will already have done well. To fill out a bracket, fans can visit FIFA’s bracket predictor page and sign in or create a FIFA account. FIFA has launched its World Cup Bracket Challenge through FIFA Play Zone, allowing fans to predict how the 2026 tournament will play out. Germany’s recent World Cup campaigns have fallen short since their 2014 triumph. While they showed promise at UEFA EURO 2024, France enter with superior depth and balance.

Australia star player: Nestory Irankunda

They remain phenomenally strong, although there are plenty of questions surrounding five-time winners Brazil under Carlo Ancelotti. Co-hosts the United States, Canada and Mexico will all fancy their chances of progressing into the knockout rounds and giving fans memories to cherish. The fixtures section displays upcoming World Cup matches by matchweek, including kickoff times and scheduled pairings. Simply enter match scores, and the spreadsheet updates everything automatically—including group rankings and knockout pairings based on the new FIFA rules. USA, Mexico, and Canada are the host nations, while Argentina enters as the defending champion. A total of 104 matches will be played, more than ever in history.

According to the official Olympics explainer, the tournament will be the largest in history, featuring 48 teams and co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Short-form video platforms have further amplified the spread through edited versions that remove context and add captions implying predictive meaning. HITC reporting also notes the footage has repeatedly resurfaced during major tournaments, rebranded each time as a supposed prediction. All things considered, Spain are the rightful favorites to win the 2026 FIFA World Cup and are worth locking in at +450 odds. La Roja have a fairly straightforward group with Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia and Uruguay, and their riches in attack should see them rack up plenty of goals against their opponents.

Now, Green has broken down the 2026 World Cup draw from all sides and released his picks, predictions and futures bets. You can head to SportsLine now to see Green’s 2026 World Cup picks. Jordan have earned respect by becoming one of Asia’s most improved teams, and they will not go to North America just to make up the numbers. But the jump from breakthrough side to World Cup knockout contender is huge. Argentina’s quality, Austria’s organization, and Algeria’s tournament experience make Jordan a clear underdog in that group.

This page provides comprehensive coverage of the FIFA World Cup, the most prestigious international soccer tournament. Here you’ll find match predictions, upcoming fixtures, recent results, group standings, knockout stage progress, and key statistics to help follow the World Cup tournament. The new format advances the top 2 from each group plus the 8 best third-place teams to a round of 32. A total of 104 matches will be played across 16 cities, including iconic venues like MetLife Stadium (New York), Estadio Azteca (Mexico City), AT&T Stadium (Dallas) and SoFi Stadium (Los Angeles). That could make the bracket less predictable, especially if a team starts slowly but still does enough to advance. It also means goal differential and group-stage results could play a major role in shaping the knockout matchups.

In addition to the top eight favourites, there are two other teams given at least a 2% chance of winning the World Cup – Norway (2.3%) and Colombia (2.0%). The Netherlands have reached the most World Cup finals without ever lifting the trophy (three), and they are the eighth and final team assigned more than a 5% chance of triumphing next year, at 5.2%. Sixteen venues across the United States, Canada and Mexico will play host to the biggest-ever edition of the tournament, with the number of teams increasing from 32 and 48 and the tally of games upped from 64 to 104.

Perfect for running a World Cup prediction game at the office or among friends. Share your group link directly on WhatsApp, Telegram or any messaging app. Track everyone’s points updated in real time during every match. Turkey vs Best 3rd place Group B/E/F/I/J – Despite their lengthy absence from football’s biggest stage, the Crescent-Stars might return with a bang. Mexico vs Best 3rd place Group C/E/F/H/I – Since suffering a quarter-final elimination on home soil in 1986, Mexico have reached the round of 16 in seven of their eight World Cup appearances.

• Teams can survive the group stage without being dominant, adding a new level of strategy and scoreboard-watching.
• I’m taking a risk on Jordan to claim a knockout place and Algeria edging out Austria in an upset as one of the top third-place teams to advance to the Round of 32.
• Brazil haven’t won the World Cup since 2002 and will hope to end that drought, while host nations USA, Mexico and Canada will all look to leave their mark.
• But the likes of Enzo Fernández and Julián Alvarez have kicked on in the last two years, and any team which has Messi has a chance of going all the way – a creditable 8.7% chance, according to the supercomputer.
• It is the first World Cup with 48 teams and the first co-hosted by three nations.
• And there has been no downturn from De la Fuente’s side since.
• SoccerPrediction.io provides football-related statistics, analysis, and informational content for general reference purposes only.
• Hopefully, there’s plenty riding on their match that closes the group.
• Brazil’s bid for a sixth world title begins in a mouthwatering showdown with Morocco, who reached the semifinals last time around and stormed through CAF qualifying.
• Expectations are sky-high in Mauricio Pochettino’s corner, yet the United States’ recent World Cup performances cannot inspire confidence, even though they’ve reached the knockouts in three of the last four tournaments.
• Mauricio Pochettino will spearhead the United States Men’s National Team, with ambitions of advancing to their first quarterfinal since 2002, via The Mirror US.
• Choose group outcomes, pick the knockout winners and discover who triumphs.
• Yes — you can shape your prediction of the tournament before it kicks off on June 11, 2026.

Egypt progressing through CAF qualification undefeated as Belgium manage a period of transition away from their golden generation feel like relevant factors. Tunisia are set to make their third consecutive finals appearance after cruising through their qualifying group, recording nine wins and one draw without conceding a single goal. Mexico faces South Africa in the tournament opener, with the hosts looking to take advantage of home support and start with a confident performance. South Africa, however, will be motivated to challenge and avoid an early setback.

The FIFA World Cup brings together national teams from across the globe, competing through qualification, group stages, and knockout rounds to determine the world champion. The tournament is played every four years and is known for its high intensity, global attention, and decisive matches where form, tactics, and squad depth play a crucial role. Sport’s greatest tournament returns with an all-new expanded format as 48 nations battle it out to win the World Cup. With 104 matches taking us from the Group Stage right through to the World Cup Final, we’re in for one heck of a month of soccer drama. Reigning champions Argentina arrive with superstar Lionel Messi likely playing in his last ever World Cup, while the same could also be said for Portugal hero Cristiano Ronaldo. France are looking to reclaim glory, while England are out to end 60 years of hurt.

Special predictions before the tournament

Les Bleus won the 2018 World Cup with a 4-2 victory over Croatia in the final, but suffered heartbreak and pain in 2022 as Argentina beat them on penalties. ScorePoint AI treats them as probability ranges and compares them with safer markets such as BTTS and over/under goals. So, too, did Gemini – which was the only member of our AI prediction panel that didn’t pick France outright. Cape Verde (0.1%) have qualified and are the second-smallest nation by population (after Iceland in 2018) to achieve the feat.