World Cup 2026 Predictions: Our Experts' Bracket Picks
Our editorial team makes their picks for the 2026 World Cup: group winners, dark horses, semifinalists, and the champion.
With the 2026 World Cup just around the corner, our editorial team has put together their predictions for the tournament. Here are our picks for group winners, dark horses, and the eventual champion.
## Group Winners (Predicted)
- **Group A**: Mexico
- **Group B**: Canada
- **Group C**: Brazil
- **Group D**: USA
- **Group E**: Germany
- **Group F**: Netherlands
- **Group G**: Belgium
- **Group H**: Spain
- **Group I**: France
- **Group J**: Argentina
- **Group K**: Portugal
- **Group L**: England
## Dark Horses
Our three dark horse picks to make a deep run:
**1. Norway** — Erling Haaland is the most dangerous striker in the world, and Norway's first World Cup appearance since 1998 is built around his goalscoring.
**2. Morocco** — The 2022 semi-finalists return with much of that squad intact. Achraf Hakimi and Youssef En-Nesyri give them a chance to repeat the feat.
**3. Uruguay** — Marcelo Bielsa has transformed Uruguay into one of the most exciting teams in international football. The 2026 World Cup is their best chance to make a deep run in over a decade.
## Semifinalists
Our four semifinalists: **Argentina, France, Brazil, England.**
- **Argentina** — The defending champions have the depth and experience to reach the latter stages.
- **France** — Kylian Mbappé and the deepest squad in international football make France a favorite.
- **Brazil** — The five-time champions have a young, dynamic squad built around VinÃcius Júnior.
- **England** — Thomas Tuchel has transformed England into genuine title contenders.
## Final
Our pick for the final: **France over Argentina**, with France winning their third World Cup title. The Mbappé-driven French side has the depth, the experience, and the individual quality to dethrone the defending champions.
## Champion: France
A third World Cup title for France would complete a remarkable period of dominance and cement Kylian Mbappé's legacy as the best player in the world.