Three host countries. Thirty-nine days. Forty-eight teams. And 104 matches.
As if the FIFA World Cup wasn’t already the most-anticipated tournament on the global sporting scene, the 2026 edition is the largest one yet and promises to deliver an abundance of drama across Canada, U.S.A. and Mexico.
Ahead of kick-off, Sportsnet’s soccer experts answer some of the biggest questions going into the tournament — from the expectations on Canada on home soil, to the teams that are most likely to surprise and disappoint. They also make their predictions for the teams most likely to meet in the final on July 19.
What does success look like for Canada at the 2026 World Cup?
James Sharman (Sportsnet soccer analyst): Perhaps we should frame this depending on exactly where the squad stands with regards to injuries? Nah, this is the World Cup, and I have seen enough from this team without Alphonso Davies and Moise Bombito to have confidence that advancement from the group should be expected. It will be a challenge, but Canada is the second-best team in Group B. From there? A Round of 32 win is certainly possible, but just to experience knockout football is a success in my books.
John Molinaro (Sportsnet soccer reporter): Bluntly, anything less than Canada qualifying for the knockout round would have to be considered an abject failure; the bare minimum requirement must be getting out of the group stage. In terms of what a successful World Cup campaign would look like, the men’s side must win its first World Cup game (it lost all six of its matches across its previous two tournament appearances) and be competitive in qualifying for the knockout stage. A victory in the Round of 32 would be a bonus and a huge accomplishment.
Devang Desai (Sportsnet.ca soccer contributor): Context is everything but with a manageable group, expanded tournament format, and the benefit of playing at home, Canada advancing to the Round of 32 is a must. Securing a fourth home game by winning Group B should be the goal for Jesse Marsch’s side.
Julia Ranney (Sportsnet.ca soccer contributor): Canada must turn promise into results: a first-ever World Cup win and a place in the knockouts should be the minimum target. If Jesse Marsch’s side can combine its high-octane style with better game management, this golden generation could make noise on home soil.
Kai Gammage (Sportsnet.ca soccer contributor): No more “happy to be here” from this generation of Canadian football talent — they belong on this stage, and it’s time to prove why. A first win won’t suffice; Canada should be able to advance to the knockout stage, as group-stage games against Qatar and Bosnia and Herzegovina should be wins on paper. Canada is on home soil, sporting its best roster ever — the expectations should be the highest they’ve ever been. It’s time to make good on this generation’s promise.
Which Canadian player is most important to this team’s success?
Sharman: The greatest concern for Canada is goal scoring. We know this squad can defend, we know it has pace and a strong game plan, but goals from open play have been rare. Jonathan David is by far the most qualified to find the back of the net, he simply must rediscover his form, or at the very least offer the creativity from deeper to set up Cyle Larin or whoever the target man is. The Iceman, there is no one more important.
Molinaro: Under normal circumstances, it would be Moïse Bombito, but an injury has ruled out the influential centre back for the tournament. Without its key defensive anchor, Juventus forward Jonathan David will be under even more pressure to score and ignite an attack that has looked suspect in the buildup to the World Cup. If Canada is going to get out of the group, then David — who hasn’t scored from open play for his country in nine games dating back to last September — has to produce and break out his slump.
Desai: The Davies and Bombito situations are murky at best so I’ll pivot to Ismaël Koné. The Montreal native enjoyed a breakout campaign in Serie A for Sassuolo and forms the bedrock of the Canadian midfield with Stephen Eustáquio. While Koné excelled in the methodical Italian game, can he play quickly and control the middle of the park with the backline in flux behind him?
Ranney: A fit Moïse Bombito would’ve been my pick, but with the defender recovering from injury, goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau becomes more important than ever. Tournament soccer is often defined by moments, and while the 32-year-old isn’t Canada’s biggest star, he has delivered under pressure. As the last line of defence, Crépeau could be the difference between a group-stage exit and a place in the knockouts.
Gammage: While the focus will be on the health of the back-line — Davies in particular — and the scoring slump from the forward group, one player can provide a boost to both ends as a true box-to-box midfielder: Ismael Kone. Perhaps the Canadian player heading to the World Cup behind the best run of form, having scored six goals for Sassuolo in Serie A play this season, Kone has proven himself in Italy as a strong, press-proof midfielder more than willing to supply the attack with his ball carrying or box crashing, then track back to win duels as his team’s first line of defence. He’s the key to Canada’s midfield, and therefore its success.
What’s one group stage match that you can’t miss?
Sharman: France vs. Norway (Group I) on June 26 is appointment viewing. Les Bleus are clearly one of the tournament favourites with an array of stars unmatched by any team, however, Norway is the darkest of dark horses. No team was more impressive in qualifying — just ask Italy. The Norwegians boast some top talent, none bigger than the big man himself, Erling Haaland, who scored an incredible 16 goals to get here. A shock win for Norway will lead to all sorts of Round of 32 shenanigans. This will be a beauty.
Molinaro: Conventional wisdom suggests picking England vs. Croatia, Norway vs. France or Uruguay vs. Spain. But can it be any other choice than Canada vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina (Group B) on June 12 in Toronto, the first-ever men’s World Cup match to be played on Canadian soil?
Desai: France vs. Senegal (Group I) on June 16. Senegal’s 1-0 shock victory against the reigning champions over 20 years ago is still fresh in my mind, hence one reason for this sentimental pick. However, this is the de facto Group of Death and unlike 2002, the talent disparity between the two sides is not a chasm.
Ranney: Colombia vs. Portugal (Group K) on June 27 is the match I’ve underlined. It may not be the flashiest, but it’s one of the most consequential games of the group stage. Finish first in the group and face a favourable third-place team in the Round of 32. Finish second and play the runner-up from Group L, which could be heavyweights England or Croatia.
Gammage: As far as knockout-stage implications are concerned, I’ve got eyes on England vs. Croatia (Group L) on June 17. England will need to assert itself and prove that Thomas Tuchel made all the right moves to get this team over the hump, and an early test against Croatia should do the trick. Additionally, whoever finishes second in that group will have one heck of an arduous path through the knockouts, as a matchup with Spain could loom in the Round of 16 if things break as expected. Avoid that at all costs.
Who will be the tournament’s top scorer?
Sharman: There is a solid chance that he will emerge from Group I with Mbappe and Haaland nipping at each other’s heels, but I am choosing Harry Kane. England’s captain is unmatched in his squad; there just isn’t a deputy close to being good enough. It can also be argued he is the best striker in world soccer, coming of an historic season at Bayern Munich with 36 Bundesliga goals in 31 matches. If England go as deep as I think they will, it will be on the strength of Kane’s goals.
Molinaro: Harry Kane is coming off an incredible 2025-26 season in which he scored 61 goals in all competitions for Bayern Munich, and he won the Golden Boot as the top scorer at the 2018 World Cup. England’s all-time top scorer should get the chance to score plenty of goals with the Three Lions entering the competition as one of the top favourites.
Desai: Julian Alvarez (Argentina). The 26-year-old is primed for a monster summer with rumours regarding a pending move from Atletico Madrid to Barcelona dominating Spanish papers. Alvarez was terrific in Qatar four years ago and is ready to lead Argentina’s next generation following Messi’s departure.
Ranney: France forward Kylian Mbappe is a clear favourite. After another prolific club season in Spain and Europe, the 27-year-old is in strong form but with unfinished business on the global stage. After winning the Golden Boot in 2022 despite France missing out on the trophy, he arrives this year with both form and motivation to go one better.
Gammage: Hate to be chalky here, but how can you not pick Kylian Mbappe? None of Senegal, Iraq or Norway provide the staunchest of defences in the tournament, meaning the 27-year-old should be able to stat-pad his way through groups. It’s also expected that France will make a deep run, and Mbappe is the penalty-taker for the favourites, giving him plenty of runway to break Miroslav Klose’s record of 16 career World Cup goals (Mbappe is sitting at 12 heading into his third tournament).
Who is a breakout player to watch?
Sharman: Arda Guler (Turkey) is the main man in his squad, breaking through at Real Madrid this season, yet no one really knows who he is. That will change after this World Cup, as he leads a team capable of rivalling Norway as best dark horse.
Molinaro: Winger/midfielder Kenan Yildiz (Turkey) had 11 goals and 10 assists for Juventus this past season. Still only 21, he’s able to break open games with an individual act of brilliance, combining excellent dribbling skills and a penchant for scoring highlight-reel goals.
Desai: Gilberto Mora (Mexico) will be the youngest player in the tournament at 17 years and 240 days old when things get underway on Thursday in Mexico City and he’s already drawn interest from the biggest clubs in Europe. We expect that list of teams to grow after the Xolos midfielder gets his chance under the bright lights.
Ranney: Yan Diomande (Ivory Coast) exploded at RB Leipzig this season with 13 goals and 10 assists in 36 appearances. The 19-year-old already has Europe’s elite circling, and if the winger brings his fearless form to the World Cup stage, he’ll be one of the names everyone leaves the tournament talking about.
Gammage: Tottenham have a star on their hands in Luka Vuskovic (Croatia), as the centre-back looks poised to be one of the top defenders of his generation following a six-goal campaign on loan with Hamburg in the Bundesliga. The six-foot-three 19-year-old is a prototypical modern centre-back, sitting in the 80th percentile in defensive duels won, 83rd percentile in aerial duels won and 84th percentile in progressive carries in the Bundesliga last season, and will be a key reason why it remains tough to count out the Croats despite their aging ‘Golden Generation.’
Sharman: Sweden only qualified through a highly confusing process that involved Nations League points. Yet, since Graham Potter assumed the ropes in October of last year, he changed the formation to a back-three and encouraged good old-fashioned strong defence and quick transitions. The result: Sweden is one of the in-form teams entering the World Cup.
Molinaro: Norway is back at the World Cup for the first time since 1998 and could go on a run based on its fantastic showing in the European qualifiers — a perfect 8-0 record which included a pair of wins over Italy. Manchester City’s Erling Haaland is one of the game’s most prolific strikers, while Norway’s stingy defence doesn’t give away very much.
Desai: Turkey. Their path to North America was anything but smooth as Vincenzo Montella’s side managed gritty, 1-0 victories over Romania and then Kosovo to end their 22-year wait for World Cup qualification. Montella will lean on his two wunderkids, Arda Guler and Kenan Yıldız, and a strong team identity forged by their triumph in the playoffs.
Ranney: If there’s a Cinderella story waiting to happen, it’s Norway. Back at the World Cup for the first time since 1998, Ståle Solbakken’s side combines structure and swagger, led by Haaland and Premier League-winning captain Martin Odegaard. With that level of star power, they have the tools to turn a dark-horse run into something far more dangerous.
Gammage: In its first World Cup since 1998, Norway could make some noise. The side dominated in qualifying, coasting to an 8-0-0 record in their group and finishing with an eye-popping plus-32 goal differential, backed by a UEFA-leading 37 goals — 16 of which came from Haaland. Alongside the City striker, Norway boasts players like Odegaard, Jorgen Strand Larsen, Oscar Bobb, Alexander Sorloth, Andreas Schjelderup and Antonio Nusa — rounding out one of the deepest attacking groups at the tourney.
Team most likely to disappoint?
Sharman: I’ll probably rue this, but the defending champions have a very similar squad to the one that won four years ago … and they were old then. Lionel Messi is certainly four years older and although still Messi, is not as dynamic as he was. I have a feeling that a team that grinded its way to a trophy in 2022 may simply be out of gas.
Molinaro: On the one hand, you’d be foolish to discount Germany, even though they bowed out in the group stage in 2018 and 2022. Still, when I look at their roster, I’m not blown away by their forwards, so I have to wonder where the goals will come from during the World Cup.
Desai: Uruguay. When things are going well, Bielsa ball is magic to behold. When they’re not, results like a 5-1 loss to the United States during tournament prep happen. Though 17th in the FIFA rankings, this iteration of Uruguay does not possess the requisite firepower to make waves.
Ranney: Brazil’s talent is undeniable, but the free-flowing identity that defined their 2002 victory feels distant, replaced by tactical rigidity and a subtle disconnect between Europe-based stars and domestic options. Carlo Ancelotti’s appointment in 2025 will steady things, but he’s not a quick fix — and this tournament may come too soon for a full reset.
Gammage: Lionel Messi and Argentina’s run of destiny won’t get a sequel in 2026, as the once well-rounded team — and the generational superstar — has aged out of its prime. Argentina’s defensive line looks particularly suspect, and the form of key midfield pivot Alexis Mac Allister from this past season at Liverpool has certainly been lacking. A deep run doesn’t seem likely.
Which teams will meet in the World Cup Final?
Sharman: England vs. Spain
Molinaro: Spain vs. Brazil
Desai: Portugal vs. Spain
Ranney: Spain vs. Argentina
Gammage: France vs. England
Which team will win the World Cup?
Sharman: Spain have already beaten England in a final — two years ago. The European champions have that rare ability to take over a match when they need to. Add in Lamine Yamal looks healthy and ready to own this tournament, and Spain will build on what looks ominously like a dynasty in the making.
Molinaro: Spain are the reigning European champions and went unbeaten in six games (five wins) during qualifiers while scoring 21 goals and only conceding twice. They’ve suffered just a single loss (in a penalty shootout) in their previous 29 matches dating back to early 2024. With a squad filled with top-tier players, including dangerous strikers Ferran Torres and Mikel Oyarzabal, La Roja have the type of quality and depth that is the envy of every other nation at the World Cup.
Desai: Spain. I view these nations as the two most talented sides in the tournament, making this hypothetical final a coin flip. But Spain prevails due to their defensive solidity and Lamine Yamal’s ability.
Ranney: Spain has a rare combination that wins tournaments: they’re quick and direct in possession, relentless in regaining the ball, and composed enough to control games in the North American heat. Despite a few injury concerns, Luis de la Fuente’s squad still feels like the most complete, talented and confident team in the tournament.
Gammage: Dare I say it’s coming home? The more I look at Tuchel’s England selection, the more I appreciate his fit-first mentality. England has an identity beyond its star-power, and Kane is in the form of his life as he guns for a Ballon d’Or — this could be the year (he says every two years).
