The coveted "World Cup" trophy. Photo Courtesy of Getty Images
The World Cup is the biggest and most exciting tournament for many soccer fans across the globe. It happens once every four years, which means that winning the World Cup would be the biggest accomplishment in any player’s career. The 2026 World Cup will be even bigger than past World Cup tournaments because of the change in format. Instead of 32 teams playing 64 games, there will be 48 teams playing a total of 104 games. This makes the 2026 World Cup one of the most awaited tournaments in all of sports.
There are a total of 18 teams who have qualified for the 2026 World Cup. The United States of America, Canada, and Mexico have qualified as host nations. Five qualified teams are representing Asia: Iran, Japan, Jordan, South Korea, and Uzbekistan. Six qualified teams are representing South America: Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, and Uruguay. Two qualified teams will represent Africa: Morocco and Tunisia. Oceania will be represented by New Zealand. No teams from Europe have qualified yet through a qualifying match.
According to numerous experts, the biggest favorites to win the 2026 World Cup are Spain, France, Brazil, England, and Argentina. Spain is leading the odds because of their recent success, including their 2024 Euro Cup win. France is another favorite because of its deep pool of talent which makes them a strong contender. Brazil, with the addition of an experienced coach Carlo Ancelloti, is expected to improve and be a significant force. England is ranked among the top choices by various sources, because of their consistent performance. Argentina, the reigning champions, remain a formidable opponent, even with uncertainty surrounding Lionel Messi’s participation.