The 2026 FIFA World Cup is officially expanding. FIFA’s flagship 48-team format permanently alters the qualification pathways and sharply increases the group stage match count across the United States, Mexico, and Canada. The opening action features Mexico taking on South Africa at the Estadio Azteca, while Canada hosts Bosnia and Herzegovina in Toronto.
Traditional powerhouses are facing heavily contrasted pathways to the knockout rounds. Defending champion Argentina secured a highly favorable draw in Group J against Austria, Algeria, and Jordan. France is looking at a much tougher road. The French squad must advance through a “Group of Death” against Senegal and Erling Haaland’s Norway, according to early predictions and analysis.
Early forecasts are already picking a historic upset. Joachim Klement, an economist whose economic prediction model correctly identified the winners of the last three World Cups, forecasts the Netherlands will defeat Portugal in the 2026 final. The Dutch have reached three previous finals but have never won the tournament. Meanwhile, top players like Lamine Yamal, Lionel Messi, and Harry Kane are the early favorites to win the Golden Ball, with Kane aiming to replicate his 2018 Golden Boot performance.
The expanded field provides an opening for several new contenders. Cabo Verde, Curaçao, Jordan, and Uzbekistan are all making their World Cup debuts. Iraq also returns to the tournament after a 40-year absence. England is looking to end its own 60-year tournament drought as the group stages kick off.