2026 FIFA World Cup Predictions: England vs. Spain, Messi vs. Ronaldo, USMNT Break Drought
Our 2026 FIFA World Cup predictions anticipate thrilling knockout stage matchups, including England vs. Spain and a potential Messi vs. Ronaldo clash, with the USMNT poised to win their first knockout game since 2002.
The journey is almost here as 48 nations, 104 games, and four teams make their first appearance ever at the World Cup. It's plenty to keep up with, but someone has to wade through it all in order to attempt to pick a winner. Hello there, I'm someone, and while this exercise has given me a slight disdain for third-placed teams getting through after projecting all of their placements, it's also a good one to have on paper to see how correct or wrong I am about the fate of this tournament.
It has been 24 years since the United States have won a knockout game at the World Cup, and with this tournament happening on home soil, they'll have a chance to end that drought with a newly minted round of 32. It's funny that they could win a knockout stage match and still get eliminated at the same stage as 2022, but it's about the journey, right?
But that's enough meandering; you came for World Cup picks and World Cup picks you shall get:
Group A predictions
Pos Team W D L GD Pts
1
Mexico
2
1
0
2
7
2
South Korea
2
1
0
2
7
3
South Africa
0
1
2
-2
1
4
Czechia
0
1
2
-2
1
Matchday 1 picks Mexico 2, South Africa 1 South Korea 1, Czechia 0
Matchday 2 picks South Africa 1, Czechia 1 Mexico 1, South Korea 1
Matchday 3 picks Mexico 1, Czechia 0 South Korea 2, South Africa 1
Erm, so we're off to quite a start here as we're going to tiebreakers to determine the winner of the first group of this exercise. You guessed it: Mexico win the group on fair play points of all things, because they matched South Korea's results kick for kick going through the group. The host advantage is enough to propel El Tri through such a balanced group, and while Czechia are a strong side defensively, Patrik Schick alone won't be enough to push them through. Bafana Bafana are improving rapidly, but despite having the best nickname of any of the teams in Group A, soccer-wise, they lag behind the others.
Group B predictions
Pos Team W D L GD Pts
1
Switzerland
3
0
0
6
9
2
Canada
1
1
1
0
4
3
Bosnia
0
2
1
-1
2
4
Qatar
0
1
2
-5
1
Matchday 1 picks Canada 1, Bosnia 1 Switzerland 3, Qatar 0
Matchday 2 picks Switzerland 1, Bosnia 0 Canada 2, Qatar 0
Matchday 3 picks Switzerland 2, Canada 0 Qatar 1, Bosnia 1
Ravaged by injuries, Canada will be up against it as they stumble in their opening game while facing off with Bosnia and Herzegovina, but the Canucks will recover, facing a familiar foe in Qatar. Due to the AFC nation being invited to Concacaf Gold Cup play, it's essentially as if Canada drew a team from their own federation, which is a boost to their chances. Being such an efficient team, no one will give Switzerland major trouble from this group, but if anyone slips up, Bosnia and Herzegovina will be ready to push and climb out.
Group C predictions
Pos Team W D L GD Pts
1
Brazil
3
0
0
5
9
2
Morocco
2
0
1
3
6
3
Scotland
1
0
2
-3
3
4
Haiti
0
0
3
-5
0
Matchday 1 picks Brazil 2, Morocco 1 Scotland 2, Haiti 1
Matchday 2 picks Morocco 2, Scotland 0 Brazil 3, Haiti 1
Matchday 3 picks Brazil 3, Scotland 1 Morocco 2, Haiti 0
This is a closer group than it may seem, with a Brazil team looking to ride the vibes of Carlo Ancelotti as manager despite having a flawed squad, but the winner of their opening match with Morocco will be well placed to win the entire group. I have Brazil narrowly edging the Atlas Lions, but after them is where things get interesting. Haiti are a better side than you may expect, but Scott McTominay with Scotland is different gravy. He'll do enough to ensure that Scotland have a chance at advancing, but goal difference may not be in their favor when the dust settles.
Group D predictions
Pos Team W D L GD Pts
1
United States
3
0
0
4
9
2
Turkiye
1
1
1
1
4
3
Paraguay
1
1
1
0
4
4
Australia
0
0
3
-5
0
Matchday 1 picks United States 2, Paraguay 1 Turkiye 3, Australia 1
Matchday 2 picks United States 2, Australia 0 Paraguay 1, Turkiye 1
Matchday 3 picks United States 4, Turkiye 3 Paraguay 2, Australia 1
Yet another balanced group, the United States will play with pressure, but they also will have the benefit of familiarity with their opponents while also being able to limit travel due to their placement in Orange County, Calif. With Chris Richards back in training and entering the World Cup with Tyler Adams healthy , the USMNT will be able to survive an opening-day slug fest in order to gain control of the group. With Arda Guler , Kenan Yildiz, and Can Uzan, Turkiye boast some of the best young talent in the world, but with a suspect defense, they're going to concede some goals, leading to a tight battle with Paraguay for second in the group.
Group E predictions
Pos Team W D L GD Pts
1
Germany
3
0
0
6
9
2
Ivory Coast
1
1
1
2
4
3
Ecuador
1
1
1
1
4
4
Curacao
0
0
3
-9
0
Matchday 1 picks Germany 4, Curacao 0 Ivory Coast 0, Ecuador 0
Matchday 2 picks Germany 2, Ivory Coast 1 Ecuador 2, Curacao 0
Matchday 3 picks Ivory Coast 4, Curacao 1 Germany 1, Ecuador 0
With an opening day of soccer that puts on full display the difference in style of these groups, Kai Havertz and Germany will provide Curacao with an ample welcome to the big stage before defensive soccer takes center stage when Ecuador spring into action. While I don't know where the goals will come from for La Tri, I only have them conceding one goal in group stage play. The final day of action is one that could be quite fun as Ivory Coast will need to win and hope that Ecuador lose, which will then lead to the group coming down to goal difference. With Yan Diomande and Amad Diallo, I'll take Ivory Coast to come out on top via that method.
Group F predictions
Pos Team W D L GD Pts
1
Netherlands
2
1
0
2
7
2
Japan
1
2
0
2
5
3
Sweden
1
0
2
-1
3
4
Tunisia
0
1
2
-3
1
Matchday 1 picks Netherlands 2, Japan 2 Sweden 2, Tunisia 0
Matchday 2 picks Netherlands 2, Sweden 1 Tunisia 1, Japan 1
Matchday 3 picks Japan 2, Sweden 0 Netherlands 1, Tunisia 0
When a nation that didn't win a single match in World Cup qualifying makes it to the tournament, you know that you have a quirky group, and tossing the Netherlands in only adds to it. It's quite close between them and Japan, but not having Kaoru Mitoma at the World Cup is a blow to the Samurai Blue attack from the side that we're used to at this level. If Sweden can score some goals via Viktor Gyokeres , things could get interesting.
Group G predictions
Pos Team W D L GD Pts
1
Belgium
3
0
0
7
9
2
Egypt
1
1
1
0
4
3
Iran
1
1
1
0
4
4
New Zealand
0
0
3
-7
0
Matchday 1 picks Belgium 3, Egypt 1 Iran 2, New Zealand 0
Matchday 2 picks Belgium 2, Iran 0 Egypt 2, New Zealand 0
Matchday 3 picks Egypt 2, Iran 2 Belgium 4, New Zealand 1
It's not a true World Cup until Belgium seem like a side set to win the tournament right out of the group stage, and this is a perfect group for it. Egypt have a few stars like Mohamed Salah, but it's a squad with holes. Iran have off-the-pitch noise and needs to come from Mexico for games, and New Zealand may have the star of the tournament Tim Payne , but when it comes to making things happen on the pitch, depth is a huge concern. Matchday 3 will come down to a battle between Egypt and Iran to determine second and third place, and that'll turn out to be a coin flip.
Group H predictions
Pos Team W D L GD Pts
1
Spain
3
0
0
12
9
2
Uruguay
2
0
1
0
6
3
Saudi Arabia
0
1
2
-4
1
4
Cabo Verde
0
1
2
-8
1
Matchday 1 picks Spain 3, Cabo Verde 1 Uruguay 2, Saudi Arabia 0
Matchday 2 picks Spain 2, Saudi Arabia 1 Uruguay 3, Cabo Verde 1
Matchday 3 picks Cabo Verde 2, Saudi Arabia 2 Spain 2, Uruguay 1
This group requires some projecting. We have no clue how much Lamine Yamal will actually feature for Spain during the group stage, and that could temper their scoring. On the bright side, Spain have one of the easiest groups to get out of, and playing Uruguay on the final day of group stage play, it's tough to see them losing that match unless Yamal's injury is worse than anyone is letting on, which is possible. Cabo Verde are in the World Cup for the first time, and it'll be a party in Atlanta when they score their first goal in the tournament, but that's going to be about it. Saudi Arabia could cause some trouble, but with the strength of the teams ahead of them, trouble is the best they can do.
Group I predictions
Pos Team W D L GD Pts
1
France
2
1
0
4
7
2
Senegal
1
2
0
1
5
3
Norway
1
0
2
2
3
4
Iraq
0
1
2
-7
1
Matchday 1 picks France 1, Senegal 1 Norway 3, Iraq 0
Matchday 2 picks France 4, Iraq 1 Senegal 2, Norway 1
Matchday 3 picks France 3, Norway 1 Senegal 1, Iraq 0
Senegal are a force to be reckoned with, and they'll show why, limiting France's chances in the opener. Sadio Mane still has some magic in his feet, and while Michael Olise is announcing his own stardom to the world, he'll need to wait to face Iraq before his World Cup party begins. It's great theater, but also a shame that Erling Haaland's first World Cup will see him needing to navigate such a tough group but they'll be in enough games that they may be able to nick getting through as a third-placed team set to cause nightmares in the round of 32. Third-placed teams advancing is still something to get used to, but that's the strange new world that we live in.
Group J predictions
Pos Team W D L GD Pts
1
Argentina
3
0
0
5
9
2
Algeria
2
0
1
1
6
3
Austria
1
0
2
0
3
4
Jordan
0
0
3
-6
0
Matchday 1 picks Argentina 1, Algeria 0 Austria 3, Jordan 1
Matchday 2 picks Argentina 2, Austria 1 Jordan 0, Algeria 1
Matchday 3 picks Algeria 1, Austria 0 Argentina 3, Jordan 0
Argentina know who they are and how they want to play their soccer, which is always a benefit in tournaments like this. Oh, and Lionel Messi continues to age like fine wine while Lionel Scaloni continues to bridge the gap to the next generation of Argentine soccer. They're the clear class of the group and won't face much of a challenge while Algeria and Austria duke it out for second.
Group K predictions
Pos Team W D L GD Pts
1
Portugal
2
1
0
4
7
2
Colombia
2
1
0
2
7
3
DR Congo
1
0
2
0
3
4
Uzbekistan
0
0
3
-6
0
Matchday 1 picks Portugal 2, DR Congo 0 Uzbekistan 1, Colombia 2
Matchday 2 picks Portugal 3, Uzbekistan 1 Colombia 2, DR Congo 1
Matchday 3 picks Colombia 1, Portugal 1 DR Congo 3, Uzbekistan 0
World Cup James Rodriguez is here, and it's perfect. Colombia are a flawed team, and they have a Luis Suarez who doesn't bite people in the side, which should lead to some fun soccer. Oh, and Luis Diaz? Absolute superstar. Of course, Portugal are a team with the potential to win the entire tournament, but they've yet to put everything together all at once. Bruno Fernandes is coming into the World Cup after winning the Premier League Player of the Year Award, and he'll be ready to drop balls into channels for the squad as they score just enough goals to advance as group winners.
Group L predictions
Pos Team W D L GD Pts
1
England
3
0
0
6
9
2
Croatia
1
1
1
0
4
3
Ghana
1
0
2
-2
3
4
Panama
0
1
2
-4
1
Matchday 1 picks England 1, Croatia 0 Ghana 2, Panama 1
Matchday 2 picks England 3, Ghana 1 Panama 1, Croatia 1
Matchday 3 picks England 3, Panama 0 Croatia 2, Ghana 1
England can be a bore to watch at times, but they sure are effective at playing soccer, especially as Harry Kane chases an elusive Ballon d'Or. Thomas Tuchel's leadership will help navigate a group that could be tricky, containing Croatia, but as Luka Modric is now 40, their window as dark horses has very much closed. With England playing Croatia on the first day, some of the drama is taken out of the sails of the group as everything settles out well, even with Panama pl
_Originally reported by [CBS Sports](https://www.cbssports.com/soccer/news/2026-fifa-world-cup-predictions-picking-every-game-england-vs-spain-messi-vs-ronaldo-usmnt/)._
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