Who will win the World Cup 2026?

With the quarter-finals now set in stone and our first rest day of what has been an absolutely mammoth World Cup.

But with France, England and Spain all still in contention, Who will win the World Cup 2026? Our somewhat esteemed writers have their say, and discuss whether they’ve changed their mind from their pre-tournament predictions.

Simon - England

We still believe. We still believe. Am I biased? Yes. Is there a problem with that? No. 

I’m still riding a massive high after England’s win at the Azteca, and I do think that we learnt an awful lot from that performance, when everything looked to be going against Thomas Tuchel’s men. The manager made the right substitutions, the players made an impact off the bench and Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane carried them to the next level.

Obviously big tests lie ahead, but in Bellingham they have one of the best players in the world, and there is nobody else like him at the World Cup. Kane is bang in form, and all Tuchel needs to work out is whether his defence is good enough to stop the likes of Erling Haaland. Something we will learn in the quarter-final.

I think England have a really good path to the final here. Colombia or Argentina in the semi-finals will be extremely tough, but I would back the Three Lions on paper at least. Then France or Spain could await in the final barring any massive shocks. And there is absolutely no way that I am backing France to win this World Cup. It is just boring.

This England team overcame a massive hurdle in Mexico City. It’s a shame Jordan Henderson didn’t quite manage to do the same thing. There are still major concerns about the right-back position but hopefully Djed Spence and Reece James will return to full fitness at some point. But Bellingham and Kane can win this World Cup for England. 

Betfred remain TOP PRICE for England to win the World Cup. 

For all of our coverage and betting markets for the festival of football this summer, please check out our World Cup Odds over on betfred.com

Joey - France

Yes, we are the believers. And trust me, dear reader, I believe. But this column asks not for my heart or my soul. Like a Manchester United set-piece being sized up by one Harold Maguire, it asks for my head.

My head is saying France. The creeping inevitability of Les Bleus is hard to shake. They have the best player in the world in Kylian Mbappe. The frightening interventions of Ousmane Dembele. The ascendant Bradley Barcola. The wiles of long-time head coach Didier Deschamps, who has lifted this famous trophy before.

France have been to the last two finals, winning one. I think they take that total to three finals and two wins this summer. Sorry, Believers.

Nick - France

What Joey said, basically. France were my pick at the start of the tournament and I've seen nothing to change my mind so far.

Les Bleus have conceded just two goals in five games, keeping back-to-back clean sheets in the knockouts, and have scored 14 goals.

Deschamps' side have three Ballon d'Or contenders in their front line, Mbappe, Dembele and Michael Olise, with a good blend of experience and youth throughout the squad. They lifted the trophy in 2018, were runners-up in 2022 after losing a penalty shootout, and look like a well-oiled machine again in 2026.

Alan – Argentina

There was something other-worldly about Argentina’s last-16 win against Egypt. Sure, the Fates appeared to be on their side in the last frenetic minutes, and the brave Egyptians deserved better.

Some may point to the Egyptian goal chalked off for an alleged misdemeanour way back in the play, and there was a shout for a penalty too (Salah) that might have been a bit soft but we’ve seen ‘em given.

But; and it’s a huge but. Argentina were staring down the barrel of 0-2 with only around 12 minutes of the regulation 90 left. They just would not be denied however, come what may, and somehow they turned that deficit into a 3-2 win with a relentless drive that in the end was literally irresistible.

Leo Messi isn’t entirely the force of old but if you compare his tournament output here to the likes of CR7 and the aforementioned Mo Salah he’s still from another planet. His teammates work as hard for him as they do for the badge, the nation, and their own considerable pride.

I can see them defending their title here. They have the tools. The steel. The talent. Maybe those Fates are onside, too. Someone’s going to have to go to the upper limits and back to prise this World Cup away from them.

Anything less, and that gifted little gentleman from Rosario will once again be holding aloft that iconic trophy.

I fancied Brazil and Argentina coming into the World Cup but it soon became evident that the five-time winners had far too many either slightly sub-par players (by their high standards), or that some were ever-so-slightly over the hill (see also files marked Ronaldo, and Salah).

That leaves La Albiceleste. And Messi. It's going to be interesting ...