The World Cup is soon to kick off with the first match day being June 11 where Mexico will be facing off against South Africa. With many of the greatest nations competing, here are some of the biggest competitors for the title. The favourite to win is currently looking to be Spain with their group games being against Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, and Uruguay. The teenage sensation Lamine Yamal is currently suffering from a hamstring injury but it’s quite likely he’ll recover in time to make the squad and will definitely be a fan favourite. France is another big contender for the Cup with them having previously won the 2018 World Cup and being the runners up in 2022, and the Nations League in 2021. However, their group phase games won’t be as easy as Spain’s with them going up against Senegal, Iraq, and Norway. One of their major players being Mbappe is not having the best runup towards the tournament however with some minor injuries but also club issues at Real Madrid. This tournament however may be the chance to prove he is still as good as he is. Defending champions are Argentina who are still playing a fan favourite and legend Lionel Messi. Messi has been carefully managing his play time at Inter Miami in order to be in his peak condition for what may most likely be his final World Cup. Argentina’s initial stage games are up against Algeria, Austria and Jordan. The Three Lions are also up there with the amount of talent they have, as well as a lot of pressure. Thomas Tuchel will have his first World Cup where he will have to prove himself as England’s new manager against our group games playing Croatia, Ghana, and Panama. England’s captain Harry Kane has recently gained another Bundesliga title with Bayern Munich so it’s looking likely he will have a major impact on England’s game. Belliingham, Foden and Saka are other big players for our team this year – is 2026 the year it will finally be coming home? To round off the top 5 contenders, my final choice for countries all amateur armchair pundits should keep an eye open for is Brazil who opponents comprise Morocco, Haiti and Scotland in the group stage. They haven’t won the competition since 2002 and have only managed one semi-final since then, and it might seem unlikely Brazil will win as many of their starters have injuries. However this South American footballing nation should make it out of the group stage successfully, and there is still an outside chance of Brazil taking the prize. One of the hosts themselves, the U.S.A have recognised that this is an amazing opportunity to introduce themselves to the football world and produce a historic World Cup run. However even if they reach the knockout stage, it’s unlikely the U.S. will be able to out compete the world class teams that have already been mentioned, and find themselves in a challenging group playing Paraguay, Australia and Turkey. Overall, as excitement builds, it’s looking to be a very exciting competition, where there will be plenty of thrills and spills along the way, with one or two surprises no doubt. What is certain is that iconic moments will fix themselves firmly in our memories, as every nation confronts triumph and disaster, and treats ‘those two impostors just the same’. Faisal Nezam, Year 12 It’s going to be Spain, of course! This super team full of youngsters like Lamine Yamal and Fermin Lopez, will not shock the world when they easily emerge from group H against teams such as Saudi Arabia, Cape Verde and Uruguay, by simply brushing them aside! Spain’s terrific World Cup record comes from the 2010 competition in South Africa, and the most recent victory at the 2024 Euros beating the superteams France and England. Spain’s tactics have evolved from pure tiki-taka to a more virtual and direct system of a 4-3-3 defence and attack, putting speed and acceleration on the wings when high- pressing opponents, exploiting all opportunities to disrupt their rock solid defences. That’s how Spain controls the game. And wins the World Cup! Subhaan Akbary, Year 7 Out of all the competing nations, I believe Spain has the strongest chance to win the World Cup. Spain combines young talent with experienced leadership, creating one of the most balanced squads in international football. Rising stars like Lamine Yamal bring creativity, speed, and excitement to the attack, while veterans such as Dani Carvajal provide leadership and composure under pressure. Spain’s famous possession- based style allows them to control matches, dominate the midfield, and wear down opponents, their teamwork, tactical discipline, and confidence in major tournaments making them extremely difficult to defeat. With a mixture of youth, experience, and championship mentality, Spain appears to have all the qualities needed to become the next World Cup champions. The 2026 FIFA World Cup could mark the final World Cup appearance for several football legends, including Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Luka Modrić, Robert Lewandowski, and Kevin De Bruyne, making this year’s tournament especially memorable. Ariyan Athi, Year 8 IMAGE: World Cup © Walter Arce | Dreamstime.com 8
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