Today the 2026 World Cup starts / Who will win this summer’s tournament?

The 2026 World Cup will officially begin today, June 11, with co-host Mexico opening the tournament against South Africa in Mexico City.

The competition looks set to be a fascinating football festival, with 48 teams competing for glory, but in the end there will be only one winner from the final on July 19.

Here, Sports Mole selects five contenders for the trophy before revealing which team they believe will win the tournament.

France (champions in the 1930s, 2018)

Widely considered the favorite to triumph this summer, France were World Cup champions in 2018 and boast the most talented squad in the tournament.

Coach Didier Deschamps can rely on truly elite attacking talent such as Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé, and Michael Olise, while Désiré Doué also looks on track for a strong tournament given his form for Paris Saint-Germain.

Arsenal’s William Saliba was one of the best center-backs in world football during the 2025–26 season, while Barcelona’s Jules Koundé, Bayern Munich’s Dayot Upamecano, and Real Madrid’s Aurélien Tchouaméni are also among their world-class players.

Mbappé is the favorite to win the Ballon d’Or this summer, but Les Bleus have been drawn into what could be a tough “Group I” alongside Senegal, Norway, and Iraq.

France lost the 2022 final to Lionel Messi’s Argentina.

Spain (champions in 2010)

The European champions Spain have won the World Cup only once before, triumphing in 2010, but there is no doubt they are among the favorites given the strength and quality of their squad, as well as their recent form.

In fact, Spain won the most recent European Championship, beating England in the final, but it would be fair to say they have struggled in recent World Cups.

Since lifting the famous trophy in 2010, Spain have not progressed beyond the round of 16 in the tournament, including a group-stage exit in 2014.

The fitness of Lamine Yamal has been a major talking point, with the generational talent missing the end of Barcelona’s 2025–26 season due to injury, but he will be involved this summer and could potentially help La Roja secure a famous victory.

England (champions in 1966)

Thomas Tuchel has been tasked with leading England to World Cup glory, but much of the preparation from the “Three Lions” perspective has focused on squad selection, which has been highly controversial.

It remains to be seen whether there is enough “talent” in the squad to win the World Cup, but expectations will still be high for the “Three Lions,” who last won the competition in 1966.

England reached the semifinals in 2018 and the quarterfinals in 2022, while they have also been runners-up in the last two European Championships.

How England’s players handle the conditions will play a major role in whether the national team is a genuine contender for the trophy, but Harry Kane, arguably currently the best player in the world, could lead the “Three Lions” to glory.

Argentina (champions in 1978, 1986, 2022)

Could there be two consecutive World Cups for Lionel Messi? Argentina are the reigning world champions after their success in 2022 and are aiming to win the World Cup for a fourth time in 2026.

There were some doubts over whether Messi would play in the tournament, but the 38-year-old has been selected and will aim to add to his tally of 117 international goals for the national team.

It remains to be seen whether there is enough quality elsewhere, but conditions may favor non-European nations, and Argentina simply cannot be underestimated.

Brazil (champions in 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002)

It came down to Brazil and Portugal for the fifth team on this list, and we settled on the five-time world champions, who now have a truly elite coach at the helm in the form of serial winner Carlo Ancelotti.

The Seleção last won the World Cup in 2002, but since then they have suffered four quarter-final exits and also reached the semifinals at home in 2014.

Brazil have quality all over the pitch, with Gabriel, Marquinhos, Casemiro, Vinícius Júnior, and Raphinha expected to play major roles for the national team this summer.

The Seleção will need plenty of luck along the way to win the World Cup for a sixth time, but they simply have to be part of the conversation given their rich history in the tournament.

“KORÇA BOOM”