Assessing the World Cup favourites following the group stage draw | OneFootball

The 2026 World Cup groups have been confirmed, with several of the top nations drawing some difficult opponents. 

Following confirmation of who is in each group, we now have a clearer picture of who could make the knockout rounds and whose path to the final is potentially easier than others. 

Here are the countries which are favourites to go on and lift the trophy, with six months to go until the start of the tournament. 

Spain

Unsurprisingly, most have the reigning European champions as the favourites to win more silverware. 

Luis de la Fuente’s side boast an array of talent, perhaps most of all one of the best players in the world, Lamine Yamal. The teenage forward will be hoping to fire his country to another trophy. 

Their group is certainly one of the more difficult ones, however. Spain will face a tough clash with Uruguay, while Saudi Arabia have also proven themselves to be competitive.  

If they do manage to top the group, as expected, they will face the runner-up of Group J, which is made up of Argentina, Algeria, Austria, Jordan. Finishing second would see them take on the winners of that group. 

England

The nation which Spain defeated in the European Championship final, England are widely ranked as the second favourites to lift the World Cup. Betting sites that accept bank transfer believe the Three Lions stand a strong chance of ending the country’s long trophy drought. 

Croatia and Ghana will likely prove tricky group stage opponents for Thomas Tuchel’s side however, and getting out of the group is not a given. Winning the group would see them face the third-placed team in Group E/H/I/J/K. 

France

The finalists of the last World Cup are, as expected, ranked as one of the favourites for the tournament. Didier Deschamps’ side have the reigning Ballon d’Or winner in Ousmane Dembele and star striker Kylian Mbappe in what is a stacked attacking line-up. 

They will take on tough opponents in Senegal and Norway in the group stage, as well as one of Bolivia, Suriname or Iraq. If they top the Group, they will face the third-place team in either Group C/D/F/G/H. 

Brazil

Carlo Ancelotti’s side are not ranked as the frontrunners for the competition but are still tipped as having a strong chance of going all the way in north America. 

Whether Neymar is part of the squad remains to be seen, but Ancelotti has an exciting blend of experience and youth at his disposal regardless. 

Morocco, Scotland and Haiti await the Brazilians in the group stage and winning the group would see them face the runner-up in Group F – made up of Germany, Ivory Coast, Ecuador and Curacao. 

Argentina 

The reigning World Cup winners will face Algeria, Austria and Jordan in the group stage, in what is set to be Lionel Messi’s final World Cup. 

Topping the group would see them take on the runner up in Group H – which consists of Spain, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay, Cape Verde.