The 2026 World Cup already has a winner | OneFootball

The 2026 World Cup already knows its future champion

The 2026 World Cup already has a winner

With the draw fast approaching, the 2026 World Cup is shaping up to be an edition where anything is possible. The full list of 48 qualified nations won’t be known until March, but the favorites are already emerging: defending champions Argentina, European champions Spain, Nations League winners Portugal, and of course, France, runners-up in 2022. Yet, beyond these European and South American giants, one name keeps coming up when experts dare to predict the future: Brazil.

For Geoffroy Garétier, speaking on the Aliotalk podcast, the Seleção would even start with a theoretical advantage if the tournament were to be played "in advance." His analysis isn’t just a matter of personal bias, but is rooted in a deep historical understanding that the journalist knows inside out.

The weight of history and geographic logic

Garétier points out a fact often overlooked: in North America, World Cups have almost always been won by a South American nation. Brazil in 1970 in Mexico, Argentina in 1986 also in Mexico, then Brazil again in 1994 in the United States. The only exception: Germany in 2014, who snatched victory after a grueling final with a goal from Mario Götze—a testament, according to him, to how difficult it is for European teams to rule on American soil, even when they’re dominant.

In an expanded tournament taking place across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, this geographic factor could once again play a decisive role. For Garétier, the environment, the history, and the local football culture put Brazil in a perfect position to reclaim another star.Time will tell if this logic holds true on the pitch… or if the World Cup will spring another surprise.