🔮 Happy New Year! OneFootball predicts 2026 in the world of football | OneFootball

Happy New Year!

It's going to be quite the 12 months in the world of football, but so as not to get too surprised about the upcoming year, we're doing our best to predict what will happen in 2026 ...

Let’s kick off with a fun one...what is your wildest football prediction for 2026?

📸 Justin Setterfield - 2025 Getty Images

Richard Buxton: Arsenal winning the quadruple.

Peter Fitzpatrick: We finally get a verdict on the Manchester City vs. Premier League case. 

Dylan Krain: Harry Kane will either win the Champions League with Bayern Munich or the World Cup with England.

Hannah Pinnock: Liverpool will win the Champions League in Budapest. Wild only because of how poor they've been this season.

Andrew Thompson: Erling Haaland completes football by leading Norway to a shock 2026 World Cup triumph.

Alex Waite: Arsenal comfortably holding off City and Villa and strolling to the Premier League title without any hiccups whatsoever. 

Pádraig Whelan: Scott McTominay will lead Scotland to World Cup glory in the summer. A man can dream right?

Before we get into trophies and the like, can you tell us what will be the biggest transfer story of 2026?

RB: Mohamed Salah leaving Liverpool looks likely but Real Madrid moving on Vinícius Júnior will be the big story unless the axe falls on Xabi Alonso.

PF: Salah will almost certainly leave Liverpool but he is approaching 34 so it won't be as shocking as Vini Jr. going to Saudi Arabia less than two years after being "robbed" of the Ballon d'Or.  

DK: Vinícius Júnior is 25 years old and should be entering his prime. Naturally, a move away from Real Madrid would be a pivotal moment in the Brazilian's career.

HP: Vini Jr leaving Real Madrid, most likely for Saudi Arabia as it's difficult to see any clubs in Europe affording his mega wages.

AT: It's gotta be Mo Salah leaving the red half of Liverpool. The possible departure of a club icon and one of the greats of the Premier League era will shift landscapes.

AW: Mo Salah heading to Saudi all the way for me. Hard to see how he comes back completely after the recent turmoil. 

PW: It is already dominating the news and a big tournament at AFCON will throw Mo Salah's Liverpool future under the spotlight even more. If he does go, it will be the biggest move of the year.

And what’s the biggest headline the managerial merry-go-round will throw up?

RB: Manchester United giving up the ghost on Ruben Amorim would definitely set the wheels in motion but in the absence of that, Tottenham parting ways with Thomas Frank will trigger a fair bit of upheaval in the Premier League.

PF: Pep Guardiola finally departing Manchester City. His replacement is anyone's guess.

DK: After only six months in charge, Xabi Alonso already seems to be on thin ice (as Real Madrid managers often are). If the pressure doesn't let up, he could be gone by the season’s end.

HP: Real Madrid parting ways with Xabi Alonso in the summer and Liverpool making the difficult call on Arne Slot. Alonso to start the 2026/27 season in charge at Anfield.

AT: Cèsc Fabregas replacing Enzo Maresca at Chelsea should he move on.

AW: I can't see Thomas Frank lasting for too much longer at Tottenham but if Oliver Glasner leaves Palace, Frank could end up in the dugout at Selhurst Park next season. 

PW: He has denied them but the rumours about Pep Guardiola's future intensified in the last month. Could he walk away at the end of the season?

Right, silverware. Will we get any surprises at the top or bottom of Europe’s big five leagues?

RB: It's not really a surprise given where they are currently but Fiorentina dropping out of Serie A after 22 seasons will be huge for a club of their stature and history.

PF: The best title race by far is in Italy with the top of Serie A reminiscent of its former glory days. Roma and Gian Piero Gasperini could just pull off an iconic title win. 

DK: Serie A is in the midst of the most competitive title race in Europe’s big five leagues, with the top five teams separated by just four points. There are still plenty of surprises to come.

HP: Aston Villa may not have enough to win the Premier League, but they could make a surprise push for a top three, potentially even top two finish.

AT: Arsenal manage to hold off the Manchester City onslaught and break their Premier League title duck.

AW: Aston Villa have caught the eye in the Premier League so far and I can see them keeping pace with City and Arsenal for the duration this season. 

PW: Lens hold a slender lead in Ligue 1 but are unlikely to last the pace. It is hard to make a case for any major surprises this season.

And who do you see winning the Champions League?

RB: Barcelona.

PF: PSG. 

DK: Manchester City.

HP: Liverpool (got to stick with my earlier prediction).

AT: Arsenal.

AW: Barcelona.

PW: Arsenal.

We'll also have the World Cup to look forward to in the summer. Who will be victorious in USA, Canada and Mexico?

RB: France are still the overriding favourites but Spain look more than capable of going all the way. 

PF: Barring Troy Parrott carrying Ireland the whole way, I'll go with Brazil as Carlo Ancelotti completes football and restores the Seleção to their perch. 

DK: This might just be the year football comes home... England have a strong squad and Thomas Tuchel has proven adept at navigating knockout competitions.

HP: France. Too much talent not to win it.

AT: I hate to be the one to potentially jinx it for a few of my colleagues, but England under Thomas Tuchel may finally have the tactical acumen to get over the final hurdle.

AW: I won't say England because there's bound to be some disappointment along the way there! When Spain get going, they are a serious force, so La Roja it is. 

PW: Well if it isn't to be Scotland, France look a formidable side to overcome.

Ousmane Dembélé and Aitana Bonmatí claimed the men’s and women’s Ballons d’Or in 2025. In 2026, the awards will go to…

RB: Kylian Mbappé and Alexia Putellas.

PF: Kylian Mbappé and Alexia Putellas

DK: Erling Haaland and Alexia Putellas.

HP: Kylian Mbappé and Clàudia Pina.

AT: Kylian Mbappé and Alexia Putellas.

AW: Kylian Mbappé and Alexia Putellas.

PW: Kylian Mbappé, Alexia Putellas.

Do you have a tip for a breakout young player we will all be talking about in 12 months?

RB: Everton's Harrison Armstrong has been earning rave reviews on loan at Preston North End and looks a superb all-round midfielder. It's only a matter of time before he gains David Moyes' trust and gets a regular run of Premier League experience.

PF: Ayden Heaven has impressed at United and could find himself in England contention by the end of 2026. 

DK: Following an eye-catching start to his Chelsea career, Estêvão looks set to have a breakout World Cup as a starter for Brazil, no less.

HP: Ayyoub Bouaddi is already catching the eye for Lille in Ligue 1, so it's no surprise to see Europe's top clubs linked. A big move could propel him to the very top.

AT: Yan Diomande at RB Leipzig (clubmate Antonio Nusa is also a shout, especially if he stars at the World Cup for Norway).

AW: Lennart Karl has already looked the part at Bayern and hitting it big on the international stage is the next step for the talented teenager.

PW: He's already made a good impression and name for himself but Estêvão at Chelsea looks like having all the tools to be a superstar.

Lastly, can you give us the one thing you are most looking forward to this year?

RB: A largely disruption-free World Cup.

PF: The good parts of the World Cup. 

DK: The World Cup coming to my home city for the first time.

HP: A dramatic end to what is shaping up to be one of the most thrilling Premier League campaigns at both ends of the table.

AT: The World Cup not being the categorical nightmare it's currently shaping up to be.

AW: The expanded World Cup with so many newcomers. 

PW: They only come around every four years so bring on the World Cup.

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