The Fifa World Cup 2026 will kick off with Mexico taking on South Africa in the first game of the tournament, scheduled for 20:00 BST in Mexico City. Another Group A fixture will see South Korea face the Czech Republic in Guadalajara, slated for 03:00 on Friday.
As host nations, Canada, the USA, and Mexico will each present their own opening ceremonies. The ceremonies for Canada and the USA are expected to take place over the upcoming weekend.
Confirmed Groupings and Early Predictions
Several groups have been confirmed, outlining the initial paths for various national teams. Scotland finds itself in Group C, alongside Brazil, Morocco, and Haiti. Meanwhile, England is positioned in Group L, where they will compete against Croatia, Ghana, and Panama.
Early predictions for group winners have also been circulated:
- Group A: Mexico
- Group B: Switzerland
- Group C: Morocco
- Group D: Paraguay
- Group E: Germany
- Group F: Netherlands
- Group G: Belgium
- Group H: Spain
- Group I: France
- Group J: Algeria
- Group K: Portugal
- Group L: England
Former England forward Chris Sutton has made his pre tournament picks, naming Argentina as the eventual winners and Austria as the runners up. He also predicted Algeria to finish third and Jordan to secure fourth place. Sutton noted that Algeria topping Group J, potentially above defending champions Argentina, would be a huge shout.
Pundit World Cup Predictions
Several football pundits have weighed in with their predictions for the tournament winner:
It's hard to look past France with the firepower they have, when you think about extra time in hot weather against tired legs. The likes of Rayan Cherki, Ousmane Dembele and Desire Doue can't all start, but they can be gamechangers if they come on after 70 minutes in 30 degrees heat.
Danny Murphy commented on France's strong potential due to their attacking depth and ability to perform in challenging conditions.
France, but there's a caveat that comes with it, only if there is no in house fighting. With the ability they have in forward positions, two or three big players are going to be left out every game, so it will come down to whether they cope with that in the right way.
Alan Shearer echoed the sentiment about France's talent but emphasized the importance of team harmony.
The only thing that stops France from winning it is France. They will need a harmonious dressing room.
Paul Robinson reiterated the sentiment, highlighting internal dynamics as France's biggest potential hurdle.
Team Historical Performance Notes
For context, some of Sutton's predicted teams have notable World Cup histories:
- Argentina: 19 World Cup appearances, champions (1978, 1986, 2022)
- Algeria: 5 World Cup appearances, best performance round of 16
- Austria: 8 World Cup appearances, best performance third (1954)
- Jordan: World Cup debut
