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My 2026 FIFA World Cup Predictions: Who Will Qualify From Each Group?

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The expanded 2026 FIFA World Cup format brings more teams, more drama, and more opportunities for surprises. With 48 nations competing across 12 groups, the top two teams from each group will qualify automatically for the Round of 32, while the eight best third-placed teams will also advance.

After looking at the groups, current squad strength, coaching quality, tournament experience, and recent form, here are my predictions for who will advance from each group.

Group A

1st: Mexico
2nd: South Korea

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Mexico’s experience and home continent advantage should be enough to secure top spot. South Korea has consistently proven difficult to eliminate from major tournaments and should finish ahead of Czechia and South Africa.

Group B

1st: Switzerland
2nd: Canada

Switzerland remains one of the most organized teams in international football. Canada has enough quality and home support to edge out Bosnia and Qatar.

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Group C

1st: Brazil
2nd: Morocco

Brazil should comfortably top the group. Morocco’s impressive performances in recent tournaments make them favorites for second place ahead of Scotland and Haiti.

Group D

1st: USA
2nd: Türkiye

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Although I do not see the USA making a deep tournament run, I expect them to win this group. Türkiye has enough talent to finish second ahead of Paraguay and Australia.

Group E

1st: Germany
2nd: Ecuador

Germany should have little trouble finishing first. Ecuador’s athleticism and tournament discipline should see them narrowly edge Ivory Coast.

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Group F

1st: Netherlands
2nd: Japan

One of the most exciting groups in the tournament. Japan continues to improve with every World Cup and should finish ahead of Sweden and Tunisia.

Group G

1st: Belgium
2nd: Egypt

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Belgium’s golden generation may be aging, but they still possess enough quality to win the group. Egypt, led by Mohamed Salah, should take second.

Group H

1st: Spain
2nd: Uruguay

This could be one of the strongest groups in the competition. Spain’s technical quality gives them the edge, while Uruguay’s tournament pedigree should carry them through.

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Group I

1st: France
2nd: Senegal

France remains one of the favorites to win the tournament. Senegal has enough quality and athleticism to finish ahead of Norway and Iraq.

Group J

1st: Argentina
2nd: Austria

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Argentina’s experience should be enough to secure first place. Austria could quietly become one of the tournament’s surprise packages.

Group K

1st: Portugal
2nd: Colombia

This is one of the toughest groups to predict. Portugal’s quality and motivation should see them finish first, while Colombia narrowly edges DR Congo and Uzbekistan.

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Group L

1st: England
2nd: Croatia

England’s talent depth should be enough to top the group. Croatia’s experience in major tournaments gives them the advantage over Ghana and Panama.

Predicted Best Third-Placed Teams

The eight third-placed teams I believe will advance are:

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  1. Morocco (Group C)
  2. Paraguay (Group D)
  3. Ivory Coast (Group E)
  4. Sweden (Group F)
  5. Uruguay (Group H)
  6. Norway (Group I)
  7. Algeria (Group J)
  8. Ghana (Group L)

My Predicted Round of 32 Teams

Group Winners

  • Mexico
  • Switzerland
  • Brazil
  • USA
  • Germany
  • Netherlands
  • Belgium
  • Spain
  • France
  • Argentina
  • Portugal
  • England

Group Runners-Up

  • South Korea
  • Canada
  • Morocco
  • Türkiye
  • Ecuador
  • Japan
  • Egypt
  • Uruguay
  • Senegal
  • Austria
  • Colombia
  • Croatia

Best Third-Placed Teams

  • Paraguay
  • Ivory Coast
  • Sweden
  • Norway
  • Algeria
  • Ghana
  • DR Congo
  • South Africa

Final Thoughts

Every World Cup prediction looks brilliant until the first upset arrives.

However, if I had to pick the teams most likely to dominate the group stage, I would point to Brazil, Portugal, France, Spain, Germany, Argentina, and England.

As for the eventual winner, I still believe the trophy will be lifted by either Portugal or Brazil.

Feel free to save this article and revisit it when the tournament begins. Football has a habit of making experts look foolish, but that’s exactly why we love it.

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Mikel Arteta signs new contract with Premier League champions Arsenal

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Mikel Arteta has signed a new contract with Premier League champions Arsenal, extending his stay at the club beyond the end of this season.

The Spaniard took charge of the Gunners in December 2019, meaning the new deal could see him remain at the Emirates for a decade.

Arteta’s previous contract was due to expire at the end of the current campaign. His new agreement includes an increase on his existing £10m-a-year salary, with a further £5m available in bonuses.

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The Arsenal manager had reportedly benchmarked his value against the salaries of Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola and Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone, who are both believed to earn more than £20m per year.

“This club is unique, its character and the way it makes you feel, and I have a great sense of privilege that our journey together will continue,” Arteta said.

“We have already built a special bond and created memories that will last a lifetime, and what is so exciting is that this is only the beginning of what we can achieve together.”

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The 44-year-old has guided Arsenal to a Premier League title and an FA Cup during his time in charge.

He also led the club to the Champions League final in May, where Arsenal were beaten by Paris St-Germain.

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Jannik Sinner ends season early to undergo knee treatment

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Jannik Sinner has ended his season early to undergo treatment on a knee injury.

The Italian has not played competitively since defending his Wimbledon title in July.

The five-time Grand Slam champion said he had “needed to think about my long-term career” before deciding to end his season.

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“Me together with the doctors have decided that I need a course of treatment for my knee,” the 25-year-old said in an Instagram video.

“The last couple of years gave me so many beautiful feelings and emotions, which this year is going to be way different.

“I will do everything possible to get back 100%.”

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Sinner was the dominant player for much of the year, winning 44 and losing just three of his singles matches.

He won five Masters 1000 titles in a row between March and May, becoming the youngest man to complete the career Golden Masters.

His injury means Alexander Zverev is highly likely to replace him as world number one by the end of the year.

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Second-ranked Zverev, who has won the French Open and US Open this year, trails Sinner by 1,280 points in the live rankings.

However, Sinner will be unable to defend the points he earned by winning titles in China, Vienna, Paris and the ATP Finals at the end of last year.

Sinner won six titles in 2026 across all three surfaces and lost just one singles match between March and July.

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He reached the semi-finals of the Australian Open, where he lost to Novak Djokovic in five sets, but suffered a shock second-round defeat by Juan Manuel Cerundolo at the French Open in May.

The defeat in hot and humid conditions in Paris ended Sinner’s 30-match winning streak.

He responded strongly at Wimbledon, where he was pushed to five sets in the first round and suffered a bleeding foot during the match before recovering to beat Zverev in the final and successfully defend his title.

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Sinner and his generational rival Carlos Alcaraz, who met in three of the four Grand Slam finals last year, played each other only once in 2026.

Sinner won that meeting, defeating the Spaniard in the Monte Carlo Masters final to reclaim the world number one ranking.

He finishes the year with a 10-1 record against top-10 players, with his only defeat coming against Djokovic in Melbourne at the start of the year.

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Mbappe Explains Ceuta T-Shirt Gesture and Says He Stands With Victims

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Kylian Mbappe has explained why he rolled up his pre-match T-shirt before Real Madrid’s game at Elche on Tuesday, partially covering a message in support of Ceuta.

The shirts carried the slogan “Todos somos Caballas”, meaning “We are all Caballas” — a nickname for people from Ceuta.

Real Madrid team-mates Vinicius Jr and Ibrahima Konate also rolled up their shirts.

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Mbappe said the decision to wear the shirts was made by the club and stressed that his gesture was not intended to oppose the people of Ceuta.

“I want to explain this clearly so people understand. It was the club’s decision to include the T-shirt and to have us wear it. We players had to wear it,” the France international said.

“The first thing I want to say is that I stand in full solidarity with Ceuta and with all the victims.”

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Ceuta is a Spanish autonomous city on the North African coast, bordering Morocco and separated from mainland Spain by the Strait of Gibraltar.

More than 100 people died when tens of thousands of migrants crossed into the territory from neighbouring Morocco in July.

“Because before I’m a player, I’m a human being. But I also wanted to make a gesture and spare a thought for all the immigrants who have lost their lives and who are also living in harsh conditions,” Mbappe added.

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He acknowledged that his decision could be misunderstood.

“It wasn’t an easy position to take. It was difficult because, in the end, people might think I’m against the people of Ceuta. But no, absolutely not.

“I have nothing against them, and I support them 100% in my thoughts. But I also wanted to spare a thought for all the people who are suffering because, at the end of the day, I’m human, and I don’t want to prioritise one form of suffering over another.

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“There are people who are suffering, and it breaks my heart to see that happening in the world. I’m a young man who wants the best for the world we live in.

“I aim to send a message of positivity and peace, and I hope this situation is resolved quickly.”

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