World Soccer’s experts on how this summer’s World Cup will unfold…
This feature was published in the June 2026 issue of World Soccer, which you can order here
HENRY WINTER (World Soccer columnist)
I’m excited to see…
Bukayo Saka. England’s winger can humiliate full-backs and, after missing more than two months of the season through injury, he’s now moving back towards full sharpness. The time away from the fray was like a refreshing mid-season break.
You might be surprised by…
Portugal, sixth favourites. Any side with a midfield of Vitinha and Joao Neves supporting Bruno Fernandes deserves respect, with the irrepressible Bernardo Silva as well. But will a static Cristiano Ronaldo be a help or hindrance?
I’m concerned about…
The long seasons catching up with those 150+ Premier League representatives at the tournament who haven’t had a winter break. Let’s hope they can resist fatigue in sapping conditions – we want stars fresh.
Keep an eye out for…
More sensible use of VAR. Less of the forensic joy-killing, time-consuming variety that we see in the Premier League. More of the minimal interference, maximum benefit. Clear and obvious only, thanks. PGMOL take note.
The Golden Boot will be won by…
Harry Kane. England are set up to feed their talismanic captain. Clever movement, clinical finishing, plus he will win and take penalties. At 32, this is probably his last World Cup and he aims to seize the moment.
The Player of the Tournament will be…
Michael Olise can cause havoc for France with his technique and ability to spirit the ball around opponents. England will watch his prominence with frustration, given he was born and raised in London.
The winners will be…
Spain. European champions brimming with togetherness, intelligence and individual ability. With just one caveat: they’ll need Lamine Yamal to regain sharpness quickly after his hamstring injury.
KEIR RADNEDGE (World Soccer columnist)
I’m excited to see…
How minnows like Curacao perform. It is important at least some show up strongly to stall the trend of the major confederations shovelling them to the bottom of the heap when it comes to tournament draws.
You might be surprised by…
The number of established teams who are eliminated
in the opening group stage. Cup competitions’ narratives depend on surprises. That applies as much to the World Cup as the FA Cup.
I’m concerned about…
The overall level of these finals. More teams always means a fall in quality and the World Cup needs to maintain its hard-earned but fading football showpiece glitz.
Keep an eye out for…
All the fun and games which will follow Carlos Ancelotti’s gamble with Neymar, whether he is playing or, especially, has to adjust to time on the bench.
The Golden Boot will be won by…
Kylian Mbappe, based on my own slight favouring of France as eventual winners. He has the provocation of memory from 2022 and, at 27, he is in the prime of his career.
The Player of the Tournament will be…
Lionel Messi, even if partly because of goodwill accrued from previous tournaments, as long as Argentina go deep into the knockout stages.
The winners will be…
France partly because of the talent available but above all through Didier Deschamps’ matchless experience in tournament management.
JONATHAN WILSON (World Soccer columnist)
I’m excited to see…
How Brazil get on under Carlo Ancelotti. There is a strange sense that in turning to a foreigner Brazil are going back to a style that brought their great success between 1958 and 1970, although the midfield does look weak.
You might be surprised by…
Japan, who might be the best Asian side in history. The injury to Kaoru Mitoma is extremely unfortunate, but this is a side that dominated Asian qualifying and their group looks extremely well-balanced.
I’m concerned about…
Ticket prices, the climate, the distances, Trump, ICE… There are always concerns before any World Cup, but never before has a host nation’s government seemed so actively hostile to the outside world.
Keep an eye out for…
Surprise teams reaching the last 16 and quarters. Eight groups of four was perfect; this format is a shambles: a lot of essentially meaningless games in the groups before a sudden injection of jeopardy in the last 32.
The Golden Boot will be won by…
Kylian Mbappe – a reliably good finisher in probably the best squad. He’s already scored 12 goals in two World Cups; Miroslav Klose’s record of 16 could easily fall at this tournament.
The Player of the Tournament will be…
Lamine Yamal. The 18-year-old is exciting and technically gifted in a way that nobody else at the tournament quite is. The big doubt, though, is over his fitness as he struggles back from a hamstring injury.
The winners will be…
Spain, the best side by far at Euro 2024. Nico Williams’ absence could cost them that exhilarating directness, especially if Yamal isn’t fully fit. But their ability to retain possession in the heat will be a major asset.
I’m excited to see…
The African performance. The best justification for the expansion of the World Cup is the fact that Africa was so under-represented in a 32-team tournament. What can they do given more opportunities?
You might be surprised by…
Japan, although we probably shouldn’t be. They showed very clearly in Qatar that they can operate in bursts, where for little phases they are hard to handle. This approach could suit the conditions perfectly.
I’m concerned about…
The conditions. Extreme heat at the end of a gruelling season is really going to take a toll on the players. It ruined the 1994 final, and I doubt we’ll see anything to match the decider in Qatar.
Keep an eye out for…
The man in the navy suit (if he wears it in the heat), Paraguay coach Gustavo Alfaro. Low-profile, serious, but his connection to the game’s traditional values is almost spiritual, and much needed in the current game.
The Golden Boot will be won by…
Tough to predict, but how about Vinicius Junior? A couple of straightforward group games, plus the presence of Carlo Ancelotti, who encouraged him to cut in on goal at Real Madrid, could put him in contention.
The Player of the Tournament will be…
Whoever has enough gas in the tank to last through to the end of the competition. Nursed along by his coach, it could be Kylian Mbappe
The winners will be…
I was really struck by France in the March friendlies, first against Brazil and then the reserves giving Colombia a thrashing. The strength in depth is terrifying.
I’m excited to see…
Whether an African team can better what Morocco did in Qatar and reach the final. The continent has certainly come a long way over the last half-century but needs a bigger impact at the World Cup.
You might be surprised by…
The confidence Senegal bring to the tournament and the belief they have that they can go all the way. They have, arguably, much more depth in their squad than any previous African squad at the World Cup.
I’m concerned about…
Too many African sides going out early despite it being relatively easy to get past the opening round, with the eight best third-placed finishers also advancing to the knockout stages.
Keep an eye out for…
Some very young and special African talent, like Ibrahim Mbaye of Senegal and the South African duo of Mbekezeli Mbokazi and Relebohile Mofokeng.
The Golden Boot will be won by…
Kylian Mbappe. The incredible pace and finishing ability of the Frenchman set him apart from his peers.
The Player of the Tournament will be…
Mbappe again. His impact is going to be key to his country’s hopes. He is a player perfectly built for a tournament like this.
The winners will be…
France. They were most unfortunate not to win four years ago and have the strongest squad at the finals. I think we will see European success in the Americas again after the Germans won in 2014.
I’m excited to see…
If Asia can send a team to the last eight for the first time since 2002. With nine representatives, there need to be a few going into the knockout stages and one, probably Japan, going quite deep.
You might be surprised by…
How the Asian teams handle the conditions. Given some of the fairly brutal heat and, sometimes humidity, that players are accustomed to, it should give them some advantage over European teams at least.
I’m concerned about…
Saudi Arabia. Changing the coach from Herve Renard to Georgios Donis less than two months before the big kick-off is not a good sign. Those games against Spain and Uruguay could be painful.
Keep an eye out for…
Musa Al-Taamari of Jordan. The baker’s son from Amman has long been the country’s biggest star and a rare export to Europe. With injuries to other attackers, the winger is ready to step up.
The Golden Boot will be won by…
Harry Kane. It doesn’t mean that England will win, of course, but the Three Lions are likely to go far which means that the Bayern Munich striker should be scoring plenty.
The Player of the Tournament will be…
Kylian Mbappe. Not the most imaginative choice but after a troubled season at Real Madrid, if the superstar is fit this summer, he could put on a show for the world.
The winners will be…
France. With the talent at their disposal, it is hard to look past the two-time champs. Spain are also obvious contenders while the South American giants may benefit from playing relatively close to home.
JAMIE EVANS (World Soccer managing editor)
I’m excited to see…
Some legendary South American No.10s at their final World Cup: Lionel Messi, Neymar and James Rodriguez. Slower-paced games could be perfect conditions for some classy playmakers to pull the strings.
You might be surprised by…
Ecuador. If defensive football is to be the tactical trend of these finals then a side with Moises Caicedo in front of a collection of top defenders, who only conceded five goals in qualifying, have the potential to go a long way.
I’m concerned about…
England, whose hopes seem to rest on their tournament experience and world-class match-winners rather than a convincing body of work under Thomas Tuchel. Will it all click into place during the finals?
Keep an eye out for…
Mexico wonderkid Gilberto Mora. The idea of a teenager stepping up to the plate for
his country on home soil has the potential to be one of the great World Cup stories. Or, it could all prove to be too much, too young for the midfielder.
The Golden Boot will be won by…
Erling Haaland. Norway have been branded “dark horses” by some, but there should be nothing surprising about a team with one of the most devastating goalscorers in the world going far in the tournament.
The Player of the Tournament will be…
If Portugal do as well as I expect, then one of their midfield schemers will take the golden ball – probably Vitinha. His ability, along with his PSG team-mate Joao Neves, to look after the ball will be vital in the heat.
The winners will be…
Portugal. We’re due a new name on the trophy, and the combination of a world-class midfield with the experience of winning the UEFA Nations League makes the Selecao strong candidates – as long as Ronaldo takes a backseat.