Opta's supercomputer has released its predictions for the 32 teams that will advance from the group stage to the knockout phase of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. This tournament, hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada, marks the first edition with an expanded 48-team format.
New Format and Host Countries
The 2026 World Cup is the first to be co-hosted by three nations and the first in North America since the United States hosted the 1994 edition. The tournament will run from June 11 to July 19, 2026, with matches played across 11 stadiums in the US, three in Mexico, and two in Canada.
Under the new format, 12 groups of four teams each will compete. The top two teams from each group, along with the eight best third-place finishers, will advance to the knockout stage. This means 32 of the 48 participating nations will progress, increasing the chances for surprise teams to make an impact.
Group-by-Group Predictions
According to The Analyst, Opta's supercomputer has forecast the following outcomes for each group:
- Group A: Mexico and South Korea are predicted to advance.
- Group B: Switzerland and Canada are expected to qualify.
- Group C: Brazil and Morocco are tipped to progress.
- Group D: USA and Turkey are favored.
- Group E: Germany and Ecuador are predicted as top two.
- Group F: Netherlands and Japan are expected to advance.
- Group G: Belgium and Egypt are forecast to qualify.
- Group H: Spain and Uruguay are predicted to progress.
- Group I: France and Norway are favored.
- Group J: Argentina and Austria are expected to advance.
- Group K: Portugal and Colombia are tipped to qualify.
- Group L: England and Croatia are predicted to progress.
Best Third-Place Teams
The supercomputer also identified the eight best third-place teams that will join the knockout stage: Czech Republic, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Scotland, Paraguay, Ivory Coast, Sweden, Iran, and Senegal.
Tournament Favorites
Earlier predictions from Opta's supercomputer named Spain as the leading favorite to win the 2026 World Cup, followed by France, England, Argentina, and Portugal.
