Argentina national team head coach Lionel Scaloni has revealed the list of nations he considers as top contenders to win the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The tournament, which will be the first to feature 48 teams, is set to be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada from June 11 to July 19, 2026.
Scaloni's Top Contenders
In an interview with Argentine outlet Diario Ole, Scaloni named ten countries he believes are favorites, including his own Argentina, which enters as defending champion after winning the 2022 edition in Qatar. He emphasized that no single team stands out as a clear favorite.
“Ten? I don't know if I underestimated them. Yes, because in a World Cup, of course, Argentina will be there. I don't know if they'll win, but those ten or twelve will fight and try to reach the final,” Scaloni said. He listed Spain, France, Portugal, England, Brazil, Colombia, Uruguay, Argentina, Morocco, and Croatia as the main contenders.
Historical Context
Among these, Argentina, Spain, France, England, Brazil, and Uruguay have previously won the World Cup. For others like Portugal, Colombia, Morocco, and Croatia, victory would be a first. Scaloni, who has led Argentina to three consecutive major tournament wins, including two Copa America titles, stressed that winning the World Cup requires more than just good performance.
“In the end, what can I tell you about the World Cup? It's not enough to just play well, to be a contender, to be a big team; a whole host of factors have to fall into place for things to go smoothly,” he added.
Argentina's Group Stage
Argentina has been drawn in Group J alongside Algeria, Austria, and Jordan. The defending champions will begin their campaign against Algeria on June 17, followed by matches against Austria on June 22 and Jordan on June 28. The group is considered favorable for Scaloni's side.
Supercomputer Prediction
According to Opta's supercomputer, Spain is the leading favorite to win the 2026 World Cup, followed by France, England, Argentina, and Portugal. Scaloni's list aligns closely with these predictions, though he included additional teams like Colombia, Uruguay, Morocco, and Croatia.
Lionel Messi, who is expected to play in his final World Cup, will lead Argentina's charge as they aim to become the first team to win back-to-back titles since Brazil in 1962.
