A Full Guide to the 2026 World Cup - Part 2 (Review of the Euro. / FIFA Qualifiers, Favorites, Dark Horses, Group Stage Predictions, and Round of 32 Predictions)
Nickolas Cielo ’29
Like promised, I would review my Euro. / FIFA Qualifiers Predictions and rank some of the National Teams. I will also include my Group Stage Predictions and Round of 32 Predictions. Important to note: I will often refer to teams as “less” or “high” quality. A national team that is less quality is a country that has lower quality (talented or skilled) players, facilities, resources, money, experience, practice, management, administration, has historically been regarded as weaker, or has accomplished less than other countries. Never do I intend to disregard countries or call them “weak” in a diminishing sense, they are just the facts and reality.
So, let's start with how my Euro. and FIFA Qualifiers Predictions went (Spoiler: Not good at all)
I predicted that the European teams: Italy, Poland, Turkey, and Ireland would qualify for the World Cup. Guess the ONLY one I got right? If you said Turkey, congratulations! To be fair, that was an easy one to pick. Italy won against Northern Ireland and lost to BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA IN A PENALTY SHOOTOUT! That means that Italy hasn’t qualified for its third STRAIGHT World Cup, absolutely mental. On the other hand, what a shock by Sweden. I held out hope for Poland but an 88th minute goal by Viktor Gyokeres sealed their losing fate. Poor Robert Lewandowski, the Polish legend won’t get the farewell he deserves. My most wild prediction was that Ireland would qualify for the World Cup. I previously said that Czechia were dark horses in that bracket and they indeed were. They beat Ireland in the first round and then Denmark, both via a penalty shootout, so they’re also headed to the World Cup. I also predicted that Bolivia and The Democratic Republic of the Congo would qualify via the FIFA playoffs. I was right about my DRC prediction, but wrong in picking Bolivia over Iraq. Iraq put up quite the fight and were deserving of that last ticket to the World Cup, ending their 40 year absence.
Moving on, here is how I rank the favorites and the Potential Dark Horses at the tournament!
Favorites To Win Ranked (my top 4):
1. France
On paper, Les Bleus should win. They have the strongest squad of all teams, with elite players everywhere. With Kylian Mbappe leading the attack, they are a team to fear. This will be Didier Deschamps’ last tournament with France before stepping down. He has led them to a World Cup win in 2018 and runners-up in the last World Cup. Definitely the death squad everyone fears.
2. Spain
Many did not expect La Roja to win Euro 2024, but as the tournament progressed, it became clear they would win. They won in style, with a host of youngsters who lit up the tournament, like Lamine Yamal. They have a terrifying squad; certainly one of the favorites to win.
3. Portugal
Not too long ago, A Selecao won the 2025 Nations League, beating Spain in the final. They possess an array of talent in all positions, but doubts remain on how Roberto Martinez uses them. The Portugal manager has a serious dilemma: Whether to use Cristiano Ronaldo or not. No matter the decision Martinez makes will draw criticism, but regardless, they’re hungry for glory.
4. Argentina
La Albiceleste are the reigning champions of the World Cup, but can they hold onto it? With the same manager that led them to glory in 2022, Lionel Scaloni hasn’t changed much, keeping much of the 2022 winning team. About Messi, he will turn 39 during the tournament. They are still among the favorites to win, given that younger talents are bound to show up for them.
Potential Dark Horses Ranked (my top 4):
1. Colombia
Yay, my country! Los Cafeteros have emerged as a dark horse for the World Cup. The 2025 Copa America Finalists had an amazing run, beating Brazil and Uruguay. Most notably though, from February 2022 to July 2024, Colombia was unbeaten for 28 games in a row! James Rodriguez will lead the team in what will likely be his last World Cup, passing the baton to Luis Diaz, the danger man for Colombia. Approaching June, they will be a team to fear. Vamos Colombia!
2. Norway
The Landslaget are arguably the biggest team on the rise. In their qualifying campaign, they scored 37 goals in 8 games! Their attack is one of the most feared ones in the world, with Erling Haaland leading the charge with players like Alexander Sorloth, Antonio Nusa, and Martin Odegaard. Having not qualified for a World Cup since 1998, they are looking to leave their mark.
3. Senegal
Les Lions de la Teranga are another dark horse. The REAL winners of the 2025 AFCON have many good players like Sadio Mane, Nicolas Jackson, and Iliman Ndiaye. They’re no strangers to upsets, and will be itching for a win against France. A team to watch out for.
4. Morocco
The fairytale story of أُسُودُ الأَطلَس (Usud Al-Atlas) at the 2022 World Cup shattered the footballing world. They became the first ever African team to reach the semifinals at a World Cup. In their qualifying campaign, they won all their games. Morocco’s path to the final is complicated, but if 2022 taught us anything, it is that Morocco is an expert in giant killing.
Onto my Group Stage Predictions:
Group A (Mexico, South Korea, South Africa, and Czechia): All these teams are somewhat equal in quality. Mexico are slight favorites to top this group but Czechia is the dark horse here. My final prediction is: 1) Mexico, 2) Czechia, 3) South Africa, and 4) South Korea.
Group B (Canada, Qatar, Switzerland, and Bosnia and Herzegovina): Italy failing to qualify leaves Switzerland as the heavy favorite to top this group. My final prediction is: 1) Switzerland, 2) Bosnia and Herzegovina, 3) Canada, and 4) Qatar.
Group C (Haiti, Morocco, Brazil, and Scotland): Two clear favorites here, Brazil and Morocco. I feel bad for Scotland, such bad luck to be drawn here. I’m very torn on who to pick to top this group, but my final prediction is: 1) Morocco, 2) Brazil, 3) Scotland, and 4) Haiti.
Group D (United States, Australia, Paraguay, and Turkey): Other than Turkey who are favorites here, it's anyone's game. The other three have a decent shot at finishing second or last. I’m really torn, but I’ll go with: 1) Turkey, 2) United States (I feel nice), 3) Paraguay, and 4) Australia
Group E (Curacao, Ivory Coast, Ecuador, and Germany): Not much to say here. Germany will prevail at the top no doubt so it's really a battle for second place between Ecuador and Ivory Coast. It’s a coin flip between those two but I’m going to say: 1) Germany, 2) Ecuador, 3) Ivory Coast, and 4) Curacao.
Group F (Japan, Tunisia, Netherlands, and Sweden): Sorry, Tunisia, you’re getting demolished here. The other three have a fair chance of topping the group, with the Netherlands having a slight edge (even that is uncertain). I’ll be reasonable and say: 1) Netherlands, 2) Japan, 3) Sweden, and 4) Tunisia.
Group G (Iran, Egypt, New Zealand, and Belgium): Disclaimer: I’m purposefully not including Iran in my World Cup predictions because their sporting director said it was “unlikely” they would play at the World Cup due to the ongoing military conflict between Iran and the US. They were in negotiations with FIFA to move their games to Mexico, but FIFA rejected their request. This means that by default, all teams would win 3-0 against Iran. Other than that, this group isn’t as simple as it seems. Belgium have been shaky in past years and I wouldn’t be surprised if New Zealand and Egypt scrape some points against them. Despite that, expect their attack to deliver. For that reason, I say: 1) Belgium, 2) Egypt, 3) New Zealand, and 4) Iran.
Group H (Saudi Arabia, Cape Verde, Uruguay, and Spain): The group speaks for itself. The easiest to predict by far, Spain and Uruguay should dominate. Hence: 1) Spain, 2) Uruguay, 3) Saudi Arabia, and 4) Cape Verde
Group I (Senegal, France, Norway, and Iraq): What a switch, we go from the easiest to predict to the hardest to predict. In this group, we have the 2025 AFCON champions Senegal, football powerhouse and 2018 winners, 2022 finalists France, a deadly Norway, and Iraq. Yup, Iraq doesn’t stand a chance. I’ve held off on talking about this group since it was drawn, since whatever happens here could decide the rest of the World Cup. I guess I should just blurt it out to get it off my mind. 1) France, 2) Norway, 3) Senegal, and 4) Iraq.
Group J (Jordan, Algeria, Argentina, and Austria): We have a clear team who is getting first place, Argentina. The current champions of the world got a favorable group, although they shouldn’t be complacent. Austria, Algeria, and Jordan have a good case to make for their status as a dark horse here. 1) Argentina, 2) Austria, 3) Algeria, and 4) Jordan.
Group K (Uzbekistan, Colombia, Portugal, The Democratic Republic of the Congo): Call me delusional, but I think Colombia tops this group. A huge dilemma Roberto Martinez, the Portuguese manager has is whether or not to use Cristiano Ronaldo at the World Cup. I’m a Ronaldo fan, but at a World Cup, you cannot have a 41 year old as your striker, the team around him is faster and more energetic. Ronaldo is more of a positional striker, and he’ll struggle against Colombia, DRC, and Uzbekistan, given their sturdy defenses. I’m not underestimating Portugal, but I do think they’ll struggle. For that reason: 1) Colombia (call me crazy), 2) Portugal, 3) The Democratic Republic of the Congo, and 4) Uzbekistan.
Group L (Panama, Ghana, England, and Croatia): What a group to close it out! And certainly a slightly easier one to predict. England are now an attacking team which will help them get the best of other teams. Croatia are not to be underestimated, they will put up quite the fight for first place. Ghana have been struggling in recent years, and they will look to scrape by. 1) England, 2) Croatia, 3) Ghana, and 4) Panama.
In addition to the top two teams in a group, the eight best third-place teams advance to the next round. This is decided by goal difference and amount of goals scored. Of the teams I placed in third place: Senegal, Sweden, Ivory Coast, Algeria, The Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Africa, Canada, and New Zealand will advance to the Round of 32. The other third-place teams not listed are eliminated.
Onto the Round of 32!
Here are the matchups and my predictions:
That’s all for now. If you’ve read this far, I’ll give you a sneak peak of the next issue, which will be the Last Part of this World Cup series!: Round of 16, Quarterfinals, Semifinals, Finals Predictions, AND Closing Message!