The 2026 FIFA World Cup is finally here. We have 48 teams, 12 groups, 3 host nations and exactly zero guarantees. Seriously, the group stage has shown us anything can happen. Four years ago Saudi Arabia stunned Argentina. Japan toppled Germany and Spain. Every World Cup handles you at least one result that makes you feel like you’ve never watched soccer a day in your life.
As the tournament is getting set to start this week, we’re here to predict every single group stage game. Yeah, we’re being bold. And we’re probably going to be way off about many of them.
What we’re going to do below is give a winner (or a draw) and a quick why. I’m fully aware that most of these picks will come back to haunt me down the road if they go off the rails.
One housekeeping note: the top two teams from each group will automatically advance to the Round of 32, and then the next best eight third-place finishers will also advance. That means surviving the group stage is more achievable than ever.
The Group Stage runs from June 11 through June 27.
(Knockout round predictions will follow in a separate post later 0n)
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Group A: Mexico, South Korea, South Africa, Czechia
| Match | Prediction | Reasoning |
|---|
| Mexico vs. South Africa | Mexico 2–0 | Home crowd, home soil in Mexico City. South Africa showed up to survive, not score. |
| South Korea vs. Czechia | Draw 1–1 | Son's last World Cup hurrah vs. a solid Czechia side. Neither has enough to pull away. |
| Mexico vs. South Korea | Mexico 1–0 | El Tri can't afford to slip at home. Grinding result but they get it done. |
| South Africa vs. Czechia | Czechia 1–0 | Quality wins out. Schick finds a goal. |
| Mexico vs. Czechia | Mexico 2–1 | Mexico clinches the group. Czechia presses but it's too little, too late. |
| South Korea vs. South Africa | South Korea 2–1 | Son shows up when it matters. South Africa's tournament ends here. |
| Team | W | D | L | Pts | Result |
|---|
| Mexico | 3 | 0 | 0 | 9 | ✅ Advance |
| South Korea | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | ✅ Advance |
| Czechia | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 🎟️ Advance |
| South Africa | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | ❌ Eliminated |
Group B: Canada, Switzerland, Qatar, Bosnia-Herzegovina
| Match | Prediction | Reasoning |
|---|
| Canada vs. Bosnia-Herzegovina | Canada 2–1 | Home advantage in Toronto is massive. Bosnia is a step up from nothing but Canada has the horses. |
| Qatar vs. Switzerland | Switzerland 2–0 | Qatar has no business being at this tournament. Switzerland takes it professionally. |
| Canada vs. Qatar | Canada 3–0 | Should be a walkover. Davies makes Qatar look like a Thursday night men's league team. |
| Switzerland vs. Bosnia-Herzegovina | Draw 1–1 | Bosnia scraps for a draw they desperately need. Switzerland plays it safe. |
| Canada vs. Switzerland | Draw 1–1 | The group decider. Both advance regardless but neither wants second. |
| Qatar vs. Bosnia-Herzegovina | Bosnia 2–1 | Both going home, but Bosnia has actual quality. Qatar collects their participation trophy. |
| Team | W | D | L | Pts | Result |
|---|
| Canada | 2 | 1 | 0 | 7 | ✅ Advance |
| Switzerland | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5 | ✅ Advance |
| Bosnia-Herzegovina | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 🎟️ Advance |
| Qatar | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | ❌ Eliminated |
Group C: Brazil, Morocco, Scotland, Haiti
| Match | Prediction | Reasoning |
|---|
| Brazil vs. Morocco | Brazil 2–1 | Morocco is legit and won't roll over. But Brazil at a World Cup in North America, 32 years after '94? They find a way. |
| Haiti vs. Scotland | Scotland 2–0 | Scotland gets to play the one group they can actually win. Haiti is the tournament's sacrificial lamb. |
| Brazil vs. Scotland | Brazil 3–0 | Sorry, lads. This ain't Wembley '67. |
| Morocco vs. Haiti | Morocco 3–0 | Morocco needs the goal difference. Haiti obliges. |
| Brazil vs. Haiti | Brazil 4–0 | Garbage time goals for Vinicius Jr. |
| Morocco vs. Scotland | Morocco 1–0 | The real second-place battle. Morocco's defensive structure beats a Scotland side that needs a miracle. |
| Team | W | D | L | Pts | Result |
|---|
| Brazil | 3 | 0 | 0 | 9 | ✅ Advance |
| Morocco | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 | ✅ Advance |
| Scotland | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | ❌ Eliminated |
| Haiti | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | ❌ Eliminated |
Group D: USA, Paraguay, Australia, Turkey
| Match | Prediction | Reasoning |
|---|
| USA vs. Paraguay | USA 2–1 | SoFi Stadium, the opener on American soil. They'd better not screw this up. |
| Australia vs. Turkey | Draw 1–1 | Two dangerous teams who won't give each other anything for free. |
| USA vs. Australia | USA 2–0 | Pulisic starts cooking. The Socceroos' firepower isn't enough on the road. |
| Paraguay vs. Turkey | Türkiye 1–0 | Better squad depth. Paraguay gives a fight but loses the tight one. |
| USA vs. Turkey | Draw 1–1 | Nervy last group game. USA doesn't need to win and plays accordingly. |
| Paraguay vs. Australia | Paraguay 2–1 | South American quality edges out in the match nobody watches. Both need it. |
| Team | W | D | L | Pts | Result |
|---|
| USA | 2 | 1 | 0 | 7 | ✅ Advance |
| Turkey | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5 | ✅ Advance |
| Paraguay | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 🎟️ Advance |
| Australia | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | ❌ Eliminated |
Group E: Germany, Ecuador, Ivory Coast, Curaçao
| Match | Prediction | Reasoning |
|---|
| Germany vs. Curaçao | Germany 5–1 | This could possibly be most lopsided matchup of the entire tournament. Pour one out for Curaçao. |
| Ecuador vs. Ivory Coast | Draw 1–1 | Two evenly-matched teams that will make this legitimately watchable. |
| Germany vs. Ecuador | Germany 2–1 | Ecuador will press and make it interesting. Germany closes it out. |
| Ivory Coast vs. Curaçao | Ivory Coast 3–0 | Comfortable W. Curaçao is just happy to be here. |
| Germany vs. Ivory Coast | Germany 2–0 | Germany clinches. Talent gap is real. |
| Ecuador vs. Curaçao | Ecuador 3–1 | Ecuador locks up second. Curaçao finishes 0–3 and still somehow made history by getting here. |
| Team | W | D | L | Pts | Result |
|---|
| Germany | 3 | 0 | 0 | 9 | ✅ Advance |
| Ecuador | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | ✅ Advance |
| Ivory Coast | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 🎟️ Advance |
| Curaçao | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | ❌ Eliminated |
Group F: Netherlands, Japan, Tunisia, Sweden
| Match | Prediction | Reasoning |
|---|
| Netherlands vs. Japan | Netherlands 2–1 | At Dallas Stadium in Arlington. Netherlands are the superior side but Japan always shows up at World Cups. Slight Dutch edge. |
| Tunisia vs. Sweden | Sweden 1–0 | Sweden is the better team. Tunisia causes problems but can't finish. |
| Netherlands vs. Tunisia | Netherlands 3–1 | Netherlands in cruise control. Tunisia can't cope with the attacking pace. |
| Japan vs. Sweden | Draw 1–1 | The real second-place fight. Neither side can afford to lose. |
| Netherlands vs. Sweden | Netherlands 2–1 | Netherlands clinches. Sweden fights until the end but it's not enough. |
| Japan vs. Tunisia | Japan 2–0 | Japan finishes strong and grabs second on goal difference. |
| Team | W | D | L | Pts | Result |
|---|
| Netherlands | 3 | 0 | 0 | 9 | ✅ Advance |
| Japan | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | ✅ Advance |
| Sweden | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 🎟️ Advance |
| Tunisia | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | ❌ Eliminated |
Note: Japan and Sweden finish level on 4 points. Japan advances on goal difference (+2 vs. –1).
Group G: Belgium, Iran, Egypt, New Zealand
| Match | Prediction | Reasoning |
|---|
| Belgium vs. Iran | Belgium 2–0 | Belgium's golden generation is gone but there's still enough class to handle Iran. |
| Egypt vs. New Zealand | Egypt 1–0 | Salah's last stand at a World Cup. Egypt ekes out a narrow one. |
| Belgium vs. Egypt | Draw 1–1 | Mo Salah does what Mo Salah does. Belgium can't fully neutralize him. |
| Iran vs. New Zealand | Iran 1–0 | Iran needs every point. They grind one out against a side just happy to be here. |
| Belgium vs. New Zealand | Belgium 3–0 | Belgium finishes group play comfortably. |
| Egypt vs. Iran | Draw 0–0 | The ugliest match of the tournament. Two defensive sides who both desperately need a result. |
| Team | W | D | L | Pts | Result |
|---|
| Belgium | 2 | 1 | 0 | 7 | ✅ Advance |
| Egypt | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5 | ✅ Advance |
| Iran | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 🎟️ Advance |
| New Zealand | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | ❌ Eliminated |
Group H: Spain, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia, Cape Verde
| Match | Prediction | Reasoning |
|---|
| Spain vs. Cape Verde | Spain 4–0 | The defending European champions warm up against debutants. Pedri, Yamal, and Morata have a field day. |
| Saudi Arabia vs. Uruguay | Uruguay 1–0 | Uruguay's defensive experience is exactly the antidote to Saudi Arabia's limited attack. |
| Spain vs. Saudi Arabia | Spain 2–0 | The Saudis won't get their big upset at this World Cup. |
| Uruguay vs. Cape Verde | Uruguay 2–0 | Darwin Núñez wakes up. Cape Verde presses but Uruguay's clinical edge is too much. |
| Spain vs. Uruguay | Draw 1–1 | The most interesting game in the group. Uruguay parks the bus. Spain gets one, can't get the second. |
| Saudi Arabia vs. Cape Verde | Draw 1–1 | Two teams playing for pride and a possible third-place lifeline. |
| Team | W | D | L | Pts | Result |
|---|
| Spain | 2 | 1 | 0 | 7 | ✅ Advance |
| Uruguay | 2 | 1 | 0 | 7 | ✅ Advance |
| Saudi Arabia | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | ❌ Eliminated |
| Cape Verde | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | ❌ Eliminated |
Note: Spain and Uruguay both finish on 7 points. Spain takes first on goal difference (+5 vs. +3).
Group I: France, Senegal, Norway, Iraq
| Match | Prediction | Reasoning |
|---|
| France vs. Senegal | France 2–1 | Mané's last World Cup. Senegal is genuinely dangerous. France has enough to win ugly. |
| Norway vs. Iraq | Norway 3–0 | Haaland vs. Iraq. This is not a fair fight. |
| France vs. Norway | France 2–1 | Haaland scores. France scores twice. That's how this goes. |
| Senegal vs. Iraq | Senegal 2–0 | Senegal takes care of business against a team that shouldn't be conceding less than two. |
| France vs. Iraq | France 4–0 | France turns on the jets. Mbappé bags a brace. |
| Senegal vs. Norway | Norway 2–1 | The real second-place clash. Haaland gets another one. |
| Team | W | D | L | Pts | Result |
|---|
| France | 3 | 0 | 0 | 9 | ✅ Advance |
| Norway | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 | ✅ Advance |
| Senegal | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 🎟️ Advance |
| Iraq | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | ❌ Eliminated |
Group J: Argentina, Austria, Algeria, Jordan
| Match | Prediction | Reasoning |
|---|
| Argentina vs. Algeria | Argentina 2–0 | Messi's final World Cup. Argentina will not drop points against Algeria. |
| Austria vs. Jordan | Austria 2–0 | Austria is a solid European side. Jordan has no business keeping this close. |
| Argentina vs. Austria | Argentina 2–1 | Austria makes it interesting — this is a legitimate team — but Messi tilts it Argentina's way. |
| Algeria vs. Jordan | Algeria 1–0 | Both need points. Algeria has the better squad and it shows. |
| Argentina vs. Jordan | Argentina 3–0 | Argentina clinches. Messi gets his goals in the sunshine. |
| Algeria vs. Austria | Austria 1–0 | Austria finishes second. Algeria's World Cup ends here. |
| Team | W | D | L | Pts | Result |
|---|
| Argentina | 3 | 0 | 0 | 9 | ✅ Advance |
| Austria | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 | ✅ Advance |
| Algeria | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | ❌ Eliminated |
| Jordan | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | ❌ Eliminated |
Group K: Portugal, Colombia, Uzbekistan, DR Congo
| Match | Prediction | Reasoning |
|---|
| Portugal vs. DR Congo | Portugal 3–0 | Portugal rolls. DR Congo will need that third-place spot to survive. |
| Colombia vs. Uzbekistan | Colombia 2–0 | Colombia might be a dark horse team. Uzbekistan is not. |
| Portugal vs. Uzbekistan | Portugal 4–0 | Ronaldo's last tournament doesn't start with dropped points against Uzbekistan. Full stop. |
| Colombia vs. DR Congo | Colombia 2–1 | Colombia secures second. DR Congo makes them work for it. |
| Portugal vs. Colombia | Draw 1–1 | The group decider between two good teams. Both go through. No reason to risk anything. |
| Uzbekistan vs. DR Congo | Draw 1–1 | One of these teams might sneak through as a third-place finisher. Ugly draw doesn't help either of them. |
| Team | W | D | L | Pts | Result |
|---|
| Portugal | 2 | 1 | 0 | 7 | ✅ Advance |
| Colombia | 2 | 1 | 0 | 7 | ✅ Advance |
| DR Congo | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | ❌ Eliminated |
| Uzbekistan | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | ❌ Eliminated |
Note: Portugal and Colombia both finish on 7 points. Portugal takes first on goal difference (+7 vs. +2).
Group L: England, Croatia, Panama, Ghana
| Match | Prediction | Reasoning |
|---|
| England vs. Croatia | England 2–1 | Dallas Stadium. Tuchel's England gets revenge for Euro 2021. Bellingham and Saka do the damage. Musa gets minutes late. |
| Panama vs. Ghana | Ghana 1–0 | Ghana is the better side. Panama is not built to go toe-to-toe offensively. |
| England vs. Ghana | England 2–0 | England takes care of business. No surprises, no drama. |
| Croatia vs. Panama | Croatia 2–0 | Croatia's veteran experience is too much. Modrić still runs this. |
| England vs. Panama | England 3–0 | England wraps up group play in New Jersey. Kane hat trick incoming. |
| Croatia vs. Ghana | Draw 1–1 | Both need a result to stay alive for that third-place slot. Classic desperation draw. |
| Team | W | D | L | Pts | Result |
|---|
| England | 3 | 0 | 0 | 9 | ✅ Advance |
| Croatia | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | ✅ Advance |
| Ghana | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 🎟️ Advance |
| Panama | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | ❌ Eliminated |
Note: Croatia edges Ghana on goal difference (+1 vs. –1).
The 8 Best Third-Place Teams: Who Sneaks Through?
With 12 groups, only the top two from each advance automatically. But the eight best third-place finishers also punch their ticket to the Round of 32 — and based on our predictions, here's who makes the cut:
| Rank | Team | Group | Pts | GD | Result |
|---|
| 1 | Bosnia-Herzegovina | B | 4 | –1 | ✅ Through |
| 2 | Ivory Coast | E | 4 | 0 | ✅ Through |
| 3 | Sweden | F | 4 | –1 | ✅ Through |
| 4 | Iran | G | 4 | –1 | ✅ Through |
| 5 | Ghana | L | 4 | –1 | ✅ Through |
| 6 | Paraguay | D | 3 | –1 | ✅ Through |
| 7 | Czechia | A | 3 | –1 | ✅ Through |
| 8 | Senegal | I | 3 | –1 | ⚠️ Tiebreaker |
The ugly tiebreaker: Paraguay, Czechia, and Senegal all finish on 3 points and –1 goal difference. It goes to goals scored: Paraguay (3) takes 6th, while Czechia and Senegal are deadlocked at 2 goals each. At that point it goes to FIFA rankings — and Czechia edges out Senegal for the final automatic spot. Senegal goes home despite winning a group stage game. Brutal.
Going home: Algeria (3 pts, –2 GD) and Scotland (3 pts, –3 GD) finish just outside the cut. Saudi Arabia and DR Congo are the group stage's biggest disappointments, finishing with just 1 point each.
Knockout round predictions coming soon. Bookmark this page and come back to tell us how wrong we were.
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