It's nearly time for the 2026 FIFA World Cup to kick off across America. Action gets underway in Mexico on Thursday, while games arrive in Canada and the United States on Friday in the newly expanded 48-team field featuring more games, more players and even more action.
Ahead of the clashes, our experts have made their predictions for who will win the groups, who will finish at runners-up, who will take home top awards and more.
Here's how we think things will play out:
Group stage picks
James Benge 
Francesco Porzio 
Chuck Booth 
Pardeep Cattry 
Sandra Herrera 
Mike Goodman 
Igor Mello 
Roger Gonzalez Group A winners MexicoMexicoMexico Mexico Mexico MexicoMexicoSouth KoreaGroup A runners-up South KoreaSouth KoreaSouth Korea South Korea South Korea South Korea South KoreaMexicoGroup B winners SwitzerlandSwitzerlandSwitzerland Switzerland SwitzerlandSwitzerland Switzerland SwitzerlandGroup B runners-up BosniaBosniaCanada Bosnia Bosnia Canada CanadaBosniaGroup C winners BrazilBrazilBrazil Morocco Brazil Brazil BrazilBrazilGroup C runners-up MoroccoMorocco Morocco Brazil Morocco Morcco MoroccoMoroccoGroup D winners USATurkiyeUnited States Turkiye Turkiye United States United StatesTurkiyeGroup D runners-up TurkiyeUnited States Turkyie USA United States Turkiye AustraliaUnited StatesGroup E winners EcuadorIvory CoastGermany Germany Germany Germany EcuadorGermanyGroup E runners-up GermanyGermany Ivory Coast Ecuador Ivory Coast Ecuador GermanyEcuadorGroup F winners JapanNetherlandsNetherlands Japan Netherlands Netherlands JapanNetherlandsGroup F runners-up NetherlandsJapan Japan Netherlands Japan Japan NetherlandsJapanGroup G winners BelgiumBelgium Belgium Belgium Belgium Belgium BelgiumBelgiumGroup G runners-up EgyptIran Egypt Iran Iran Egypt EgyptIranGroup H winners SpainSpain Spain Spain Spain Spain SpainSpainGroup H runners-up UruguayUruguay Uruguay Uruguay Uruguay Uruguay UruguayUruguayGroup I winners FranceFranceFrance France FranceFrance FranceFranceGroup I runners-up SenegalNorway Senegal Norway Senegal Norway SenegalNorwayGroup J winners ArgentinaArgentinaArgentina Argentina Argentina Argentina ArgentinaArgentinaGroup J runners-up AustriaAustria Algeria Austria Algeria Austria AlgeriaAustriaGroup K winners PortugalPortugal Portugal PortugalColombiaPortugalColombiaColombiaGroup K runners-up ColombiaColombiaColombia Colombia Portugal Colombia PortugalPortugalGroup L winners EnglandEnglandEngland England England England EnglandEnglandGroup L runners-upGhanaCroatiaCroatia Croatia Ghana Croatia CroatiaGhanaKnockout stage picks
James Benge Francesco Porzio Chuck Booth Pardeep Cattry Sandra Herrera Mike Goodman Igor Mello Roger Gonzalez Last 8France, Japan, Spain, Norway, Brazil, England, Argentina, PortugalFrance, Netherlands, Spain, Turkiye, Brazil, England, Argentina, PortugalFrance, Morocco, Spain, Belgium, England, Senegal, Portugal, ArgentinaFrance, Japan, France, Belgim, Morocco, England, Argentina, PortugalFrance, Morocco, Spain, Turkiye, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Colombia France, Japan, Spain, Norway, Brazil, England, Argentina, Portugal France, Japan, Portugal, Norway, Brazil, England, Uruguay, ColombiaFrance, Netherlands, Spain, Turkiye, Norway, England, Argentina, ColombiaFourthSpainBrazilPortugalMoroccoSpain PortugalColombiaSpainThirdPortgalFranceFranceSpainArgentina SpainPortugalArgentinaSecondEnglandPortugalEnglandArgentinaBrazil FranceFranceEnglandChampionFranceSpainSpainFranceFrance EnglandBrazilFrancePlayer awards
Golden Ball (Best player)
Kylian Mbappe 
Lamine Yamal Lamine Yamal Kylian Mbappe Kylian Mbappe 
Harry Kane 
Raphinha 
Michael Olise Golden Boot (Top scorer) Kylian Mbappe Harry Kane Harry Kane Harry Kane Kylian Mbappe Harry Kane 
Erling Haaland Kylian Mbappe Golden Blove (Top keeper) 
Jordan Pickford 
Unai Simon 
Hernan Galindez Unai Simon Unai Simon Jordan Pickford 
Mike Maignan Unai Simon Best young player 
Pau Cubarsi 
Desire Doue Pau Cubarsi Lamine Yamal Lamine Yamal Lamine Yamal Lamine Yamal Lamine Yamal Final MOTM Michael Olise Lamine Yamal Lamine Yamal Michael Olise Michael Olise Harry Kane 
Endrick Kylian Mbappe 
