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 CroatiaGhana Knockout 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 EnglandBrazilFrance Player 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
Add CBS Sports on Google
