Messi, McTominay, Kane or Estevao – who to watch with 100 days to World Cup

March 3, 2026 No Comments

Messi, McTominay, Kane or Estevao – who to watch with 100 days to World CupImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, The 2026 World Cup kicks off in 100 daysByCiaran VarleyBBC Sport JournalistPublished3 March 2026, 13:13 GMTUpdated 47 minutes agoWith 100 days to go, the countdown is on for the biggest World Cup in history.With 48 teams playing across 16 different cities, in three different countries, there is a lot to unpack before the first ball is kicked on 11 June at this summer’s tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico.Off the field, there are perhaps more questions than answers, with US attacks on Iran putting a question mark over the latter’s participation, mounting concern over the use of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency officers at the tournament, plus an outbreak of cartel violence in raising safety concerns for fans planning to travel to co-host nation Mexico.

We will focus on the pitch, though, as BBC Sport attempts to answer some of the many questions around the big sport showpiece of the summer.

Who will win the World Cup?

European champions Spain are the favourites, having enjoyed an almost flawless route through qualification, with their only dropped points a 2-2 draw against Turkey.

The team’s midfield is packed with talent and includes Pedri, Fabian Ruiz, Martin Zubimendi and 2024 Ballon d’Or winner Rodri. Spain can also call on one of the best young players in the world, Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal.

Just behind Spain, this generation of England players are tipped to finally land some silverware, having finished runners-up at the last two European Championships.

Thomas Tuchel’s team qualified for the 2026 World Cup with a perfect record, winning all of their matches without conceding a goal. There are questions about how best to manage a squad brimming with stars, but with players like Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Europe’s leading goal scorer Harry Kane at Tuchel’s disposal, it’s a nice problem to have.

France are also strong contenders. Didier Deschamps’ squad have a fearsome front line, including Bradley Barcola, Michael Olise, Kylian Mbappe and perhaps the Premier League’s best signing this season, Hugo Ekitike.

The 2022 runners-up were unbeaten in European qualifying.

It would be remiss not to mention defending World Cup champions Argentina, who won the South American qualifying group by a big margin, finishing nine points ahead of second-placed Ecuador.

With two Copa Americas and one World Cup win in just four years, the Albiceleste are in a very good moment.

Finally, despite an underwhelming qualification campaign in which they finished fifth in the Conmebol table after losing six of 18 matches, who would confidently rule out five-time World Cup winners Brazil?

The Selecao have talent all over the field, with wingers Vinicius Jr, Rodrygo and Chelsea starlet Estevao enough to worry any defence in world football.

How will England get on?

Sami Mokbel

Senior football correspondent

100 England goals at World Cups

The sweltering US conditions this summer will, in my mind, prove a determining factor towards England’s tournament.

On paper, the squad has the ability to go all the way to the final.

With world-class options throughout the squad, Thomas Tuchel’s team will head to the tournament as one of the favourites.

But after a punishing domestic season, you wonder how the soaring temperatures will impact England’s hopes of going deep into the World Cup.

England will get out of the group and will back themselves against anyone.

If they can find a way to overcome the heat to ensure it doesn’t impact performances, they are in with a great chance of winning their first trophy since 1966.

How will Scotland fare?

Tom English

BBC Scotland’s chief sports writer

Five of the best from Scotland’s World Cup history

It’s still mind-bending that Scotland, despite having so many world-class players at so many World Cups, have never made it out of a group.

For it to change this time they have to beat Haiti in the opening game in Boston. It’s bound to be stressful, but a narrow Scotland win is very possible.

Three points might – might – be enough to get them through as one of the third-placed teams, as long as they keep the goal difference respectable. Next, Morocco.

They look strong – their quality is a touch over-stated in my book – but a draw should not be beyond Scotland, presuming their stellar guys are fit and firing.

Four points will take them through in second or third. I think they’re good enough to do that.

That’s the target – a last-32 place and see how it goes from there. In this dream-like scenario, they’ll not need anything from the final group game against Brazil.

Warning: it may not turn out to be this simple.

Iran, the US, and a World Cup that starts in three months

Quiz: 100 days to go – which nations have qualified for 2026 World Cup?

Players to watch

Alex Bysouth

BBC Sport Senior Journalist

The obvious place to start is Lionel Messi who, four years on, is looking to back up Argentina’s success on what is effectively home turf these days.

Messi turns 39 this summer yet, while most mortals would be slowing down, he bagged 43 goals for Inter Miami last term and has two in two already this campaign.

Tasked with filling a Messi-shaped void at Barcelona was Lamine Yamal, another twinkle-toed La Masia starlet.

Qatar came too soon even for Yamal, who made his La Liga debut four months later, but the 18-year-old won Euro 2024 with Spain, scoring the goal of the tournament and creating the most assists.

The Ballon d’Or runner-up’s biggest obstacle this season has been a pubalgia problem, which he now believes is behind him. A hat-trick against Villarreal on Saturday suggests so, too.

Across the Clasico divide but also battling injury is Kylian Mbappe, World Cup winner in 2018 and runner-up last time out despite his hat-trick in the final.

Mbappe is France captain these days and, with perennial target man Olivier Giroud turning 40 this year, now plays through the middle for Real Madrid as well as the national team, providing a different threat.

Finally, a plethora of Brazilian prodigies will hope to star on the global stage – Chelsea’s Estevao Willian has impressed already, Endrick has rediscovered his scoring touch on loan at Lyon and even Bournemouth’s Rayan may make a late surge…

Who are the outsider contenders?

Michael Emons

BBC Sport journalist

Norway have not played in the World Cup since 1998 and have never got past the last 16, but with Manchester City’s Erling Haaland scoring 16 goals in qualifying, they could be a surprise in the summer.

They were flawless in qualifying, winning all eight of their matches, including home and away victories over four-time winners Italy.

Morocco were another side to win all their qualifying games and they sit eighth in Fifa’s world rankings.

They will be looking to surprise five-time champions Brazil and will likely be confident of advancing from a group that also contains Scotland and Haiti.

Egypt, including Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah, will also expect to make it beyond the group stages with their section containing Belgium, New Zealand and Iran. Iran’s participation is however now in doubt after recent events in the Middle East.

Japan are the strongest of the Asian sides and eased through qualifying, conceding only three goals in 16 matches.

Their group sees them up against the Netherlands, Tunisia and another of the European qualifiers – either Ukraine, Sweden, Poland or Albania.

Colombia reached the last 16 in Qatar and will be looking for the same at least this time after a good South American qualifying campaign when they finished third, including wins over both Brazil and Argentina.

What about the host nations? Well, maybe Canada, in their third finals, could be a surprise.

Canada have lost all six of their previous World Cup finals matches, but a kind draw has them in with Qatar and Switzerland as well as a side from the European play-off – one of Italy, Northern Ireland, Wales or Bosnia-Herzegovina.

What about Wales and Northern Ireland?

Both nations still have a chance to qualify for this summer’s tournament via European play-off semi-finals at the end of the month.

Wales will host Bosnia-Herzegovina while Northern Ireland will travel to Italy. The semi-finals will take place on 26 March, with the finals on 31 March.

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