As domestic club campaigns begin to draw to a close, attention is now turning to the upcoming World Cup. The tournament, which will be the biggest in the event's history, kicks off in just a matter of weeks. Teams are already beginning to prepare for what's to come, with a handful of nations expected to be serious contenders in North America.
Spain
There's only one place to start, and that's with Spain, who World Cup betting odds indicate are the team to beat at the tournament. As far as a nation entering the World Cup goes, Spain have got it all. They're recent major tournament winners after defeating England in the Euro 2024 final. They've got a squad featuring young superstars like Lamine Yamal and more experienced types like Rodri. And they're in a group that they should breeze through.
France
France, like Spain, tick a lot of the boxes you want a nation to tick heading into a World Cup. Their squad, especially at the top of the pitch, is outrageous. The likes of Rayan Cherki, Michael Olise, Ousmane Dembele, and Kylian Mbappe will all feature, with the French attack capable of striking fear into any opposition. Unlike other nations, Didier Deschamps' side comes into this with extra motivation after being defeated in a penalty shootout in the 2022 Qatar World Cup final.
England
England have never not been tipped to do well at a World Cup, primarily because they've always had the players capable of driving them to success. But for whatever reason, they're still searching for the solution. Under Gareth Southgate, the Three Lions improved consistently and made it to back-to-back Euros finals and the semi-finals in Qatar. With Thomas Tuchel picking up the baton, it's believed he can give England that final bit to get over the line.
Argentina
Argentina have an advantage over every team taking part in this summer's World Cup, and that is that they're the reigning champions. They will start the tournament with a group of players and a manager who knows what it takes to win the World Cup and how to go about doing it. They're not being talked about as much as Spain and France are, but Argentina, who will have the services of Lionel Messi for one last time on the world stage, are probably happy that the pressure is seemingly being applied elsewhere.
Brazil
It wasn't that many years ago that Brazil would start the World Cup as the favourites to win, and go on to give a good account of themselves. They've long been seen as the best team internationally, although that reputation has slightly waned in recent times. There's no doubt they've got the players capable of winning major tournaments, but it's just never come together in the same way it used to. However, with Carlo Ancelotti now installed as manager, all that could and probably will change, with the Italian regarded as one of the best managers around.
Final Thoughts
The World Cup is the tournament that every football fan looks forward to. And, in 2026, it's going to be bigger than ever before. But some things in international football never change, and that's the strength of a handful of nations. It's expected that the teams mentioned above will be a major threat this summer. But, as seen in previous tournaments, not everything goes to plan.
