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France 24
France 24
Sport
Romain HOUEIX

World Cup 2026: France, Spain, Argentina... Who are the favourites?

World Cup France Spain Argentina Lionel Messi England Lamine Yamal Senegal Thomas Tuchel Morocco
Montage of France's Kylian Mbappé, Spain's Lamine Yamal and Argentina's Lionel Messi.
Will it be a second title for Kylian Mbappé and Lionel Messi or a first for Lamine Yamal? © FMM Graphic Studio

Will Spain or England add a second star to their shirts? Are we set for a final rematch between Argentina and France? Or can Senegal or Morocco clinch a first title for Africa? Here’s a look at the favourites and dark horses at the 2026 World Cup.

The 2026 World Cup kicks off in Mexico City’s Azteca Stadium on Thursday, with a record 48 teams vying for the biggest prize in football. Lionel Messi's title holders Argentina feature in our trio of hot favourites, along with European champions Spain and 2022 finalists France.

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