FIFA World Cup 2026: France Favorite, Alarm Bells for Brazil? Interesting Predictions by Experts

(Digital Itla) With not much time left before the commencement of the FIFA World Cup 2026, football fans globally have their eyes fixed on this mega event. In this backdrop, an international survey has brought forward intriguing predictions regarding the potential winner and the teams likely to deliver disappointing performances.

A survey conducted by the global news agency Reuters included 160 economists from around the world. According to the survey results, France has been declared the strongest contender to win the World Cup, whereas expectations for the five-time global champions, Brazil, are not very encouraging. The prediction placed France at the top with 35% of the votes, while Spain stood second with 31% of the votes. If these estimates turn out to be accurate, European teams will once again maintain their supremacy over global football. This victory could also hold historical significance for France's head coach, Didier Deschamps, who could become the first coach to win the World Cup twice. Deschamps was also part of France's victorious team as a player in 1998. The survey included Argentina, Portugal, and England among the top five strong contenders. On the other hand, France's star forward Kylian Mbappé was termed the strongest candidate not only to be the tournament's best player but also the top goal-scorer, with England's Harry Kane trailing slightly behind. The survey results were less welcoming for Brazil, as nearly one-third of the experts opined that Brazil could turn out to be the most disappointing team of the tournament, which could be a cause for concern for this traditional football powerhouse. Conversely, Norway, Japan, and a few other teams were listed among nations capable of delivering unexpected and surprising results. Another interesting aspect of the survey showed that 73% of the experts made their predictions based on personal assessments and intuition, while only 20% relied on data and analytical models. Meanwhile, organizers face challenges like rising costs for tickets, accommodation, and travel. According to experts, this World Cup, jointly hosted by the USA, Canada, and Mexico, could prove to be one of the most expensive global cups in history for the fans.