World Cup Bracket Predictions 2026 for Full Knockout Stage

Are you ready for some fútbol?

The 2026 FIFA World Cup has arrived with Mexico and South Africa kicking off the festivities on Thursday afternoon.

With an expanded 48-team field, this tournament should be a thrill ride from start to finish. The star power is strong, the list of possible champions is not short and the collective pool of talent is literally world class.

The action should be non-stop, so let's set the knockout stage with group predictions.

Groups A-D

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Group A Prediction: 1. Mexico, 2. South Korea, 3. South Africa, 4. Czechia

Mexico should redeem itself on its home soil after a shocking group-stage elimination in 2022. South Korea seems pretty firm on the second line with a superstar talent in Son Heung-Min.

Group B Prediction: 1. Switzerland, 2. Canada, 3. Bosnia and Herzegovina, 4. Qatar

Switzerland holds steady on defense and can pile up goals in a flurry. The Swiss should be a strong favorite. Canada would greatly disappoint with less than a second-place finish, but Alphonso Davies' nagging hamstring injury is worth watching.

Group C Prediction: 1. Brazil, 2. Morocco, 3. Haiti, 4. Scotland

Brazil's roster is among the tournament's most talented, though that hasn't always amounted to World Cup success. It should, however, be more than enough to breeze through this group. The gap between Brazil and Morocco is far slimmer than the one separating Morocco from Haiti and Scotland.

Group D Prediction: 1. Turkey, 2. USA, 3. Paraguay, 4. Australia

USA would be disappointed with the silver medal, but Türkiye has a real shot at upsetting the Americans on their home turf. Arda Güler should be the best player on the pitch. He can be a magician.

Groups E-H

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Group E Prediction: 1. Germany, 2. Ivory Coast, 3. Ecuador, 4. Curaco

Germany suffered a disastrously early exit in 2022, but a repeat here would be truly shocking. Ecuador is a great defensive squad, but the narrow edge here goes to Ivory Coast for its superior attacking and Yan Diomande's breakout potential.

Group F Prediction: 1. Netherlands, 2. Japan, 3. Sweden, 4. Tunisia

The Dutch are the class of this group, and they always seem to put up one heck of a fight on the big stage. Sweden has some serious firepower, but Japan is better balanced, provided some injury issues don't disrupt things too much.

Group G Prediction: 1. Belgium, 2. Egypt, 3. Iran, 4. New Zealand

Belgium underwhelmed the last time around, but a repeat showing would be a shocker. This offense is overloaded with goal scorers, and keeper Thibaut Courtois might be the best in this entire field. Speaking of goal scorers, Egypt's Mohamed Salah-Omar Marmoush are a potent mix.

Group H Prediction: 1. Spain, 2. Uruguay, 3. Saudi Arabia, 4. Cape Verde

Spain might be the strongest team in this tournament and might have its single brightest star in 18-year-old Lamine Yamal. Anything less than a dominant showing would be shocking. Uruguay is the biggest "threat" to Spain, but that doesn't mean much beyond finishing No. 2.

Groups I-L

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Group I Prediction: 1. France, 2. Norway, 3. Senegal, 4. Iraq

If a Group of Death still exists under the expanded format, you're looking at it. That said, the order feels fairly straightforward—France is clearly at the top and might be the tournament favorite—although Senegal has enough goal scorers to make things interesting. Then again, Norway has Erling Haaland, so...yeah.

Group J Prediction: 1. Argentina, 2. Austria, 3. Algeria, 4. Jordan

Argentina, the defending champs, is the clear class of this group. Lionel Messi remains an ageless wonder, and this roster is loaded around him. Algeria could push its way to second, but Austria's depth, versatility and midfield talent get it the narrow nod.

Group K Prediction: 1. Portugal, 2. Colombia, 3. Congo DR, 4. Uzbekistan

Portugal has a wealth of talent around generational star Christiano Rinaldo and potentially realistic championship dreams. If Portugal's stars don't all align, though, Colombia could absolutely climb to No. 1.

Group L Prediction: 1. England, 2. Croatia, 3. Ghana, 4. Panama

England has its own championship aspirations and the stars to perhaps bring them to life. Croatia took bronze in 2022 and silver in 2018, but its aging roster suggests its best days might be behind it.