Group-by-Group 2026 World Cup Predictions: Who Advances from All 12 Groups?

With the 2026 FIFA World Cup just 12 days away, it is time to make the calls. Which teams will top their groups? Who will advance as one of the eight best third-place finishers? Here are our complete group-by-group predictions for all 12 groups.

Groups A & B

Group A — Winner: Mexico (home advantage, strongest squad). Runner-up: South Korea (experience and European quality edge out Czechia). Third: Czechia. Fourth: South Africa. Group B — Winner: Switzerland (consistent, favourable draw). Runner-up: Canada (home soil passion). Third: Bosnia-Herzegovina. Fourth: Qatar (weakest squad in the group).

Groups C & D

Group C — Winner: Brazil (despite Neymar injury, squad depth prevails). Runner-up: Morocco (2022 semi-finalists, hungry for more). Third: Scotland (grit and organisation). Fourth: Haiti (historic, emotional, but outclassed). Group D — Winner: USA (home advantage, strongest squad in group). Runner-up: Türkiye (Güler and Çalhanoğlu too good to ignore). Third: Australia (2022 momentum continues). Fourth: Paraguay (CONMEBOL resilience but outgunned).

Groups E & F

Group E — Winner: Germany (Wirtz and Musiala firing, group is manageable). Runner-up: Ivory Coast (redemption mission, quality to deliver). Third: Ecuador (Caicedo and Moisés too good for Curaçao). Fourth: Curaçao (historic debutants, enormous underdogs). Group F — Winner: Netherlands (Van Dijk, Gravenberch, tournament experience). Runner-up: Japan (2022 showed they can beat anyone). Third: Sweden (Isak and Gyökeres give them a fighting chance). Fourth: Tunisia (need their best day against every opponent).

Groups G & H

Group G — Winner: Belgium (Courtois, De Bruyne, experienced squad). Runner-up: Egypt (Salah in his prime, winnable group). Third: Iran (commuting but competitive). Fourth: New Zealand (2010 spirit not quite enough). Group H — Winner: Spain (tournament favourites, group is winnable). Runner-up: Uruguay (Núñez and Valverde give them the edge over Saudi Arabia). Third: Saudi Arabia (can they shock again?). Fourth: Cape Verde (historic achievement just being here).

Groups I, J, K & L

Group I — Winner: France (Mbappé too good). Runner-up: Norway (Haaland gives them the edge over Senegal in a tight group). Third: Senegal (quality but tough group). Fourth: Iraq (historic return, enormous challenge). Group J — Winner: Argentina (Messi, defending champions). Runner-up: Algeria (European quality and motivation). Third: Austria (28-year wait ends with a competitive showing). Fourth: Jordan (debutants, proud to be there). Group K — Winner: Portugal (Ronaldo's farewell, squad too strong). Runner-up: Colombia (James Rodríguez and Díaz give them the edge). Third: DR Congo (Wissa and the historic return). Fourth: Uzbekistan (Central Asia's landmark debut). Group L — Winner: England (Tuchel's controversial selections still deliver). Runner-up: Croatia (Modrić's final tournament, experience prevails). Third: Ghana (Black Stars push Croatia close). Fourth: Panama (historic second appearance).