Who will win the World Cup? BBC pundits make their predictions

The World Cup begins on Thursday at Mexico City’s Azteca Stadium and will end at the MetLife Stadium near New York City on 19 July, with BBC pundits offering their predictions on who will lift the trophy.

This year’s tournament will feature 48 teams competing across 104 matches in three countries over 39 days. The co-hosts — Canada, Mexico and the United States — will stage the event, while holders Argentina will return in defence of the title they won in Qatar.

BBC pundits weigh up the contenders

With so many teams involved, the debate over the eventual winner is already under way. BBC experts have made their calls, but the scale of the competition means there is plenty of room for disagreement. From established powers to ambitious outsiders, the expanded format has created one of the most open World Cups in recent memory.

The article invites readers to challenge the pundits’ choices and make their own predictions. It also notes that some fans may prefer instinct over data, with the BBC asking whether algorithms are really the best way to decide football’s biggest prize.

A tournament spread across three nations

The 2026 World Cup will be staged across Canada, Mexico and the United States, bringing together a record 48 nations in a month-long competition. The opening match at the iconic Azteca Stadium and the final at MetLife Stadium bookend a tournament that will stretch across 39 days and 104 games.

Argentina arrive as reigning champions, but the expanded field and wide geography make this a unique edition of the World Cup. BBC pundits have made their selections, but the final answer will only come when the last whistle blows in July.