Five Teams That Could Win It: Spain, Argentina, France, Brazil, Germany
Reigning European champions Spain arrive as the tournament’s top-ranked side, and their 3–1 dismantling of Peru on Monday — without Yamal or Williams — only reinforced the point. Pedri, Oyarzabal, and Ferran Torres are in form. De la Fuente has depth no other manager can match. Defending champions Argentina enter without the expectation of 2022 but with Messi at 38 still the linchpin — and a favourable group J draw against Algeria, Austria, and Jordan. France have Mbappé at his peak, the deepest bench in the tournament, and a midfield of Tcha¨méni and Camavinga that balances steel and technique in equal measure.
Brazil, after semi-final exits in 2018 and 2022, enter a new cycle under Dorival Júnior with Vinícius Júnior and Rodrygo anchoring the attack. Whether the defensive structure can hold in the knockouts — Brazil’s persistent question — remains to be answered. And Germany, entering without pressure after two group-stage humiliations in 2018 and 2022, may be this tournament’s most dangerous dark horse. Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz are two of the most exciting midfielders in world football, and Group E — Curaçao, Ivory Coast, Ecuador — is the most navigable draw any top-ranked side received. Germany open the entire tournament on June 11 in Mexico City.