2026 FIFA World Cup . . .

The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off in just a few hours as co-hosts Mexico take on our boys, Bafana Bafana.

I have to start off by saying if this WC is half as good as the Qatar WC in 2022 it will be brilliant.

I've watched (or listened on the radio back in the day) to 13 World Cup and the last one was the best, in terms of excitement, quality of football and bizarre upsets.

So what about this one?

My heart is with Bafana Bafana but when they get eliminated (and note I'm saying "when" rather than "if") then my heart will be with Harry Kane and England.

Sadly, my head has to disagree. My head says that England, France and Spain have by some distance the three best teams at the tournament but after so many years of disappointment supporting England at these major events, they can't be my pick because, well, they're England. They do have a very good squad though. Maybe not as exciting as the likes of France or Brazil in attack but with Rice and Anderson anchoring the midfield and Harry Kane doing what he does up front, they must have some chance . . . again!

France have so many stars to choose from in attack and they definitely have the potential to win it. Kylian Mbappe is a good bet for golden boot and he'll be surrounded by the likes of Ousman Dembele, Michael Olise and Rayan Cherki. I'm just not convinced their defence is as strong as some of the other contenders and they have a very awkward draw. Assuming both Germany and France top their groups (which is very likely) then one of these two great football nations won't even make it to the quarterfinals as they're scheduled to meet in the round of 16.

Spain have a much softer draw along with a very easy group. They also have Lamine Yamal. With Rodri anchoring the midfield, Pedri playing ahead of him and Yamal and Neco Williams on the wings, all they need is someone to put the goals away. If Mikel Oyarzabal can finish his chances and if Lamine Yamal stays fit, Spain can win their 2nd WC.

Just one note on the draw - and this again assumes the big guns top their groups - Spain will most likely meet the winner of the Germany vs France Round of 16 match in the top half of the draw while the bottom half of the draw will see the winner of England vs Brazil up against the winner of Argentina vs Portugal.

Brazil will be many people's favourites as they always are at any WC but they're not the most consistent (remember them getting a 7-1 drubbing against germany 4 years ago?) and they also have a bit of a banana peel to negotiate in the Round of 16 assuming Norway finish 2nd in their group.

So those are my pre-tournament picks. Anyone else?

Hamba Bafana Bafana!

Bafana Bafana booed by the Mexican home crowd as they came on for the warm-ups. Let's stick it to them!

Bafana starting XI:

Goalkeeper: Ronwen Williams (Captain)

Defenders: Khuliso Mudau, Ime Okon, Nkosinathi Sibisi, Mbekezeli Mbokazi, Aubrey Modiba

Midfielders: Siphephelo Sithole, Jayden Adams, Teboho Mokoena

Forwards: Iqraam Rayners, Lyle Foster

Come on Bafana Bafana!

Looking forward to a few upsets. Good luck to SA . Mexico is going to be tough.

Sithole makes a dreadful blunder and Mexico score.

1-0.

Found an interactive graphic you can play out your predictions for the whole tournament. https://edition.cnn.com/2026/06/01/sport/world-cup-prediction-bracket-2026

Message board not working too lekker .

now betterer ... c'mon u underdogs

Half time and it's 1-0 to Mexico. Could have been more if not for Ronwen Williams. Not a great game but it's early days.

Thanks DbC but I made my own spreadsheet. There are always a few upsets that throw a spanner into these predictions but I pretty much have a top half of France/Germany/Netherlands vs Spain/Belgium and a bottom half of England/Brazil vs Portugal/Argentina.

Having said that, it just needs one of those teams to lose a game and it throws everything out.

Red card Sithole. He's been a disaster.

this is going from bad to worse

Good goal by Jiminez and we're dead here. 2-0.

We're not just crap, we're dirty as well.

Now we're down to 9. Embarrassing.

2 reds, historic ... ignominy

Now it's 10 vs 9.

Not a great opening game. Still 2-0 Mexico.

That's the game. Mexico win a dirty and uninspiring game 2-0.

m

l

Predictions WC 2026 winner

Spain

SKorea 2 -1 Czech

hard to see our lot beating either team, esp the slick Koreans... one review I read called us 'sloppy' :(

They are sadly lacking in mindset and attitude.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFXtpnyRc6w

hilites

n

vb

Love them or hate them, it's only the World Cup once Brazil have played.

Come on Morocco!

Morocco all over Brazil in the first few minutes.

7 minutes in and for the first time Brazil settle and have any meaningful possession . . . but Morocco win it back and launch yet another attack. It really is all Morocco so far. Brazil can't even get out of their half without gifting possession away.

Morocco playing like you'd expect Brazil to play while Brazil are playing like Bafana Bafana.

Brazil have their first attack and Igor Thiago (of Brentford) misses the best chance of the game so far.

Much better from Brazil. They're keeping possession and looking a lot better. More like it. Morocco may regret not scoring in the first 15 minutes when they had so many attacks.

Gooooooooaaaaaal!

Morocco counter attack and what a brilliant finish from Saibari. Gabriel was painfully slow.

1-0 Morocco after 21.

Morocco having all the chances again. They should be 2-0 up at least.

Wow! What a strike from Vini Jr and Brazil are level.

It's all gone a bit quiet as half time approaches.

Great save from Bounou from a Paqueta shot. Brazil putting Morocco under pressure here.

There's the whistle. 1-1 at the half. On the balance of play you'd have to say Morocco deserve to be leading but the quality of that strike from Vini Jr is enough for Brazil to be level.

Good game.

Great first half .... c'mon u Lions

Morocco can take em.

Vini Jr does look dangerous every time he's on the ball.

as an aside

A record 162 to 182 Premier League players are participating in the 2026 World Cup across North America, according to official tournament figures and reports. The English top-flight is the most heavily represented league at the tournament, with its players spread across 38 of the 48 competing national teams.

Brazil make their last sub and we won't be seeing Endrick tonight. Danilo on for Bruno Guimaeres.

Definitely a game of two halves