BBC and ITV pundits predict who they think will win the 2026 World Cup

Pundits for BBC and ITV pundits predict who they think will win the 2026 World Cup, which gets underway on Thursday night.

BBC Sport and ITV asked their pundits, and they have all given their verdict.

We asked @BBCSport‘s pundits to predict their winner 🗣💬https://t.co/0jSXS374DD

— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) June 10, 2026

Roy Keane said on Sky Bet’s World Cup mini-series, Road To America, as per The Sun: “I’d probably rule out Portugal. Over the last few days, I’ve been open-minded about Brazil and Spain because both have tremendous quality, but if I had to choose one team I’d go with France. They have outstanding individual players throughout the squad. Of course, talent alone isn’t enough. The manager still has to get everyone pulling in the same direction and working collectively. That’s often the biggest challenge with top international teams. But I think France have one of the best managers when it comes to handling that balance, and because of their quality and experience I’d probably make them favourites.”

Roy Keane said regarding who are dark horses: “Everyone talks about the obvious favourites, but I’m always interested in the teams that people aren’t discussing as potential winners. Nations like Norway and the Netherlands have players capable of making a significant impact. Sometimes the focus becomes too narrow, and people overlook talented squads that can surprise everyone. International tournaments often produce stories that nobody expected at the beginning.”

Alan Shearer: France, but there’s a caveat that comes with it – only if there is no in-house fighting. With the ability they have in forward positions, two or three big players are going to be left out every game, so it will come down to whether they cope with that in the right way.

Danny Murphy: It’s hard to look past France with the firepower they have, when you think about extra time in hot weather against tired legs. The likes of Rayan Cherki, Ousmane Dembele and Desire Doue can’t all start, but they can be gamechangers if they come on after 70 minutes in 30 degrees heat.

Olivier Giroud: For me the two strongest teams are France and Spain. But will they meet each other in the final or before? That will be the question, but I obviously hope France will win.

Wayne Rooney: England and Spain will make the final, and hopefully England will win it.

Ian Wright: Spain. Reigning European champions. Good mixture of experience, prime age talent and young talent. They also have Lamal who you hope is fully fit. England do have a chance. We have the best no 9 in the world. This group of players have a lot of experience together in tournaments now and they are ready to take that next step.

Mark Pougatch: Spain. I just think they are brilliantly balanced, so in sync with their system and their coach, and they have the confidence of having won Euro 2024.

Thomas Frank: France are up there of course, and Spain too because they are very clear in how they play. That gives them a massive strength, although I still doubt them a little because they rely on Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams as the wingers and, if they don’t have them, I am not sure they have enough individual quality to do it in the end. Along with Brazil, Argentina, England and Portugal, they are the main contenders. A lot of people are saying it is France or Spain, but for me it is between Brazil and England… and I am saying England!

Micah Richards: How teams deal with the humidity is going to play a big part at this tournament, so the South American teams will be strong. But I just feel it’s going to be a team who are really good at keeping the ball and that points me in the direction of Spain instead. Argentina will go close though, because of the way they work for Lionel Messi. I still think he can do something special, too.

Gary Neville: I think France will win. I think they’ve got a mixture of players who have got the physicality, the mentality and the technical ability to keep the ball and possession in heat, but also the ability to explode and go quickly when they need to on a counter-attack. I think they’re the most adaptable team. So for me, I think France will win this tournament.

Steph Houghton: Hopefully it’s England but, looking at other teams, France have so much quality right through their team – especially in attacking areas.

Laura Woods: I’m between France and Spain. I’m leaning a little bit further towards Spain because there’s a couple of things about France, their main players, like Mbappé, aren’t necessarily in a good place.

Gael Clichy: France, Spain and England are the three for me who will do well. Spain seem to win everything, at every age group, so of course they are up there, but being French I am going for them to win it.

Joe Hart: England. But I am not actually that bothered whether I am right or wrong. I just like to back my people and I want England to do it.

Martin Keown: Looking at the draw, there will be some absolute blockbuster quarter-finals if the favourites win their groups, like England versus Brazil and Argentina against Portugal – or Messi against Cristiano Ronaldo. Is this the hardest World Cup there has ever been to win? Maybe. It feels very open. My head is telling me the best team is France, my heart is telling me that it could be England.

Paul Robinson: The only thing that stops France from winning it is France. They will need a harmonious dressing room.

Ally McCoist: For me it’s France, as they have the best overall squad. Spain and Argentina will also get to the latter stages as well.

Pat Nevin: This is a guess, but England have a real chance. Along with France, they are my favourites and it’s a toss-up between the two as to who will win it. I also wouldn’t be shocked if we get a left-field winner this time, and Morocco are the ones who jump out at me, because I covered most of their games when they reached the last four in Qatar. From what I hear, they might be better now than they were then – and they were great then. They will be used to the heat too, which always helps.

Ellen White: Well, obviously I want England to win it. That’s what I am going with, but if that wasn’t to happen then France have a very good squad.

Tony Pulis: It’s ridiculous that there are 48 teams, and 40 more games than last time. Fair play to all the countries that are going, everyone will enjoy it, but football at this level is now being used as a cash cow. I’ve got Argentina, Brazil, France, England, Morocco, Portugal, Spain and Senegal as my quarter-finalists. My pick to win it? France.

Chris Sutton: Spain are an outstanding team but I’ve gone for France to win the past two World Cups and I wasn’t far wrong. I am not going to change my mind now – they didn’t really click at the last Euros but I look at their frontline and think they will be hard to stop.

Patrick Vieira: I think the French team is the team to beat, they’ve got top players who play across the big clubs in Europe. They are really strong. They have all the qualities required to win the World Cup trophy; individual talent, a great team spirit, they are competitive, and physically really strong.

Semra Hunter: Spain looks like a very strong contender going into 2026. They’ve built a squad full of technical quality and exciting young talent, and we saw at the Euros how dominant they can be. If they carry that form forward, they have the identity and depth to go all the way – although teams like France and England will be right in the mix.

Karen Carney: For me, it’ll be France. I think big games and moments are decided by individual attacking players and for me France has more of those players, who have also played well this season for their clubs. They also have a very experienced manager in Didier Deschamps, which will give them the edge.

Emma Hayes: France and Spain are my favourites to win, although with Yamal’s recent injury that might change my opinion slightly, but we’ll see which teams are healthiest come tournament time.