Who are the favorites to win the 2026 World Cup?

Italy is out of the 2026 World Cup: who are the real favorites to win the title?

The elimination of the Italian national team from the upcoming World Cup is one of the biggest surprises in recent football history. For the third consecutive time, the Azzurra has failed to qualify, this time after a dramatic penalty shootout loss to Bosnia and Herzegovina, leaving Italian fans shocked and watching the World Cup from home.

With Italy’s absence — having not appeared in the World Cup since 2014 — the race for the title becomes even more open and fierce. Offshore betting houses are pointing to Spain, the current European champions, as the clear favorite to lift the coveted trophy in 2026. However, the competition is fierce, with England, France, Argentina, and Carlo Ancelotti’s Brazil close behind on the list of potential winners.

France, which reached the final in the last two editions (2018 and 2022), demonstrates impressive consistency. In 2018, they defeated Croatia to claim the title, while in 2022 they only fell to Lionel Messi and Argentina. On the other hand, England has shown remarkable growth, reaching the final of the European Championship in 2016 and 2020, despite losses to Italy and Spain.

It is important to remember that only eight countries have won the World Cup throughout history, and despite recent surprises, Italy remains a historical powerhouse with four titles, tying with Germany and trailing only Brazil, which has five victories.

Speaking of Brazil, the most prominent Italian name for next year’s World Cup is not a player, but rather the coach Carlo Ancelotti, who took charge of the Brazilian national team less than a year ago. Ancelotti is one of the most respected coaches in the world, the only one to win national titles in the five major European leagues (Italy, England, Spain, Germany, and France) and the holder of the record for Champions League titles.

In a recent interview, Ancelotti made it clear that Brazil is determined to secure a sixth World Cup title. “The Brazilians want to see the national team win the World Cup. Of course, playing well helps, but in 1994 and 2002, despite having great forwards, they won thanks to a very solid defense. I think it will be the same in the next World Cup,” stated the Italian coach.

Ancelotti also emphasized the strength of the Brazilian squad: “We have high-level veterans and young talents, surrounded by incredible passion. They demand that we win the World Cup, and that is what we will try to do. Brazil has waited too long; they want the sixth title.”

However, the Italian coach warned about the unpredictability of the tournament, which will feature 48 teams, a format that promises surprises. “France, Spain, England, Germany, Argentina, Portugal – the usual suspects,” said Ancelotti, “but be careful. With 48 teams, there will certainly be surprises. Tomorrow we play against Senegal, who defeated England 3-1. They are very strong. The same goes for Morocco, which is doing an excellent job. We need to be prepared.”

With Italy’s absence and the expansion of the World Cup, the 2026 edition promises to be one of the most exciting and unpredictable in recent football history. Spain, Brazil, France, and England emerge as the main favorites, but the dynamics of the tournament could hold surprises that will shake the football world. Get ready for an epic battle for glory at the World Cup in Canada, Mexico, and the United States in 2026. Who will lift the trophy? The answer will be revealed soon, but one thing is certain: this will be a World Cup that no one will want to miss.

This article first appeared on Apito Final.