European champions Spain are the favourites, having enjoyed an almost flawless route through qualification, with their only dropped points a 2-2 draw against Turkey.
The team’s midfield is packed with talent and includes Pedri, Fabian Ruiz, Martin Zubimendi and 2024 Ballon d’Or winner Rodri. Spain can also call on one of the best young players in the world, Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal.
Just behind Spain, this generation of England players are tipped to finally land some silverware, having finished runners-up at the last two European Championships.
Thomas Tuchel’s team qualified for the 2026 World Cup with a perfect record, winning all of their matches without conceding a goal. There are questions about how best to manage a squad brimming with stars, but with players like Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Europe’s leading goal scorer Harry Kane at Tuchel’s disposal, it’s a nice problem to have.
France are also strong contenders. Didier Deschamps’ squad have a fearsome front line, including Bradley Barcola, Michael Olise, Kylian Mbappe and perhaps the Premier League’s best signing this season, Hugo Ekitike.
The 2022 runners-up were unbeaten in European qualifying.
It would be remiss not to mention defending World Cup champions Argentina, who won the South American qualifying group by a big margin, finishing nine points ahead of second-placed Ecuador.
With two Copa Americas and one World Cup win in just four years, the Albiceleste are in a very good moment.
Finally, despite an underwhelming qualification campaign in which they finished fifth in the Conmebol table after losing six of 18 matches, who would confidently rule out five-time World Cup winners Brazil?
The Selecao have talent all over the field, with wingers Vinicius Jr, Rodrygo and Chelsea starlet Estevao enough to worry any defence in world football.