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It will be a spectacular World Cup/ The three big teams that scare the world
2026-04-01 15:58:43 / SPORT
There are three and they make everyone afraid. They are Spain, France and Argentina, the big favorites for the 2026 World Cup in Canada-USA-Mexico, not coincidentally the winners of three of the last four World Cups. Spain won in South Africa in 2010 with a goal by Iniesta, France dominated Croatia (4-2) in Russia 2018, while Argentina is the reigning champion after beating France on penalties four years ago in Qatar.
In 2014, Germany won in Brazil, which starts among the favorites, but seems a step below, along with Brazil, which has not yet convinced, and England, which is coming off two lost European finals: beautiful, but losing. All of them dream, from Portugal to the Netherlands to Uruguay. Only one of the eight national teams that have lifted the cup in almost a century of history is missing: Italy. For the third time in a row.
So, the big three: France, Spain and Argentina . Spain has a team that plays "with its eyes closed", perhaps the most fluid and technical football, less physical, with stars like Pedri, Nico Williams and above all Lamine Yamal, who could emerge as the true heir to Messi and Ronaldo in his first World Cup. France is more physical and has the widest organic: even Deschamps' "France B" would have qualified without a problem. Now it seems to be expressing its potential more and more and Mbappé, in his third World Cup, is the absolute star.
Argentina is solid, experienced, invincible and Messi cannot help but aim for a second triumph that would put him alongside Pelé and Maradona. They will have no problems in qualifying, but the groups are not balanced.
France has the toughest group, as it faces Haaland's Norway, the real enigma of the tournament – historically a "small" that has become big – and Senegal. The regulations stipulate that the top two teams from each of the 12 groups (24 teams in total) advance to the round of 16, plus the 8 best third-place teams. The discussion shifts to the path to the final. In theory, first place guarantees, at least initially, an easier schedule, but everything depends on the matches and results of the other groups.
And it is not easy to make predictions, because it will be a grueling World Cup for many reasons. First, for the first time, 48 teams will participate, which means one more match (from 7 to 8) for those who reach the final. Then three host countries, Canada, Mexico and the USA, with long journeys and changes in schedules that will affect the physical and psychological state. Finally, the climate, on average very hot and with schedules, for television reasons, not always favorable, such as the matches at noon in California.
It is never easy to exclude Brazil from the podium claims, but Ancelotti must face reality: a national team since 2002 (Japan-Korea) has won three Copa Americas and three Confederations Cups (now extinct), not the same as a World Cup. The “Seleção” has also lost a friendly to France, but as Tardelli says: “it is Ancelotti”, and everything remains possible. Germany is being renewed around the core of Bayern, England must find the best form of Bellingham, but there is Kane, Croatia comes from two great World Cups (the third in 2022), Portugal has a CR7 who never gives up. Colombia and Ecuador are the “outsiders” of South America, while Morocco is the strongest African representative.
Messi, Lamine Yamal and Mbappé are the announced phenomena. From Julian Alvarez to Haaland, from Rice to Olise, from Vinicius to Dembélé, from Vitinha to Doué… the list is very long. There are all the conditions for a spectacular tournament, as rarely seen.
There are four debutants: Cape Verde, Curaçao, Jordan and Uzbekistan, who, after securing qualification for the Americas, have hired Cannavaro as coach to have a big name on the bench. Another Italian is Montella with Turkey.
Never before has there been such broad global representation, because the expansion to 48 teams has favored all continents, except Europe which from 12/13 has increased to 16 national teams – a small number in relation to the level of qualifications.
It is impossible to ignore political issues, with Iran expected to play in the US after recent developments with Trump. Let's hope politics stays out of the picture.
The start is on June 11 at the legendary "Azteca" in Mexico City with Mexico-South Africa, while the cup will be lifted on July 19 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. / gazzetta dello sport – bota.al
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