The 2026 FIFA World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico is set to be the ‘biggest’ Football World Cup. And by biggest, we mean the most teams since its inception. Instead of the usual 32 teams that we have had from 1988 to 2022, there will be 48 teams. Does this change sound familiar? You may have noticed it in the European Club tournaments and the recent Club World Cup.
The format overhaul fundamentally alters the entire structure of the competition, creating a longer tournament and a new, Round of 32 knockout stage. The best part about the new format is the number of matches that will be on offer. The 2026 FIFA World Cup will feature 104 matches, a significant increase from the 64 matches in previous World Cups.
There will now be a maximum of four matches per day, with matches starting at 18:00, 21:00, 00:00 and 03:00 South African time. We haven’t even accounted for all the ones that will end with extra time, like they always do, or how referees give 9+ minutes of extra time due to the time-wasting celebrations. Anyway, this is what interests us gamblers. A whole 12 hours of action-packed football action
World Cup 2026 fixtures and predictions
Favourite to win the tournament
My money is on Spain to win their second World Cup, as evidenced by the bookies also favouring Spain to lift the trophy, as can be seen from the screenshot from BetXchange.com.
However, the margins are incredibly small between the top five teams as England follows Spain closely in the odds, while France, Brazil and Argentina are all 8/1 to win the World Cup. This suggests there is no single runaway favourite, and form closer to the tournament will be critical.
With this possibly being Messi’s and Ronaldo’s last World Cup, Argentina and Portugal will be going all out to give their legends a massive send-off. Both sides have an incredible group of players who have shown that they can grind out results under immense pressure. Additionally, their phenomenal coaches, Lionel Scaloni and Roberto Martinez, who have both won trophies at the International level, should give both teams a shot at World Cup glory.
More tips
Mexico vs. South Africa – June 11
Tip: 1:1 correct score
FIFA has a tradition where the host nation is automatically guaranteed entry to the tournament, and for the opening match, they usually get to play in their home stadium. Mexico, being one of the three co-hosts, was granted the top seed in Group A and the prestigious opening match at the iconic Estadio Azteca. The fixture against South Africa is symbolic, as it will be a rematch of the opening fixture of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, where hosts South Africa drew 1-1 with Mexico.
As hosts, all eyes will be on Mexico to see if they can break their historic “opener curse”. While they have previously won their first match at a Tournament, they have never managed to secure a victory when playing in a World Cup opener.
- 1930 – vs France: 1–4 Loss
- 1950 – Mexico vs Brazil: 0–4 Loss
- 1954 – vs Brazil: 0–5 Loss
- 1958 – vs Sweden: 0–3 Loss
- 1962 – vs Brazil: 0–2 Loss
- 1970 – vs Soviet Union: 0–0 Draw
- 2010 – vs South Africa: 1–1 Draw
- 2026 – vs South Africa: ❓
Despite their traditional strength in the CONCACAF region, current odds place them as a mid-tier favourite to win the opener against Bafana Bafana, sitting at 55/100 (1.55) at Mzansibet.com.
They are favoured to top Group A, but face strong competition from South Africa, South Korea and the eventual European play-off winner (potentially Denmark).
Bafana Bafana are a physical, fast-paced team who will be highly motivated, especially in a match that carries so much nostalgia. Their current FIFA ranking is lower, and they are generally viewed as the underdog in the group, though they are certainly capable of springing a surprise, as they often do in high-profile matches.
The match is set to kick off at 21:00, which is the perfect time to watch our Nation at the big stage. We predict that a low-scoring draw is a strong possibility, repeating the result of the 2010 match.
Brazil vs. Morocco – June 13
Tip: Brazil Win
This is an early contender for the best Group Stage match, pitting the perennial five-time champions, Brazil, against the 2022 semi-finalists, Morocco. The Atlas Lions are drawn into a highly competitive Group C, which also features Scotland and Haiti.
Under the new management of Carlo Ancelotti, Brazil will always be a top favourite. They will be keen to start strong, especially after their disappointing exit from the tournament in 2022. Early odds place them as heavy favourites for the match at 48/100 (1.48). Morocco should deploy a low block to mitigate conceding goals, making it difficult for Brazil to score.
Belgium vs. Egypt – June 15
Tip: Belgium Win
This is the opening fixture for Group G, which also includes Iran and New Zealand. The match will kick off at 21:00 and take place at Lumen Field, Seattle, which is one of the more favourable kick-off times for South Africans.
Though past the peak of their so-called “Golden Generation,” Belgium still possesses a core of world-class talent and is the highest-ranked team in the group. Their recent form in the World Cup qualifiers has been strong, and they are favourites to win their opening match at 67/100. They will aim to dominate possession and exploit the pace of their wingers, potentially getting behind Egypt’s defense.
France vs. Senegal – June 16
Tip: France Win
Football powerhouse versus former African Champions. This is a must-watch for African fans, as Senegal is widely viewed as the continent’s best shot at a deep run. France, the two-time winners and 2022 runners-up, led by Kylian Mbappé, remains a perpetual favourite to lift the World Cup. They are expected to comfortably win Group I, which also includes a strong Norway side led by Ballon d’Or contender Erling Haaland.
France should have too much in their tank for Senegal and should comfortably take the win. They are the bookies’ favourite at 41/100 (1.41) based on the screenshot from 10BET.co.za
FAQS
Q: Did South Africa qualify for the World Cup?
A: Yes, South Africa has secured automatic qualification into the 2026 FIFA World Cup by winning their qualification group that included Nigeria and Benin.
Q: When is the next World Cup?
A: The next World Cup is set to commence in Mexico City on June 11 2026.
Q: Where is the next World Cup?
A: The next World Cup is a first as it will be jointly hosted by three nations: the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The tournament will expand from 32 teams to 48 teams with the new format featuring 12 groups of four teams, followed by a new Round of 32 knockout stage.
Q: How many teams qualify for the World Cup from Africa?
A: There are a total of 9 teams that have qualified for the World Cup, up from the previous 5 in the 32-team format. DR Congo will have a chance in the inter-confederation playoff to qualify and take the total to 10 teams.
