The 2026 World Cup is the largest ever, with 16 more nations competing than at Qatar 2022, as the tournament expands to a 48-team format for the first time. The change means 104 matches will be played across 12 groups of four, with the top two from each group and the eight best third-placed teams advancing to a new Round of 32. Finalists could now play eight matches instead of the previous seven. The tournament runs from 11 June to 19 July, co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico – the first time three nations have shared hosting duties. Mexico becomes the first country to host or co-host the men’s World Cup three times, having previously done so in 1970 and 1986.
Expanded tournament, continental hosts and early predictions
Sixteen host cities have been selected: eleven in the United States (Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, New York/New Jersey, Philadelphia, San Francisco Bay Area, Seattle), three in Mexico (Guadalajara, Mexico City, Monterrey) and two in Canada (Toronto, Vancouver). The opening match will be played at Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca – capacity 87,523 – where Mexico kick off against South Africa. The Azteca is the only stadium to have staged three World Cup finals and, in 1986, hosted the quarter‑final in which Diego Maradona scored his famous “Hand of God” and “Goal of the Century” against England. The final this time will be held at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
On a special World Cup preview episode of the Daily Mail‘s Whistleblowers podcast, hosts Ian Ladyman (the paper’s Football Editor), Mark Clattenburg (former Premier League and FIFA referee who officiated the 2016 Champions League final and Euro 2016 final) and Gordon Smart (former editor of The Scottish Sun and broadcaster) shared their boldest predictions. Ladyman, running his results through the Daily Mail‘s World Cup predictor, forecast Spain as winners, with France, Germany and Argentina joining them in the semi‑finals. His selections align with statistical modelling: Opta’s supercomputer ranks Spain as favourites with a 16.45 per cent chance of winning, France second at 12.78 per cent, and Argentina, the defending champions, at 10.36 per cent. Ladyman tipped German playmaker Florian Wirtz – who joined Liverpool in June 2025 for a reported club‑record fee of around £100 million to £116 million – as a player to watch, arguing that “this competition will have a slower pace of play, so he will have more time on the ball. I think that could see him come right back to the top.” Wirtz endured a mixed debut season at Anfield. Ladyman also holds high hopes for Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal, but noted the teenager is battling to be fit for Spain’s opening game against Cape Verde. “I was really hoping Yamal would write his name all over it. He’s going into it injured, but there are rumours he’ll be back for the second game,” he said.
Mark Clattenburg named Turkey as his “dark horses”, picking out 21‑year‑old attacking midfielder Arda Güler as his player to watch. “I think Turkey will do well. They won’t win it, but they will do well,” he said. Clattenburg also believes Elliot Anderson “could have a big tournament. He has conducted himself remarkably well this season.” Gordon Smart tipped both Switzerland and Ghana to have good tournaments, singling out Manchester City winger Antoine Semenyo to have a standout World Cup and potentially guide the African nation to the knockouts. Ghana – whose manager is Hugo Broos – are drawn in Group L alongside England, Croatia and Panama. Opta’s model gives Ghana a 49.51 per cent probability of reaching the Round of 32 and an 18.12 per cent chance of making the Round of 16. Ghana’s preparations have been marked by a late managerial change, with Carlos Queiroz replacing Otto Addo shortly before the tournament, creating uncertainty.
England’s prospects under Tuchel
The three podcast hosts offered contrasting verdicts on England, a side now managed by German coach Thomas Tuchel. The squad announcement drew a mixed reaction after Tuchel left out key players from Gareth Southgate’s successful teams, including Cole Palmer, Phil Foden and Luke Shaw. Ladyman believes England will bow out in the Round of 16, potentially losing to Mexico at the Estadio Azteca, unable to cope with the conditions of playing a host nation on home soil. Gordon Smart was similarly downbeat, declaring himself unimpressed with the squad. “I just don’t see it. Something about this England team, I don’t see it,” he said.
Mark Clattenburg was the only one of the three not to rule out England reaching a semi‑final. He argued that Tuchel will thrive on the low expectations surrounding his squad. Clattenburg’s relative optimism is echoed by Opta’s supercomputer, which ranks England third favourites for the trophy with an 11.35 per cent probability, behind only Spain and France. Yet the logistical challenges of the tournament are unprecedented for an England side. The competition’s vast geographical spread across North America – from Seattle to Miami, Toronto to Mexico City – will require intense travel. Some venues are indoor, climate‑controlled stadiums, while others are open‑air, adding to the difficulty of acclimating to “brutal heat”, as the podcast noted. South Africa, who open the tournament, qualified by topping their group despite a campaign described as unpredictable, including draws with Nigeria and a forfeited win due to an ineligible opponent.
For England, the road to the final would demand not only tactical discipline but also physical resilience in conditions unlike any previous World Cup. The hosts’ predictions and the data from Opta together paint a picture of a tournament that is both bigger and more unpredictable – and one in which England, for all their talent, remain a side with as many questions as answers.
