World Cup Contenders: Favorites and Surprising Dark Horses
WHO:
CNN - Cristiano Ronaldo scored a crucial goal against Spain in the UEFA Nations League final.
CNN - Vinícius Júnior is identified as Brazil’s main star and hope.
CNN - Coach Didier Deschamps has announced that this will be his final tournament in charge of France.
CNN - Cristiano Ronaldo, at age 41, is still considered a key figure for Portugal.
CNN - Spain, France, Argentina, England, Portugal, Brazil, Lamine Yamal, Nico Williams, Pedri, Luis de la Fuente, Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé, Michael Olise, Emiliano “Dibu” Martínez, Cristian Romero, Lionel Messi, Julián Álvarez, Lautaro Martínez, Lionel Scaloni, Cristiano Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes, Vitinha, Bernardo Silva, Nuno Mendes, Rúben Dias, Roberto Martínez, Harry Kane, Bukayo Saka, Jude Bellingham, Thomas Tuchel, Carlo Ancelotti, Neymar.
WHAT:
CNN - Brazil has had four coaches since the end of Qatar 2022, including two interim managers and the appointment of Carlo Ancelotti.
CNN - Spain is currently ranked No. 2 in the global FIFA standings.
CNN - Argentina won the 2024 Copa América, which was also played in the United States.
CNN - Harry Kane is the captain of England and the team's all-time leading scorer.
CNN - Six national teams are considered top favorites for the World Cup: Spain, France, Argentina, England, Portugal, and Brazil.
CNN - Spain has won the 2022-23 UEFA Nations League, Euro 2024, and the men’s soccer tournament at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
CNN - Spain finished unbeaten atop its European qualifying group.
CNN - Spain's standout star is Lamine Yamal, an 18-year-old player recovering from injury.
CNN - Spain's player Fermín López is set to miss the World Cup due to a foot fracture suffered on May 17.
CNN - France has reached the finals of the last two World Cups, winning in 2018 and losing in 2022.
CNN - Argentina won the 2024 Copa América and dominated South American qualifying.
CNN - Portugal won the 2025 UEFA Nations League and qualified for the World Cup comfortably atop its European group.
CNN - England achieved eight wins in eight matches during European qualifying, conceding no goals.
CNN - Brazil finished fifth in South American qualifying and has had four coaches since the end of Qatar 2022.
WHERE:
CNN - The World Cup will be held in North America.
WHEN:
CNN - The World Cup is set to begin in a week.
WHY:
CNN - Spain's attacking emphasis can leave it exposed at the back.
CNN - Argentina's players often perform better with the national team than for their clubs.
CNN - Portugal aims to capitalize on its talent and style of play to win a major trophy.
CNN - England struggles to translate individual talent into a dominant collective identity.
CNN - Brazil is experiencing an identity crisis due to frequent coaching changes.
HOW:
CNN - Ancelotti has prioritized structure first, then attack for Brazil's playing style.
CNN - Brazil's new coach Carlo Ancelotti is the first foreign coach in history to lead the Seleção.
CNN - Spain plays a high-scoring, attack-minded style with relentless pressing after losing the ball.
CNN - France combines experience and youth, allowing it to handle pressure in knockout rounds.
CNN - Argentina can change shape depending on the opponent while maintaining its level.
CNN - Portugal employs a style based on possession and control of tempo, pressing high to recover the ball.
CNN - England utilizes aerial play effectively from set pieces and open play.
CNN - Brazil's new coach Carlo Ancelotti has prioritized structure before attack.
(UPDATED June 8, 2026 18:00 UTC)
Cristiano Ronaldo scored a crucial goal against Spain in the UEFA Nations League final, showcasing his enduring talent on the international stage. Meanwhile, Brazil has seen a whirlwind of changes since the end of Qatar 2022, with four coaches, including two interim managers, and the recent appointment of Carlo Ancelotti, who is focusing on establishing a solid structure before emphasizing attack in the team's playing style. Vinícius Júnior has emerged as Brazil’s main star and hope, as the team navigates this transitional period.
--
(UPDATED June 8, 2026 10:18 UTC)
Coach Didier Deschamps has announced that this will be his final tournament in charge of France, marking the end of an era for the national team. Meanwhile, Cristiano Ronaldo, at age 41, continues to be a key figure for Portugal, and Spain holds the impressive rank of No. 2 in the global FIFA standings. In other news, Argentina recently celebrated their victory in the 2024 Copa América, which took place in the United States, while Harry Kane stands as England's captain and all-time leading scorer, and Brazil's new coach Carlo Ancelotti makes history as the first foreign coach to lead the Seleção.
--
(UPDATED June 8, 2026 01:39 UTC)
The World Cup is set to begin in just a week in North America, with six national teams emerging as top favorites: Spain, France, Argentina, England, Portugal, and Brazil. Spain, which recently won the 2022-23 UEFA Nations League and Euro 2024, will be looking to capitalize on its high-scoring, attack-minded style, although it faces challenges with standout player Lamine Yamal recovering from injury and Fermín López missing the tournament due to a foot fracture. Meanwhile, France combines experience and youth, Argentina adapts its strategy based on opponents, Portugal focuses on possession and tempo control, England excels in aerial play, and Brazil is undergoing a transformation under new coach Carlo Ancelotti.