A survey finds economists favor France over Spain in FIFA World Cup 2026, while Brazil is tipped as the tournament's biggest disappointment.
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The clock is ticking toward the FIFA World Cup, and while debate continues, an unexpected participant has entered the prediction game: economists. According to a recent poll done by Reuters, France is considered the likely winner of the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup, just beating out Spain for the top spot in a competition that is anticipated to be highly competitive.
In a Reuters poll of 160 economists from nearly all continents, France emerged as the likely World Cup winner at 35%, while Spain followed closely at 31%. These figures tally with other predictions about the World Cup found online.
For the French team, the advantage lies in a blend of experienced and talented new players. Coach Didier Deschamps stands on the brink of history as he may become the first coach ever to win two World Cups since 1938. However, much of France's chances depend on their star player, Kylian Mbappe, who is also the favorite to win the Golden Ball and Golden Boot Awards for his performance in Real Madrid.
Rounding off the top five teams are Argentina, the defending champions, Portugal, and England. Meanwhile, Norway looks to be a dark horse in this year's competition, largely due to its talented striker, Erling Haaland. The most likely breakout star is Lamine Yamal, who hails from Spain and is still young and full of promise.
It is not all doom and gloom, however, as there were some negative predictions as well. Brazil, which appointed Carlo Ancelotti as head coach, has been named the country expected to disappoint at the tournament. Following Brazil are England and Germany.
Apart from organizing an international sports event, it seems like organizers of the FIFA World Cup will have another task ahead of them. Namely, rising ticket prices, lodging costs, and travel demands across the US, Canada, and Mexico may make this World Cup the most expensive one ever for fans.
With the FIFA World Cup coming closer, interest in World Cup predictions, 2026 FIFA World Cup winner odds, Kylian Mbappe Golden Boot race, and FIFA World Cup tournament favorites has been growing on the internet. Whether the economists can beat football analysts' predictions remains to be seen.
Business Honor views France as the strongest all-round contender for the FIFA World Cup, supported by strong data-driven indicators, while acknowledging that football’s inherent unpredictability and high tournament pressure can still lead to outcomes beyond expectations.
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