With the FIFA World Cup 2026 approaching, football fans are already making their predictions about who will lift the trophy, which teams could surprise the world, and what storylines may define the tournament.
New Pureprofile research captures the views of football fans ahead of the world’s biggest sporting event, revealing expectations, favourites and tournament predictions from supporters across the globe.
As anticipation builds, the results provide an early snapshot of how fans think the competition could unfold.
Spain and France are the teams to beat
When asked who they think will win the FIFA World Cup 2026, Spain and France emerged as the joint favourites among football fans. Across all 2,400 respondents, 19% backed Spain and 19% backed France to lift the trophy, ahead of reigning champions Argentina on 15%.
Argentina fans are the most confident
While Spain and France emerge as the overall favourites, Argentina fans are the most confident in their own team. 72% of Argentine respondents believe their national team will win the FIFA World Cup 2026, making them the most optimistic fanbase in the survey. Argentina enter the tournament as defending world champions after their triumph in Qatar in 2022, and our insights show many fans believe they can retain the trophy.
Divided opinions and cautious optimism
England fans are particularly divided in their expectations. 22% expect England to reach the quarter-finals, 22% predict a semi-final appearance and 20% believe England will go all the way and win the tournament.
German and Dutch fans are more cautious in their expectations. For both countries, the most common prediction was a quarter-final exit.
The Netherlands recorded the lowest overall winner expectation in the study, with only 4% of all respondents backing them to become champions.
Spain and France may be the top favourites in our football fans’ winner predictions, but history has shown that World Cups rarely unfold exactly as expected.
The infographic below represents key findings from our research:
Based on a Pureprofile survey of 2,400 people in Argentina, Brazil, England, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain
