Who do you think will win?

May 30, 2026 Features / Columnists, Peeping Tom

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Peeping Tom…

(Kaieteur News) – The countdown has begun. In homes across Guyana, television sets will soon be tuned to one thing and one thing only — the FIFA World Cup 2026. From Georgetown to Lethem, from Berbice to Bartica, football fever will once again take over the country.

Sleep schedules will be destroyed, productivity at work will mysteriously decline and every roadside lime and bar will suddenly produce dozens of football “experts” who know exactly why a coach made the wrong substitution.

This year’s tournament promises to be bigger than ever before. For the first time, 48 teams will compete for football’s biggest prize. More nations will have the chance to dream. More fans will have the opportunity to celebrate. But while the competition may be larger, the list of genuine favourites remains relatively small.

For me, the two strongest contenders are Spain and France.

Spain enters this tournament with confidence and momentum after winning the UEFA Euro 2024 championship. They are young, energetic and technically brilliant. What makes this Spanish team dangerous is that they combine the traditional passing style of old with speed and aggression. They no longer simply pass the ball endlessly. They also attack with purpose.

The Spanish midfield remains among the best in the world, and their younger players appear fearless on the big stage. They look like a team entering its golden years rather than leaving them behind. Unlike previous tournaments where Spain sometimes looked too cautious, this squad has shown a willingness to take risks and punish opponents quickly.

Then there is France.

France has been the most consistently dangerous team in international football over the past decade. They won the FIFA World Cup in 2018 and reached the final again in 2022. Few countries can match the depth of talent available to the French squad.

The frightening part about France is not only their star players but the sheer quality sitting on their bench. They can lose one star and replace him with another world-class player without weakening the team significantly.

Up front, the combination of Ousmane Dembele and Kylian Mbappé is enough to terrify any defence. Mbappé remains perhaps the most explosive player in world football. His pace alone can destroy a match in seconds. Dembele, when confident and fit, is unpredictable and devastating on the wings.

Behind them, experienced players such as N’Golo Kanté still provide stability and discipline. While Kanté is no longer in his prime years, his intelligence and work rate remain valuable in major tournaments. France also possesses physical strength, tactical discipline and tournament experience, all qualities needed to survive the pressure of a World Cup.

If I had to choose one team to lift the trophy on July 19, my pick would be France.

That said, football has a way of humiliating predictions.

Argentina is the defending champions, but repeating as world champions is one of the hardest achievements in sport. Personally, while I fully recognise Lionel Messi as one of the greatest footballers ever, I do not expect him to shine in this tournament. Since leaving European football, he has not consistently faced the highest level of competition week after week. Talent never disappears, but age eventually catches every player, even the legends.

The same concern applies to Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal. Ronaldo remains one of the fittest athletes in world football and deserves enormous respect for his discipline and longevity. But international football at the highest level is brutally demanding. The pace, intensity and tactical pressure are different from anything else. I honestly believe Portugal should have begun fully transitioning toward a younger generation instead of continuing to build around an aging superstar.

Brazil also enters the tournament with questions. Traditionally, whenever Brazil appears at a World Cup, they immediately become favourites because of their history and flair. But this Brazilian side does not inspire the same admiration as the great teams of the past. Neymar Junior’s inclusion in the squad has also raised concerns. Injuries have troubled him repeatedly in recent years and, after such a long recovery period, it is difficult to know whether he can truly carry Brazil through a long and punishing tournament.

Germany should never be completely dismissed because football history teaches us that Germany often become dangerous precisely when people stop believing in them. Still, this is not the dominant German machine of earlier years. They no longer possess the same aura that once made opponents nervous before kickoff.

And then there is Italy — absent again.

For many football fans, especially older supporters, it remains shocking that Italy have failed to qualify for a third straight FIFA World Cup. Once upon a time, imagining a World Cup without Italy was almost impossible. They were one of football’s great aristocrats. On the pitch, they were disciplined, tactical and ruthless when it mattered most. Their continued absence says much about how dramatically football can change.

That, perhaps, is the beauty of the World Cup. Giants fall. New stars emerge. Heroes are created overnight. Entire countries laugh, cry and celebrate together.

And here in Guyana, for a few glorious weeks, millions of us will become coaches, referees and commentators from the comfort of our living rooms. So, who are you backing?

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.) 

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• FIFA World Cup 2026, football experts, football fever, Peeping Tom, Spain and France

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