2026 FIFA World Cup: Burns' Top 5 Contenders:

The biggest sporting event across the globe is about to take place in a couple of weeks time & I'm getting as excited as anyone. The FIFA World Cup, which happens every four years, brought an estimated five billion fans in the 2022 last version. Now, things are getting even bigger as the World Cup expands from 32 teams to 48 teams! That change should see even more support from around the world. Here are my top five contenders to win the whole thing in this year's edition (NOT IN ORDER): 

In 2022, the final between Argentina & France was one of the greatest "football" matches that I've ever witnessed with my own two eyes. If you haven't watched that game, make sure to do so before this year's competition. It will absolutely make you fall in love with the game. That being said, Argentina is the defending champs and look to go Back 2 Back. With the "GOAT" (in my eyes) Lionel Messi back on the pitch one last time, there's no question that Argentina is in the conversation to make it a second straight world title. He's been tearing it up in the MLS for a couple of years now & definitely is going to want to put a cherry on top of his ridiculous career. Looking at the team around him, he's got many of the same pieces that he won the 2022 World Cup with alongside him. No, there's no Angel Di Maria this time around. But, with new youngsters in the roster like Nico Paz, there's no question that this team is going to be as strong as anyone, especially if goalkeeper, Emiliano Martinez can have an encore performance this time around. 

Obviously, it was heartbreak in 2022 for France, losing in that penalty shootout after coming back from down a pair of goals so late in the contest as well as another goal in ET. But, the 2018 champions are going to be very excited for this year's edition. France brings back a very similar roster just like Argentina with a couple of new faces. N'Golo Kante returns after missing out on 2022 due to injury. Bradley Barcola & Desire Doue provide even more flash for this brilliant attack. & Michael Olise arrives in style as one of the top players in the game at the moment. Don't get me wrong, not having Antoine Griezmann is definitely a sad sight. But, nobody lasts forever in the sport & he's definitely going to be watching closely hoping that his team can bring back the trophy back to France. I think that it's most definitely possible assuming Kylian Mbappe is at his best. 

Possibly sitting out the first couple of group stage matches because of injury recovery, Lamine Yamal has taken the game of "football" by storm over the past couple of seasons now. From winning the Euro's in 2024 as a 16 year old & becoming the youngest player ever to score in a Semis of that tournament with a beautiful strike, I believe that this team is going to be special once again this time around. No, Spain hasn't won this tournament since the Iniesta & Xavi days back in 2010. But, with a midfield duo or Pedri & Rodri, whoever they put as the third one is going to be very happy to play alongside those two, who are some of the best in the game. I truly think that Spain is the slight favorite to win the World Cup in 2026 for a reason. But, time will tell as this is most definitely one of the hardest, if not the hardest trophy to win in the entire sporting world. Watch out for Nico Williams, who thrives with his country behind him. 

Just like Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo returns to the biggest stage in hopes to finish his career with a bang. No, he's not retiring just yet. But, there's no doubt in my mind that this is going to be the last World Cup that we see both of those players in. It's quite sad in all honesty. But, it's just the way that everything goes. Having said that, this is one of the best Portuguese teams ever assembled from the backline to the forward line. In fact, I think that Portugal brings in the best midfield trio of any team in this tournament. A pair of PSG DM's in Vitinha & Joao Neves, get to play with Bruno Fernandes from Manchester United. My goodness this is going to be a joy to watch. Can Ronaldo get the job done & match Messi with a World Cup a piece and put his name perhaps at the top of GOAT debate once again? Boy that would be special. 

After winning in 2014, it feels like Germany have been waiting for its time to get back to the top of the world's stage. No, they are not the favorites by any means. But, this feels like an excellent competition that's coming at the perfect time for them. Germany is loaded with talent and has some massive names. Manuel Neuer, who won the World Cup with Germany in 2014 as well as the Golden Glove in that tournament is back for another year of magic. Many of you probably would've expected me to put Brazil or England as my last team in these rankings. But, given the injuries & roster selections, it's only fair for me to expect more out of Germany this time around than those teams. Germany might not have the superstars. But, it's got elite players at every position. They feel extremely underrated and are a team that not too many are talking about right now. Germany could definitely surprise some people.