5 Fixtures of Interest From My 2026 World Cup Predictions

Introduction

The 2026 World Cup is shaping up to be the biggest tournament in history — 48 teams, three host nations, and a knockout format that throws up some genuinely mouth-watering possibilities. To help make sense of it all, we've built a World Cup 2026 Predictor that lets you map the entire tournament from group stage through to the final.

Pick who tops each group, and the tool builds your personalised knockout bracket. It's a great way to get a feel for who has a favourable route, when the big clashes might come, and ultimately who you think lifts the trophy in New York.

We ran through our own predictions and a handful of fixtures immediately jumped out. Your bracket will look different depending on how you call the groups — but here's what our run-through threw up.

5 Fixtures That Caught Our Eye

USA v Iran — Round of 32

This one writes itself. If both nations finish second in their respective groups, they meet in the Round of 32 — and given the ongoing political tensions between the United States and Iran, this fixture would carry a weight that goes well beyond football. The fact that the US is hosting the tournament only adds to it. A genuinely charged atmosphere would be guaranteed, and it's the kind of match that transcends the sport.

📅 Want to check when this fixture kicks off in your time zone? Use our Full Tournament Fixture Tool to view every match in your chosen time-zone.

Mexico v Canada — Round of 32

Two of the three host nations could meet as early as the Round of 32 if both finish second in their groups. A North American derby with genuine pride on the line — the home support would be split right down the middle. It's the sort of fixture the expanded format was made for.

Germany v France — Round of 16

The Round of 32 threw up a few eyebrow-raisers in our predictions, but Germany v France was the first real clash of heavyweights. A fixture that would feel more at home in a semi-final, yet here it is potentially landing in the last 16. Both sides will fancy their chances of going deep in this tournament, so one of them bowing out this early would be a major story.

Brazil v England — Quarter-Finals

England reaching the quarter-finals feels realistic, but this is where I think the wheels could come off. Brazil are a quality side, but it's not just the football that concerns me here — it's the conditions. A 17:00 kick-off in Miami in July is brutal. The South Americans will be far more acclimatised to that kind of heat and humidity, and I think that could be the difference. England have the better squad on paper, but football isn't played on paper.

Try the 2026 World Cup Predictor

France v Portugal — The Final

My predicted final, and what a match it would be. Portugal have the individual quality to go all the way, but I think France edge it. With the PSG strikeforce at their disposal and Kylian Mbappé leading the line, they have a cutting edge in attack that's hard to match. France to lift the trophy in New York — that's my call.

Build Your Own Bracket

That's just how our predictions played out — yours could look completely different depending on how you call the groups. That's the beauty of it.