FIFA World Cup 2026 Countdown | Iran arrives amidst a tumultuous lead-up; France and Spain bring their star power

Placed successful a pugnacious Group I, France, Senegal and Norway volition person to bring their A-game to the FIFA World Cup. Belgium (G), Spain and Uruguay (H) person a comparatively easier commencement to the campaign.

Group G (Belgium, Iran, Egypt and New Zealand)

Belgium’s aureate procreation finished 3rd successful 2018. In 2026, that golden has mislaid its sheen.

The likes of Kevin De Bruyne, Thibaut Courtois, Romelu Lukaku and Axel Witsel are inactive around, but the famed backline comprising Toby Alderweireld, Vincent Kompany, Thomas Vermaelen and Jan Vertonghen nary longer exists.

Coach Rudi Garcia volition frankincense beryllium pinning his hopes connected his attack, which besides has the speedy Manchester City winger Jeremy Doku.

There are, however, doubts implicit Lukaku’s preparedness, with Belgium’s all-time top-scorer (90 goals) playing conscionable an hr of shot each play for Napoli.

But the spot of the radical is specified that Belgium is the favourite. Iran, astatine No. 21, and Egypt, astatine No. 29, are some not up to scratch.

Iran has featured successful each of the past 3 World Cups, but has exited successful the radical stage. Currently, the state is successful the mediate of a subject stand-off with the United States, thing that earnestly threatened its participation.

And due to the fact that of information concerns, Iran volition beryllium based successful Mexico, and question agelong distances to Los Angeles and Seattle to play. Supreme tenacity volition beryllium the request of the hour.

Egypt, astatine slightest connected paper, seems somewhat amended due to the fact that it has Mohamed Salah. The satellite signifier is 1 spot wherever helium is yet to excel, having played conscionable 2 games successful Egypt’s group-stage exit successful the 2018 showpiece.

The 33-year-old volition besides beryllium anxious to reiterate his footballing worthy aft a not-so-pleasant exit from Liverpool.

Surprisingly, Egypt, a seven-time Africa Cup of Nations champion, has ne'er won a lucifer astatine the World Cup. Will the mostly turgid shot it plays, with the lone goal-scoring way done Salah, assistance interruption the duck?

There is simply a accidental that this attack whitethorn enactment against New Zealand, the lowest-ranked broadside astatine the tourney (No. 85). For that, Nottingham Forest’s Chris Wood, scorer of 45 goals for the Kiwis, should beryllium unopen down.

Interestingly, the New Zealand shot squad is called ‘All Whites’, contrary to the unofficial nationalist colour black. White is astir peace. But athletics is warfare minus the shooting.

Best finish: Belgium: Third spot (2018); Iran: Group signifier (1978, 1998, 2006, 2014, 2018, 2022); Egypt: Group signifier (1934, 1990, 2018); New Zealand: Group signifier (1982, 2010).

Group H (Spain, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia and Cape Verde)

Ever since Spain won its maiden World Cup successful 2010, it hasn’t gone past the circular of 16. In 2026, it cannot spend a akin fate.

Ranked 2nd successful the world, Spain arrives successful North America with a first-rate side, contempt not having a azygous subordinate from Real Madrid.

The 2024 European champion’s trump paper volition beryllium Barcelona prima Lamine Yamal, already the metronome for some nine and country.

And successful Nico Williams and Mikel Oyarzabal, the 18-year-old winger volition beryllium supplemented well. Yamal and Williams sustained hamstring injuries precocious but are expected to beryllium fit.

In midfield, determination is an embarrassment of riches, with Pedri, Gavi, Martin Zubimendi, Rodri and Fabian Ruiz each successful the roster.

Three world-class goalkeepers successful Unai Simon, David Raya and Joan Garcia, and the calming beingness of Barcelona defender Eric Garcia marque the Luis de la Fuente-coached squad well-rounded.

Competing with Spain for the apical spot — nevertheless improbable it looks — volition beryllium Uruguay, the two-time Cup winner.

But the Marcelo Bielsa-marshalled outfit, contempt being powered by Real Madrid midfielder Federico Valverde, nary longer has that cutting borderline quality, particularly without strikers Luis Suarez (omitted) and Edinson Cavani (retired).

For success, it needs to summon the spirits that helped bushed Brazil and Argentina successful 2023, and decorativeness 3rd astatine the 2024 Copa America.

Saudi Arabia, the third-best broadside successful the group, famously bushed Argentina 2-1 astatine Qatar 2022. But it nary longer has the manager who masterminded that heist — Herve Renard.

Georgios Donis from Greece was appointed lone 2 months ago, and helium has his task chopped retired if his wards are to lucifer the round-of-16 effort from 1994 (also successful the United States).

Cape Verde, an archipelago disconnected Africa’s westbound seashore with a colonisation arsenic debased arsenic six lakh, is the 4th member.

It’s the third-smallest federation ever astatine a World Cup, and a bulk of the squad is foreign-born arsenic a effect of important outward migration earlier the state gained independency from Portugal successful 1975.

Best finish: Spain: Champion (2010); Uruguay: Champion (1930, 1950); Saudi Arabia: Round of 16 (1994); Cape Verde: Debut.

Group I (France, Senegal, Norway and Iraq)

If Brazil and Argentina are football’s eternal favourites, France is its new-found royalty. In the past 7 editions, the European federation has won the World Cup twice, finished runner-up doubly and made different quarterfinal.

The cardinal fig present is manager Didier Deschamps, who won the World Cup successful 1998 arsenic a subordinate and has been France’s manager since July 2012. The North American sojourn volition beryllium his swansong, and helium volition beryllium anxious to portion connected a high.

Kylian Mbappe is his main man, with Ballon d’Or victor Ousmane Dembele and Bayern Munich winger Michael Olise forming the enactment cast. That players specified arsenic Desire Doue and Bradley Barcola — some from Paris Saint Germain — are apt to commencement from the seat says a batch astir Les Blues’ strength.

But successful the 14 years Deschamps has been successful charge, France has been criticised for playing with its handbrake on. If the broadside tin wed its antiaircraft solidity — lone 4 goals conceded successful the qualifying — with its fearsome attack, opponents volition person a torrid time.

Senegal would privation to punctual France that it has not ever played retired that way. The African federation upset the past defending champion successful 2002 en way a quarterfinal finish. And successful 2026, it remains strong, powered by erstwhile Liverpool prima Sadio Mane.

Interestingly, Senegal won the Africa Cup of Nations successful January lone to beryllium stripped of the rubric aft immoderate of its players near the tract during the last protesting a punishment awarded to Morocco. The lawsuit awaits adjudication astatine the Court of Arbitration for Sport. An authoritative on-field effort volition not hurt.

Norway is the underdog successful this radical contempt having Manchester City’s Erling Haaland and Arsenal’s Martin Odegaard. The Nordic state is returning to the World signifier for the archetypal clip since 1998. Can it permission an indelible mark?

For Iraq, qualification itself should number arsenic success. The war-torn federation was the past to punch its ticket, beating Bolivia successful an distant Inter-Confederation Playoff successful March aft travelling 12 hours by roadworthy and 17 hours by air. Whatever it does successful North America volition beryllium a bonus.

Best finish: France: Champion (1998, 2018); Senegal: Quarterfinal (2002); Norway: Round of 16 (1998); Iraq: Group signifier (1986).

* The 1934 World Cup was a 16-team knockout tournament.