France is the favorite to win the 2026 FIFA World Cup, receiving 35% of votes in a Reuters poll of 160 economists conducted from May 11 to June 5, 2026. Spain followed closely with 31% support, making the competition tight at the top [1, 2, 3, 4].

The 2026 tournament, set to be the largest ever, will feature 48 teams playing 104 matches across venues in the United States, Canada, and Mexico [1, 2, 3, 4]. France’s coach, Didier Deschamps, could become the first since 1938 to win two World Cups as coach and the only person to win as both player and coach [1, 2, 3, 4].

Kylian Mbappe is the frontrunner to take both the Golden Ball for best player and Golden Boot as the tournament’s top scorer. Mbappe has already scored 12 World Cup goals, trailing the all-time record of 16 held by Miroslav Klose; Lionel Messi has 13, and Harry Kane 8 [1, 2, 3, 4]. Cathal Kennedy, senior economist at RBC, said: "After the disappointment of the 2022 final, France looks well equipped to go one better this time. The squad retains a number of members of the team that reached the final who are now reaching the peak of their careers... they should have a well-rested Kylian Mbappe to call on for the tournament." [1]

Brazil, five-time World Cup champions, was widely expected to disappoint, with nearly a third of respondents predicting they will be the tournament’s biggest flop [1, 2, 3, 4]. Norway, led by Erling Haaland, was named the top dark horse by 21% of those polled, seen as capable of causing major surprises [3].

The poll revealed that 73% of economists voted based on intuition rather than quantitative models, while 8% admitted to voting with loyalty to their home country [3].

Experts also expect the 2026 World Cup to be the costliest ever, with high ticket, accommodation, and transport prices likely to raise inflation concerns. A Turkish economist commented, "We know exactly when the World Cup will end. But what about the global energy supply crisis..." [3].

The World Cup final is scheduled for July 19, 2026, after which the pandemic-delayed tournament will conclude [1, 2, 4].