La Roja target long-awaited second World Cup win - Market opens with Spain ahead of France

I find it hard to understand why Spain are being seen as the main favourites to win the 2026 World Cup.

It is clear that Luis de la Fuente’s team has a recognisable core, comes from winning Euro 2024 and has a lot of talent, but a tournament like this is decided by small details. And right now, there are too many physical doubts around important players. Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams, two of the biggest stars of that Euro, arrive with injuries, discomfort and a lack of continuity. We are not talking about secondary players, but about two footballers who can change games when they are fully fit.

On top of that, Mikel Merino has just returned to the pitch after being out since February with a foot injury, and Rodri is still a different-level player, but he does not seem to be the same after tearing his ACL.

The other big doubt is up front. Mikel Oyarzabal performs very well for Spain and understands perfectly what De la Fuente wants, but he is not that world-class striker Spain once had with David Villa or Fernando Torres. And behind him, there is no reliable backup either.

Spain can have a great World Cup, of course, but seeing them as the top favourites feels quite debatable to me.

France always deserves to be in the conversation because the track record speaks for itself. They’ve won two World Cups since 1998, reached another final in 2022, and they keep producing world-class players generation after generation.

What really stands out is the depth, even when they lose key players, they can replace them with guys playing at the highest level in Europe. Add in the experience of going deep in tournaments and the ability to adapt tactically, and it’s easy to see why people believe they can win it again.

At the same time, World Cups are defined by volatility, and France knows that better than most. Between their triumphs have come shocking collapses, from the group-stage exit in 2002 to the implosion of 2010, reminders that even elite teams are vulnerable to internal tension, fatigue, injuries, or the randomness of knockout football.

France absolutely has the quality to win another World Cup, but like every contender, their path is far from guaranteed, which is why the most rational view is to see them as one of the strongest candidates, not a certainty

England go in as third favourites for the World Cup, partly due to their performances in the last couple of Euro’s events, finishing runner-up on both occasions.

With star names like Jude Bellingham and Bukayo Saka maturing and Harry Kane scoring goals for fun, can the Three Lions finally bring it back home for the first time since 1966?

In all honesty…  I don’t think so. For all of the attacking talent that England have, central defence is a weak point, with a genuine lack of depth over the last couple of years finally showing itself, with omission of Harry Maguire much maligned in the English press.

The other concern is, what happens if Harry Kane is injured? Behind the captain, options are solid, if unspectacular.

I would love to see the England men’s team win a trophy and the talent is there to do so, but while my heart yearns for glory, my mind keeps reminding me that we will need a bit of good fortune to finally cross the line and lift the trophy.