Former England star Gary Lineker believes France remains the clear favorite to win the 2026 World Cup, noting that it will be tough for any side to defeat them. France advanced to the round of 16 following a dominant 3-0 win against Sweden. Under manager Didier Deschamps, the French squad has been in top form, scoring ten goals during group stage victories against Senegal, Iraq, and Norway.
The French team, which won in 2018 and reached the 2022 final, is set to face Paraguay in the next round. Lineker, speaking on The Rest is Football, highlighted the depth of the French roster beyond Kylian Mbappe, citing players like Michael Olise and Ousmane Dembele as key offensive threats. He expects France to reach the semi-finals comfortably.
Looking for potential challengers, Lineker points toward Spain and the current title-holders, Argentina. While he acknowledges Spain’s potential, he feels they must regain their peak form to compete. Conversely, he expressed doubt regarding England’s chances despite a late rescue by Harry Kane against DR Congo, which secured their place in the round of 16 where they face Mexico. Ultimately, Lineker anticipates a potential rematch of the last World Cup final between France and Argentina.
