Jamie Carragher Names Argentina, Spain, and France as Top World Cup 2026 Favourites

Former footballer and current pundit Jamie Carragher has declared that England stands only an “outside chance” of winning the 2026 World Cup. This assertion comes as he identified three main contenders for the tournament, which will take place in the USA, Canada, and Mexico. Despite England’s impressive unbeaten qualifying campaign, which saw them not concede a single goal, Carragher believes the team faces stiff competition from established footballing powerhouses.

Carragher’s top selections include the defending champions, Argentina, the current European champions, Spain, and France, a team with a wealth of talent. He expressed particular intrigue about Argentina, given the possibility that this could be the last World Cup for legendary player Lionel Messi. Carragher noted, “They’ll probably have great support, especially if they play in Miami, with his impact on MLS and playing for Inter Miami,” during his appearance on CBS Sports.

Looking at the European side, Carragher spotlighted Spain’s young talent, including Lamine Yamal, along with France’s Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele, whom he considers among the best players globally. “I find it very difficult to ever look at a tournament and not have France at the back of my mind,” he added, placing England in a category with teams like Portugal—on the next level of contenders.

The sentiments expressed by Carragher are echoed by Thomas Tuchel, the German coach who oversees Chelsea. Tuchel also categorized England as “underdogs” in the upcoming tournament, emphasizing the historical context of England’s World Cup journey. He remarked, “We will arrive as underdogs in the World Cup because we haven’t won it for decades, and we will play against teams who have repeatedly won it during that time, so we need to arrive as a team; otherwise, we have no chance.”

England’s preparation for the World Cup continues with upcoming matches, starting with a fixture against Serbia at Wembley Stadium next month. Following that, they will travel to Albania to complete their fixtures in Group K. The draw for the World Cup 2026 is set for December 5, with a total of 48 nations participating in the finals. The tournament will kick off on June 11, 2026, with the final scheduled to take place at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on July 19, 2026.

As anticipation builds for the World Cup, England will need to harness its strengths and refine its strategy if it hopes to compete with the likes of Argentina, Spain, and France. Carragher’s insights serve as a reminder of the challenging landscape ahead for the Three Lions.