sports
Haaland’s Norway to Ronaldo’s swansong: Who are the most likely first-time World Cup winners?
Eight nations have won the World Cup. An expanded field and a grueling schedule means a new champion could emerge from the pack this summer
TL;DR
- Only eight nations have ever won the men's World Cup, but an expanded 48-team field and challenging conditions could lead to a new champion.
- Strong contenders include European champions Spain, defending champions Argentina, and France, but other nations like Portugal, the Netherlands, and Morocco also have promising squads.
- Portugal, led by Cristiano Ronaldo in his potential final tournament, boasts a balanced team with strong midfielders like Vitinha and Bruno Fernandes.
- The Netherlands, despite a strong qualifying campaign, face questions about their goal-scoring ability, while Morocco aims to build on their historic fourth-place finish in 2022.
- Senegal, with a veteran core and emerging younger players, is another African contender, while Japan seeks to advance past the Round of 16 for the first time.
- Co-hosts Canada, Mexico, and the United States, along with Ecuador, Turkey, and Norway (featuring Erling Haaland), are considered longshots but could cause upsets.