SouthernWorldwide.com – With twelve groups for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the highest number in the tournament’s history, the question arises: which group holds the most excitement?
Thierry Henry, a renowned World Cup winner with France in 1998, has put his bets on Group I. He shared his thoughts on “FIFA World Cup Live” on Thursday, highlighting that his prediction extends beyond France’s presence in the group.
Henry pointed to Senegal and Norway as his two dark horses for the competition. He anticipates a challenging path for Iraq within this group, suggesting that all three other teams might advance.
He also expressed interest in Group C, which features Brazil and Morocco. Henry noted the potential for an upset in the opening match between Haiti and Scotland, believing Haiti could surprise their opponents.
The 2022 World Cup final saw Kylian Mbappé and France narrowly defeated by Lionel Messi and Argentina in a penalty shootout. France has since revamped its squad, boasting considerable depth and high expectations for a deep run in the upcoming tournament. Meanwhile, Senegal reached the final of the African Cup of Nations, showcasing their strength.
For Zlatan Ibrahimović, Group L stands out as the one to watch. He specifically mentioned England and Croatia as key contenders in this group.
Ibrahimović also drew attention to Ghana, noting their abundance of talented players and expressing curiosity about their performance. He acknowledged Panama’s presence but predicted they might struggle against England, Croatia, and potentially Ghana, who could secure some points.
England, led by Harry Kane, is aiming to rebound from their tough loss to Spain, featuring Lamine Yamal, in the Euro 2024 final. England’s last major trophy win was the 1966 World Cup.
Alexi Lalas, a former U.S. soccer star and FOX Sports Soccer Analyst, has his focus on Group D, which includes the United States. He believes this is the first time the U.S. men’s team should aim to win their group.
Lalas stated that the U.S. team, given its talent, depth, and experience, should not settle for anything less than winning the group. He emphasized that this is a realistic expectation, not mere optimism.
He feels confident in saying this because he believes the team possesses the capability to achieve such a goal. Lalas even went as far as to describe it as an ‘easy’ group, acknowledging the loaded nature of the term, but asserting that compared to previous groups the U.S. has faced, this one is significantly more favorable.
Paraguay, Australia, and Türkiye are the other three nations in Group D alongside the United States. The U.S. men’s national team is set to kick off their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign against Paraguay on Friday night.
