Wenger Predicts France's Victory in FIFA World Cup 2026, Cites Spain as Main Competitor
Wenger's Confidence in France's World Cup Journey
Arsene Wenger, the former Arsenal manager and current FIFA chief of global football development, has expressed his belief that France, led by Kylian Mbappe, is poised to win the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2026. He suggests that the only team capable of challenging them is Spain, the 2010 champions, who he believes possess superior technical skills compared to the two-time champions.
France's Upcoming Quarterfinal Match
France is set to face Morocco in the quarterfinals, a rematch of the 2022 semifinal where Morocco's journey ended. Meanwhile, Spain will compete against Belgium, who secured a bronze medal in 2018, featuring stars like Romelu Lukaku, Kevin de Bruyne, and Thibaut Courtois. Wenger has shown strong support for France, predicting they will secure their third World Cup title, especially after their dominant performances, with the exception of a narrow 1-0 victory over Paraguay in the round of 16. He emphasized that France's speed and momentum would pose significant challenges for their opponents.
In a recent episode of the 'Felix and Toni Kroos Podcast', Wenger stated, "France will win the World Cup. I know you might think it's because I'm French, but if you analyze the tournament, the train is moving at a certain speed today. You need to be able to get on board that train."
Spain: The Only Team That Can Challenge France
Despite the presence of several strong European teams in the quarterfinals, Wenger has downplayed the chances of Harry Kane's England and believes that both Morocco and the defending champions will find it tough against France. He specifically highlighted Spain, managed by Luis de la Fuente, as the only team with the capability and technical prowess to potentially defeat France. "For me, the real question mark is Spain. If any team can beat France right now, it’s Spain. They have a higher technical level and a unique culture of collective play that no other team possesses at this level. However, France is physically stronger," he concluded.