I would like to thank all those who took the time to read my blogs where I review the groups of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. At first I didn’t think I would be able to review all twelve in time but I did it!
It doesn’t matter whether you read all of them or just one of them. Thank you for reading.
On this page, I have the links to my blogs as well as the competing teams of each group listed. Links are with the group names. Bolded are the nations I predict to qualify for the knockout stage:
Group A: Mexico, South Africa, South Korea and Czechia
Group B: Canada, Bosnia-Hercegovina, Qatar and Switzerland
With the World Cup about to start, one of the things I haven’t talked much about has been the controversies. Every World Cup gets them. Most of the time, the biggest controversies of a World Cup tournament happen on the playing field. This World Cup seems to have the most controversies before it even happening.
This is a controversy worth noting because two of the nations in this group are affected by all this. The biggest has to be the US Immigration Policies. Even in Trump’s first term while the United big won the right to host, Trump had a list of Muslim-majority nations where immigration was banned. FIFA warned Trump of the problems trying to ban coaches, players and fans from countries that qualify. At the time, Trump reminded FIFA that all eligible people would be able to enter the United States without discrimination. That claim has been seen with suspicion lately with Trump’s return to the Presidency and him instituting a travel ban to people of 39 countries. Some nations on that ban have qualified for the World Cup. Also adding to the concern is the recent over-implementation of ICE and loading police forces in cities. The White House has stated that the travel ban does have an exemption for athletes and coaches for sporting events. Whether the ban has fans exempt, only time will tell.
I’ll save talking about the other controversies for other blogs. In the meantime, here’s my look at World Cup Group G:
-Belgium (9): Usually the big success of The Red Devils is an on-again, off-again thing. They captured the World’s imagination when they finished third in 2018 but success would soon evade them. At the 2022 World Cup, they failed to advance past the Group Stage. At the 2024 Euro, they only got as far as the Round Of 16. It was evident the coaches relied too much on the players of the Golden Generation and wasn’t paying enough attention to the younger talent. Changes needed to be done.
Since January 2025, the head coach of Belgium’s team is Frenchman Rudi Garcia and the team’s coaching staff is a mix of French, Belgian and English. Most of the team from the legendary 2018 World Cup team have retired from the national team but legends like striker Romelu Lukaku, midfielders Kevin De Bruyne and Axel Witsel, and goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois are still active. Joining them are rising young talents like defender Zeno Debast, midfielder Amadou Onana and defender Arthur Theate. In the past twelve months, Belgium have not had a single defeat. They’ve had notable wins to Wales, Croatia, Tunisia and the United States and they’ve also had draws to Mexico and North Macedonia. This World Cup looks to be a chance for Belgium to redeem its reputation in the football world.
-Egypt (29): I know I mentioned Morocco to be the first African team when continental placements were introduced in 1970 but Egypt is the first ever African team to play in a World Cup. It was at the very second World Cup in 1934. Unfortunately this will only be their fourth World Cup. If there’s one plus thing for The Pharaohs, it’s that this is Egypt’s best era for football. The eight-year gap between the 2018 World Cup and this Cup is the shortest gap ever for the team. Having a top player like Mohamed Salah really helps the team.
The coaching staff is almost all Egyptian except for a Brazilian coach who’s a load trainer. Head coach Hossam Hassan was part of Egypt’s team that competed at the 1990 World Cup. Most players play for either European teams or for Egypt’s own Premier League. Top players include goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy, defender Ramy Rabia, midfielder Hamdy Fathy and striker Mohamed Salah. In the last twelve months, notable wins include against Russia, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria and the Ivory Coast. They’ve had notable draws against Burkina Faso, the UAE and Angola, and their four losses were to Jordan, Uzbekistan, Senegal and Brazil. Chances are at this World Cup, Egypt can take its football to new achievements.
-Iran (20): Right now is a tense time for Iran to play in the United States. A war just started in their nation and it has increased a lot of international tension. Recently, Donald Trump mentioned Iran should be replaced with Italy. Both nations were insulted. Especially since Team Melli have proven themselves both in the past and in the present. This will be their seventh World Cup: fourth consecutive. They’ve also finished runners-up at the last two Asian championships. The team has a lot to prove.
Iran’s coaching staff is mostly Iranian with some European coaches. Their head coach Amir Ghalenoei. Most of the players play for teams in Europe or with Iranian teams in the Persian Gulf Pro League. Top players include goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand, defender Ehsan Hajsafi, midfielder Alireza Jahanbakhsh who plays for Belgium’s Dender, and striker Mehdi Taremi who plays for Greece’s Olympiacos. In the past twelve months, they’ve had notable wins against Costa Rica, Tanzania, India and Mali. They’ve had notable draws to Uzbekistan and Cape Verde, and losses to Nigeria, Russia and Qatar. If all goes well for Iran both in terms of their play and barring political pressures, they could deliver their best ever performance here at United 2026!
–New Zealand (85): For the first time ever at this World Cup, one birth would go to a team from the OFC: teams representing Oceania. Not surprisingly, it went to the All Whites! Mind you New Zealand does have the talent to play well. Although they didn’t qualify for the knockout round at their last World Cup, they did prove they knew how to contend by drawing all their matches. Even against defending champions Italy. In recent years, New Zealand has been showing a resurgence of better play.
The coaching staff is mostly from New Zealand with coaches form England, Scotland and South Africa. Head coach Andrew Boyens was part of New Zealand’s World Cup team for 2010 and has coached the national team since 2018. Most of the players play for European teams or for the Australia/New Zealand mixed A-League. Top players include goalkeeper Max Crocombe who plays for England’s Millwall, defender Michael Boxall who plays for MLS’s Minnesota United, midfielder Elijah Just who plays for Scotland’s Motherwell, and striker and captain Chris Wood who plays for Nottingham Forest. Their international play in the last twelve months have been mostly losses but they had a notable draw against Norway and wins against Ivory Coast and Chile. At this World Cup, New Zealand could defy the critics and deliver spectacular play.
My Qualifier Predictions: Alright. Here is where I stop praising the teams and where I start cutting to the chase and picking the best of the bunch. I anticipate Belgium to top with Iran to be second. I think Egypt will be third but they won’t make the wildcard cut.
And there you go. That’s my look at Group G of the World Cup. I know people don’t like hearing about the controversies but one thing about a World Cup, the show must go on!
Interesting to note that the draw for the nations in each group took place just as three nations were yet to be decided! On April 1st, the draw for the groups had just as a European berth and two intercontinental berths were not yet decided! They all eventually be decided by the end of June. I state this here because the team of that undecided European berth is in this very group.
Group B is widely considered to be this Cup’s “Group Of Death.” All four are jam-packed with talent and are currently ranked in FIFA’s Top 20. In addition, some anticipate this group will have the most politically heated matches as Iran has strained relationships with the UK and the United States. It will all be determined in Qatar. So here’s the rundown:
GROUP B
-England (5): This is quite the time for the English national team. Ever since Gareth Southgate was made coach of the England national team after Euro 2016, the team has been playing like a team unit not seen for decades. At the last World Cup, they made it to the semifinals. At Euro 2020, they made it to the final for the first time ever! However the final exposed a common weakness England still has: penalty kicks!
The Three Lions lineup for the World Cup has the return of veterans Harry Kane, Jordan Henderson and Raheem Sterling. It includes young rising talents too like Bukayo Saka and Jude Bellingham. All but three players are Premier League players. Since Euro 2020, they’ve had a mixed bag of results. They’ve won against Albania, Switzerland and the Ivory Coast. They’ve drawn in both their games against Germany. They’ve also had a draw and a loss to Italy. They’ve also lost to Hungary twice. Qatar will put England again to the challenge.
-Iran (20): This is Iran’s sixth World Cup and they’re still seeking their first trip to the knockout round! Iran almost had the chance at the last World Cup (where they were also in Group B) but their results of a win, a draw and a loss couldn’t stack up against Spain and Portugal. Here in Qatar, you can bet Team Melli will do what they can to break new ground.
The team is coached by Portuguese coach Carlos Queiroz. He has coached the team to both the 2014 and 2018 World Cups. After the 2019 Asian Cup where Iran made the semifinals, the team went through two more European coaches before returning to Queiroz this September. Most of the team plays for clubs in the Persian Gulf Pro League. In the last year and a half, their wins have come against United Arab Emirates and Uruguay, they drew to Senegal and they’ve lost to South Korea and Algeria. Qatar just might be their best World Cup showing ever. They just have to make it happen.
-United States of America (16): The 20th Century had the US team looking like a joke in football. Then in the 21st Century, the US were showing how far they progressed by advancing to three knockout stages out of four World Cups. Then disaster struck before 2018 as they failed to qualify. Things changed for the US as they named Gregg Berhalter as their head coach and acquired former US team members Earnie Stewart as Sporting Director and Brian McBride as General Manager.
The squad for the World Cup has not officially been determined as of press time. The US team has a mix of players from the MLS and from various European Leagues. It’s highly likely the team will consist of their big names like DeAndre Yedlin, Kelly Acosta and Christian Pulisic. They’ve had recent notable wins against Mexico and Morocco, notable draws against Uruguay and Saudi Arabia, and losses to Costa Rica and Japan. 2022 looks to be the arena for redemption and a new chapter for the American team.
-Wales (19): Of all teams that are returning to the World Cup here in Qatar, none have had a longer wait than Wales. They only played in one previous World Cup back in 1958, where they made the quarterfinals. Since then, Wales have failed to qualify. It almost appeared Gareth Bale would be one of the best players ever never to compete in a World Cup. Then The Dragons qualified in the European playoffs of qualifying, won their semifinal against Austria and then won their final against Ukraine!
Wales is not a one-man team. Besides Bale, Wales also has star defender Chris Gunter and goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey. The squad mostly play in clubs with the Premier League and have been coached by Welshman Rob Page for two years. Their recent results put their status in question. Before qualifying, they’ve had wins against Belarus and Austria, and draws against Belgium and Czechia. Since qualifying, they had a draw and a loss against Belgium and additional losses to the Netherlands and Poland. It may sound tough, but all that will matter will be their play in Qatar.
My Prediction: It is a bit crazy having to make a prediction in what people call the “Group Of Death.” Nevertheless, I have a feeling that the qualifiers from this group will be England and the United States. Frankly any combination of teams would make sense at this point.
And there you go! My thoughts and predictions for Group B. Whatever the outcome is, I anticipate this will have the closest football of the whole tournament.
Jon The Blogcentric 