As the 2026 FIFA World Cup 2026 nears, the 48-nation bracket of teams has been set, and the betting favorites have begun to emerge. With the United States, Canada and Mexico hosting, the buzz is at an all-time high. Here at school, Cubs and teachers around Loyola are beginning to make their own predictions on how the tournament will shake out. The betting favorites on DraftKings Sportsbook are Spain at +600, with France following closely behind at +650. With standings set, powerhouse teams surfacing and rising excitement, the tournament is shaping up to be one of the most competitive and surprising of all time.
The United States playing at home means fan events are widespread across Los Angeles and the rest of the country. Here in LA, the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum is hosting a FIFA-sponsored fan festival from June 11-15, complete with interactive games, live music and of course, massive screens for you to watch and cheer on your national team. For Cubs and fans in other parts of the country, FIFA is also hosting World Cup experiences like this one. Areas like Boston, Houston, Dallas and New York City are all hosting free fan zones for you to enjoy new cultures and celebrations with other fans just like you.
If you are looking for the true World Cup matchday experience, SoFi Stadium, located in Inglewood, is hosting eight games, including the United States’ opening group-stage game on June 12. They will also host four other group stage games, two round of 32 games, and one quarterfinal game.
Despite the anticipation, the main question many have about the United States men’s national soccer team is: Are they even worth seeing? With the national team having so much hype under new head coach Mauricio Pochettino and with the new “golden generation of players” that includes the likes of Crystal Palace F.C.’s Chris Richards and the “LeBron James of Soccer” Christian Pulisic, they have underperformed over Pochettino’s tenure so far, only producing a 10-7-1 win-loss-draw record. As for how far the divisive team goes in this year’s competition, students are still split.
Tavish Thain ‘28 predicts a massive disappointment from this year’s team, saying, “I think the U.S. will go past the group stage, but will lose to the better team they end up playing in the round of 32.”
On the other side, another student, Noah Carey ‘28, has a more optimistic view on the team’s outlook, saying, “With the new manager and a good group of players, this team can make an amazing run up to the final eight.”
Daniel Covarrubias, a massive soccer fan and math teacher here at Loyola, also can’t wait to watch this year’s tournament and support his national team, Argentina. As it relates to the favorites, he agrees with the betting odds, saying, “Spain is without a doubt the favorite, but France too. Both teams are strong and have the talent to win it all.”
Both teams combine immense star power with veteran experience, which has led them to top both the pre-tournament rankings and many people’s predictions.
Another crucial aspect for a nation’s tournament success is the breakout of new young talent. In 2022, we saw key young players like Argentine Chelsea F.C. midfielder Enzo Fernández and Dutch Liverpool F.C. forward Cody Gakpo burst onto the scene, becoming key contributors for both club and country. This World Cup is the time for young stars like Chelsea’s Brazilian winger Estevao and Juventus F.C.’ Turkish midfielder Kenan Yildiz to become household names.
Covarrubias also sees a young star propelling himself further into the spotlight, saying, “Lamine Yamal is obviously the brightest young star to watch this World Cup and could cement his name with the legends if he is able to help Spain win it this year so early in his career.”
Another key, defining feature of the World Cup is the “dark horse” team. Each tournament gives rise to a new crop of unpredictable teams that outperform everyone’s expectations. Despite having dropped a handful of places in the FIFA World Rankings, 2022 dark horses Croatia and Morocco look to repeat their third and fourth-place finishes, respectively. Covarrubias agrees, saying, “The Moroccan or Croatian National Teams would have to be my dark horses. They are disciplined, efficient, and hard teams to beat.”
As the anticipation around campus and the world for the World Cup to kick off grows, one thing is certain: anything can happen. Spain and France lead the pack now, but every nation can deliver a shock on the world’s biggest stage. With the new, expanded format, the 2026 World Cup is primed to deliver more action, more breakout players, and more surprises than ever before.
