World Cup Hero
Predict the 2026 World Cup your way
Argentina and France are in different groups at the 2026 World Cup. A direct meeting can happen from the knockout stage onwards. On the FIFA ranking, Argentina are the favourite — a 1-place gap.
WK-finale 2022 in Lusail: Messi tegen Mbappé, 3-3, penalty's. Mogelijk de mooiste WK-finale ooit.
| Argentina 🇦🇷 | Metric | 🇫🇷 France |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | FIFA Ranking | #2 |
| Group J | Group | Group I |
| CONMEBOL | Confederation | UEFA |
| Lionel Scaloni | Head coach | Didier Deschamps |
| 19 | WC appearances | 16 |
| World champion (1978, 1986, 2022) | Best WC | World champion (1998, 2018) |
Reigning champions, world number one, with Messi on his farewell tour — it's hard to think of more reasons to label Argentina the top favourite. Behind Messi stands a team that wins without him too: Martínez intimidates keepers, Mac Allister and Enzo Fernández control any midfield, Álvarez and Almada find the goals. Group J with Algeria, Austria and Jordan is a winning formality. The question isn't whether Argentina reach the quarter-finals, but whether Scaloni keeps them fresh until the final. A title defence would place Messi alongside Pelé and above Maradona. A semi-final is the minimum; anything less is failure.
France do what France do: reach the last four or better every two years. Since 2018: runners-up, champions, runners-up, semi-finalist at the Euros — a tournament machine that rarely fails. Mbappé is in top form, Dembélé won the 2025 Ballon d'Or, Tchouaméni and Camavinga form the best box-to-box duo in the world. Deschamps' last World Cup as head coach — he wants to leave with gold. The danger zone is Group I: Senegal have Mané and Koulibaly, Norway have Haaland and Ødegaard. No formality. But in the knockouts: a second World Cup title in eight years is realistic.
Set your 10 sliders and decide which teams win according to your model — including this dream matchup.
Start predicting →Argentina and France are not in the same group. A meeting can only happen from the knockout stage (Round of 16 onwards).
On the FIFA world ranking, Argentina (#1) are favoured over France (#2). The gap is 1 ranking places.
Argentina: World champion (1978, 1986, 2022) (19 World Cup appearances). France: World champion (1998, 2018) (16 World Cup appearances).
Argentina are coached by Lionel Scaloni. France are coached by Didier Deschamps.
Argentina play in Group J. France play in Group I.
Last updated: 2026-06-07