World Cup Hero
Predict the 2026 World Cup your way
Belgium 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, France are the favourite — a 6-place gap.
Halve finale WK 2018 (Frankrijk won 1-0). Diepgewortelde Benelux/Franse rivaliteit.
| Belgium 🇧🇪 | Metric | 🇫🇷 France |
|---|---|---|
| #8 | FIFA Ranking | #2 |
| Group G | Group | Group I |
| UEFA | Confederation | UEFA |
| Rudi Garcia | Head coach | Didier Deschamps |
| 14 | WC appearances | 16 |
| Third place (2018) | Best WC | World champion (1998, 2018) |
The Golden Generation celebrates its farewell tour. Hazard has retired, Lukaku is past his peak, and De Bruyne now plays at Napoli — no longer at City. At the 2022 World Cup Belgium were already eliminated in the group stage. But give up? Belgium doesn't do that. Doku is the new Hazard, Courtois is still a top-3 goalkeeper, and on a good day De Bruyne decides any match with a single pass. Under Rudi Garcia, the search is on for a new identity — less possession, more counter. Group G with Egypt and Iran is winnable. Quarter-final is a fair ceiling. Semi-final only if De Bruyne is magical. After that, it's really over — and Belgian football begins a new chapter.
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 →Belgium 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, France (#2) are favoured over Belgium (#8). The gap is 6 ranking places.
Belgium: Third place (2018) (14 World Cup appearances). France: World champion (1998, 2018) (16 World Cup appearances).
Belgium are coached by Rudi Garcia. France are coached by Didier Deschamps.
Belgium play in Group G. France play in Group I.
Last updated: 2026-06-07