World Cup Hero
Predict the 2026 World Cup your way
England 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 2-place gap.
Kwartfinale WK 2022 (Mbappé tegen Kane). De oudste politieke rivaliteit in voetbal vertaald.
| England 🏴 | Metric | 🇫🇷 France |
|---|---|---|
| #4 | FIFA Ranking | #2 |
| Group L | Group | Group I |
| UEFA | Confederation | UEFA |
| Thomas Tuchel | Head coach | Didier Deschamps |
| 17 | WC appearances | 16 |
| World champion (1966) | Best WC | World champion (1998, 2018) |
England have reached at least the semi-final of every major tournament since 2018 — and missed out on the trophy every time. This is the Bellingham, Foden, Saka and Kane generation, and it's literally now or never. Tuchel was appointed in 2024 to deliver the one thing Southgate couldn't: a trophy. Tuchel won the Champions League with Chelsea and knows tournament football. Group L with Croatia looks tough on paper, but England are enough of a favourite to win it. Strength: midfield depth. Weakness: still the mental block on penalties. It would be poetic if England became world champions again 60 years after 1966 — but English poetry rarely ends well.
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 →England 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 England (#4). The gap is 2 ranking places.
England: World champion (1966) (17 World Cup appearances). France: World champion (1998, 2018) (16 World Cup appearances).
England are coached by Thomas Tuchel. France are coached by Didier Deschamps.
England play in Group L. France play in Group I.
Last updated: 2026-06-07