Thierry Henry believes that the 2026 World Cup is shaping up to be one of the most unpredictable and open editions in recent international football history. He argues that the gap between traditionally dominant nations and several steadily improving teams is narrowing, making any prediction about the final winner particularly complex.
The former French international first highlights the teams usually expected to perform at the highest level. He specifically mentions Argentina, the reigning world champions, reminding everyone of their status and experience in major competitions. Portugal is also noted as a serious contender, especially due to the quality of their midfield and the presence of offensive players who can make a difference at any moment. Spain, recently crowned European champions, is another team he considers particularly competitive. Finally, he naturally brings up the French team, still seen as a benchmark on the international stage due to the depth of their squad and their experience in big tournaments.
However, Thierry Henry insists that the usual hierarchy could be challenged by several outsiders capable of pulling off surprises. He believes that some teams, often overlooked among the favorites, now have solid arguments to compete with the best nations in the world. In this category, he particularly points to England, as well as teams like Norway, Senegal, and Morocco.
According to him, these teams have different but complementary profiles, combining individual talent, collective organization, and recent progress on the international stage. He highlights Norway’s impressive performances during the qualifiers, as well as Senegal’s rise, which he has been following for several years and considers a constantly evolving team.
In his analysis, he warns against any form of underestimation, reminding everyone that major international competitions regularly deliver surprises, often from teams considered outsiders before the tournament kicks off. He believes that the current density of world football makes the competition even more unpredictable than before, with a wider range of nations capable of achieving remarkable performances.
Thierry Henry concludes with a very open view of the competition, stating that no scenario can be ruled out. He emphasizes that the 2026 World Cup could be marked by the emergence of an unexpected team capable of shaking up the established order and overcoming the traditional favorites.
He notably declares:
“I think that more than ever, there are quite a few this year. Many more than in previous years. We really don’t realize this density. Argentina are the defending champions, so they must be respected. Portugal has an insane midfield, and they still have the monster up front (Cristiano Ronaldo). Then, watch out for Spain, the European champions. There’s us (the French team),” says the former Arsenal player just hours before the World Cup kickoff scheduled for today.
He also adds:
“Are we sleeping on England? Are we sleeping on Norway and Senegal? Are we sleeping on Morocco? Be careful, there’s always a team that will surprise us, but we never know which one! Will Brazil finally wake up? The list is very long! I’ve always said, and I’ve been talking about it for over a year and a half, Norway! Did you see their qualifiers? They’re impressive. And I was also talking about Senegal before the Africa Cup!”
