Hot Press FIFA World Cup 206 Predictions Part 1: Groups A - D

GROUP A

Teams: Mexico, South Korea, Czechia, South Africa

What might have been! Had Ireland overcome Czechia and subsequently Denmark in the World Cup play-offs, the Boys in Green would be competing in this very group, with the final game being a glamour tie against co-hosts Mexico in the Estadio Azteca, one of the most iconic and prestigious venues in world football.

Mexico look well-placed to top the group, with their home advantage supplemented by back-to-back Concacaf Gold Cup wins. Giving them a run for their money will be South Korea, who boast a very strong spine based around Bayern Munich’s Kim Min-jae, PSG’s Lee Kang-in, and captain and ex-Spurs superstar Son Heung-min, these days based at Los Angeles FC.

The going could be tougher both for Czechia and South Africa – managed by Mick McCarthy lookalike Hugo Broos – who make their first appearance since hosting the 2010 edition.

Winners: Mexico

 

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GROUP B

Teams: Canada, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Qatar, Switzerland

An interesting group where, in the absence of a traditional superpower, all four sides will fancy their chances of advancing. On paper, Canada look to have have a decent chance of going on a run in the tournament, being co-hosts and also boasting real quality in the likes of Bayern Munich star Alphonso Davies and Juventus striker Jonathan David.

Nonetheless, the Canadians finished the 2022 World Cup rooted to the bottom of their group table, and haven’t made much impact on recent Gold Cups either. Group rivals Switzerland look a more dependable bet to finish top, with their solid-if-unspectacular squad still captained by ex-Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka.

Duking it out for third place will likely be reigning Asian Cup champions Qatar and Bosnia, the latter led by 40-year-old star striker Edin Dzeko.

Winners: Switzerland

 

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Group C

Teams: Brazil, Morocco, Haiti, Scotland

In terms of the World Cup, there is a sense Brazilian football has never quite recovered from the psychological damage incurred at the 2014 tournament, when eventual champions Germany inflicted an unmerciful 7-1 hammering on home soil. The Selecao sustained another blow in 2026 qualifying, losing a first ever home qualifier courtesy of a 1-0 reversal to Argentina at the Maracana.

Nonetheless, the boys from Brazil will still be among the leading contenders this time out, having made the astute choice of Carlos Ancelotti to occupy the managerial hot-seat. While Neymar is long past his best, the team still boast world class talent in both defence (Gabriel, Marquinhos) and attack (Vinicius Jr, Raphinha).

The side are less stacked in midfield, where a lot will depend on the form of Newcastle’s Bruno Guimaraes. Having become the first ever African semi-finalists last time out, Morocco will harbour hopes of going similarly deep this summer, with players such as Achraf Hakimi, Noussair Mazraoui and Brahim Diaz.

Haiti’s extraordinary journey to only a second ever qualification is detailed elsewhere in these pages, while Scotland will resume their perennial quest to make it past the group stages, or at a minimum, generate an iconic moment to rank alongside Archie Gemmell’s 1978 wonder-goal against the Netherlands, as so poetically recalled by Mark Renton in Trainspotting.

Winners: Brazil

 

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GROUP D

Teams: USA, Paraguay, Australia, Turkey

Top spot in Group D looks to be a straightforward tussle between the US and Turkey, the former having pulled off a coup in securing the managerial services of ex-Spurs, PSG and Chelsea man Mauricio Pochettino. With home advantage and serious quality in the likes of Juventus midfielder Weston McKennie and AC Milan forward Christian Pulisic (formerly of Chelsea), the US can harbour legitimate hopes of going on a proper run.

There will be similar optimism in Turkey, who last year were promoted to League A of the Nations League for the first time, and who boast a very strong spine in the likes of captain and midfielder, Hakan Calhanoglu of Inter Milan, and star young striker, Arda Guler of Real Madrid.

Appearing for the first time since 2010, Paraguay will have their work cut out to make any impact, as will Australia, despite a more-than-creditable 2022 run, when the Socceroos qualified for the knockout stages, and caused one or two nervy moments for eventual winners Argentina in the Round of 16.

Winners: USA

 

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