The most hyped World Cup in history ended in the old Group of Death. North America will not accept the claim of illness, which in historical versions has led to strong emotions and the elimination of a giant from the group stage. The most interesting thing that chance has brought into the Washington bowls are the small misfortunes of Brazil in the third group, France in the ninth group, and Portugal in the tenth group. It would be a disastrous coincidence not to see them advance to the last 16. But neither candidate will have difficulty securing first place in his group. Small details: Bullet helps avoid hybridization with other seeds.
Ancelotti, Deschamps and Roberto Martinez would not agree with this opinion. But history bears witness that the first World Cup, which includes 48 teams, produces the best group stages. It is the pre-thought-out scheme through generous regulation by stretching the rubber band. FIFA imposes the seeding of the top two teams from each of the 12 groups in addition to the eight best third teams, a point that turns the first 17 days of competition – from 11 to 27 June 2026 – into a tourist event rather than a competitive one. The exception consists of groups C, I, and K.
Brazil, who qualified in fifth place in the South American qualifiers, their worst ever result in a Brazilian qualifier, will meet Morocco, Scotland and Haiti in Group C. Aside from Haiti, a failed state pick, Morocco and Scotland offer two strong teams, well organized and served by players capable of opening a gap to anyone in scenarios where they go with more adrenaline than pressure. The dugout built by Walid Regragui knocked Spain and Portugal out of the last World Cup. The same energy for Scotland, mustered by excellent footballers like Christie, McGinn and McTominay. If Brazil do not show more than they did in the qualifying rounds, and if they continue to fail to realize the enormous potential of their emerging talents – Guimarães, Estévão, João Pedro, Martinelli – difficult evenings are guaranteed.
Until the qualifiers determine whether Bolivia, Suriname or Iraq will join, France will also face two difficult teams in Group A. The first is Norway, the ball that no seed wanted out of the pot. Led by the duo of Haaland and Odegaard, Norway have just qualified with eight wins from eight and 37 goals for the City striker. Senegal is no less competitive. With any luck, the current African champions will go to North America with Sadio Mane – injured in Qatar – and a group of great footballers, most of whom have experience in the English Premier League. And if precedents are in play, France does not forget the greatest football tragedy of the century: France 0, Senegal 1, in their first World Cup appearance in 2002.
Portugal in Group K may also face some setbacks. No one doubts that he will be sixteen. Only Spain can bring together talents like Vitinha, Neves, Nuno Mendes, Bernardo Silva and Pedro Neto. With Uzbekistan’s permission, the question is whether the team can overcome Colombia, Hurricane Luis Diaz, and the next European qualifier. If Italy do not miss a third successive World Cup, if they win in March over Northern Ireland and then win over Wales/Bosnia, it could cause them more problems than expected in the group stage and with less competitive intensity than they remember.