Scaloni Names 10 Countries Capable of Winning 2026 World Cup

Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni has outlined his expectations ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, naming a wide pool of nations he believes are strong contenders for the trophy.

The reigning world champions will head into the tournament as one of the favourites, with their title defence set to begin on June 16.

However, Scaloni stressed that the competition will be highly open, with several top teams capable of going all the way.

Speaking in an interview with Diario Ole as reported by MARCA, the Argentina coach listed countries he considers serious challengers. Among them are Spain, France, England, Brazil, Portugal, Uruguay, Colombia, Croatia, Morocco, and his own side, Argentina.

Scaloni admitted that the number of strong teams makes it difficult to narrow down a clear favourite, suggesting that at least ten to twelve nations have realistic chances of reaching the final stages of the tournament.

He praised the competitive balance in international football, noting that modern World Cups are increasingly unpredictable due to the quality spread across different continents.

According to him, traditional football powerhouses remain strong, but emerging teams have also closed the gap significantly.

Spain and France were highlighted as major threats, while Brazil, England, and Portugal were also included among the elite contenders.

Scaloni also gave recognition to Uruguay, Colombia, Croatia, and Morocco, pointing to their consistency and ability to compete at the highest level.

Morocco’s inclusion reflects their growing reputation after their historic semi-final run at the 2022 World Cup, while Croatia continue to earn respect following their strong performances in recent tournaments.

Scaloni’s comments underline the depth of quality expected at the 2026 edition, which will feature an expanded format and a wider pool of competitive teams.

As Argentina prepare to defend their title, the coach believes the tournament will be one of the most competitive in history, with no clear runaway favourite and several nations capable of lifting the trophy if they perform at their best.