In the 96 years of history of the World Cup, since its inception in 1930, only seven countries have the glory of having won it in its 22 editions.
The possibility of expanding this exclusive group increases in 2026 because not only have very strong teams qualified for the championship currently being held in Canada, the United States and Mexico, but also because of the new format, a greater number of participants and more games, than ever.
It is true that the main favorites to be crowned champions in North America are precisely six of those seven champions, because the four-time champion Italy was eliminated in the playoffs.
Faced with this situation, six world champion teams have the first option to add one more star to their showcase. They are the five-time champion Brazil, the four-time champion Germany, the three-time champion Argentina, the two-time champions France and Uruguay and the champions England and Spain.
Behind them, however, there are real great teams that can easily add their name to that exclusive club of seven.
We can mention the Portugal of Cristiano Ronaldo, the Belgium of the goalkeeper Thigaut Courtois, the Netherlands of Virgil van Dijk, the Norway of the gunner Erling Haaland and for the first time teams from Africa and Asia, which had never before been considered to be placed among the candidates for the crown, such as Morocco, Egypt, Senegal and Japan.
The 2026 World Cup is the first with the participation of 48 teams and 104 matches in three different countries. Not only will talent be needed to be champions, but also physical endurance, which the African teams have plenty of.
Unlike previous World Cups, in which the African and Asian teams played for the pleasure of competing, now with greater experience they also aspire for the biggest prize.
Many of these teams are made up of players who have developed in Europe and have the professionalism of the cracks emerged in the Old Continent. There we have, for example, the case of the Moroccan Achraf Hakimi, born in Madrid and is the figure of the North African team. Of the 26 members of the Moroccan squad, only five were born in that country.
We must not forget that in the last Cup, Morocco became the first African team to reach the semifinals in a World Cup, which means that the continent’s attack is a recent thing.
It should be noted that in the 1990 World Cup in Italy, Cameroon had raised the alarm about African power by becoming the first African country to reach the quarterfinals. It took a while to take the next step and this may be the opportunity they have been longing for.
Also in that list of evolution we cannot rule out the United States, which has developed its football impressively at all levels and this could be its moment.
It should be noted that the African and Asian teams have had a good start in the World Cup, while the South Americans have suffered a lot, including the powerful Brazil. That can give an idea of what may happen in the development of this Cup.
