Preview: Who will make their mark at World Cup 2026

In the second part of John Roycroft's preview of the World Cup groups, he looks at groups G to L and who will likely qualify and which players will leave their mark.  

Colombia fans outside the New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, commonly known as the MetLife Stadium. Picture: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire

Last week, we previewed the first six groups (A to F) of the World Cup that finally kicked-off last night with a repeat of the 2010 World Cup opener as current co-host Mexico faced the 2010 hosts South Africa.

Again, we will look at the sides in each group to guess the teams that we think will advance, what will be the key match and who might star for each country. Groups G to L may be considered the tougher half of the groups as they contain tournament favourites France, reigning world champions Argentina and regular top finishers Spain. As well as many people’s dark horses, Portugal and England.

As we said before, two from each group qualify for the next round along with the eight next best group finishers 

Group G: Belgium, Egypt, Iran, New Zealand.

Belgium regularly fail live up to expectations once they show up at a tournament. But it is hard to see them fail to top this group. Second should be an interesting battle between Iran and Egypt as we see if the constraints put on the Iran side by the US government affects their performance, against a side boasting Mo Salah who will look to depart his last  World Cup on a high.

Egypt's  Mohamed Salah vies for the ball with Cape Verde's forward Joao Paulo Fernandes back in  2024. Picture: Khaled DESOUKI / AFP

Match of the group: Belgium v Egypt.

Key players: Jeremy Doku, Mohamed Salah, Mehdi Taremi, Chris Wood.

Two to advance: Belgium and Egypt.

Third place: Iran.

Group H: Spain, Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay.

It would be a huge surprise for Spain not to top this one, with second being a scrap between Uruguay and Saudi Arabia. We will give the nod to the former world champions from South America even though the Saudis have shown good form in recent years not least when beating Argentina in the last World Cup.

Match of the group: Spain v Uruguay.

Key players: Lamine Yamal, Dailon Livramento, Salem Al-Dawsari, Fredrico Valverde.

Two to advance: Spain and Uruguay.

Third place: Saudi Arabia.

Lamine Yamal of Spain looks on prior to the international friendly match between Spain and Iraq at Riazor Stadium. Picture:  Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images

Group I: France, Senegal, Iraq, Norway France will obviously be the favourite to advance here. However, they will remember how Senegal knocked them out at the group stage the last time they met in the World Cup back in the 2002 finals in Korea and Japan. Senegal, the real African ‘champions’, will be a genuine handful, while an Erling Haaland led Norway can beat either of the leading sides on their day. Real hard one to call.

Match of the group: France v Senegal.

Key players: Kylian Mbappe, Idrissa Gueye, Ali Al-Hamadi, Erling Haaland.

Two to advance: France, Senegal.

Third place: Norway.

France's forward Kylian Mbappe at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris. Picture: FRANCK FIFE / AFP

Group J: Argentina, Algeria, Austria, Jordan.

The A teams meet in this group (pity Australia couldn't get into it) but there is little fear that the reigning champions will not advance from this with ease. More at stake will be who finishes second with the Central European side facing Algeria for the first time in a World Cup since the controversial 1982 World Cup and the ‘Disgrace Gijon’ when West Germany and Austria conspired to sort out the result of their game at the expense of Algeria. Resulting in all subsequent final group games and qualifiers being played at the same time ever since.

Match of the group: Austria v Algeria.

Key players: Lionel Messi, Riyad Mahrez, Marcel Sabitzer, Musa Al-Taamari.

Two to advance: Argentina and Algeria.

Third place: Austria.

Manchester City's Riyad Mahrez during the Premier League match at Carrow Road in  2022. Picture: Joe Giddens/PA Wire

Group K: Portugal, DR Congo, Uzbekistan, Colombia.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s last chance to lead Portugal to a World Cup will not be held up too much by this group. While the Colombians, containing a core of excellent players such as James Rodriguez and Luis Diaz, should be way too good for the Uzbeks.

Match of the group: Portugal v Columbia.

Key players: Cristiano Ronaldo, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Abdukodir Khusanov, Luis Diaz.

Two to advance: Portugal and Columbia.

Third place: Uzbekistan.

Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo during the FIFA World Cup European Qualifying match against Ireland in 2025.

Group L: England, Croatia, Ghana, Panama.

Again we wonder whether England can translate dominant qualification for into tournament success. The aura coming out of their camp is quiet confidence which is significantly contrary to the usual in your face ‘it’s Coming Home’ vibe.

Croatia’s remarkable exploits at the last two World Cups make them a genuine threat, but they are currently navigating a generational transition that may work in the Three Lions’ favour.

Match of the group: England v Croatia.

Key players: Harry Kane, Luka Modric, Antoine Semenyo, Adalberto Carrasquilla.

Two to advance: England and Croatia.

Third place: Ghana.

So that’s it. The groups as they are ahead of the festival of football. Let’s hope the combination of extra matches, Fifa, and the Orange One will not mess it up too much.

Finally, my selection on who wins it: France are strong favourites but making a third final in a row is a big ask. Argentina are not the package they were four years ago, and the hype on Spain may be premature. I’m going for a dark horse: The Netherlands.