2026 World Cup: 10 things to look out for in the group stage

1. Lionel Messi & Cristiano Ronaldo playing at their sixth World Cups

The two most iconic names in modern football will both be appearing at their sixth World Cups this summer - a new record - and with it probably being their last, emotions will be running high around Argentina and Portugal.

Countless records are there to be broken at the 2026 World Cup, from Messi chasing down Miroslav Klose's goalscoring tally, to Ronaldo potentially becoming the oldest man ever to appear in a World Cup final, but simply playing at six tournaments really is something to behold in itself - with such extreme longevity and consistency so hard to come by.

Lifting the trophy in 2022 was a crowning moment for Lionel Messi, and Ronaldo will be desperate to follow suit, exiting football on the highest of highs. Even if he scores the two goals needed to become Portugal's outright top goalscorer at World Cups this summer - which he is likely to do - another trophyless tournament will be a bitter disappointment for the 41-year-old.

2. One of the host nations crumbling under the pressure

Not only is this the first World Cup to feature 48 teams, but this summer also sees the tournament have three host nations for the very first time, with games being played in USA, Canada, and Mexico - but the added pressure of playing at home may well prove too much for some.

All three sides have been drawn reasonably kind groups, with USA (Group D) and Mexico (Group A) both being tipped to qualify for the round of 32 as group winners, and as Canada enter as second-favourites in Group B, the stage is set for every host nation to make their mark - which is exactly why it could all go wrong.

Teams like Turkey, Switzerland, and South Korea all have a very realistic chance of hurting the hosts this summer, and with the games coming so quickly, one defeat really could knock all the wind out of a nation's sails. They may be better accustomed to the temperatures, but in front of expectant crowds, the pressure and intensity could easily become too much for one of our hosts.

3. Erling Haaland making his World Cup debut

One of the players making their World Cup debuts this summer will be Erling Haaland, who just picked up his third Premier League Golden Boot after another prolific season for Manchester City - and lining up against Iraq in Norway's opening game, the big striker could make a blistering start to his World Cup career.

With 55 goals in just 49 games, Haaland is already Norway's all-time leading goalscorer at the age of just 25, and against the weakest nation in Group I, this has the potential to be one of the most bruising results of the summer - especially with Haaland needing just three goals to become Norway's leading scorer at World Cups.

Twelve goals in his last six internationals says it all, so as the big Norwegian makes his World Cup bow, don't be surprised to see him immediately make his way to the top of the Golden Boot standings.

4. England finally enjoying the perfect group stage

The 2026 World Cup has the potential to be one of England's best ever, with a ludicrously strong squad, a proven manager, and a relatively kind pathway through to the final - but the tone will be set by their Group L matches, where Thomas Tuchel's team will be looking to achieve something that no England side has managed for 44 years.

At the 1982 World Cup, England won all three of their group-stage matches for the first and only time, and arriving in North America as one of the outright favourites this year, this feels like an excellent chance for the Three Lions to repeat that feat - with Croatia, Ghana, and Panama standing in their way.

The attacking threat of players like Harry Kane and Bukayo Saka should prove far too strong for England's Group L opponents, so with real hopes of going all the way this summer, the Three Lions could well turn it on in the opening few weeks.

5. VAR playing its part

Every fan has got used to VAR being a staple of a game these days, and love it or loathe it, it's bound to play a huge role at the 2026 World Cup - but it's going to be slightly different in North America, with some changes to the way it will be used at various points in the game.

VAR is always operated differently on the international stage anyway, but at the World Cup, we will see the Video Assistant Referee check corners and second yellow cards - two things that are not under the remit of VAR in the Premier League. It's also thought that new countdowns will be used for goal kicks, throw-ins, and substitutions in an attempt to combat time wasting.

Despite many people thinking VAR needs to take a step back, it seems to actually be getting more involved, so expect a group-stage where, unfortunately, a lot of the discourse will once again be dominated by the technology.

6. A resilient underdog causing an upset

Nothing in football is ever certain, so just as Saudi Arabia beat 2022 champions Argentina in their opener, or as Senegal bested France in 2002, there are plenty of underdogs looking to make their mark at the 2026 World Cup.

Whether it's Uzbekistan taking points off Portugal, Scotland getting the better of Brazil, or even World Cup debutants Curacao inflicting an embarrassing defeat on Germany, the World Cup is always good for an upset or two - and with a bit of fortune, anything really can happen.

As teams get used to the heat of North America, and managers tweak their teams to see what's working best, the door can open for an underdog to pounce - especially in an opening game - so a notable upset is certainly something to look out for in the groups this year.

7. Lamine Yamal staking his claim for the Ballon d'Or

Still only 18-years-old, Lamine Yamal has already led Spain to one major trophy in the form of Euro 2024, and having come runner-up to Ousmane Dembele in 2025's Ballon d'Or standings, another dazzling performance across the World Cup could be enough to see him stake his claim for the ultimate individual award in 2026.

The teenager is undoubtedly one of the most exciting talents on the planet, and having already delivered so many memorable moments on the biggest stage, the World Cup is simply another tournament that will inevitably be set alight by the Spanish superstar - who enters as joint-favourite to win this year's Golden Ball.

The main man for his nation this summer, Yamal will be ready to show his class straight from the off in Group H, with Luis de la Fuente's side clear favourites to top the group - and as the frontrunners to win the 2026 World Cup, a Spain triumph could well be the accolade that earns Yamal a first Ballon d'Or (probably of many).

8. Carlo Ancelotti leading Brazil on the world stage

The 2026 World Cup will see iconic manager Carlo Ancelotti lead Brazil at a major tournament for the very first time, looking to add an international trophy to his glittering honours list - which includes a staggering five Champions Leagues.

A World Cup runner-up as a player with Italy in 1990, Ancelotti has enjoyed success wherever he's been as a coach, and is tasked with winning Brazil their first World Cup since 2002 - but with the Selecao not even reaching a final since then, there's plenty of work for the 66-year-old to do.

His squad selection has already raised some eyebrows, with Chelsea's Joao Pedro a surprising omission, but the inclusion of Neymar will have given the whole country a huge boost ahead of the tournament - and with such experience at the helm, it's little wonder Brazil are so fancied this summer.

9. Teams adapting to the extreme heat

As we found with last year's Club World Cup, American summers really do bring extreme temperatures into play, so adjusting to the heat will be key for any side to be successful at the 2026 World Cup.

Water breaks will be utilised, essentially splitting the game into four quarters, but teams may well need to adapt their style of play to cope with the weather, with possession-based football surely proving useful. Teams that dominate the ball can control the tempo of a game, conserving their energy more effectively and ultimately managing the conditions better - but that's much easier said than done.

Teams like Norway, England, and Scotland could struggle to adapt to the heat quickly, leaving the door open for nations more familiar with the conditions to make their move - with sides including Senegal, Ghana, and Qatar potentially finding that their hotter climates gain them a small advantage.

10. Goals, goals, and more goals

The 10th and final thing that we think you should look out for in the groups at this summer's World Cup is simply goals, with more teams, more matches, and more opportunities for the world's greatest players to have their say in the final third.

With so many prolific strikers appearing at the tournament, from world-beating goalscorers like Harry Kane and Erling Haaland to true international hitmen like Neymar and Romelu Lukaku, we're anticipating some proper goal-fests throughout the group stage - especially with so many extreme mismatches, like Spain vs Cape Verde, or Brazil vs Haiti.

There's plenty to be excited about ahead of the World Cup, and with goalscoring records sure to be broken, the prospect of so many strikes simply adds to the anticipation.

That concludes our take on 10 things to look out for in the groups this summer. Ladbrokes will be producing content all throughout the 2026 World Cup, which can all be found in our dedicated World Cup content hub, so you'll never have to miss a thing. From a full fixture schedule and detailed betting guide to a comprehensive tournament preview and a look at England's potential route to the final, we really do cover all bases.

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