Argentina head into the 2026 FIFA World Cup as defending champions and one of the favourites to lift the trophy again. Since winning the World Cup in Qatar in 2022, Lionel Scaloni’s side have continued to impress, winning the Copa América and finishing strongly in South American qualifying.

However, despite their success, I do not believe Argentina will win the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The biggest reason is simple: Lionel Messi is no longer the player he was four years ago.

In Qatar 2022, Messi produced one of the greatest World Cup performances in football history. He was the heart of Argentina’s attack, scoring crucial goals, creating chances and inspiring his teammates in difficult moments. Whenever Argentina needed something special, Messi delivered.

But football does not stand still. Messi is now older and no longer plays at the highest level of club football. Since moving to Major League Soccer in the United States, he has continued to produce impressive statistics, but the intensity and quality of MLS cannot be compared to Europe’s top leagues. Week after week, he is no longer facing the same level of opposition that he did during his time at Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain or even during the 2022 World Cup cycle.

As a result, expecting Messi to dominate matches against the world’s best national teams in 2026 may be unrealistic. Age catches up with every player, no matter how great they are.

Take it or leave it, without a fit and magical Messi, Argentina are not the same team. In my view, they become a very good side rather than an unbeatable one. They have talented players across the pitch, but they do not possess another footballer capable of changing the course of a World Cup match in the way Messi did in Qatar.

Some will point to Argentina’s victories over strong teams without Messi, including their impressive win over Brazil during qualifying. While those results show that the squad has depth and quality, tournament football is different. World Cups are often decided by moments of genius. In 2022, Messi provided those moments repeatedly.

Another concern is that Argentina have not faced enough elite opposition outside South America during this World Cup cycle. Regular matches against weaker nations do not always reveal a team’s weaknesses. The World Cup is a completely different challenge, where every mistake is punished by world-class opponents.

There are also fitness concerns surrounding some key members of the squad. Several experienced players have battled injuries in recent months. A long tournament demands physical freshness, and Argentina cannot afford to lose important players at critical stages.

None of this means Argentina will have a poor tournament. They have an excellent coach in Lionel Scaloni, a winning mentality and one of the strongest squads in international football. Reaching the quarter-finals or even the semi-finals would not be a surprise.

However, winning the World Cup requires more than quality. It requires exceptional players performing at their absolute peak. In 2022, Argentina had that advantage because Messi was still capable of producing magic whenever it was needed.

In 2026, I am not convinced he can do it consistently against the world’s best teams. And without a Messi operating at his 2022 level, Argentina look less like champions and more like a team capable of reaching the quarter-finals before being stopped by one of the tournament’s other heavyweights.

That is why I do not think Argentina will win the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Group H appears to revolve around Spain and Uruguay, two nations with genuine ambitions of making a deep run at the FIFA World Cup 2026. Spain arrive as one of the tournament favourites after their recent dominance in European football, while Marcelo Bielsa’s Uruguay continue to develop into one of South America’s most dangerous sides.

Saudi Arabia return for another World Cup campaign hoping to recreate some of the magic that saw them stun Argentina in 2022, while Cape Verde make history with their first-ever appearance on football’s biggest stage. Although Spain and Uruguay enter as favourites, neither side can afford complacency in a group packed with motivation and ambition.

FIFA WC 2026 Group H: Teams

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  Cape Verde
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  Saudi Arabia
• 
  Spain
• 
  Uruguay

FIFA WC 2026 Group H: Team analysis

Cape Verde

Cape Verde’s qualification for the World Cup ranks among the greatest achievements in the nation’s sporting history. The island nation becomes one of the smallest countries ever to reach football’s biggest tournament and arrives determined to prove it belongs on this stage.

Coach Bubista has assembled a squad built on discipline, organisation and experience. Veteran captain Ryan Mendes remains the team’s inspirational figure, while Roberto Lopes, Logan Costa and Jamiro Monteiro provide a strong backbone.

Cape Verde may be making its World Cup debut, but it reached the tournament by overcoming strong opposition and will relish the underdog role throughout the group stage.

Cape Verde’s full squad for the FIFA WC 2026: Vozinha, Stopira, Diney, Roberto Lopes, Logan Costa, Kevin Pina, Jovane Cabral, Joao Paulo, Gilson Benchimol, Jamiro Monteiro, Garry Rodrigues, Marcio Rosa, Sidny Lopes Cabral, Deroy Duarte, Laros Duarte, Yannick Semedo, Willy Semedo, Telmo Arcanjo, Dailon Livramento, Ryan Mendes, Nuno da Costa, Steven Moreira, CJ dos Santos, Wagner Pina, Kelvin Pires, Helio Varela.

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia continue to establish themselves as regular World Cup participants and enter the tournament carrying confidence from recent international successes. Their famous victory over eventual champions Argentina at Qatar 2022 remains one of the greatest upsets in World Cup history.

Much of Saudi Arabia’s hopes rest on captain Salem Al-Dawsari, whose creativity and ability to produce moments of brilliance have made him one of Asia’s leading players. With most of the squad playing together domestically, cohesion and understanding remain major strengths.

The Green Falcons have enough experience to challenge for qualification and will view matches against Cape Verde and Uruguay as key opportunities to collect valuable points.

Spain

Spain arrive in North America as one of the favourites to lift the trophy. Luis de la Fuente has built on the success of Spain’s Euro 2024 triumph and transformed La Roja into one of the most consistent teams in world football.

The squad is packed with technical quality, led by Rodri, Pedri, Fabian Ruiz and Lamine Yamal. At just 18 years old, Yamal is already regarded as one of the best players in the world and is expected to be Spain’s primary attacking threat.

Spain’s lengthy unbeaten run and dominance during qualification underline why they are viewed as serious title contenders. The challenge will be translating that form into a first World Cup semi-final appearance since their triumphant campaign in 2010.

Spain’s full squad for FIFA WC 2026: David Raya, Marc Pubill, Alex Grimaldo, Eric Garcia, Marcos Llorente, Mikel Merino, Ferran Torres, Fabian Ruiz, Gavi, Dani Olmo, Yeremy Pino, Pedro Porro, Joan Garcia, Aymeric Laporte, Alex Baena, Rodri, Nico Williams, Martin Zubimendi, Lamine Yamal, Pedri, Mikel Oyarzabal, Pau Cubarsi, Unai Simon, Marc Cucurella, Victor Munoz, Borja Iglesias.

Uruguay

Uruguay enter the tournament believing they can challenge the world’s best. Marcelo Bielsa has moulded La Celeste into an energetic, aggressive side capable of troubling any opponent.

Captain Federico Valverde is the driving force behind the team. The Real Madrid midfielder is entering his prime years and has developed into one of the world’s premier all-round midfielders. Around him are experienced internationals including Darwin Nunez, Ronald Araujo, Rodrigo Bentancur and Jose Gimenez.

Uruguay impressed throughout qualification, recording notable victories against both Brazil and Argentina. Their likely showdown with Spain in the final round of group matches could determine who finishes top.

Uruguay’s full squad for the FIFA WC 2026: Sergio Rochet, Jose Gimenez, Sebastian Caceres, Ronald Araujo, Manuel Ugarte, Rodrigo Bentancur, Nicolas de la Cruz, Federico Valverde, Darwin Nunez, Giorgian de Arrascaeta, Facundo Pellistri, Santiago Mele, Guillermo Varela, Agustin Canobbio, Emiliano Martinez, Mathias Olivera, Matias Vina, Brian Rodriguez, Rodrigo Aguirre, Maximiliano Araujo, Federico Vinas, Joaquin Piquerez, Fernando Muslera, Santiago Bueno, Juan Manuel Sanabria, Rodrigo Zalazar.

FIFA WC 2026 Group H: Players to watch out for

Cape Verde- Ryan Mendes

The captain, record appearance-holder and leading scorer remains the face of Cape Verdean football. His experience will be invaluable during the nation’s first World Cup campaign.

Saudi Arabia- Salem Al-Dawsari

Saudi Arabia’s talisman continues to be their most dangerous attacking player. His ability to decide matches with moments of individual brilliance makes him the key man.

Spain- Lamine Yamal

The Barcelona superstar enters the tournament carrying enormous expectations. His creativity, dribbling and composure make him one of the most exciting players at the World Cup.

Uruguay- Federico Valverde

Uruguay’s captain and midfield leader is entering the tournament at the peak of his powers. Everything in Bielsa’s system revolves around his influence.

FIFA WC 2026 Group H: Final standings prediction

Spain possess the strongest squad in the group and should have enough quality to finish first. Uruguay’s experience, intensity and midfield strength make them favourites for second place and qualification.

Saudi Arabia have the talent to challenge for a knockout berth and could prove difficult opponents throughout the group. Cape Verde’s achievement in reaching the tournament is historic, but progressing from such a competitive group would require a major upset.

Predicted standings

• 
  Spain
• 
  Uruguay
• 
  Saudi Arabia
• 
  Cape Verde

FIFA WC 2026 Group H: Full schedule

Kanye West, professionally known as Ye, released a new music video featuring his wife, Bianca Censori, to mark his 49th birthday on June 8, 2026. Aptly titled Gemini Season, the music video, directed by Censori, featured her sitting in front of a cow wearing white lingerie that didn’t leave much for the imagination.

As the video progressed, Censori turned around to milk the cow, before Ye walked into frame and fed his wife the milk, which dripped down her chest. In the song, Ye can be heard singing, “I wanna get kinky/ I think she’ll let me/ I think she’s pretty/ I think she’s ready.”

The description for the song’s music video, released on YouTube, also revealed that the rapper was set to release a deluxe version of Bully, adding, “BULLY DELUXE OTW 06.19.” For those uninformed, Kanye West released Bully on March 28, which debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 chart at the time.

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Meanwhile, Bianca Censori wished her husband for his 49th birthday in an Instagram Story on June 8, writing, “Happy birthday @ye I love you more than life.” According to Page Six, the two were spotted enjoying a date night over the weekend in Amsterdam, amid Kanye West performing two shows at the GelreDome in Arnhem on June 6 and June 8.

Kanye West credited his wife for helping him through his “really deep depressive episode” in a January 2026 interview with Vanity Fair, which came out after the rapper issued a full-page apology for his antisemitic comments in the Wall Street Journal earlier that month.

“Toward the end of my four-month-long manic episode, my medication was changed. In that shift, the antipsychotic drug took me into a really deep depressive episode. My wife recognized that, and we sought out what’s been effective and stabilizing course correction in my regime from a rehab facility in Switzerland,” he said.

Kanye West’s Netherlands shows drew a massive crowd

Kanye West’s many controversies have not stopped fans from converging at his recent shows in the Netherlands, despite the rapper being banned in several European countries. According to Le Monde, over 40,000 fans attended his show at the GelreDome in Arnhem on June 6, even as Jewish organization CIDI fought to have it canceled.

In late May, Dutch Deputy Prime Minister Bart van den Brink announced that Kanye West’s shows would carry on as scheduled despite facing backlash from organizations and Dutch lawmakers due to the rapper’s antisemitic past, saying:

“Solid grounds are needed to bar people from entering. We have not found those in the analyses that were conducted. His past statements are not, at this moment, a reason to deny him entry.”

In March 2026, Kanye West was announced as the headliner for the three-day Wireless Festival, scheduled to be held at Finsbury Park in London in July. However, the festival was ultimately canceled in April after several sponsors pulled out amid criticism from U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who wrote on X that the rapper “should never have been invited to headline Wireless.”

This resulted in the U.K. Home Office blocking the rapper from entering the country, saying “the decision was made on the grounds that his presence in the U.K. would not be conducive to the public good.” Soon after, Wireless Festival cancelled the event, announcing via a statement on its website:

“As a result of the Home Office banning YE from entering the United Kingdom, Wireless Festival has been forced to cancel. All ticket holders will receive an automatic full refund.”

On May 29, Italian authorities canceled Kanye West‘s upcoming concert at a music festival in Reggio Emilia, Italy, on July 18, citing “public order and safety issues.” The statement added that the “overall assessment also took into account the cancellation of previous concerts by the American rapper in other countries and the real risk of counter-demonstrations.”