Thierry Henri, the former renowned striker, has confidently predicted the team that will win the 2026 World Cup.
Thierry Henri, the legendary French national team forward, predicts that his home country will win the 2026 World Cup because of their strong squad, both starters and substitutes, who can seamlessly replace each other without any drop in quality.
Didier Deschamps led France to win the 2018 World Cup, but his team could not defend the title four years later in Qatar, losing to Argentina in a fierce final. However, Henri believes France will lift the trophy again this time.
Henri said, "I see France as the top favorite, partly because I am French, but also because we reached the finals in the last two tournaments."
"We have a strong squad. Spain, Argentina, Portugal, and England are also contenders. Surprise teams like Norway or Senegal are possible as well."
"As for Germany, I’m waiting for them to return to their best form. Sometimes you can play better without too much pressure. In any case, I wish Julian Nagelsmann and his team good luck—unless they have to face France."
When asked about France’s greatest strength, Henri replied, "The substitutes. It sounds simple, but squad depth is crucial. If your substitutes are as skilled as your starters, that is a huge advantage, especially in a long tournament like this following an intense season."
France is in Group I along with Senegal, Iraq, and Norway. They will start their 2026 World Cup campaign against Senegal on 16 June.