Let's take a look at Spain, the top favorite to win the World Cup this year:

Number one favorite for the 2026 World Cup. Core reasons: unbeatable form + world-class midfield + perfect age + tactical evolution + maximum value and depth. Recent record: dominant undefeated in the 2024 European Championship, 7 wins, champions.
As of May 2026, 28 matches undefeated in official competitions.
World Cup qualifiers: 8 wins, scored 35 goals, conceded only 3 goals.
FIFA ranking remains among the top, the entire team’s total market value is about 930 million euros.
Midfield: the world’s top tier Rodrigo (Manchester City): defense + distribution at peak, the anchor.
Pedri + Gavi (Barcelona): versatile in technique + running + pressing, the new Xavi/Iniesta.
Substitutes: Fabián Ruiz, Sufimendi, etc.
→ All 7 main midfielders are starters from top clubs, with no weaknesses in ball control, progression, interception, or creativity.
Age structure: the team’s average age at peak is only 24, with no aging burden.
Core ages: Rodrigo 29, Pedri 23, Gavi 21, Yamal 18.
The new 48-team format is extremely physically demanding; youth + depth = huge advantage.
Tactics: Pass and control 2.0, faster and more aggressive De La Fuente. 4-3-3: possession + high pressing + wing-bursting.
Say goodbye to slow, backward passing, replaced by vertical quick passes + lightning-fast wing attacks (Yamal, Nico Williams).
Wingers cut inside + central striker attacks, significantly improving goal efficiency.
Depth of squad: almost no weaknesses. Barcelona dominates the midfield line with 8 players (first time since 1992 without Real Madrid players).
Selection criteria: solely based on form.
Goalkeepers: Unai Simón / Laya.
Defenders: Kuba, Laporte.
Forwards: Yamal, Nico Williams, Oyarzabal.
The substitutes are all starters from top five leagues, minimizing injury impact.
One sentence summary:
Current Spain combines the passing and control genes of 2010 with the speed and vitality of a youth storm. Tournament performance, midfield dominance, golden age, tactical evolution, squad depth—all at maximum! Are you ready ⚽ to witness the new “Bullfighting 🏡 Dynasty”?