The 2026 World Cup quarterfinalists are officially out, with France, Morocco, Spain, Belgium, Norway, England, Argentina, and Switzerland advancing. No team that stands on this stage got here by luck — every match will be a hard-fought battle. However, if I were to predict the final champion, I would still cast my vote for France.

France's greatest strength is not a single star player, but their balanced lineup. From the attacking power up front, to the control in midfield, to the big-game experience in defense, there are hardly any obvious weaknesses. The deeper the World Cup goes, the less it's about flashy offense and more about who makes fewer mistakes — and France is one of the teams with the lowest error rate among the eight.

Facing Morocco, France's biggest test will be how to break down a compact defense. Morocco possesses tenacious willpower and high tactical discipline, but France has more players capable of changing the course of the game. As long as they can score first, the pace of the match will likely fall into the familiar rhythm France thrives on.