The quarterfinalists for the 2026 World Cup are officially confirmed: France, Morocco, Spain, Belgium, Norway, England, Argentina, and Switzerland have advanced. No team that reaches this stage is here by luck — each match will be a hard-fought battle. However, if I had to predict the eventual champion, I would still place my bet on France.

France's biggest advantage is not a single star player, but their well-balanced squad. From the attacking firepower up front, to the midfield control, to the big-game experience of the defense, there are almost no obvious weaknesses. The deeper the World Cup goes, the less it's about flashy offense and more about who makes fewer mistakes. France is among the teams with the lowest error rate in the quarterfinals.

Against Morocco, France's biggest test will be how to break down a compact defense. Morocco has strong resolve and high tactical discipline, but France has more players capable of changing the course of the game. As long as they score first, the tempo will likely shift into familiar territory for France.