World Cup 2026: Gary Lineker names two countries to challenge France for trophy

England football icon, Gary Lineker has stated that it will be ‘extremely challenging’ for ‘any team’ to stop France from clinching the World Cup.

France secured their advancement to the last-16 of the World Cup with a commanding 3-0 victory over Sweden on Tuesday evening.

Didier Deschamps’ squad has arguably been the standout team in the tournament, having triumphed over Senegal, Iraq, and Norway in the group stage, amassing ten goals in total.

The French team, who were crowned World Cup champions in 2018 and finished as runners-up four years ago, will compete against Paraguay for a spot in the quarter-finals after the South American team caused an upset by defeating Germany in their previous match.

Lineker considers the ‘breathtaking’ French team to be his favorites for the World Cup and believes that the defending champions, Argentina, might be the only team capable of ‘halting’ Deschamps’ illustrious squad in the United States.

The legendary England forward also mentioned European champions Spain as potential contenders against France but largely dismissed England’s prospects of winning the World Cup for the first time since 1966.

England showcased their strength in their World Cup opener against Croatia, winning 4-2, but subsequently drew 0-0 with Ghana before securing a shaky victory over Panama.

Thomas Tuchel’s team, aiming to end a 60-year drought, appeared on the verge of a humiliating World Cup elimination at the hands of DR Congo, who led their last-32 match for more than an hour.

However, Harry Kane came to England’s aid, netting two late goals to propel the Three Lions into the last-16, where they will face co-hosts Mexico in the early hours of Monday.

Lineker said on The Rest is Football, *Most of us thought France could implode because that’s happened at times historically,” . ‘But they seem to be really together.

*I honestly think it’s going to be incredibly difficult for any team to compete with them never mind beat them.

*Kylian Mbappe is obviously France’s superstar but you can’t just crowd around him because then they’ve got [Michael] Olise, [Ousmane] Dembele, [Bradley] Barcola, [Desire] Doue, [Rayan] Cherki…

*You just think it’s hard to look beyond them unless they pick up a couple of injuries to the superstars because they’re just breathtaking.

*I mean, who can stop them? I don’t think there’s any conceivable way they won’t get to the semi-finals.

*At that point they will likely face Spain, who haven’t looked great so far. Maybe they can grow into the tournament.

*Possibly Spain would have some kind of chance if they find the form of two years ago. But I would say Argentina are the ones.

It will be very difficult for England, I have to say. I’m feeling like there will be a replay of the final in Qatar from four years ago.