Former Manchester City defender, Pablo Zabaleta, has weighed in on the upcoming 2026 World Cup, naming five nations he believes have what it takes to lift the trophy.
In an interview with Flashscore, Zabaleta threw his support behind his home country, Argentina, while also highlighting France, Spain, Brazil, and England as serious contenders to win the World Cup.
When asked whether Argentina could successfully defend the title they won in Qatar, Zabaleta said, “I believe so. Alongside Spain, England, France, and Brazil, Argentina is one of the teams I’d consider genuine contenders,” he stated.
He continued, “Yes, Messi will be a few years older, but he is still capable of moments of pure magic.”
He also noted Portugal as a team to keep an eye on and pointed to England’s recent form under new manager Thomas Tuchel as a sign of their potential.
“Portugal is also a team I’d watch closely. And England, with Tuchel now in charge, are playing well and have strong individual talent,” Zabaleta said.