The top nations are shivering in fear, with big names falling out of the competition every day. But who do you need in your 2026 Fantasy Football World Cup in order to win? Here are the names that I recommend you select and the ones that you’d better watch out for.
I’ve been writing fantasy football guides for nearly ten years, and I hope to give you the inside look that you need.
Think you know better? Take that attitude to the free FootballCoin contest, including games from the Round of 32 at the 2026 World Cup.
World Cup Fantasy Picks: Round of 32 (2 – 4 July Matches)
Set-Piece & Penalty Matrix
The “Locks”
Spain – Austria
I had Spain down as my favourite to win the World Cup. Should I reconsider? Playing against the well-organised, but predictable Austria should help extend the Spanish team’s run for at least a while longer.
Yamal and Oyarzabal are must-picks and for obvious reasons. Simon should be your main goalie pick. Pedri and Cucurella tend to shine in games like this one. Llorente is a bit of a wild card, but the form he’s displayed this season warrants your attention as a fantasy football manager.
But the Austrians also have something to offer. Seiwald and Lienhart are consistent, if unexciting, performers at this World Cup. Both are affordable in FootballCoin.
Switzerland – Algeria
Switzerland is not the most exciting team at this tournament. But playing the Round of 32 against Algeria looks like one of the best draws the Swiss could have got. Still, I think you need to be careful here.
Kobel can be a good backup goalkeeper choice. Vargas can do well here. But Manzambi, Xhaka, and Elvedi are the players you cannot do without.
Algeria’s stars, Mahrez and Mandi, are worth considering.
Argentina – Cape Verde
Argentina, along with France, are the only top teams that have genuinely impressed. While Cape Verde is a feel-good story, the South Americans should have enough about them to win comfortably here. This is, in my expert opinion, the perfect match to exploit for fantasy football.
Sure, how can you look past Messi when he keeps scoring so many goals? This looks like a match that suits him perfectly. Veterans Otamendi and Tagliafico are the picks with which you can surprise your opponents. Mac Allister should be in the first team and doing plenty of running to compensate for Messi and La. Martinez.
Meanwhile, Vozinha and P. Lopes are the Cape Verde players you should have on your shortlist.
The “Enablers”
Portugal – Croatia
Frankly, this could go either way. Both teams have shown traces of brilliance as well as considerable defensive frailties. This is a game that you can make work for you if you choose smartly.
Portugal’s Veiga and B. Fernandes make my list. Vitinha and Mendes are also worth considering.
But I’ve been particularly impressed by Croatia’s youngsters Sutalo, Sucic and Musa (if he does start).
Colombia – Ghana
Colombia is one of the teams that I enjoy watching the most at World Cup tournaments. But the South Americans’ attacking flair is about to come against one of the toughest defensive units at this tournament. Here’s who you might need in your fantasy football team.
You know all about Luis Diaz. But I would, particularly, think about taking a chance on J. Rodriguez and Jhon Arias.
Ghana’s defenders Mensah and Senaya impressed me. Both are rated 2* in FootballCoin, by the way.
The “Wild Cards”
Australia – Egypt
This is another game that’s hard to call. Australia and Egypt, to my mind, are evenly matched. It’ll be up to whichever team is more ambitious here. Having said that, there are players that you can get which will improve your chances of winning your fantasy football league.
Trezeguet is worth considering based on his last performance. Meanwhile, the Aussie stalwarts Bos and Irankunda could cause some surprises.
The “Costly Mistakes”
I’d avoid Embolo based on there simply being better options available.
Ronaldo can still do the business in front of goal. But Croatia might not leave him any opportunities to do so.
Similarly, I think that there are better options available than the highly-touted Modric, Gvardiol and Kovacic, although this might be the perfect opportunity for them to live up to their reputation.
Salah is expensive and, likely, injured.
