It depends a lot on which World Cup you mean (men’s, women’s, U-20, cricket/rugby, etc.) and what you consider “this year.” If you tell me the tournament, I can be more specific.
If you mean the men’s FIFA World Cup
The next men’s FIFA World Cup is 2026, so there isn’t one “this year.” Going into 2026, the teams most often considered top contenders are:
- Argentina – strong competitive identity and big-match experience.
- France – deep talent pool and consistent tournament performance.
- Brazil – elite individual quality; always a contender if the team balance clicks.
- England – strong squad depth; often close, needs clinical knockout execution.
- Spain – technical style and improving results; depends on finishing and consistency.
If I had to pick a single “best chance” without more context: France (depth + recent consistency) is a very defensible choice, with Argentina close behind.
If you mean another World Cup
Reply with the sport and tournament name (e.g., “Women’s FIFA World Cup,” “Cricket World Cup,” “Rugby World Cup”), and I’ll give a focused shortlist and why.