Former Manchester United academy graduate Ashley Westwood has backed France as favourites to win the FIFA World Cup 2026 while warning England of a difficult opening clash against Croatia. Westwood also identified Japan and Sweden as dark horses, praised Morocco’s style, and highlighted young midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi.
Former Manchester United academy graduate and experienced English coach Ashley Westwood has identified France as the leading contenders to win the FIFA World Cup 2026, while cautioning England against underestimating Croatia in their opening match of the tournament.
Speaking ahead of the highly anticipated global football event, Westwood shared his views on several teams expected to make an impact, highlighting France’s strength, England’s prospects, and the potential of emerging nations to cause major upsets.
Discussing England’s campaign, Westwood acknowledged that the Three Lions possess enough quality and talent to challenge for football’s biggest prize. However, he stressed that their opening encounter against Croatia will be far from straightforward.
According to Westwood, Croatia have consistently proven to be one of England’s most difficult opponents in international football. He noted that the European nation combines technical quality with resilience and a strong football culture, making them a dangerous side on any stage.
“Croatia have always been a tricky team for England. They have resilience, a strong football culture, and a mentality that never gives up. They are a nation you can never take for granted,” Westwood was quoted as saying by Zee5, the official broadcaster of FIFA World Cup 2026 in India.
The former footballer also offered his predictions for several upcoming World Cup fixtures. He predicted Portugal would secure a comfortable 2-0 victory over DR Congo, while England and Croatia could share the points in a closely contested 1-1 draw. Westwood further backed Ghana to register a convincing 3-0 win against Panama and predicted Uzbekistan could spring a surprise by defeating Colombia 2-1. He also forecast a 1-1 draw between Czechia and South Africa.
Looking beyond the group-stage fixtures, Westwood believes France remain the strongest team in the competition and the favourites to lift the FIFA World Cup trophy. He cited the depth, pace, creativity, and finishing ability available within the French squad as key reasons behind his prediction.
“You can’t look past France. The attacking power they possess is incredible. They have goals, pace, and quality all across the front line,” he said.
Westwood also identified several nations capable of exceeding expectations during the tournament. Among them, he named Japan and Sweden as potential dark horses that could surprise many of the traditional football powers with strong performances.
In addition, he praised Morocco for their exciting and enterprising style of football, suggesting that the African nation could once again make headlines on the world stage. He also singled out young Moroccan midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi as one of the players to watch throughout the competition.
Reflecting on his own football journey, Westwood credited his formative years at Manchester United for shaping his coaching philosophy. He explained that the academy environment instilled values such as professionalism, discipline, dedication, and a relentless desire to succeed.
“Coming through the Manchester United academy taught us what it takes to work hard, dedicate yourself, and be professional every day. Those core beliefs have stayed with many players from that generation and continue to influence the way I approach the game today,” Westwood said.
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As anticipation builds for FIFA World Cup 2026, Westwood’s predictions and assessments offer an intriguing perspective on the teams and players likely to shape the tournament, with France emerging as his clear favourites and England facing an early test against a determined Croatian side.
