World Cup Confidence pool/picks 2026

I wanted to stray away from the typical banter and analysis and ask these simple questions: 1) Which match do you have the most confidence in picking a winner? 2) Which match do you have the least confidence in picking a winner? The only rule I will state is that you cannot pick a team that you root for just to be fair and balanced. I will start: 1) I am most confident in Switzerland defeating Qatar. It was either that match or the Germany Curacao match but I decided to lean towards the Swiss because the Caribbean debutant is so unpredictable. I know what I am getting every time I see Qatar. 2) The match I am least confident in picking a winner is France- Senegal. England- Croatia being a close second but I just cannot get 2002 out of my head when it comes to the Senegalese little brother beating big brother type of situation. How about you? This is just for kicks and giggles. Not going to keep track here at all. Just wondering what other people are thinking.

I could be wrong, but I don't think 1,500 meters has much effect on world-class athletes. I barely feel it myself. In my experience, the altitude effects seem to be exponential. i.e. its largely unnoticeable until you get to a certain point (~2,500m) and then every 200 meters above that is really noticeable.From what I could see it reduces oxygen availability by 17% in Guadalajara. It is 25% in Mexico City. La Paz is more like 40%. I expect that would have an impact but I don't know. Could probably get some stats on distance covered in matches played in Guadalajara compared with somewhere at sea level but I'm not geeky enough to bother.

The Altitude of Guadalajara may also play into it somehow. Not sure exactly how but it may slow things down a bit. Uruguay chasing a team with good possession may not help therm out either.

I think the top teams' last group stage matches may be played with their second XIs. So kinda like the last WC, we could see some losses that are simply due to already having advanced. I would also be less certain about their opening games, because of premiere nerves and not getting into a tournament rhythm yet. So, my bet for the surest victory would be in round 2, like Brazil-Haiti, Spain-Saudi, France-Iraq, and so on. The only round 1 game I'm sure of is actually the WC opener Mexico-South Africa. The latter seems to have a really weak squad.

1. Belgium v NZ 2. England v Croatia

1) I am most confident in Switzerland defeating Qatar. It was either that match or the Germany Curacao match but I decided to lean towards the Swiss because the Caribbean debutant is so unpredictable. I know what I am getting every time I see Qatar.I agree about GER v Curacao... the latter at least has players in the EPL, Eerste Divisie, 2. Bundesliga, MLS and Super Lig. Qater is...just Qatar. A former WC host. Total crap.

1. Surprised only one of you mentioned Brazil-Haiti between the mismatch in quality and how we've historically revered Brazil, I'd be truly shocked if we gave them a game. ...oh, can't be involving a team I root for? Then, Spain-Cabo Verde - how people see Spain reaching three straight European finals (between Euro and NL) and don't consider them a heavy favorite to win it all is beyond me. 2. Côte d'Ivoire-Ecuador - evenly matched on paper IMO, and without the immediate jeopardy of Senegal-Ecuador from last time, anything could happen.

The nailed on draw. Uruguay v Spain in Guadalajara. Both teams will have already qualified. Spain will rest players. Uruguay will be happy with a draw and will probably rest players.Bielsa won't rest players even if his life depends on it. He will go all out like against the USA in Copa America 2024. Also even if both teams are qualified I doubt that Spain would want to rest players and risk to potentially face Argentina in the R32

The Altitude of Guadalajara may also play into it somehow. Not sure exactly how but it may slow things down a bit. Uruguay chasing a team with good possession may not help therm out either.That's why I mentioned the location. It is hardly La Paz, Bolivia, or even Mexico City but it will have an impact. At least it is an evening kick off so it shouldn't be that hot.

1) Which match do you have the most confidence in picking a winner? I’d say Germany beating Curaçao, though I’m 100% sure In the last World Cup, my most confident pick was Argentina over Saudi Arabia... and we all know how that turned out. If I had to put money on it, I’d back any of the Curaçao matches. Haiti, Qatar, and Jordan also look likely to lose all their games, but I can see them scraping a draw when no one expects it. 2) Which match do you have the least confidence in picking a winner? CIV - Ecuador and France - Senegal