The 2026 World Cup in North America will be the first to feature 48 teams but an expanded tournament does not necessarily mean a wider field of genuine contenders to succeed Lionel Messi's Argentina as champions.

Only eight countries have won the World Cup in 22 editions up to the most recent tournament in Qatar, when Argentina defeated France on penalties in an epic final.

That was their third title, a tally bettered only by Brazil with their record five crowns, and Germany and Italy on four each.

With a year still to go until kick-off in the United States, Canada and Mexico, there remain plenty of unknowns, not least with European qualifying barely having begun.

Of the eight previous World Cups held on the American continent, seven have been won by a South American team.

There was a

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