The Argentina National Team was ruled out by Arsène Wenger, FIFA's Director of Development, as a favorite to win the 2026 World Cup.

What happened?

The ex-Arsenal manager nominated France as the main favorite to be the world champion, and ruled out the Argentina National Team or England as possible rivals.

The Argentina National Team comes from a streak of 3 consecutive wins, with a record of 3W-0D-0L in their last 3 games, and their last win was against Angola with a score of 0-2 on November 14, 2025.

Why is it important for Argentina?

Wenger's statement generated a lot of controversy on social media, and sparked debate due to his position in FIFA, beyond his nationality.

The Argentina National Team is looking to improve its record and advance in the 2026 World Cup, which has already entered its defining stage with the quarterfinals starting this Thursday.

What comes next?

The Argentina National Team will face a significant challenge in the quarterfinals, and will have to demonstrate its skill and determination to advance in the tournament.

Andrés Toni Kroos and his brother, hosts of the Kroos y Kroos podcast, spoke with Wenger about his candidate to be the world champion.

The Argentina National Team has a superior technical level and a collective game culture that no one else in the world has at this moment, according to Wenger.

What is Wenger's analysis?

Wenger stated that France is going to win the World Cup, and that he knows they will say he says it because he is French, but when analyzing the tournament, the train is moving at a certain speed today.

The Argentina National Team will have to raise its level of play to compete with the best teams in the world, and demonstrate its skill and determination to advance in the tournament.

Wenger's statement generated a lot of controversy on social media, and sparked debate due to his position in FIFA, beyond his nationality. The Argentina National Team comes from a streak of 3 consecutive wins, and is looking to improve its record in the 2026 World Cup.