World Cup 2026: France or Spain Will Win Trophy — Courtois Predicts

Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has predicted that either France or Spain will emerge champions of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Courtois made the prediction after Belgium’s elimination from the tournament following a quarter-final defeat to Spain.

Spain secured a place in the last four after substitute Mikel Merino scored the decisive goal to seal victory over the Red Devils, setting up a heavyweight semi-final clash against France.

Reflecting on the outcome, the Real Madrid goalkeeper said he believes the winner of the France-Spain encounter will ultimately lift the World Cup trophy.

“Who gets the win in Spain-France, gets the World Cup,” Courtois told reporters after the match.

Both European sides have impressed throughout the tournament, remaining unbeaten on their route to the semi-finals.

France advanced after defeating Morocco 2-0 in the quarter-finals, with captain Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé scoring to send Didier Deschamps’ side into another World Cup semi-final.

Spain, meanwhile, continued their impressive campaign by overcoming Belgium, maintaining their unbeaten record and reinforcing their status as one of the favourites for the title.

The semi-final between France and Spain is expected to be one of the tournament’s biggest fixtures, with both teams boasting world-class squads and strong title credentials.

The winner will qualify for the World Cup final and move one step closer to lifting football’s biggest prize.

Courtois’ comments come as debate continues among football fans and analysts over the leading contenders for the trophy, with France and Spain widely regarded as two of the strongest teams remaining in the competition.

The other side of the knockout bracket features Argentina, Switzerland, Norway and England, who are also competing for a place in the final.

With the tournament entering its decisive stage, attention will now turn to the blockbuster semi-final between France and Spain, a match many believe could determine the eventual champions of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.