The World Cup starts in Mexico City's Azteca Stadium on Thursday and finishes in the MetLife Stadium near New York City on 19 July. Forty-eight teams will contest the tournament, which will be played out in 104 matches across three countries over 39 days, including the co-hosts - Canada, Mexico and the United States - plus holders Argentina.

Who will get their hands on the famous gold trophy this time? Who are the other main contenders? And how will England and Scotland do? BBC Sport's TV and radio football pundits and co-commentators have predicted what will happen over the next five weeks, and we have asked AI and Opta's 'supercomputer' for their picks too.

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• Alan Shearer: France, but there's a caveat that comes with it - only if there is no in-house fighting. With the ability they have in forward positions, two or three big players are going to be left out every game, so it will come down to whether they cope with that in the right way.
• Danny Murphy: It's hard to look past France with the firepower they have, when you think about extra time in hot weather against tired legs. The likes of Rayan Cherki, Ousmane Dembele and Desire Doue can't all start, but they can be gamechangers if they come on after 70 minutes in 30 degrees heat.
• Olivier Giroud: For me the two strongest teams are France and Spain. But will they meet each other in the final or before? That will be the question, but I obviously hope France will win.
• Wayne Rooney: England and Spain will make the final, and hopefully England will win it.
• Thomas Frank: France are up there of course, and Spain too because they are very clear in how they play. That gives them a massive strength, although I still doubt them a little because they rely on Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams as the wingers and, if they don't have them, I am not sure they have enough individual quality to do it in the end. Along with Brazil, Argentina, England and Portugal, they are the main contenders.
• Micah Richards: How teams deal with the humidity is going to play a big part at this tournament, so the South American teams will be strong. But I just feel it's going to be a team who are really good at keeping the ball and that points me in the direction of Spain instead. Argentina will go close though, because of the way they work for Lionel Messi. I still think he can do something special, too.
• Steph Houghton: Hopefully it's England but, looking at other teams, France have so much quality right through their team - especially in attacking areas.
• Gael Clichy: France, Spain and England are the three for me who will do well. Spain seem to win everything, at every age group, so of course they are up there, but being French I am going for them to win it.
• Joe Hart: England. But I am not actually that bothered whether I am right or wrong. I just like to back my people and I want England to do it.
• Martin Keown: Looking at the draw, there will be some absolute blockbuster quarter-finals if the favourites win their groups, like England versus Brazil and Argentina against Portugal - or Messi against Cristiano Ronaldo. Is this the hardest World Cup there has ever been to win? Maybe. It feels very open.
• Paul Robinson: The only thing that stops France from winning it is France. They will need a harmonious dressing room.
• Pat Nevin: This is a guess, but England have a real chance. Along with France, they are my favourites and it's a toss-up between the two as to who will win it.
• Ellen White: Well, obviously I want England to win it. That's what I am going with, but if that wasn't to happen then France have a very good squad.
• Tony Pulis: It's ridiculous that there are 48 teams, and 40 more games than last time.
• Chris Sutton: Spain are an outstanding team but I've gone for France to win the past two World Cups and I wasn't far wrong.

Who will win the 2026 World Cup? Total votes:

• France (9): Scott Brown, Gael Clichy, Rachel Corsie, Olivier Giroud, Danny Murphy, Paul Robinson, Tony Pulis, Alan Shearer & Chris Sutton
• England (7): Thomas Frank, Joe Hart, Steph Houghton, Martin Keown, Wayne Rooney, Sue Smith & Ellen White
• Spain (1): Micah Richards

Thomas Frank: To win the World Cup you need individual quality, and England have definitely got that. Their midfield is very strong and if they can put the right defence together it is strong enough. They have a real chance.

Ellen White: We've got an unbelievable squad, and I feel like Thomas Tuchel will create a nice blend in our team.

The team will be well structured because Thomas Tuchel is a top coach, plus they have experience in these tournaments and I am sure they will get their togetherness right because they seem to have some fantastic characters and leaders in the group.

Looking ahead, it is clear that the excitement around the World Cup is palpable, and the discussions about team strategies and favorite predictions will only intensify as the matches draw closer.