NFL Stars Predict 2026 World Cup Winner: France Leads, Prescott Picks Brazil
Published June 13, 2026
As the 2026 FIFA World Cup approaches, a survey of NFL players reveals their top picks for the tournament, with France emerging as a strong favorite, though some stars, like Dak Prescott, have split loyalties.
Published — local time around the world
With the 2026 FIFA World Cup set to captivate North America in June and July of that year, even NFL stars are getting in on the pre-tournament speculation. While gridiron action is on hiatus for the summer, many professional football players are already looking ahead to the global soccer spectacle. A recent informal survey conducted among 29 NFL players provided a glimpse into their loyalties and predictions for the expanded 48-team tournament, which will be co-hosted across 16 venues in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
The consensus among these athletes appears to favor a familiar powerhouse. France, a nation with a rich World Cup history, reportedly received the most support as the anticipated winner. This widespread backing for Les Bleus, spanning various locker rooms and positions, highlights the confidence NFL players have in the French squad's depth and quality to potentially lift the coveted trophy once again.
However, not all predictions aligned with the majority. Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, for instance, presented a more complex view. While acknowledging his desire for the host nation, the United States, to achieve a memorable run on home soil, his analytical prediction pointed elsewhere. Prescott ultimately named Brazil as his choice to win the 2026 FIFA World Cup, indicating a distinction between emotional support and strategic forecasting among the surveyed players.