Alexi Lalas picks France in his 2026 World Cup bracket
Fox Sports analyst Alexi Lalas published his full 2026 FIFA World Cup bracket after the group stage ended, picking France to beat Colombia in the final. His FIFA brackets forecast has the U.S. reaching the quarterfinals before falling to Spain, plus knockout upsets including Senegal over Belgium and Colombia over Argentina.
With the expanded 48-team tournament now in the knockout phase, expert FIFA brackets carry extra weight. Lalas mapped every Round of 32 matchup through the championship on June 28, 2026, giving American fans a credible path for the host nation while backing France as the most complete squad left.
Key Takeaways
- Lalas crowns France champion after a France-Colombia final, citing depth behind Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé.
- The U.S. beats Bosnia and Herzegovina and Senegal, then loses to Spain in the quarterfinals.
- Notable upsets include Senegal over Belgium, Mexico over England, and Colombia beating Argentina and Brazil.
- Viral FIFA brackets on social media are also driving betting interest, though many differ from Lalas on the final matchup.
- The 48-team format features the largest World Cup bracket ever, adding complexity for predictors.
What did Alexi Lalas predict for the 2026 World Cup?
Writing for FOX Sports, Lalas filled out his bracket once the group stage closed and all 32 knockout teams were set. He called the group stage a historically beefy chapter and said the knockout rounds are where the tournament turns serious.
His final four is France, Spain, Brazil, and Colombia. France beats Spain in one semifinal; Colombia beats Brazil in the other. The championship ends with France over Colombia.
Lalas had backed Colombia as a dark horse before the tournament and felt stronger about that pick after Colombia beat Portugal in the group stage. Still, he called France the most impressive team of the group stage.
How far does Lalas think the U.S. will go?
Lalas expects the U.S. to beat Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Round of 32, a matchup he described as one the Americans should win after topping their group. In the Round of 16, he picks the U.S. over Senegal, though he noted Belgium was another possible opponent at that stage.
His bracket ends the American run in the quarterfinals against Spain. Lalas said beating Spain would be the moment in American soccer history, a far tougher test than a Round of 16 game against Belgium. He added he would feel more confident if Portugal were the quarterfinal opponent instead.
Which upsets fill out Lalas' bracket?
Beyond the headline final, Lalas' bracket includes several surprise results. Senegal beats Belgium in the Round of 32. Mexico tops England in the Round of 16. Colombia eliminates Switzerland, Argentina, and Brazil on its run to the final.
Other Round of 32 picks include Norway over Ivory Coast, Egypt over Australia, and Canada over South Africa. Heavyweights such as Germany, France, Spain, and Brazil still advance through early rounds in his version of the bracket.
Why are FIFA brackets going viral right now?
Expert picks are only part of the story. A separate viral World Cup bracket simulation posted on X drew more than one million views, according to Sportscasting. That graphic tipped France to beat England in the final, not Colombia.
Sportsbooks have updated outright winner markets as knockout play heats up. France sits near +340 on the moneyline in that coverage, while the U.S. remains a +3500 longshot to win it all on home soil.
Guides to the 2026 bracket format describe this as the largest World Cup ever, with an expanded knockout bracket that changes how fans, pundits, and predictors map the tournament. That added complexity helps explain why projections like Lalas keep circulating across Bizarre News and Florida Man corners of the internet during a World Cup summer.