Online Reporter
THE Premier League title race promises to go to the wire, the Champions League is up for grabs, and England will head to this summer’s World Cup with high hopes. Here are my predictions for 2026…
Who will win the 2026 Premier League title?
Arsenal. They have the best squad, and everything is in place for them to end a 22-year wait. If they do it, it will be built on the spine of the team and solid foundations laid by their goalkeeper, centre-backs and Declan Rice.
But it’s not going to be straightforward, as their recent form shows. There is an ongoing problem of a worrying injury record. For some reason, they always seem to be more impacted than their main title rival and it’s started to happen again.
Manchester City do not have the same quality on the bench as Arsenal, but when Pep Guardiola has his best starting XI available they can embark on a title-winning run, especially with Erling Haaland in electrifying form. City are reminding me of Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United. There were occasions when United were not always playing the best football in a particular season, but they had that know-how about how to win the league, so if they were still in the hunt in late March they would get the job done. If City are still within touching distance of Arsenal by then, Guardiola will be confident and Arsenal – especially their fans – will be nervous. That could yet be a decisive factor.
After Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea exit, how many of the rest of the big six – Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool, City, and Spurs – will have the same coach in 12 months?
I didn’t expect Maresca to stay at Chelsea beyond this season. Losing his job on day one of 2026 showed how difficult the relationships at Stamford Bridge had become. Maresca continuously revealed tensions which re-surfaced whenever Chelsea had a poor spell.
Of the remaining five, at least three will still be in post. Mikel Arteta could be a Premier League champion and in the midst of a prolonged stay at the Emirates Stadium. Arne Slot has come through a precarious period when the Anfield hierarchy demonstrated how much faith they retain in him, and he found tactical solutions to improve results and performances. Manchester United also seem resolute in their belief in Ruben Amorim. United have improved a bit, so as long as there are signs of the team moving forward, he will stay at Old Trafford. For different reasons, the question marks are against Pep Guardiola and Thomas Frank.
Once Guardiola is satisfied his rebuilt side can challenge for the Premier League and Champions League, he might consider it the ideal time to hand over the reins to a successor. The revelation that Maresca admitted to the Chelsea hierarchy he was in contact with City makes it seem more likely that Guardiola is considering moving on soon.
Frank is in a difficult situation trying to re-establish Spurs as a top-six side when the fans are rejecting a pragmatic brand of football.
Who will win the Champions League?
The competition promises to be the most exciting in years because there is no obvious winner. A year ago Paris St-Germain emerged from the pack after an indifferent start to the tournament. The usual suspects, Real Madrid, have been inconsistent and look beatable, even though we know they tend to find a way once the knockout rounds begin. Manchester City could be the team to watch in 2026. With Haaland on fire, no one will want to draw them in the latter stages. My tip, however, is Bayern Munich. They are among the top goalscorers in the competition, with Harry Kane playing as well as any striker in Europe.
Which nation will win the 2026 World Cup?
France. They have so much class it is difficult to look beyond them. They’ve been the winners and runners-up in the last two World Cups, and in Didier Deschamps they have a World Cup-winning coach whose more pragmatic approach should suit the hot temperatures in the United States. Such is the pace and skill in the French line-up, there are times when you think they can be even better – it would be great to see them play like PSG in the Champions League – but they have the players to get the job done whichever approach they take. Any country navigating a path to the later stages will want to avoid the French.
How far will England go?
Semi-finals. Reaching the semis would be a fine performance for Thomas Tuchel. A quarter-final would be OK given some of the competition, but expectations are high after consecutive European Championship finals.
Tuchel has plenty of talent to choose from. Finding a formula to get everyone in the same line-up is a familiar problem. The best starting XI for England today may be much different by June. On current form, Morgan Rogers has to play, and Unai Emery might be showing a way ahead for England. Rogers often plays from the left for Aston Villa and this has been a problem area for England. Anthony Gordon, a favourite of Tuchel, is having a poor season for Newcastle. If Rogers plays from the left, it would allow Tuchel to play him in the same line-up as Jude Bellingham rather than it being a case of one or the other. It’s great to see Phil Foden back on form. Don’t rule out him starting England’s opening game. Because of his recent injuries, Cole Palmer has plenty to do to make himself an England starter before the summer.
Will Mohamed Salah still be at Liverpool on February 1, 2026 or September 1, 2026?
Yes, and no. Given Liverpool’s injury situation following Alexander Isak’s broken leg, the club cannot afford to allow Salah to leave in the January transfer window. After the bust-up earlier this season, the Africa Cup of Nations has come at a good time for everyone to take a breath. The next few months could turn into a long goodbye for Salah, however. The current Liverpool era will be forever synonymous with Salah. He is one of the all-time greats of Liverpool and the Premier League, so an emotional farewell at the final game of this season would be the perfect, choreographed send-off.
Most likely to be Premier League player of the year and Ballon d’Or winner?
Rice will be the PFA and FWA Player of the Year, especially if Arsenal are champions. Naturally, Haaland will be challenging should he prove the difference for Manchester City. Rice has been the outstanding Premier League midfielder for several seasons, his consistency one of the reasons Arsenal are edging closer to their promised land.
In a World Cup year, the Ballon d’Or is always won by the star player of the victorious country. As France are my prediction to win in the United States, this could be Kylian Mbappé’s year. He was third behind Lionel Messi and Haaland after France were beaten in the last World Cup.
Which overseas player and coach would you love to see move to the Premier League in 2026?
It will not happen in the next 12 months, but at some point in their careers it would be fantastic to see Xabi Alonso managing in the Premier League, and Bellingham playing here. Bellingham no doubt sees himself at Real Madrid for the long haul, so it could be a while before we get the chance to watch him on Monday Night Football. Alonso will be high on the wanted list of Premier League clubs, although I hope my friend and ex-team-mate has success as a coach in Spain before he returns to England.
Finally, what is your biggest wish for football in 2026?
Wigan Athletic to win promotion from League One into the Championship, Liverpool to win the Champions League, and for Gary Neville to stop predicting Manchester United are going to finish in the top four. At least two of those three have a chance of happening. — Online
