The tournament is entering its decisive stage. Spain and Argentina will face off for the trophy, while France and England will battle it out for the consolation prize. Two more matches and two more great football stories.

Who will be crowned champions? Who will emerge victorious at the end of the tournament? Read the analysis from our football experts and place winning bets on the MELBET platform!

Spain vs Argentina: battle of the best

Spain are heading into the final in excellent form. Following an unexpected draw with Cape Verde, Luis de la Fuente’s side have only improved. In the knockout stage, La Roja beat Austria (3-0), Portugal (1-0), and Belgium (2-1) in regular time, before confidently defeating France in the semi-finals.

The match against Les Bleus showed Spain’s strength. The team controlled the ball flawlessly, pressed constantly, and dominated the midfield. At the same time, La Roja didn’t allow one of the world’s strongest attacks to create any chances. Mbappé looked nervous towards the end of the game, while Koundé dropped his head and didn’t want to receive the ball. It seems the only way to stop Spain is to wait for the final whistle.

Argentina had a very different journey. The reigning world champions regularly had to produce heroic performances – the Argentines love creating drama. In the knockout stage, they only began to show their winning spirit after conceding goals. La Albiceleste’s main figure is Lionel Messi. Is he ever going to grow old? Leo made goal contributions in every match he played!

In the round of 16, Egypt pinned the favorites against the ropes and led 2-0. Argentina responded in a way that only great teams do. In the semi-finals, the South Americans were trailing England, but there was no panic within the team. Messi created chances, and his teammates made the most of them. In every knockout stage game, the Argentines have scored the winning goal after the 90th minute. Now, Scaloni’s side are just one win away from a second consecutive title. Should Argentina’s fans come to the stadium towards the start of the second half?

Spain look like a more balanced team, but Argentina know how to come through in tough matches. We’re in for a clash between the reigning champions of Europe and South America. And a duel for the Ballon d’Or between Messi and Yamal. Could there be a better storyline for the final?

Have you seen the photo of Messi giving little Yamal a bath? It’s not AI. Messi once held him in his arms. And now Lamine could take the trophy away from Lionel. Our prediction: Spain will be crowned champions. Odds: 1.61. De la Fuente’s men have hit top form just in time for the decisive battles. Seize the moment and bet on the winners now!

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France vs England: who will claim the bronze?

Until recently, France were considered the clear favorites. Mbappé, Dembélé, and Olise were leading the team with confidence. But the semi-finals changed everything – France were denied space, and the manager had no adequate solutions. Despite their achievements throughout the competition, the clear favorites failed to deliver in the most crucial fixture. And after the second goal, the team simply gave up. Where on earth did that formidable France side disappear to?

Now Les Bleus need to respond to the defeat in the right way. For Didier Deschamps, the match for third place could be an opportunity to end his time with the national team on a high note. For the players, it’s a chance to regain their confidence following a heavy blow.

England have their own story to tell. Thomas Tuchel’s side were so close to the final, but it was as if they were scared of their success. After switching to a five-man defense, the Three Lions virtually lost possession. Were they trying to park the bus and hold on to their lead? It was too early for that. Messi called in the tow truck, and Argentina towed away the English double-decker.

England still have a chance to finish the tournament with a medal. At the same time, they can take their revenge on France for the defeat almost four years ago. Back then, Les Bleus beat Gareth Southgate’s team 2-1 in the quarter-finals.

France have plenty of stars up front, but England are also capable of creating opportunities. It should be a high-scoring encounter. Do you agree? Bet on “Both Teams To Score” at odds of 1.47 to win some cash! And our prediction is that Deschamps’s men will claim the bronze.

The tournament is drawing to a close, but we still have the final matches ahead of us. The final thrills. And the world’s most prestigious football trophy. Follow the tournament’s denouement with MELBET. Make your predictions and support your favorites!

While the whole world follows the final stages of football’s biggest tournament, a man who knows everything about the road to major titles shares his WCMCU 2026 expectations. 

MelBet global ambassador and UFC former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman is known not only for his exceptional fighting skills but also for a pragmatic mindset.

Amid the football action, Nigerian Nightmare swapped the Octagon for the stands and offered his take on the current tournament.

France is the top favorite 

Usman sets the intrigue right away. When asked about the favourite, he does not even try to play the objective expert. He picks France without hesitation,  admitting he is biased.

Usman says, smiling: “Obviously, if my buddy Kylian Mbappé is playing for that team, of course it’s France”.

For Usman, France is the team that features a player capable of deciding even the toughest match on his own. And so, he believes, France rightfully remains one of the top title contenders.

African spirit and European strength

However, the Nigerian-born champion’s heart still belongs to Africa. Usman makes no secret – he always roots for African national teams. At the same time, the fighter highlights France and the technically skilled Spain among the tournament’s top favorites

Tough choice: best African football players

Another challenge for Kamaru is naming the three greatest African footballers of all time. Even his usual analytical approach takes a back seat to the richness of the continent’s legacy.

Usman starts listing names, but quickly realizes there’s no easy answer: elusive Jay-Jay Okocha, Cameroonian legend Samuel Eto’o, Egyptian King Mo Salah, the towering Nwankwo Kanu, Ivorian chief Didier Drogba… The list keeps growing, and Usman gives up. Choosing the best among equals is impossible when it comes to the achievements of an entire continent.

Fight to the bell, play to the whistle

The deepest part of the conversation is the search for a common ground between combat sports and football. Usman sees it in tenacity. There’s no difference for him between standing in the cage after a lost round or conceding a goal in the opening minutes. Footballers who give everything for all 90 minutes and fighters who keep attacking until the final seconds of the fifth round are cut from the same cloth.

Football and Hollywood

And yet, with all due respect to the number one sport, the Nigerian Nightmare doesn’t miss an opportunity to joke. In Usman’s opinion, modern football has at times become too theatrical and some moments on the pitch feel like movie scenes. He is quick to add, though, that this tournament could well change his mind.

That’s who Kamaru Usman is – a man who sees sport as the ultimate test of will. And watching as a new chapter in football history is being written right before our eyes, you realize: It doesn’t matter whether you’re wearing six-ounce gloves or football boots. Discipline, relentless belief, and readiness to go all the way are the only currency that earns the greatest trophies.