As the 2026 FIFA World Cup transitions from a thrilling group stage into the high-stakes knockout rounds, former Manchester United midfielder Roy Keane has made a bold prediction: a repeat of the 2022 final between France and Argentina. The group stage concluded on Sunday, June 28th, with most international football heavyweights successfully navigating their way into the Round of 32.

Keane, offering his punditry on ITV, cited by GiveMeSport, expressed little doubt about which two nations possess the quality and depth to go all the way. “I think Argentina and France are the teams that have the players and the good options,” Keane stated. “There’d be no surprise if they end up meeting in the final. I’d be surprised if they don’t meet in the final.”

France’s formidable path

France, aiming for what would be their third consecutive World Cup final appearance if Keane’s forecast holds true, have started their knockout campaign in commanding fashion. They dispatched Sweden with a comfortable 3-0 victory in the Round of 32. Central to their formidable attack is Kylian Mbappe, who is in red-hot form and currently battling Lionel Messi for the Golden Boot, with both stars having netted six goals apiece.

Didier Deschamps’ side is set to face Paraguay in the Last-16 on Saturday, July 4th, after Paraguay pulled off an upset by beating Germany on penalties. Should France advance, their quarter-final opponents on July 9th would be the winners of the Canada versus Morocco clash. Looking further ahead, their potential semi-final adversaries could include a host of European and African powerhouses:

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• Portugal

• Croatia

• Spain

• Austria

• USA

• Bosnia

• Belgium

• Senegal

Keane lauded the attacking prowess of the French squad, drawing parallels to other strong teams. “The French attacking players are as good as any,” he commented on ITV. “But then we saw that with Brazil. We’ve seen it with England’s main lads turning up against Panama.”

Argentina’s quest for back-to-back titles

On the other side of the bracket, reigning world champions Argentina, captained by the evergreen Lionel Messi, are gearing up for their Round of 32 fixture against Cape Verde on Friday. If the Albiceleste overcome Cape Verde, they could face either Australia or Egypt in the Round of 16 on July 7th. A victory there would set up a potential quarter-final on July 11th against Switzerland, Algeria, Colombia, or Ghana.

The path to the final for Argentina could see them squaring off against other tournament heavyweights in the semi-finals, including England or Brazil, both of whom are considered strong contenders. England, managed by Thomas Tuchel, won Group L and have already secured their spot in the Round of 16 by beating DR Congo 2-1, with Harry Kane scoring a brace.

The prospect of France and Argentina meeting in the final on July 19th, potentially at the New York New Jersey Stadium, would be a thrilling repeat of the unforgettable 2022 showpiece. That epic encounter saw Argentina triumph in a penalty shootout after a dramatic 3-3 draw, a match that cemented its place in World Cup history.

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