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The countdown is almost over. The 2026 FIFA World Cup is just around the corner, as football’s finest talents from every continent prepare to converge on the United States, Mexico, and Canada for what promises to be a spectacular festival of the sport. While some nations will simply aim to progress beyond the group stage, others will view anything short of lifting the trophy in late July as a disappointment. Fans are in for over five weeks of high-intensity football, with moments of joy and heartbreak in equal measure.

At GOAL, we pride ourselves on our football insights. Our team of writers and editors from both the UK and the U.S. have shared their thoughts and predictions for this monumental tournament. From potential surprise packages to possible underperformers, we’ve covered every angle of what could be the biggest World Cup in history.

We began by asking our experts to predict who they think will win the Golden Boot as the top scorer of the tournament. Here’s what they had to say…

‘Kane will stat-pad against Panama’

Mark Doyle: I was tempted to choose Cristiano Ronaldo, especially since he might secure the Golden Boot after just two matches against DR Congo and Uzbekistan. However, I’ve been disappointed before by the Portugal skipper, particularly at Euro 2024 when he failed to find the net even once! While I expect Kylian Mbappe to surpass Miroslav Klose as the all-time top scorer in World Cup history, I’m backing Harry Kane to win his second Golden Boot the same way he earned his first — by piling up goals against Panama!

‘Difficult to look past Mbappe’

Krishan Davis: It’s hard to look beyond Kylian Mbappe for this one. With Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo past their prime, the French superstar has the added incentive to chase records — including becoming the top scorer in World Cup history. Harry Kane could challenge him, but after looking fatigued at Euro 2024, I believe Mbappe has the upper hand, particularly after a much-needed rest due to injury late in the season.

‘Alvarez & Argentina should rack up the goals’

Alex Labidou: Most Golden Boot winners do their best work in the group stages. For Argentina, facing Jordan and Algeria provides the perfect opportunity to build a strong goal tally. That could give Julian Alvarez a commanding lead early in the tournament.

‘Kane is the man to beat’

Stephen Darwin: Whether this finally turns out to be England’s year remains to be seen, but when it comes to the Golden Boot race, Harry Kane remains the top pick. The Three Lions should score heavily in the group phase, with Kane on penalty duty — a crucial advantage. If Thomas Tuchel’s side make a deep run, Bayern Munich’s prolific forward is sure to amass an impressive goal count.

‘History there to be made by Mbappe’

Chris Burton: France are expected to go far again, meaning Kylian Mbappe will have plenty of chances to boost his tally. With the opportunity to overtake Olivier Giroud as France’s all-time leading scorer, Mbappe could make history. No player has ever won two World Cup Golden Boots — so why not Real Madrid’s No.10? If he starts strong, Didier Deschamps’ team will be tough to stop.

‘Haaland’s tally will be scary’

Tom Hindle: The obvious answer is Mbappe, but I’ll go with Erling Haaland. Despite a below-par season, the Manchester City striker still outscored everyone else in the Premier League. If he finds form early and Norway manage a few surprises, his goal total could be frightening — potentially enough to edge past Mbappe.

‘Kane can cope with the pressure’

Amee Ruszkai: After his stellar season with Bayern Munich, it’s hard to overlook Harry Kane. No one in the world is a more reliable finisher right now. With England’s favourable group-stage draw, Kane should get off to a strong start in the Golden Boot race. As England’s focal point, he has both the quality and composure to deliver under pressure.

‘Mbappe will be fired up’

Peter McVitie: After topping the goal charts in both La Liga and the Champions League, Kylian Mbappe will be eager to lead France to another World Cup final. He remains a consistent scorer for his country — eight goals in his last nine for Les Bleus — and he enters the tournament supported by a group that perfectly complements his style, along with a coach who fully trusts him.

‘Oyarzabal can fill his boots’

Tom Maston: Mikel Oyarzabal might not be the flashiest pick, but he has a real shot at the Golden Boot. Spain open their campaign against two of the weaker teams — Cape Verde and Saudi Arabia — before facing Uruguay, who recently conceded five goals to the United States. As Spain’s penalty taker, Oyarzabal could capitalise on shaky defences, especially after his best-ever scoring season with Real Sociedad. With Lamine Yamal’s creativity returning later in the tournament, the Euro 2024 final hero could benefit even more. It’s surprising more people didn’t pick him!

‘Mbappe’s legacy will be solidified’

Ryan Tolmich: Kylian Mbappe is clearly among the frontrunners for the Golden Boot, and if he wins it, he might even break the all-time World Cup scoring record. With two final appearances already, a 2022 Golden Boot, and the 2018 title, Mbappe is already cemented among the greats. A second Golden Boot this summer would further strengthen his legacy — and after a challenging season in Madrid, he’ll be eager to rise to the occasion.