KEPRI – The 23rd edition of the FIFA World Cup in 2026 is eagerly awaited, especially by debutant nations such as Uzbekistan, Jordan, Curaçao, and Cape Verde. These new entrants are expected to fight hard to secure points or at least find the back of the net.
The all-time top scorer record is still held by Miroslav Klose of Germany, with 16 goals. Both Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe still have the opportunity to add to their goal tallies during the tournament.
“As we know, the national team led by the ‘flea’, Lionel Messi, is grouped with Austria, Algeria, and Jordan. This presents a good opportunity when facing Jordan, who are newcomers,” said Kepri football analyst Chris Triwinasis on Sunday (7 June 2026).
He noted that Mbappe needs four more goals to equal Klose’s record. The competition in France’s group is expected to be tight, with teams like Norway featuring striker Erling Haaland, and Algeria representing Africa, who surprisingly managed to defeat other strong European sides.
The Netherlands edged out Algeria 1-0, while another Asian representative, Iraq, managed to hold Spain to a 1-1 draw in a friendly match ahead of the 2026 World Cup. The battle for the Golden Boot will not be the only highlight, as goalkeepers will also face intense challenges, especially during the knockout rounds where penalty shootouts could become decisive.
Top goalkeepers such as Emiliano Martinez (Argentina), Manuel Neuer (Germany), Thibaut Courtois (Belgium), Jordan Pickford (England), and Diogo Costa (Portugal) are expected to shine in the tournament.
“It will also be interesting to observe the coaches’ performances. The average age of the managers ranges from 45 to 55 years. However, Dick Advocaat, at 78, is the oldest among them. It might be difficult for him to make a breakthrough since the team he manages, Curaçao, are newcomers,” he explained. He also mentioned that successful coaches who were also great players, such as Didier Deschamps, have placed themselves alongside legends like Franz Beckenbauer of Germany.
“If France wins the championship this year, the French coach will cement his legacy as one of the most successful figures both as a player and as a manager,” he added.
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