Santa Clara U23 Overview

The 2026 World Cup is underway and so is the race for the prestigious Golden Boot - the award given to the tournament's top scorer. There's a long road ahead as 48 nations battle for the top prize, but which star will take home the illustrious award? Here are GOAL's predicted candidates for the prize as we keep track of the tournament's most prolific stars

The 2026 World Cup is finally underway as all 48 teams begin to fight it out for the universally coveted trophy. While the collective prize is the main objective for all competitors, some will be hoping to make their claim as the best player of the entire tournament. But who are the top contenders and who is leading the race for the prestigious Golden Ball?

Explore the latest World Cup 2026 winner odds, favorites, underdogs and betting insights ahead of the tournament as tournament gets underway in the group stages.

Spain have received a significant fitness boost ahead of the 2026 World Cup with Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams returning to full training. The dynamic duo had been major doubts for the tournament opener, but their presence at the team's base camp suggests they are ready for the big stage.