The football world is already preparing for the 2026 World Cup final, and one of the leaders of Donetsk's "Shakhtar", Valeriy Bondar, has shared his expectations for the tournament's main match. In an exclusive interview with RBC-Ukraine, the 27-year-old defender admitted that he dreams of a repeat of the 2022 World Cup final scenario, where the national teams of France and Argentina met.
Favorites according to Bondar
Bondar named two teams that, in his opinion, have every chance of winning the upcoming tournament. "If we talk about favorites, first of all, I will name the French national team. They are the main favorite for the World Cup. I will also name the Argentine team because I support them, and I would like them to reach the final and surely play against France again. It would be interesting to watch this final once more," the footballer noted.
Disappointment with Germany
Despite his optimism regarding France and Argentina, Bondar expressed disappointment with the performance of the German national team. "I expected more from Germany. Honestly, it seemed that they would reach later stages. It would have been interesting to watch a match between France and Germany, for example, in the round of 16," the Shakhtar defender admitted.
The road to the final
Bondar's prediction could come true if France and Argentina can overcome all obstacles on their way to the final. According to the tournament bracket, these teams will not cross paths before the decisive match. The winner of the France — Morocco tie will play against the winner of the Spain — Belgium tie, while the strongest from the Norway — England tie will face Argentina or Switzerland.
The 2026 World Cup promises to be exciting, and predictions from players like Valeriy Bondar only fuel fans' interest in the upcoming matches.
