The year 2026 will bring the biggest sporting events on the planet, attracting the attention of millions of people around the world. On February 6, the Winter Olympic Games will start in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo. The FIFA World Cup in North America will begin on June 11 in Mexico City and conclude on July 19 with the final match at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. List News tried to guess how the expected events would turn out.
Hockey players will chase the stars
At the Winter Olympics, we will see sixteen disciplines and athletes from more than 90 countries. The main focus will be on hockey, because for the first time since Sochi 2014, NHL players will also participate in the tournament. However, they too will probably have to get used to the size of the ice rink at the new stadium in Milan, which will reportedly be even smaller than the ones overseas. The Athletic reported that the IIHF approved an ice surface measuring 59 × 25.4 meters, which is more than a meter shorter than the NHL’s standard 60 × 24 meters.
Prognosis NO: The inflated team of Canada will win, the Czech Republic without a medal.
The Canadians will dominate as they did last year at the premiere 4 Nations Face-Off, where the world’s four best hockey nations with enough NHL players faced off. The Czech Republic was absent from the VIP event. It wouldn’t make the lineup. Canada defeated the USA in the final.
The Czech Republic will rely on offensive stars David Pastrňák and Martin Nečas at the games. Tomáš Hertl should also arrive in good form, but coach Radim Rulík will have far fewer players with a difference than the great powers, including the Swedes or Finns. And it will show. Especially defensively. The Czechs will have to rely on teamwork, speed, combativeness and try for a miracle. That would also be bronze.
The departure of the champion
Three-time Olympic champion in speed skating Martina Sáblíková is entering her last season of a highly successful career at the age of thirty-seven. “It seems to me that it went by very quickly, that now I will say goodbye to the sporting life. I am very sorry,” said the historically most successful Czech representative in winter sports.
Starting at the Olympic Games is a priority goal for her. “The main pressure is in me, but since I announced that I will quit. So the pressure from the Olympics is not increasing for me. This year, for me, it will be mainly about mental and not physical preparation. It is very difficult to say goodbye to the sport after 25 years,” admitted the seven-time Olympic medalist.
This year, the multiple world champion is also accompanied by a film crew documenting her last season. “It brings to the fore the places where I spend and have spent my sporting life and what it means to me. It’s a look back at what was,” she added.
Prognosis SZ: It will ring for the last time.
At last March’s world championships in Norway, she won a silver medal in the 3000 meters and fulfilled the traditional goal for big events – to get a plate.
Since 2007, she has never returned from the biggest competition without placing among the top three. He has 16 gold medals, seven silver and four bronze. With such a balance, he reigns in the historical tables. It will also be possible from their last games, the ice champion would deserve a stylish departure.
Thanks to Sáblíková as a role model and inspiration, another top speed skater with medal ambitions grew up in the Czech Republic. At the end of the year, Metoděj Jílek dominated the 5000 meters race in Hamar and claimed his second World Cup triumph. The 19-year-old representative broke the course record with a time of 6:07.582. He succeeded in the five kilometer race for the first time in his career. The week before in Heerenveen he dominated the top ten.
After 20 years at the football World Cup
Will the Czech footballers succeed in the March play-off and advance to the world championship after 20 years? It won’t be easy, but it won’t be unrealistic either. Above all, the home environment advantage can play an important role.
The national team needs to beat two more opponents in the spring. In the semi-finals of the play-off, they will first welcome Ireland, and in case of promotion, they will also play at home in the final against the better of the pair Denmark – North Macedonia. The Czech team is aiming for only the second participation in the World Cup in its separate history, since the division of the federation, it has appeared at the final tournament only in 2006 in Germany.
For the first time in history, 48 countries will participate in the final tournament in the USA, Mexico and Canada.
If the national soccer team advances to the World Cup from the play-offs in March, they will face one of the hosts Mexico, South Africa and South Korea in Group A. The national team would play two matches in Mexico and one in Atlanta, USA. He would enter the championship with a duel with Korea.
Prognosis SZ: It will work out, the Czech Republic will go to the tournament!
Even if the Irish with players from the Premier League will be a difficult obstacle at the beginning, the national team will be successful under the leadership of new coach Miroslav Koubek. And thanks to his well-known tactical training, he can also handle another opponent.
Spain rules not only Europe
Not only football dwarfs like Curaçao, but also nations that have been unable to make it to the FIFA World Cup for decades have enthusiastically welcomed a more viable 48-nation tournament system. Nothing against the stories of Jordan, Uzbekistan and others, but the main favorites remain the same – Argentina, Spain, France, England. Or will the launch surprise the Norwegians? What about Brazilians?
SZ prediction: The Spaniards will be golden.
Spain already showed its high level by winning Euro 2024. Ball control, dangerous lunges, great technique and tactics. If Lamine Yamal and his Barcelona team-mates stay fit, they will go for gold.
The computer believes in Liverpool, the reality will be different
Champions League defenders Paris St. Germain is once again among the biggest favorites for the valuable trophy. The final will take place in May in Budapest’s Puskás Arena.
Among the contenders for the trophy, Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Liverpool cannot be missing. The dark horse could then be Arsenal, who look excellent, strong.
Opta’s supercomputer, which uses a model based on betting market odds and the sports analytics company’s own ‘Power Rankings’, had the most faith in Liverpool ahead of kick-off, followed by Arsenal, PSG, Manchester City and Barcelona.
Prediction SZ: How about Bayern Munich? It’s worth the gamble.
The team was built specifically for the Champions League, it has no competition in the Bundesliga. The Bavarians should not be forgotten.
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