2026 PREDICTIONS AND WHO TO WATCH

A World Cup awaits and there is plenty more you can look forward to in what promises to be a stunning sporting year

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What sporting event am I most looking forward to in 2026? It creeps up unannounced, with little fanfare and with little British optimism, but the Winter Olympics - held this year in Milan and Cortina D'Ampezzo - never fails to enthral. And this time around, Team GB has a serious chance of winning a couple of medals. Look out for teenage snowboarder Mia Brookes.

Can England's men really win the World Cup this time? Yes, they can. But no, they won't. Thomas Tuchel has a very good squad at his disposal but it will still be found wanting in certain areas. The reliance on Harry Kane is a cause for concern and even though they did not concede a goal in qualification, the defensive unit will be exposed by blue-chip opposition.

Which individual could make 2026 the best year of their career? On his home track, The Open will be confirmation that Tommy Fleetwood has the potential to be the best golfer in the world. But a victory at Royal Birkdale might not be his first Major win. With his American jinx well and truly broken, the affable Southport golfer is a very good bet for the Masters, too.

What do I want to see more of in sport in 2026? Free-to-air action. The World Cup is great for many reasons but one of the main ones is that everyone can watch it without having to fork out for subscription television. One day, sports executives are going to wake up to the idea that it is not always the best option to sell your soul to the highest TV bidder.

What do I want to see less of in sport in 2026? Simple. Cheating. It has always been there in sport but it has never been more prevalent. And in football, in particular, it has become a default mode. Goalkeepers pretending to be injured, players collapsing at the brush of a hand, squealing, screaming, diving. If VAR is useful for one thing, it should be to punish cheats.

JEREMY CROSS