Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer

Image source, Getty Images

George - Q for Phil. How set are Fifa on having this number of teams? Is this a trial/could it revert back to the 32 teams? I think we will see group stage fatigue as the fans wait for more meaningful games.

Hi, George. I think there is more chance of it being increased than reduced - although maybe not for a while. Once Fifa makes these decisions they are rarely, if ever, reversed. It will be 48 from now on. Whether group stage fatigue sets in depends on the quality of the games.

Now, it's that time again!

BBC Sport's chief football writer Phil McNulty is here to answer all of your World Cup questions for the next couple of hours.

Just use the 'Get Involved' button at the top of this page and remember to mark your questions for Phil's attention.

Chris Sutton
Former England forward

Sutton's pre-tournament picks: England (winners) and Ghana (runners-up). Croatia to finish third and Panama fourth.

England v Croatia: 2-0

Ghana v Panama: 2-1

Image source, Getty Images

England captain Harry Kane might be the most inform striker going into the tournament after scoring 54 goals for Bayern Munich this season and so, like every tournament he's played in, is one to watch.

Besides the 32-year-old, World Cup debutant Elliot Anderson is another one to keep an eye on. The Nottingham Forest midfielder had the most touches (3,300), won the most duels (297) & won the most possession (306) of any top-flight player during a season in which he had to deal with the death of his mother.

For Croatia, it's no other than legend Luka Modric. Now 40, the midfielder continues to drive standards and direct play for club and country. The man in the mask – which he's expected to wear to protect a fractured cheekbone – won the 2018 Ballon d'Or and is Croatia's greatest player of all time.

Ghana's leading man is Manchester City winger Antoine Semenyo. His dream season culminated in him scoring one of the great FA Cup final goals in May. The two-footed winger became only the second man after Andy Cole to score 10 or more goals in all competitions for two different teams within the same Premier League season.

Adalberto Carrasquilla is Panama's midfield orchestrator. His poise, athleticism and high technical level were recognised when he became the first Panamanian to win Concacaf's Men's Player of the Year award in 2024. Known as 'Coco', the 27-year-old was injured playing for his Mexican club in May and could miss the start of the tournament.

Image source, Getty Images

Is it coming home? Who knows. But the perfect first step would be topping Group L.

Ranked number four in the world, a team full of young talent led by Ballon d'Or contender Harry Kane and a Champions League winning coach - this might be one of England's best opportunities.

But you'd expect 11th in the world Croatia to put up the biggest challenge to that top spot. Their aging squad has all the experience to progress far this year following successive World Cup runners-up and third-place finishes.

And of course we can't forget the heartbreak they caused England fans in 2018. Led by Luka Modric, Croatia knocked Gareth Southgate's side out of the semi-finals to stop the Three Lions reaching their first World Cup final since 1966. Although, England have remained undefeated against them since.

While Panama make their return after eight years and Antoine Semenyo's Ghana, led by new and experienced coach Carlos Quieroz, make for interesting ties in Group L.

England

World ranking - 4

World Cup appearances - 17

World Cup best performance - champions (1966)

Croatia

World ranking - 11

World Cup appearances - 7

World Cup best performance - runners-up (2018)

Ghana

World ranking - 74

World Cup appearances - 5

World Cup best performance - quarter-finals

Panama

World ranking - 33

World Cup appearances - 2

World Cup best performance - group stage

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Another obvious place to look is Portugal's captain Cristiano Ronaldo but it would be a disservice to not shine a light on Paris St-Germain's Vitinha.

The former Wolves misfit has evolved into the midfield metronome for back-to-back European champions Paris Saint-Germain and will be a key man for Portugal. The Champions League final man of the match came third in last year's Ballon d'Or.

For Congo DR, Sunderland's Noah Sadiki has added dynamism to his country's midfield since earning his first cap in September 2024. The 21-year-old has also been a revelation in the Premier League this season with his energy, athleticism and ball-carrying ability.

Another Premier League breakthrough is Manchester City centre-back Abdukodir Khusanov for debutants Uzbekistan. The rapid defender is feted in his homeland, with jerseys featuring his name and number available at bazaars across the country.

While all eyes are on Luis Diaz in Colombia. He was their top scorer in qualifying with seven goals and has been in blistering form for Bayern Munich, registering 26 goals and 19 assists in his first season in Germany.

Image source, Getty Images

Is this Cristiano Ronaldo's last chance?

Portugal are heavy favourites to win Group K but in a team brimming with talent including Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes and Paris St-Germain's Vitinha, it's still 41-year-old Ronaldo who steals the headlines.

The biggest threat to that top spot is 13th ranked Colombia. Bayern Munich's Luis Diaz will be leading the charge from the front in his first World Cup alongside veteran James Rodriguez, but a wobbly end to their qualifying campaign might be playing on their minds.

Congo and debutants Uzbekistan are closely ranked at 46th and 50th in the world respectively and on paper, will be looking at finishing as one of the best third placed teams. But then you never know what to expect from a debut side.

Chris Sutton
Former England forward

Sutton's pre-tournament picks: Colombia (winners) and Portugal (runners-up). DR Congo to finish third and Uzbekistan fourth.

Portugal v DR Congo: 2-1

Uzbekistan v Colombia: 0-1

Portugal

World ranking - 5

World Cup appearances - 9

World Cup best performance - third (1966)

Congo DR

World ranking - 46

World Cup appearances - 2

World Cup best performance - group stage

Uzbekistan (debut)

World ranking - 50

World Cup appearances - debut

Colombia

World ranking - 13

World Cup appearances - 7

World Cup best performance - quarter-finals

Image source, Getty Images

Chris Sutton
Former England forward

Sutton's pre-tournament picks: Argentina (winners) and Austria (runners-up). Algeria to finish third and Jordan fourth.

Argentina v Algeria: 2-1

Austria v Jordan: 2-0

Algeria finishing above defending champions Argentina to top group J is a huge shout, Guy.

Argentina

World ranking - 3

World Cup appearances - 19

World Cup best performance - champions (1978, 1986, 2022)

Algeria

World ranking - 28

World Cup appearances - 5

World Cup best performance - round of 16

Austria

World ranking - 24

World Cup appearances - 8

World Cup best performance - third (1954)

Jordan (debut)

World ranking - 63

World Cup appearances - debut

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

BBC Sport's TV and radio football pundits and co-commentators have predicted who will win the world cup...

Danny Murphy: It's hard to look past France with the firepower they have, when you think about extra time in hot weather against tired legs.

The likes of Rayan Cherki, Ousmane Dembele and Desire Doue can't all start, but they can be gamechangers if they come on after 70 minutes in 30 degrees heat.

Alan Shearer: France, but there's a caveat that comes with it - only if there is no in-house fighting. With the ability they have in forward positions, two or three big players are going to be left out every game, so it will come down to whether they cope with that in the right way.

Paul Robinson: The only thing that stops France from winning it is France. They will need a harmonious dressing room.

Read the rest of the BBC Sport team's predicitions here.

Image source, Getty Images

No prizes for guessing that France - ranked as the number one team in the world - are the favourites in Group I. Let's focus on who will the the favourites to finish in second place.

Senegal and Norway will perhaps be the two sides fighting it out for the other guaranteed spot in the knockout stage. Both squads have a mixture of players who are regulars in Europe's elite leagues and players who will be looking to announce themselves to the world this summer - but who will finish higher?

The Taranga Lions, led by Sadio Mane, are higher-ranked team, and performed well in the controversial Africa Cup of Nations tournament just a few months ago - but Norway, led by world class striker Erling Haaland, Premier League-winning captain Martin Odegaard, amongst others, will have plenty of firepower to make it out of their group - ut admittedly have far less recent World Cup experience than Senegal. The match between the two sides on 23 June could decide their fate.

Iraq, who were the last team to qualify for this tournament, will be looking to cause a big upset in group I. Qualfication to the knockout stage would automatically become their best ever World Cup finish.

Image source, Getty Images

BBC Sport's TV and radio football pundits and co-commentators have predicted who will win the world cup...

Ellen White: Well, obviously I want England to win it. That's what I am going with, but if that wasn't to happen then France have a very good squad.

Tony Pulis: It's ridiculous that there are 48 teams, and 40 more games than last time. Fair play to all the countries that are going, everyone will enjoy it, but football at this level is now being used as a cash cow.

I've got Argentina, Brazil, France, England, Morocco, Portugal, Spain and Senegal as my quarter-finalists. My pick to win it? France.

Chris Sutton: Spain are an outstanding team but I've gone for France to win the past two World Cups and I wasn't far wrong.

Read the rest of the BBC Sport team's predicitions here.