Khabib Nurmagomedov picks Germany to win 2026 World Cup

Retired UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov has weighed in on the 2026 FIFA World Cup, backing Germany to lift the trophy despite not supporting them personally.

Nurmagomedov told Okko Sport that Germany remains the top contender for the title, with Netherlands finishing second and Spain taking third place, according to a translation posted by Red Corner MMA. "Who will win the World Cup? Germany. I am not rooting for them, but I think Germany is the number one favorite," he said.

Khabib's top scorers and personal favorite

The undefeated former champion expects the tournament's leading goal scorers to come from elsewhere. His top five includes Kylian Mbappe of France, Argentina's Lautaro Martinez, Brazil's Vinicius Jr., Portugal's Joao Felix, and England's Harry Kane. "Let me give you my Top 5," Nurmagomedov said. "It's Mbappé, Lautaro Martínez, Vinícius, João Félix. And we can also go with Kane."

Rather than backing a traditional powerhouse, Nurmagomedov is throwing his support behind Uzbekistan, which qualified for the World Cup for the first time this cycle. The Dagestan native said he received invitations to all of Uzbekistan's matches and may attend the semifinals and final. "The whole team is hungry," he told Okko Sport.

Nurmagomedov retired from MMA in 2020 with a perfect 29-0 record after defending his lightweight belt three times.

Reported via:

• Sherdog — Ex-UFC champion shares prediction for FIFA World Cup