Vanessa Huppenkothen, the Mexican model and ESPN presenter covering the 2026 World Cup, has confidently predicted that Mexico will win the tournament, sending a clear warning to England and other contenders. The 41-year-old, who has over 2.3 million Instagram followers, made the declaration after Mexico secured their place in the knockout stages.
Mexico's World Cup Journey
Mexico qualified for the round of 32 with a 1-0 victory over South Korea, following a 3-0 win against the Czech Republic in their final group match. They later defeated Ecuador 2-0 to advance. Huppenkothen took to social media after the Czech Republic game to state: "We’re going to win the World Cup."
One fan urged caution, replying: "I know it’s hard not to get excited and carried away, but I think everything should have a dose of reality. The national team shut me up—and millions more—and I hope it keeps doing so. At least the next match will be very winnable."
Career and Previous Ronaldo Rumours
Huppenkothen has been covering the World Cup for the third time in 2026, having previously worked on the 2018 and 2022 editions. Her first major assignment was the 2008 Summer Olympics. Her popularity surged in 2015 when rumours linked her to Cristiano Ronaldo after his breakup with Irina Shayk, with Spanish media reporting they had met during her visit to Spain.
She denied the claims at the time, writing on social media: "I don’t have the pleasure of knowing the current Ballon d’Or holder." Ronaldo, now 41, recently scored his first World Cup knockout goal in Portugal's 2-1 win over Croatia in the round of 32.
Impact on England
England, who are also competing in the 2026 World Cup, have been put on notice by Huppenkothen's bold prediction. Mexico is co-hosting the tournament alongside the United States and Canada, and the team is aiming for a deep run under manager Javier Aguirre.
