VanEck and Global X go head-to-head to build the ultimate ETF portfolio for 2026

Please note this panel was recorded on 9 December 2025.

Cricket is a team game made up of individuals. 

But picking the best playing squad isn't always as simple as choosing the best eleven players. It's about putting together a team of top performers with complementary strengths and the ability to nullify each other's weaknesses.

In that sense, a great cricket team is like a well-diversified investor portfolio.

And that was the challenge we put to two of Australia's leading ETF providers - picking a diversified lineup of 11 ETFs that are set up to deliver for long-term growth investors in 2026. 

Our two team captains were VanEck's Jamie Hannah and Global X ETFs' Marc Jocum, who each brought some of their big hitters (and more cricket metaphors than you can shake a stump at). 

We've summarised their selections below, but make sure to watch the video above to get their thoughts and insights on how they chose their lineups, and their general outlook on 2026. 

How it works

The rules were simple. Our two captains needed to select 11 ETFs to cover the following roles:

• The top order - The ETFs tasked with piling on the runs and driving the growth.
• The middle order - The ETFs delivering stability and value.
• The all-rounders - The ETFs offering utility that can be flexible as conditions change.
• The bowlers - The ETFs protecting your hard-earned returns.
• The wildcard - To make things even more interesting, the eleventh pick for each captain had to be an ETF from the other team.

They also needed to set their field: the areas of the market they're allocating to and why. 

And that's where we'll start. 

At first glance, there's not too much to separate the two.

Both VanEck and Global X are allocating 40% to international shares and 10% to emerging markets.

Global X is going slightly heavier on Australian shares (30% vs 20%), with VanEck leaning more on bonds (20% vs 10%).

Where they differ is in alternative allocations. Global X has a bigger allocation to gold (7%) and includes Bitcoin and commodities. 

By comparison, VanEck is allocating to infrastructure. 

Now to the lineups. 

VanEck's XI

The biggest allocations are the VanEck MSCI International Quality ETF (ASX: QUAL) and VanEck Australian Equal Weight ETF (ASX: MVW), which provide the lion's share of international and Australian share exposure, respectively. 

Those are backed up by the VanEck MSCI International Growth ETF (ASX: GWTH) and VanEck MSCI International Small Companies Quality ETF (ASX: QSML) as the growth drivers.

The value component of the portfolio is coming from VanEck MSCI International Value ETF (ASX: VLUE), with one all-rounder in the form of VanEck MSCI Multifactor Emerging Markets Equity ETF (ASX: EMKT).

In terms of bond allocation, it's an even split between VanEck Australian Subordinated Debt ETF (ASX: SUBD) and VanEck 10+ Year Australian Government Bond ETF (ASX: XGOV). 

Gold exposure, which makes up 5% of VanEck's total allocation, is delivered by the VanEck Gold Bullion ETF (ASX: NUGG).

To provide the infrastructure exposure, Hannah has gone with the VanEck FTSE Global Infrastructure (AUD Hedged) ETF (ASX: IFRA). 

For their wildcard, Hannah has selected the Global X Semiconductor ETF (ASX: SEMI). He says semiconductors are "almost like an infrastructure play" given their ubiquity. 

"Everything requires semiconductors. Everything in the world these days is just wanting more and more out of semiconductors."

Global X's XI 

Taking a more granular approach to its international share exposure, Global X has selected Global X FANG+ ETF (ASX: FANG), Global X China Tech ETF (ASX: DRGN) and Global X Japan TOPIX 100 ETF (ASX: J100) to deliver growth. 

"Our view is to go global and go growth."

Value and stability comes from Global X S&P World ex Australia GARP ETF (ASX: GARP) and Global X S&P Australia GARP ETF (ASX: GRPA), which account for 20% and 15% of the overall allocation respectively. 

Elsewhere, the Global X S&P/ASX 200 Covered Call Complex ETF (ASX: AYLD) and Global X Australian Bank Credit ETF (ASX: BANK) are looking to provide the income. 

The all-rounders are Global X Artificial Intelligence Infrastructure ETF (ASX: AINF) and Global X Battery Tech & Lithium ETF (ASX: ACDC), offering exposure to two of the biggest thematics in markets at the moment. 

Gold, which is given a 7% allocation by Global X, is covered by the Global X Physical Gold ETF (ASX: GOLD).

For their wildcard, Jocum has gone with the VanEck Australian Long Short Complex ETF (ASX: ALFA), which offers an actively-managed, high conviction Australian equities strategy. 

2026 outlook

We also asked our team captains for the key signals they expect to shape markets next year.

According to Marc Jocum, Global X are "selectively bullish" on 2026. "People need to be a bit selective with how they position for growth," he said. "Adding a little bit of a quality bias and paying attention to valuations is going to be quite important." 

AI was the dominant story in 2025, and Jocum thinks that should continue into 2026, even if the opportunities in that sector evolve. "One area that investors need to look at for next year is what's going to be that next leg up in AI. We feel it's going to be around the infrastructure side and the energy supply side as well." 

The focus may also shift from spending to earnings, and he believes 

"Whilst all these hyperscalers have been spending at all costs, now it's going to be around accountability. Who's going to be earning the most?"

For VanEck's Jamie Hannah, 2026 could be a story of divergence between Australia and the US.

What do you think?

Which ETF lineup do you think will win in 2026? And what ETFs are you expecting to deliver outperformance?