Summary
The United States, Mexico, and Canada will host the first three-nation, 48-team World Cup in June and July 2026.
Spain is among the favourites following their Euro victory; Argentina, the reigning champs, faces stiff competition.
The expanded field and dark horses (Morocco, Egypt, Senegal, and Norway) make the 2026 World Cup unpredictable.
The path to the 2026 FIFA global Cup is well and fully on, with reigning global champions Argentina among the 28 nations that have officially secured their place in the tournament. From June 11 to July 19, the United States, Mexico, and Canada will host the world’s most watched international competition.
This will be the first World Cup hosted by three separate countries, as well as the first with 48 teams, following FIFA’s decision to expand the 32-team format. This has made it even more difficult to forecast who will win, like Lionel Messi’s Albiceleste in Qatar, who will surprise, like Morocco, and which footballing superpower would falter, like Germany did that year.
Having said that, we’ve looked at how nations from all continents are doing and how likely they are to win the World Cup. This includes those who have yet to qualify, as they are expected to be in the mix and competing for world championships next summer.
Ranking Factors
World Cup History — How previous nations did, including as record-holders Brazil and underperformers Belgium.
Recent Performance – Teams in or out of form as they prepare for the tournament.
Squad and Manager Quality – Consistent winners include freshly appointed Brazil manager Carlo Ancelotti and quality players such as Spain’s Lamine Yamal.
20-11 (Dark Horse)
As with any football tournament, there are dark horses who stand out before and throughout the campaign, such as Georgia, which received high plaudits for its performances at Euro 2024. Egypt could be the ones to watch next summer, having swept through their qualifying group with 26 points from ten games. Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush are a lethal combination that could give the opposition all sorts of issues.
England fans are well aware of Senegal’s threat, having fallen 3-1 to the African nation in a friendly at Wembley in June. Their roster is well-balanced, with Crystal Palace’s undervalued Ismaila Sarr leading the way.
Perhaps no underdog story in World Cup history has been more impressive than Morocco’s, which advanced to the semi-finals in the winter of 2022. Walid Regragui supervised victories over Spain and Portugal in a memorable campaign for the Atlas Lions, who won all eight qualifying games to claim a spot in next summer’s competition.
Some European teams, including an elderly Croatia team, will face less pressure than normal. It will most likely be Luka Modric’s final international appearance, and he will be keen to lead his side to victory after losing the 2018 World Cup final.
Norway is proving to be an appealing outside option for gamblers, as Erling Haaland and Martin Odegaard appear to have finally broken the Landslaget code. If the Premier League duo can lead their country to North America next summer, it will be their first appearance since 1998, but they are in good form, having recently defeated Romania 11-1.
While English fans frequently lament the Three Lions’ problems, there’s little denying that Belgians have had it considerably harder. Their ‘Golden Generation’ failed to capture a major title, and the Red Devils are still waiting for a significant victory on the big stage.
2026 FIFA World Cup Power Rankings:
Rank
Nation
Continent
11.
Colombia
South America
12.
Belgium
Europe
13.
Norway
Europe
14.
Croatia
Europe
15.
Denmark
Europe
16.
Morocco
Africa
17.
Switzerland
Europe
18.
Senegal
Africa
19.
Egypt
Africa
20.
Ecuador
South America
10Uruguay
Uruguay, the initial World Cup hosts and victors, are always difficult opponents and can occasionally surprise the odds, as they did in 1950 when they defeated Brazil in the final at the Maracana. You might argue that Celeste is the Atletico Madrid of South American football, but manager Marcelo Bielsa has them playing a completely different style of football.
Bielsa’s men finished fourth in the CONMEBOL qualifying table, winning seven of their 18 games, including victory over Brazil and Argentina. Federico Valverde of Real Madrid is his country’s engine, while Darwin Nunez has performed admirably while wearing the national colours.
Uruguay’s Past Five Results
Opponent:
Result:
Competition:
Date:
Uzbekistan (A
1-2
Friendly
13/10/2025
Dominican Republic (H).
1-0
Friendly
10/10/2025
Chile (A
0-0
CONMEBOL World Cup Qualifiers.
10/09/2025
Peru (H)
3-0
CONMEBOL World Cup Qualifiers.
05/09/2025
Venezuela (H)
2-0
CONMEBOL World Cup Qualifiers.
11/06/2025
9Italy
You never know what to expect from Italy, who can either battle their way to a spectacular World Cup victory or fail early on. The four-time winners, Gli Azzurri, haven’t competed in the last two tournaments, but they did win the European Championships in 2021.
Gennaro Gattuso succeeded Luciano Spalletti as the European nation sought a qualified Roberto Mancini replacement. However, despite having players like new Manchester City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma and Inter Milan midfielder Nico Barella, La Nazionale is no longer the behemoth it once was, as seen by the dearth of superstars in its team.
Italy’s Past Five Results
Opponent:
Result:
Competition:
Date:
Israel (H)
5-0
UEFA World Cup Qualifiers.
14/10/2025
Estonia (A)
1-3
UEFA World Cup Qualifiers.
11/10/2025
Israel (A
4-5
UEFA World Cup Qualifiers.
08/09/2025
Estonia (H)
5-0
UEFA World Cup Qualifiers.
05/09/2025
Moldova (H)
2-0
UEFA World Cup Qualifiers.
09/06/2025
8Germany
Julian Nagelsmann appeared to have Germany back on track last summer, when players such as Florian Wirtz and Jamal Musiala shone on home soil during the European Championship. Although they did not win, Die Nationalmannschaft’s excellent performances hinted that they will return to the finals of major championships.
However, it has not been easy for Nagelsmann and his team since the competition, as they lost to Portugal in the UEFA Nations League semifinals. A shocking 2-0 loss to Slovakia to begin their World Cup qualifying campaign has emphasised the need for further work to regain the dominant four-time World Cup-winning German sides of old.
Germany’s Past Five Results
Opponent:
Result:
Competition:
Date:
Northern Ireland (A
0-1
UEFA World Cup Qualifiers.
13/10/2025
Luxembourg (H)
4-0
UEFA World Cup Qualifiers.
10/10/2025
Northern Ireland (H).
3-1
UEFA World Cup Qualifiers.
07/09/2025
Slovakia (A
2-0
UEFA World Cup Qualifiers.
04/09/2025
France (H)
0-2
UEFA Nations League: Third Place Final
08/06/2025
7The Netherlands
Many consider the Netherlands to be one of the top contenders when a World Cup is on the horizon, and Ronald Koeman cannot be criticised for his team’s current qualification record. He has supervised five victories and one tie, including an 8-0 thrashing of Malta.
The Netherlands felt cheated after losing to England in the Euros semi-finals last summer, but Koeman’s team deserved a lot of credit. Tottenham’s new signing Xavi Simons is one of those shining for the Dutch, as is their fearsome defence, which includes Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk.
The Netherlands’ Last Five Results
Opponent:
Result:
Competition:
Date:
Finland (H)
4-0
UEFA World Cup Qualifiers.
12/10/2025
Malta (A
0-4
UEFA World Cup Qualifiers.
09/10/2025
Lithuania (A
2-3
UEFA World Cup Qualifiers.
07/09/2025
Poland (H)
1-1
UEFA World Cup Qualifiers.
04/09/2025
Malta (H)
8-0
UEFA World Cup Qualifiers.
10/06/2025
6Brazil
Everyone recalls where they were when Germany defeated Brazil 7-1 at the Mineirao in the 2014 World Cup semi-finals. Selecao was missing Neymar due to injury and was shamed in front of their own fans, a humiliation they may never recover from.
The aftermath of that humiliation has haunted the Brazilians, even during the ongoing CONMEBOL World Cup qualification campaign. They qualified for next summer’s tournament, but in a very frightening way, finishing fifth with eight victories and six losses.
Carlo Ancelotti’s appointment has been widely praised around the world, as the most successful international team in history has secured a proven winner. The Italian tactician has ventured into unknown territory by taking on a non-club position, but his close relationship with Real Madrid stars Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo could pay off.
Uruguay’s Past Five Results
Opponent:
Result:
Competition:
Date:
Japan (A
3-2
Friendly
14/10/2025
South Korea (A
0-5
Friendly
10/10/2025
Bolivia (A
1-0
CONMEBOL World Cup Qualifiers.
10/09/2025
Chile (H)
3-0
CONMEBOL World Cup Qualifiers.
05/09/2025
Paraguay (H)
1-0
CONMEBOL World Cup Qualifiers.
11/06/2025
5Portugal
If Cristiano Ronaldo is to complete his football career, it must be next summer, when the 40-year-old competes in his final World Cup campaign. There is little doubt that the five-time Ballon d’Or winner will lead Selecao das Quinas in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, and it is difficult to condemn him considering his career.
Aside from Ronaldo, Roberto Martinez’s Selecao might be a genuine handful, with a world-class roster that knows how to win tournaments after winning the Nations League. Their depth is remarkable, and their Spanish coach has settled into his post despite misgivings about his abilities to lead one of international football’s giants.
Portugal has made a strong start to their qualification campaign, and Ronaldo is still scoring goals. It’s easy to get carried away with the Euro 2016 victors, who were equally hyped for the 2022 World Cup and Euro 2024 but failed to deliver.
Uruguay’s Past Five Results
Opponent:
Result:
Competition:
Date:
Hungary (H)
2-2
UEFA World Cup Qualifiers.
14/10/2025
Ireland (H)
1-0
UEFA World Cup Qualifiers.
11/10/2025
Hungary (A
2-3
UEFA World Cup Qualifiers.
09/09/2025
Armenia (A)
0-5
UEFA World Cup Qualifiers.
06/09/2025
Spain (H.)
2-2 (5-3 with pens)
UEFA Nations League Final.
08/06/2025
4Argentina
When Argentina won the World Cup in Qatar, the majority of the football world came together to congratulate Lionel Messi on realising his dream of being champion with Abiceleste. Following his heroics, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner stated that honours and other trophies no longer mattered because he had reached the summit of his sport.
That is why Lionel Scaloni’s world champions face less pressure to successfully defend their title, and there are fewer expectations that they will do so. However, South American football’s blue and white stripes breezed through qualifying, winning 12 of 18 games.
Messi, 38, will most likely retire from international football in mid-July, and winning another World Cup would be more than a fairytale. He may also want to ensure that the younger generation, including Real Madrid’s summer addition Franco Mastantuono, is in a great position to continue dominating.
Argentina’s Past Five Results
Opponent:
Result:
Competition:
Date:
Puerto Rico (A
0-6
Friendly
15/10/2025
Venezuela (H)
1-0
Friendly
11/10/2025
Ecuador (A
1-0
CONMEBOL World Cup Qualifiers.
10/09/2025
Venezuela (H)
3-0
CONMEBOL World Cup Qualifiers.
05/09/2025
Columbia (H)
1-1
CONMEBOL World Cup Qualifiers.
11/06/2025
3England
Has England finally found a manager in Thomas Tuchel who can put an end to 60 years of suffering? While many fans criticise Gareth Southgate for his less-than-glamorous playing philosophy, it is undeniable that he fulfilled his country’s dreams with lengthy runs to two European Championship finals and a semi-final defeat to Croatia in the 2018 World Cup.
In 2022, The Three Lions could have won the title for the first time since 1966 if Harry Kane had not failed to score from 12 yards, a rare for their captain and all-time best striker.
Tuchel has made a good start, but he needs to rectify his lineup selection, like he did in the 5-0 hammering of Serbia. The German appears to have the confidence to make huge decisions, which should include leaving out one or two superstars to ensure he has a team that performs as a unit rather than just in big moments.
England’s Final Five Results
Opponent:
Result:
Competition:
Date:
Latvia (A
0-5
UEFA World Cup Qualifiers.
14/10/2025
Wales (H)
3-0
Friendly
09/10/2025
Serbia (A
0-5
UEFA World Cup Qualifiers.
09/09/2025
Andorra (H)
2-0
UEFA World Cup Qualifiers.
06/09/2025
Senegal (H)
1-3
Friendly
2France
It’s safe to assume that France has cooled down since their agonising penalty shootout loss to Argentina in the 2022 World Cup final. Les Bleus advanced to the semi-finals of the European Championships last summer, and they were quite fortunate to do so.
Didier Deschamps has declared that he will stand down as manager after the World Cup, with Zinedine Zidane being considered as a potential successor. He’d have a side packed with incredible talent, including captain Kylian Mbappe, Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembele, and Paris Saint-Germain wonderkid Desire Doue.
France is one of the greatest nations in world football, and like domestic champions, it can triumph even in disappointing circumstances. That is an invaluable asset for any side vying for the throne of international football, as tournament football is all about results rather than performances.
France’s Past Five Results
Opponent:
Result:
Competition:
Date:
Iceland (A
2-2
UEFA World Cup Qualifiers.
13/10/2025
Azerbaijan (H)
3-0
UEFA World Cup Qualifiers.
10/10/2025
Iceland (H)
2-1
UEFA World Cup Qualifiers.
09/09/2025
Ukraine (A
0-2
UEFA World Cup Qualifiers.
05/09/2025
Deutschland (A)
0-2
UEFA Nations League: Third-Place Final
08/06/2025
1Spain
Spain did not simply win Euro 2024; they declared that La Roja was once again the top footballing nation in the world. Luis de la Fuente’s team did it the hard way, overcoming France, Germany, Italy, and England on the path to victory.
While this Spanish side has a long way to go before it can compete with the golden generation, they are undoubtedly on their way to becoming one of history’s most acclaimed football teams. Lamine Yamal, 18, is just getting started, while Rodri, the Ballon d’Or winner, is one of De la Fuente’s many dominant midfield options.
Most bookies have Spain as the favourites to win the 2026 World Cup, and based on their current form and performance, we predict them to capture the golden trophy at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Spain’s Past Five Results
Opponent:
Result:
Competition:
Date:
Bulgaria (H)
4-0
UEFA World Cup Qualifiers.
14/10/2025
Georgia (H)
2-0
UEFA World Cup Qualifiers.
11/10/2025
Turkey (A)
0-6
UEFA World Cup Qualifiers.
07/09/2025
Bulgaria (A
0-3
UEFA World Cup Qualifiers.
04/09/2025
Portugal (A
2-2 (5-3 with pens)
UEFA Nations League Final.
08/06/2025
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