With the 2026 World Cup here, it’s time to rank all 48 teams from 48 to 1 based on how likely they are to win it all.
MORE — Daily schedule for 2026 World Cup
We will update this ranking throughout the tournament, as things will change pretty drastically during the largest World Cup in history.
- You can watch every single 2026 World Cup game live across Universo, Telemundo and Peacock en Espanol, here.
Below we rank all 48 teams at the 2026 men’s World Cup and group them into categories of how likely they are to win it all.
2026 World Cup rankings for all 48 teams
The minnows
48. Jordan
47. Curacao
46. Tunisia
45. South Africa
44. Panama
43. Iraq
42. New Zealand
41. Haiti
40. DR Congo
39. Uzbekistan
38. Qatar
37. Cape Verde
These teams are delighted to be in the tournament and the likes of Haiti, Cape Verde and South Africa are all capable of springing upsets. There are also four teams in this group who will be experiencing the World Cup for the first time (Jordan, Cape Verde, Curacao and Uzbekistan) so don’t rule out that historic moment leading to them rising to the occasion and getting some shock results.
And we saw that with Cape Verde drawing against Spain in an almighty upset, with the Blue Sharks giving hope to all the minnows in this tournament that they are just going to be feasted on by the big boys.
The upstarts
36. Saudi Arabia
35. Ghana
34. Iran
33. Paraguay
32. Czechia
31. Bosnia and Herzegovina
30. Algeria
29. Switzerland
28. Australia
27. Ivory Coast
26. Egypt
25. Sweden
Okay, so this group of teams is really interesting and has the most potential to climb much higher in our rankings. When it comes to Sweden and Egypt, they have some superstar forwards but have to stay solid at the back. If they can do that then Gyokeres/Isak for Sweded and Salah/Marmoush for Egypt will make the difference and lead them out of the group.
As for Czechia, Ivory Coast, Ghana and Paraguay, they are used to punching above their weight and have a couple of brilliant players each who can deliver special moments. Switzerland were very disappointing as they drew 1-1 with Qatar in their opener and their lack of a top striker to finish chances will cost them a deep run as they also look a bit shaky at the back.
They may not win it, but one team from this group has the potential to get to the quarterfinals.
The potential darkhorses
24. Uruguay
23. Canada
22. South Korea
21. Ecuador
20. Austria
19. Scotland
18. Norway
17. Mexico
16. Croatia
15. Colombia
14. Turkiye
13. USA
In the case of Scotland they are in a very tough group with Brazil and Morocco but after beating Haiti in front of the Tartan Army in Boston, they’re in a great spot. If they can get out of the group, nothing should really scare them in the knockout rounds and they will go far. Heung-min Son’s South Korea got off to a great start by beating Czechia and were great value for it in attack. If they can defend set pieces better, they will surprise a few.
Now, all three co-hosts are in this group and rightly so due to their groups being pretty easy. They all have plenty of talented players and having home advantage at a World Cup always seems to work well. As they proved in their opening game hammering of Paraguay, the U.S. has the highest ceiling in terms of the talent of their team. Mexico look set to breeze through the group stage and are building confidence and momentum after they beat South Africa in their opener. Canada will be tough and determined and should make it out of the group if they can become more fluid in attack, which was their downfall in an opening draw against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Norway have no fear and are extremely dangerous with their talented attackers, Haaland, Sorloth, Nusa, Bobb and Odegaard to name a few, and Haaland is off and running already after a fine display in their win against Iraw. Colombia will be tough to break down and prefer a team-first approach, and there is a real chance a team from this group makes it to the semifinals, at least.
Ecuador’s qualifying campaign was incredible and they have some world-class defensive players, but they were poor in their defeat to Ivory Coast to open the tournament.
The legit darkhorses
12. Senegal
11. Japan
10. Brazil
9. Netherlands
8. Belgium
7. Germany
Could we see one of these teams winning it all? Definitely. Senegal have Sadio Mane leading the line and a whole host of bright young talents who already have a wealth of tournament experience. Japan were really good in their comeback draw against the Netherlands and they have so much quality in midfield and attack with a deep squad. Watch out for them. The Dutch were disappointing at the back against Japan and are still one top striker away from being among the favorites.
Germany are in transition but as they showed in their 7-1 hammering of Curacao, they have some exciting young players led by a smattering of world-class experience (Kimmich, Neuer, Rudiger, Sane and Havertz) and they will now be full of confidence. Belgium still have Kevin de Bruyne pulling the strings and Thibaut Courtois in goal with new stars like Jeremy Doku ready to stand tall.
Brazil struggled in their opener against Morocco, and now Carlo Ancelotti has to tweak the midfield and give them some extra energy. Brazil were lucky to get a draw in their group opener but perhaps it was a much-needed wake up call.
The favorites
6. Morocco
5. Portugal
4. Spain
3. England
2. Argentina
1. France
Morocco, the surprise package in 2022 in Qatar, look set to go on another deep run. They were sensational against Brazil, even after a few key injuries hit their preparations hard, and they have some very talented youngsters stepping up. Big time. So much energy and so fun to watch.
Portugal have so many wonderful midfield and wide players and if Roberto Martinez can manage the minutes of Cristiano Ronaldo properly, alongside getting the best out of Bruno Fernandes, they still have plenty of matchwinners.
England have plenty of those too and the difference for them this time is Thomas Tuchel is in charge and his sublime in-game management gives them hope they can finally win a major trophy again. Especially with Harry Kane in the form of his life.
Argentina and Lionel Messi are looking to repeat and Lionel Scaloni’s side are well set up defensively and have plenty of players to do Messi’s running and put chances on a plate for him. Which worked out well in their opening win against Algeria as Messi scored a hat trick and dazzled once again.
And then the reigning European champions Spain seem to have a great chance of going all the way, even without a proper striker which did bite them against Cape Verde as they had an off day. Spain will rotate their fluid midfield and attacking midfielders endlessly and that seems like it will be a really helpful en route to going all the way with teenager Lamine Yamal now ready to lead the charge after coming off the bench in the opener.
France are the clear favorites, for us, with Mbappe, Doue, Dembele, Olise and Cherki in attack and Didier Deschamps’ side just have too many wonderful attacking options to find ways to break through a deep block. As they proved against Senegal the longer the game went on. France’s best chance of winning it all will be to go with all-out attack.
