The 2026 FIFA World Cup is set to be the largest edition in the tournament’s history, with several nations harbouring genuine hopes of lifting the trophy.
This expanded World Cup will see 48 teams competing in 104 matches over a span of 39 days. The final will be held in New Jersey on Sunday, July 19, where one team will emerge as world champions.
As the tournament approaches, the key question remains: which top contenders are in the best condition? Here is how FourFourTwo ranks the top 10 teams preparing for battle across North America.
Belgium’s ‘Golden Generation’ peaked with their semi-final run at the 2018 World Cup, but many from that era are still part of this year’s squad. Veterans Thibaut Courtois, Kevin De Bruyne, and Romelu Lukaku are all past 30 but remain crucial figures, supported by younger talents such as Manchester City’s Jeremy Doku and Atalanta’s Charles De Ketelaere. Belgium should advance from a group that includes Egypt, Iran, and New Zealand, though they may need a favourable draw to progress deeper into the competition.
Norway’s new wave of talent, dubbed their ‘Golden Generation,’ is set to make headlines as the nation returns to the World Cup for the first time in 28 years. Led by Manchester City’s star striker Erling Haaland, Stale Solbakken’s squad also features Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard, Atletico Madrid’s Alexander Sorloth, and Borussia Dortmund’s Julian Ryerson. Norway impressed during qualifying, winning all eight matches and scoring 37 goals, but their group featuring France and Senegal will be a real test.
The Netherlands, three-time World Cup runners-up, will hope that 2026 finally brings them their first title. Their defence and midfield look particularly strong, with Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk, Tottenham Hotspur’s Micky van de Ven, and Manchester City’s Tijjani Reijnders expected to play key roles. While manager Ronald Koeman has fewer attacking options, the Euro 2024 semi-finalists should comfortably progress from a group containing Sweden, Japan, and Tunisia.
Germany’s once-feared tournament pedigree has been tarnished in recent years, with early exits in both 2018 and 2022. However, reaching the Euro 2024 quarter-finals on home soil hinted at a potential resurgence. The team boasts immense talent, including Bayern Munich’s Jamal Musiala and Joshua Kimmich, and Liverpool’s Florian Wirtz. Drawn alongside Ivory Coast, Ecuador, and Curacao, Germany are expected to top their group but must win their first World Cup knockout match since lifting the trophy in 2014 to restore their reputation.
Portugal enter the tournament with a squad full of world-class talent, but their biggest talking point remains Cristiano Ronaldo. At 41, he is set to compete in his sixth World Cup, though questions persist over whether Roberto Martinez’s side functions better without him. Portugal’s midfield—featuring Joao Neves, Vitinha, and Bruno Fernandes—is among the most gifted in the world. Matches against DR Congo, Uzbekistan, and Colombia should allow them to build confidence early on.
Reigning champions Argentina are rated only joint-fourth favourites to retain their crown. Lionel Scaloni’s squad remains largely unchanged since their triumph in Qatar, still led by stars such as Enzo Fernandez, Julian Alvarez, and the legendary Lionel Messi. The 39-year-old maestro continues to inspire belief, and with a relatively favourable group including Austria, Algeria, and Jordan, Argentina’s path to the knockout rounds looks smooth.
Brazil’s recent struggles have raised concerns that their dominance on the world stage is fading, with no final appearance since the 2002 triumph. Their fifth-place finish in South American qualifying added to those doubts, yet under the leadership of Carlo Ancelotti and with talents like Marquinhos, Raphinha, and Vinicius Junior, they remain formidable. Brazil’s group—featuring Morocco, Scotland, and Haiti—should not trouble them too much, and history favours them in tournaments held in the Americas, where they triumphed in 1962, 1970, and 1994.
England, having finished runners-up in the last two European Championships, turned to Thomas Tuchel in 2024 to finally end decades of frustration. The German manager will face his first true test when the Three Lions meet Croatia on June 17, followed by fixtures against Ghana and Panama. England’s hopes rest heavily on captain Harry Kane, who comes off a record-breaking goal-scoring season with Bayern Munich. If he continues that form, England could go deep into the tournament.
France are widely tipped as favourites to win a third World Cup title this summer, boasting extraordinary depth across the pitch. A front line of Desire Doue, Ousmane Dembele, Michael Olise, and Kylian Mbappe—with Rayan Cherki and Bradley Barcola waiting in reserve—illustrates their immense attacking power. Having lifted the trophy in 2018 and reached the final in 2022, Didier Deschamps will aim for one last triumph before stepping down. Their group of Senegal, Iraq, and Norway presents some challenges, but few doubt France’s ability to reach the latter stages.
Spain enter the tournament as reigning European champions after their impressive Euro 2024 victory in Germany and are considered the bookmakers’ favourites to win in North America. With top players like Lamine Yamal, Rodri, and Fabian Ruiz, their squad brims with quality, though injuries to Yamal and Nico Williams have been setbacks. Under Luis de la Fuente, Spain will look to build momentum against Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, and Uruguay in their group matches.
