The 2026 World Cup is just around the corner, and the excitement is building. The Athletic has done the hard work for us, ranking the top 5 teams to watch. We're going to take a closer look at each of these teams and what makes them so special.
The Netherlands is the 5th ranked team, with a strong squad led by Liverpool captain Virgil Van Dijk. They've been quietly building a team that's matured at the same time, and it's starting to pay off. The Athletic notes that they've reached the latter stages of tournaments in recent years without having a group of players to get excited about, but that's no longer the case.
Brazil comes in at number 4, with a FIFA ranking of 6. They're overdue a World Cup win, and their manager Carlo Angelotti is a serial winner. He's got an impressive career across every top 5 league in Europe, and many people think his magic will apply well to Brazil. They could be a dark horse in the tournament.
France is ranked number 3, with a FIFA ranking of 1. On paper, they should probably win it, with a strong 11 and a whole squad full of enviable riches. Their depth is a big advantage, with the ability to bring in other players when there are injuries.
Argentina comes in at number 2, with a FIFA ranking of 3. They're the reigning champions from Qatar in 2022, and they've also won back-to-back Copa America titles in 2021 and 2024. They've got a lot of pedigree in terms of winning tournaments, and with the same manager and the same star player Lionel Messi, their status as favorites is deserved.
Finally, Spain is ranked number 1, with a FIFA ranking of 2. They weren't many people's top choice to win the 2024 European Championship, but they ended up being the best team in Germany. They've got an incredible array of young attacking talent that's still maturing, and it will take some effort to stop them.
