World Cup 2026 Prediction: Argentina No. 1, England Above Brazil
Sports Illustrated ranks Argentina No. 1 for the 2026 World Cup, with Spain and France close behind. England under Thomas Tuchel are favored after keeping a clean sheet in qualifying, while Brazil and Germany are cause for concern.
Argentina are the favourites to win the 2026 World Cup, according to Sports Illustrated, with Spain and France close behind. England are highly rated under coach Thomas Tuchel for their clean sheets in qualifying, while Brazil and Germany are questionable in terms of form. The tournament, which will be held in the US, Mexico and Canada, will be expanded to 48 teams.
World Cup 2026 candidate rankings according to Sports Illustrated
| Class | Team | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Argentina | World champions; Lionel Messi and Lionel Scaloni's system form the foundation. |
| 2 | Spain | Nations League and Euro 2024 champions under Luis de la Fuente; Lamine Yamal, Nico Williams explode. |
| 3 | France | Didier Deschamps' deep squad, effective pragmatic play; featuring Kylian Mbappe and Michael Olise. |
| 4 | Older brother | Under Thomas Tuchel; no goals conceded in qualifying; Euro 2020, 2024 finalists. |
| 5 | Portugal | DNA champion (Euro 2016, Nations League); Cristiano Ronaldo is supported by Bruno Fernandes, Vitinha, Rafael Leao. |
| 6 | Brazil | 5 times champion; not in the final since 2002; Carlo Ancelotti leads, attack line Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo, Raphinha. |
| 7 | Virtue | Declining since 2018; eliminated from the group stage in 2018, 2022; Euro 2024 quarter-finals; Julian Nagelsmann still has many problems. |
| 8 | Netherlands | Under Ronald Koeman; lacking a classy No. 9, defense needs improvement; Euro 2024 semi-finals are the fulcrum. |
| 9 | Uruguay | Marcelo Bielsa is a force to be reckoned with; has beaten Argentina and Brazil in qualifying; dark horse potential. |
| 10 | IDEA | Missed the last 2 World Cups but won Euro 2020; Gennaro Gattuso replaced Luciano Spalletti; waiting for play-off. |
Why is Argentina ranked number 1?
The Qatar title reshuffled the pecking order and gave Argentina the confidence of a champion. Lionel Messi completed his trophy collection, and the 2026 World Cup could be his last big stage. More importantly, Lionel Scaloni has assembled a balanced system that has allowed La Albiceleste to maintain their composure in knockout matches. According to Sports Illustrated, that is the foundation for them to start as top contenders.
Chasing group: Spain and France
Luis de la Fuente's Spain enter the new cycle with two consecutive titles in the Nations League and Euro 2024. The combination of a solid defense, disciplined midfield and an energetic attack with Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams makes La Roja look more complete after three World Cups that stopped at the round of 16.
France have the most depth and quality. Although Didier Deschamps opts for a pragmatic style of play, their efficiency in cup competitions makes Les Bleus a formidable force. Individuals who can decide matches like Kylian Mbappe and Michael Olise keep them as serious contenders.
England under Thomas Tuchel
Sports Illustrated noted a promising start: England did not concede a goal in qualifying, a sign of a solid defensive structure. Combined with their run to the Euro 2020 and 2024 finals and a close performance against France in the 2022 World Cup quarter-finals, the Three Lions are considered closer to the title.
Which door for Portugal and Brazil?
Portugal has the DNA of a champion after Euro 2016 and the Nations League. Cristiano Ronaldo is still the spiritual leader, while Bruno Fernandes, Vitinha, and Rafael Leao form a quality support layer. However, the achievement of not going beyond the quarterfinals in the last four World Cups and the question mark over coach Roberto Martinez are barriers they need to overcome.
Brazil are always favourites with the five stars on their shirts, but they haven't been to the final since 2002. Carlo Ancelotti's presence brings with it the hope of cup competition, and the attack of Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo and Raphinha is capable of breaking through. The problem is converting that resource into a stable team.
Question marks for Germany, Netherlands, Uruguay and Italy
- Germany: Two group stage exits in the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, and the quarter-finals of Euro 2024 show a slowdown. Julian Nagelsmann needs to find a solution for his defensive system and goalkeeper position, despite having a bright spot like Florian Wirtz.
- Netherlands: Ronald Koeman has many stars (including Liverpool's quartet), but lacks a top striker and stability in defensive organization.
- Uruguay: Marcelo Bielsa fanned the flames with two wins against Argentina and Brazil in qualifying, reminding La Celeste's identity ready for the dark horse role.
- Italy: The Euro 2020 crown sandwiched between their two absences is proof of their unpredictability. Under Gennaro Gattuso and with the play-offs on the horizon, the Azzurri could still be dangerous if they qualify.
The above rankings reflect Sports Illustrated's current assessment as the 2026 World Cup approaches and the 48-team format opens up a more dramatic race than ever.
