World Cup 2026 Prediction: Argentina No. 1, England ahead of Brazil
Sports Illustrated ranked Argentina number 1 for the 2026 World Cup; Spain and France were close behind. England under Thomas Tuchel was praised for keeping clean sheets in the qualifiers, while Brazil and Germany raised concerns.
According to Sports Illustrated' rankings, Argentina is the top contender for the 2026 World Cup title, with Spain and France close behind. England is highly rated under coach Thomas Tuchel with a clean sheet record in the qualifiers, while Brazil and Germany's form is questionable. The tournament will take place in the USA, Mexico, and Canada, expanding to 48 teams.
Sports Illustrated' ranking of World Cup 2026 contenders.
| Class | Team | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hero | World champion Lionel Messi and Lionel Scaloni's system form the foundation. |
| 2 | Spain | Winning the Nations League and Euro 2024 under Luis de la Fuente; Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams are in explosive form. |
| 3 | France | Didier Deschamps' deep squad and effective, pragmatic playing style; featuring Kylian Mbappe and Michael Olise. |
| 4 | Older brother | Under Thomas Tuchel; clean sheet in qualifiers; reached the finals of Euro 2020 and 2024. |
| 5 | Portugal | DNA champions (Euro 2016, Nations League); Cristiano Ronaldo is supported by Bruno Fernandes, Vitinha, Rafael Leao. |
| 6 | Brazil | Five-time champions; haven't reached the final since 2002; managed by Carlo Ancelotti, attacking line-up includes Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo, and Raphinha. |
| 7 | Virtue | Declining since 2018; eliminated in the group stage in 2018 and 2022; quarter-final at Euro 2024; Julian Nagelsmann still has many challenges to overcome. |
| 8 | Netherlands | Under Ronald Koeman; lacking a top-class number 9, the defense needs improvement; the Euro 2024 semi-final is the springboard. |
| 9 | Uruguay | Marcelo Bielsa brings energy to the team; he beat Argentina and Brazil in the qualifiers; a potential dark horse. |
| 10 | IDEA | Missed the last two World Cups but won Euro 2020; Gennaro Gattuso replaces Luciano Spalletti; awaiting the play-offs. |
Why is Argentina ranked number 1?
The championship in Qatar reshaped the order and gave Argentina the confidence of a champion. Lionel Messi completed his collection of titles, and the 2026 World Cup could be his last major stage. More importantly, Lionel Scaloni has assembled a balanced system, helping La Albiceleste maintain their composure in knockout matches. According to Sports Illustrated, this is the foundation for them to start as top contenders.
The chasing pack: Spain and France
Luis de la Fuente's Spain entered a new era with two consecutive titles: the Nations League and Euro 2024. The combination of a solid defense, a disciplined midfield, and an energetic attack featuring Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams made La Roja look more complete after three World Cups where they were eliminated in the round of 16.
France possesses unparalleled depth and quality. Although Didier Deschamps opts for a pragmatic and effective style of play in cup competitions, Les Bleus remain a formidable force. Individuals capable of deciding matches, such as Kylian Mbappe and Michael Olise, maintain their status as strong contenders.
He is under Thomas Tuchel.
Sports Illustrated noted a promising start: England didn't concede a single goal in the qualifiers, a sign of a solid defensive structure. Combined with their journey to the Euro 2020 and 2024 finals and their close performance against France in the 2022 World Cup quarter-finals, the Three Lions are considered closer to winning the title.
Which door is open for Portugal and Brazil?
Portugal possesses the DNA of a champion after Euro 2016 and the Nations League. Cristiano Ronaldo remains the spiritual leader, while Bruno Fernandes, Vitinha, and Rafael Leao provide quality support. However, their failure to advance beyond the quarter-finals in the last four World Cups, along with the question marks surrounding coach Roberto Martinez, are obstacles they need to overcome.
Brazil has always been a favorite with its five stars on the jersey, but they haven't reached the final since 2002. Carlo Ancelotti's presence brings expectations of cup-winning prowess, and their attack, featuring Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo, and Raphinha, is powerful enough to penetrate any defense. The challenge lies in transforming those resources into a stable team.
Questions remain for Germany, the Netherlands, Uruguay, and Italy.
- Germany: Two World Cup group stage exits in 2018 and 2022, and quarter-final appearances at Euro 2024, show signs of stagnation. Julian Nagelsmann needs solutions for the defensive system and goalkeeping position, despite having bright prospects like Florian Wirtz.
- Netherlands: Ronald Koeman has many stars (including Liverpool's quartet), but lacks a top-class striker and consistency in defensive organization.
- Uruguay: Marcelo Bielsa ignited the team with two victories against Argentina and Brazil in the qualifiers, recalling La Celeste's identity and preparing them for the role of dark horse.
- Italy: Sandwiched between two absences is the Euro 2020 title, a testament to their unpredictability. Under Gennaro Gattuso and with a play-off spot ahead, the Azzurri can still be a threat if they qualify.
The aforementioned ranking reflects Sports Illustrated's current assessment as the 2026 World Cup approaches and the 48-team format opens up a more dramatic race than ever before.
