With anticipation building toward the 2026 FIFA World Cup, global sports outlet ESPN has released its latest ranking of the top 10 favorites to lift the trophy, featuring a mix of traditional powerhouses and emerging contenders.
Topping the list is Spain, a nation that has won the World Cup once, in 2010. Spain’s recent resurgence, highlighted by strong performances in international competitions, signals a return to elite status. Their best-ever stage remains their title-winning campaign.
Ranked second is France, two-time world champions (1998, 2018), who reached the final of the 2022 edition, narrowly missing out on retaining their crown. France’s consistency at the highest level continues to make them a formidable force.
Defending champions Argentina sit third. With three World Cup titles (1978, 1986, 2022), Argentina head into 2026 with confidence after their recent triumph, their peak achievement being multiple title wins.
In fourth place is England, winners of the 1966 World Cup. England have shown steady progress in recent tournaments, reaching the semifinals in 2018 and the quarterfinals in 2022, with their best stage remaining their historic title run.
Five-time champions Brazil are ranked fifth. The most successful nation in World Cup history, Brazil last lifted the trophy in 2002. Despite falling short in recent editions, their legacy and talent pool keep them among the favorites.
Portugal take the sixth spot. Yet to win the World Cup, Portugal’s best performance came in 1966 when they finished third. In recent years, they have remained competitive, consistently reaching the knockout stages.
Seventh-ranked Germany boast four World Cup titles (1954, 1974, 1990, 2014). However, their recent struggles, including group-stage exits in 2018 and 2022, contrast sharply with their historically dominant record.
At number eight, the Netherlands remain in search of their first World Cup title. The Dutch have reached the final three times (1974, 1978, 2010), making them one of the strongest nations never to have won the tournament.
Ninth on the list is Morocco, who made history in 2022 by becoming the first African nation to reach the semifinals, a milestone that has boosted their global reputation and raised expectations ahead of 2026.
Rounding off the top 10 is Colombia. Colombia’s best World Cup performance came in 2014 when they reached the quarterfinals, and they continue to be viewed as a dangerous side capable of upsetting bigger teams.