Ready or Not, Here Comes the Soccer Smorgasbord!
You better be because you know I am. I'm ready for 48 teams from around the globe to take part in what will be an epic party spread across three nations, including the United States. The World Cup is coming, and it's going to be a wild ride!
But let's get real. There are teams that are better than others. Some will have a legit shot at winning it all. And some will just enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
So now it's time to rank all 48 teams. And remember, these are my power rankings. If you don't like them, you can get your own.
1. France star Kylian Mbappé (Franck Fife/AFP via Getty Images)
Odds to win the World Cup: +500 (2nd)Key player: Striker Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid)
The combination of talent, depth and arrogance in this square … it's like a lethal French perfume. Manager Didier Deschamps' team has everything needed to send him off with a win this summer in his final major tournament in charge.
Group I opponents: Senegal (June 16), Iraq (June 22), Norway (June 26)
2. Spain star Pedri (Photo by David Aliaga/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Odds to win the World Cup: +460 (1st)Key player: Midfielder Pedri (Barcelona)
This is not your parents' Spain, which won the Euros twice and the 2010 World Cup. It's better. The Spaniards won Euro 2024 and have not lost since March 2024 — plus, only twice since the start of 2023.
Group H opponents: Cape Verde (June 15), Saudia Arabia (June 21), Uruguay (June 26)
3. England star Jude Bellingham (Joe Prior/Visionhaus via Getty Images)
Odds to win the World Cup: +700 (3rd)Key player: Midfielder Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid)
It pains me to say this, but this is the best England team in decades. With striker Harry Kane leading the attack and Bellingham and Declan Rice in midfield, this could be the year that England breaks through and wins a major international trophy.
Group L opponents: Croatia (June 17), Ghana (June 23), Panama (June 27)
4. Colombia playmaker James Rodriguez (Omar Vega/Getty Images)
Odds to win the World Cup: +4000 (11th)Key player: Midfielder James Rodríguez (No club)
I see the heat and environment in the United States favoring South American teams this summer. Colombia has shown it can compete with the best at these big tournaments, and it has a star in attack (winger Luis Díaz) who could lead it to the promised land.
Group K opponents: Uzbekistan (June 17), DR Congo (June 23), Portugal (June 27)
5. Argentina star Lionel Messi (Juan Mabromata/AFP via Getty Images)
Odds to win the World Cup: +1000 (6th)Key player: Forward Lionel Messi (Inter Miami)
In a vacuum, I'd have Argentina higher, but no team has won back-to-back World Cups since Brazil way back in 1958 and 1962. There is no doubt, though, that the Argentines remain serious contenders, led by one of the best players ever in Messi.
Group J opponents: Algeria (June 16), Austria (June 22), Jordan (June 27)
6. Portugal legend Cristiano Ronaldo (Tim Clayton/Getty Images)
Odds to win the World Cup: +750 (4th)Key player: Striker Cristiano Ronaldo (Al Nassr)
The dynamic surrounding Ronaldo will make or break this tournament for Portugal. The 41-year-old is missing one major trophy in his career, and that's the World Cup. Will the attention he draws be a help or a hindrance?
Group K opponents: DR Congo (June 17), Uzbekistan (June 23), Colombia (June 27)
7. Dutch captain Virgil van Dijk (ANP via Getty Images)
Odds to win the World Cup: +1700 (8th)Key player: Defender Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)
While the Dutch have a strong team, it's not quite ready for prime time to truly compete with the top-tiered teams. There is quality around the field on this team, but the Netherlands isn't among the favorites.
Group F opponents: Japan (June 14), Sweden (June 20), Tunisia (June 25)
8. German player Jamal Musiala (Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)
Odds to win the World Cup: +1300 (7th)Key player: Midfielder Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich)
Even a mediocre German team is still German. While manager Julian Nagelsmann's squad lacks truly elite players, it will still be a force to be reckoned with this summer.
Group E opponents: Curaçao (June 14), Ivory Coast (June 20), Ecuador (June 25)
9. Belgium player Kevin De Bruyne (Photo by KAMIL KRZACZYNSKI / AFP via Getty Images)
Odds to win the World Cup: +2200 (9th)Key player: Midfielder Kevin De Bruyne (Napoli)
Belgium was drawn into an easy group (Egypt, Iran and New Zealand), so advancing from there won't be a problem. The sum of the Belgians' parts will dictate whether they're a contender in the knockout rounds, though.
Group G opponents: Egypt (June 15), Iran (June 21), New Zealand (June 26)
10. Croatia legend Luka Modrić (Rich Storry/Getty Images)
Odds to win the World Cup: +7500 (19th)Key player: Midfielder Luka Modrić (AC Milan)
Croatia is the favorite of dads and old guys everywhere. Modrić is in the final chapter of his international career and leads a Croatian team that has shown it's more than capable of beating any team in this tournament.
Group L opponents: England (June 17), Panama (June 23), Ghana (June 27)
The World Cup will run from June 11–July 19, 2026. Spread across three countries, the tournament will culminate with the final on July 19 at New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. All 104 tournament matches will air live across FOX and FS1 with every match streaming live and on-demand within both the FOX One and the FOX Sports apps.
Written by: Tricky Bobbins | The Citizen Edition
“Lord have mercy!”