6 December 2025
As the World Cup draw approaches, excitement is building ahead of next summer's finals. The draw will feature 64 teams: 42 have already qualified, 16 are competing for four European spots, and six are vying for two remaining places through the intercontinental play-offs.
This period marks the moment when fans and analysts begin to seriously consider who the favorites are to lift the trophy. In this context, The Athletic has ranked the 64 teams based on their chances and technical ability, regardless of their qualification status. Therefore, some teams that haven't yet qualified may appear in the rankings as technically superior to some that have. The Athletic emphasizes that this ranking is an analytical assessment of the expected competition and not a definitive prediction.
1. Argentina - FIFA Ranking: 2
Argentina are the reigning champions, having won the previous edition in Qatar (2022). They also triumphed in the Copa América in 2021 and 2024, making them the most successful team in recent years. The team enters the tournament under the guidance of coach Lionel Scaloni, and with the legendary Lionel Messi still playing despite turning 39 during the competition, Argentina remains a top contender for the title.
2. Spain - FIFA Ranking: 1
Spain wasn't the clear favorite to win Euro 2024, but their consistent performance has revealed them to be the best team on the continent. A young, dynamic generation in attack and midfield, still developing, makes the Spanish national team one of the most dangerous opponents.
3. France - FIFA Ranking: 3
On paper, France appear to be the strongest contender, thanks to their immense individual talent and a squad led by Kylian Mbappé. However, their coach, Didier Deschamps, who is leading his team in his final tournament before leaving, failed to bring together these talents at Euro 2024, where the team delivered a lackluster performance.
4. England - FIFA Ranking: 4
Despite a long history of setbacks, the English national team has now become one of the top contenders, especially in the eyes of observers outside England. Under coach Thomas Tuchel, the team had a perfect qualifying campaign, boasts great depth in every position, and has reached the finals of two of the last three major tournaments.
5. Brazil - FIFA Ranking: 5
Brazil hasn't won the World Cup in a long time. After a turbulent qualifying campaign and inconsistent results, the question remains: can the Seleção return to contention? The presence of coach Carlo Ancelotti is a strength, but the overall picture is still uncertain.
6. Netherlands - FIFA Ranking: 7
Without much fanfare, the Netherlands has developed a very strong team. The squad includes players at the peak of their careers, and with captain Virgil van Dijk at the helm, the Oranje look capable of going far.
7. Portugal - FIFA Ranking: 6
Portugal boasts a strong record in recent tournaments, including the 2025 Nations League title. Despite their wealth of talent, questions surround coach Roberto Martinez, particularly regarding how to manage the participation of star player Cristiano Ronaldo, who will be 41 years old at the tournament.
8. Germany - FIFA Ranking: 9
Germany is going through a period of instability, having failed to progress beyond the quarterfinals in the last four major tournaments and exiting in the group stage twice. However, the Mannschaft has the tools to bounce back if they can resolve their striker woes.
9. Morocco - FIFA Ranking: 11
Morocco is in a strong position, having been the only African team to achieve a perfect record in qualifying. With coach Walid Regragui remaining in charge and the core of the squad largely unchanged, there are high hopes that Morocco could become the first African nation to win the title.
10. Colombia - FIFA Ranking: 13
Colombia reached the final of the 2025 Copa América and finished third in their qualifying group, despite a series of disappointing results. James Rodriguez leads the group, while Luis Diaz poses the biggest threat thanks to his impressive form at Bayern Munich.
Lionel Messi, captain of Argentina (Reuters)
Lionel Messi, captain of Argentina (Reuters)
11. Croatia - FIFA Ranking: 10
Despite the advancing age of several key players, Croatia's potential to go far cannot be underestimated. Four of their attacking and midfield players are over 34, but the team proved in the 2018 and 2022 editions that they thrive under pressure and capitalize on their underdog status. Reaching the final and then the semi-finals in the last two tournaments demonstrates that experience can once again be a decisive factor.
12. Uruguay - FIFA Ranking: 16
The heavy 5-1 defeat to the United States in a friendly was hardly ideal preparation for the tournament, especially with some key players unavailable, in addition to the confusion that arose when coach Marcelo Bielsa was forced to hold a press conference to deny reports of his resignation. However, Uruguay easily qualified for the World Cup finals, managing to outperform Argentina and Brazil twice during the qualifiers, reflecting a strong potential to erase the disappointment of the 2022 edition.
13. Belgium - FIFA Ranking: 8
Belgium has bid farewell to the remnants of its "golden generation," while Kevin De Bruyne, at 34, is preparing for what is likely his final World Cup appearance. Nevertheless, Belgium remains a formidable competitor, and expectations are high, especially with winger Jérémy Doku emerging as one of the most prominent figures in Europe. The team is no longer the favorite it once was, but it is still capable of making a difference.
14. Egypt - FIFA Ranking: 34
The Egyptian national team represents one of the most enigmatic cases on the international stage. Despite holding a record number of titles in the Africa Cup of Nations, it has never won a match in its World Cup history (1934, 1990, 2018). Hopes are pinned this time on Mohamed Salah arriving at the finals in peak physical condition, with greater support in attack. The Egyptian squad is capable of changing its historical record if all the elements of success are in place around its star player.
15. Senegal - FIFA Ranking: 19
Senegal is always among the teams capable of
