Who Will Take the 2026 World Cup? Latest Favorites and FIFA Rankings
The knockout stage of the 2026 FIFA Men's World Cup is underway, narrowing the field to the strongest teams. Traditional powerhouses like France, Brazil, Germany, and Argentina have advanced, while surprise contenders such as Morocco continue to defy expectations. England remains in the mix but has revealed some weaknesses compared to its rivals.
With every Round of 32 match a do-or-die scenario, fans are eager to know who might lift the trophy. Based on current results, France, Brazil, and Argentina lead the way, but Germany's revival and Morocco's success keep the contest wide open. The United States also stays in the hunt.
Favorites Shifting After Group Stage
The group stage excitement has altered the rankings slightly, introducing new challengers like Colombia and Morocco, both competing today in the Round of 32:
- Netherlands vs. Morocco: 9 p.m. at Estadio BBVA, Monterrey, MexicoWatch live on Fubo (free trial) and Peacock (Spanish)
The main contenders include:
- France
- Argentina
- Spain
- England
- Brazil
- Germany
- Netherlands
- Morocco
- Colombia
- Portugal
- Norway
- United States
France and Spain are seen as co-favorites by sportsbooks and prediction models. France’s squad depth shines with Kylian Mbappé chasing a World Cup scoring record. Spain boasts an all-star lineup including young star Lamine Yamal. Meanwhile, legends like Harry Kane for England, Lionel Messi leading Argentina, and Cristiano Ronaldo striving for his first World Cup with Portugal add drama to the tournament.
Current World Cup 2026 Betting Odds
Across different sportsbooks, France and Argentina top the odds, with Spain and England following, and Portugal and Brazil rounding out the leading tier.
France and Argentina are pulling ahead, though the gap between other top teams remains tight. The expanded 48-team format creates more opportunities for upsets as knockout rounds progress.
Teams to Keep an Eye On
- Brazil looks solid, showcasing depth, experience, and firepower.
- France has been steady and undefeated through group play.
- Germany enters the knockouts on a roll after dominating their group.
- Netherlands impressed with a 5-1 win over Sweden and faces Morocco next.
- Argentina may not dazzle, but their results speak volumes with Lionel Messi leading.
- Spain continues to control matches with a possession-focused style.
- England started strong but recent results raise doubts.
Surprise Contenders Making Noise
- Morocco thrives in knockout chaos, aiming to repeat their upset runs.
- Colombia topped a group including favorites Portugal.
- Norway brings an attacking threat and could be a dangerous dark horse.
- Japan is disciplined and may spoil plans deep into the tournament.
FIFA Power Rankings Ahead of Knockouts
The latest FIFA Men's World Rankings place these teams among the top favorites:
- Argentina
- France
- Spain
- England
- Brazil
- Morocco
- Netherlands
- Portugal
- Mexico
- Belgium
- Colombia
- Germany
- Croatia
- United States
- Switzerland
- Japan
- Senegal
- Uruguay
- Iran
- Austria
Schedule Highlights
The 2026 World Cup kicked off on June 11 with the group stage running until June 27. The knockout rounds began June 28 and will continue until the final on July 19. This edition features 48 teams and is the largest ever, hosted across North America.
- Group Stage: June 11–27
- Round of 32: June 28–July 3
- Round of 16: July 4–7
- Quarterfinals: July 9–11
- Semifinals: July 14–15
- Final: July 19
World Cup History: Most Titles
Brazil holds the record with five World Cup wins. Germany and Italy each have four titles, while defending champion Argentina has three. Germany leads in final appearances with eight.
