The World Cup kicks off this Thursday in Mexico City. As the largest edition in history begins, let’s look at the official predictions for all 48 teams.
The ‘Happy To Be Here’ Tier
This group includes teams content to enjoy the tournament in North America. The bottom teams are:
- 48. Curaçao
- 47. Haiti
- 46. Iraq
- 45. Jordan
- 44. South Africa
- 43. New Zealand
- 42. Qatar
- 41. Saudi Arabia
- 40. Panama
- 39. Cape Verde
- 38. DR Congo
Four countries are making their World Cup debut: Jordan, Curaçao, and Cape Verde are among them. While these teams may not see the knockouts, they aim to earn at least one point.
The ‘Scrappy Underdog’ Tier
Teams in this section have a strong identity or a key player who could lead them beyond group stages. They include:
- 37. Tunisia
- 36. Ghana
- 35. Australia
- 34. Egypt
- 33. Bosnia & Herzegovina
- 32. Ivory Coast
- 31. Uzbekistan
- 30. Algeria
- 29. Czechia
- 28. Iran
- 27. Paraguay
- 26. Austria
- 25. Scotland
Among these, Uzbekistan stands out with their elite defense, led by Abdukodir Khusanov from Manchester City.
The ‘Dark Horse’ Tier
Teams in this category have a real chance of advancing to at least the Round of 16. They are:
- 24. Sweden
- 23. South Korea
- 22. Canada
- 21. Switzerland
- 20. Mexico
- 19. Uruguay
- 18. Senegal
- 17. Turkey
- 16. USA
Host countries are part of this group, with Senegal and Turkey having the potential to make quarterfinals.
The ‘Super Dark Horse’ Tier
These five teams can pose a serious challenge:
- 15. Ecuador
- 14. Colombia
- 13. Japan
- 12. Morocco
- 11. Norway
Ecuador and Morocco boast strong defenses, while Colombia and Norway feature powerful offenses. Japan excels with its teamwork.
The ‘Perennial Contenders’ Tier
These teams have a history of strong performances:
- 10. Croatia
- 9. Belgium
- 8. Netherlands
- 7. Germany
- 6. Brazil
Despite not always fielding their best squads, these teams remain dangerous, with Croatia making recent semifinals and Germany and Brazil having won multiple times.
The ‘Pressure Is On’ Tier
England and Portugal face immense pressure:
- 5. England
- 4. Portugal
For England, backed by star local players and recent European success, anything less than the semifinals may lead to disappointment. Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo, nearing 41, seeks his final chance at glory.
The ‘Golden Trio’ Tier
These favorites have won the World Cup in recent decades:
- 3. Argentina
- 2. Spain
- 1. France
With young talents like Nico Paz, Lamine Yamal, and Désiré Doué, alongside current stars, Argentina, Spain, and France are formidable. To dethrone them, challengers must exceed their best performances by mid-July in New Jersey.
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