Tag: World Cup 2026

Every World Cup needs its underdogs. Without them, you would not have Saudi Arabia beating Argentina. You would not have Cameroon dismantling the reigning world champions in 1990. You would not have Morocco becoming the first African team to reach a semi-final. Every one of those giant-killing stories started with a team that most people had written off before a ball was kicked.

The 2026 World Cup has 48 teams for the first time. That means the gap between the best and the weakest is wider than at any previous tournament. Some of these teams are here to win. Others are here because they earned the right to be, and that matters regardless of what the FIFA rankings say.

This is not a list written to mock anyone. Every nation on it qualified for a reason and deserves credit for getting here. But if you want an honest assessment of who is going home earliest and why, this is it.

1. New Zealand — FIFA Rank: 85 | Group G

New Zealand arrive as the lowest-ranked team in the entire tournament at 85th in the FIFA rankings. Their highest-ever position was 47th back in 2002, but they have lost ground internationally ever since.

They are here because they dominated Oceania, a confederation with no other serious competition. The OFC has been allocated a guaranteed World Cup slot as part of the 48-team expansion, and New Zealand earned it by doing what they always do in their region: winning comfortably against sides ranked far below them.

The problem is what happens when they face actual World Cup competition. New Zealand occupy the worst ranking of all World Cup 2026 participants at 85th. Group G places them against Belgium, Egypt, and Iran. Belgium have Thibaut Courtois and Kevin De Bruyne. Egypt have Mohamed Salah. Iran are one of Asia’s most experienced World Cup nations.

Chris Wood is their most recognisable name and provides a physical presence up front. But one reliable striker cannot carry a team against three opponents who are all significantly better organised and more experienced at this level. New Zealand winning a group game would be a major shock. Three points from three games would be one of the great underdog stories in World Cup history.

Realistic outcome: Bottom of Group G, three games, three defeats, but they will compete until the final whistle in every match.

2. Haiti — FIFA Rank: 83 | Group C

Haiti’s story is one of the most remarkable in the entire qualifying campaign. Les Grenadiers produced one of the most unexpected qualification runs of the entire cycle, advancing from a CONCACAF group featuring Costa Rica, Honduras, and Nicaragua. They are returning to the World Cup for the first time since West Germany 1974. That is 52 years. The qualification alone deserves a standing ovation.

But then look at the draw. Group C places Haiti against Brazil, Scotland, and Morocco. That is the five-time world champions, the 2022 semi-finalists, and a passionate Scottish side making their first World Cup in 28 years. There is no easy game in that group for a team ranked 83rd in the world.

Haiti lack the squad depth, the tactical experience at this level, and the individual quality to compete with any of those three opponents across 90 minutes. Their opening game against Scotland gives them the best chance of a result and a draw there would send their nation into a frenzy. But Brazil and Morocco in the same group represent obstacles that are almost insurmountable for a side returning to this stage after half a century away.

Realistic outcome: Bottom of Group C. A draw or narrow defeat against Scotland is possible and would represent an enormous achievement.

3. Curacao — FIFA Rank: 82 | Group E

Curacao is the smallest nation at any World Cup in history by population. At 117th in the world according to Opta’s Power Rankings, they are the weakest team at the tournament by their metrics. Their Power Rating of 45.7 puts them between Sierra Leone and Trinidad and Tobago globally.

Their qualification story is genuinely fascinating. Curacao used their colonial links to the Netherlands to naturalise several Dutch-born players and attracted Dick Advocaat as their manager, using that talent pipeline to build a side capable of competing in CONCACAF qualification.

But Group E draws them against Germany, Ecuador, and Ivory Coast. Germany’s first World Cup game is against a nation with a population of 156,000 people. On paper, that is not a contest. Wirtz, Musiala, and Havertz against a squad built from CONCACAF regional football and Dutch naturalised players is as close to a mismatch as the World Cup can produce at the group stage.

The goal for Curacao is not to win. It is to make the world remember their name. One good performance, one passage of play, one goal that would be enough to make the entire island celebrate for a generation.

Realistic outcome: Third or bottom of Group E. A goal against Germany would be the defining moment of Curacao’s football history.

4. Cape Verde — FIFA Rank: 69 | Group H

Cape Verde are making their first-ever World Cup appearance and the achievement should not be understated. Cape Verde came through a qualifying group that included African football heavyweights Cameroon. They lost only one of their ten qualifiers and carried genuine momentum into the draw.

They are not entirely without quality. Several Cape Verdean players ply their trade in European leagues and the squad has a technical identity that reflects their Portuguese football heritage. But Group H draws them against Spain, Uruguay, and Saudi Arabia. Spain are the reigning European champions and tournament favourites. Uruguay are two-time world champions with a ferocious defensive record. Saudi Arabia are the most experienced side in the group for Cape Verde to target.

The Saudi Arabia game is Cape Verde’s window. A physical, organised defensive performance against Saudi Arabia could produce a result that reshapes Group H entirely. It is not likely, but it is the kind of game where a debut World Cup team with nothing to lose can cause genuine problems for an opponent carrying enormous pressure to perform.

Realistic outcome: Third or bottom of Group H. The Saudi Arabia match is their genuine target. Spain and Uruguay represent too steep a climb.

5. Jordan — FIFA Rank: 63 | Group J

Jordan’s qualification is a remarkable story. Jordan’s qualification is the kind of story football was built on. A nation of 11 million people, ranked 63rd in the world, making its first-ever World Cup appearance after nine previous attempts. They finished second in their AFC qualifying group, went unbeaten in eight of 10 matches, and confirmed their place with a 3-0 win over Oman.

Jordan finished as runner-up at the AFC Asian Cup, proving they are genuinely competitive at Asian level and no longer just a surprise team. They arrive with a clear identity and solid footballing credentials.

But Group J contains Argentina, Algeria, and Austria. Facing Messi and the defending world champions in their very first World Cup game is one of the toughest possible debuts imaginable. Algeria and Austria are both significantly stronger than Jordan at international level. The group asks Jordan to be competitive three times against opponents who have been preparing for exactly this level of football for years.

Austria is the game Jordan should target. It is not an easy game, but it is the most achievable on paper. A point against Austria would send Jordan home with their heads held high and their football identity transformed forever.

Realistic outcome: Bottom of Group J. A draw against Austria would be a historic achievement for Jordanian football.

6. Uzbekistan — FIFA Rank: 72 | Group K

Uzbekistan are another first-time qualifier whose story is worth telling properly before assessing their prospects. Uzbekistan’s rise has not happened by chance. The country placed a big focus on youth development in recent years, winning the Under-17 Asian Cup and the Under-20 Asian Cup in 2023. They also qualified for the Olympics for the first time in their history.

Fabio Cannavaro, the 2006 World Cup-winning Italian captain is their coach, which gives them tactical structure and elite mentality from a man who knows what winning at this level requires. Their squad is largely domestic-based with a handful of players from European leagues, which is a significant step up in class from what they face at the World Cup.

Group K contains Portugal, Colombia, and DR Congo. Portugal are legitimate semi-final contenders. Colombia are one of South America’s most dangerous sides. Even DR Congo, the fellow minnow in the group, have more international experience at this level. Uzbekistan’s opening game against Uzbekistan will be watched across Central Asia with enormous pride, but the gap in quality against Portugal and Colombia is significant.

Realistic outcome: Third or bottom of Group K. A competitive performance against DR Congo is their best opportunity for a positive result.

7. Qatar — FIFA Rank: 58 | Group B

Qatar’s inclusion in this list requires a word of context. They are here not as debutants but as a returning team — the 2022 hosts who became the first host nation in World Cup history to be eliminated in the group stage without winning a single game. They lost to Ecuador, Senegal, and the Netherlands and failed to score more than one goal across all three games.

The four years since have seen their national team programme continue its development through the Aspire Academy system, and the squad is more experienced now than it was when they hosted. But Group B draws them against Canada, Switzerland, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, three teams who are all stronger than Qatar on paper. Switzerland in particular have one of the most efficient defensive records of any team in World Cup qualifying.

Qatar’s target is improvement on 2022. A point from three games would represent genuine progress. A win against one of Bosnia or Canada would be a landmark moment. The more realistic assessment is that they exit at the group stage again, but with more dignity than their home tournament produced.

Realistic outcome: Third or bottom of Group B. A draw against Bosnia and Herzegovina is their most achievable positive result.

8. Panama — FIFA Rank: 80 | Group L

Panama deserve more credit than this list position suggests. They are a disciplined, well-organised CONCACAF side who punch above their weight consistently. Their first World Cup in 2018 produced three group stage defeats but also a genuine competitive spirit and a goal that sent the entire nation into celebration despite the eventual defeat.

Group L contains England, Croatia, and Ghana. England are the fourth-ranked team in the world. Croatia have finished second and third at the last two World Cups under Luka Modric. Ghana carry enough quality from their Premier League-based players to make this a competitive group. Panama are the weakest of the four on paper and face one of the toughest draws of any lower-ranked team in the tournament.

Panama are collectively strong and tough to break down. Those teams will not fancy playing a Panama side that makes every game difficult. They can frustrate England for long periods, and a draw against Ghana or Croatia is more realistic than it might appear on paper. But three consecutive victories is essentially impossible.

Realistic outcome: Third or bottom of Group L. A draw against Ghana is their most realistic positive result.

9. Bosnia and Herzegovina — FIFA Rank: 65 | Group B

Bosnia’s story has one of the most dramatic qualifying subplots of this entire World Cup cycle. They qualified through the UEFA playoffs and in doing so, eliminated Italy. That one result, beating the four-time world champions to reach this tournament, is one of the great upset stories of the qualification campaign.

But Group B with Switzerland and Canada is a different kind of challenge. Italy’s elimination in the playoffs turned Group B into the weakest group in the tournament by some margin. That is actually good news for Bosnia, Switzerland is tough, but Canada and Qatar are genuinely beatable. Bosnia have the quality of Edin Dzeko’s experience and a technically gifted generation of players throughout the squad to make this group genuinely competitive.

We have ranked Bosnia here not because they are necessarily one of the worst teams in the tournament, but because their FIFA ranking places them among the lower-ranked sides. In reality, they have a realistic chance of advancing from Group B. This may be the entry on this list that ages worst by the time the group stage is complete.

Realistic outcome: Could actually reach the Round of 32. The qualification story against Italy alone tells you not to underestimate them.

10. DR Congo — FIFA Rank: 77 | Group K

DR Congo qualified through the intercontinental playoff process and bring physical athleticism and individual talent to Group K. But the gap between their development level and the tournament’s elite sides is significant. Facing Portugal and Colombia in the same group means they are likely playing for third place from the start.

Their best asset is pace in transition and physical presence across the pitch, which can make them uncomfortable opponents for teams who do not set up correctly against them. But Portugal under Roberto Martinez and Colombia under Nestor Lorenzo both have the tactical intelligence to neutralise DR Congo’s strengths while exposing their organisational weaknesses in possession.

The DR Congo versus Uzbekistan match in Group K could be one of the genuine wildcard games of the group stage, two teams of comparable quality deciding who gets the consolation of a potential third-place advance.

Realistic outcome: Third or bottom of Group K. The Uzbekistan match is the defining game of their tournament.

The Teams That Could Surprise Everyone

Now here is the thing about this list. History consistently proves that the teams ranked worst at a World Cup do not always finish last.

Saudi Arabia were ranked lower than any of the teams in this article when they beat Argentina in 2022. Senegal beat the reigning world champions France in 2002 while ranked as massive underdogs. Cameroon dismantled Argentina in 1990 despite being one of the weakest teams in the tournament on paper. Every World Cup produces moments that the rankings could not have predicted.

Of all the teams on this list, the three most likely to cause a genuine upset are:

Bosnia and Herzegovina — They already beat Italy to get here. Group B is not as difficult as it looks. They could reach the Round of 32.

Jordan — An organised, tactically coherent team making a debut with the pressure off. Austria in Group J is a winnable game for a side that went through Asian qualification unbeaten.

Cape Verde — Already proved they could beat Cameroon in qualifying. Compact and physically resilient. The Saudi Arabia game in Group H is genuinely open.

The 2026 World Cup is going to produce moments that nobody expected from teams that most people have already written off. It always does. That is precisely what makes the expanded 48-team format one of the most exciting decisions FIFA has ever made for neutral fans.

Sources: Opta Analyst, beIN Sports, FOX Sports, World Cup Wiki, Tribuna, RotoWire, beIN Sports Jordan, FotMob

England have not won the World Cup since 1966. Sixty years of hurt. Sixty years of watching superior tournament teams from Germany, France, Argentina, Brazil, and Spain lift the trophy while England found increasingly creative ways to fall short. But the squad Thomas Tuchel has assembled for the 2026 World Cup may be the most gifted generation of English players since that legendary summer in London. The question is whether this time they can finally deliver.

England only need to find a little improvement to have a strong chance of ending their 60-year wait for a major international trophy. The FA hopes that Thomas Tuchel can provide it as an elite coach with a tactical acumen that many view as an upgrade on his respected predecessor Gareth Southgate.

Here is England’s strongest possible starting eleven, the lineup Tuchel is most likely to field in the knockout rounds of the 2026 World Cup.

Formation: 4-2-3-1

Tuchel has mainly favoured a 4-2-3-1 formation while in charge of England, and any changes to that will likely be down to available personnel. The system suits England’s squad perfectly, a double pivot protects the back four, three attacking midfielders create behind Kane, and the wide players provide the directness that England have consistently lacked in recent tournaments. It is the same system that took Tuchel to a Champions League title with Chelsea and a Bundesliga title with Bayern Munich. He knows how to make it work.

Goalkeeper: Jordan Pickford

Club: Everton

England’s established number one remains completely undisputed heading into the World Cup. His extensive tournament experience and consistent shot-stopping for club and country lock him in as Tuchel’s starting goalkeeper. He recorded the joint third most clean sheets in the Premier League this season with 11. Pickford’s tournament record, including penalty saves in the knockout rounds of recent major tournaments makes him one of the most experienced and dependable goalkeepers at the tournament. He has been here before and he does not crack under pressure.

Right-Back: Reece James

Club: Chelsea

Tuchel’s former Chelsea player is the standout selection at right-back and has played 36 times in the league this season, his highest tally since 2021-22. James is one of the most complete right-backs in world football when fully fit, dominant defensively, dangerous going forward, and capable of delivering the kind of cross that creates chances for Kane in the box. His relationship with Tuchel from their time together at Chelsea gives him a tactical understanding that no other right-back in the squad can replicate.

Right Centre-Back: Marc Guehi

Club: Crystal Palace

Tuchel is likely to trust Guehi and Konsa to dominate the heart of his back four. Guehi has been one of the most consistent centre-backs in the Premier League over the last two seasons and his composure on the ball, his reading of the game, and his ability to organise the defensive line make him one of England’s most reliable performers. He was exceptional at Euro 2024 and has built on that form significantly since.

Left Centre-Back: Ezri Konsa

Club: Aston Villa

Konsa has become a regular starter since Tuchel took the reins. John Stones has made just 15 outings this season, only seven of those in the league. That is why Tuchel will stick with Konsa, who has been the more active and better-conditioned centre-back throughout the campaign. His physicality, his aggressive defending, and his comfort in a high line make him the ideal partner for Guehi in Tuchel’s system.

Left-Back: Nico O’Reilly

Club: Manchester City

O’Reilly is Tuchel’s preferred left-back, a more attacking-minded full-back who is dangerous going forward but can be defensively questionable at times. Trent Alexander-Arnold has been excluded from the squad entirely with this profile. At 20 years old, O’Reilly is the youngest player likely to start for England, but his technical quality and his ability to combine with the left-sided attackers ahead of him give England an attacking dimension from left-back that their previous options could not provide. His inclusion ahead of more experienced alternatives is one of Tuchel’s most telling selection decisions.

Right Defensive Midfielder: Declan Rice

Club: Arsenal

One of the two central midfield spots will be taken by Declan Rice, who continues to demonstrate near-world-class ability with Arsenal. The 27-year-old has 70 England caps and has started nine of Tuchel’s 10 games in charge. Much like his status with the Gunners, it seems like he is undroppable. Rice transformed from a reliable defensive midfielder into one of the most complete midfielders in the Premier League after joining Arsenal. His combination of defensive excellence and attacking contribution, with 12 goals and 18 assists this season makes him the first name on Tuchel’s team sheet. During the World Cup qualification stage, Rice led the squad in chances created with 16.

Left Defensive Midfielder: Elliot Anderson

Club: Newcastle United

Almost out of nowhere, Elliot Anderson looks crucial to England’s chances of success in North America. England have long lacked a deep-lying No. 6 midfielder capable of dictating the tempo of a game, but there are signs Anderson could be that player. His technical quality on the ball, his ability to play forward quickly under pressure, and his energy across 90 minutes make him Tuchel’s preferred partner for Rice in the double pivot. His inclusion ahead of more decorated names like Kobbie Mainoo reflects Tuchel’s trust in form over reputation.

Right Winger: Bukayo Saka

Club: Arsenal

The most consistent performer in the England squad over the last four years. Saka’s directness from the right, his ability to take on defenders, deliver crosses, and score himself gives England a constant threat that opposing left-backs cannot contain for 90 minutes. His mental resilience after missing the Euro 2020 final penalty and returning to be one of England’s most important players is one of the great stories of recent English football. During the World Cup qualification stage, Bellingham was tied for the second-most chances created with 11, many of them created by the space Saka’s directness opened up on the right.

Central Attacking Midfielder: Jude Bellingham

Club: Real Madrid

The most gifted English footballer of his generation and the player around whom England’s World Cup aspirations revolve. At 22 and with Champions League and La Liga medals already in his collection, Bellingham arrives at this World Cup as the player every England fan believes can finally deliver the trophy they have been waiting 60 years to win. The attacking trio of Rashford, Bellingham, and Saka brings creativity, flair, and goal threat to England’s attack. His ability to score from midfield, arrive in the box at precisely the right moment, and raise his game in knockout matches makes him irreplaceable in Tuchel’s system.

Left Winger: Anthony Gordon

Club: Liverpool

Gordon looks set to hold off competition from Rashford and Phil Foden to start on the left. He has been one of Liverpool’s most consistent performers this season and his combination of pace, directness, and improving final product gives England a dynamic wide threat from the left. Gordon’s energy in pressing from the front also fits Tuchel’s high-pressing defensive structure perfectly, he works hard without the ball as well as with it, which is exactly what the system demands from its wide players.

Striker: Harry Kane

Club: Bayern Munich

England’s all-time leading scorer with 78 goals in 112 appearances. Kane has waited his entire career for a major trophy and this is his best chance. His season at Bayern Munich, 58 goals across all competitions confirms that he is playing the best football of his career at 32. Harry Kane will be the first name on the teamsheet. His intelligence in movement, his ability to bring others into play, and his calm finishing under pressure make him the most reliable striker England have ever had. If England reach the final, Kane will have been central to every goal that got them there.

The Selection Controversies

Tuchel’s squad announcement generated significant debate across English football. Several high-profile omissions and surprising inclusions have been discussed intensely in the days since the squad was revealed.

Phil Foden and Cole Palmer are both absent. England squad confirmed: Toney and Stones in, Foden and Palmer out. Both Foden and Palmer are world-class players by any measure. Their exclusion reflects Tuchel’s preference for a specific tactical profile in his attacking midfield, players who press as hard without the ball as they create with it. Foden’s recent form issues and Palmer’s recovery from injury made the decision easier but no less controversial.

Trent Alexander-Arnold is also absent. The Real Madrid full-back has been excluded entirely despite his exceptional technical quality. Tuchel’s preference for more defensively conventional full-backs and his specific trust in Reece James ended Alexander-Arnold’s England involvement for this tournament.

Marcus Rashford is included. After a difficult period at Manchester United, Rashford has rediscovered his best form and gives England an experienced alternative on the left who can be used from the bench when games need changing.

Key Tactical Points

England’s strength in Tuchel’s 4-2-3-1 is their defensive solidity combined with the quality of their three attacking midfielders. The Rice-Anderson double pivot gives England one of the best protected back fours in the tournament. Saka, Bellingham, and Gordon create from three different positions simultaneously, making England genuinely difficult to press without creating space elsewhere.

Kane’s movement pulls centre-backs out of position, creating the pockets that Bellingham arrives into late. When this combination clicks, England are one of the most efficient attacking teams in world football.

The primary weakness is the left-back position. O’Reilly’s attacking qualities are clear but his defensive reliability against elite wide forwards, Mbappe, Vinicius, Yamal will be tested severely in the knockout rounds. If Tuchel needs to shore up the left side, Rashford can drop deeper to provide defensive cover, but that costs England an attacking option they may need.

The bottom line: England’s strongest XI is one of the four or five best lineups at the tournament. Kane, Bellingham, Saka, and Rice give them world-class quality in the positions that matter most. Tuchel’s tactical intelligence gives them a structural discipline that previous England managers lacked. If the system fires and the big players perform in the biggest moments, the 60-year wait finally ends in New Jersey on July 19.

Sources: ESPN, Sports Mole, Bleacher Report, Goal.com, AOL, PrizePicks

The Netherlands have been quietly building one of the most underrated squads at this tournament. Under Ronald Koeman, they reached the semi-finals of Euro 2024 and the quarter-finals of the 2022 World Cup. Their squad, anchored by Virgil van Dijk’s commanding presence and supercharged by the creativity of Xavi Simons and the directness of Cody Gakpo is more complete than their pre-tournament odds suggest. Oranje are the orange wave that every opponent in the draw will be hoping to avoid.

Here is the Netherlands’ strongest possible starting eleven, the lineup Koeman is most likely to field in the knockout rounds.

Formation: 4-3-3

Right wing is still up for grabs, with Xavi Simons, Jeremie Frimpong, and Donyell Malen all in contention, though Malen’s form gives him the edge. Cody Gakpo looks set to start on the left, while all-time top scorer Memphis Depay is expected to lead the line. Koeman’s preferred system gives Van Dijk the defensive anchor he needs while providing the three attacking positions with enough freedom to combine and interchange depending on what the game demands.

Goalkeeper: Bart Verbruggen

Club: Brighton

The young goalkeeper who has taken over from an aging generation of Dutch keepers. Verbruggen’s shot-stopping reflexes are exceptional and his composure in one-on-one situations, where his decision-making is notably better than his predecessors makes him a reliable presence for a team that presses high and can be exposed on the counter. His youth brings both freshness and the occasional moment of inexperience, but Koeman has committed to him as the first choice.

Right-Back: Jeremie Frimpong

Club: Bayer Leverkusen

The explosive right-back who brings pace, directness, and one-on-one ability from the right side. Frimpong’s overlapping runs and his clinical delivery from wide positions make him one of the most dangerous attacking full-backs at the tournament. He is one of only a handful of full-backs in world football who can genuinely beat defenders in one-on-one situations, and his combination with Malen or Simons on the right gives the Netherlands a constant threat down that flank.

Right Centre-Back: Virgil van Dijk

Club: Liverpool

The captain and the cornerstone of everything the Netherlands do defensively. At 34, this is Van Dijk’s final World Cup and he is playing with the authority and motivation of a man who knows the clock is ticking. Virgil van Dijk remains the cornerstone of the Netherlands’ defence, providing defensive stability and leadership. His experience, positioning, and understanding of the game continue to make him invaluable. He organises, commands, and leads from the back with an authority that no other Dutch defender can replicate.

Left Centre-Back: Micky van de Ven

Club: Tottenham Hotspur

The pace that compensates for any high defensive line vulnerability. Van de Ven is one of the fastest centre-backs in world football and his recovery speed in transition allows the Netherlands to press high without the same level of danger that teams with slower defenders face. His ball-playing quality, comfortable bringing the ball out from the back also suits Koeman’s possession-based system perfectly. He and Van Dijk form the ideal combination of experience and athleticism.

Left-Back: Jurrien Timber

Club: Arsenal

One of the most versatile defenders in the tournament, equally comfortable at centre-back, right-back, or left-back. Timber’s technical excellence, his aggressive pressing from left-back, and his combination with Gakpo on the left side of Netherlands’ attack give Koeman a dynamic and intelligent player who rarely makes individual errors. His Premier League experience under Mikel Arteta has refined his positioning and decision-making significantly.

Defensive Midfielder: Ryan Gravenberch

Club: Liverpool

One of the most impressive midfielders in the Premier League this season. Gravenberch’s combination of physical presence, technical quality, and intelligent positioning makes him the ideal single pivot in the Netherlands’ system. He provides Van Dijk with a midfield shield, enables the more creative players around him to press forward, and arrives into the penalty area with enough regularity to pose a genuine goal threat. His form at Liverpool, where he has become one of their most reliable performers gives him the confidence to perform at World Cup level.

Central Midfielder: Frenkie de Jong

Club: Barcelona

The creative midfield talent who gives the Netherlands their technical identity in possession. De Jong’s ability to receive the ball under pressure and immediately find a forward option, his progressive carrying through midfield, and his range of passing make him one of the most complete central midfielders in the tournament. A hamstring injury at the end of the club season, reportedly keeping him out for up to six weeks is the primary concern. If he is fit, he starts. If he is not, the Netherlands lose a significant portion of their creative quality.

Attacking Midfielder: Xavi Simons

Club: PSG / Leipzig

The most technically gifted player in the Netherlands squad and the one most likely to produce the individual moment of brilliance that changes a knockout game. Simons operates as the advanced third midfielder, free to find spaces between the opposition’s defensive lines, receive the ball in tight situations, and create chances through combination play or his own direct running. His Champions League experience and his excellent qualifying campaign for the Netherlands make him one of the tournament’s most exciting players to watch.

Right Winger: Donyell Malen

Club: Borussia Dortmund

The electric right winger who provides the pace and directness that Frimpong’s overlapping runs complement perfectly. Malen’s ability to run behind defences, receive balls in behind, and finish clinically in one-on-one situations makes him the Netherlands’ most consistent wide goal scorer. His Champions League final appearance with Borussia Dortmund against Real Madrid in 2024 showed that the biggest stages do not intimidate him.

Striker: Memphis Depay

Club: Atletico Madrid

The Netherlands’ all-time leading scorer and the experienced attacking focal point that Koeman trusts in the most important games. Depay’s tournament experience, his clinical finishing in the penalty area, and his ability to hold up play and involve the midfielders around him make him the ideal striker for the Netherlands’ system. At 31, this is almost certainly his final World Cup and he will be desperate to score the goals that send the Netherlands deep into the tournament for the first time since they reached the final in 2010.

Left Winger: Cody Gakpo

Club: Liverpool

The left-sided wide forward who has become one of the Netherlands’ most important attacking players. Gakpo’s pace in behind, his ability to cut inside onto his right foot, and his improved consistency as a goal scorer make him the most dangerous wide option in Koeman’s squad. He scored three goals in the 2022 World Cup group stage, the joint-highest of any player at that tournament and will want to build on that record at his second tournament.

Key Tactical Points

The Netherlands’ strength in this system is their balance. Van Dijk and Van de Ven give them one of the best defensive combinations at the tournament. Gravenberch protects them from midfield. And up front, the three-pronged attack of Malen, Depay, and Gakpo gives them multiple routes to goal.

The risk is De Jong’s fitness. If he misses any part of the tournament, the Netherlands lose their most important ball-carrier and their creative quality drops significantly. Koeman has alternatives, but none of them produce the same level of performance in the big games.

The Netherlands are frequently underrated heading into tournaments. They reached the Euro 2024 semi-finals. They beat both Argentina and the USA in the 2022 World Cup knockouts. The orange wave has a habit of going further than anyone expects.

The bottom line: The Netherlands’ strongest XI is a genuinely dangerous lineup with world-class quality in defence, midfield, and attack. Van Dijk’s final tournament, Gakpo’s explosive pace, and the creative brilliance of Simons and De Jong give them everything they need to reach the quarter-finals and beyond.

Sources: ESPN, Squawka, GiveMeSport

Germany are back. After the humiliation of 2018 when they went home in the group stage as defending champions and the disappointment of 2022, Julian Nagelsmann has rebuilt this team around the most exciting young creative partnership in world football. Florian Wirtz and Jamal Musiala playing together for Germany is one of the great tactical joys of the 2026 tournament. A nation that has been to more World Cup finals than any other is carrying genuine momentum into North America this summer.

Here is Germany’s strongest possible starting eleven, the lineup Nagelsmann is most likely to field in the knockout rounds.

Formation: 4-2-3-1

Nagelsmann’s preferred system uses a double pivot in central midfield to protect the defence while allowing the three attacking midfielders behind the striker, Wirtz, Musiala, and a creative wide player, maximum freedom to find positions and combine. The 4-2-3-1 suits Germany’s squad perfectly, giving them defensive stability while unlocking the individual brilliance of their two most dangerous players.

Goalkeeper: Manuel Neuer

Club: Bayern Munich

Manuel Neuer is level in the market with Germany team-mate Oliver Baumann at 16/1 after the 40-year-old’s shock inclusion in Germany’s 26-man World Cup squad. At 40, this is one of the great final chapters of any goalkeeper’s career. Neuer invented the sweeper-keeper style that has influenced every goalkeeper in world football over the past decade. He won the Golden Glove in 2014. His recall shows Nagelsmann still believes he has enough left for one more major tournament.

Right-Back: Joshua Kimmich

Club: Bayern Munich

One of the most intelligent footballers in the world, Kimmich is comfortable at right-back, central midfield, or as a defensive midfielder. Nagelsmann will use him at right-back to keep him on the pitch alongside the midfield stars, his ability to read the game from a deeper position while contributing to attacks with intelligent overlaps and accurate crossing makes him irreplaceable in this system.

Right Centre-Back: Antonio Rudiger

Club: Real Madrid

The most physically imposing defender in Germany’s squad. Rudiger’s aerial dominance, his aggressive defending, and his Champions League experience at Real Madrid give Germany’s defensive unit a warrior quality that compensates for any moments of individual uncertainty elsewhere. He is also one of the longest throw-in specialists in world football, a set-piece weapon that Nagelsmann uses deliberately.

Left Centre-Back: Jonathan Tah

Club: Bayern Munich

The ball-playing centre-back who gives Germany their ability to build from the back with confidence. Tah’s technical quality on the ball, his range of passing, his ability to drive forward from the back line make him the ideal left-sided centre-back in Nagelsmann’s system. He reads the game intelligently and covers the space that Theo Hernandez-like left-backs create when they push forward.

Left-Back: Maximilian Mittelstadt

Club: Stuttgart

The energetic left-back who gives Germany width, pace, and attacking directness from deep. Mittelstadt’s combination play with Musiala on the left side of Germany’s attack creates two-on-one situations that opposing right-backs struggle to contain. His performances at Euro 2024 confirmed his place in the starting eleven and he arrives at the World Cup in the best form of his career.

Right Defensive Midfielder: Robert Andrich

Club: Bayer Leverkusen

The protective midfielder who allows Wirtz and Musiala the freedom to press forward without defensive consequence. Andrich’s physical presence, his ability to win the second ball, and his aggressive pressing from midfield make him the ideal defensive base for Germany’s attacking system. He covers the space left when Kimmich overlaps and intercepts attacks before they reach the back four.

Left Defensive Midfielder: Pascal Gross

Club: Brighton

The experienced, technically reliable midfielder who fills the creative role in Germany’s double pivot. Gross’s passing quality, his ability to find the right ball under pressure, and his intelligent positioning between the lines give Germany a consistent ball-circulation option alongside Andrich. He is not a flashy player but his contribution to Germany’s build-up is consistently undervalued by those who only watch the highlights.

Right Attacking Midfielder: Florian Wirtz

Club: Liverpool

One of the two most exciting creative players at the entire tournament. Germany’s Wirtz and Musiala are capable of taking over any game together. Wirtz operates between the lines on the right, finding pockets that defenders cannot reach, playing one-touch combinations in tight spaces, and delivering the final pass with the confidence of someone who has been doing this at elite level for three years. His move to Liverpool confirms his status as one of the three most exciting midfielders in the world.

Central Attacking Midfielder: Thomas Muller

Club: Bayern Munich

Muller at 36 may be in the final act of his international career, but his intelligent movement, his ability to occupy spaces that no other German player sees, and his tournament experience across five World Cups make him a valuable inclusion in the number ten role. Nagelsmann has trusted him consistently throughout the qualifying campaign. When Muller plays well, Germany’s attacking combinations become dramatically more fluid.

Left Attacking Midfielder: Jamal Musiala

Club: Bayern Munich

The Bayern Munich forward combines skill, pace, and composure in tight spaces that makes him one of the most exciting players at this tournament. A Brazilian-born German, he dribbles through entire teams with a naturalness that looks almost impossible at the pace modern football is played. His market value of around €168 million reflects a player at the beginning of a decade of potential dominance. His combination with Wirtz is the most dangerous creative partnership Germany have possessed since the era of Mesut Ozil and Mario Gotze.

Striker: Kai Havertz

Club: Arsenal

The striker who provides the focal point for Germany’s attacking combinations. Havertz’s ability to hold up play, combine with the attacking midfielders around him, and arrive in the penalty area at the right moment makes him the ideal centre-forward for Nagelsmann’s system. His intelligent movement creates space for Wirtz and Musiala to exploit, and his calm finishing when opportunities arrive has improved significantly under Mikel Arteta at Arsenal.

Key Tactical Points

Germany’s strength in this system is the Wirtz-Musiala creative partnership. When both players are operating at their best, they create a combination play that defenders cannot press effectively, both can receive in tight spaces, turn, and play forward, making it impossible to know which one to track.

The double pivot of Andrich and Gross gives Germany defensive protection that allows Kimmich to overlap from right-back. The result is numerical overloads in wide areas that create crossing opportunities for Havertz in the box.

Germany’s primary vulnerability is their high defensive line, the same weakness that France and Argentina have both exploited in recent tournaments. Pace in behind the back four is the tactical problem that Nagelsmann has yet to fully resolve. Against elite opponents with genuine pace in transition, Germany’s defensive shape can be stretched dangerously.

The bottom line: Germany’s strongest XI is one of the most exciting attacking lineups at the tournament. Wirtz and Musiala together are capable of winning any knockout game. The question is whether the defensive structure around them is solid enough to withstand the counter-attacks of the tournament’s elite sides.

Sources: FOX Sports, Lineups.com, ESPN

Brazil have not won a World Cup since 2002. That 24-year wait is the central pressure point that Carlo Ancelotti has been tasked with resolving. He brings with him the same tactical intelligence that has turned Real Madrid into the dominant force in European club football and with a squad that includes Vinicius Junior, Raphinha, Endrick, and Rodrygo, he has the attacking weapons to end the Seleção’s longest trophy drought in history.

Here is Brazil’s strongest possible starting eleven, the lineup Ancelotti will most likely deploy when the tournament reaches its most critical stages.

Formation: 4-3-3

Ancelotti’s preferred system at Real Madrid is a fluid 4-3-3 that allows attacking full-backs to overlap, a single pivot in midfield to protect the defence, and creative freedom for the wide forwards to come infield. Brazil’s squad is perfectly built for exactly this system, every player has the technical quality and physical profile that Ancelotti’s approach demands.

Goalkeeper: Alisson Becker

Club: Liverpool

The best ball-playing goalkeeper in world football and Brazil’s undisputed number one. Alisson’s feet are so good that he functions almost as an outfield player in Ancelotti’s possession-based system. His shot-stopping is elite and his distribution unlocks attacks from deep. An injury-affected final season at Liverpool is the one concern, if he arrives fully fit, he is the best technical goalkeeper at the tournament.

Right-Back: Danilo

Club: Juventus

Brazil’s captain in Ancelotti’s early tenure brings leadership, experience, and the technical quality to combine with Raphinha in wide areas. His positioning and reading of the game compensate for the pace he has lost in recent years. A reliable tournament performer who gives the right side defensive stability.

Right Centre-Back: Marquinhos

Club: PSG

Brazil’s most experienced centre-back and the natural organiser of the defensive unit. Marquinhos has been playing at the top level of European club football for over a decade and brings the kind of aerial authority and positional intelligence that Ancelotti trusts completely. His partnership with Gabriel Magalhaes gives Brazil a centre-back pairing of genuine Premier League quality.

Left Centre-Back: Gabriel Magalhaes

Club: Arsenal

The Arsenal centre-back has been one of the best defenders in the Premier League over the last two seasons. His physicality, aggressive defending, and ball-playing ability from the back give Brazil a different kind of threat at set pieces, he is one of the most dangerous aerial targets in international football from corners. Alongside Marquinhos, he forms the most complete centre-back pairing Brazil have had since their last dominant generation.

Left-Back: Guilherme Arana

Club: Atletico Mineiro

The left-back position is one of Ancelotti’s most interesting selection decisions. Arana provides the attacking width that Vinicius needs to operate infield on the left, overlapping to create two-on-one situations against opposing right-backs. His delivery from wide areas and his physical presence in transitions give Brazil attacking variety that the more conservative alternatives cannot provide.

Defensive Midfielder: Bruno Guimaraes

Club: Newcastle United

The single pivot that protects Brazil’s back four and enables the creative midfielders around him to press higher. Guimaraes is one of the most complete defensive midfielders in European football, physically powerful, technically excellent, and intelligent enough to read attacks before they develop. His importance to this Brazil team cannot be overstated. When he plays well, Brazil’s defensive structure is almost unbreakable.

Right Central Midfielder: Lucas Paqueta

Club: West Ham United

Paqueta’s creativity and ability to arrive late in the box give Brazil a consistent goal threat from midfield. His combination of technique, spatial intelligence, and work rate make him Ancelotti’s preferred option as the right-sided central midfielder, free to press high, combine in tight spaces, and arrive into the penalty area when Vinicius and Raphinha draw defenders wide.

Left Central Midfielder: Rodrygo

Club: Real Madrid

Rodrygo’s ability to play in a deeper midfield role as well as a more attacking one gives Ancelotti flexibility that the system requires. He presses intelligently, carries the ball effectively through lines, and provides a direct connection between Brazil’s midfield and Vinicius on the left. At Real Madrid he has learned exactly how Ancelotti wants his wide midfielders to function. That knowledge transfers directly to the national team setup.

Right Winger: Raphinha

Club: Barcelona

One of the most complete wingers in world football. Raphinha finished as one of the top five scorers and assisters in La Liga this season, delivering one of the most statistically dominant attacking campaigns of any player at the tournament. His directness, his ability to cut inside onto his left foot, and his set-piece delivery make him a constant danger. Raphinha is the most underrated player in Brazil’s entire squad.

Striker: Endrick

Club: Lyon

Ancelotti has entrusted the 19-year-old as Brazil’s central striker, a decision that reflects his belief in natural finishing ability over experience. Endrick is a pure goal scorer. His instincts inside the penalty area, his courage to attempt shots in tight situations, and his ability to hold up play despite his young age make him the ideal focal point for Ancelotti’s system. If he takes his chance, Brazil have found their centre-forward for the next decade.

Left Winger: Vinicius Junior

Club: Real Madrid

The most dangerous wide forward in world football and the player around whom Brazil’s entire attacking system is built. Carlo Ancelotti confirmed his 26-man Brazil squad for the 2026 World Cup on May 18. Vinicius, freed from defensive responsibilities by Ancelotti’s system, will operate as a pure attacker on the left, cutting inside, taking on defenders, and creating or scoring the goals that decide games. When Vinicius is at his absolute best, Brazil can beat anyone in world football.

Key Tactical Points

Brazil’s strength in this system is the combination of Vinicius and Raphinha as the two most direct wide forwards in the tournament, supported by Endrick’s intelligent movement as a striker who pulls defenders out of position to create space for the midfielders arriving from deep. Guimaraes’ protective role allows the full-backs to push forward, creating width overloads that stretch defences horizontally before Vinicius or Raphinha cut inside.

The key tactical question for Ancelotti is whether to play Rodrygo in midfield or as a second striker alongside Endrick. Either option works, but the midfield role gives Brazil more defensive balance while the advanced role gives them an extra goal threat in the final third. In knockout games against elite opposition, the midfield Rodrygo is the more reliable choice.

Brazil’s primary vulnerability is their defensive transition. When the press breaks down and opponents counter at pace, the space behind Danilo at right-back is the most exposed area on the pitch. Teams with pace on the counter, France and England in particular will target that channel relentlessly.

The bottom line: This is the most balanced Brazil squad since their 2002 winning generation. Ancelotti’s structure gives them a defensive foundation they have lacked for years. If Vinicius and Raphinha perform as expected and Endrick takes his chance, Brazil have the system and the talent to end their 24-year wait.

Sources: GiveMeSport, ESPN, FIFA World Cup News