World Cup Title Favorites, Sleepers, Debut Teams? All 48 Teams By Tiers

Doug McIntyre

Soccer Journalist 

Ready for the biggest edition of soccer’s marquee event? With 48 teams spread across three countries, this summer’s 2026 FIFA World Cup is going to be epic.

The field is set, and all 12 four-team groups are locked in. But which teams will be the serious tournament contenders? Who’ll punch above their weight? The first-timers? And what about co-hosts USA, Mexico and Canada?

We’re diving into the World Cup field by placing all the teams into distinct tiers and breaking down why you should keep an eye on them.

Check out our tiers here:

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