How are the tournament favourites and the three host nations shaping up just over a year-and-a-half out from the big kick-off?
The 2026 World Cup is still over 18 months away, but the excitement surrounding the tournament is already building, particularly in host nations Canada, Mexico and the United States. All three are presently building towards the tournament, while qualifying is already well under way in the CONMEBOL, CONCACAF, CAF and AFC regions.
Meanwhile, Europe's top sides are still playing Nations League football, but some sides are undeniably in far better shape than others right now. There is, of course, an awful lot of football to be played between now and the opening game of the World Cup in Mexico City on June 11, 2026 but, as it stands, who's looking like a potential victor – and which nations have a lot to work on?
Below, GOAL assesses the prospects of the three hosts and the 13 highest-ranked teams in the international game today…
Last update: October 16, 2024
