2024 has offered some distinctive drama on the worldwide stage however all consideration now turns to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Qualification for the event – hosted by america, Canada and Mexico – is underway on nearly all of continents and the return of a summer season World Cup has supporters already salivating throughout the globe.
Who will make it to soccer’s most prestigious competitors stays to be seen, though a change in format now ensures a file 48 sides attain the finals. Eyes can be firmly mounted on the world’s elite nations and the shape they discover themselves in through the qualification course of.
Listed here are 90min’s energy rankings for the most effective groups in worldwide soccer.
Six COMEBOL nations qualify robotically for the 2026 World Cup and inaugural competitors winners Uruguay are properly positioned to safe their spot in North America.
La Celeste had been in spectacular kind through the summer season’s Copa America and reached the semi-final earlier than their heated exit by the hands of Colombia. Marcelo Bielsa’s aspect endured a patch of tough kind after the event however earned 4 factors in conferences with Colombia and Brazil over the November worldwide break in World Cup qualifying.
Revenge on Colombia got here within the type of a 3-2 victory, whereas Federico Valverde’s purpose secured a 1-1 draw with Brazil that leaves Uruguay second within the CONMEBOL qualifying standings.
It is no secret that Italy endured a disastrous Euro 2024 marketing campaign however former Scudetto-winning Napoli supervisor Luciano Spalletti has helped the Azzurri flip a nook since then.
Italy had been unbeaten throughout their 2024/25 UEFA Nations League group stage marketing campaign till their November defeat to France, narrowly lacking out on high spot in League A’s Group 2.
Having crushed France, Belgium and Israel for the reason that summer season’s disappointment, Italy will check themselves in opposition to Germany within the Nations League quarter-finals in March.
After a massively underwhelming Copa America marketing campaign over the summer season, Brazil discover themselves in improved kind since their return to CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying. Nevertheless, they continue to be a way from their greatest.
Vinicius Junior and co. did not win away at Venezuela earlier than stumbling to a house draw with Uruguay over the November worldwide break, leaving them fifth in qualifying and 7 factors behind rivals Argentina.
Dorival Junior is but to encourage because the nation’s head coach, though Brazil not boast the identical depth as they as soon as did.
Losses to Uruguay and high-flying Ecuador have dampened the temper across the Colombian nationwide group ever so barely, however Nestor Lorenzo’s aspect stay in a robust place regardless of November defeats.
Having been narrowly crushed by Argentina within the 2024 Copa America closing, Colombia went on to beat the world champions in qualifying again in September, following that success up with a 4-0 thrashing of Chile in October.
With Liverpool’s Luis Diaz in large kind and former Actual Madrid star James Rodriguez rejuvenated, Colombia ought to ease their strategy to qualification for the World Cup.
Portugal could have underwhelmed at Euro 2024 below Roberto Martinez however they’ve solely misplaced 4 of their final 26 matches in all competitions as a star-studded squad develop extra comfy collectively.
Cristiano Ronaldo discovered the online recurrently as Portugal eased by means of their Nations League group, beating Poland, Croatia and Scotland to safe high spot. They’ll face Denmark within the final eight.
Whereas Portugal should tilt away from Ronaldo within the coming years, the veteran has silenced his Euro 2024 critics with some spectacular Nations League outings.
A house event promised pleasure for Germany supporters after some darkish days below now Barcelona boss Hansi Flick, however Euro 2024 got here too quickly for Julian Nagelsmann originally of his challenge.
Germany performed positively over the summer season and their younger expertise shone vivid, even when a quarter-final exit by the hands of eventual champions Spain felt like a wasted alternative.
Nevertheless, Germany have been unbeaten since as they eased to high spot of their Nations League group, with a good-looking 7-0 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina in November highlighting the attacking potential of Nagelsmann’s aspect.
England could not have been solely convincing throughout their promotion again to League A within the Nations League however we mustn’t overlook the Three Lions had been European Championship finalists over the summer season.
Gareth Southgate has since departed, marking a brand new daybreak for the nationwide group as Thomas Tuchel prepares to take cost of his first match in March. The transient is evident: win the World Cup in 2026.
England confirmed glimpses of their attacking potential below interim supervisor Lee Carsley however forward-thinking soccer and the event of youth is more likely to be traded for organisation and pragmatism following the appointment of former Chelsea and Bayern Munich coach Tuchel.
France had been tipped because the favourites for Euro 2024 however did not ship on the large stage, even when they did attain the semi-final. Kylian Mbappe struggled in Germany and his teammates did little heavy lifting themselves on the event.
Didier Deschamps retained his place as head coach forward of the next Nations League group stage and regardless of a shaky starting, Les Bleus secured high spot as they progressed to the quarters.
An insanely proficient squad makes life simpler for Deschamps, whose aspect stay second within the FIFA world rankings, and a second Nations League triumph would set them up properly forward of the upcoming World Cup.
Spain are in merely sensational kind. Because the 2022 World Cup, they’ve did not win simply 4 of their 27 outings, triumphing at Euro 2024 below Luis de la Fuente after seven straight victories.
Their constructive kind has continued within the 2024/25 Nations League as they intention to defend their crown. 5 wins and a draw from six group stage matches was the strongest file of any League A group.
The likes of Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams carry hopes of a dominant era and La Roja can be keen to hold their distinctive kind into the 2026 World Cup.
There might be little doubt over the most effective worldwide group on the planet as issues stand. World champions and 2024 Copa America victors Argentina have gained the final three main tournaments they’ve entered, with Lionel Scaloni having masterminded their exceptional success.
Lionel Messi continues to ship on his worldwide swansong and Lautaro Martinez has developed into the clutch goalscorer each worldwide powerhouse requires.
They had been wonderful over the summer season as they gained the Copa America they usually cleared the path in CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying, at the moment sat 5 factors forward of second-placed Uruguay.
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