Ranking the World Cup 2026 groups: Which teams are favourites to progress?

The first stage of the 2026 World Cup 2026 features 12 groups. We’ve ranked them and picked the favourites to advance.

A record 48 teams will contest this summer’s World Cup, with 12 groups making up the first stage of the tournament.

Twelve seeded teams are spread out across the groups, including the three host nations and eight top-ranked countries. The four highest-ranked teams – Spain, Argentina, France and England – were placed in separate sections, or quadrants, of a new tennis-style seeded tournament bracket.

FIFA said the top four nations, if they finish first in their respective round-robin groups, will avoid each other until the semifinals.

The top two teams from each group will automatically proceed to the round of 32, where they will be joined by the eight best third-placed sides.

Before the big kickoff, we’ve ranked the groups from hardest to easiest and picked the two favourites to automatically advance from each group.

The “group of death” at this year’s World Cup appears to be Group I, with the four teams having the highest average FIFA ranking.

France are one of the favourites to lift the title and are looking to make their third consecutive final appearance, while Senegal are one of the strongest African nations.

Erling Haaland’s Norway are dark horses and Iraq – who faced the most games to qualify – will be no pushovers.

With an average world ranking of 26, including seventh-placed Netherlands, this group looks pretty tricky.

Japan were the first nation to qualify for the tournament and recently beat England at Wembley, while Sweden boast the attacking threats of Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres.

Tunisia came through qualifying without conceding and will be looking to make the knockouts for the first time.

Favourites for automatic qualification: Netherlands and Japan

Croatia have reached the final and semifinals in their last two World Cup finals and will once again aim for a deep run in the tournament.

They face England in a mouthwatering opening fixture, as Thomas Tuchel samples tournament football with the Three Lions for the first time.

Carlos Queiroz will look to use all his experience to guide Ghana through the group stage, while Panama head to the tournament as Central America’s highest-ranked side.

England and Croatia should make it through this group, but it will not be a walk in the park for them.

With two teams in the top 10 of FIFA’s rankings, this group looks to be pretty competitive.

Brazil are not the powerhouse they once were, but Carlo Ancelotti’s side will still be heavy favourites to qualify in to