GOAL rates the four already-qualified teams, the three host nations and the nine remaining highest-ranked teams in the worldThe 2026 World Cup is still more than a year away, but the excitement surrounding the tournament is already building, particularly in host nations Canada, Mexico and the United States. However, there are also a lot of happy football fans in Argentina, Japan, Iran and New Zealand right now, with all four nations having sealed qualification during the latest international break.Argentina’s progression was particularly impressive, with the defending champions managing to beat both Uruguay and Brazil in the space of four days – and without the injured Lionel Messi. However, while most of Europe’s top teams have yet to actually start their respective qualification campaigns, the likes of Spain showed what they can do in engrossing Nations League ties over the past week.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, the four confirmed qualifiers and the nine remaining highest-ranked teams in the international game today…Last update: November 20, 2024
