Outpoll | France Ranked Top of 87 Possible 2026 World Cup Teams by ESPN

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France Ranked Top of 87 Possible 2026 World Cup Teams by ESPN

France Ranked Top of 87 Possible 2026 World Cup Teams by ESPN

1 day ago7 min read10 comments

In a move that will have football statisticians and armchair pundits alike nodding in agreement, ESPN's latest power ranking has anointed Didier Deschamps's France as the team to beat heading into the 2026 World Cup, placing Les Bleus at the summit of a formidable list of 87 nations still in contention. This isn't just a casual prediction; the ranking is a cold, hard calculation built on a foundation of squad market value and recent national team results, a methodology that feels ripped from the playbook of a modern footballing quant.To see France perched at the top is to witness a perfect storm of generational talent and proven tournament pedigree. Think of Kylian Mbappé, not just as a player, but as a force of nature whose speed and finishing draw inevitable comparisons to the great Ronaldo Nazário, leading a squad so deep that their bench could likely challenge for a quarter-final spot on its own.They are the reigning World Cup finalists, a team that has seamlessly transitioned from its 2018 triumph, blending the hardened experience of players like Antoine Griezmann with the explosive youth of Eduardo Camavinga and William Saliba. It’s a dynasty in the making, and this ranking merely confirms what we’ve all been witnessing.Hot on their heels, the list reads like a who's who of international football royalty. Spain, in second, is undergoing a thrilling renaissance under Luis de la Fuente, their possession-based 'tiki-taka' philosophy now infused with a direct, cutting edge that makes them utterly mesmerizing and ruthlessly efficient.Then comes England, forever burdened by the 'it's coming home' prophecy, a squad so ludicrously stacked with attacking talent—Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden—that their perennial underachievement on the biggest stage feels like a statistical anomaly waiting to be corrected. The presence of Portugal and a resurgent Brazil rounds out the top five, a reminder that the usual suspects are reloading with frightening intent.But the true beauty of this 87-team list lies in the stories bubbling just below the surface. The Netherlands, always a cradle of tactical innovation, sits sixth, while Argentina, the defending champions led by the immortal Lionel Messi, are ranked seventh, a position that feels almost disrespectful until you consider the inevitable generational transition looming over them.Italy and Germany, two fallen giants, are nestled at eighth and ninth, both in the throes of rebuilding their footballing identities with a mix of angst and ambition. And then you have the disruptors, the teams that make this global tournament so compelling.Uruguay, at number ten, continues to punch far above its weight class, a testament to their never-say-die 'garra charrúa'. Denmark, at eleven, is the ultimate well-drilled collective, a team greater than the sum of its parts.The inclusion of Norway at twelve is a fascinating subplot, entirely dependent on the fitness and form of the goal-scoring phenom Erling Haaland—a one-man wrecking crew who can single-handedly drag a nation to glory. From Belgium's 'Golden Generation' seeking one last hurrah to the magnetic rise of African champions Morocco, this ESPN ranking is more than just a list; it's the opening chapter of the 2026 narrative, setting the stage for two years of tactical chess, heart-stopping drama, and the relentless pursuit of football's ultimate prize.