Uzbekistan ranked 25th among World Cup 2026 favorites

The UK-based outlet Goal has published its list of favorites for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be hosted in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. According to the ranking, Uzbekistan’s national team is placed 25th.

So far, 18 teams have secured their spots at the tournament, while another 30 will be determined after the qualification rounds. Nevertheless, Goal also included strong teams that are highly likely to qualify.

In Goal’s view, Spain is the top favorite for the 2026 World Cup, having delivered an outstanding performance at Euro 2024 and winning the title. Defending world champion Argentina, led by Lionel Messi, was ranked second, while England completed the top three.

According to Goal, the top 10 favorites for the 2026 World Cup are:

Spain
Argentina
England
Portugal
France
Germany
Netherlands
Brazil
Morocco
Ecuador

The outlet wrote that Uzbekistan’s victory in the CAFA Nations Cup final could provide the team with a strong psychological boost. Therefore, the national team is expected to perform well at the 2026 World Cup. In addition, the presence of players such as Abbosbek Fayzullaev, Eldor Shomurodov, and Abdukodir Khusanov is said to increase Uzbekistan’s chances of reaching the playoff stage.

Other Asian teams ranked higher than Uzbekistan include South Korea (11th), Japan (12th), Australia (21st), and Iran (22nd). Another Asian representative, Jordan, was ranked 27th.