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.
