Goal.com has released its list of the favorites for the 2026 World Cup. It is noteworthy that Uzbekistan also made it into this ranking, and the national team is listed in 25th place. The top three are Spain, Argentina and England - this is interpreted as an assessment based on the form of the three in recent years, the depth of the squad and the experience of the tournament.
Such ratings, of course, have a subjective approach: the current form of the teams, the selection, the injury situation and tactical changes have a great impact. Nevertheless, they show the general picture for fans before the big tournament and provide a basis for discussion. Uzbekistan's rise to 25th place is explained by regional development, the quality of the game in previous cycles and the arrival of a new generation - this position will also depend on stability in subsequent matches.
Below is the full list provided by Goal.com:
27. New Zealand
26. Jordan
25. Uzbekistan
24. Tunisia
23. USA
22. Iran
21. Australia
20. Canada
19. Paraguay
18. Mexico
17. Italy
16. Colombia
15. Belgium
14. Croatia
13. Uruguay
12. Japan
11. Republic of Korea
10. Ecuador
9. Morocco
8. Brazil
7. Netherlands
6. Germany
5. France
4. Portugal
3. England
2. Argentina
1. Spain
According to the interpretation, Spain's rise to the top is due to a new look in the team, precision in positional play and a balanced experience-to-youth ratio. Argentina and England are also seen as main contenders: one has a championship mentality and leading stars, the other has strategic cover and deep reserves. At the same time, giants such as Brazil, Germany, France and Portugal are also extremely dangerous in the “long-distance marathon”.
25th place for Uzbekistan is a realistic starting point before a major tournament. To move up this ranking, some areas are crucial: efficiency in standards, discipline in defense, speed and decision-making in counterattacks, as well as psychological endurance in big matches. In short, the rating is a preliminary assessment, and the result is determined by the field.
Let us recall that the 2026 World Cup will be held in the USA, Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19 next year. As the competition format has expanded, the scope of competition has also expanded: the cost of each mistake is high, and the value of each point is even greater. Now the focus is on training camps, test matches and final calls.
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