World Cup 2026 – Every Nation’s Tournament Ranked

The 2026 World Cup has been and gone, and what a tournament it was. I was worried that the controversy surrounding the tournament would tarnish the football, but this World Cup had some of the greatest football games I’ve ever seen!

Forty-eight teams entered, and only one was victorious … but a lot of nations will still have their heads held high. I’m going to review each nation’s tournament relative to expectations – in other words, I’m judging whether a participating team did their country proud or not.

Before we begin, you can check out some of my related blog posts below:

Every World Cup Winner Ranked

2022 World Cup – Every Nation’s Tournament Ranked

World Cup 2026 – My Predictions

Every Puskas Award Winner Ranked

48 – Tunisia

Grade: F

By far the worst team of the tournament, and the one who did their nation the worst disservice, was Tunisia. They had one of the most embarrassing outings in World Cup history.

Not only did they lose all three of their games, and not only did they get an abysmal goal difference of -10, but they sacked their manager halfway through the tournament. He couldn’t even make it past three games!

Rarely do teams play as badly as this on the world stage. Tunisia 2026 will be remembered as one of the worst international sides of all time.

47 – Uruguay

Grade: F

The other side that let their nation down completely was Uruguay. They crashed out of what should have been an easy group, and they failed to win a single game.

To make matters worse, I predicted them to be the Dark Horses of the tournament, and for Muslera to win the Golden Glove … only for him to be the worst goalie of the whole thing. Oops.

46 – Czechia

Grade: E

This was Czechia’s first World Cup in quite a few years, so I’m sure the nation’s expectations weren’t too high. That being said, I still think they’ll be disappointed with how they did.

Mexico were always going to top the group, but once South Korea started to falter Czechia should’ve fought for that second place … only for South Africa to beat them to it.

South Africa were one of the least inspiring teams in the tournament, and South Korea had a howler in the Group Stage. And yet Czechia managed to finish below both of them.

45 – South Korea

Grade: E

South Korea are ranked ever so slightly above Czechia … but that’s only because they finished above Czechia in the group. Otherwise, they were just as woeful.

This was an easy group by South Korea’s standards, so they should’ve comfortably finished second behind hosts Mexico. They’ll be so disappointed that South Africa finished above them.

The South Korean president has since issued a public statement condemning his nation’s performance, saying that there will be “an investigation” as to whether tax money is being well spent. Yikes.

44 – Iraq

Grade: E+

On paper, Iraq did worse than Tunisia. They also lost all three games but they got a goal difference of -11, one worse than Tunisia. That makes Iraq statistically the worst nation in the tournament.

They were drawn in the “group of death” alongside France, Norway and Senegal, however, so this went about as well as expected. But I’m sure the fans would’ve wanted a point or a few more goals to take away from the experience.

43 – Panama

Grade: E+

Like a few other nations in this tournament, Panama finished on 0 points. That was to be expected.

They also scored zero goals, however. So this wasn’t a fun tournament to be a Panama fan.

42 – Turkey

Grade: D-

Every casual football fan always predicts Turkey as their Dark Horses, but I’m sure that’ll change after this World Cup. They lost two on the bounce and were one of the first teams mathematically eliminated.

Which made it even weirder when they then beat an in-form USA – the hosts – in the final group game. That fluke single-handedly bumped their grade up a letter or two.

41 – Uzbekistan

Grade: D-

Uzbekistan made their World Cup debut this year. It’s no shock, therefore, that they got zero points and had a goal difference of -9.

They got trounced in all three games and were hardly ever in control of their matches. Their biggest sin was perhaps giving Ronaldo and Portugal an undeserved, premature morale boost.

40 – Jordan

Grade: D-

Another team who got zero points! I forgot how many of them there were in this tournament – that’s what happens when you expand the format to 48 nations, I guess.

Like Uzbekistan, Jordan were never a threat.

39 – Saudi Arabia

Grade: D

Saudi Arabia got two points, which was more than I expected. Their draw to Uruguay was a great result, but their draw to Cape Verde is what ultimately let them down.

I’m sure seeing Cape Verde qualifying ahead of them would’ve stung.

38 – New Zealand

Grade: D

New Zealand managed one point in their three group games. That seems about right.

37 – Qatar

Grade: D

Again, Qatar’s one point seems about right. That’s one better than they managed when they hosted the damn thing four years ago …

36 – Germany

Grade: D+

There were three teams who were utterly disappointing at this World Cup. Uruguay were the first, and Germany were the second. They crashed out of the 2018 and 2022 Group Stages, so the whole nation expected them to right their wrongs this time around.

They were doing okay at first, but then they lost to a tough-as-nails Paraguay team in the Round of 32. It’s not a good era for German football.

In many ways, this Germany team reminds me of Spain 2022 – they got a huge win in their first group game but then did nothing all tournament. Does that mean a World Cup win is on the cards for Germany in 2030? Time will tell …

35 – Senegal

Grade: D+

Senegal came third in the “group of death”, which isn’t a bad thing on paper – especially as they were one of the best third placed teams and therefore qualified for the Round of 32.

They came up against Belgium and almost cruised to victory … only to then throw away a two goal lead and lose the game 3-2 in extra time. That must’ve been one of the most heart-breaking losses of any nation in this tournament.

34 – Brazil

Grade: D+

Brazil were the third of the three big disappointments at the 2026 World Cup. I remember watching that 1-1 draw to Morocco and thinking they were in big trouble … and I was right.

They almost lost to Japan, and then they did lose to Norway in the Round of 16. Ancelotti’s eyebrow did nothing to save them.

33 – Scotland

Grade: C-

As an Englishman, I can only sit back and laugh. Scottish football fans talked the big talk but their team didn’t back it up on the pitch.

To be fair, it went about as well as we all expected – they beat Haiti but lost to Brazil and Morocco. Those three points weren’t enough to be a best third placed team … but hey, it was a tough group. No shame in going home early to support England instead.

32 – Haiti

Grade: C-

Technically, Haiti did worse than Scotland. They were yet another team who got zero points and so they finished bottom of their group.

But they scored a few screamers. At least they gave their nation something to shout about.

31 – Iran

Grade: C-

Iran was a hot topic going into this USA-hosted tournament, and then they got knocked out in heart-breaking fashion. That’s football, eh?

30 – Netherlands

Grade: C-

The first game draw to Japan raised a few eyebrows, but then Netherlands did quite well in their next two group games. They never felt like true contenders but it seemed they’d go far.

Unfortunately, they drew Morocco in the Round of 32 and lost in a tight affair. They didn’t have a terrible tournament, but I’m sure they’re disappointed that they didn’t at least make the last sixteen.

29 – Portugal

Grade: C-

Portugal were one of the most underwhelming teams of the whole tournament. They were borderline bad in the Group Stage, and having Ronaldo up top held them back a lot. They were supposed to be one of the favourites to win the whole thing!

I was going to rank them much lower, but they got a miraculous (and VAR-assisted) win against Croatia to reach the Round of 16. Their loss to Spain was then much more acceptable.

Please, please Portugal. Whatever you do, don’t start Ronaldo in 2030. I know it’s a home tournament but he’ll be in his mid-forties!

28 – Curacao

Grade: C

Curacao were a debutant nation for the 2026 World Cup … and they got a point! That’s far better than almost every other debuting nation.

27 – Algeria

Grade: C

Alongside Uruguay, Algeria had the worst goalkeeper of the tournament. How Luca Zidane – Zinedine Zidane’s son – managed to make the starting eleven with goalkeeping like that is beyond me.

Otherwise, they did fine. They were a part of some thrilling games, and their Round of 32 loss to Switzerland was nothing to be ashamed of.

26 – Sweden

Grade: C

Few nations were as inconsistent as Sweden. They went from losing 5-1 to Netherlands to immediately winning their next game 5-1 against Tunisia.

Their 3-0 loss to France in the Round of 32 was lacklustre, but at least they made the Knockouts. Nobody expected much from them to begin with.

25 – Bosnia and Herzegovina

Grade: C

They did well to make it to the Round of 32, but then Bosnia and Herzegovina were knocked out by host nation USA. Their tournament went almost exactly how everyone predicted.

24 – Ecuador

Grade: C

A famous win against the Germans took Ecuador into the Round of 32, where they lost to host nation Mexico. A fair outcome for a bang average team.

23 – South Africa

Grade: C+

After the opening game to Mexico, everyone wrote off South Africa as the worst team of the tournament, likely to bow out with zero points. It’s a miracle, therefore, that they got second in their group and advanced to the Knockouts.

They almost beat a mediocre Canada too, but lost to a last minute winner. But yeah … South Africa were still one of the worst teams in the tournament.

22 – Croatia

Grade: C+

I was glad that England beat Croatia in the opening game, because Modric’s men seemed fairly solid. They were nowhere near the level of their 2018 team but I thought they’d go far.

They should’ve beaten Portugal in the Round of 32, but ended up getting robbed by VAR. I’d be quite bitter if I was a Croatian.

21 – Ghana

Grade: C+

Ghana were far from a great team, but their 0-0 draw to England showed a lot of defensive spirit. In all honesty, they probably should’ve beaten us in that game.

They narrowly lost to Colombia in the Round of 32, but again it could’ve gone the other way.

20 – DR Congo

Grade: C+

Another team that almost beat England, this time in the Round of 32. If it wasn’t for Kane bailing us out, we’d be calling Congo one of the Dark Horses of the tournament.

19 – Japan

Grade: C+

Japan are almost always a solid team on the international stage. Despite a few injury concerns they gave a lot of teams a run for their money.

They were decent in the Group Stages and almost beat Brazil, if it wasn’t for that last-minute Martinelli goal.

18 – Austria

Grade: B-

Austria almost had a disaster of a tournament, but their equalizer to make it 3-3 against Algeria meant they qualified for Knockouts. What a game – and what a moment for Austrians.

Their Round of 32 loss means they didn’t get far, but at least they were beaten by the eventual champions Spain.

17 – Australia

Grade: B-

I didn’t think Australia were going to make it out of a group with USA and Turkey, but they defied expectations. Well done Aussies.

They then lost to Egypt in the Round of 32, but it was only on penalties.

16 – Ivory Coast

Grade: B-

You might think it odd to have ranked Ivory Coast so high, but remember that this was the team that almost beat Norway. Not many teams in world football could have given Haaland’s men that much of a fight.

15 – Colombia

Grade: B-

Colombia will be disappointed that they lost to the Swiss in the Round of 16, but the fact they topped the group over Portugal will give them some major bragging rights.

14 – USA

Grade: B-

If we’re talking Group Stage USA (especially those first two games), they might’ve even gotten a grade of A. Everyone in the world was shocked by the quality of their football, and they no doubt inspired a whole generation of Americans – young and old.

They did well to beat Bosnia and Herzegovina, but then they got humbled by an average Belgian team in the Round of 16. Not a bad tournament from a host nation by any means, but I’m sure they’ll wish they did better.

Oh, and that Balogun red card fiasco was an absolute joke. It marred what was otherwise a solid campaign.

13 – Canada

Grade: B

Were Canada ever a good team? No, not really. But they used their home advantage to their benefit and they scraped their way into the Knockouts.

Not only that, but they even beat South Africa to reach the Round of 16 for the first time in their history. Hardly inspirational, but it was still a World Cup to remember if you’re Canadian.

12 – Egypt

Grade: B

I would never have predicted Egypt to reach the Round of 16. I just didn’t think Salah and co. had it in them.

Amazingly, they also almost beat Argentina in a thrilling game. While I don’t agree with the popular consensus that they were robbed, I do think that Egypt were probably the better team on the day, and that Argentina got some … *ahem* … favourable decisions.

11 – Mexico

Grade: B

The best of the host nations in my books – three wins out of three in the Group Stage made Mexico a force to be reckoned with.

They made it all the way to the Round of 16 without conceding a single goal, but then lost to England in one of the most exciting games of the tournament. This was a scary team who could’ve gone far if it wasn’t for England playing the game of their lives.

10 – Morocco

Grade: B+

I remember watching that Morocco-Brazil game and thinking “My god, Morocco are such a good team. They could win the whole thing!”. This ended up being an overestimation, but for the second World Cup running they proved themselves to be the best African team by a country mile.

They toppled a strong Netherlands team in the Knockout Stages, but they didn’t have enough quality to beat France in the Quarter Final. Who knows – this golden generation of Moroccan talent may surprise us yet again in four years’ time.

9 – Belgium

Grade: B+

All it took was one game to raise Belgium’s grade from a pitiful E to a valiant B+. They floundered in the Group Stages and for a moment it looked as though they’d be going home for the second World Cup in a row.

They even went 2-0 down against Senegal in the Round of 32, but against all odds they completed the best comeback of the tournament and won 3-2.

Better still, they humbled the USA in a one-sided game, and became the only side to score past Spain during their Quarter Final loss. What should’ve been a shocker of a tournament ended up being one of Belgium’s best ever – what a turnaround!

8 – Paraguay

Grade: B+

In one of the biggest upsets of the World Cup, Paraguay beat Germany on penalties to advance to the Round of 16. Not many people could’ve predicted that!

They gave France a tough game and only lost 1-0 in the end. If it wasn’t for their racist politician making a mockery of their country with her comments about Mbappe, I would’ve given them an A- grade. It’s such a shame that one horrible woman has let a whole nation down.

7 – Switzerland

Grade: A-

The Qatar-Switzerland Group Stage game was one of the few non-England games I watched live, and I thought both teams were pretty rubbish. I never could’ve imagined Switzerland would make it all the way to the Quarter Finals, but here we are.

They did extremely well to beat Colombia in the Round of 16, and they gave Argentina a real fight in the Quarters.

6 – France

Grade: A-

I predicted France to win the whole thing. Up until the Semi Finals, they looked to be the best team in the tournament by far … but then Spain wiped the floor with them.

This France team played some of the best football of this World Cup, with Mbappe getting a staggering ten goals, so they’ll be disappointed not to have at least reached the Final. The standards of this super team are just too high.

Also, it’s quite funny how I predicted a France-England Quarter Final to be game of the tournament, only for their third place match to end 6-4!

5 – Cape Verde

Grade: A

The biggest fairytale story of this World Cup by far was Cape Verde. They were World Cup debutants and everyone expected them to go home with zero points, but amazingly they came second in a tough group.

Their 0-0 draw to Spain saw a goalkeeping masterclass by Vozinha, and the subsequent draws with Saudi Arabia and Uruguay were some fantastic games. They then almost beat Argentina in the Round of 32 in what many consider the game of the tournament – it took extra time for the Argentines to win, so that means Cape Verde went unbeaten in normal time!

I was going to rank Cape Verde at number one and give them a grade of A+ … but they didn’t actually win a single game. Maybe they’ll get their first victory in four years’ time. The whole world will be rooting for them!

4 – England

Grade: A

As an Englishman, my knee-jerk reaction after the Argentina Semi Final loss was to call this an underwhelming tournament … but reaching the last four of the World Cup is an achievement worth celebrating.

We saw some incredible, famous Knockout wins against the likes of Mexico and Norway, and Jude Bellingham had the tournament of his life. I’m extremely proud of the lads – hopefully we can finally bring home some silverware in the coming international tournaments.

And, of course, thumping France 6-4 in the third place match certainly helped to ease the pain. It’s our best World Cup finish since 1966!

3 – Argentina

Grade: A

That’s two finals in a row for Argentina – not many people predicted them to go that far again, let alone come within touching distance of the trophy. It’s a testament to both Messi’s class and the team’s tenacity that they managed to get multiple last-minute victories.

It’s another great achievement … but they didn’t paint themselves in glory this time. Their football wasn’t as classy, they relied too much on luck / favourable refereeing decisions, and scenes got really ugly in the Final against Spain.

Still, this ageing squad defied expectations and won a lot of games they probably shouldn’t have. They were by far the biggest rollercoaster ride of the tournament.

2 – Norway

Grade: A+

It’s hard to believe that this was Norway’s first World Cup since 1998. They came in with a decent squad, and yet even then they defied expectations and went deep in the tournament.

The came second in the group of death, the beat Brazil in the Round of 16 in a famous win, and then they had a really good fight with England in the Quarter Final. If that game had gone another way, we could’ve seen Norway reach the Final – that’s how solid they were.

Their talisman Haaland scored lots of iconic goals, and the squad’s performance has no doubt inspired an entire nation.

1 – Spain

Grade: A+

Campeones!

Spain were one of the favourites going into the tournament, having won the Euros two years prior, but even so they managed to overcome the odds and lift the trophy.

They had the toughest route to the Final of all – lesser teams would’ve fallen to Portugal, Belgium or especially France – and then they dominated the Final against Argentina.

Most impressively of all, in my opinion, is that they only conceded one goal across all eight games. They put on defensive, possession-based masterclasses every match – no team deserved to lift the 2026 World Cup more than them.

Aaaand that’s my list! If you liked this post and want to support me, please consider giving me a one-time donation. Even a few pence (or whatever currency you use) is fantastic! I’ve never monetized this blog before, but it would be great if I could do this comfortably and not have to worry about the yearly website domain costs. Thank you so much!