2026 World Cup: Compare the World Cup Teams

How can you compare two World Cup teams using our tool?

Want to compare your favorite team with the other teams that have qualified for the 2026 World Cup? Or simply compare two teams based on a specific criterion? It couldn’t be easier!

In the tool provided above, select the two teams you want to compare, then start the comparison.

Nine different criteria, an exclusive chart, and detailed data: comparing two World Cup soccer teams has never been easier!

Overview of the Comparison Criteria

Want to learn more about our 9 comparison criteria? Explanations and our calculation methodology are provided below.

1) Squad

The squad comparison is based on the market value of the national teams, as reported by https://www.transfermarkt.com/.

This includes the total value of each squad, comprising all players selected for the 2026 World Cup. 

The nation with the most expensive squad is ranked No. 1, and the one with the least valuable squad is ranked No. 48.

In the event of a perfect tie between two teams, the change in each squad's value is taken into account.

If one squad is valued the same as another, but its value is falling while its competitor’s is rising? The squad that is rising in value then takes the higher spot in our ranking.

2) FIFA Rankings

The FIFA rankings are an official ranking of national teams affiliated with the world governing body, available to the public at https://www.fifa.com/en/fifa-world-ranking/. 

In our comparison of the 2026 World Cup teams, the team with the highest ranking in this list is assigned the top position, and the team with the lowest ranking is assigned the bottom position. 

For example, if New Zealand is the lowest-ranked team in the FIFA rankings among the World Cup participants (86th), it is assigned the 48th position in our ranking.

3) Fans

To compare the different teams in the 2026 World Cup in terms of fan base, we consider the size of their communities (likes, followers, etc.) on Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube, and TikTok.

The size of these communities across the five social media platforms is combined to determine a ranking of the most followed and popular national teams in the world.

For example, the USMNT's accounts have 3.3 million likes on Facebook, 3 million followers on Instagram, 2.1 million followers on X, 568Ksubscribers on YouTube, and 781K on TikTok.

4) Experience

The experience criterion is based on the number of international matches played by a team’s players across all tournaments.

If a team includes players with a high number of international caps, it will be ranked among the best in this category.

Conversely, a team that has relied on youth and last-minute surprises in its roster, featuring players with few caps, will rank among the lowest in this category.

This comparison is interesting because it helps predict which nations will be able to handle difficult situations with experienced players.

With a total of 49 million followers, it has the largest following among World Cup teams and ranks No. 1 in this category. 

5) Competition

The Competition criterion is a metric that takes into account each nation’s performance in the World Cup.

It includes the win percentage in the competition, the number of matches played, and each team’s record across its various appearances (championships won, appearances in the final, semifinals, second round, etc.).

A ranking is generated for each of these subcategories, resulting in an overall World Cup performance ranking.

The team with the best average across these sub-rankings is then ranked No. 1 for this criterion. The team with the lowest average is ranked 48th.

6) Form

To compare each team’s form ahead of the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, an analysis of the last six matches played was conducted for all nations. Here, only the results were taken into account.

For each win, 3 points were awarded; for each draw, 1 point; and for a loss, 0 points.

Ultimately, the team with the most favorable results in its last 6 matches is ranked No. 1 based on this criterion.  

7) Attack

As the name suggests, the Attack criterion compares the offensive strengths of each nation.

To determine this, the number of goals scored by each team in its last six matches was taken into account.

For example, Austria scored 19 goals in its last six matches, making it the best attack among the World Cup qualifiers. It ranks first.

Saudi Arabia scored only three goals in its last six matches, making it the least prolific attack. It ranks 48th based on this criterion.

In the event of a tie in goals scored between two teams, the strength of the opponents faced is taken into account.

8) Defense

Teams are compared based on defense by looking at the number of goals conceded in their last six matches.

For example, if Argentina has conceded only 2 goals in its last six matches, the fewest of any team, then it is ranked No. 1 in this category.

9) Odds

Finally, the odds criterion is based on the average odds offered by international sportsbooks for “2026 World Cup Winner” bets.

Does France have the lowest odds on the market for the final victory? It ranks first in this criterion. Conversely, does Haiti have the highest odds on the market? The team is then ranked 48th.

Conversely, if the U.S. team has conceded 11 goals in its last 6 matches, making it the worst defense, then it is ranked 48th.

For example, a goal scored against Argentina is worth more points than a goal scored against the Faroe Islands.

Who is the favorite for the 2026 World Cup according to our rankings?

On SportyTrader, we highlight the favorites for every World Cup match and the teams to watch in our World Cup predictions.

Beyond the betting aspect, we go even further by comparing the 48 teams competing in the tournament based on various criteria. This provides a comprehensive overview of the event.

So, is your team among the favorites? Does it have the odds in its favor? Who are the sportsbooks’ favorites for this 2026 World Cup?

We’ll show you in our rankings. Go to the top of the page and click on the Rankings tab.

You can rank all participating teams based on our 9 selected criteria and get a comprehensive view of the overall standings of the favorites.

Our Current World Cup Predictions

To learn more about the World Cup and prepare your sports bets, check out our upcoming predictions for the tournament.