Ranking the 2026 World Cup quarterfinal teams remaining 1-8, from best (France) to worst (Switzerland)

The first-ever 48-team FIFA World Cup has been whittled down to just eight remaining participants as the 2026 tournament has reached the quarterfinal round.

After ranking the 32 knockout-stage participants, there were some upsets as the Netherlands, Brazil, and Portugal were eliminated, but many of the top contenders still remain alive.

Even those highly rated sides have been challenged to the brink so far. Defending champions Argentina needed a heroic comeback against Egypt to advance to the quarterfinals, while France were pushed to the brink by Paraguay and England were tested in the Estadio Azteca pressure cooker.

The Sporting News has ranked the remaining eight teams challenging for the 2026 title, considering talent in the squad, performances so far, and their chances of lifting the trophy by the end of the competition.

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2026 World Cup rankings for Round of 16

8. Switzerland

• FIFA Rank: #17
• Group stage:
  • D 1-1 vs. Qatar
  • W 4-1 vs. Bosnia & Herzegovina
  • W 2-1 vs. Canada
• Round of 32: W 2-0 vs. Algeria
• Round of 16: D 0-0 vs. Colombia (4-3 on pens)

With Breel Embolo at the helm, this Switzerland attack can break any team down in a number of ways, but it goes beyond just the Stade Rennes man. Ruben Vargas in particular is a man in form, and he has cooked on the wing at the World Cup. Granit Xhaka remains an all-star string-puller in midfield, but their defense can be suspect at times.

An injury to breakout star Johan Manzambi is concerning, as it sapped them of their progression and creativity against Colombia, and they don't have the same bite without him. They created next to nothing in that Round of 16 match, and it will be even more difficult against Argentina.

7. Belgium

• FIFA Rank: #11
• Group stage:
  • D 1-1 vs. Egypt
  • D 0-0 vs. Iran
  • W 5-1 vs. New Zealand
• Round of 32: W 3-2 vs. Senegal
• Round of 16: W 4-1 vs. USA

Until the Round of 16 win over the United States, Belgium had looked awful. They had been static in attack, poor in front of goal, and slow in midfield. Kevin De Bruyne has looked every bit of 34 years old, and Romelu Lukaku has wasted a number of good chances on goal.

Then, they trounced the World Cup co-hosts in their greatest stronghold, making a mockery of U.S. Soccer in the process. While one result shouldn't swing opinions of a team one way or another, Rudi Garcia's side was wildly impressive in that match, and Garcia himself thoroughly outcoached Mauricio Pochettino, one of the most respected managers in the world.

This team disappointed in 2022, and they were primed for another poor finish this year unless they got their act together quickly. It's starting to feel like they have done just that, but a lot of holes in this team remain.

MORE: More on Belgium's Charles De Ketelaere, who scored two goals on the United States

6. Morocco

• FIFA Rank: #6
• Group stage:
  • D 1-1 vs. Brazil
  • W 1-0 vs. Scotland
  • W 4-2 vs. Haiti
• Round of 32: D 1-1 vs. Netherlands (3-2 on pens)
• Round of 16: W 3-0 vs. Canada

Morocco proved in 2022 they are a force to be reckoned with by becoming the first African nation to reach the World Cup semifinals. That has carried over into 2026 where superstar Achraf Hakimi is surrounded by a host of role players who often punch above their weight on the international stage.

This is a team that, with an upset or two, could reach the semifinals again, and even if their ceiling is the quarterfinals, they are going to be a tough out for anyone they draw.

Unfortunately, that team is France, probably the most in-form team in the tournament. A lot of this match will fall on rising young superstar Ayyoub Bouaddi, who will be needed to take charge of the midfield where Les Bleus are the weakest.

5. England

• FIFA Rank: #4
• Group stage:
  • W 4-2 vs. Croatia
  • D 0-0 vs. Ghana
  • W 2-0 vs. Panama
• Round of 32: W vs. DR Congo 2-1
• Round of 16: W vs. Mexico 3-2

England entered this tournament as one of the title favorites, and they looked every bit the part as they carved an aging Croatia to shreds in their opening game. While they squandered a lot of that good will in less-than-stellar performances against Ghana and DR Congo, the steel they displayed against Mexico in Azteca has won many hearts back.

Still, for all the talent in the England squad, the team construction is odd and confusing, and if they don't stomp the opponents they're meant to beat handily, there will naturally be questions about their viability against better opponents later in the tournament. Additionally, they have serious injury concerns at right-back, where all three first-choice players are now dealing with fitness issues.

This team is probably top-three in the world talent-wise, and Thomas Tuchel is a great coach, but the roster construction of this team needs to be justified, and to this point, it hasn't. Add in that Declan Rice and Elliot Anderson are dealing with nagging injuries in midfield, and you wonder if they can keep this tightrope walk up against a strong and resilient opponent like Norway.

4. Norway

• FIFA Rank: #22
• Group stage:
  • W 4-1 vs. Iraq
  • W 3-2 vs. Senegal
  • L 4-1 vs. France
• Round of 32: W 2-1 vs. Ivory Coast
• Round of 16: W 2-1 vs. Brazil

There is no more taking Norway lightly, as everyone now knows this team is for real. The Vikings have exceptional quality at the top end and are relatively deep throughout the squad. They have Erling Haaland and Martin Odegaard leading the way, supported by players competing across Europe's top leagues as well as those who have developed at Bodo/Glimt.

Norway have dispatched two very good teams in Ivory Coast and Brazil so far, and they deserved both victories. Coach Stale Solbakken has pushed all the right buttons throughout the tournament, including against Brazil when he anticipated Carlo Ancelotti would try to take away Norway's counterattack, so his team simply kept possession instead.

3. Argentina

• FIFA Rank: #1
• Group stage:
  • W 3-0 vs. Algeria
  • W 2-0 vs. Austria
  • W, 3-1 vs. Jordan
• Round of 32: W 3-2 vs. Cape Verde
• Round of 16: W 3-2 vs. Egypt

Coming into this tournament, Argentina had clear weaknesses, but they continued to paper over the gaps with exceptional fortitude and Lionel Messi magic. That has been just enough to get them through to the quarterfinals, but it has also raised significant questions about the Albiceleste's title chances.

In midfield, they have been a shell of themselves in all three games, unable to strange the life out of matches as they have been previously accustomed to. When they do gain a foothold on a game's flow, they have opened themselves up to being countered effectively.

While Lionel Messi remains the all-time legend he is, this team has the depth, talent, and star-power to beat anyone in the world, and they still absolutely could become the first team since the 1960's to repeat as World Cup champions. But it's hard to watch three consecutive games where they look nothing like themselves, and not be somewhat worried about their viability later in the tournament, even with the soft schedule ahead.

MORE: Ranking Lionel Messi's best World Cup goals | Messi's career penalty kick record

2. Spain

• FIFA Rank: #3
• Group stage:
  • D 0-0 vs. Cape Verde
  • W 4-0 vs. Saudi Arabia
  • W 1-0 vs. Uruguay
• Round of 32: W 3-0 vs. Austria
• Round of 16: W 1-0 vs. Portugal

Spain have been defensively the best team at the tournament, becoming the first team in the history of the World Cup to keep six consecutive clean sheets in the FIFA championship.

Their attack has not been as deadly as it could be, especially with Lamine Yamal still not fully fit (he admitted he's still at 80-90%) and Nico Williams still out, but it's done just enough to continue moving on.

With Pedri and Rodri humming in midfield, and Unai Simon looking strong in goal, this Spain team is looking like a true title contender.

1. France

• FIFA Rank: #2
• Group stage:
  • W 3-1 vs. Senegal
  • W 3-0 vs. Iraq
  • W 4-1 vs. Norway
• Round of 32: W 3-0 vs. Sweden
• Round of 16: W 1-0 vs. Paraguay

Nothing has changed since the knockout stage began, as France are unquestionably the most talented team in the entire field, both on paper and in practice. They proved as much throughout their various performances, even as they struggled at various stages, able to flip a switch at any moment and put the opponent under siege.

Kylian Mbappe is the best attacking player in the world not named Lionel Messi, and even though he doesn't press or defend, the dynamic he brings to a team is unmatched. Around him, the attacking talent overflows, but the main playmaker is Michael Olise, who has enjoyed a fantastic start to his first World Cup.

The one weakness for France is in midfield, where Aurelien Tchouameni is on a bit of an island, and if he misses out against Morocco, that would further thin this squad. Adrien Rabiot doesn't bring much to the table and gets lost in certain spaces, and there is hardly any depth behind them. Didier Deschamps prefers to manage games with static possession, but he doesn't exactly have the midfield talent to do so. He's better just letting this team off the leash, but we'll see if he has the conviction to pull the trigger.