The FIFA World Cup 2026 is about to begin. With national team squads being announced one after another, the moment is finally approaching. Which country will ultimately conquer this tournament?
Analyzing and predicting the tournament is one of the great joys of the FIFA World Cup. DAZN gathered the voices of 40 experts from around the world—including journalists, commentators, and former players—to conduct a comprehensive strength analysis and ranking prediction.
Overview of the "DAZN Power Ranking"
Participants: A total of 40 individuals (from 12 countries) including DAZN Group experts, freelancers, commentators, former players, the University of Tokyo Football Club Technical Unit (counted as one entity), and an AI prediction model (counted as one entity).
Survey Period: May 8 to May 21, 2026
Methodology: Questionnaire-based responses.
AI Methodology: Latest data was imported, and the AI was asked to answer the same questions 20 times. The average and most frequent responses were selected.
Survey Items:
- Power Ranking Score: 48 countries evaluated in 5 categories (Attack, Defense, Cohesion, Manager, Experience) on a scale of 1–5.
- Winner Prediction: Predicted champion and reasoning.
- Top 4 Prediction: 2nd to 4th place predictions and reasoning.
- MVP Prediction: Tournament MVP candidates and reasoning.
- Breakthrough Player: Notable U-23 players.
- Group to Watch: The most interesting group.
- Dark Horse Prediction: One team selected from the 16 middle-ranked FIFA nations and reasoning.
Winner Prediction: France Receives Overwhelming Support
● Power Ranking: Top 16 Nations
● Power Ranking: Middle 16 Nations
● Power Ranking: Bottom 16 Nations
France earned the highest evaluation among all teams with an attack score of 4.9 and an overall score of 4.5. In the winner predictions, 21 out of 40 experts chose France, placing them in an overwhelming first place.
Matt Astbury (DAZN News UK)
"France has players with the best 'flair.' With Mbappé, Cherki, and Dembélé, their attacking options are limitless. Furthermore, with a defense centered around Saliba, they possess all the fundamental elements to win the tournament."
Jacob Polychronis (Fox Sports Australia)
"They have the right equation. Incredible squad depth, star players who have delivered in big matches, and a proven track record in the FIFA World Cup. The final piece to complete Deschamps' legacy is right in front of them."
Tom Kirsten (DAZN Germany / Producer)
"They combine exceptional individual quality with squad depth. In close matches, a flash of individual skill can decide the outcome, and they have that power. In particular, attackers like Olise, Cherki, and Doué have made massive strides this year."
Contenders: Who Follows France?
In the event of a tie, the team with more votes in lower rankings was placed higher (e.g., Argentina and Germany had the same number of 1st place votes, but Argentina was ranked higher due to having two 2nd place votes).
Following France, Spain took second place in both the Power Ranking and winner predictions.
Ryan Baldi (Freelance / UK)
"As they showed in the EURO final by dominating even after losing Rodri to injury, their style of play and technical ability are deeply rooted in their culture. They can adapt to tournament play better than any other nation. Yamal is the most talented player in this tournament and is the 'X-factor' who can decide tight games."
Regarding England, who followed in third place for winner predictions, some believe they will "finally break through the wall."
Rudi Schüller (DAZN News Canada)
"They have a mix of veterans who have experienced deep runs in multiple international tournaments and youngsters who are key players at big clubs. With this tournament held largely in English-speaking regions, it feels like the perfect opportunity for England to finally overcome that last hurdle."
Dark Horses: Norway and Japan are the Two Big Favorites
Norway was ranked as the top dark horse.
J. François-Nicolas Sepulchre (Journalist / DAZN Belgium)
"Norway has one of the world's best attacking lineups. They have top-class players like Ødegaard, Nusa, and Sørloth."
The University of Tokyo Football Club Technical Unit analyzed them as follows:
"With Haaland, Sørloth, and Ødegaard, they crushed even the Italian national team with overwhelming offensive power. With Nusa and Schjelderup on the left wing and Bobb on the right, they have diverse scoring patterns. Additionally, the level of their organized play is very high."
Following Norway, Japan received the most votes as a dark horse.
Luke Doherty (Fox Sports Australia)
"They dominated the Asian qualifiers and have become the regional powerhouse. In October, they secured a comeback victory against Brazil after being down 0-2. While they lost narrowly on penalties to Croatia in Qatar 2022, they may have entered the next stage of evolution in their '100-Year Plan.'"
Ben Mabley (Journalist)
"Under Hajime Moriyasu over the past eight years, the depth of the Japanese national team at the international level has reached an astonishing standard. As shown in their victory over England at Wembley, their coordination in both possession and non-possession phases is at a level that many modern European teams can only dream of."
MVP Candidates: A Two-Way Race Between Mbappé and Olise
(C) Getty Images
Among the experts, France's Mbappé and Olise were the most frequently mentioned MVP candidates.
Regarding Olise, Kosuke Ota said:
"His performance at the club level is extremely high; he creates differences not just with scoring but with assists and chance creation. He is the type of player who can move the entire game, not just through flashy breakthroughs, so I believe he will be the most prominent player throughout the tournament. His creativity should flourish even more with strong players like Mbappé around him."
On the other hand, several voices supported England's Harry Kane.
Ash Rose (DAZN News UK)
"He is the best player in the world right now. If Kane brings the form he has shown at Bayern this season to the World Cup, he will be a threat to the entire tournament. His value lies not just in his scoring ability, but in his ability to drop into midfield and build the attack—it's like having two dangerous attackers in one."
Groups to Watch: Group I and Japan's Group F
Group I (France, Senegal, Iraq, Norway) was the most cited group of interest among experts.
Manabu Kuwabara (Freelance Commentator)
"It has become a particularly competitive combination. Norway and Senegal are organized teams with world-class attackers and have the potential to be dark horses. While France's strength stands out, it is by no means an easy group to advance from."
Regarding Group F (Netherlands, Japan, Sweden, Tunisia), where Japan will compete, journalist Hideki Kasuya evaluates it as follows:
"The strengths are evenly matched. Every team has the potential to advance to the Round of 32 as group leaders, which means every team also carries the risk of being eliminated in the group stage. For Japan, the absence of Mitoma, and for the Netherlands, Xavi Simons, due to injury could be a major blow."
Differences in Perspective: Japanese vs. Global Experts
Interestingly, there is a temperature difference in evaluations between Japanese and global experts.
- Evaluation of Japan: Japanese experts rated them highly with an overall score of 3.8 (12th), while global experts were more reserved at 3.2 (17th).
- Evaluation of England: Four Japanese experts picked them to win, compared to only one global expert.
- Evaluation of Brazil: Many Japanese experts predicted a 2nd place finish, perhaps due to expectations for manager Carlo Ancelotti.
Yusuke Tanaka (SHIBUYA CITY FC)
"With the tournament held in North America, there will be a festive atmosphere and a Latin essence from South America in the stadiums. In very hot climates where games become open, Brazil has many talents up front who can decide matches with individual power. Having a master like Ancelotti, who knows how to win big tournaments, is also a huge factor."
Summary: The Most Unpredictable Tournament in History
FIFA World Cup 2026 will be framed by France's overwhelming squad depth and experience, Spain's tactical perfection, England's generational peak, and the challenge from traditional powerhouses like Brazil and Argentina. With the expansion to 48 teams, dark horses like Norway, Japan, and Turkey could become the center of a storm, making this undoubtedly the most unpredictable tournament in history.
While Messi and Ronaldo are set for a record-breaking sixth consecutive appearance, the rise of a new generation including Yamal and Olise is remarkable. In the summer of 2026, where multiple narratives intersect, football fans around the world will witness a historic event.
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- How does the University of Tokyo Football Club Technical Unit predict FIFA World Cup 2026?
