World Cup 2026 power rankings: Rating all four nations ahead of the semi-finals

In partnership with

The Independent

·14 Juli 2026

World Cup 2026 power rankings: Rating all four nations ahead of the semi-finals

The 2026 World Cup is down to its final four with the cream of the crop now so close to global glory that they can almost taste it.

With dark horses now banished, the semi-finals are made up the world’s top four seeds according to Fifa’s world rankings - though it could have very easily not come to that.

Video OneFootball

England and holders Argentina were both forced to extra time by Norway and Switzerland respectively, required to dig deep to keep their World Cup dreams alive. They now reignite their storied rivalry in a seismic semi-final clash, 40 years on from the ‘Hand of God’.

And on the other side of the draw, it’s a battle of the favourites as Spain and France meet in a match many feel could be looked back on as the “real” final. Both have stormed through the tournament so far - who will be the one to stumble?

1. France 🇫🇷 ↔️

open image in gallery

Kylian Mbappe celebrates after France overcame Paraguay’s dirty tactics (Getty)

France are the team to beat at this World Cup. That’s been the case since they hit 10 across the group stage to breeze to the top of the standings, and it’s stayed that way through the knockouts. It’s not been completely plain-sailing - their last-16 clash with Paraguay proved tricky due to underhanded tactics of the South American side - but if there were any doubts from that slender 1-0 win, they were banished in a convincing quarter-final triumph over dark horses Morocco.

Didier Deschamps has put together a so far untouchable unit powered by its unleashed attacking ranks, with Kylian Mbappe its greatest weapon. The Frenchman is the second to completely blow Miroslav Klose’s all-time scoring record out of the water this tournament, netting his 20th against Morocco. However, he is shaking off an injury from that last-eight clash going into the semis - Spain will be praying that his powers have waned as a result...

2. Spain 🇪🇸 ↔️

open image in gallery

Spain are into the quarter-finals after beating Portugal (Getty)

Spain came into this tournament as the favourites but didn’t exactly show that right from the outset, unlike their semi-final opponents. That frustrating opening 0-0 draw with Cape Verde in Group H delivered one of the early shocks of the World Cup, though with Lamine Yamal back fit in the side they managed build up some steam - first with the thrashing of Saudi Arabia (as they were expected to do) before sealing top spot in the group by overcoming Uruguay in a fiery clash. In the knockouts, however, Spain began to really look like potential winners.

After brushing Austria aside in a 3-0 last-32 win, Spain broke first Portuguese hearts (including Cristiano Ronaldo’s) courtesy of a last-gasp Mikel Merino winner, and then Belgian hearts (especially Senne Lammens’) thanks to the same clutch Gooner. At the heart of Spain’s knockouts success has been their rock-solid defence - they’ve only conceded one goal this entire tournament, which has made up for the odd imperfect performance. However, their resolve will now face its greatest test against the free-scoring French.

3. England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 ↔️

open image in gallery

England have stoked belief after eliminating Mexico on enemy soil (PA Wire)

They’ve only gone and got us dreaming again. After nearly succumbing to another “Iceland moment” in a narrow, late comeback win over DR Congo in the last-32, many had England pegged to go out to co-hosts Mexico at the Estadio Azteca (did you know it’s quite high up?), a fortress of Mexican football where only two away teams had ever won in a competitive match. What ensued was one of the best England performances in World Cup history.

Triumph in Mexico City was then followed by a more uncomfortable outing in Miami. Norway took England to their limits, with Jude Bellingham coming to the rescue in a 2-1 comeback victory to seal their place in the last-four. They could have done with not going to extra time and Thomas Tuchel was anything but pleased with the performance - but by quelling Erling Haaland, this team get some props and avoid a drop in our rankings.

Next up, it’s Argentina, the champions. Memories of ‘86 and ‘98 will burn brightly, with England out for revenge. But of course, there is much more than football to this rivalry. A place in the final on the line, this should be box office.

4. Argentina 🇦🇷 ↔️

open image in gallery

Lionel Messi was in tears after Argentina controversially scraped past Egypt (Getty)

This World Cup has been a tale of two halves for the holders. Argentina looked on a par with France in the groups, with Lionel Messi’s stunning seven goals - which saw him pass Klose’s record before Mbappe - seeing La Albiceleste make an early statement of intent. But the Messi show has become something of a subplot in a turbulent knockout stage.

A narrow extra-time win over an admirable Cape Verde side chipped away at their mystique in the round of 32, before their World Cup became embroiled by refereeing controversy after coming from two down to scrape past Egypt. Unsavoury allegations of the tournament being “fixed” in Argentina’s favour emerged from that game, primarily from Pharaohs striker Mostafa Ziko who had a goal very contentiously chalked off.

They were then again forced to extra time in their eventual 3-1 win against Switzerland, and while some may reignite the “VARgentina” claims after Breel Embolo’s mistaken identity red card, there wasn’t much weight to this particular grievance - the Swiss striker chucked himself to the ground and was rightly shown a second yellow. Still, Argentina haven’t looked imperious in for a couple of weeks now and after being involved in a pair of two-hour slogs in the knockouts, England will back themselves.