# World Cup 2026 power rankings: which team tops the list before semi-finals?

The Guardian's power rankings assess the strongest teams remaining in the 2026 World Cup as the tournament approaches the semi-final stage. These rankings highlight the leading contenders based on recent performances and squad strength, offering fans a preview of which nations could advance to the final.

**Importance:** 3/5

## Sources

### Sports
- [The Guardian Sport](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/jul/12/world-cup-2026-power-rankings-france-spain-england-argentina) — Sun, 12 Jul 2026 16:00:22 GMT
- [BBC Sport](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cjrgew3wv4xo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss) — Tue, 14 Jul 2026 05:43:53 GMT
- [The Guardian Sport](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/jul/15/world-cup-semi-final-rankings-scores-messi-ronaldo) — Wed, 15 Jul 2026 07:00:48 GMT

### World
- [Al Jazeera](https://www.aljazeera.com/sports/2026/7/13/fifa-world-cup-which-semifinal-team-has-best-chance-to-win-the-trophy?traffic_source=rss) — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 06:28:18 +0000