The 2026 edition of the World Cup has been highly entertaining, and we now enter the final stretch. With only eight nations remaining in the World Cup bracket, the tension is getting immense. Which nations have what it takes to handle the pressure and move one step closer to soccer’s ultimate prize?
This World Cup has been arguably the best one since World Cup 2006, and the nations left standing each feature strengths that can take them to the title. With that said, they also have weaknesses that could be their downfall.
Let's discuss what it'll take for all eight to actually win the 2026 World Cup, as well as their payouts to do so courtesy of PrizePicks Team Picks.
During the World Cup 2026 quarterfinals, you can make real-money predictions on futures, winners, players, over/unders and more on PrizePicks Team Picks — available in 35 states!
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2026 World Cup Power Rankings for Quarterfinals: All 8 Remaining Teams
Here are our updated 2026 World Cup power rankings for the eight nations remaining as we head into the quarterfinals of the competition.
- France
- Spain
- England
- Argentina
- Morocco
- Norway
- Belgium
- Switzerland
Use these World Cup power rankings to help make your World Cup predictions on PrizePicks — and stay dialed in for picks and predictions for every World Cup game from our soccer experts.
2026 World Cup Power Rankings: From Best To Worst
Here are the eight remaining nations at World Cup 2026 and their payouts to win the tournament on PrizePicks Team Picks. We break down each nation’s outlook and explain how they’re trending heading into the quarterfinals.
Payouts show potential returns on correct Team Picks predictions. A 2x payout returns $200 on a $100 entry. Lower multipliers reflect outcomes users are picking as more likely. Payouts are live as of writing and subject to change.
1. France
France to Win 2026 World Cup: Yes 2.7x | No 1.42x
Les Bleus cruised through the first four matches of the competition, but their match with Paraguay required them to dig deep. The underdogs kicked the French players all match, antagonizing and frustrating them to no end.
But it was Kylian Mbappé who got the last laugh, as his 70th-minute penalty gave France the win. It came after a dazzling display of dribbling from Désiré Doué, who came off the bench to give them a spark.
France’s attacking options make them nearly impossible to keep quiet, especially with Michael Olise pulling the strings. They’ve also kept three clean sheets and have shown that it may take something truly special to deny them victory.
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2. Spain
Spain to Win 2026 World Cup: Yes 4.54x | No 1.17x
Talk about waiting until the last second. Spain essentially did just that, scoring a minute into stoppage time to defeat Portugal 1-0 and end Cristiano Ronaldo’s international career.
Spain dominated the xG battle with a 1.69-0.63 advantage, and it was a heads-up play off a quickly taken free kick that decided things. But it was a match that underscores that for as talented as Spain is, finding the back of the net isn’t always easy.
What has been easy is preventing others from scoring. They’ve yet to concede a goal and are forcing opponents to take 48.94% of their shots from outside the box. Portugal was the first nation to even put a shot on target in the first 75 minutes of a match.
That defense makes them the second-best team remaining. Multiple signs point to them potentially breaking down a suspect Belgian defense, which would set up a potential winner-take-all showdown with France in the semifinals.
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3. England
England to Win 2026 World Cup: Yes 5.26x | No 1.13x
I expected England to fall at Azteca against a motivated Mexico side, and for a half hour, that looked very much like happening.
Then Jude Bellingham took over, scoring twice in three minutes. Mexico quickly responded, scoring a goal and nearly equalizing late in the half. But it was Bellingham again to the rescue with one of the most important toe-pokes in recent memory.
England then overcame a red card, earning a penalty and holding on for dear life against Mexico’s aerial bombardment. In doing so, England showed not only that they have an individual who can supplement Harry Kane in stepping up when needed, but that they can defend exceptionally well as a unit.
They’ll need that against Norway. Erling Haaland has been nearly unstoppable in this World Cup, but England has plenty of experience facing him. Norway also is a side they can generate chances against.
England’s path to the final might be the most favorable — in terms of matchups — of any nation left in this tournament.
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4. Argentina
Argentina to Win 2026 World Cup: Yes 4.54x | No 1.17x
Lionel Messi’s brilliance has papered over the cracks of this Argentina team. Questionable refereeing decisions have assisted him, as a controversial VAR decision kept them alive against Egypt.
This Argentine side is struggling to create opportunities besides “get the ball to Messi and let him score." Granted, that method has produced results, but against Egypt they repeatedly tried to operate through the middle and were stifled.
Argentina average 2.17 xG per match, and Messi is responsible for 1.10 of that himself. He’s accounted for 8 of their 14 goals while producing moments of absolute magic.
But their defense has struggled now against both Cape Verde and Egypt to prevent counterattack goals. They very well could (and perhaps should) beat Switzerland, but this may be a tricky matchup.
The bigger question is whether they can win a match against England or Norway, whose attackers would truly test this side.
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5. Morocco
Morocco to Win 2026 World Cup: Yes 22.22x | No 1.01x
If Morocco weren’t playing France, I’d give them a much better prospect of reaching the semifinals. That’s not to say they can’t take down the favorites, though.
This Moroccan side has shown their 2022 World Cup run was no fluke after dispatching Canada 3-0 in the Round of 16 and the Netherlands in the match before. But they enter with a major question mark, as ST Ismael Saibari came off injured against Canada.
His status for the France match is unknown, and his absence would rob them of a key player in attack. That said, Achraf Hakimi and Noussair Mazraoui have been outstanding at this tournament and may provide a battle to France’s wide players.
That said, their defense will be tested like never before, as they’ve allowed just 2.4 shots on target per match in this tournament. If they can’t stand up, outscoring France would be difficult with Saibari out.
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6. Norway
Norway to Win 2026 World Cup: Yes 11.11x | No 1.03x
If Norway weren’t playing England, I’d be making the case for a potential upset, but Erling Haaland’s biggest issue here is familiarity.
He’s had a stellar World Cup, averaging 1.08 xG with 0.24 xG per shot. He’s got the highest goal-per-minute rate of any player in the tournament, scoring one fewer than Messi in 50 fewer minutes.
Now, he faces an England team that is highly familiar with him through his time in the Premier League. His Manchester City teammates John Stones, Marc Guéhi, and Nico O’Reilly know his mannerisms and what he's capable of. All three could start in the England defense.
Haaland could need help in this match if he’s to carry Norway beyond the quarterfinals.
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7. Belgium
Belgium to Win 2026 World Cup: Yes 22.22x | No N/A
Nearly the entire world was behind Belgium when they took on the United States, and they responded with aplomb. A 4-1 win over the Americans was more dominant than the scoreline even suggests, and the celebrations afterward showed just how personal that match was for them.
They may need more than motivation to make it further in this competition. Belgium did a good job overloading the midfield vs. USA and were the beneficiary of many mental errors.
Spain’s midfield is nearly press-resistant, and Belgium could be pinned back much more than they were against the Americans. This would require Kevin de Bruyne and Youri Tielemans to have great performances.
The loss of Amadou Onana to a knee injury on Monday is a crucial blow to their midfield and might be too much for them to overcome.
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8. Switzerland
Switzerland to Win 2026 World Cup: Yes 33.33x | No N/A
It took 120 minutes and penalties, but the Swiss outlasted Colombia to reach the quarterfinals. They generated just 0.39 xG, yet somehow managed to escape as Colombia hit the woodwork twice.
The Swiss defense has kept consecutive clean sheets after a 2-0 win over Algeria. Now, however, the step up in competition is drastic. Argentina will be easily the toughest nation they’ve faced yet.
Switzerland ranks third in xG per shot and will need to create better chances than they did against Colombia if they’re to derail Messi.
The loss of breakout midfielder Johan Manzambi was backbreaking, as was evident vs. Colombia. Without his playmaking presence, it could require something truly special to advance to the semifinals.
Pick Switzerland to win the 2026 FIFA World Cup on PrizePicks now!
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Make Your 2026 World Cup Predictions on PrizePicks
The World Cup quarterfinals are here, and one moment could be the difference between the semifinals and going home. As the field narrows, we'll continue to break down the top contenders for the 2026 World Cup and help you prepare for the upcoming matches.
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Stick around with the Playbook for continued World Cup predictions, picks, and analysis through the end of the tournament.
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