Ranking the World Cup 2026 groups: Which teams are favourites to progress?
The first stage of the 2026 World Cup 2026 features 12 groups. We’ve ranked them and picked the favourites to advance.

The first stage of the 2026 World Cup 2026 features 12 groups. We’ve ranked them and picked the favourites to advance.









Memorial was co-winner of 2022 Peace Prize for its work in documenting human rights abuses in Russia.
Uruguay hold England at Wembley, Germany defeat Switzerland, and Netherlands beat Norway in pre-World Cup friendlies.
Norway, as well as other NATO countries, has been under pressure from the US to boost defence spending.
The price of Russian Urals has soared in recent weeks. How Russia – and other energy producing nations – could profit.
Three Norwegian citizens with Iraqi heritage arrested as investigators probe possible foreign state involvement.
Other motives also being investigated, police say, as they search for one or several perpetrators.
The Norwegian team of no stars with a tiny budget have moved onto the last 16 of the world’s biggest club competition.
The newly released Epstein files have triggered political fallout in the UK and parts of Europe, but far less in the US.
Norway’s Bodo/Glimt produce another Champions League shock by beating last year’s beaten finalists Inter Milan 3-1.