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World Cup Power Rankings: Who are the front-runners?
Our reporters ranked the top 15 contenders for this summer's top prize as they see it right now.

World Cup Rank: The 50 best players in the 2026 tournament
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will feature the world's best talent. Let's rank the top 50 players who will be there!

TOP HEADLINES

SIZING UP AMERICAN SOCCER
Five questions facing the USMNT as World Cup kickoff approaches
Come Friday, the USMNT's World Cup journey will begin. With the tournament just days away, ESPN answers the biggest questions facing the co-hosts.

American soccer still has a global stigma: Can the USMNT at this World Cup change that?
USMNT players past and present open up about the stigma of being an American in soccer.


READY FOR THE GAMES TO BEGIN
Ian Darke's World Cup preview: Favorites, surprises to watch, Brazil to win?
On the eve of the first 48-team World Cup, everyone can dream. But who will win the trophy? And who could surprise us all?

The World Cup is almost here! Time for the soccer to do the talking
All of the pre-tournament noise will be drowned out by events on the pitch when thing kick off on Thursday.

MEN'S WORLD CUP WARM-UPS
INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLY SCOREBOARD

FIFA WORLD CUP TALK
Can Mbappé challenge Pele to become the best World Cup player of all time?

Has U.S. Soccer started looking for Pochettino's replacement?

Hayes: USWNT must be 'tougher' pre-Brazil rematch
United States women's national team head coach Emma Hayes said on Monday that her players need to be "tougher" and get out of the comfort zones in which they typically operate domestically.


REAL MADRID ELECTIONS
Forget Mourinho, star signings: Pérez's next big move could change Real Madrid forever
After two years without a major trophy, Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez called elections to reassert his power. Now he has big plans for his legacy.


TRANSFER TALK
Transfer rumors, news: Man United, City monitor Chelsea's Cucurella
Manchester United and Manchester City have joined the race to land Chelsea left back Marc Cucurella. Transfer Talk has the latest.

16 players who could use World Cup to get a big transfer in Europe
The World Cup is the biggest stage in sports, so which players can use it to get their next big transfer?


2027 WOMEN'S WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS
Top Headlines
- FIFA pulls Iran fans' World Cup ticket allocation
- Sources: London City leading race to sign Putellas
- World Cup ref from Somalia denied entry to U.S.
- Sources: Spurs in talks over $80M Savinho deal
- Eriksen 'doing well' at home after on-pitch collapse
- U.S. defender Richards full participant on Monday
- Argentina to avoid 'risks' with Messi set to play
- Leão defends red-card punch to 'protect teammate'
- 👀All you need to know about 48 World Cup teams
The enhanced ESPN App
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Watch your favorite events in the newly enhanced ESPN App. Learn more about what plan is right for you.
USMNT at the World Cup
JL Giles/Marvel Comics Red, White & Clueless: The untold story of the 1994 U.S. World Cup team
Trending Now
Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images / Christian Kaspar-Bartke/Getty Images / Marcos Brindicci/Getty Images World Cup kit ranking: Which teams will look best in 2026?
The 2026 World Cup will be the first with 48 teams, bringing a total of more than 100 kits! Here they all are, ranked from worst to first.
ESPN Illustration Barcelona Keep or Dump: What must LaLiga champions address?
How can Barcelona navigate their financial restrictions to reach even greater heights? Gab Marcotti and Sam Marsden break it down.
Getty Premier League 2025-26 awards: Best game, worst transfer, best XI, more
The Premier League season is over! What did Bill Connelly love and hate about it? It's time to serve up his alternative prizes for the good and bad across the 2025-26 campaign.
KontentHaus/Getty Images Premier League 2026-27 predictions: Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, more
With Arsenal crowned Premier League champions in 2025-26, it's time to spin it forward: Will the Gunners add flair again? Can Chelsea contend? Will Arne Slot survive at Liverpool? Our writers make their predictions.
Legends chasing milestones
Yasser Bakhsh/Getty Images Cristiano Ronaldo goal tracker: Road to 1,000 career goals
With Cristiano Ronaldo on the quest to score 1,000 goals, ESPN provides goal-by-goal analysis of the Portuguese superstar's quest.
(Photo by Jaime SALDARRIAGA / AFP via Getty Images) Messi tracker: Goals, assists, key moments in 2026
ESPN provides game-by-game analysis of Lionel Messi's performances for Inter Miami and Argentina.























