Customize ESPN

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!

ESPN Illustration

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.

TOP HEADLINES

SIZING UP AMERICAN SOCCER

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 ahead of the World Cup.

Cory Knowlton/ISI Photos via Getty Images

What would make a good World Cup for the USMNT?

2:43

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?

Getty Images

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

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.

Federico Titone/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

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.

Visionhaus/Getty Images

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?

TRENDING OFF THE PITCH

Rating the biggest 2026 World Cup ads: Adidas vs. Nike, Coke vs. Pepsi

The World Cup is a chance for the world's biggest brands to throw everything into their ads. Here are some of the ones we'll be seeing all summer long.

Adidas / Nike

Team Norway poses in Viking-themed photo shoot ahead of 2026 World Cup

Team Norway's photo shoot included swords, shields and Viking longships.

WORLD CUP HISTORY BEING MADE

Džeko, Ronaldo, Modric ... why are there so many over-40 players at the World Cup?

Only one non-goalkeeper over 40 has ever played a World Cup. This summer, four others could do the same.

Stefan Koops/EYE4images/NurPhoto via Getty Images

The World Cup record that will be broken three times in first week

World Cup 2026 provides a chance to celebrate longevity both on the pitch and on the bench.

PREDICTING THE MEN'S WORLD CUP

Predicting how all 48 men's World Cup teams will do: A result picked for every game

Who will win the FIFA World Cup? Instead of predicting a final winner, we've picked every single result to show HOW our predicted winner will do it.

ESPN

Simulating the men's World Cup: Who did EA Sports predict as winners?

EA Sports has correctly predicted the winners for the past four World Cups. But who does it pick for 2026?

The enhanced ESPN App

Trending Now

Customize ESPN