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World Cup Power Rankings: Who are the front-runners with 48 hours to go?

With just 48 hours until the 2026 World Cup begins, our reporters ranked the top 15 contenders for this summer's top prize as they see it. Did your national team make the cut?

19hJames Tyler
Illustration by ESPN

World Cup Rank: The 50 best players in the 2026 tournament

2dRyan O'Hanlon

TOP HEADLINES

MLB SCOREBOARD

ASIAN CONTENDERS

Son has had quite the World Cup journey -- but will 2026 be his final hurrah?

3dGabriel Tan
Illustration by ESPN

Japan plan to win the World Cup by 2050. How close will they get in 2026?

6dGabriel Tan

FIFA WORLD CUP

Messi vs Ronaldo at 2026 World Cup: How dream showdown could happen

20hAnirudh Menon
ESPN/Shruti Sadbhav

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

19hTom Hamilton

REAL MADRID

Forget Mourinho, star signings: Pérez's next big move could change Real Madrid forever

1dAlex Kirkland
Federico Titone/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

Perez hails 'extraordinary result' after winning Real Madrid presidential election

2d
1:51

UFC FREEDOM 250

Inside the planning and building of a UFC event on federal land

16hMichael Rothstein
Yuri Gripas/Abaca/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Gaethje, Topuria exchange words on 'The Pat McAfee Show'

7h
1:48

THE GOAT RETURNS!

What we learned from Serena Williams' first match back

6hJames Regan
Paul Harding/Getty Images

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