ESPN ranks 2026 World Cup sixth in history after Spain’s victory
Spain’s 1-0 win over Argentina in the final contributed to a 36/50 score, with Kylian Mbappe finishing as top scorer
ESPN has updated its historical ranking of all 23 FIFA World Cups, placing the 2026 tournament in sixth position out of the competition’s history. The analysis, conducted by Bill Connelly and James Tyler, utilises a 50-point scale across categories including the final, controversies, location, and excitement. The update replaces the previous ranking of the 2022 Qatar World Cup, which was originally published on 20 December 2022.
Spain won the 2026 tournament by defeating Argentina 1-0 in the final. The match was described as featuring a "reckless display of cynicism" from Argentina and an "almost drama-free dominance" from Spain. The tournament, hosted across North America with matches in cities including Boston, Miami, Mexico City, and Vancouver, received a total score of 36/50.
Kylian Mbappe was the top scorer for the 2026 tournament with 10 goals, becoming the leading career goal scorer in World Cup history at age 27. The event featured a first-ever round of 32, with instant classics including Argentina’s extra-time win over Cape Verde and England’s comeback against Congo DR.
ESPN described the 2026 event as a "rollicking summer" featuring early upsets and fan brilliance. However, the analysis noted it lacked the star power of the 1970 tournament or the start-to-finish thrill of 1982. Controversies included the Folarin Balogun affair, which soured the tournament for several European countries, and criticism of FIFA’s commercial-friendly hydration breaks and ticket pricing.
New York and New Jersey issued subpoenas to FIFA regarding ticket sales and dynamic pricing structures, particularly for matches at MetLife Stadium. The tournament also saw Coldplay’s Chris Martin curate the first-ever FIFA World Cup final half-time show. England’s 6-4 win over France in the third-place match was noted as a wild and fun classic, though the main final was viewed as less compelling.
The 2026 ranking serves as a comprehensive review of the sport’s global event, acknowledging that while the games themselves were strong, off-field issues and a lack of a definitive classic final prevented a higher placement. The analysis highlights the tension between the on-pitch excitement and the administrative controversies that characterised the modern era of the World Cup.
