It’s a major tournament and something needed ranking, so there was only one man for the job: The Athletic’s Nick Miller.
He teamed up with Tim Spiers to rank all 48 teams at the 2026 World Cup — and here is where they placed these two teams playing in the opener.
19th – Mexico
📝 Having been dumped out of the group stage in 2022 (ending a run of seven consecutive last-16 exits), there would be huge pressure on Mexico anyway, but throw in a home World Cup and expectations are lofty. Can they deliver? Well, their cause wasn’t helped by captain Edson Alvarez missing most of 2026 so far through injury, but he has returned just in time. With wonderkid Gilberto Mora, talismanic striker Raul Jimenez and home advantage, they could thrive.
37th – South Africa
📝 A 0-0 draw against Nicaragua last week didn’t inspire confidence but, in their first World Cup since hosting in 2010, South Africa will hope a decent draw (against Mexico, South Korea and Czech Republic) gives them a chance of progressing into the knockout stage. Captain and goalkeeper Ronwen Williams, who was nominated for FIFA’s Lev Yashin award in 2024, will be crucial to those hopes.
