{"id":17125,"date":"2026-07-09T20:29:52","date_gmt":"2026-07-09T14:59:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/?p=17125"},"modified":"2026-07-09T20:29:52","modified_gmt":"2026-07-09T14:59:52","slug":"fifa-world-cup-2026-power-rankings-the-quarter-final-edition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/fifa-world-cup-2026-power-rankings-the-quarter-final-edition\/","title":{"rendered":"FIFA World Cup 2026\u2122 | Power Rankings | The Quarter-Final Edition"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The Round of 16 is behind us. Eight teams remain. The quarter-finals begin July 10 \u2014 and heading into them, the shape of this tournament is becoming clearer. Some sides have looked exactly as dangerous as advertised. Others have been flattering to deceive. Here is where every remaining contender stands.<\/p><div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_73 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-black ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Page Contents:<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #282fff;color:#282fff\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #282fff;color:#282fff\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/fifa-world-cup-2026-power-rankings-the-quarter-final-edition\/#France_%E2%80%94_Still_the_Team_to_Beat\" title=\"France \u2014 Still the Team to Beat\">France \u2014 Still the Team to Beat<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/fifa-world-cup-2026-power-rankings-the-quarter-final-edition\/#England_%E2%80%94_Bellinghams_Tournament\" title=\"England \u2014 Bellingham&#8217;s Tournament\">England \u2014 Bellingham&#8217;s Tournament<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/fifa-world-cup-2026-power-rankings-the-quarter-final-edition\/#Spain_%E2%80%94_The_Zero_That_Says_Everything\" title=\"Spain \u2014 The Zero That Says Everything\">Spain \u2014 The Zero That Says Everything<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/fifa-world-cup-2026-power-rankings-the-quarter-final-edition\/#Argentina_%E2%80%94_Dangerous_But_Something_Is_Off\" title=\"Argentina \u2014 Dangerous, But Something Is Off\">Argentina \u2014 Dangerous, But Something Is Off<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/fifa-world-cup-2026-power-rankings-the-quarter-final-edition\/#Morocco_%E2%80%94_Clinical_Disciplined_and_Facing_Their_Biggest_Test\" title=\"Morocco \u2014 Clinical, Disciplined, and Facing Their Biggest Test\">Morocco \u2014 Clinical, Disciplined, and Facing Their Biggest Test<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/fifa-world-cup-2026-power-rankings-the-quarter-final-edition\/#Norway_%E2%80%94_The_Underdog_Nobody_Quite_Knows_How_to_Assess\" title=\"Norway \u2014 The Underdog Nobody Quite Knows How to Assess\">Norway \u2014 The Underdog Nobody Quite Knows How to Assess<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><i>Watch every <\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/sports\/football\/fifa-world-cup\/2026\"><i>FIFA World Cup 2026\u2122 <\/i><\/a><i>quarter-final live on ZEE 5.\u00a0 With\u00a0 <\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/myaccount\/subscription?plan-ref=0-11-7467&amp;asset-ref=0-6-4z5914493&amp;visibility=SELECTED&amp;context=FIFA\"><i>ZEE 5 FIFA Subscription <\/i><\/a><i>Quarterly Plan at \u20b9799 and stream the best football on the planet.<\/i><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"France_%E2%80%94_Still_the_Team_to_Beat\"><\/span><b> <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/sports\/football\/fifa-world-cup\/2026\/0-6-4z5974253\/0-2-5z5974716\/teams\/france\/france-squad\"><b>France <\/b><\/a><b>\u2014 Still the Team to Beat<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Nothing that has happened at this tournament has changed the fundamental assessment: France are the most likely winners of the FIFA World Cup 2026\u2122. Their transition game is the best in the competition. Their attacking depth \u2014 Mbapp\u00e9, Demb\u00e9l\u00e9, Olise, Barcola, Dou\u00e9 off the bench \u2014 creates problems that no defensive system has yet consistently solved. Their defensive organisation has been equally impressive.<\/p>\n<p>The Round of 16 against Paraguay was not a beautiful performance. France were provoked, tested, and restricted to a single goal from the penalty spot. But the telling detail was the manner in which they handled it \u2014 composed, professional, never rattled despite multiple flashpoints. Winning ugly is a skill. The best sides in tournament history have always had it. France have it.<\/p>\n<p>Morocco stand between France and a semi-final. It is the hardest test they have faced. But France&#8217;s position at the top of these rankings remains unchanged.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ol start=\"2\">\n<li>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"England_%E2%80%94_Bellinghams_Tournament\"><\/span><b> <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/sports\/football\/fifa-world-cup\/2026\/0-6-4z5974253\/0-2-5z5974716\/teams\/england\/england-squad\"><b>England <\/b><\/a><b>\u2014 Bellingham&#8217;s Tournament<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>England are playing with a clarity and controlled aggression that feels different from previous tournaments. The win over Mexico in the Round of 16 reinforced everything their group stage performances had suggested. Jude Bellingham is not simply a midfielder contributing goals \u2014 he is the most complete attacking midfielder at this World Cup, a threat in front of goal himself, a player who has already made the decisive difference against Ghana and Mexico when matches needed it.<\/p>\n<p>Opposing sides focusing their attention on Harry Kane will find themselves in serious trouble. Kane remains dangerous \u2014 six goals in the tournament confirms that. But England&#8217;s attacking threat is distributed across the squad in a way that makes Kane-centric defensive planning actively counterproductive.<\/p>\n<p>The ten-man period against Mexico \u2014 defending with a man down for the last forty minutes \u2014 provided a masterclass in what England&#8217;s defence is truly capable of. They were organised, disciplined, and compact when it mattered most. That is the sign of a well-drilled side that completely trusts its defensive structure. England are expected to go deep, and on current form, that expectation feels well-founded.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ol start=\"3\">\n<li>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Spain_%E2%80%94_The_Zero_That_Says_Everything\"><\/span><b> <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/sports\/football\/fifa-world-cup\/2026\/0-6-4z5974253\/0-2-5z5974716\/teams\/spain\/spain-squad\"><b>Spain <\/b><\/a><b>\u2014 The Zero That Says Everything<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Spain have not conceded a single goal at this tournament. Not one. Through the group stage and into the Round of 16 against Portugal \u2014 arguably their most challenging opponent to this point \u2014 Unai Sim\u00f3n has kept a clean sheet in every match. That statistic is not a coincidence. It reflects a defensive system, built around the positional discipline of Rodri&#8217;s pivot and the intelligence of Laporte and Cubars\u00ed at the back, that has been functionally airtight.<\/p>\n<p>Spain also control the ball better than anyone else at this World Cup. Their 4-1-2-3 with Pedri and Olmo in the advanced midfield positions creates constant movement, constant options, constant problems. Belgium in the quarter-finals will be the most physical test they have faced, and Rodri&#8217;s ability to manage that press alone will be pivotal. But Spain are the most complete side in this tournament when they are at their best, and they have been consistently so.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ol start=\"4\">\n<li>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Argentina_%E2%80%94_Dangerous_But_Something_Is_Off\"><\/span><b> <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/sports\/football\/fifa-world-cup\/2026\/0-6-4z5974253\/0-2-5z5974716\/teams\/argentina\/argentina-squad\"><b>Argentina <\/b><\/a><b>\u2014 Dangerous, But Something Is Off<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Argentina are still in the tournament. The comeback against Egypt \u2014 three goals in thirteen minutes, Messi&#8217;s equaliser, Fern\u00e1ndez&#8217;s winner \u2014 is the kind of thing that gets talked about for decades. And Messi&#8217;s eight goals at the top of the Golden Boot standings should settle any doubts about what this side is capable of in individual moments.<\/p>\n<p>But a pattern is developing that demands acknowledgement. Whether it was the match against Cabo Verde in the group stage or the near-elimination against Egypt in the Round of 16, Argentina are being stretched in a way the defending champions simply should not be. The defensive lapses, the loss of control for extended periods, the reliance on moments of individual brilliance to rescue situations that better collective organisation would have avoided \u2014 something is not right in how Argentina are functioning as a unit, even as Messi continues to be extraordinary.<\/p>\n<p>Switzerland in the quarter-finals will probe exactly those vulnerabilities. Argentina can and will score. The question is whether they can defend consistently enough to reach the semi-finals without another crisis.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ol start=\"5\">\n<li>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Morocco_%E2%80%94_Clinical_Disciplined_and_Facing_Their_Biggest_Test\"><\/span><b> <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/sports\/football\/fifa-world-cup\/2026\/0-6-4z5974253\/0-2-5z5974716\/teams\/morocco\/morocco-squad\"><b>Morocco <\/b><\/a><b>\u2014 Clinical, Disciplined, and Facing Their Biggest Test<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Morocco have been one of the genuine stories of this tournament. Their 3-0 dismantling of Canada was a statement. Their win over the Netherlands showed they can handle European physicality and quality without blinking. Their defensive record reflects a side that is organised from front to back, with Bounou and the back four among the hardest units in the competition to score against.<\/p>\n<p>France in the quarter-finals is the hardest obstacle Morocco have faced \u2014 and not just because of France&#8217;s quality. Morocco lost to France in the semi-finals of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. The psychological weight of that memory and the chance to finally get past the nation that ended their extraordinary run four years ago add a layer to this match that goes beyond tactics.<\/p>\n<p>The one significant concern is Ismael Saibari. Morocco&#8217;s striker has been central to how their attack functions \u2014 his movement, his hold-up play, his goals. His absence from the France match would leave a gap that the squad will need others to fill. Morocco are still capable of causing France serious problems.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ol start=\"6\">\n<li>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Norway_%E2%80%94_The_Underdog_Nobody_Quite_Knows_How_to_Assess\"><\/span><b> <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/sports\/football\/fifa-world-cup\/2026\/0-6-4z5974253\/0-2-5z5974716\/teams\/norway\/norway-squad\"><b>Norway <\/b><\/a><b>\u2014 The Underdog Nobody Quite Knows How to Assess<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Norway are hard to rank with confidence. That is not a criticism \u2014 it is simply the honest truth about a side that has defied conventional analysis at every stage of this tournament.<\/p>\n<p>Their 4-1 defeat to France in the group stage might suggest a significant gap. But that Norway team was heavily rotated, and the performance bore no relation to what they produced against Brazil in the Round of 16. Against Brazil \u2014 a side far more formidable than the scoreline might suggest \u2014 Norway were defensively disciplined, composed in possession, and ultimately decisive through Haaland in the moments that counted. The last ten minutes against Brazil, with tired legs and space finally opening up, were a masterclass in how this Norway side finishes a match.<\/p>\n<p>England await in the quarter-finals. Norway will be underdogs. They were underdogs against Brazil too. Nobody in Miami on July 12 should take that lightly.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><i>The FIFA World Cup 2026\u2122 quarter-finals are here. Every match, live in India, exclusively on ZEE 5.<\/i><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><i>Disclaimer: Subscription pack prices are subject to change from time to time. Please visit the subscription page for the most up-to-date pricing information.<\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Round of 16 is behind us. Eight teams remain. The quarter-finals begin July 10 \u2014 and heading into them, the shape of this tournament is becoming clearer. Some sides have looked exactly as dangerous as advertised. Others have been flattering to deceive. Here is where every remaining contender stands. &nbsp; Watch every FIFA World [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":25,"featured_media":15163,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"ub_ctt_via":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[3019],"tags":[3031,3305,3539],"class_list":["post-17125","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-fifa-world-cup-2026","tag-fifa-world-cup-2026","tag-power-rankings","tag-quarter-final-edition"],"acf":[],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1132x400.png","author_info":{"display_name":"Sourav K","author_link":"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/author\/sourav-k\/"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.9 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>FIFA World Cup 2026\u2122 | Power Rankings | The Quarter-Final Edition<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"FIFA 2026\u2122: Ranking the top quarter-final contenders, from France to Norway.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/fifa-world-cup-2026-power-rankings-the-quarter-final-edition\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"FIFA World Cup 2026\u2122 | Power Rankings | The Quarter-Final Edition\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"FIFA 2026\u2122: Ranking the top quarter-final contenders, from France to Norway.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/fifa-world-cup-2026-power-rankings-the-quarter-final-edition\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"ZEE5 Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/ZEE5India\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-07-09T14:59:52+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1132x400.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1132\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"400\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Sourav K\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@ZEE5India\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@ZEE5India\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Sourav K\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"6 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/fifa-world-cup-2026-power-rankings-the-quarter-final-edition\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/fifa-world-cup-2026-power-rankings-the-quarter-final-edition\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Sourav K\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/b7f51287e926eac1996d50ea278b7033\"},\"headline\":\"FIFA World Cup 2026\u2122 | Power Rankings | The Quarter-Final Edition\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-07-09T14:59:52+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/fifa-world-cup-2026-power-rankings-the-quarter-final-edition\/\"},\"wordCount\":1162,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/fifa-world-cup-2026-power-rankings-the-quarter-final-edition\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1132x400.png\",\"keywords\":[\"FIFA World cup 2026\",\"Power Rankings\",\"Quarter-Final Edition\"],\"articleSection\":[\"FIFA World Cup 2026\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/fifa-world-cup-2026-power-rankings-the-quarter-final-edition\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/fifa-world-cup-2026-power-rankings-the-quarter-final-edition\/\",\"name\":\"FIFA World Cup 2026\u2122 | Power Rankings | The Quarter-Final Edition\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/fifa-world-cup-2026-power-rankings-the-quarter-final-edition\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/fifa-world-cup-2026-power-rankings-the-quarter-final-edition\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1132x400.png\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-07-09T14:59:52+00:00\",\"description\":\"FIFA 2026\u2122: Ranking the top quarter-final contenders, from France to Norway.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/fifa-world-cup-2026-power-rankings-the-quarter-final-edition\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/fifa-world-cup-2026-power-rankings-the-quarter-final-edition\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/fifa-world-cup-2026-power-rankings-the-quarter-final-edition\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1132x400.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1132x400.png\",\"width\":1132,\"height\":400,\"caption\":\"FIFA World Cup 2026 All Access Pack for \u20b9399\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/fifa-world-cup-2026-power-rankings-the-quarter-final-edition\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"FIFA World Cup 2026\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/category\/fifa-world-cup-2026\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"FIFA World Cup 2026\u2122 | Power Rankings | The Quarter-Final Edition\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/\",\"name\":\"ZEE5 Blog\",\"description\":\"\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/#organization\",\"name\":\"ZEE5\",\"alternateName\":\"Zee Entertainment Enterprises\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Appicon_Z5Global_512x512.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Appicon_Z5Global_512x512.png\",\"width\":512,\"height\":512,\"caption\":\"ZEE5\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/ZEE5India\/\",\"https:\/\/x.com\/ZEE5India\",\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCXOgAl4w-FQero1ERbGHpXQ\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/b7f51287e926eac1996d50ea278b7033\",\"name\":\"Sourav K\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/6e67504e85eace1cfa60dcd37f6d3ebfe062cd8f24a419171fff86280ffae669?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/6e67504e85eace1cfa60dcd37f6d3ebfe062cd8f24a419171fff86280ffae669?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Sourav K\"},\"description\":\"With over 10 years of experience in sports journalism, Sourav is a passionate football writer who has been closely following the game since the 2002 FIFA World Cup. What began as a childhood fascination with football has evolved into a lifelong commitment to understanding and analysing the sport at every level. As both an ardent fan and a former football player, Sourav brings a unique perspective to his writing. He blends firsthand playing experience with in-depth statistical analysis. Having witnessed the rise and fall of footballing dynasties across multiple FIFA World Cups, UEFA Champions League campaigns, Premier League seasons, and international tournaments, he offers readers insightful, balanced, and engaging coverage of the beautiful game. His work is driven by a desire to make football analysis accessible to everyone, right from casual followers looking to stay informed to passionate supporters seeking deeper tactical insights.\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/author\/sourav-k\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"FIFA World Cup 2026\u2122 | Power Rankings | The Quarter-Final Edition","description":"FIFA 2026\u2122: Ranking the top quarter-final contenders, from France to Norway.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/fifa-world-cup-2026-power-rankings-the-quarter-final-edition\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"FIFA World Cup 2026\u2122 | Power Rankings | The Quarter-Final Edition","og_description":"FIFA 2026\u2122: Ranking the top quarter-final contenders, from France to Norway.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/fifa-world-cup-2026-power-rankings-the-quarter-final-edition\/","og_site_name":"ZEE5 Blog","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/ZEE5India\/","article_published_time":"2026-07-09T14:59:52+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1132,"height":400,"url":"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1132x400.png","type":"image\/png"}],"author":"Sourav K","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@ZEE5India","twitter_site":"@ZEE5India","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Sourav K","Est. reading time":"6 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/fifa-world-cup-2026-power-rankings-the-quarter-final-edition\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/fifa-world-cup-2026-power-rankings-the-quarter-final-edition\/"},"author":{"name":"Sourav K","@id":"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/b7f51287e926eac1996d50ea278b7033"},"headline":"FIFA World Cup 2026\u2122 | Power Rankings | The Quarter-Final Edition","datePublished":"2026-07-09T14:59:52+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/fifa-world-cup-2026-power-rankings-the-quarter-final-edition\/"},"wordCount":1162,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/fifa-world-cup-2026-power-rankings-the-quarter-final-edition\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1132x400.png","keywords":["FIFA World cup 2026","Power Rankings","Quarter-Final Edition"],"articleSection":["FIFA World Cup 2026"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/fifa-world-cup-2026-power-rankings-the-quarter-final-edition\/","url":"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/fifa-world-cup-2026-power-rankings-the-quarter-final-edition\/","name":"FIFA World Cup 2026\u2122 | Power Rankings | The Quarter-Final Edition","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/fifa-world-cup-2026-power-rankings-the-quarter-final-edition\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/fifa-world-cup-2026-power-rankings-the-quarter-final-edition\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1132x400.png","datePublished":"2026-07-09T14:59:52+00:00","description":"FIFA 2026\u2122: Ranking the top quarter-final contenders, from France to Norway.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/fifa-world-cup-2026-power-rankings-the-quarter-final-edition\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/fifa-world-cup-2026-power-rankings-the-quarter-final-edition\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/fifa-world-cup-2026-power-rankings-the-quarter-final-edition\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1132x400.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1132x400.png","width":1132,"height":400,"caption":"FIFA World Cup 2026 All Access Pack for \u20b9399"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/fifa-world-cup-2026-power-rankings-the-quarter-final-edition\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"FIFA World Cup 2026","item":"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/category\/fifa-world-cup-2026\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"FIFA World Cup 2026\u2122 | Power Rankings | The Quarter-Final Edition"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/","name":"ZEE5 Blog","description":"","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/#organization","name":"ZEE5","alternateName":"Zee Entertainment Enterprises","url":"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Appicon_Z5Global_512x512.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Appicon_Z5Global_512x512.png","width":512,"height":512,"caption":"ZEE5"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/ZEE5India\/","https:\/\/x.com\/ZEE5India","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCXOgAl4w-FQero1ERbGHpXQ"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/b7f51287e926eac1996d50ea278b7033","name":"Sourav K","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/6e67504e85eace1cfa60dcd37f6d3ebfe062cd8f24a419171fff86280ffae669?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/6e67504e85eace1cfa60dcd37f6d3ebfe062cd8f24a419171fff86280ffae669?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Sourav K"},"description":"With over 10 years of experience in sports journalism, Sourav is a passionate football writer who has been closely following the game since the 2002 FIFA World Cup. What began as a childhood fascination with football has evolved into a lifelong commitment to understanding and analysing the sport at every level. As both an ardent fan and a former football player, Sourav brings a unique perspective to his writing. He blends firsthand playing experience with in-depth statistical analysis. Having witnessed the rise and fall of footballing dynasties across multiple FIFA World Cups, UEFA Champions League campaigns, Premier League seasons, and international tournaments, he offers readers insightful, balanced, and engaging coverage of the beautiful game. His work is driven by a desire to make football analysis accessible to everyone, right from casual followers looking to stay informed to passionate supporters seeking deeper tactical insights.","url":"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/author\/sourav-k\/"}]}},"blog_post_layout_featured_media_urls":{"thumbnail":["https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1132x400.png",150,53,false],"full":["https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1132x400.png",1132,400,false]},"categories_names":{"3019":{"name":"FIFA World Cup 2026","link":"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/category\/fifa-world-cup-2026\/"}},"tags_names":{"3031":{"name":"FIFA World cup 2026","link":"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/tag\/fifa-world-cup-2026\/"},"3305":{"name":"Power Rankings","link":"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/tag\/power-rankings\/"},"3539":{"name":"Quarter-Final Edition","link":"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/tag\/quarter-final-edition\/"}},"comments_number":"0","wpmagazine_modules_lite_featured_media_urls":{"thumbnail":["https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1132x400.png",150,53,false],"cvmm-medium":["https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1132x400.png",300,106,false],"cvmm-medium-plus":["https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1132x400.png",305,108,false],"cvmm-portrait":["https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1132x400.png",400,141,false],"cvmm-medium-square":["https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1132x400.png",600,212,false],"cvmm-large":["https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1132x400.png",1024,362,false],"cvmm-small":["https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1132x400.png",130,46,false],"full":["https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1132x400.png",1132,400,false]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17125","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/25"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17125"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17125\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17126,"href":"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17125\/revisions\/17126"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/15163"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17125"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17125"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17125"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}