After the opening release of our 2018 World Cup power rankings, much has changed. Countries have been eliminated in heartbreaking fashion, while other teams assert their dominance over their federations.
All the spots have been decided except for the UEFA playoffs and the inter-continential playoffs, which leave just a few spots to be determined.
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According to our esteemed panelists — Joe Prince-Wright, Nicholas Mendola, Kyle Bonn, Matt Reed, Dan Karell and Andy Edwards — there is a clear talent gap between the top 10 teams and the rest of the nations. Meanwhile, there is a disagreement over what country is the most powerful in the world.
Germany has garnered the top spot, but it wasn’t by a lot. Brazil is right on their heels for the favorite heading into next year’s tournament, even dethroning the reigning World Champions on some lists. Overall, Europe claims four of the top five spots, South American teams find four countries in the top 10. Italy is the most iconic team to have fallen, now uncertain to make the tournament after finding itself in the UEFA playoffs thanks to its tough group.
Three teams who did not appear in last month’s edition find themselves with places at the table in Serbia, Iceland, and Croatia, while seven teams on the list were left off at least one panelist’s list, leaving uncertainty in the lower half of the table. Where do you think these countries fall, who was slighted, who is overrated, and who should have made the list?
Team | Points | Best | Worst | |
1 (1) | Germany | 118 | 1 | 2 |
2 (2) | Brazil | 115 | 1 | 3 |
3 (3) | France | 107 | 2 | 4 |
4 (4) | Spain | 98 | 3 | 6 |
5 (5) | Belgium | 95 | 3 | 7 |
6 (9) | Uruguay | 84 | 5 | 9 |
7 (8) | Portugal | 83 | 4 | 10 |
8 (5) | Argentina | 81 | 5 | 11 |
9 (6) | Colombia | 70 | 7 | 16 |
10 (12) | Mexico | 59 | 10 | 12 |
11 (13) | England | 53 | 7 | 15 |
12 (20) | Poland | 47 | 11 | 17 |
13 (7) | Italy | 43 | 9 | 18 |
14 (NR) | Serbia | 37 | 9 | NR |
15 (NR) | Iceland | 33 | 9 | NR |
16 (17) | Japan | 28 | 13 | NR |
17 (10) | Switzerland | 24 | 12 | NR |
18 (14) | Nigeria | 21 | 16 | NR |
19 (16) | Costa Rica | 19 | 14 | NR |
20 (NR) | Croatia | 14 | 14 | NR |