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1) France

“There’s more talent and potential than in 2022,” Kylian Mbappé said ominously this week after France had beaten Brazil 2-1 despite having Dayot Upamecano sent off after 55 minutes. He may well be right. For the second game of this window, against Colombia, Didier Deschamps changed the entire starting XI but was still able to field an attack of Marcus Thuram, Désiré Doué, Rayan Cherki and Maghnes Akliouche. Doué scored two in a comfortable 3-1 victory. “I’m well aware that there are some very good players that I won’t be bringing because, in my opinion, there are even better ones,” Deschamps said. Marcus Christenson

World Cup fixtures: Senegal, New York New Jersey; Iraq, Philadelphia; Norway, Boston

2) Spain

The European champions had to change their plans after the Finalissima against Argentina, due to be held in Qatar, was cancelled because of the war in the Middle East. Instead they played friendlies against Serbia (3-0 win) in Villarreal and Egypt in Barcelona (0-0). The latter was overshadowed by chants from Spain fans that police are investigating for Islamophobia and xenophobia and Lamine Yamal said: “To those who sing these things: using a religion as a form of mockery on a pitch shows you up as ignorant and racist.” On the pitch Luis de la Fuente’s team were surprisingly toothless against Egypt – despite having 25 attempts – while Mikel Oyarzabal scored two good goals against Serbia. One potential winner from this window? Víctor Muñoz, who scored Spain’s third on his debut against Serbia. Real Madrid sold the speedy 22-year-old winger (with a buy-back clause) to Osasuna last summer. Billy Munday

World Cup fixtures: Cape Verde, Atlanta; Saudi Arabia, Atlanta; Uruguay, Guadalajara

3) Argentina

A slightly surreal international window for the world champions, which started with a narrow 2-1 win over Mauritania. The lineup was experimental, to be fair, but the coach, Lionel Scaloni was not impressed: “We didn’t play and the important lesson here is to make sure it does not happen again.” For the second game, also at La Bombonera, a certain Lionel Messi returned as so did Argentina’s form. The Gambia were beaten 5-0 with the Inter Miami forward scoring one goal and providing one assist. There was bad news as well though with debutant Joaquín Panichelli of Strasbourg facing a long spell on the sidelines after suffering a serious knee injury. Overall though the mood was good and at the end of the Gambia game the team received a warm farewell from the supporters, who sang “dale campeón” – go champions – in celebration. Mariano Dayan, Olé

World Cup fixtures: Algeria, Kansas City; Austria, Dallas; Jordan, Dallas

4) Brazil

As was expected Brazil were overpowered by France 2-1 before recovering to beat Croatia 3-1. Carlo Ancelotti said he has the 26-player squad as well as the starting XI for the World Cup in his mind, but in this window he was unable to perfect his plans because of injuries to key players such as Alisson, Gabriel, Alex Sandro, Bruno Guimarães and Raphinha, who came off at half-time in the game against France. Luiz Henrique benefited from the Barcelona forward’s absence and showed he can be a gamechanger at the World Cup. Endrick also made his case with a promising cameo against Croatia and although Casemiro and Vinícius Jr weren’t quite at their best, these two games were a good test of Brazil’s depth. Gustavo Torres, Estadão

World Cup fixtures: Morocco, New York New Jersey; Haiti, Philadelphia; Scotland, Miami

5) Portugal

The matches against Mexico and USA were a good test of Portugal fans’ ability to stay awake in the middle of the night. Not only because of the time they were played but also because of the lethargic performances. Even so, Portugal did not lose, and after a 0-0 draw with Mexico, in the reopening of the Azteca Stadium, they managed to beat USA in Atlanta, 2-0, with goals from Francisco Trincão and João Félix. In the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo, Bernardo Silva, Rúben Dias, Diogo Costa and Rafael Leão, Bruno Fernandes was the team’s main reference. Samu Costa and the 33-year-old Toluca striker Paulinho (who was not even in the initial squad selection for these two games) were able to audition for World Cup places while Ricardo Velho and Mateus Fernandes made their debuts. However, the games will not have given the coach, Roberto Martínez, many sleepless nights as he already had a good idea about who was going to the tournament before this window. Nuno Travassos, A Bola

World Cup fixtures: DR Congo, Houston; Uzbekistan, Houston; Colombia, Miami

6) Senegal

“If I had any doubts about our ability to win the World Cup, I wouldn’t be here,” said Pape Thiaw after a 3–1 friendly win over the Gambia. Strikingly, his confidence has drawn neither ridicule nor backlash. For perhaps the first time, an African side can realistically target winning the World Cup before it kicks off. Senegal’s belief is rooted in a steady pipeline of talent from elite domestic academies such as Generation Foot and Diambars. For Thiaw, the priority will now be to maintain unity and, above all, fitness. The memory of Sadio Mané missing the last World Cup still lingers and is a reminder of how fragile even the strongest ambitions can be. Maher Mezahi

World Cup fixtures: France, New York New Jersey; Norway, New York New Jersey; Iraq, Toronto

7) Belgium

The Red Devils went to North America to play against two of the World Cup hosts. With a 5-2 victory against the USA and a 1-1 draw against Mexico, the results were OK, but certainly left room for improvement. Scoring five goals in any international is good, especially if you are without your best goalscorer (Romelu Lukaku) and players such as Benfica’s Dodi Lukébakio certainly stepped up in his absence. Belgium still need Lukaku though. On the negative side Belgium once again conceded from set pieces and that is something that needs to be sorted before the tournament. Kevin De Bruyne also seemed a little irritated in the buildup against Mexico, but at least that shows he is still very motivated to perform for his country. David Van den Broeck, Het Nieuwsblad

World Cup fixtures: Egypt, Seattle; Iran, Los Angeles; New Zealand, Vancouver

8) Japan

The past few days could not have gone better for Japan with the only potential downside that World Cup opponents will now see them as a greater threat. The Samurai Blue started their UK tour with a comfortable 1-0 win over Scotland in Glasgow. The win against England by the same scoreline was also deserved and historic as they became the first Asian team to beat the Three Lions. Much was made of England’s absences but Japan were without some of their biggest stars such as well in Wataru Endo, Takumi Minamino, Takefusa Kubo and Takehiro Tomiyasu. A well-coached team and a dark horse that is looking more visible all the time. “I’m happy that we were able to win, but we still have a long way to go. We have to be even stronger,” the coach Hajime Moriyasu said. John Duerden

World Cup fixtures: Netherlands, Dallas; Tunisia, Monterrey; Sweden, Dallas

9) Germany

The nation once renowned for its powerful “9ers” are still searching for a successor to Thomas Müller, Jürgen Klinsmann and Miroslav Klose. Deniz Undav scored the winner in the 2-1 victory against Ghana on Monday night but Julian Nagelsmann then said that he was unlikely to start at the World Cup. “If he had 70 minutes under his belt, he wouldn’t be able to finish those chances,” the coach said. That debate, however, distracts from the team’s real problem: the defence with Nico Schlotterbeck not the only player who looked shaky in this window. There were some positives though with Florian Wirtz producing arguably his best ever game for Germany in the 4-3 win against Switzerland with two assists and two goals while 18-year-old Lennart Karl was applauded by opposition fans for his dribbling skills. Oliver Fritsch, Die Zeit

World Cup fixtures: Curaçao, Houston; Côte d’Ivoire, Toronto; Ecuador, New York New Jersey

10) Morocco

On paper, Morocco are African champions, but on the pitch certainty is harder to find. Walid Regragui stepped down as head coach last month, believing he had failed to win the 2025 Afcon, only for Caf to overturn the result a few weeks later. Since then, attention has quickly shifted to his successor, Mohamed Ouahbi, who is fresh off leading Morocco’s under-20s to the 2025 World Cup title. Early signs have been encouraging: March friendlies against Ecuador and Paraguay eased concerns about continuity and Ouahbi’s Atlas Lions appear more ambitious, moving away from Regragui’s pragmatic approach built on defensive solidity and set pieces. The lingering question remains: which style is better suited for success at the World Cup? MM

World Cup fixtures: Brazil, New York New Jersey; Scotland, Boston; Haiti, Atlanta

11) Croatia

The key takeaways from Croatia’s excursion to Florida are: yes, they can indeed play with three at the back and yes, Luka Vuskovic is definitely the man they have been missing in defence, the youngster having proved himself and surely cementing a starting place for the World Cup. Against Colombia (2-1 win) they looked much more dynamic and agressive in a 3-4-2-1 while against Brazil (3-1 defeat) the coach, Zlatko Dalic, opted for a cautious 5-4-1, which raised new questions about the team’s identity. With the return of Josko Gvardiol and Mateo Kovacic, Dalic is likely to switch back to 4-3-3/4-2-3-1 for the World Cup. Alexander Holiga, Telegram

World Cup fixtures: England, Dallas; Panama, Toronto; Ghana, Philadelphia

12) England

The caveat is England played the reserves against Uruguay (1-1) and had six probable starters out against Japan (0-1). The concern, though, is that Thomas Tuchel has a draw and two defeats from games against top-20 opposition. England do not have momentum or recognisable identity. A host of players flunked auditions for a spot in the 26 and the biggest worry of all is how the side fared without Harry Kane to lead the line against Japan. They cannot afford their captain and best source of goals to lose form or pick up an injury. Jacob Steinberg

World Cup fixtures: Croatia, Dallas; Ghana, Boston; Panama, New York, New Jersey

13) Netherlands

The coach, Ronald Koeman, now has to pick up the pieces after two pretty wild matches against Norway (2-1 win) and Ecuador (1-1). Koeman’s No 1 striker, Memphis Depay, missed the two games with injury and the coach is unsure whether the Corinthians forward will be fit for the World Cup. “You need to play matches before the World Cup. During the last World Cup [in Qatar] there was a lack of fitness too’’, Koeman warned. The Dutch are also sweating on the fitness of Frenkie de Jong and the replacements – Sunderland’s Brian Brobbey and Tottenham’s Xavi Simons – did not impress. The Oranje created a lot of chances against a Norway side without Erling Haaland and Martin Ødegaard but failed to convert most of them. Denzel Dumfries was then sent off against Ecuador after 12 minutes, leading to a disastrous home performance with several second-string players unable to impress. Marcel van der Kraan, De Telegraaf

World Cup fixtures: Japan, Dallas; Sweden, Houston; Tunisia, Kansas City

14) Côte d’Ivoire

Morocco and Senegal are widely tipped to be the African teams that go furthest at the World Cup, and for good reason, as they are the most recent Afcon finalists. Yet Côte d’Ivoire are quietly emerging as serious contenders too, after impressive friendly wins over South Korea (4–0) and Scotland (1–0). Their main strength lies out wide, where Amad Diallo, Yan Diomandé, Nicolas Pépé and Simon Adingra combine pace, dribbling and end product. Defensive solidity is another key asset. The only real question is up front: who will lead the line? Emerse Faé has brought in Elye Wahi as a potential solution, and the former Marseille striker could be the missing piece for Les Éléphants. MM

World Cup fixtures: Ecuador, Philadelphia; Germany, Toronto; Curaçao, Philadelphia

15) Norway

Ståle Solbakken’s side started this window with a 2-1 defeat against the Netherlands but were missing key players such as Erling Haaland, Martin Ødegaard and Fredrik Aursnes. That, however, gave others the chance to shine and Andreas Schjelderup was one of those who seized the opportunity, scoring a magnificent goal. Tuesday’s match against Switzerland was played on a terrible pitch, making it almost impossible to play any decent football. Solbakken and his players won’t have learned too much from it but the past week has seen two decent performances against two teams that regularly play in major tournaments. Vegard Bjelland, TV 2 Norway

World Cup fixtures: Iraq, Boston; Senegal, New York New Jersey; France, Boston

16) Mexico

In two big tests for Javier Aguirre’s side, El Tri passed – not with flying colours, mind you, but enough to create some warranted optimism. A scoreless draw with Portugal was followed by a 1-1 draw with Belgium, and in both games Mexico competently strung together phases of possession and created chances, while keeping talented opponents mostly at bay. That’s a huge positive considering the squad’s current wide-ranging injury crisis. Mexico will sorely miss goalkeeper Luis Malagón (achilles) and midfielder Marcel Ruíz (cruciate ligament) at the World Cup, but the captain Edson Álvarez, striker Santiago Giménez, and others should be back in time. Alexander Abnos

World Cup fixtures: South Africa, Mexico City; South Korea, Guadalajara; Czech Republic, Mexico City

17) Austria

Ralf Rangnick was satisfied. “We did not choose these opponents by accident,” he said after Austria followed a 5-1 win over Ghana with a 1-0 victory over South Korea. With Jordan, Algeria and Argentina awaiting them at the World Cup, the reasoning was obvious: Africa and Asia, covered. Austria had spared themselves the playoff drama by drawing with Bosnia in November, sealing direct qualification for a first World Cup since 1998. There was fresh intrigue, too, as Paul Wanner and Carney Chukwuemeka were only cleared to represent Austria shortly before the camp and both made an immediate impression, especially against Ghana. This is already a team with a clear identity, one that is now being sharpened further. The key players are in form and the fight for places is on. Andreas Hagenauer, Der Standard

World Cup fixtures: Jordan, San Francisco; Argentina, Dallas; Algeria, Kansas City

18) Ecuador

Ecuador came out of their two friendlies feeling positive, having extended their unbeaten run of games to 17, but it feels as if there is still quite a lot of work to do before the World Cup. In the 1-1 draw against Morocco, they competed well, pressed well and showed good organisation, although they once again lacked the cutting edge to seal victory. Against the Netherlands, another 1-1 draw, they played against 10 men for most of the game and their approach was the right one – a high press, aggressive wing-backs and a total commitment to attack – and that is the path forward. La Tri are already demonstrating intention, energy, and structure; now they need to translate all of that into greater clarity, more clear chances and victories. Francisco Hanna, Studio Fútbol

19) Egypt

Egypt have some soul-searching to do before the World Cup. Their coach Hossam Hassan, the nation’s greatest striker, would seem naturally inclined toward attacking football, yet at the 2025 Afcon, the Pharaohs often sat deep and relied on counterattacks, despite boasting more quality in attack than in defence. March friendlies against Saudi Arabia and Spain suggest a desire to balance both approaches, but many fans will hope Egypt leans into its strengths going forward. With Mohamed Salah, Omar Marmoush, Trezeguet, Zizo, Mohamed Mostafa and Emam Ashour, their attacking arsenal is too potent to be restrained. MM

World Cup fixtures: Belgium, Seattle; New Zealand, Vancouver; Iran, Seattle

20) Switzerland

Switzerland had two very different matches: first a wild 4-3 defeat against Germany and then a dull 0–0 against Norway, though the latter was partly down to the very poor pitch in Oslo. For the manager Murat Yakin, however, the results were of secondary importance; his main focus was on testing a few things and giving all the players some playing time. He rotated all 10 outfield players and captain Granit Xhaka played only the first half against Germany. That defeat was the first loss since November 2024. “Sometimes a defeat like that is good, so you can start demanding things again,” said Yakin. Four days later, the defence showed a marked improvement against Haaland and co, with Yakin reverting to a back three for the first time in a long while – a formation that had formed the basis of a successful tournament at Euro 2024. Christian Finkbeiner, Blick

World Cup fixtures: Qatar, San Francisco; Bosnia and Herzegovina, Los Angeles; Canada, Vancouver

21) Colombia

It was not a good window for Colombia as it ended with two defeats – against Croatia and France – or for the coach Néstor Lorenzo, but then he had opted for tough assignments, learning from the country’s past experiences before other major tournaments where friendlies against lesser teams have given next to nothing. James Rodríguez was again at the centre of attention but not in a good way. Having played only 40 minutes of club football in 2026 he still started both games before being taken off just after the hour on both occasions. Jenny Gámez of El Tiempo called it a “cowardly decision” not to start Rodríguez on the bench in one of the games. MC

World Cup fixtures: Uzbekistan, Mexico City; DR Congo, Guadalajara; Portugal, Miami

22) Algeria

A complete unknown, even to their own players, staff and media. What is certain, however, is they boast a wealth of technical quality across the pitch. Marcelo Bielsa recently captured this, stating: “The Algerians are more technical than the English,” after his Uruguay side’s friendly at Wembley. The claim doesn’t seem far-fetched when watching Rayan Aït-Nouri, Riyad Mahrez, Ibrahim Maza or Amine Gouiri on the ball. But technique alone is not enough, and the clearest example of that came in the quarter-finals of the 2025 Afcon, when Vladimir Petkovic’s side were physically dominated by Nigeria. MM

World Cup fixtures: Argentina, Kansas City; Jordan, San Francisco; Austria, Kansas City

23) Turkey

Are Turkey dark horses to be this summer’s dark horses? They managed a fiendish assignment in Kosovo calmly, deserving to sneak through, and Vincenzo Montella’s side can boast attacking wizardry along with a solid core. Finding the right balance will be key on their return to the World Cup after 24 years away, but Arda Guler and Kenan Yildiz have the ability to trouble anyone. Montella has instilled a discipline and composure that had not always been present and a place in the knockout stage should be comfortably achievable. Nick Ames

World Cup fixtures: Australia, Vancouver; Paraguay, San Francisco; USA, Los Angeles

24) USA

Which USA team are you going to get? The one that looked like the (somewhat) finished article in the 5-1 win against Uruguay to close out 2025, or the disjointed, occasionally lackadaisical squad that turned up for this window’s 5-2 defeat by Belgium and the 2-0 defeat against Portugal at home? Christian Pulisic is in a terrible moment, having missed several key chances in those games, and while Weston McKennie is carrying over some of his Juventus form to the national team, it hasn’t been enough. There’s no question that there’s talent on this team, but under Pochettino they have yet to fully put it together into a cohesive whole. AA

World Cup fixtures: Paraguay, Los Angeles; Australia, Seattle; Turkey, Los Angeles

25) Uruguay

Marcelo Bielsa steadied the ship following the damaging 5-1 defeat against USA in November with two draws in this window, 1-1 against England and 0-0 against Algeria. That doesn’t mean that people back in Uruguay are happy though with the feeling that the manager’s set-up has been too negative. Bielsa made three changes to the starting XI for the game against Algeria but his team were unable to break down a stubborn opponent. There was more bad news for the coach with starting left-back Joaquín Piquerez suffering a serious ankle injury against England, which is likely to rule him out of the World Cup. MC

World Cup fixtures: Saudi Arabia, Miami; Cape Verde, Miami; Spain, Guadalajara

26) Sweden

“We weren’t perfect but who cares?” Graham Potter said after Sweden had beaten Poland 3-2 to reach the World Cup despite not winning a single game in their initial qualifying group. As good as they had been against Ukraine in the semi-final playoff last Thursday, they were as poor against Robert Lewandowski and co. Viktor Gyökeres scored four across the two games, including an 88th-minute winner against the Poles, and there was a hugely encouraging substitute appearance from Lucas Bergvall. Alexander Isak should be fit for the finals and Dejan Kulusevski says he will be too. The Sweden captain has not played since May but joined up with the squad and had tears in his eyes at the final whistle. “As long as I live I will give everything for Sweden,” he said. Marcus Christenson

World Cup fixtures: Tunisia, Monterrey; Netherlands, Houston; Japan, Dallas

27) Tunisia

When a new coach is hired, fans often want to see fresh ideas and personnel. Since taking over after Afcon, Sabri Lamouchi has delivered just that, making changes in goal and at centre-back. He also recruited Rani Khedira, brother of the former Real Madrid midfielder Sami, persuading the 32-year-old to represent Tunisia. Some Carthage Eagles fans labelled him an opportunist, but the Union Berlin midfielder impressed in his early appearances. Tunisia may lack the star power to excite neutrals, but they do remain highly disciplined and difficult to break down as shown during the 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign, where they did not concede a single goal. MM

World Cup fixtures: Sweden, Monterrey; Japan, Monterrey; Netherlands, Kansas City

28) Australia

The window started with a grumble but ended with a backflip, a sequined glove, a Michael Jackson move and a tantalising glimpse into the future of the Socceroos. “I am a huge MJ fan,” Nestory Irankunda confirmed after Australia stunned Curaçao 5-1 in their Fifa Series friendly. The Watford striker combined with his fellow substitutes Jordan Bos and Riley McGree to devastating effect for three goals in the final 20 minutes. Irankunda’s double demonstrated a new level of attacking composure from the 20-year-old, which the coach, Tony Popovic, will hope continues to grow ahead of the World Cup. After a drab showing against Cameroon earlier in the window, Australia’s final preparations have received a much-needed boost. Jo Khan

World Cup fixtures: Turkey, Vancouver; USA, Seattle; Paraguay, San Francisco

29) South Africa

For the first time since taking charge, Hugo Broos is facing criticism at home. A draw and a defeat against Panama during the March window have raised real questions about Bafana Bafana’s readiness for the tournament. “That’s why we played twice against Panama – to learn and understand what we still need to improve,” Broos said, though the response did little to quiet the noise. Despite the results, South Africa played football that was easy on the eye and that won’t change. Built around a core of well-drilled Mamelodi Sundowns players, Bafana Bafana could be one of the most technically pleasing sides in North America in the summer. MM

World Cup fixtures: Mexico, Mexico City; Czech Republic, Atlanta; South Korea, Monterrey

30) DR Congo

Fifty-two years after their last appearance (as Zaire), the Democratic Republic of Congo are back at the World Cup. Much has changed globally, yet for the Central African nation much has stayed the same. Longstanding ethnic tensions linger, particularly in the eastern part of the country. Yet, the entire country erupted in joy when the Burnley defender Axel Tuanzebe, born in war-scarred Bunia, scored the winner against Jamaica to seal qualification. “To get the winning goal for the country … this is what you dream about,” he said. On the pitch, concerns persist around scoring goals, but in these difficult times, qualification carries a significance that transcends the tournament. MM

World Cup fixtures: Portugal, Houston; Colombia, Guadalajara; Uzbekistan, Atlanta

31) Canada

Two draws – 2-2 against Iceland and 0-0 against Tunisia – were decent enough on the face of it, but the first of those was the most instructive. The Canadians went down 2-0 to Iceland before looking much better in the second half as two Jonathan David penalties evened the score. Then, Tajon Buchanan’s red card stopped all momentum – the third straight game Canada have finished with 10 men. The big worry, though, is the health of Alphonso Davies. The Bayern Munich star missed this window with a hamstring strain, and he’s an unquestioned ceiling-raiser. AA

World Cup fixtures: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Toronto; Qatar, Vancouver; Switzerland, Vancouver

32) Paraguay

Two games – one win and one defeat and a lot of mixed feelings. Greece were beaten 1-0 before Paraguay, somewhat paradoxically, played the better football in the 2-1 defeat by Morocco. La Albirroja dominated against the Afcon champions but ultimately paid the price for two defensive slips. Julio Enciso showed once again that he is Paraguay’s best player and the one to watch at the World Cup. The coach had also called up a quartet of debutants with most eyes being on goalkeeper Gastón Olveira from Olimpia and playmaker Maurício Prado, from Palmeiras. Olveira was born in Uruguay and Prado in Brazil. Both were only granted Paraguayan citizenship recently but slotted right into the team and they are very likely to go to the World Cup now. In fact they impressed to such a degree that some experts are calling for them to be in the starting XI come June. Paraguay can be excited for what’s to come. Óscar Gómez, VS Sports

World Cup fixtures: USA, Los Angeles; Turkey, San Francisco; Australia, San Francisco

33) Iraq

The last of the 48 teams to make it. The Lions of Mesopotamia are back after 40 years away and sealed the deal, fittingly on Mexican soil with a 2-1 win over Bolivia. Nobody knows what qualifying just two months or so before the tournament means for preparation but few in the football-mad country will care especially as there is little pressure with France, Senegal and Norway waiting. The team’s Australian coach Graham Arnold was hoisted up on shoulders and walked around the pitch draped in an Iraqi flag as he celebrated his extraordinary achievement. “I’ve got to give so much thanks to the players,” he told Fifa+. “Their work ethic, they showed the real Iraqi mentality of fighting and putting their bodies on the line, that’s why we won the game.” JD

World Cup fixtures: Norway, Boston; France, Philadelphia; Senegal, Toronto

34) Uzbekistan

“We still lack consistency, and this is a worrying signal before the World Cup,” said Fabio Cannavaro after Uzbekistan beat Gabon 3-1. It was a win but not a convincing one, with defensive mistakes contributing to some testy exchanges with reporters in the post-match press conference. The second game against Venezuela was a better all-round performance. It ended goalless and the White Wolves won the shootout, which is good preparation in itself for the summer. Manchester City’s Abdukodir Khusanov was named Fifa Series MVP despite missing the first game and the teenage defender Bekhruz Karimov made a promising debut. JD

World Cup fixtures: Colombia, Mexico City; Portugal, Houston; DR Congo, Atlanta

35) Czech Republic

The Czechs are back at a World Cup for the first time in 20 years but they certainly did it the hard way. Having lost to the Faroe Islands and finished second in their qualifying group behind Croatia, they beat Ireland and Denmark on penalties in their playoff games to reach the tournament. In fact, they were only four minutes plus added time away from going out against Ireland before Wolves’ Ladislav Krejci equalised. No wonder the coach, 74-year-old Miroslav Koubek, who was appointed in December, was emotional after the Denmark game. “ There isn’t exactly tears streaming down my face, but my eyes were definitely a little wet,” he said. “I am very happy.” MC

World Cup fixtures: South Korea, Guadalajara; South Africa, Atlanta; Mexico, Mexico City

36) Bosnia and Herzegovina

This Bosnian team picked the most difficult, but at the same time the sweetest way to the World Cup. Sergej Barbarez got his first coaching job at the age of 52 in April 2024 and rejuvenated the team, introducing a dozen new and young players. They finished the qualifiers behind Austria and dropped into their sixth playoff for a major tournament. In Cardiff, against Wales, they were losing four minutes before the final whistle but ended up winning on penalties. They then went behind to Italy after 15 minutes in Zenica, but produced another comeback and another shootout win. The winning spot kick in Cardiff was scored by 18-year-old Kerim Alajbegovic, the one against Italy by 21-year-old Esmir Bajraktarevic, with 40-year-old veteran Edin Dzeko as captain. This is an exciting, young, and joyful team that deserves its place at the World Cup. Sasa Ibrulj

World Cup fixtures: Canada, Toronto; Switzerland, Los Angeles; Qatar, Seattle

37) Ghana

The Ghanaian Federation sacked coach Otto Addo just 72 days before the World Cup. There was no explanation given, but there was none really needed. Under his watch, the Black Stars looked blunt, lacking urgency despite clear potential. Local reports suggest the FA have sounded out the former Morocco coach Walid Regragui as a possible replacement. Whoever takes charge inherits a squad with quality: Antoine Semenyo, Jordan Ayew and Thomas Partey are the pillars of this team. Yet, Ghana also feel far removed from the dynamism of 2010, when they came within moments of reaching the World Cup semi-finals. MM

World Cup fixtures: Panama, Toronto; England, Boston; Croatia, Philadelphia

38) Iran

The Fifa president Gianni Infantino may be determined that Iran go to the United States but with the co-host’s head of state threatening a land invasion after weeks of aerial bombardment, the decision is unlikely to be in his hands. Football is obviously not a priority but the national team was in action, starting with a 2-1 loss to Nigeria in a game that had been moved from Jordan to Turkey. Captain Mehdi Taremi looked more uncomfortable than most when singing the anthem but the striker scored and then got two more as Costa Rica were thrashed 5-0 on Tuesday. On the pitch then, it went pretty well but nobody knows what is going to happen off it. JD

World Cup fixtures: New Zealand, Los Angeles; Belgium, Los Angeles; Egypt, Seattle

39) Scotland

Steve Clarke’s strong endorsement of a three (or five) man defence in the aftermath of defeat to Côte d’Ivoire implied Scotland may use the system at the World Cup. Previously, this was seen primarily as a format which allowed both Andy Robertson and Kieran Tierney to start for Scotland. Clarke had edged away from it but it was restored for the loss in Liverpool. George Hirst did not score in the international window but impressed in the Scottish attack. Problematic positions – centre-back and goalkeeper – remain precisely that. Both would be offset if Clarke can discover cutting edge among his squad between now and June. Ewan Murray

World Cup fixtures: Haiti, Boston; Morocco, Boston; Brazil, Miami

40) Panama

While some countries seem to chop and change managers on a monthly basis, Los Canaleros have stuck by Thomas Christiansen since 2020 and have reaped the rewards. They may have benefited from three of Concacaf’s big beasts qualifying automatically as hosts but they were unbeaten in qualifying – 10 games played, seven wins, three, draws, 19 goals scored and just five conceded – even if they were grateful for Suriname’s capitulation against Guatemala in the final round. Their March friendlies took the shape of a rather curious double-header against South Africa, where they drew the first game and won the second 2-1. “These kinds of matches help us grow,” said Christiansen, whose team are now ranked 33rd in the world by Fifa. John Ashdown

World Cup fixtures: Ghana, Toronto; Croatia, Toronto; England, New York New Jersey

41) New Zealand

The All Whites will be buoyed up by their first win over a South American team after an unexpected 4-1 victory over Chile, which also turned around a three-game losing streak. It means they head overseas to their first World Cup in 16 years with a skip in their step. It was a crucial turnaround after their disappointing 2-0 defeat against Finland in the first friendly. But against Chile, a reinvigorated New Zealand quickly got to work, pouncing after the opposition had been reduced to 10 men with two goals either side of half-time, managing to break down a higher-ranked opponent where they have previously come unstuck. Whether that stands up against top 10-ranked England in June is another matter. JK

World Cup fixtures: Iran, Los Angeles; Egypt, Vancouver; Belgium, Vancouver

42) Jordan

Preparing for a first World Cup, Al-Nashama don’t get many chances to play opposition from outside Asia or the Arab world so there was a lot of anticipation for the Fifa Series, even if it was moved from Amman to Antalya in Turkey. It brought successive 2-2 draws against Costa Rica and then Nigeria. Jordan are a team built on a solid defence so conceding four was concerning but on the other hand scoring four was welcome, especially with two-thirds of their three-man frontline, Ali Olwan and Yazan al-Naimat, out injured. JD

World Cup fixtures: Austria, San Francisco; Algeria, San Francisco; Argentina, Dallas

43) Qatar

It is as you were for the 2022 hosts who squeezed into 2026 by the narrowest of play-off margins. It has been hard for the head coach, Julen Lopetegui, to build on that momentum as both the team’s March friendlies were cancelled due to the war in the Middle East. Missing out on the chance to face Argentina is particularly galling and Serbia wouldn’t have been a bad test either. Instead it has all been about the coaching staff working with the players. Officials said that having no games could help in terms of fatigue down the line and that training went well. JD

World Cup fixtures: Switzerland, San Francisco; Canada, Vancouver; Bosnia and Herzegovina, Seattle

44) South Korea

“It’s too early to discuss that,” said the Korea coach, Hong Myung-bo, when asked whether Son Heung-min should remain an automatic starter, an unthinkable question until recently. Son is not the only concern, however, after the Taeguk Warriors lost 4-0 to Côte d’Ivoire in the first of their two games. There are worries that this all feels like the leadup to coach Hong’s first time in charge, the dismal 2014 World Cup. The focus was on the new-look three-man defence containing defenders that don’t play in that system for their clubs. So unpopular has Hong become that there were those who wanted a similar result in Vienna in the hope there would be a change, but a 1-0 defeat against Austria means the window ends with more questions than before at both ends of the pitch – not what you really want at this stage. JD

World Cup fixtures: Czech Republic, Guadalajara; Mexico, Guadalajara; South Africa, Monterrey

45) Cape Verde

“Honestly, I still can’t believe what we’ve achieved,” Ryan Mendes said after Cape Verde’s final qualifying match against Eswatini. “When I was little, I used to dream about Ronaldo’s Brazil and all the great football nations, and I dreamed of being there one day too. But what we experienced … was something we had never seen before.” Having helped his country to reach their first Afcon in 2013, the legendary captain has now sealed his legacy in guiding the Blue Sharks to a World Cup. But like Egypt and Morocco, Cape Verde must now forge an identity on the biggest stage. In previous Afcons, they’ve held their own through sharp, possession-based football. The question is whether, against far tougher opposition, they’ll back themselves to do it again. MM

World Cup fixtures: Spain, Atlanta; Uruguay, Miami; Saudi Arabia, Houston

46) Saudi Arabia

It is not a good sign when the federation denies that the coach has been fired midway through an international window but coach Hervé Renard was on shaky ground after a dismal 4-0 loss to Egypt in Jeddah on Friday. “It could have been 6-0 by half-time,” said Saeed al-Owairan, Saudi’s slaloming goalscoring hero of 1994. And you know it is bad when opposition pundits are complaining that the tests are too easy. A trip to Serbia looked daunting but then Abdullah al-Hamdan scored to give some hope before the hosts came back with, inevitably, former Al-Hilal striker Aleksandar Mitrovic heading home a late winner. No clean sheets in the last eight now and plenty of pressure on the coach who, some reports suggest, wants to leave anyway. JD

World Cup fixtures: Uruguay, Miami; Spain, Atlanta; Cape Verde, Houston

47) Haiti

Despite a 2-1 defeat against Tunisia and a 1-1 draw with Iceland, the March Fifa window offered valuable lessons for the head coach, Sébastien Migné. Haiti started the games too slowly and the lack of early intensity exposed a collective weaknesses, leaving the team chasing games. Tactically, however, Haiti showed promise in transitions and attacking movements. Wilson Isidor impressed, scoring his first international goal to earn the draw against Iceland, while Josué Casimir stood out with pace, technical quality and relentless pressing. Injuries to Johny Placide and Carlens Arcus forced adjustments, but also opened the door to useful experimentation ahead of bigger challenges. While significant work remains, Haiti has shown it possesses the resources to make an impact on the World Cup stage. Pierre Midy

World Cup fixtures: Scotland, Boston; Brazil, Philadelphia; Morocco, Atlanta

48) Curaçao

Curaçao’s two friendlies in the new Fifa Series served as a stark reminder of the work needed before the World Cup. The new coach, Fred Rutten, saw his side lose 2-0 to China and 5-1 to Australia. There were glimpses of quality, with many players nurtured in the Netherlands (Curaçao’s constituent country), but consistency was lacking. In both matches, Curaçao faded late on, losing sharpness and intensity. Against Australia they conceded four goals in 17 minutes. Among the team’s priorities is adding more steel, particularly in defence, where greater edge is needed. These matches should serve as a timely wake-up call. Arthur Renard

World Cup fixtures: Germany, Houston; Ecuador, Kansas City; Côte d’Ivoire, Philadelphia