The 2026 FIFA World Cup has brought together the best footballing nations on the planet, but a ranking of squad market values highlights the enormous financial gap between the tournament’s biggest powers and its underdogs.
According to figures provided by Transfermarkt, France arrive as the most valuable squad at the competition with an estimated market value of €1.52 billion.
Didier Deschamps’ side boast an array of elite talent, including several players valued at over €100 million, with captain Kylian Mbappé leading the way among Les Bleus’ most expensive stars.
England (€1.36bn), Spain (€1.22bn) and Portugal (€1.01bn) complete the group of nations with squads valued above the €1 billion mark, underlining their status among the favourites to lift the trophy.
Germany narrowly miss that milestone with a total value of €947 million, led by highly-rated stars Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz, while Brazil rank sixth with a valuation of €928.2 million despite entering the tournament under scrutiny following their opening defeat to Morocco.
Reigning world champions Argentina occupy seventh place with a squad worth €807.5 million, followed by the Netherlands (€754.2m), Norway (€589.9m) and Belgium (€547.5m).
African teams among the strongest outside Europe and South America
Ivory Coast stand as the highest-valued nation outside Europe and South America, with the Elephants’ squad estimated at €522.1 million, placing them 11th overall.
Senegal (€478.1m) and Morocco (€447.7m) also feature prominently among the world’s most valuable teams, reflecting the increasing quality and global reputation of African football.
Other African representatives include Algeria (€256.9m), Ghana (€234.5m), DR Congo (€143.9m), Egypt (€116.48m), Tunisia (€69.95m), Cape Verde (€49.25m) and South Africa (€49.25m).
Asia, CONCACAF and the World Cup’s underdogs
The United States are the highest-valued CONCACAF side with a squad worth €385.6 million, ranking 17th overall, while Japan lead the Asian nations at €270.85 million.
At the other end of the scale, Qatar have the lowest-valued squad in the tournament at just €19.93 million — more than 75 times lower than France’s valuation.
However, market value does not always determine success. The opening days of the tournament have already produced surprises, including Australia defeating Turkey and Qatar earning a draw against Switzerland, proving that quality on paper does not guarantee results on the pitch.
Top 15 most valuable squads at the 2026 FIFA World Cup
- France – €1.52bn
- England – €1.36bn
- Spain – €1.22bn
- Portugal – €1.01bn
- Germany – €947m
- Brazil – €928.2m
- Argentina – €807.5m
- Netherlands – €754.2m
- Norway – €589.9m
- Belgium – €547.5m
- Ivory Coast – €522.1m
- Senegal – €478.1m
- Turkey – €473.7m
- Morocco – €447.7m
- Sweden – €406.08m
With the tournament still in its early stages, the rankings provide an indication of the financial strength of each squad, but the World Cup continues to demonstrate that determination, organisation and tactical discipline can often challenge even the most expensive collections of talent.
