World Cup Curse: No World No. 1 Ranked Team Has Ever Lifted the Trophy

Cameron Kelly Updated: 6 hours ago

The No. 1-ranked soccer team has never won a World Cup since the global ranking system was created in December 1992.

The global soccer ranking system tracks and grades the international performance of all 211 national teams. Points are added and subtracted based on wins, losses, and draws.

In addition, the importance of the match and expected results are also factors in team rankings. Since 1992, only eight countries have ever reached the top spot.

In World Cup years, the No. 1 ranked team has often struggled to live up to expectations, with none of them going on to win the tournament.

World No. 1 Ranked Teams That Fell Short

2022: Brazil eliminated in the Quarterfinals.
2018: Germany eliminated in the Group Stage.
2014: Spain eliminated in the Group Stage.
2010: Brazil eliminated in the Quarterfinals.
2006: Brazil eliminated in the Quarterfinals.
2002: France eliminated in the Group Stage.
1998: Brazil eliminated in the Final.
1994: Germany eliminated in the Quarterfinals.

Can Argentina break the cycle?

The defending World Cup champions Argentina enters the 2026 World Cup as the World's No. 1 men's soccer team. The reigning champions reclaimed the top spot just hours before the tournament kicked off.

Argentina's back-to-back friendly wins over Honduras and Iceland, combined with France's loss to Ivory Coast and Spain's draw with Iraq pushed them up into the top spot.

As a favorite to win the tournament, it will be exciting to watch Argentina defend their title and maybe even become the first No. 1 ranked team to lift the trophy.