Maybe you’re here for Iceland, the smallest nation ever to make it to the World Cup. Maybe you’re here for Panama, who qualified at the expense of the U.S. Or maybe you’re here for Brazil, because Brazil is just always here.
No matter who you are rooting for, you are guaranteed to see all 32 teams stick around for at least half the tournament, because everyone plays at least three games.
Now, if the group stage seems to lack many knock-down, drag-out fights between heavyweights, that’s by design. Under FIFA’s new seeding system for the tournament, most of the big boys were kept apart in the draw. That means the knockout rounds should be wild.
With few obvious stumbling blocks for the favorites in Russia—namely Spain, Germany, France, and Brazil—all of the heavy-hitters should make it to at least the third week of the tournament. And then, anything can happen. France could meet Argentina or Brazil could face Germany as early as the round of 16, should one of them fail to win its respective group.
Of course, this tournament is also notable for the teams that won’t be there, including Italy, the Netherlands, and the U.S. But few will be sparing any thoughts for them in Russia. Here’s a look at the 32 teams that did make the cut.
Group A
Russia (FIFA ranking 70)
Russia is the worst-ranked team in the tournament, sitting at No. 70 in the FIFA world rankings. Its squad is among the oldest with an average age of nearly 29 and only two of its players are based outside the distinctly mediocre Russian league. Luckily for the hosts, they landed in the weakest group at the World Cup—but even that could prove less hospitable than January in Siberia.
Saudi Arabia (67)
Saudi Arabia’s biggest distinction at this World Cup? Not being the lowest-ranked team. That distinction belongs to Russia, the side it will play against in the tournament’s less-than-glittering opener—- No. 67 in the world vs. No. 70. Still, the Saudis haven’t won any of their past nine World Cup games. The man hoping to end that streak is the Argentine-born manager Juan Antonio Pizzi, who took over last fall after failing to lead Chile to World Cup.
Egypt (45)
There is more to Egypt than Mohamed Salah, the 26-year-old forward who scored 43 goals for Liverpool this season. At least that’s what Egyptian fans have been telling themselves ever since he dislocated his shoulder in the Champions League final. Salah hopes to recover in time to play, though it’s going to be close. The supporting cast around him is defensively solid, but it needs its fleet-footed striker to be truly dangerous on the break.
Uruguay (14)
Uruguay seems to have a knack for courting controversy at World Cups—specifically through star striker Luis Suárez. In 2010, he made one of the most important saves of the tournament by blocking a goal-bound shot with his hand (despite not being a goalkeeper). And in 2014, he drew a months-long ban for biting an Italian defender (though he maintains he simply fell on him teeth-first). Still, Suarez remains what makes Uruguay tick. Under the guidance of longtime manager Oscar “El Maestro” Tabarez, Suarez and Uruguay should cruise into the knockout rounds.
Group B
Portugal (4)
Portugal wasn’t a popular winner when it conquered the Euros two years ago. It played unimaginative, stultifying soccer and didn’t win a single game in regulation until the semifinal stage. But somehow, it worked. Two years later, the team is no more exciting. But Cristiano Ronaldo is still kicking around. At 33, he is coming off a third straight Champions League title with Real Madrid and looking to cap his World Cup career with the one title that has eluded him.
Spain (10)
Spain still relies on stalwarts like Sergio Ramos and Gerard Pique from their dominant run from 2008 to 2012, but has also mixed in a collection of players who have blossomed since then, such as Manchester City’s David Silva. Question marks remain over who can hold down a spot as the team’s permanent striker, but with so much attacking talent in the lineup, it may not matter.
Morocco (41)
Morocco might be the most international team in Russia, consisting primarily of sons of the Moroccan diaspora. Of the 23 men in the squad, eight hail from France, compared to just six born within Morocco’s borders. There are another five players from the Netherlands, two from Spain, one from Belgium and one from Canada—and that’s without taking into account Morocco’s French manager, Hervé Renard. Lumped in a group with Spain and Portugal, Morocco will take all the help it can get, no matter where it’s from.
Iran (37)
Carlos Queiroz, the Portuguese manager of the Iran national team, hasn’t always had the easiest time handling one of the world’s most reclusive nations. In 2015, he briefly quit after falling out with the national soccer federation, only to be reinstated. But sticking around has proved worthwhile. By leaning on players of Iranian heritage from around the world, he has improbably turned the country into a World Cup regular, guiding it to a second straight edition of the tournament.
Group C
France (7)
France is, as ever, the World Cup’s moody artist. Capable of winning the whole thing or flaming out in a cloud of Gauloise smoke, Les Bleus have their most talented squad since they lifted the trophy in 1998, anchored by the likes of Atlético Madrid’s Antoine Griezmann and Manchester United’s Paul Pogba. Ironically, the weakest part of the team might be its defensive-minded manager, the 1998 World Cup-winning midfielder Didier Deschamps. He was at the helm for France’s run to the final of the 2016 European Championship. an overtime loss to Portugal.
Australia (36)
During their run of four consecutive World Cup appearances, the Socceroos played pretty much the same way. They were physically strong, defensively solid, but with little ambition on the offensive end. Former manager Ange Postecoglou instilled a more attacking style of play. It won Australia admirers, but didn’t win enough games. So Postecoglou was replaced by Bert van Marwijk, a man whose claim to fame is turning the freewheeling Dutch into a pragmatic, defense-first team.
Peru (11)
Long a head-scratcher in international soccer, Peru boasted a large population, a decent pedigree and arguably the sharpest jerseys in the game—white with a single diagonal red stripe—but hadn’t reached the World Cup since 1982. That finally changed when Peru saw off New Zealand in a home-and-home playoff last November, becoming the final country to qualify for Russia. A doping suspension for star striker Paolo Guerrero was recently put on hold freeing him to play in the tournament.
Denmark (12)
Danish hopes at this World Cup revolve around the performances of its playmaking midfielder Christian Eriksen. One of the stars of the last Premier League season for Tottenham Hotspur, he has the talent to lift an entire team—provided Denmark’s defense stays as solid as it was during qualifying. The Danes’ group is wide open, too, and their sights could be on the round of 16 in their first World Cup appearance since 2010.
Group D
Argentina (5)
You may have heard that Argentina is led by a diminutive forward named Lionel Messi. That alone is enough to make it a World Cup contender. Throw in top-class attacking talent like strikers Sergio Agüero and Gonzalo Higuain, a strong World Cup pedigree that includes two triumphs and an appearance in the final last time out, and it seems like Argentina should have one hand on the trophy. Yet a history of spectacular chokes—and an aging back line means that even Messi may struggle to drag this team beyond the quarterfinals.
Iceland (22)
The tiny Nordic nation has made some serious noise in world soccer in recent years—and we’re not just talking about the awesome war chant they perform during matches. Iceland shocked England in the 2016 European Championship. Then, they finished ahead of Croatia during qualifying to reach the World Cup, becoming the smallest country ever to play in the tournament. But how will they fare when the surprise factor begins to fade?
Croatia (20)
Croatia fields an experienced squad headlined by a handful of world-class players. Unfortunately, most of them happen to play the same position. Playmakers Luka Modric, Ivan Rakitic, Mateo Kovacic and Marcelo Brozovic would walk into most midfields in Russia, but finding a way to incorporate them into a single lineup has been an ongoing headache for coach Zlatko Dalic.
Nigeria (48)
For years, Nigeria’s presence at a World Cup guaranteed fireworks. With a bunch of absurdly talented attacking players and precious little interest in playing defense, the Super Eagles thrilled fans across the globe. Sadly, this year’s Nigeria team isn’t likely to win over any neutrals. With a squad notably lacking in creativity and still prone to defensive blunders on the back end, Nigeria looks no closer to ending a record of never advancing past the round of 16.
Group E
Brazil (2)
Brazil’s finish four years ago was utterly agonizing: playing in its home country, it lost superstar Neymar—and then got walloped 7-1 by Germany in the semifinals. This was a country so eager to move past that loss it sent stars—including Neymar—to win gold at the 2016 Olympics, an event soccer behemoths typically turn their noses at. Neymar is back this go around in the starring role, with a complement of studs forming arguably the world’s most talented team. And they know there’s only one way to exorcise the 2014 debacle: win the whole thing.
Switzerland (6)
Xherdan Shaqiri has been Switzerland’s budding star for nearly a decade. He made the 2010 World Cup roster as an 18-year-old. He netted a hat trick in 2014. And he’s still only 26 years old. The winger will again lead a team that has been respectable in recent years but never quite dangerous. Manager Vladimir Petković will rely on Shaqiri, and newly minted Arsenal defender Stephan Lichtsteiner, as this team tries to take the next step.
Costa Rica (23)
Giant slayers are fan favorites at the World Cup. And don’t forget Costa Rica’s ability to assume that role. In 2014, Los Ticos reached the quarterfinal after winning a group with Uruguay, Italy and England. And this small Central American country has the talent to surprise again. Joel Campbell has immense potential up top. Keylor Navas plays keeper for the reigning European champions, Real Madrid. So even if they struggle to score, they can make their opponents do the same.
Serbia (34)
Serbia is the enigma of this World Cup. Its recent results—failing to qualify in 2014, finishing last in its group in 2010—are nothing but poor. Its play in qualifying was so shaky that the country sacked its manager. But this is also a squad bustling with talent from top European clubs. The likes of Dušan Tadić, Sergej Milinković-Savić and Nemanja Matić form a team with far more potential than its recent performance would suggest. That puts the pressure on manager Mladen Krstajic to get this team, finally, into form.
Group F
Germany (1)
The reigning-champ Germans are the favorite yet again. But this time they look different. Are they better? Mainstays from past squads are gone, though there is still an array of familiar talent from Thomas Müller to Mesut Özil. Still, the player that should define whether this team can go all the way is a newcomer. Forward Timo Werner is just 22 years old and doesn’t have the international recognition of his peers. But he could determine whether Joachim Löw becomes just the second manager to win multiple World Cups.
Mexico (15)
Not long ago, in 2012, a young Mexican team took gold at the Olympics. It was a moment of hope: That, when those players fully developed, Mexico could be a dangerous player in the World Cup. Players from that same team are now veterans in what could be their last go around in this tournament. This is one of the oldest and most experienced squads at the World Cup, led by Javier “Chicharito” Hernández. Mexico dominated during qualifying, but now it’s stuck in arguably the tournament’s toughest group where making it to the knockout rounds could be a struggle.
Sweden (24)
No, Zlatan Ibrahimović is not on the roster. And this country moving forward without its all-time leading scorer is the best way to understand how Sweden will look at this tournament. This is a team founded on its defense, which was stingy throughout qualifying and took the team to its first World Cup since 2006, capped off by back-to-back shutouts against Italy in a playoff. But they’ll need to score, and that’s still the question, so manager Janne Andersson will need to tap the abilities of those like Emil Forsberg to try and fill Ibrahimovic’s shoes.
South Korea (57)
There was a bright spot from South Korea’s uninspiring performance in 2014: Son Heung-Min. Since then, Son has evolved from a budding young player into a bona fide, Premier League threat on the attack, which he has displayed next to England’s Harry Kane at Tottenham. Son, 25 years old, is indicative of this entire team that is littered with younger players who are beginning to hit their strides. Yet the hopes for this team to advance depend on the performance of one player, perhaps more than any other team, with questions about how much attack South Korea can generate beyond Son.
Group G
Belgium (3)
Possibly the most talented squad, certainly the most combustible. Belgium boasts some of the finest players from the English Premier League—Chelsea playmaker Eden Hazard, Manchester United striker Romelu Lukaku, Manchester City midfielder Kevin de Bruyne—but has failed to live up to expectations since reaching the World Cup quarterfinals in 2014. Belgium lost to Wales at the same stage at the 2016 European Championship amid reports of locker-room flare-ups. Head coach Roberto Martinez has focused on team cohesion since taking over in 2016, but has been criticized for his lack of tactical acumen—by some of his own players.
Panama (55)
The government declared a national holiday when Panama qualified for the World Cup (at the expense of the U.S.) and if that suggests this is a team just happy to be going to Russia, that’s probably not inaccurate. Panama faces Belgium in its opener, then England in its second game. At which point, it will likely be heading home. Working to keep Panama around a little longer is experienced coach Hernan Dario Gomez, who previously led Colombia and Ecuador to the World Cup and becomes only the second coach to manage three different countries at the tournament.
Tunisia (21)
Tunisia will be making its fifth World Cup appearance in Russia, but if that suggests a team of seasoned tournament operators, the reality is a little different. It has just won just a single World Cup game in that period, and hasn’t made it to the tournament in 12 years. The loss of playmaker Youssef Msakni to a knee injury in April further dampens Tunisian hopes of reaching the knockout rounds, but with an opening game against England, an upset can’t be totally discounted.
England (12)
Inventor of the game, a former World Cup winner and, more recently, the punchline of international soccer. England recorded its worst World Cup performance ever in 2014 when it was eliminated inside five days. That shame lasted all of two years until the European Championships, where it was knocked out by Iceland in what amounted to a new low for English soccer. Head coach Gareth Southgate has jettisoned many of the players involved in those calamities and England has some promising young stars—with Harry Kane and Raheem Sterling. But England hasn’t won a knockout match in international play since 2002 and a quarterfinal spot looks like the ceiling.
Group H
Poland (8)
If you like scoring, just tune into Poland. This team scores a lot of goals. It gives up plenty of them, too. The man responsible for more of those than anybody in the country’s history, Robert Lewandowski, is again leading the charge. At 29 years old, he remains a world-class striker for Bayern Munich and has the ability to carry this team to a surprising win or two—as long as his teammates aren’t a complete sieve in the back.
Senegal (27)
Senegal’s recent history—it hasn’t made a World Cup since 2002—might seem to indicate that simply making it to Russia is an accomplishment. But this is a side dreaming for more with a wealth of elite players that could even make some European countries blush. Winger Sadio Mané is a good bet to find the net at least a couple of times, a knack he showed at Liverpool. In the back, defender Kalidou Koulibaly was one of the best in Italy for Napoli.
Colombia (16)
Surprise contenders at the 2014 World Cup, Colombia lit up the early stages with their swashbuckling style and scored one of the finest goals in tournament history when star player James Rodriguez smashed home a thunderbolt against Uruguay in the round of 16. Colombia eventually went out to Brazil but had chances to win that quarterfinal and could be primed for another deep run with James pulling the strings.
Japan (61)
This Japan squad will probably seem familiar. That’s because it is. Midfielders Keisuke Honda and Shinji Kagawa, along with attacker Shinji Okazaki combine to make this one of the World Cup’s most experienced sides. The problem with that is that this trio has an average age of over 30, raising questions about if the team is past its prime—an issue raised after a number of shaky qualifying performances.
Write to Joshua Robinson at joshua.robinson@wsj.com, Jonathan Clegg at jonathan.clegg@wsj.com and Andrew Beaton at andrew.beaton@wsj.com
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