France sits atop ESPN FC’s World Cup power rankings after two group stage matches, collecting 12 out of 19 first-place votes from the outlet’s panel of expert analysts. A decisive 3-0 victory over Iraq helped cement the case.
Despite holding a FIFA ranking of 3 as of June 11, France has looked like the best team in the tournament through two games. Pre-tournament and in-tournament odds have consistently placed France among the favorites alongside Spain, Argentina, and England.
The expanded 48-team World Cup, co-hosted by the US, Canada, and Mexico, means more games, more matchdays, and a longer tournament window. Polymarket and similar platforms have reported significant trading volumes connected to World Cup outcomes. Analysts at Bernstein project the World Cup could generate an additional $5 to $10 billion in consumer volume across betting and prediction markets, with prediction platforms potentially seeing over $3 billion in incremental handle tied specifically to the tournament.
FIFA itself has adopted Avalanche blockchain technology to authenticate tickets and combat scalping for the tournament. Kraken has also been announced as the Official Crypto Exchange Supporter of the 2026 World Cup, with plans to enhance fan engagement through various initiatives as the tournament progresses.
