Every 2026 World Cup nation has been ranked from best to worst based on their ‘fair play’ record at this summer’s tournament, with points awarded for every yellow card received and red cards counting double.

In this year’s edition, co-hosted by the USA, Canada and Mexico, there has been no shortage of teams embracing the dark arts that have become commonplace in club football during the 2025/26 season. As a result, crunching tackles, time-wasting tactics and a willingness to get under opponents’ skin have been a reoccurring theme across the tournament.

By the end of the showpiece event, the general consensus was that Argentina were the dirtiest team of the lot, particularly after committing 26 fouls in their defeat to Spain in the final. However, with referees alleged to have turned a blind eye to some of their antics, the disciplinary table makes for interesting reading – and it is not just La Albiceleste under the spotlight, with the USA and England also featuring near the top of the rankings.

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Daniel Dunn via Reuters

The most surprising nation in this section is Senegal, whose poor conduct in the Africa Cup of Nations ended up costing them the title as they were made to hand over their trophy to Morocco. Clearly, they’ve learnt their lesson, with their tally of just three yellow cards placing them as them 44th out of 48 for teams who behaved the worst.

Level with the Teranga Lions are the likes of The Netherlands and Germany, who both underperformed based on expectations heading into the tournament, but managed to keep their cool. Norway also only received three bookings as their team spirit was a welcome sight in the Americas.

However, the two teams that win for niceness among referees are Tunisia and Czech Republic, who only picked up one yellow card each across their three group-stage games before bowing out early.

36-25

Japan, somewhat surprisingly, rank 36th. Given that their fans and players have long been renowned for staying behind after matches to clean up any mess left by themselves or others, many would have expected them to place even higher. Still, just four yellow cards is an excellent disciplinary record, one they share with Ivory Coast and East Asian neighbours South Korea.

Elsewhere, surprise package Cape Verde – who avoided defeat in normal time against both Spain and Argentina on their way to the knockout stages – are also among the best-behaved teams. The same can be said for Australia and Scotland, two English-speaking nations whose chants aimed at Donald Trump reportedly made the US president think twice about attending matches.

France also feature in this section. Les Bleus found winning came naturally for much of the tournament before a semi-final defeat to Spain was followed by a third-place playoff loss to England. When you’re on easy street, there’s often less reason to lose your cool, and that winning feeling helped keep them on the right side of the officials, even if frustrations eventually resulted in six bookings. .

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REUTERS/Hannah Mckay

Spain come in at 23rd. The world champions picked up six yellow cards on their way to glory, with Iran and Saudi Arabia also finishing on that tally. Meanwhile, Portugal sit one place higher, with Cristiano Ronaldo and co. ultimately falling short of their potential and being knocked out by their Iberian rivals in the Round of 16.

Morocco, Curacao and Haiti were also shown seven yellow cards, with the latter two perhaps fortunate not to have received more given the amount of pressure they were forced to absorb throughout the tournament. As two lower-ranked nations benefiting from the World Cup’s expansion to 48 teams, they often found themselves with their backs against the wall, soaking up wave after wave of attacks.

Rounding out this section are Colombia, Brazil, Iraq, Uruguay and Mexico. El Tri enjoyed a summer to remember, becoming the first nation since Italy in 1990 to win their opening four matches without conceding a goal. However, their pre-match talk ahead of the England clash ultimately came back to bite them, as they were beaten 3-2 on home soil despite repeatedly pointing to their supposed advantages of heat, humidity, altitude and a fervent home crowd.

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Reuters/James Lang

The USA were the 10th worst-behaved nation at this year’s World Cup. Some will argue they should rank even higher for reasons beyond football, but in disciplinary terms their tally of seven yellow cards and one red card does the talking. That remains the case despite Trump persuading his close friend, FIFA chief Gianni Infantino, to overturn Folarin Balogun’s dismissal – only for the USA to then suffer a humbling 4-1 defeat to Belgium (11th).

Canada sit ninth, Bosnia and Herzegovina are eighth, and England are seventh. The Three Lions have long carried a reputation abroad for the behaviour of sections of their fanbase, but while supporters earned praise from US police and security agencies throughout the tournament, Thomas Tuchel’s side showed a darker edge on the pitch. Eight yellow cards and a red, shown to Jarrel Quansah, saw them rack up 12 disciplinary points.

Incredibly, that tally is only one fewer than Paraguay’s. Their performance against France was one of the most ill-tempered displays of the tournament, yet it somehow failed to produce any dismissals, helping explain why they rank third. South Africa are second after collecting two red cards in their opening match against Mexico. Sitting top of the unwanted standings, however, are Argentina, who were repeatedly criticised on social media for their tendency to fly into challenges and push the boundaries of what officials would allow.

All statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt (correct as of 21/07/2026)

With the 2026 World Cup in the history books, international football is already looking forward to the European Championships in two years’ time.

The tournament will be hosted in the UK and Ireland, with England expected to be among the favourites on home soil. It’s also a great opportunity for the likes of Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland to give a good account of themselves.

There will be fierce competition to claim the prestigious international trophy, with world champions Spain looking to retain their European crown. France and Norway put in brilliant performances at the World Cup, while Germany and Italy could be rejuvenated with new managers.

But who is the most likely to come out on top when all is said and done? Well, Casinolyze have predicted exactly that using a supercomputer that simulated the competition 30,000 times to come up with the most probable outcome.

England Not Expected to Win Euro 2028

England’s Harry Kane via REUTERS/Hannah Mckay

Scotland, Wales and both Ireland sides are among the least likely of the 24 teams included in this simulation to claim the trophy. Given their history in major competitions, it’s not a huge surprise. However, the home nations are all given less than a 20% chance of even reaching the Round of 16.

Nations like Hungary, Serbia, Poland and Ukraine are among several countries that have less than a 1% chance of lifting the trophy after failing to even qualify for the World Cup this summer.

Surprisingly, 12 teams are rated as having a better chance than Norway. That’s despite Erling Haaland and co advancing further than the majority of European nations at the World Cup.

The 2020 winners, Italy, have only been given a marginally better chance than Belgium, Croatia and Switzerland. It’s quite the fall from grace considering none of those countries have ever won the title, but are almost as likely as a major nation like Italy.

At the top end, France are the marginal favourites with a 14.5% chance of winning. Spain (14%) and England (13%) are the next most likely nations. Jurgen Klopp’s Germany, a potentially Cristiano Ronaldo-less Portugal and the Netherlands make up the chasing pack.

Manchester United have not yet completed their midfield rebuild, and a new name has now emerged as a potential target.

The Reds have completed four deals so far this summer, with Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans joining for a combined £85m in midfield, while youngster Tynan Thompson has arrived from Tottenham in a £4m deal, and goalkeeper Karl Darlow has arrived on a free transfer.

But the club are still pushing to make more additions to their squad, especially in midfield, and with a number of targets being linked, it has emerged that there is a deal to be done for one of the players reportedly on their list.

Man Utd Eyeing Kees Smit Deal

According to a report by freelance journalist Shaun Connolly, Man Utd are keen on a deal to sign AZ Alkmaar central midfielder Kees Smit this summer.

Smit, who has been described as ‘special’, has emerged as one of the most impressive midfield prospects in Europe over the last 12 months, and is expected to leave the Eredivisie side as a result of the interest in his services.

United are keen to bring in midfield reinforcements, and according to Connolly, the Reds ‘greatly admire’ the young Netherlands star. It’s also reported that there is a belief that ‘a deal is there to be done this summer’, although it is unclear if Man Utd will actively push to bring him to Old Trafford.

Smit has been heavily linked with the likes of Newcastle, Liverpool, and Real Madrid in recent times, while United legend Rio Ferdinand described him as someone that the club cannot allow to join a rival because of his potential.

The youngster would be a welcome addition at Old Trafford as they look to put more control into their side, but at just 20-years-old it means he may struggle for regular game time behind Tielemans, Santos, and Kobbie Mainoo ahead of him.

Smit Is a Future Superstar

Man Utd have a clear idea of what they want in midfield, and in reality, it’s fair to say that Smit probably doesn’t fit that mould right now.

Smit is someone who is at his best with the ball at his feet and controlling a game, while United are pushing to find someone more defensive-minded who can win the ball back and give it to the likes of Mainoo and Tielemans to control the game.

But Smit is a player who is so good, and has such a high ceiling, that not signing him now could mean you miss out in the future too. It’s not often that players like him are available, and this is a moment where United must consider getting a deal done in advance to set themselves up for the future.