2026 World Cup’s most expensive squads revealed

By Tolulope Oke

As the countdown to the FIFA 2026 World Cup heats up, the latest squad valuations reveal the staggering financial firepower of the world’s elite national teams and some shocking disparities.

France leads the pack with a jaw-dropping squad value of £1.32 billion, eclipsing every other nation. Kylian Mbappe headlines the French roster with a tournament-high worth of £173 million, joined by rising stars Lamine Yamal and Erling Haaland.

England, despite boasting Jude Bellingham at £121 million, settle for second place with a squad worth £1.13 billion under Thomas Tuchel. Spain (£1.09 billion) are the only other billion-pound side, while last edition’s winners, Argentina, rank eighth at £707.76 million.

The figures, compiled by Transfermarkt, illustrate the huge gulf between Europe’s elite and the rest of the footballing world.

At the bottom, World Cup debutants Jordan register the tournament’s cheapest squad at £16.89 million, less than Bayern Munich’s Harry Kane earns individually. Qatar (£17.24 million) and Saudi Arabia (£32.09 million) also feature among the modestly valued sides.

The contrast extends to the hosts: the United States rank 18th at £327.03 million, while Mexico sit 27th at £168.27 million. Even combined, England’s Group L opponents  Croatia, Ghana, and Panama — total only £563.27 million, barely over half the value of the Three Lions’ squad.

Europe and South America dominate the top eight, but the Ivory Coast (£459.07 million) leads outside the traditional powerhouses, boasting talents such as Amad Diallo and Liverpool target Yan Diomande. Asia’s most expensive side is Japan, valued at £241.16 million, who famously beat England 1-0 at Wembley in March.

Transfermarkt’s valuations, while not a definitive measure of quality, offer a revealing snapshot of the tournament’s financial landscape. Defensive squads with expiring contracts or emerging players naturally rank lower, while marquee talents skew values sky-high.

2026 World Cup Most expensive squads (£)

1)France – 1.32bn

2)England – 1.13bn

3)Spain – 1.09bn

4)Portugal – 880m

5)Germany – 862.97m

6)Brazil – 788.78m

7)Netherlands – 723.93m

8)Argentina – 707.76m

9)Norway – 519.68m

10)Belgium – 469.45m

11) Ivory Coast – £459.07m

12) Morocco – £422.15m

13) Senegal – £408.92m

14) Turkey – £408.74m

15) Sweden – £370.25m

16) Uruguay – £350.9m

17) Croatia – £333.51m

18) United States – £327.03m ($440.44m)

19) Ecuador – £325.3m

20) Switzerland – £288.46m

21) Colombia – £263.95m

22) Japan – £241.16m

23) Austria – £234.94m

24) Algeria – £222.75m

25) Ghana – £199.64m

26) Canada – £175.58m

27) Mexico – £168.27m

28) Czechia – £164.45m

29) Scotland – £152.39m

30) Paraguay – £135.89m

31) Bosnia & Herzegovina – £129.04m

32) DR Congo – £128.91m

33) South Korea – £123.07m

34) Egypt – £116.48m

35) Australia – £63.7m

36) Uzbekistan – £63.16m*

37) Tunisia – £60.06m

38) Cape Verde – £48.59m

39) Haiti – £48.09m

40) South Africa – £39.61m

41) Saudi Arabia – £32.09m

42) New Zealand – £30.57m

43) Panama – £30.12m

44 Iran – £28.24m

45) Curacao – £22.51m

46) Iraq – £18.21m

47) Qatar – £17.24m

48) Jordan – £16.89m

At the opposite end, teams like Jordan, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia illustrate the enormous disparities that make the World Cup not just a sporting spectacle, but a showcase of footballing wealth — and, in some cases, David vs. Goliath narratives.