WC isn't right now.

Cause FIFA loves them some bribes (from everyone, but also from Qatar). So it goes. But whatever. So who do you think will win it? Current odds favor Brazil, but someone on reddit shared with me ELO ratings of previous world cups and it would seem that Brazil is almost always rated 1 or 2 and never ends up winning or getting into the final (98 they were #1 but lost). Funnily enough, they won in 2002 when they were ranked 11. I've added 2022 below:
1.Brazil21662.Argentina21393.Spain20524.France20275.Belgium2020

Here's the final top ten (among qualified countries) pre-tournament for every World Cup since the expansion to 32 teams in 1998, as well as the pre-tournament ranking of any country outside the top ten that made a run to the semifinals or further:

2018

RankCountryPre-Tournament RatingResult1Brazil2141Quarterfinal2Germany2076Group Stage3Spain2044Round of 164France1986Champions5Argentina1985Round of 166Portugal1969Round of 167England1948Fourth8Belgium1938Third9Colombia1927Round of 1610Peru1916Group Stage--------14Croatia1853Runners-Up

2014

RankCountryPre-Tournament RatingResult1Brazil2137Fourth2Spain2109Group Stage3Germany2076Champions4Argentina2018Runners-Up5Netherlands1986Third6Portugal1943Group Stage7England1931Group Stage8Colombia1922Quarterfinals9Chile1920Round of 1610Uruguay1919Round of 16

2010

RankCountryPre-Tournament RatingResult1Spain2112Champions2Brazil2109Quarterfinals3Netherlands2044Runners-Up4England2001Round of 165Germany1958Third6Italy1937Group Stage7Argentina1920Quarterfinals8Mexico1898Round of 169Chile1886Round of 1610Portugal1876Round of 16--------12Uruguay1844Fourth

2006

RankCountryPre-Tournament RatingResult1Brazil2034Quarterfinals2Netherlands1977Round of 163Czech Republic1974Group Stage4England1972Quarterfinals5France1972Runners-Up6Spain1965Round of 167Italy1943Champions8Argentina1922Quarterfinals9Portugal1915Fourth10Germany1897Third

2002

RankCountryPre-Tournament RatingResult1France2095Group Stage2Argentina2017Group Stage3Italy2008Round of 164Portugal1981Group Stage5Spain1963Quarterfinals6England1924Quarterfinals7Denmark1884Round of 168Croatia1881Group Stage9Ireland1873Round of 1610Germany1870Runners-Up--------11Brazil1866Champions21Turkey1756Third24South Korea1734Fourth

Yeah, that one was a bit crazy to go through. No idea how those rankings happened. Ireland and Denmark above Brazil???

1998

RankCountryPre-Tournament RatingResult1Brazil2090Runners-Up2Germany2040Quarterfinals3Spain2030Group Stage4France2003Champions5England1972Round of 166Italy1970Quarterfinals7Yugoslavia1970Round of 168Netherlands1961Fourth9Norway1902Round of 1610Argentina1889Quarterfinals--------13Croatia1874Thirdcontextfull comments (114)reportblock usermark unreadreply
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