Was the 2026 World Cup the best ever? It's not even close

Throughout the 2026 World Cup, many wondered if it was the best of all time. The Athletic attempted to answer this question, ranking the 23 tournaments held since 1930 in a report published Thursday. They placed the 2026 edition in tenth place—one spot above Qatar 2022. At the top of the list is the 1970 World Cup in Mexico, won by Pele's Brazil.

"The first edition broadcast in color, the most famous world champion, and some of the most exciting knockout matches ever seen. West Germany's 3:2 victory over defending champion England in the quarterfinals, and then their 4:3 loss to Italy, with both matches decided in extra time, are still considered two of the most famous matches in the tournament's history," explained The Athletic.

"Small innovations also contributed. It was the first World Cup where substitutions were allowed to cope with the heat and altitude conditions in Mexico, and also the first where referees used yellow and red cards to clarify their decisions to the spectators, not just the players. Ultimately, this tournament is remembered primarily for Brazil, which combined five stars in its lineup who usually wore the number 10 shirt: Gerson, Jairzinho, Tostao, Pele, and Rivelino, all within a legendary 4:2:4 formation. No team has won the World Cup with such a level of style. The 1970 Brazil team remains the most mythical team in football history."

Ranking of the greatest World Cups of all time, according to The Athletic: