With the start of the 2026 World Cup in North America now barely three weeks away, we run the rule over the leading contenders at the first-ever 48-team finals (world ranking in brackets):

How are the World Cup favourites shaping up?

Forward Lamine Yamal is not expected to play in Spain's World Cup opener on 15 June against Cape Verde in Atlanta because of a hamstring injury, The Athletic reported on Monday.

Spain's Lamine Yamal to miss World Cup opener

Spain midfielder Fermin Lopez is set to miss this summer's World Cup after his club Barcelona diagnosed him with a foot fracture on Monday which requires surgery.

Spain midfielder Lopez to miss World Cup with foot fracture

Spain coach Luis de la Fuente said on Tuesday he was counting on wingers Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams to be fit and available for the World Cup next month.

Spain coach counting on Yamal and Williams fitness for World Cup

Athletic Bilbao's Spain winger Nico Williams is set to miss the rest of the season with a "moderate muscular injury" the Basque club said on Monday but he is expected to be fit for the World Cup.

Spain's Nico Williams expected to be fit for World Cup

Barcelona coach Hansi Flick said on Friday that injured teenage star Lamine Yamal would return to action at the World Cup this summer with Spain, even "stronger" than he is now.

Injured Spain star Yamal will come back stronger at World Cup: Flick

Spanish police on Wednesday said they were investigating "Islamophobic and xenophobic" chants that were heard during a Spain-Egypt international football match in Barcelona, which the prime minister said "tarnish" the country.

'Tarnished' Spain probes anti-Muslim chants at Egypt friendly

France have overtaken Spain to regain the No 1 spot in the FIFA world rankings for the first time since September 2018.

France pass Spain for No 1 in FIFA world rankings; US drop

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Highlights from the match between Spain and Netherlands which took place at Mestalla Stadium

Spain v Netherlands | Match Highlights | UEFA Nations League

Highlights from the match between Netherlands and Spain which took place at Stadion Feijenoord.

Netherlands v Spain | Match Highlights | UEFA Nations League

Highlights from the match Between Spain and Switzerland which took place at Estadio Heliodoro Rodríguez López

Spain v Switzerland | Match Highlights | UEFA Nations League

Highlights from the match between Denmark and Spain which took place in at Telia Parken, Copenhagen.

Denmark v Spain | Match Highlights | UEFA Nations League

Highlights from the match between Spain and Serbia which took place at Estadio Nuevo Arcángel

Spain v Serbia | Match Highlights | UEFA Nations League

Highlights from the match between Switzerland and Spain which took place in Stade de Geneve. 

Switzerland v Spain | Match Highlights | UEFA Nations League

Lamine Yamal, Nicholas Williams Arthuer Top All Actions of the 2023 Final, 2023 Semi-Finals and 4 other Season Parts

Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams | UEFA EURO 2024

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