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Ryan O’Hanlon
Multiple Authors
Soccer often highlights its failures, and this summer is no exception.
During the 2026 World Cup, each team averages approximately 80 possessions per game, resulting in about 1.5 goals scored. This means teams are walking away empty-handed with 98% of their possessions.
Teams typically manage around 12 shots per game, which means that 85% of their possessions result in no goal attempts. Even when they do get a shot off, there’s an 88% chance that it won’t convert into a goal.
Yet we tolerate this continuous cycle of disappointment because there’s usually some silver lining, right? Right?
Well, not quite.
This year’s massive World Cup guarantees a steep level of disappointment. Out of 48 teams vying for the trophy, 47 (or 98%) will leave without it. By the tournament’s end, 240 different teams will have participated in World Cups this century, with 233 of them missing out on the trophy.
It’s important to recognize that not all failures are the same. Injuries, referee errors, random team selections, socioeconomic disparities, and sheer luck can all shape outcomes.
So from now until the tournament concludes, we will assess the 47 teams that fall short, updating this table regularly. Teams will be ranked based on pre-tournament expectations, in-game performance, and other relevant factors.
Grading will follow a standard A-to-F scale. Yes, it’s entirely possible to earn an A for missing the mark or an F for the same. That irony perfectly encapsulates the nature of the World Cup.
All statistics are sourced from the Futi app or TruMedia’s Stats Perform data, unless stated otherwise. Projections referenced are from Michael Caley’s PADDLIN’ model.
How they were eliminated: Finished last in Group E
Final grade: B
Given that your nation has just 150,000 residents, shouldn’t you receive an A just for making it into the World Cup? However, with 25 out of 26 players hailing from the Netherlands, it’s not entirely accurate to say that only 0.03% of the island’s male populace represented Curacao this summer.
A remarkable 37-year-old in the United Soccer League set a record for saves in a 90-minute World Cup match. The stacked rosters of their opponents included players from Arsenal, Paris Saint-Germain, and Chelsea, yet Curacao somehow kept their hopes alive until the last moment against Ivory Coast.
How they were eliminated: Finished last in Group A
Final grade: D-
Czechia relied heavily on set plays and produced little else.
All their goals came from set pieces, with 18 of their 34 shots originating from the same. They managed to secure just 1.38 of their 2.37 expected goals from these opportunities — not an ideal approach for a first-time participant lacking top-tier talent.
Considering most of Czechia’s starters play in major European leagues, they should have aimed for the round of 32, yet they ended up last in a historically weak group.
How they were eliminated: Finished last in Group A
Final grade: F
Entering the tournament as the 95th-ranked team in the Elo ratings — the lowest in World Cup history — Qatar exits the tournament at rank 99.
They managed a stroke of luck with a draw against Switzerland, but overall they demonstrated poor performance, particularly in defense, conceding 10 goals, facing 72 shots, and allowing 160 touches within their penalty area.
Qatar invested hundreds of billions to host the 2022 World Cup, but they may need to double that to build a competent national team.
How they were eliminated: Finished last in Group L
Final grade: C-
Panama’s opening games delivered two of the most lackluster halves of the tournament, with just 33 total shots combined in their first two matches, the lowest count among all teams.
They found a strategy that surprisingly almost worked, generating 38 touches inside the opposition’s penalty area while allowing only 29 to Ghana and Croatia. They had enough defensive solidity but lacked the attacking prowess to find the net.
How they were eliminated: Finished last in Group J
Final grade: C+
Jordan entered the tournament ranked 38th. They faced Austria and Algeria, being eliminated after just two matches, yet their ranking remained unchanged. Jordan scored in both games and was level with 15 minutes left in each encounter.
Additionally, they left a thoughtful note and sweets in the locker room after the game against Algeria. I’ll award them some brownie points for that.
How they were eliminated: Finished last in Group F
Final grade: F
Tunisia’s campaign started off poorly with a humiliating 5-1 loss, leading to the firing of their manager, Sabri Lamouchi. They brought aboard Herve Renard, who was unfamiliar with the players, only for the team to lose 4-0 in the next match before facing the dominant Netherlands.
Tunisia isn’t a rookie squad, having won matches in the previous two World Cups and qualifying for six out of the last eight tournaments. Given their experience, a stronger performance was expected.
How they were eliminated: Finished last in Group D
Final grade: F
Manager Vincenzo Montella stated that “Not always does the better team win,” and he’s correct—at least for his own squad.
Turkiye failed to capitalize on chances early in their first two matches, resorting to taking 27 shots from outside the box—a figure that dwarfs any team’s attempts since 2014.
With talents like Juventus’s Kenan Yildiz and Real Madrid’s Arda Güler among their ranks, Turkiye should have had a more effective strategy.
How they were eliminated: Finished last in Group C
Final grade: C-
Haiti began the tournament with merely a 15% probability of escaping the group, yet they excelled in their opener against Scotland, dominating possession and shooting but ultimately lost 1-0.
While they conceded too much space against Brazil in a 3-0 loss, their elimination before securing a goal remains a harsh reality.