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FIFA World Cup 2022TM: The essential data hub

Welcome to Nielsen’s essential data hub for the FIFA World Cup 2022™. We’ll keep you updated on the predictions, standings, sponsorship trends, fan insights and our perspective on it all.

Follow along as we track the intel you need—on and off the field.

2022 Predictions

Forecasts for who will advance and win World Cup Qatar

Gracenote’s 2022 World Cup predictions bracket

See our forecast for who will win
Round of 16
Quarter Final
Semi Final
Final
Semi Final
Quarter Final
Round of 16
1
New Hampshire
2
New Hampshire
3
New Hampshire
4
New Hampshire
5
New Hampshire
6
New Hampshire
7
New Hampshire
8
New Hampshire
17
New Hampshire
18
New Hampshire
19
New Hampshire
20
New Hampshire
25
New Hampshire
26
New Hampshire
29
New Hampshire
30
New Hampshire
27
New Hampshire
28
New Hampshire
21
New Hampshire
22
New Hampshire
23
New Hampshire
24
New Hampshire
9
New Hampshire
10
New Hampshire
11
New Hampshire
12
New Hampshire
12
New Hampshire
14
New Hampshire
15
New Hampshire
16
New Hampshire

Predictions are based on over one million simulations that produce estimates showing the most likely team to fill each position in the knockout stages. During the 2022 World Cup, the simulation will be run after each day’s results to produce a new forecast which takes account of the latest information. The new forecast will be uploaded daily to this hub.

World Cup 2022 round predictions powered by Gracenote

See which teams are most likely to advance.
  • In Final
  • Winner
  • Round of 16
  • In Quarter Final
  • In Semi Final

Predictions are based on over one million simulations that produce estimates of the chance each team reaches a particular stage of the competition. During the 2022 World Cup, the simulation will be run after each day’s results to produce a new forecast which takes account of the latest information. The new forecast will be uploaded daily to this hub.

2022 World Rankings

The top influencers and current standings of the men's national teams


The World Cup’s most powerful players and teams on Instagram

  • The 10 most influential footballers
  • The biggest breakthrough players
  • The most popular team accounts

These players consistently score the most views and engagement. The change in the world ranking is compared to the beginning of 2022.

RankPlayer NameCountryClubInstagram handleFollowersFollower growthEngagement rateAverage media value of branded posts (USD)
1Cristiano RonaldoPortugalAl-Nassr@cristiano398.2M36.92%1.99%$3,699,128
2Leo MessiArgentinaPSG@leomessi518.8M36.23%2.28%$3,249,346
3NeymarBrazilPSG@neymarjr196.4M17.41%1.82%$1,378,069
4Kylian Mbappeu0301FrancePSG@k.mbappe82.9M29.63%3.92%$1,178,442
5Vinu00ed Jr.BrazilReal Madrid@vinijr27.8M109.43%9.24%$786,532
6GaviSpainFC Barcelona@pablogavi12.1M754.09%26.76%$751,014
7Karim BenzemaFranceReal Madrid@karimbenzema62.5M42.29%2.96%$653,493
8Paulo DybalaArgentinaAS Roma@paulodybala51.5M14.46%2.96%$591,972
9Robert LewandowskiPolandFC Barcelona@_rl931.7M37.68%3.11%$353,943
10Eden HazardBelgiumReal Madrid@hazardeden_1027.2M1.63%3.70%$413,457

Rankings are based on Nielsen's influencer measurement tool InfluenceScope. We focused on Instagram measurement since it is the platform used by the greatest number of athletes across generations. "The 10 most influential footballers" data is from December 2021-December 2022. The data presented in "The biggest breakthrough players" and "The most popular team accounts" tables reflect growth and engagement during the tournament, November 14-December 18, 2022. Rankings include athletes participating in the 2022 World Cup.

These footballers saw a big growth surge on social media.

RankPlayer NameCountryClubInstagram HandleFollowersFollower growthEngagement rateAverage media value of branded posts (USD)
1Leo MessiArgentinaPSG@leomessi398.2M6.73%4.30%$6,855,288
2Cristiano RonaldoPortugalAl-Nassr@cristiano518.8M4.50%3.19%$6,683,350
3RicharlisonBrazilTottenham Hotspur@richarlison19.6M178.72%26.89%$1,475,597
4NeymarBrazilPSG@neymarjr196.4M8%4.89%$3,849,546
5Gue Sung ChoKorea RepublicJeonbuk Hyundai Motors@whrbtjd2.9M9349.75%224.36%$1,339,391
6Kylian Mbappeu0301FrancePSG@k.mbappe82.9M13.10%7.57%$2,446,623
7Enzo Fernau0301ndezArgentinaBenfica@enzojfernandez4M383.47%51.88%$518,526
8Zakaria AboukhlalMoroccoToulouse@zakariaaboukhlal2.4M352.53%41.12%$257,158
9Sofyan AmrabatMoroccoFiorentina@sofyanamrabat2.7M290.31%20.79%$146,538
10Yassine BounouMoroccoSevilla@bounouyassine_bono4.9M154.03%51.11%$714,660

Rankings are based on Nielsen's influencer measurement tool InfluenceScope. We focused on Instagram measurement since it is the platform used by the greatest number of athletes across generations. "The 10 most influential footballers" data is from December 2021-December 2022. The data presented in "The biggest breakthrough players" and "The most popular team accounts" tables reflect growth and engagement during the tournament, November 14-December 18, 2022. Rankings include athletes participating in the 2022 World Cup.

These teams have the most avid Instagram followers from around the world.

RankCountryCountryInstagram HandleFollowersFollower growth %Engagement rate% of fans outside home countryn
1Brazil Brazil@cbf_futebol15.8M25.12%4.65%35.49%
2FranceFrance@equipedefrance13.4M10.66%2.97%64.70%
3PortugalPortugal@portugal12.7M16.50%2.82%86.30%
4ArgentinaArgentina@afaseleccion10.6M34.50%8.27%54.19%
5EnglandEngland@england9.2M6.08%1.47%79.40%
6MexicoMexico@miseleccionmx6.5M6.96%2.02%47.31%
7GermanyGermany@dfb_team5.3M3.61%2.23%72.78%
8SpainSpain@sefutbol4.7M11.56%3.01%75.83%
9MoroccoMorocco@equipedumaroc3.2M78.37%9.44%34.36%
10NetherlandsNetherlands@onsoranje1.7M13.01%4.57%73.49%

Rankings are based on Nielsen's influencer measurement tool InfluenceScope. We focused on Instagram measurement since it is the platform used by the greatest number of athletes across generations. "The 10 most influential footballers" data is from December 2021-December 2022. The data presented in "The biggest breakthrough players" and "The most popular team accounts" tables reflect growth and engagement during the tournament, November 14-December 18, 2022. Rankings include athletes participating in the 2022 World Cup.

Men’s World Ranking powered by Gracenote

See the men’s national team standings.

Last Updated

  • 1-30
  • 31-60
  • 61-90
  • 91 -120
  • 121 -150
  • 151- 180
  • 181 - 210
  • 211 - 222
RankPositionTeamTeamPoints
1Argentina2380
2Brazil2347
3France2331
4Belgium2285
5England2285
6Spain2280
7Portugal2280
8Colombia2279
9Croatia2274
10Netherlands2264
RankPositionTeamTeamPoints
11Uruguay2255
12Italy2249
13Germany2210
14Switzerland2200
15Ecuador2200
16Japan2197
17Serbia2197
18Morocco2193
19Peru2191
20Denmark2188
RankPositionTeamTeamPoints
21USA2185
22Mexico2169
23Iran2168
24Scotland2157
25Ukraine2154
26Australia2149
27Senegal2147
28Canada2147
29Czech Republic2147
30Austria2142
RankPositionTeamTeamPoints
31Hungary2142
32Tunisia2139
33Korea Republic2134
34Egypt2131
35Sweden2130
36Poland2127
37Russia2125
38Algeria2119
39Chile2111
40Venezuela2110
RankPositionTeamTeamPoints
41Paraguay2109
42Costa Rica2104
43Tu00fcrkiye2101
44Norway2096
45Greece2083
46Wales2075
47Panama2071
48Finland2065
49Slovenia2061
50Jordan2060
RankPositionTeamTeamPoints
51Cote d'Ivoire2058
52Mali2056
53Uzbekistan2053
54Nigeria2052
55Romania2052
56Republic of Ireland2050
57Georgia2048
58Burkina Faso2047
59Iraq2046
60Oman2044
RankPositionTeamTeamPoints
61Ghana2041
62Cameroon2037
63Qatar2033
64Haiti2030
65Saudi Arabia2030
66Slovakia2026
67Congo DR2025
68Bolivia2019
69Cabo Verde2017
70New Zealand2012
RankPositionTeamTeamPoints
71Israel2006
72Mauritania2005
73Bosnia and Herzegovina2001
74Equatorial Guinea1999
75South Africa1999
76Guatemala1993
77Jamaica1993
78Angola1991
79Albania1983
80Bahrain1978
RankPositionTeamTeamPoints
81North Macedonia1977
82Zambia1976
83Honduras1973
84China PR1970
85Montenegro1969
86Bulgaria1969
87Gambia1969
88Trinidad and Tobago1966
89Iceland1964
90Guinea1961
RankPositionTeamTeamPoints
91United Arab Emirates1959
92Gabon1958
93Reunion1956
94El Salvador1955
95Northern Ireland1953
96Palestine1953
97Martinique1951
98Kosovo1947
99Armenia1946
100Estonia1940
RankPositionTeamTeamPoints
101Kazakhstan1939
102Vietnam1938
103Togo1933
104Kuwait1928
105Uganda1927
106Guinea-Bissau1922
107Luxembourg1922
108Korea DPR1918
109French Guiana1916
110Syria1916
RankPositionTeamTeamPoints
111Kenya1914
112Namibia1913
113Benin1909
114Belarus1906
115Azerbaijan1904
116Cuba1903
117Madagascar1898
118Mozambique1894
119Solomon Islands1894
120Guadeloupe1886
RankPositionTeamTeamPoints
121Curacao1885
122Thailand1884
123Mayotte1883
124Suriname1882
125Malawi1882
126New Caledonia1881
127Tanzania1881
128Sierra Leone1879
129Botswana1879
130Libya1878
RankPositionTeamTeamPoints
131Tajikistan1875
132Malaysia1874
133Central African Republic1873
134Comoros1872
135Nicaragua1870
136Lebanon1868
137Fiji1868
138Congo1867
139Ethiopia1866
140Cyprus1863
RankPositionTeamTeamPoints
141Burundi1862
142Liberia1862
143Niger1861
144Zimbabwe1860
145Latvia1860
146Tahiti1860
147Indonesia1855
148Sudan1854
149Rwanda1850
150Eswatini1847
RankPositionTeamTeamPoints
151India1842
152St Kitts and Nevis1840
153Papua New Guinea1836
154Guyana1833
155Vanuatu1832
156Kyrgyz Republic1831
157Bermuda1828
158Malta1823
159Faroe Islands1818
160Turkmenistan1816
RankPositionTeamTeamPoints
161Dominican Republic1814
162Moldova1814
163Lithuania1813
164Lesotho1812
165Antigua and Barbuda1810
166Bonaire1806
167Puerto Rico1790
168Chad1778
169Singapore1774
170South Sudan1771
RankPositionTeamTeamPoints
171Tuvalu1768
172Montserrat1768
173Eritrea1764
174Sint Maarten1757
175St Lucia1753
176Belize1750
177Hong Kong, China1749
178Cook Islands1747
179Barbados1743
180Sao Tome and Principe1740
RankPositionTeamTeamPoints
181Afghanistan1737
182Samoa1733
183Andorra1733
184Yemen1730
185St Vincent and the Grenadines1728
186Grenada1716
187Philippines1716
188Aruba1715
189Turks and Caicos Islands1709
190Dominica1708
RankPositionTeamTeamPoints
191Kiribati1703
192Bahamas1694
193Gibraltar1691
194Djibouti1676
195American Samoa1671
196Tonga1670
197Chinese Taipei1669
198Saint-Martin1664
199Mauritius1660
200Maldives1659
RankPositionTeamTeamPoints
201Cayman Islands1643
202Myanmar1642
203Somalia1638
204Nepal1635
205Northern Mariana Islands1624
206Bangladesh1624
207Seychelles1619
208Liechtenstein1616
209Mongolia1610
210Pakistan1603
RankPositionTeamTeamPoints
211Cambodia1594
212Anguilla1573
213US Virgin Islands1571
214British Virgin Islands1543
215Guam1536
216Sri Lanka1523
217Laos1514
218Macau1507
219San Marino1500
220Brunei Darussalam1496
RankPositionTeamTeamPoints
221Timor-Leste1490
222Bhutan1469

The Gracenote World Football Ranking is a proprietary methodology created in 2002 and based on the Elo system used for ranking chess players. Every time two teams compete, one wins points from the other depending on the result, the winning margin, who is at home and the relative strength of the two teams playing, and the importance of the competition.

The Road to 2026

Looking ahead to the 2026 North American World Cup

Insights into North American football fandom

See how fans from the 2026 World Cup host nations compare.
  • Preferred channels
  • Interests
  • Fan age

Insights

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The ultimate World Cup viewing experience 

Boost your World Cup broadcast with a comprehensive sports menu that gives viewers live stats, integrated match info, and details on the matches they care about.

Score Sheet: Women's World Cup™ 2023

If you want even more on-the-field insights, check out our data hub for the 2023 Women's World Cup.

Want to talk with our team of experts?