S-Tier: The Gold Standard
This tier is for the team that could seemingly field two different, competitive starting XIs. Based on the 2022 tournament, the undisputed king of balance was France. Yes, Kylian Mbappé is a generational supernova, but look past him. Even after losing Ballon d'Or winner Karim Benzema, N'Golo Kanté, and Paul Pogba to injury *before the tournament*, they still had Aurélien Tchouaméni and Adrien Rabiot step in to form a formidable midfield. Antoine Griezmann reinvented himself as a do-everything midfielder, linking a solid defense (led by Dayot Upamecano and Ibrahima Konaté) to a blistering attack. When their starters tired, they could bring on players like Kingsley Coman and Marcus Thuram. Their depth was absurd. There was no position you could point
to and say, “That’s the weak spot.” They were the final boss of squad construction, a testament to a system that produces elite talent at every single position.
A-Tier: Nearly Flawless
These teams are a 9/10, just a hair short of perfection. The 2022 champions, Argentina, land here. While they ultimately won it all, their balance was something they grew into during the tournament rather than starting with. Initially, they felt entirely reliant on Lionel Messi’s magic. But the genius of coach Lionel Scaloni was his willingness to adapt, bringing in Enzo Fernández and Julián Álvarez to transform the team’s energy and structure. Their defense was passionate and organized but wasn't filled with the same level of elite individual talent as France’s. England also fits perfectly in this tier. On paper, their squad is outrageously deep, with multiple world-class options in midfield and attack (Saka, Foden, Kane, Bellingham, Rice). But question marks remained, particularly with a defense that sometimes looked vulnerable and a feeling that the team didn't always maximize its attacking potential. They were balanced, but not quite optimized.
B-Tier: Top-Heavy Titans
Welcome to the “Superstars and Question Marks” tier. These are the squads loaded with breathtaking talent in one area of the pitch but with noticeable vulnerabilities elsewhere. Brazil in 2022 is the poster child for this category. Their forward line was an embarrassment of riches: Neymar, Vinícius Júnior, Richarlison, Raphinha, Antony. But was their midfield, anchored by Casemiro, as creative or controlling as past Brazilian teams? Were their fullbacks, a traditional strength, truly at an elite global level? Their quarterfinal exit to Croatia, where they lost control of the midfield, exposed this slight imbalance. Portugal joins them here. A roster with Cristiano Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, and Rafael Leão should be unstoppable. Yet, for years, the team has struggled to feel like more than the sum of its talented parts, with debates about tactical cohesion and defensive solidity holding them back from true S-Tier status.
C-Tier: The Brilliant Specialists
This tier is for teams that are S-Tier in one specific aspect but closer to average everywhere else. Their identity is built on that one elite strength. No team in recent memory defines this better than 2022’s Morocco. Defensively, they were absolutely world-class. With Achraf Hakimi, a rock-solid backline, and the superhuman work rate of Sofyan Amrabat in midfield, they built a fortress that Spain and Portugal couldn't breach. They were arguably the best defensive and pressing unit in the entire tournament. However, on the other end of the pitch, their attack was functional rather than fearsome. They created chances but lacked the clinical finishers to consistently punish opponents, often relying on moments of transition or set pieces. They were a perfectly coached team that maximized their incredible strength, proving that specialized excellence can take you incredibly far, even if you aren't “balanced everywhere.”
