The 2026 NHL trade deadline had an unusual cadence. There was a week of interesting deals and genuine surprises; a deadline day where nothing of consequence happened; and then absolutely chaos as a flurry of trades was completed before the timer ticked down to zero.

Overall, NHL teams made 20 trades involving 33 players on Friday. Some teams and players did quite well for themselves. Others did not.

Here are some winners and losers of a peculiar NHL trade deadline, from ESPN reporters Ryan C. Clark, Kristen Shilton and Greg Wyshynski.

WINNERS

The Avalanche might be the best team in the NHL, and they are the odds-on favorites to win the Stanley Cup. Part of the reason is their addition of Brock Nelson at last season’s trade deadline. He is a proven second-line center behind Nathan MacKinnon, the kind of player they’d sought since Nazem Kadri left in 2022 after winning the Stanley Cup.

Adding Nicolas Roy on Thursday gave the Avs another proven two-way option down the middle, and someone who can provide secondary offense. Then they got Kadri back in a trade Friday, giving them the most dangerous center group in the NHL.

Obviously, MacKinnon will remain at first-line center, and Kadri and Nelson will split up second- and third-line duties. That then leaves Roy as Colorado’s fourth-line center. The Avs are now in a stronger position to win the fourth Stanley Cup in franchise history. If they do, March 6 could be the day that changed everything.

And if not, they can run it back again in 2026-27 because all four will still be under contract. — Clark

The Foligno family

Imagine growing up playing mini sticks with your brother, both of you dreaming that one day you’ll be suiting up for real in the NHL. Well, Marcus and Nick Foligno both achieved that goal — and now, they’re going to chase a Stanley Cup championship together in Minnesota.

The Wild brought in Chicago’s captain for “future considerations” — basically, the Blackhawks did right by their veteran leader by sending him to skate alongside family for a team with legitimate Cup contention aspirations.

Unsurprisingly, the Foligno wives were ecstatic to learn they’d be reunited for the rest of this season, and Nick couldn’t help but mention their departed mother looking down and smiling at her boys getting such a unique opportunity. Yes, the trade deadline is about making hockey deals, but there is also room for some wholesome, heartwarming content when the sport is more than just a game. — Shilton

Player empowerment

One of the defining trends of the deadline was having trades leak to the media before the focal point of said trade had agreed to waive his trade protection. It happened no less than five times, in deals involving Colton Parayko, Tyler Myers, Brayden Schenn, Jason Dickinson and MacKenzie Weegar. In most cases, the player involved eventually waived his no-trade or no-movement clause to facilitate the move. In two cases, the player did not.

Reports said that Myers was presented with a trade by the Vancouver Canucks to move to the Detroit Red Wings. He declined and eventually ended up being traded to the Dallas Stars, which was one of his preferred destinations. Meanwhile, media reports not only had the St. Louis Blues coming to Parayko with a trade to the Buffalo Sabres, they had the return on that trade reported out, too. Parayko refused to leave St. Louis for Buffalo, and the trade was dead.

Blues general manager Doug Armstrong said on Friday that the Blues checked phone records, texts and emails of staff members to find who leaked the trade. Perhaps it was the person who did the exact same thing in 2023, when the Blues were trying to compel defenseman Torey Krug to waive his trade protection.

Trade protection is a negotiated right in a player’s contract, usually at the cost of money or term. Clearly, something might have shifted at this deadline where public pressure is perceived to force a player’s hand. Good on Myers and Parayko for exercising their rights. — Wyshynski

Not that the Ducks necessarily needed to react to what the Edmonton Oilers and Vegas Golden Knights did ahead of the deadline. But the Ducks are in the three-team race for the top spot in the Pacific Division, so they did two things:

• They made one of the most stunning moves of the deadline to get John Carlson from the Capitals.

• They also traded Ryan Strome away, in a decision that will have a greater impact this summer.

Anaheim has added veterans with extensive playoff experience in order to establish a culture that its young players will eventually call their own. Carlson is a Stanley Cup winner who fits within that part of the Ducks’ plan. He also gives them a right-handed puck mover who is also one more weapon in the offensive zone; he will come in handy come playoff time.

But what makes trading Strome just as important is that he had one more year left on his contract worth $5 million annually. Shedding that salary will help in the offseason, when the Ducks must sign new contracts for their restricted free agent class that includes Leo Carlsson, Cutter Gauthier, Pavel Mintyukov and Olen Zellweger. — Clark

Stick taps to GM Doug Armstrong for (a) actually making trades and (b) negotiating some serious returns.

Armstrong reeled in two first-round draft choices, two third-round selections, an NHL-ready player in Jonathan Drouin, one with potential to return to an NHL lineup in defenseman Justin Holl and goalie prospect Marcus Gidlof — all for veterans Brayden Schenn and Justin Faulk.

It fits perfectly with the Blues accepting that a rebuild/retool/re-whateveryouwantocallit is happening, and it’s the right time to cash in on creating a hopeful future. Armstrong also didn’t make any rash decisions on Robert Thomas or Jordan Kyrou just for the sake of it.

Now there is time to determine where St. Louis is going and how — or if — those players fit into the new direction before the offseason hits. Armstrong turned this lemon season for the Blues into a refreshing lemonade. — Shilton

Has another general manager had a better 2026 than Craig Conroy of the Flames?

It started with the Rasmus Andersson trade with Vegas, getting a first-round pick, conditional second-rounder and defenseman Zach Whitecloud in a package for a pending unrestricted free agent. He then traded the remaining five years of MacKenzie Weegar‘s contract to the Utah Mammoth in a deal that included three second-round picks and college prospect Jonathan Castagna.

On deadline day, he made two change-of-scenery trades, acquiring forward Brennan Othmann from the Rangers and center Ryan Strome from the Ducks. Then, as the timer ticked down on the deadline, Calgary sent Nazem Kadri to Colorado for a conditional first, conditional second and an intriguing prospect in forward Max Curran for a 35-year-old center signed through 2028-29.

Conroy’s commitment to rebuilding is admirable in a league where teams are frightened by the teardown. Although it all comes down to drafting and development, Conroy has done a fantastic job of setting his team up for potential success. — Wyshynski

LOSERS

Goalie trade hype

The trade deadline is not the ideal time to acquire a goaltender. General managers have said in the past that it doesn’t give netminders enough time to get acclimated to new teammates and new systems before the playoffs arrive.

Perhaps that’s one reason not a single NHL goaltender was traded this week. Which is a shame. There were some contenders that could have used reinforcement in the crease, such as the Carolina Hurricanes, Montreal Canadiens and Vegas Golden Knights. There were several tantalizing names assumed to be available: Sergei Bobrovsky of the Panthers, Jordan Binnington of the Blues, Stuart Skinner of the Penguins, Anthony Stolarz of the Maple Leafs and Jesper Wallstadt of the Wild, according to ESPN’s Kevin Weekes.

But in the end, the only goalie news was one choosing to stay rather than move: Alex Nedeljkovic, signing a two-year contract extension with the Sharks. — Wyshynski

Just when Buffalo is actually winning on the ice — it’s also losing. The Sabres haven’t made the playoff in 14 years, and unless they perform a massive slide in the next month, that drought will finally end by April. New GM Jarmo Kekalainen attempted to make his team better by trying to acquire Colton Parayko from the Blues. But despite Buffalo’s uptick, despite it change of direction, despite its excellent young core … Parayko gave a hard pass on becoming a Sabre, invoking his no-trade clause.

Parayko’s presence would likely have been that missing piece to put Buffalo over the top as a true contender. Instead, Kekalainen settled for adding Logan Stanley and Luke Schenn from Winnipeg. Fine players, sure, but they are depth contributors, not difference-makers. And their playoff résumés aren’t exactly sparkling (Schenn, for instance, was a team-worst minus-8 for the Jets last postseason).

Sam Carrick and Tanner Pearson can fill in around the edges for Buffalo, of course. It’s just a shame for the Sabres that when they try to go big, and finally do the right things, there are still obstacles standing in their way. — Shilton

The Capitals enter Friday’s game slate four points out of the final Eastern Conference wild-card spot. They’ve played two more games than the Boston Bruins, who control that final playoff berth. It left the Capitals’ front office facing a dilemma about what it deemed was the best course of action for the remainder of the season.

This week, they traded forward Nic Dowd — which suggested they could be open for business in both directions. But in trading John Carlson, who might be the greatest defenseman in franchise history, it was a reality check on the present and the future.

Carlson’s departure means that captain Alex Ovechkin and winger Tom Wilson are the only players still on the roster from that 2018 Stanley Cup team. Ovechkin spoke with reporters Friday and said “it’s obviously a sad day. Probably the toughest day of my career, talking about personal-wise.”

The Capitals knew there would come a day when they would move on from Carlson and Ovechkin. Both players are in the final year of their respective contracts. But now that Carlson is gone, what does that mean for Ovechkin’s future? As he said, “I don’t know. I’m still here, so we’ll see what’s going to happen. It’s a hard one.” — Clark

Last summer, Connor McDavid gave the Oilers this season and two additional ones to build a winner around him before he can leave as an unrestricted free agent. GM Stan Bowman addressed the team’s goaltending by acquiring Tristan Jarry of the Penguins … who hasn’t necessarily been a solution for the Oilers’ biggest problem.

The trade deadline afforded Bowman another chance at dramatically improving the roster. Instead, he made two middling trades with his former team, the Chicago Blackhawks: acquiring defensive defenseman Connor Murphy and depth centers Jason Dickinson and Colton Dach. The Dickinson trade saw Edmonton give up a conditional first-rounder in 2027 to get rid of Andrew Mangiapane’s contract, i.e. make one of Bowman’s mistakes go away.

There’s a finite amount of time the Oilers have left with McDavid, and a finite amount of resources they have through which to build him a Stanley Cup winner. This deadline was a waste of both of them. — Wyshynski

Whoever finishes fifth and sixth in the Pacific Division

Having six teams separated by eight points in the Pacific Division is going to make for amazing theater. It’s also going to make those teams that miss the playoffs feel a certain type of way. Especially when each team made at least one move ahead of the deadline — though each faces its unique set of circumstances:

• The Golden Knights are trying to win a second Cup but must try to find consistency amid the injuries they continue to battle.

• The Ducks believe they now have everything in place to make the playoffs for the first time in seven years.

• The Oilers are trying to return to a third consecutive Stanley Cup Final — and actually win this time.

• The Sharks are ahead of schedule, with the idea that a playoff berth could change their current trajectory.

• The Kraken missed out on Artemi Panarin but added help as they seek to make the playoffs for the second time in franchise history.

• The Kings are trying to win a playoff series for the first time since 2014, and are trying to do it in captain Anze Kopitar‘s final season.

Again … someone is going to be left feeling a certain kind of way in the Pacific in mid-April. — Clark

The Bruins bodied their way back into the playoff picture this season, but GM Don Sweeney didn’t share his team’s tenacity at the deadline.

Boston seemed poised to add depth and give itself a real chance to not just reach the postseason but excel in it. The Bruins have earned, as they say, the right to reinforcements. What’s more, Sweeney had the draft capital (including multiple first-round choices), and yet he completed only minor transactions.

First, he acquired forwards Alexis Gendron and Massimo Rizzo from Philadelphia in exchange for forward Brett Harrison and defenseman Jackson Edward. Zero NHL games on their résumés. Then he got Lukas Reichel from Vancouver, who has played most of his season in the AHL.

It just feels like a missed opportunity for Boston to not add a single skater to help the team right now. Jeremy Swayman is back in form in the crease. The offense is rolling. There is so much potential for the Bruins and, well, it doesn’t seem like they’re taking advantage. — Shilton

It’s official: Tuesday, March 3 marks 100 days until the 2026 World Cup kicks off in earnest, when Mexico host South Africa in Mexico City on June 11. But before we get there, we have a few big hurdles to clear.

The last week in March will see the final six tournament spots claimed, with four teams from Europe and two more via an intercontinental playoff. We also have the dramatic, high-pressure final weeks of the European club season, in which any injuries to top players will undoubtedly impact World Cup chances for a wide range of nations depending on the severity. And then, weeks before the action begins, all 48 national team coaches will make their final roster cuts.

So, we’re launching our semiregular power rankings of how the field is shaping up. We polled all our ESPN FC reporters credentialed for this summer’s festivities, along with reporters from around the globe, on who they think are the top 15 strongest nations in the field right now. Yes, we know there are several big teams still hoping to qualify — Italy, in particular, received several conditional votes should they survive a playoff bracket with Wales, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Northern Ireland — but there’s enough information out there to start sorting the contenders from the pretenders.

We’ll have another set of rankings to commemorate the 50-day mark (April 22) when the full field is locked in, and again in the run-up to the opening ceremony once rosters are finalized and we know whether injured players are fit enough or have to stay home this summer.

ESPN FC’S World Cup Power Rankings, 100 days out

Breaking down the top 15

1. SPAIN

Well, well, well. As near-unanimous No. 1 picks in our inaugural Power Rankings, scooping up 15 of 21 first-place votes, it appears as though this is already La Roja‘s world and we’re all just living in it. Will the World Cup run in much the same way, though?

They weren’t dynamic in qualifying despite topping their group over Bulgaria, Türkiye and Georgia with five wins from six matches, but they do have Lamine Yamal, Pedri and Ferran Torres to count on in attack. Cruising to victory at Euro 2024 without Rodri, their Ballon d’Or winning midfielder, showed that they can function with significant absentees, though a wobbly defense is a concern. Questions need to be answered around which two of Dean Huijsen, Robin Le Normand, Aymeric Laporte and Pau Cubarsí start at center back, while the goalkeeper should end up being Unai Simón despite David Raya‘s exceptional form at Arsenal.

Did we mention Lamine Yamal, though? The human cheat code for any packed defense, Yamal (22 goals+assists in 22 LaLiga games for Barcelona this season) will again be expected to do the impossible when needed, but there is concern about the sheer volume of minutes he’s racking up despite turning only 18 this past July. Also, the bigger issue around this team is their youth; veteran experience is often key at major tournaments, but where will that come from? A group containing Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia and Uruguay shouldn’t cause too much trouble for Luis de la Fuente & Co. upon arrival in the U.S., but tougher challenges will require them to really meet the moment in a way we’ve not seen since they won the Euros.

2. FRANCE

Les Bleus are a powerhouse from top to bottom, no matter how you assess their squad or talent pool. Every position is filled multiple times over with proven quality and bankable star power, and after cruising through qualifying with five wins from six and Kylian Mbappé scoring plenty, the future looks bright again.

But how easily can they shrug off the heartbreak of losing the 2022 final to Argentina on penalties after a 3-3 extra-time thriller in which Mbappé scored a hat trick and really should have had a winner late on? And is there any anxiety over the confirmed end of the Didier Deschamps era as manager — he announced in January that he would step down as manager after France’s World Cup run? Pressure to send their boss off on a high note could wear heavily, and a group containing Africa Cup of Nations champions Senegal plus Norway (hello, Erling Haaland) could make for a tricky farewell party.

About Mbappé: Questions about his fitness have been whispered around Real Madrid for some time, and news Monday that he’s getting some treatment for a sprained knee mean he’ll need to work back up to his best. If the likes of Michael Olise, Désiré Doué and Ousmane Dembélé are at their best, Mbappé can relax a little, but questions around the fullback positions (where most of the options have had lackluster seasons) do at least invite a little concern.

3. ARGENTINA

We’re expecting this summer to be Cristiano Ronaldo‘s proverbial last dance (more on him later), but it might be the final curtain for Lionel Messi at the international level as well, and it’s hard to know how to process all this happening at a single World Cup. That said, there’s a vibe that he’s playing with house money to some degree having finally clinched one in 2022, when the Albicelestes beat France in one of the most enthralling World Cup finals ever. Winning the past two Copa América competitions and being one of the first teams worldwide to clinch their 2026 World Cup spot — in March 2025, to be exact! — shows that they’re the ultimate tournament team.

Argentina are in transition between the Messi generation and that next wave, but they’re still a credible contender to do what no team has done since Brazil (1958, 1962) and win back-to-back editions. Even without Ángel Di María, there’s quality all around Messi, from Rodrigo De Paul, Enzo Fernández and Alexis Mac Allister in midfield to Lautaro Martínez up front. Plus, Emi Martínez remains one of the best (and most entertaining) goalkeepers around. The wild card will be Julián Álvarez, who has struggled for form and goals this season with Atlético Madrid, but a group stage containing Algeria, Austria and Jordan should be smooth sailing for Lionel Scaloni and his experienced team.

4. ENGLAND

Ahh, England. The Three Lions. Is it coming home? And will it ever come home again? The trick here — spoiler alert — is as it always is with England: trying to fit the right combo of superstars together and plug the gaps (left back, holding midfield) with the right personnel to make it all sing. Harry Kane will be tasked with the goals, Bukayo Saka and Anthony Gordon the quality from wide positions and Declan Rice the dynamism from midfield, but chemistry and coherence will be key here if the individuals are to shine.

The right midfield combo around Rice and the right center back pairing from a host of options with clear pros/cons will also be weighing heavily on Thomas Tuchel’s mind, and he might well lament the lack of an “easy” opponent in the group stage to make adjustments on the fly. Croatia, Ghana and Panama will test them to the fullest, meaning that March’s tune-ups against Uruguay and Japan carry a little more importance than fans might be hoping for with just 100 days until the tournament’s first game.

5. BRAZIL

Are the Seleção back and ready to challenge? Fresh off back-to-back quarterfinal exits, Brazil have tons of talent at their disposal as you’d expect, but this time, they are rolling into battle with the charismatic superstar-whisperer Carlo Ancelotti as manager. If anyone can create a winning formula from the chaotic energy of Rodrygo, Raphinha and Vinícius Jr., it would be the man who took home 11 trophies in his second stint as Real Madrid boss.

However, as is always the case at the World Cup, their defending will need to be up to par. Here is where things still seem a work in progress as Ancelotti tries to build around Arsenal star Gabriel and Liverpool keeper Alisson in the pursuit of clean sheets and calmness. Defeats to Bolivia and Japan in recent months — the latter saw Brazil hold a 2-0 lead into the second half before conceding three times in 19 minutes — have shown that balance remains elusive, with a lot riding on Bruno Guimarães and Casemiro to knit things together in midfield.

6. PORTUGAL

Yes, this is the only major trophy Cristiano Ronaldo has yet to lift in the air surrounded by jubilant teammates … but will 2026’s World Cup end any differently to the other five he has played in? Fourth place in 2006 is his best effort yet, followed by exits in the round of 16 (twice), group stage and quarterfinals, with plenty of Ronaldo tears that followed.

These days, Ronaldo reliance is waning somewhat, but that’s more down to the volume of exciting talent around him than any diminishment in his own powers. Yet will coach Roberto Martinez take that decisive step to make CR7 a support player rather than automatic starter? Regardless of how it shakes out, Bruno Fernandes will be Portugal’s chief playmaker and antagonist in the attacking third, Rafael Leão offers plenty of tricks from the wing, and a midfield with Bernardo Silva, Vitinha and Rúben Neves will overwhelm most opponents simply by showing up. That’s before you factor in the intangibles Nuno Mendes brings from the fullback position, as well as Rúben Dias keeping the defense organized.

A group containing Colombia, Uzbekistan and an intercontinental qualifier (New Caledonia, Jamaica or DR Congo) should yield little real challenge, but we’ll know more about their chances after they play co-hosts Mexico and the U.S. at the end of March.

7. GERMANY

Always spoken of as one of the heavyweights in international soccer, recent years have made Germany a bit of a history lesson in that regard. Despite boasting three European Championship crowns (1972, 1980, 1996) and four World Cups (1954, 1974, 1990, 2014), Die Mannschaft were bounced out at the group stage in each of the past two World Cups. Winning five of six in qualifying should ease immediate concerns, but there are question marks up and down the starting XI and little time left to figure things out.

Talent has never been an issue and still isn’t in 2026 — though Joshua Kimmich, Florian Wirtz and Jamal Musiala need help around them — and a group stage with Curacao, Ivory Coast and Ecuador should enable them to reach the round of 32. It’s anyone’s guess as to how they proceed from there.

8. NETHERLANDS

The Oranje left it late to finally secure their spot at this summer’s festivities, drawing 1-1 with Poland and then hammering Lithuania 4-0 in Amsterdam during the final round of qualifiers to make it certain. Their inconsistency makes them a tough team to predict when it comes to the World Cup, where they’ve been drawn against Japan, Tunisia and a UEFA qualifier (one of Ukraine, Sweden, Poland or Albania), but individual quality and defensive toughness can take you far.

When it comes to these two elements, Ronald Koeman‘s side have plenty of both: Memphis Depay (8 goals) will be the primary goal threat, Cody Gakpo and Donyell Malen offer different flavors of flair on the flanks, and the trio of Frenkie de Jong, Tijjani Reijnders and Ryan Gravenberch offer culture and class in midfield. (Don’t overlook Xavi Simons too, much as he’s struggling to assert himself at Tottenham Hotspur right now). At the back, the peerless Virgil van Dijk is surrounded by plenty of dynamism, and teams will find it hard to carve through the Dutch defense. Upcoming fixtures with Norway and Ecuador should give us a clearer sense of where this team stands.

9. MOROCCO

Fresh off defeat to Senegal in the Africa Cup of Nations final, the surprise 2022 World Cup semifinalists will be all too keen to show that they are no fluke at this level. Buoyed by a perfect 8-0-0 record in qualifying — making them one of the first countries to officially punch their ticket to this summer’s competition — and with 12 players scoring in the process, they bring a tenacity that makes them a tough opponent every time. Forwards Youssef En-Nesyri and Ayoub El Kaabi are competent around goal, there’s a ton of big five European league experience throughout the midfield, and Achraf Hakimi is well-established as one of the best attacking fullbacks in the game right now.

A group with Brazil, Haiti and Scotland will offer three distinct challenges for manager Walid Regragui, but they have enough quality and confidence to make another deep run.

10. COLOMBIA

After missing out on the 2022 edition, Los Cafeteros are back and perhaps better than ever in 2026, fresh off a strong qualification performance (third overall in CONMEBOL, with seven wins and seven draws in 18 games) and robust defensive effort. Stars such as Luis Díaz and Luis Suárez (not that one) are contributing goals, with 11 between them in qualifying, while playmaker James Rodríguez is using a spell at Major League Soccer’s Minnesota United FC to get in tip-top shape. It’s not just the results they’re getting, but the run of form: Undefeated since a 2-1 loss in Brazil a year ago, they’ve looked good against several World Cup teams (Canada, New Zealand, Australia and Paraguay) and thumped co-hosts Mexico 4-0 to give a sense of their readiness.

Drawn against Portugal, debutants Uzbekistan and an intercontinental qualifier (New Caledonia, Jamaica or DR Congo), they should progress comfortably and cause trouble for whomever draws them in the knockout stages.

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Are Belgium past their prime for the World Cup?

Gab Marcotti and Julien Laurens break down ESPN FC’s World Cup Power Rankings and debate which teams they feel don’t belong in the top 15.

11. BELGIUM

Belgium have been World Cup mainstays for the past decade-plus, with their steady presence — including a run to the quarterfinals in 2014 and a third-place finish in 2018 — led by the country’s “Golden Generation” of talent. But that talent isn’t aging gracefully, with Axel Witsel (37 years old), Kevin De Bruyne (34) and Romelu Lukaku (32) all in decline, to the extent that this team feels like a work in progress.

The green shoots of rebirth are there through the spine of this team: Charles De Ketelaere is their next playmaker-elect in the final third along with Jérémy Doku, while Youri Tielemans adds dynamism in midfield, Arthur Theate is a defensive force in his own right and Thibaut Courtois remains elite at the goalkeeping position. A group draw with Egypt, Iran (for now) and New Zealand, however, should assure they book another knockout round appearance where their individual talent could help overcome any structural flaws.

12. NORWAY

It’s so hard to know what to make of the Landslaget right now. They have a core of incredible players — led by Martin Ødegaard and Erling Haaland — and cruised through World Cup qualifying, going 8-0-0 with 37 goals scored (just five conceded) against Italy, Israel, Estonia and Moldova. And yet, this is the first World Cup for which they’ve qualified since 1998, so it’s hard to predict how qualification form will translate to the big stage. Upcoming games against fellow World Cup participants Netherlands and Switzerland should offer some clarity, but it’s clear that they’ll need the goals of Haaland — who netted a stunning SIXTEEN times in qualifying — if they’re to escape a difficult group.

13. SENEGAL

Senegal will hit the World Cup as one of the in-form national teams thanks to their impressive run in the 35th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations at the beginning of the year. They rode an impressive collective resolve — and overcame the chaos of the final vs. Morocco — to win the tournament. Upcoming friendlies against Peru and Gambia will reveal little as to their World Cup readiness, but a seasoned team led by Sadio Mané, Nicolas Jackson, Kalidou Koulibaly and Ismaïla Sarr is as dangerous as any. That said, being drawn against France and Norway means they cannot afford to be anything less than perfection.

14. CROATIA

No matter how often we think Croatia can’t turn on the style at this level, led by seemingly ageless 40-year-old midfielder Luka Modric and a strong veteran presence up and down the squad, they remain formidable at this level no matter what. Finishing second in 2018 and third in 2022 feels like a tall order to replicate this summer, but a favorable group draw — they will face El Tri, South Africa and a UEFA qualifier (one of Czechia, Republic of Ireland, Denmark or North Macedonia — at least gives them a strong edge to the round of 32. Beyond that, it’s anyone’s guess.

15. JAPAN

Sneaking into the rankings are the Samurai Blue, as they’re colloquially known. While their regional strength in Asia is largely undisputed, we will get a true measure of their World Cup readiness with friendlies against fellow qualifiers Scotland and England at the end of March. That said, we expect them to compete hard as they always do at this level, having made it to the round of 16 at the past two editions thanks to their collective work rate and individual skill. (Finishing first in their group last time out, with wins over Germany and Spain, speaks to their ability.)

That said, this World Cup could prove trickier if captain Wataru Endo is unable to suit up. The Liverpool midfielder underwent ankle surgery and will miss the rest of the 2025-26 season, putting his summer plans in jeopardy.

In the midst of a shiny and perfect season by his men’s basketball team that has caught the attention of college basketball fans across the country, Miami (OH) AD David Sayler has clapped back at former Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl. Pearl has made comments that Miami (OH) is a mid-major team that doesn’t have the best strength of schedule to make the NCAA Tournament without winning the MAC. 

Last weekend, Pearl took to the airwaves during his appearance on TNT’s college basketball show to discuss Miami’s lack of big wins against higher-ranked teams that puts them in a spot in which winning the MAC tournament next week is the only viable way the team should make the postseason. 

Right now, sitting at 30-0 on the season, the Redhawks have been the talk of the sport, but a point of contention on social media and other platforms has centered around their scheduling. 

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If we’re selecting the 68 best teams, then Miami (Ohio) is going to have to win their tournament to qualify as a champion. Because as an at-large, they are not one of the best teams in the country,” Bruce Pearl noted. 

In a very awkward coincidence, Pearl’s former squad, who just so happens to be coached by his son Steven, is squarely on the NCAA Tournament bubble. 

While Bruce made it abundantly clear this week that he is rooting for his son to make the postseason, which isn’t some sort of shocking news, there are some that feel as though his remarks about Miami (OH) were also made in conjunction with Auburn being on the bubble. 

In speaking with OutKick on Friday, Miami (OH) athletic director David Sayler had a recommendation about what networks should do when Bruce Pearl is discussing teams who should be in contention for a spot in the NCAA Tournament. 

“I have a lot of respect for him as a coach, but when he starts to use the word ‘We’ about Auburn, that certainly rankles me,” Sayler pointed out. “He shouldn’t be on a TV screen giving advice or opinions on the NCAA Tournament when he’s clearly biased. There should be a disclaimer on the bottom of the screen, or something, that’s clearly what he’s doing.”

Auburn Tigers former men’s basketball head coach Bruce Pearl walks on the field before the game against the Texas A&M Aggies in College Station, Texas. (Troy Taormina/Imagn Images)

The conversation around Miami (OH) has reached a fever-pitch, with a majority of reactions in the favor of the team making the postseason, even if the Redhawks suffer a loss in their regular season finale against Ohio, or in the MAC tournament next week in Cleveland. 

David Sayler Channels His Inner ‘Yoda’ When Fighting Against Expansion

Even though the NCAA has tabled the conversation on adding additional teams until after the 2026 season is completed, there is still a looming discussion to be had. 

The question of whether expanding the NCAA Tournament will help mid-major teams in the long run has been a hot-button topic, given the current landscape of college athletics. 

For Sayler, he views schools like Miami (OH) and others as an ‘afterthought’ in these conversations. 

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Miami (Ohio) RedHawks guard Peter Suder (5) celebrates after hitting a three-point basket against the Akron Zips during the first half of the MAC Conference Tournament Championship game at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio, on Mar. 15, 2025. (Ken Blaze/Imagn Images)

“I don’t want to see the 11th place SEC team or the 12th place Big Ten, and that’s why I’m against expansion of the tournament,” Sayler told OutKick. “Now, you’re going to get the 13th place team in these leagues. It’s not for the mid-majors. There’s no talk of the CFP or expanding the college basketball tournament because of us. We are the afterthought. It’s like, ‘Ok, they’ll just be happy with what they get’.

“That’s why I’ve been quoting Yoda when fighting the evil empire lately, because that’s really what this is, the Death Star marching on, and we’re powerless to do it. So I’m part of the group of rebel AD’s trying to fight the system and leaning on sage advice from Yoda.”

The conversation around Miami (OH) isn’t dying down, especially if the Redhawks were to lose a game during the MAC tournament, or even their regular season finale on Friday night against the Ohio Bobcats. 

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But, this has clearly been one of the most intriguing stories in college basketball this season. Maybe the slipper will fit over the next month. 

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