Press Release
France tops Sports Social Pulse rankings ahead of 2026 FIFA World Cup
COLUMBIA, S.C. — France enters the 2026 FIFA World Cup as the strongest digital brand in international soccer, according to a new ranking developed by the University of South Carolina’s Social Media Insights Lab.
The Sports Social Pulse rankings measure the effectiveness and influence of national teams across major social media platforms, evaluating how successfully teams build audiences, distribute content, and generate engagement through their official channels. The rankings will be published weekly throughout tournament in the Sports Business Journal, the nation’s premier outlet covering the intersection of sports, business and innovation.
“The World Cup is the biggest sporting event on the planet, and increasingly, it is also a global social media event,” said Clay Owen, professor of practice at the College of Information and Communications at the University of South Carolina. “Our rankings measure which national teams are winning the battle for digital attention and engagement. This isn’t a ranking of the best teams on the field. It’s a ranking of the strongest team brands online.”
“We wanted to find a way to measure the influence of social media within this huge international event and we’re excited to again turn to our partners at the University of South Carolina,” said Josh Barnett, SBJ’s Managing Director, Editorial. “We think the team element of this, rather than individual players, will provide unique insight to SBJ readers.”
Top 10 Sports Social Pulse Rankings
France
Argentina
Brazil
England
Mexico
Portugal
Colombia
Germany
Spain
Morocco
Unlike traditional rankings based on wins, losses, or betting odds, the Sports Social Pulse measures digital influence through a proprietary methodology that evaluates audience size, visibility, engagement, growth, and cross-platform performance.
The rankings focus exclusively on official national team accounts and do not include individual player accounts.
“If we included players, the rankings would quickly become a Ronaldo or Messi index,” Owen said. “Instead, we’re measuring the strength of the national team brand itself and how effectively federations engage fans around the world.”
USC’s soccer rankings build on the success of the College Sports Social Pulse™, which tracks the social media influence of college football teams, players and coaches. During March Madness, the methodology was adapted to rank NCAA Tournament teams and generated national media attention for identifying which programs were driving the conversation online.
Several teams emerged as notable digital overperformers in the soccer rankings. Mexico ranked fifth overall despite being outside the top tier of World Cup betting favorites, while Colombia and Morocco both placed in the Top 10 due to strong audience engagement and cross-platform performance.
The rankings also reveal that digital influence and competitive expectations do not always align. Spain, one of the favorites to win the World Cup, ranked ninth in the Sports Social Pulse, demonstrating that football success and social media success are often distinct measures.
About the Sports Social Pulse™
Developed by the College of Information and Communication’s Social Media Insights Lab at the University of South Carolina, the Sports Social Pulse™ measures digital influence across sports by analyzing audience size, visibility, engagement, growth, and platform performance. Originally launched for college football, the methodology has expanded to include March Madness and the FIFA World Cup, helping media organizations, sponsors, and sports properties understand who is truly winning the conversation online. To learn more, visit www.sportssocialpulse.com
About Sports Business Journal
Sports Business Journal (SBJ), a subsidiary of Leaders Group Sports, an Advance company, sits at the epicenter of the sports industry. Headquartered in Charlotte, SBJ provides the news, the networking and the data to equip the most powerful executives in sports business to make more informed decisions, deals and partnerships. SBJ’s award-winning media content is delivered through multiple media platforms, hallmark events and market-leading data. To learn more visit: www.sportsbusinessjournal.com.