The ultimate beer World Cup
Each nation participating in the FIFA World Cup 2026 battles it out to be named the world champions of beer.
Sure, the football World Cup is exciting but have you ever wanted to know the outcome of a beer World Cup? Using the same 48 nations that qualified for this summer’s footballing competition, db explores how they fare when it comes to the popularity of the world’s most popular alcoholic drink.
Success on this list is quantified by the number of countries to which each nation exports its most exported beer. Some of the beers selected are brewed in their home nation but also have brewing hubs in other countries. In these circumstances, the overall number of nations in which the beer is available to purchase has been selected.
Export figures for some nations’ beers are inconclusive. In these circumstances, the lower estimate has been selected.
The top two in each group automatically qualify for the knockout rounds, while eight of the 12 best third-place finishers also progress. These third-placed teams are assigned their Round of 32 opponents in accordance with FIFA’s pre-determined matrix for the 2026 World Cup.
Look out for some of the same matchups we have now seen in the actual competition. Will Germany find a way to beat Paraguay in this format? Will Sweden get the better of France? Football has already provided its answers. The beer World Cup may prove rather less predictable.
Group A
1st: Mexico – Corona – 180 countries
2nd: Czech Republic – Pilsner Urquell – 50
3rd: South Africa – Castle – 40
4th: South Korea – Cass Fresh – 24
Group B
1st: Canada – Labatt Blue – 20
2nd: Switzerland – Feldschlösschen Original – 15
3rd – Bosnia and Herzegovina – Sarajevsko Pivo – 13
4th – Qatar – n/a
Group C
1st: Scotland – Tennent’s – 60
2nd: Brazil – Skol – 30
3rd: Haiti – Prestige – 2
4th: Morocco – Speciale Flag – 1
Group D
1st: USA – Budweiser – 80
2nd: Turkey – Efes – 70
3rd: Paraguay – Pilsen Paraguay – 4
4th: Australia – Great Northern Super Crisp – 0
Group E
1st: Germany – Beck’s – 120
2nd: Ecuador – Pilsener – 6
3rd: Ivory Coast – Bock – 0
4th: Curacao – Montana Beer – 0
Group F
1st: Netherlands – Heineken – 192
2nd: Japan – Asahi – 70
3rd: Sweden – Pripps Bla – 18
4th: Tunisia – Celtia – 6
Group G
1st: Belgium – Stella Artois – 90
2nd: New Zealand – Steinlager – 20
3rd: Egypt – Stella – 15
4th: Iran – n/a
Group H
1st: Spain – Estrella Damm – 130
2nd: Uruguay – Pilsen Uruguay – 5
3rd: Cape Verde – Strela – 3
4th: Saudi Arabia – n/a
Group I
1st: France – Kronenbourg 1664 – 70
2nd: Norway – Ringnes – 20
3rd: Senegal – Gazelle – 0
4th: Iraq – Farida – 0
Group J
1st: Austria – Stiegl – 25
2nd: Argentina – Quilmes – 15
3rd: Jordan – Petra – 5
4th: Algeria – Tango – 0
Group K
1st: Portugal – Super Bock – 50
2nd: Colombia – Aguila – 5
3rd: DR Congo – Primus – 3
4th: Uzbekistan – Sarbast – 0
Group L
1st: England – Newcastle Brown Ale – 40
2nd: Ghana – Club Premium Lager – 8
3rd: Croatia – Ozujsko – 5
Panama – Atlas – 0
3rd place table
South Africa – 40
Sweden – 18
Egypt – 15
Bosnia – 13
Croatia – 5
Jordan – 5
Paraguay – 4
Cape Verde – 3
DR Congo – 3
Haiti – 2
Curacao/Ivory Coast – 0
Iraq/Senegal – 0
Round of 32
Germany – Beck’s – 120 vs Paraguay – Pilsen Paraguay – 4
France – Kronenbourg 1664 – 70 vs Sweden – Pripps Bla – 18
Czech Republic – Pilsner Urquell – 50 vs Switzerland – Feldschlösschen Original – 15
Netherlands – Heineken – 192 vs Brazil – Skol – 30
Colombia – Aguila – 5 vs Ghana – Club Premium Lager – 8
Spain – Estrella Damm – 130 vs Argentina – Quilmes – 15
USA – Budweiser – 80 vs Bosnia and Herzegovina – Sarajevsko Pivo – 13
Belgium – Stella Artois – 90 vs South Africa – Castle – 40
Scotland – Tennent’s – 60 vs Japan – Asahi – 70
Ecuador – Pilsener – 6 vs Norway – Ringnes – 20
Mexico – Corona – 180 vs Cape Verde – Strela – 3
England – Newcastle Brown Ale vs Jordan – Petra – 5
Austria – Stiegl – 25 vs Uruguay – Pilsen Uruguay – 5
Turkey – Efes – 70 vs New Zealand – Steinlager – 20
Canada – Labatt Blue – 20 vs Egypt – Stella – 15
Portugal – Super Bock – 50 vs Croatia – Ozujsko – 5
Round of 16
Germany – Beck’s – 120 vs France – Kronenbourg 1664 – 70
Czech Republic – Pilsner Urquell – 50 vs Netherlands – Heineken – 192
Ghana – Club Premium Lager – 8 vs Spain – Estrella Damm – 130
USA – Budweiser – 80 vs Belgium – Stella Artois – 90
Japan – Asahi – 70 vs Norway – Ringnes – 20
Mexico – Corona – 180 vs England – Newcastle Brown Ale
Austria – Stiegl – 25 vs Turkey – Efes – 70
Canada – Labatt Blue – 20 vs Portugal – Super Bock – 50
Quarter-Final
Germany – Beck’s – 120 vs Netherlands – Heineken – 192
Spain – Estrella Damm – 130 vs Belgium – Stella Artois – 90
Japan – Asahi – 70 vs Mexico – Corona – 180
Turkey – Efes – 70 vs Portugal – Super Bock – 50
Semi-Final
Netherlands – Heineken – 192 vs Spain – Estrella Damm – 130
Mexico – Corona – 180 vs Turkey – Efes – 70
Final
Netherlands – Heineken – 192 vs Mexico – Corona – 180
So, there we have it. England fall to Mexico at the quarter-final stage, although the real Three Lions have gone one better against the tournament co-hosts and now face Norway for a place in the semi-finals. Turkey finally befit their dark horse label and make a run to the last four. And, in a battle of the beer juggernauts Corona and Heineken in the grand final, it is the Dutch beer that is crowned champion, exported to a whopping 192 countries.
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