The current UCI World Tour cycle runs for three seasons from 2023 through 2025. Teams have been told (and the rules explain) that the sum of their UCI points for the 2023, 2024, and 2025 seasons will be part of the criteria ("sporting criterion", among other requirements) required to maintain or gain status as WorldTeams in the 2026-2028 cycle.

This page on FirstCycling has its own best effort compilation of how this scoring method works, and the rules (Part II) 2.5.011(a) and 2.10.044 explain it in detail. The current rules say that the top 18 teams of those who apply will meet the sporting criterion.

Teams that achieve a WorldTeam status for 2026, as announced at the end of 2025, resolve Yes. Other teams resolve No.

If a team structure changes significantly, the structure that uses the points acquired at the starting date of this question to later secure a license, is the one that resolves Yes. For example, if Lidl-Trek completely quit their team but someone from Canada made Canada Cycling Team and bought their license/points, and then qualified for WorldTeam status, the answer currently listed as "LIDL-Trek" would have its name changed to "Canada Cycling Team" and then resolve Yes.

In the event of "mergers" or other team structure changes, the above rule will also apply. I will try to explain the situation as clearly as possible in the event of changes like this.

I reserve the right to resolve any answer NO early, in the event that a team ceases operations, loses their license, etc., but I do not guarantee that I will resolve any answer NO early. I will use a case-by-case determination.

I would expect the teams that qualified to be announced by December 2025.

Keep in mind the UCI may change the number of qualifying teams to be greater or smaller than 18, or other exceptions or weird things may happen. This market is NOT "who will be in the top 18 of the ranking", but "who will be announced as WorldTeams for 2026".