Now that the book is closed on the 2014 FIFA World Cup, soccer fans turn their eyes to Russia, where the next World Cup will be hosted in four years.

One of the most interesting storylines obviously revolves on which sides will be major contenders in the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Latin Post.com takes a look at the teams that should be contending for the top prize in four years time:

Belgium

The dark horses of this World Cup were a rather inexperienced and young side. The nation had not participated in a major competition since 2002 (no Euro or World Cup) and was unsurprisingly overwhelmed in this competition.

They labored through the group stage before finding their verve against the Americans in the round of 16. But against Argentina, the team wilted despite dominating possession. They simply lacked the confidence to replicate their turn against the USA. Top stars such as Eden Hazard, Kevin De Bruyne, Axel Witsel, Romelu Lukaku, Marounane Fellaini and Thibaut Courtois will be in their prime years. This experience will certainly have taught them valuable lessons. They will be top contenders to win the crown in Europe.

Colombia

The South Americans were surely the talk of the tournament after showcasing a spectacular brand of attacking soccer that was rarely seen for the four weeks.

The team’s top player, James Rodriguez, was the star of the tournament and won the Golden Boot; he will be 26 in four years and should be a far more formidable player. Juan Fernando Quintero, another rising star, had his flashes of brilliance in Brazil and will be 24 by the time the tournament rolls around. Expect these guys to be in top shape for the 2018 tournament. Juan Cuadrado, David Ospina, Santiago Arias and Victor Ibarbo are also among the major Colombians that will be in their prime when the Russian iteration comes around. And that is without considering Radamel Falcao, the superstar who got Colombia to the World Cup and was their top players before Rodriguez’s conquest of the world. Falcao missed Brazil due to injury and will be 32 by the time the World Cup returns. That may be past his prime, but a player of Falcao’s stature could still be a solid contributor off the bench or even as a starter depending on his physical state. Just ask the 38-year-old Mario Yepes who was Colombia’s top defender and captain in this past tournament. Los Cafeteros could have won the tournament in 2014. In 2018 they should be more formidable.

Chile

Another team that captured the imagination of the world was Chile. The South Americans played with a brutally fast pace that left top sides (ie Spain) in the dust. Alexis Sanchez will be 29 in four years and could still see his peak years ahead as the top star at Arsenal. Arturo Vidal will be 31 but could still be a big piece. Eduardo Vargas, Gary Medel, Mauricio Isla, Charles Aranguiz and Eugenio Mena will all be in their prime years with one last chance at winning it all. They could very well achieve the feat.

Spain

The former World Cup champs endured a tough tournament and are likely set for a rebuild. But it might not take as long as it has in the past.

Spain has a plethora of top young players that are ready to take over the senior side. The U-21 side recently won the European championship with such players as Thiago Alcantara, Isco, Koke, David De Gea, Asier Illarramendi, Daniel Carvajal, Iker Munain, Alvaro Morata, Alberto Moreno, Inigo Martinez and Marc Bartra among others. Throw in other top players who will still be in their primes – Sergio Busquets, Cesc Fabregas, Juan Mata, Jordi Alba, Javi Martinez and even Diego Costa and this is a squad that could be reckoned with. And one cannot overlook the possibility that a 34-year-old Andres Iniesta could still have a major impact in four years time. Just look at what Andrea Pirlo has done in his ripe old age. Spain has an identity and can easily put together a top side to win it all.

Germany

And of course the World champs are the uncontested favorites to win it again in four years.

This squad that won the tournament features a plethora of young guys, including Mario Götze, Thomas Müller, Julian Draxler, Mesut Özil, Manuel Neuer, Mats Hummels, Shkodran Mustafi, Toni Kroos, Jerome Boateng, Andre Schurrle, Benedikt Howedes and Christoph Kramer, will all be in their primes in 2018. Six of those players listed scored in the tournament and most had a major impact on the win. The team is the favorite to win the Euro 2016 and should be the big favorite to reclaim its title in four years time.

Other contenders

The French are set to make noise at home in the 2016 Euro. The team had a good showing in Brazil and is relatively young.

Neymar should be a top star in four years but the question is whether he will have a good team around him to make the push. Another side that will carry question marks is Argentina. Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero, Gonzalo Higuain and Angel Di Maria will all be 30 or older and past their respective primes. The team was already mediocre with them at their prime ages; how will it look when they are over the hill? Russia had a poor showing in Brazil but they will be contenders in four years. Will that make a difference?

We will find out soon enough.