2026 World Cup blend: what is in it and how hot it is
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Ten peppers go into the 2026 World Cup blend, one for each of ten flag colors. This SpiceQuest chili grinder is rated at 559,118 Scoville heat units (SHU), and it contains no natural capsaicin extract. That figure is calculated from the lab result for each pepper in the blend, weighted by its share. It is about 1.3 times no. 5 Ghost, which tested at 417,166.
Ten colors, ten peppers
The idea is on the 2026 World Cup blend product page. It says every flag among the 48 nations in the tournament shares at least one of ten colors, and each of those colors was matched to a pepper.
The page names the ten, without proportions, and says what each group does:
- Caramel Tiberius Mauler, Chocolate Bismark and Peach Reaper are the backbone, with the heat and the body.
- Red Primotalii adds a darker, red-fruit edge.
- White Moruga and Purple Death bring weight and dark fruit.
- Green Ghost and Orange Ghost bring earthy, savory depth.
- Yellow Fatalii brings citrus brightness.
- Tangerine Tiger rounds off the finish with a fruity warmth.
Two of the ten have Field Guide pages of their own: the Peach Reaper profile and the Purple Death profile.
Between no. 5 and no. 6
On our numbered scale, 559,118 falls between no. 5 Ghost at 417,166 and no. 6 Brain Strain at 650,785. It is about 57 percent of our pure Carolina Reaper, no. 9 Reaper X, at 975,612. On our tier list it is Superhot, 350,000 to 999,999.
Crying Lion and Screaming Eagle are also ten-pepper blends with no extract, and this one is rated lowest of the three. All three figures are calculated from the lab results of the peppers in each blend.
| Blend | Rated SHU |
|---|---|
| Crying Lion | 1,001,621 |
| Screaming Eagle | 873,024 |
| 2026 World Cup blend | 559,118 |
Every result is on our Scoville chart.
Citrus up top, smoke underneath
The product page describes citrus and tropical brightness at first. Then the blend turns darker and thicker. The taste is citrus, peach and tropical fruit over a dense, smoky burn.
The heat begins on the front of the palate and spreads deeper into the mouth and throat. It is long and persistent, and the page describes a steady build with no single sharp spike.
Who it suits
This is the lowest rated of the three blends. It suits someone who finds no. 5 Ghost comfortable and wants a step up with more fruit in it. It is still a superhot, so start with one press.
It is a limited release, and the product page shows whether it is available. If the person wants the hottest of the three, that is Crying Lion, which is over 1,000,000 SHU. Read our ultra-hot safety page before opening that one.
Questions people ask
What peppers are in the 2026 World Cup blend? The product page names ten: Caramel Tiberius Mauler, Chocolate Bismark, Peach Reaper, Red Primotalii, White Moruga, Purple Death, Green Ghost, Orange Ghost, Yellow Fatalii and Tangerine Tiger.
Is the 2026 World Cup blend hotter than a ghost pepper? Yes. The blend is rated at 559,118 SHU, calculated from the lab results of its ten peppers, and no. 5 Ghost tested at 417,166. That puts the blend about 34 percent higher.