World Cup 2026 Power Rankings: Who Impressed (and Who Struggled) After Round One
Every single team at the 2026 World Cup has now played its opening match, and the picture that has emerged is far messier than the pre tournament rankings suggested. Some traditional powerhouses looked every bit as sharp as expected, a handful of underdogs produced results nobody saw coming, and at least one heavyweight nation is already facing serious questions. Here is how the tournament's opening round has reshaped the conversation heading into matchday two.
The Genuine Title Contenders
France set the early benchmark with a commanding 3-1 win over Senegal, growing stronger as the match wore on and showing the kind of depth across the pitch that title winners need. Kylian Mbappe continues to look like a different species at this level, now sitting on fourteen goals in just fifteen career World Cup appearances, a ratio that places him among the most efficient finishers the tournament has ever seen.
England matched that statement with a thrilling 4-2 win over Croatia, a result built on attacking quality even if their defensive shape will need tightening against tougher opposition. Argentina, meanwhile, beat Algeria 3-0 behind a historic night from Lionel Messi, who scored his first ever World Cup hat trick on his two hundredth cap for the national team, a performance that pulled him level with Miroslav Klose's all time record of sixteen World Cup goals. Despite that individual brilliance, several pundits stopped short of calling Argentina the tournament's best side so far, a sign of just how high the bar has been set in round one.
The Surprise Packages Nobody Saw Coming
If there is one theme defining this World Cup's opening round, it is the number of teams outside the traditional elite who look genuinely dangerous. The United States rolled past Paraguay 4-1 in a performance fueled by home crowd energy and a fluid attacking style that surprised plenty of neutral observers. Norway rode an Erling Haaland brace to a 4-1 win over Iraq, and with a striker that prolific leading the line, it is hard not to take this Scandinavian side seriously through the knockout rounds.
Sweden produced maybe the loudest statement of the entire round, dismantling Tunisia 5-1 in a result so one sided it reportedly contributed to Tunisia parting ways with their manager just days later. Cape Verde matched that energy from the opposite end of the spectrum, holding Spain to a goalless draw in what many are already calling the upset of the tournament so far. It is little surprise that pundits across multiple outlets have singled out the United States, Sweden, and Ivory Coast as the dark horses most likely to cause problems deep into the knockout stage.
Steady but Unspectacular
Not every result needs to be dramatic to be valuable, and a handful of teams quietly did exactly what they needed to in round one. Colombia got the job done with a 3-1 win over Uzbekistan, while Croatia, no longer quite at the level of the side that reached the 2018 final and the 2022 semifinals, still showed enough quality and tournament experience to be considered dangerous.
Uruguay's Wasteful Night
Few teams will look back on round one with more frustration than Uruguay, who fired off twenty eight shots against Saudi Arabia yet still walked away with only a draw. Marcelo Bielsa's side dominated territory and chances but lacked the clinical edge to turn that pressure into three points, a problem they will need to solve quickly. Saudi Arabia, for their part, looked organized and dangerous on the counter, a far cry from the pushover reputation the nation once carried into major tournaments.
Teams With Work to Do
Brazil's round one performance against Morocco exposed exactly the issues many analysts had flagged before the tournament even started, particularly in midfield and at full back. Carlo Ancelotti now has matches against Scotland and Haiti to fine tune his approach before facing sterner tests later in the competition. On the other side of that result, Morocco's young midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi emerged as one of the standout individual performers of the entire opening round, controlling the tempo against a Brazilian side many expected to dominate.
Japan also deserves credit for their fighting spirit, twice pulling level against a strong Netherlands side in a 2-2 draw that showed plenty of organization and composure under pressure, even if it ultimately ended without a win.
Rock Bottom: A Tough Opening Night
At the other end of the spectrum, South Africa find themselves at the bottom of most early power rankings after a difficult opening result, and they will need a response quickly in their next match to avoid an early tournament crisis. Tunisia's heavy defeat to Sweden told a similar story, one damaging enough that the federation moved on from their head coach almost immediately, bringing in a new manager in hopes of salvaging their campaign.
Frequently Asked Questions
Have all 48 teams played their first World Cup match
Yes, every nation in the 2026 World Cup completed their opening group stage fixture, giving pundits a full first round of results to assess.
Which teams are considered the strongest after round one
France, England, and Argentina have drawn the most praise so far, though pundits remain split on which of them currently looks the most complete.
What was the biggest upset of the opening round
Cape Verde holding Spain to a scoreless draw is widely regarded as the standout shock result of the tournament's first round.
Which team sits at the bottom of the early rankings
South Africa currently occupies the lowest position in most power rankings following a difficult opening match.
Why did Tunisia change their head coach during the tournament
A heavy 5-1 defeat to Sweden in their opening match led the federation to part ways with their manager and bring in new leadership.
Final Thoughts
One round of matches is never enough to draw final conclusions, but it is more than enough to reshape expectations. Traditional contenders like France and England have backed up their billing, underdogs like Cape Verde and Sweden have forced their way into the conversation, and proud footballing nations like Brazil and Tunisia now find themselves needing answers fast. With every team having played once, the real shape of this tournament is only just beginning to come into focus.