Ranking all 48 World Cup teams after round one

Lionel Messi (centre) stole the show with an opening hat-trick but that is not enough to secure top spot for holders Argentina - Jay Biggerstaff/Reuters

How much can you read into one round of World Cup fixtures? Argentina lost to Saudi Arabia in their first game of the last tournament which they went on to win. England were chastised for their drab 0-0 against Uruguay in 1966 then looked like world beaters when beating Iran 6-2 in 2022.

Nevertheless, putting things in order is tremendous fun. We have attempted to assess the teams by their likelihood to win the World Cup rather than solely based on one performance so far. So apologies to Sweden, you might have scored five more goals than Spain, but we still make you the inferior footballing nation.

Let us begin, as is traditional, at the bottom.

48. Tunisia

Sacking your manager one game into the tournament is never a great sign and there was little in a chastening 5-1 defeat to Sweden to suggest that Hervé Renard will be able to turn around their form.

47. Curaçao

Equaliser against Germany was one of the moments of the tournament but could not disguise how comprehensively outclassed they were for most of what came afterwards.

46. South Africa

Error-prone and already have two players suspended. Burnley's Lyle Foster a rare bright spot.

45. Paraguay

Rolled over politely like excellent party guests as USA began their tournament in Los Angeles. Raul Bobadilla's own goal was one of several low points.

44. Panama

Panama verus Ghana took a long time to ignite on Wednesday evening - Stephanie Scarbrough/AP Photo

Drab match against Ghana was enough to test even the patience of football's biggest fan Ally McCoist, commentating for ITV. Had the better of the first half but conceding such a late winner was the sort of sucker-punch to ruin a tournament.

43. Iraq

Aymen Hussein is a goal threat, unfortunately at both ends. His own goal confirmed a deserved 4-1 thrashing by Norway.

42. Algeria

Will not go far with goalkeeping performances as untidy as Zidane Jnr's against Argentina. Could do little against the waves of attack from the world champions.

41. Haiti

Niggly, which made life difficult for Scotland, but offered little going forward and lacked rhythm and purpose on the ball.

40. Uzbekistan

Began haphazardly against Colombia but braver in the second half and level for five minutes. Hung around after that, with chances to equalise, but outclassed in the end and look too careless defensively to go far.

39. Turkey

Dominated much of a 2-0 defeat to Australia but undone too easily on the counter. USA next, which now looks highly imposing.

38. Jordan

A better performance than a 3-1 loss to Austria would suggest, but next game against Algeria looks like the old wrestling gimmick, a "loser leaves town" match.

37. Czech Republic

Looked a threat from set-pieces in 2-1 defeat to South Korea, and also looked a team who are making up the numbers.

36. Qatar

Jubilant Qatar players pose for a picture after drawing with Switzerland - Matt McNulty/Getty Images

Defended well after fatally tame start against Switzerland, giving them a platform to snatch a draw. Delightful celebrations followed and more could follow in an open group.

35. Cape Verde

Splendid defensive effort and an outstanding goalkeeping display to pull off the result of the tournament in holding Spain, the only 0-0 of the first round of group games. A danger perhaps they feel that is now mission accomplished, and we are yet to see much of what they can offer in attack.

34. Ecuador

Deserved a great deal more than their defeat to Ivory Coast but profligacy not a good attribute and still have Germany to play, albeit Curaçao next presents a good chance to get back on track.

33. New Zealand

Drastically out-performed their status as lowest-ranked team in the competition. Elijah Just and Chris Wood combined promisingly in attack.

32. Democratic Republic of Congo

Down 1-0 to Portugal after six minutes which felt ominous, but steadied themselves, grew into the game and earned their equaliser. Determined and united. May need more than 24.6 per cent possession, the lowest of any group-stage game, to achieve more.

31. Iran

A superb performance to manage a draw with New Zealand, regardless of the strength of the opponent, given everything they are facing at home and at this tournament.

30. Bosnia and Herzegovina

Weathered early bluster against Canada in Toronto before their physicality gave them a foothold, and the lead. Retreated after that and could not see out the game as they should have.

29. Ghana

Rolled in the latest winner of the group stage after 95 minutes but were laboured for long periods against Panama. England next, which they will be more worried about than Team Tuchel.

28. Saudi Arabia

Target man Abdulelah Al-Amri looks an old-fashioned handful. Keeper Mohammed Al Owais mixed flappy moments with good saves against Uruguay.

27. Canada

A flawed side playing with abandon that is unafraid to kick the opposition. Familiar Jesse March territory from his days at Leeds and a combination which might be enough to eke out a knockout-round win, if draw falls kindly, but need to top Group B to maintain home advantage.

26. Switzerland

Switzerland's attackers were frustrated in front of goal against Qatar - Fran Santiago/Getty Images

Criminally wasteful against Qatar and hard to disagree with Gary Neville at his most withering that their attacking players are a level below the necessary standard to take charge of a World Cup match.

25. Ivory Coast

Cannot fault the spirit which powered their rope-a-dope win against Ecuador, but unlikely to manage similar in next game against Germany.

24. Scotland

Haiti was a must-win and the win duly came. Just. Made hard work of it though and may yet need another point, which will require an improvement against Morocco, or Brazil. Eek!

23. Uruguay

Surely among the neutrals' favourites after Marcelo Bielsa's refusal to play ball with the official Fifa photographer. More evenly matched than anticipated by Saudi Arabia, though, which does not suggest a credible challenge for a third title.

22. Egypt

Mohamed Salah (right) played well against Belgium which could bode well for the rest of his tournament - Agustin Marcarian/Reuters

Swift in attack and Mohamed Salah looks a good deal fitter than he did at the last World Cup, even if undeniably past his best.

21. Austria

A first World Cup win since 1990 set in motion by an excellent goal from Romano Schmid. Marko Arnautović, in the year of our lord 2026, added gloss with a third against Jordan, but Argentina next could be a rude awakening.

20. South Korea

Special looping finish from Hwang In-beom gave them an equaliser against Czech Republic after falling behind against run of play. Can move ball with tremendous speed.

19. Mexico

Home advantage for remaining group-stage matches and accompanying altitude elevates (arf) their position a few places. Need more than was shown against ropey South Africa.

18. Senegal

Nicolas Jackson was a handful against France - Dylan Martinez/Reuters

Hard-done-by against France, a game they deserved to lead at half-time. Nicolas Jackson in early stages of a textbook World Cup catfish, in that he looked like a world-beater on this stage when we have a great deal of contradictory domestic evidence.

17. Croatia

Still dangerous but only kept in game against England thanks to heroics of goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic, with one second-half triple-save particularly impressive. Should still progress from gentle group.

16. Australia

A thrilling opening goal from a team who look well set up to thrive on the counter, capped by a screamer from Connor Metcalfe. Harry Souttar is a rock at centre-back, which should be helpful.

15. Japan

Hard to assess. Real promise to some of their attacking play, as tidy as their fans leave the terraces, but only seemed to reach the level required when their game against the Netherlands was in jeopardy. Will need more of a self-starting attitude against Tunisia and Sweden.

14. Belgium

Sight of Romelu Lukaku already looking exhausted as he ran on to pitch as a substitute against Egypt was laugh-inducing, less so when his mere presence led to an equaliser. More problems than positives at this time though.

13. Colombia

Daniel Munoz and Luis Diaz linked up for Colombia's opening goal against Uzbekistan - Ashtin Barker/AP Photo

Luis Díaz was a flashy menace against Uzbekistan and his pass for Daniel Muñoz's deft finish showed his team's potential.

12. Netherlands

Reputation and history doing some heavy lifting for an odd team who were ponderous in possession and leaky in defence against Japan.

11. Portugal

While certain other elder statesmen rolled back the years, Cristiano Ronaldo slipped into the familiar role of immobile baggage up front against DR Congo. Surely he should not be playing for 90 minutes? One of the favourites, but hugely disappointing after taking early lead.

10. Norway

Erling Haaland looked very good indeed but there were vulnerabilities further back, with more chances conceded to Iraq than ideal. Four goals scored and one of the world's best strikers bodes well though.

9. Sweden

Scandinavian one-upmanship at its finest, as Sweden managed five and Viktor Gyokeres played like someone who had been tackling a video game on hard difficulty level all season and is finding it far more enjoyable on medium. Two superb goals from Brighton's Yasin Ayari.

8. United States

A thumping 4-1 win against Paraguay with exceptional vibes. Mauricio Pochettino, now dressing like Tubbs and/or Crockett, led delirious celebrations afterwards with good cause. Look a well-balanced side capable of the classic deep run by the hosts.

7. Brazil

Brazil were below par against Morocco - Mike Segar/Reuters

Magnificent Vinícius Júnior goal should have been a springboard to a better future after a laughably loose opening half hour against Morocco. In the second half both teams seemed content with a draw, which may be prudent. Still one of the let-downs of the tournament so far, but more than enough in their squad for a significant upturn.

6. Morocco

Little to dislike in their mix of pace, purpose and steel. No one should be surprised after their thumping 3-0 win in the Afcon final. What do you mean you don't remember that result in that game? Take it up with the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Ayyoub Bouaddi has the look of a breakout star.

5. England

Jude Bellingham (centre) celebrates with England team-mates after scoring team's third goal - Getty Images

Rip roarin', goalscorin' rootin', tootin'… Sorry, got carried away and lapsed into American. A thrilling first performance, but defence needs attention as difficulty ramps up beyond the group stage. Set-piece prowess and range of options make outgunning opponents a viable option though, with Thomas Tuchel adopting Vindaloo football – "we're gonna score one more than you".

4. Germany

Clearly some way short of the great German sides of the past, but people were saying that of the team that won this tournament in 2014. They managed a 7-1 too, although Brazil at home was rather harder going than Curaçao.

3. Spain

Alarm bells not ringing quite yet despite an oddly limp opening performance against Cape Verde. No change to their status as favourites with the bookmakers, so plenty have faith in their deep and talented squad. Need a response just the same in their next game, against Saudi Arabia.

2. Argentina

Little has changed since 2022 apart from Ángel Di María retiring and yet this incarnation of Argentina seems more coherent than the world champions. Lionel Messi, still very good at football, has plenty left to give. But has he peaked too early?

1. France

Kylian Mbappe demonstrated his clinical prowess in front of goal in France's opener - Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

Took a half to get going against Senegal but irresistible once they hit their stride. Kylian Mbappé has few rivals as the most reliable protagonist in top-level football, and playing Iraq next should give them a chance to pace themselves before a potentially wonderful game against Norway. Unless both have already qualified. The team to beat

Read Next Article