From one to 48 - every World Cup team ranked after first game

Image source, Getty Images By BBC Sport reporters Published 18 June 2026, 05:28 BST Argentina kicked off their World Cup defence with an emphatic win - but are not the best side at this World Cup so far, according to our BBC Sport experts. We've brought together a small team of journalists who, between them, have watched every side's opening game. And they have ranked all 48 teams at the tournament, from first to last. Do you agree with their decisions? Make your comments below. To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. This video can not be played Figure caption, Messi, Mbappe & Vini jr - best World Cup goals from round one 1-10 1. France Group I. Beat Senegal 3-1. Lived up to pre-tournament hype with rampant second-half performance. Strength in every position. Deserved favourites. 2. England Group L. Beat Croatia 4-2. Scored four. Could have had more. Brilliant attacking performance led by Harry Kane. Slight concerns at the back. 3. Argentina Group G. Beat Algeria 3-0. They have Lionel Messi and a team that is lifted by his presence and genius. That's enough to be top three. 4. Germany Group E. Beat Curacao 7-1. Any team that scores seven in their opening fixture cannot be ignored - regardless of the (lack of) quality of the opposition. 5. USA Group D. Beat Paraguay 4-1. Surprise inclusion in the top five. Destroyed Paraguay with a slick performance and have the home crowd on their side. To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. This video can not be played Figure caption, Balogun scores stunner for USA against Paraguay 6. Norway Group I. Beat Iraq 4-1. A team who are built around Erling Haaland and are set up to play to his strengths. 7. Colombia Group K. Beat Uzbekistan 3-1. Powerful, quick and with a sprinkle of star dust that is Luis Diaz. Colombia will hurt plenty of teams. 8. Morocco Group C. Drew 1-1 with Brazil. Looked like blowing Brazil away in opening 20 minutes. Then appeared to settle for a draw in second half. More in the tank. 9. Brazil Group C. Drew 1-1 with Morocco. Shaky start left us questioning if this was the Brazil of years gone by. But their wily squad refused to be beaten. 10. Sweden Group F. Beat Tunisia 5-1. Have two of the Premier League's most deadly strikers and a midfield with an eye for goal too. 11-20 11. Australia Group D. Beat Turkey 2-0. Pacy performance ensured they swept aside a Turkey side who, on paper, were strong favourites going into the match. 12. Spain Group H. Drew 0-0 with Cape Verde. Shock of the tournament so far. But created enough to win their match several times over. They'll still go far. To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. This video can not be played Figure caption, World Cup debutants Cape Verde hold on for draw against Spain 13. Netherlands Group F. Drew 2-2 with Japan. Should have killed their game against Japan. Would be higher were it not for defensive concerns. 14. Mexico Group A. Beat South Africa 2-0. Looke