Best to worst - every World Cup team ranked after one game

France has emerged as the top-ranked team among BBC Sport experts following the opening matches of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The defending champions lived up to their pre-tournament hype with a dominant second-half performance against Senegal, securing a 3-1 victory and showcasing strength in every position.

England follows closely in second place, lauded for a brilliant attacking display led by Harry Kane in their 4-2 win over Croatia. Despite scoring four goals, slight concerns remain regarding their defense. Argentina, the reigning world champions, secured the third spot, largely due to the inspirational presence and genius of Lionel Messi, who lifted the team to a 3-0 win against Algeria.

Germany's impressive seven-goal haul against Curacao, even against weaker opposition, placed them fourth. The USA surprisingly secured the fifth position after a slick 4-1 victory over Paraguay, bolstered by home crowd support. Other teams like Norway, built around Erling Haaland, and Colombia, with the flair of Luis Diaz, also featured in the top ten, highlighting early tournament standouts.