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

Argentina are the defending world champions and thrashed Algeria 3-0 in their 2026 FIFA World Cup opener but they are not the best side at this World Cup according to our BBC Sport experts.

We've brought together a small team of journalists who ranked every team at this World Cup after watching every side's opening game.

Do you agree with their decisions?

You'll also have a chance to rank every nation yourself at the bottom of this page.

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.

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. 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.

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.

Looked levels above an admittedly very poor South Africa side. Cesar Montes' late red card was a blow though.

15. Japan

Group F. Drew 2-2 with Netherlands.

Impressive fight to snatch a draw from jaws of defeat. But we expected more ambition from the perennial dark horses.

16. Scotland

Group C. Beat Haiti 1-0.

Good result. Poor performance. But perhaps that's what 28 years of pressure will do to a team.

17. Cape Verde

Group H. Drew 0-0 with Spain.

Everyone's second team at the World Cup now. The surprise package thanks to an inspired performance by veteran keeper Vozinha.

18. Belgium

Group G. Drew 1-1 with Egypt.

Needed an own goal to draw with an admittedly strong Egypt side. Created good chances and their toughest group match is now behind them.

19. Egypt

Group G. Drew 1-1 with Belgium.

Had looked on for their first ever World Cup win. Emam Ashour's goal was good but they created few opportunities otherwise.

20. Senegal

Group I. Lost 3-1 to France.

No shame in losing to France. Didn't concede until the 66th minute and could even have been leading but for Nicolas Jackson striking the post in the first half.

21. Portugal

Group K. Drew 1-1 with DR Congo.

They still have Cristiano Ronaldo. And a team that is burdened by his desire to be at the centre of everything.

22. Croatia

Group L. Lost 4-2 to England.

Scored two fine goals against big-hitters England. But defensively poor and too reliant on ageing stars.

23. DR Congo

Group K. Drew 1-1 with Portugal.

Shocked Portugal with some fantastic, organised defending. And they looked threatening on the break.

24. Switzerland

Group B. Drew 1-1 with Qatar.

A real disappointment. Created plenty of chances but very wasteful in attack.

25. New Zealand

Group G. Drew 2-2 with Iran.

A gutsy performance which belied their status as the tournament's lowest-ranked team. Have breakout star in shape of Elijah Just.

26. Iran

Group G. Drew 2-2 with New Zealand.

Looked flaky at the back and fortunate to escape with a point.

27. Saudi Arabia

Group H. Drew 1-1 with Uruguay.

Well organised and a threat on the break. Uruguay will feel they should have won the game though.

28. Haiti

Group C. Lost 1-0 to Scotland.

Caused Scotland problems but missed a killer instinct. Strong and physical but lacking quality.

29. South Korea

Group A. Beat Czech Republic 2-1.

Struggled for periods to break down the Czech Republic but came good when it mattered. May lack that clinical touch.

30. Uruguay

Group H. Drew 1-1 with Saudi Arabia.

Had 28 shots against Saudi Arabia before eventual late equaliser. Marcelo Bielsa's side will need to work on their finishing.

31. Turkey

Group D. Lost 2-0 to Australia.

Stunned by Australia in match where they had more than 70% possession. Hardly the dream World Cup return in first match back since finishing third in 2002.

32. Austria

Group J. Beat Jordan 3-1.

Needed an own goal and a penalty to win. Hardly inspiring. Next up, world champions Argentina.

33. Ivory Coast

Group E. Beat Ecuador 1-0.

Huffed and puffed in opener with Ecuador. The introduction of Amad Diallo added a spark and gives them hope going forward.

34. Ghana

Group L. Beat Panama 1-0.

Looked poor in large periods against Panama but were saved by a 95th-minute winner. Will struggle against better opposition. England and Croatia to come.

35. Algeria

Group J. Lost to Argentina 3-0.

Hit by Messi magic. Didn't have a shot on target.

36. Jordan

Group J. Lost to Austria 3-1.

Scored a really nice goal. But never really threatened to beat Austria. They will struggle to get out of the group.

37. Bosnia-Herzegovina

Group B. Drew 1-1 with Canada.

Looked set for an opening game win but were sunk by a deflected goal in Toronto.

38. Canada

Group B. Drew 1-1 with Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Playing in front of a home crowd but needed a deflected leveller to snatch a late draw.

39. Iraq

Group I. Lost 4-1 to Norway.

Not many teams can stop Erling Haaland and Iraq certainly couldn't.

40. Ecuador

Group E. Lost 1-0 to Ivory Coast.

Tipped as tournament dark horses but, despite creating a few chances, but were disappointing in their 1-0 defeat by Ivory Coast. Nice kit, though.

41. Czech Republic

Group A. Lost 2-1 to South Korea.

Slow and ponderous. Squandered a lead. This is not the Czech Republic that stole hearts in Euro 96.

42 Uzbekistan

Group K. Lost 3-1 to Colombia

No lack of guts and enjoyed their first-ever World Cup goal. But struggled to cope with Colombia's dynamism.

43. South Africa

Group A. Lost 2-0 to Mexico.

Could not have been more generous to their opening day hosts. Offered little in attack. Gave the ball away for fun. And finished with nine men.

44. Qatar

Group B. Drew 1-1 with Switzerland.

A fortunate draw. They were battered by a Switzerland side who should have been out of sight.

45. Paraguay

Group D. Lost 4-1 to USA.

Hammered by the United States and it could have been even worse. Defensive style is awful to watch.

46. Tunisia

Group F. Lost 5-1 to Sweden.

History makers - as they sacked their manager after their opening game. That's how bad Tunisia were.

47. Panama

Group L. Lost 1-0 to Ghana.

Involved in one of the worst games of the World Cup so far. Were playing for a draw when they were struck by Ghana's 95th-minute winner.

48. Curacao

Group E. Lost 7-1 to Germany.

A 7-1 drubbing on their World Cup debut but their equaliser against Germany will at least be a moment they will never forget.