USA Today Power Rankings: All 48 World Cup Teams After First Match

With the 2026 World Cup group stage one-third complete, USA Today has released comprehensive power rankings of all 48 teams in the expanded tournament format following each team's opening match. The rankings reveal significant shifts from pre-tournament expectations, with title favorites largely holding their positions despite some notable cracks appearing in previously top-ranked teams.

Several teams have experienced dramatic falls from pre-tournament rankings. Tunisia dropped nine positions to rank dead last after firing its coach Handsome Herve Renard following a poor opening performance. South Africa plummeted ten spots to 45th after an extremely disappointing debut that left it without two midfielders due to red-card suspensions. Paraguay similarly fell ten places to 42nd, having conceded four goals despite being built around a muscular defensive structure under coach Gustavo Alfaro.

Other teams defied expectations with stronger-than-anticipated showings. Qatar climbed five positions to 41st after securing a 1-1 draw with Switzerland, including a dramatic own-goal winner in stoppage time from their 2022 World Cup host position. New Zealand rose six spots to 38th, with striker Chris Wood creating problems for Iran that could prove decisive in group play. Cape Verde gained eight places to 37th following a stunning scoreless draw against Spain.

The rankings demonstrate significant separation between title contenders at the top and teams deemed "happy to be here" at the bottom of the field. Many teams that appeared overmatched in the pre-tournament analysis have shown resilience, while some previous favorites have revealed vulnerabilities. With two additional matches remaining for each team in the group stage, USA Today notes that anything remains possible, particularly with the expanded format allowing most third-place teams to advance to the Round of 32.