Tech
Jun 18, 20261
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USA Today Power Rankings: All 48 World Cup Teams After First Match
USA Today released power rankings of all 48 World Cup teams after the first round of group-stage matches, revealing significant shifts from pre-tournament expectations. Tunisia ranked last after firing its coach, while Qatar and New Zealand made unexpected climbs despite mixed results. Title favorites largely held their positions despite some cracks appearing.
Quick Facts
Who
USA Today
What
USA Today released power rankings of all 48 World Cup teams
When
2026 World Cup group stage
Where
2026 World Cup
- USA Today released power rankings of all 48 World Cup teams
- Tunisia fired its coach after poor first-match performance
- Qatar secured 1-1 draw with Switzerland including stoppage-time own goal
- New Zealand's Chris Wood created problems for Iran
- Cape Verde achieved scoreless draw with Spain
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.
Why This Matters
These power rankings provide a data-driven snapshot of how the 2026 World Cup tournament is unfolding after the first critical matches, revealing which teams are overperforming and which are facing unexpected challenges. For fans and analysts, they offer actionable insights into emerging threats, surprising contenders, and potential upsets—essential context for predicting knockout-stage matchups and understanding how the expanded 48-team format is reshaping traditional World Cup dynamics.
Timeline & Sources
Jan 1, 2026
Wire2026 FIFA World Cup group stage begins
Jun 17, 2026
WirePanama loses to Ghana, surrendering clean sheet and first World Cup point
Jun 18, 2026
WireUSA Today publishes power rankings of all 48 World Cup teams after first round of matches