US Media Updates World Cup Power Rankings: South Korea 13th, Japan 20th; Spain Plummets to 5th

US sports media outlet The Athletic released an updated World Cup power ranking on June 16, assessing the strength of teams competing in the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America. South Korea secured 13th place overall and was rated as having squad strength capable of reaching at least the Round of 16. South Korea's ranking climbed following their 2-1 comeback victory over Czech Republic in their Group A opening match on June 12 at Guadalajara Stadium in Mexico. The Athletic highlighted goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu's crucial double save late in the match, though noted that forward Son Heung-min's performance was below par, with all six of his shots going wide. As the highest-ranked Asian team in the updated rankings, South Korea holds second place in Group A, just behind hosts Mexico, who rank 12th overall.

Japan, meanwhile, drew 2-2 with the Netherlands but remains at 20th place. The Athletic acknowledged Japan's technical quality and organizational strength but expressed concerns about the availability of key injured players including Kaoru Mitoma, Takumi Minamino, and Wataru Endo, leaving uncertainty about their tournament performance. Other Asian representatives rank considerably lower: Australia (23rd), Iran (32nd), and Saudi Arabia (33rd).

Notable changes from previous rankings include Czech Republic dropping to 39th after their loss to South Korea, and South Africa falling to 43rd. Spain experienced the most dramatic fall, plummeting from the number-one favorite to 5th place following a goalless draw with Cape Verde, a nation with a FIFA ranking of only 67th and a population of 155,000 making their World Cup debut. The Athletic stated that Spain's performance against such a modest opponent makes them unlikely to be considered serious contenders for the tournament title. France has assumed the top favorite position, followed by Argentina, England, and Germany.