World Cup 2026 Power Rankings after one game: Who is No. 1?

Key Points:

• The 2026 FIFA World Cup's first week has seen standout performances from stars like Lionel Messi, who tied the all-time men's World Cup goals record with a hat trick, Erling Haaland scoring twice in his debut, and Kylian Mbappé becoming France's all-time leading men's scorer.
• France has risen to No. 1 in ESPN FC's World Cup Power Rankings after a strong 3-1 win over Senegal, with Mbappé's outstanding performance boosting their status, while England climbed to No. 2 following a 4-2 victory over Croatia.
• Argentina remains No. 3, led by Messi's historic hat trick against Algeria, while Spain dropped to No. 4 after a surprising 0-0 draw with debutants Cape Verde, raising questions about their early tournament form.
• Germany moved up to No. 5 after a commanding 7-1 win over Curacao, and Brazil slipped to No. 6 following a 1-1 draw with Morocco, who themselves rose to No. 7 due to their strong showing against Brazil.
• The United States entered the top 15 at No. 9 after a convincing 4-1 win over Paraguay, showcasing promising talent under Mauricio Pochettino, while Portugal fell to No. 10 after a disappointing 1-1 draw with DR Congo.