Key Takeaways
- Lionel Messi’s hat‑trick against Algeria moved him level with Miroslav Klose (16 World Cup goals) and cemented Argentina’s early dominance.
- Kylian Mbappé’s two‑goal burst made him France’s all‑time leading scorer and pushed Les Bleus to the top of the Power Rankings.
- Erling Haaland’s debut double for Norway signalled a serious threat in Group H, though the team’s defence remains a concern.
- Smaller nations made headlines: Australia upset Türkiye, Scotland earned their first World Cup win since 1990, and Cape Verde held Spain to a scoreless draw.
- France rose to No. 1 in the ESPN Power Rankings after a commanding 3‑1 win over Senegal, buoyed by Mbappé’s form and a stingy defence (0.10 xG conceded).
- England climbed to No. 2 with a 4‑2 victory over Croatia, showing an attacking intent despite missing several star‑selected players.
- Spain’s disappointing 0‑0 draw with Cape Verde dropped them to No. 4, raising doubts about their ability to translate pre‑tournament hype into results.
- Germany’s 7‑1 rout of Curacão lifted them to No. 5, while Brazil’s 1‑1 tie with Morocco kept them in the “best‑of‑the‑rest” bracket at No. 6.
- The United States entered the rankings at No. 9 after a 4‑1 win over Paraguay, though Christian Pulisic’s fitness remains a question mark.
The opening week of the 2026 FIFA World Cup has delivered a blend of superstar fireworks and surprising underdog performances, setting the stage for a compelling tournament. Lionel Messi began his campaign with a hat‑trick against Algeria, pulling him level with Miroslav Klose for the most men’s World Cup goals (16) and reinforcing Argentina’s status as a favourite. In the same window, Kylian Mbappé netted twice for France, becoming the nation’s all‑time leading scorer and helping Les Bleus secure a 3‑1 victory over Senegal. The win, highlighted by Mbappé’s second‑half brace and a dominant shot‑on‑target edge (8‑1), earned France 13 of 20 first‑place votes in the ESPN Power Rankings, propelling them to the top spot for the first time since the rankings began.
England’s 4‑2 triumph over Croatia showcased a free‑flowing, attack‑first approach under Thomas Tuchel. Harry Kane’s brace (including a retaken penalty) and Jude Bellingham’s early second‑half goal underscored the Three Lions’ intent to press rather than rely on sterile possession. The result moved England up two places to No. 2, gathering three first‑place votes after previously receiving none. Norway’s Erling Haaland announced his arrival with two goals against Iraq, though the team needed a late own goal to stretch the margin; their defence will be tested against Senegal and France in the coming days.
Spain’s pre‑tournament favouritism took a hit after a 0‑0 stalemate with debutants Cape Verde. Lamine Yamal’s brief cameo offered a glimpse of promise, but the draw exposed a lack of cutting‑edge creativity and revived concerns about Spain’s historically slow starts in World Cups. Consequently, La Roja slipped three spots to No. 4 in the rankings.
Germany announced its resurgence with a commanding 7‑1 win over Curacão, showcasing the blend of youth and experience in Jamal Musiala, Florian Wirtz, Kai Havertz and Joshua Kimmich. The performance lifted the Mannschaft to No. 5, setting up tougher tests against Ivory Coast and Ecuador. Brazil, meanwhile, settled for a 1‑1 draw with Morocco—a result viewed as fair given the opposition’s quality—but the draw left the Selecao at No. 6, still regarded as the “best of the rest” despite missing a win in their opener.
Morocco’s resilient 1‑1 tie with Brazil kept the Atlas Lions at No. 7, buoyed by Achraf Hakimi’s return to full fitness and Ismael Saibari’s dangerous presence up front. The Netherlands held firm at No. 8 after a 2‑2 draw with Japan, though their defense—usually anchored by Virgil van Dijk—showed vulnerability in the closing minutes. The United States made a splashy entrance at No. 9, routing Paraguay 4‑1 with Folarin Balogun’s double and a energetic midfield trio of Tillman, McKennie and Adams; however, Christian Pulisic’s calf injury casts doubt on their ability to sustain early momentum.
Portugal fell four places to No. 10 after a lacklustre 1‑1 draw with DR Congo, raising fresh doubts about Cristiano Ronaldo’s impact and the team’s defensive solidity. Colombia rose to No. 12 with a 3‑1 win over Uzbekistan, powered by Luis Díaz’s goal‑assist double, while Japan’s 2‑2 draw with the Netherlands earned them a No. 13 spot, highlighting their resilience despite missing several injured stars. Belgium slipped to No. 14 after a 1‑1 draw with Egypt, relying heavily on Romelu Lukaku’s impact substitute goal, and Mexico entered the rankings at No. 15 with back‑to‑back wins over South Africa and South Korea, though voters remain cautious about their consistency.
Senegal and Croatia fell out of the top‑15 after underwhelming performances, making way for the United States and Mexico. As the tournament progresses, the early results suggest that traditional powers France, England and Argentina are asserting themselves, while emerging threats like Norway, Morocco and the United States could shake up the established order if they shore up defensive frailties. The coming matches will test whether the early‑stage form translates into deeper runs—or whether surprise packages will continue to defy expectations.