2026 World Cup power ratings: Argentina and France leading the way for victory

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2026 World Cup power ratings: Argentina and France leading the way for victory

The 2026 World Cup is heading to the knockout stage after this year’s 48-team tournament was announced for the first time.

After a build-up steeped in controversy, greed and conflict, fans have been drawn in by exciting fixtures and disappointed by others, with the likes of France and holders Argentina stamping their marks as rightful favourites, while England, Portugal and Brazil have all made little mistake.

But the group stage is just the beginning – history will be written on the way to the final, with 32 teams left to sink their teeth into the playoffs.

Here’s how all the relegation teams stack up in The Independent 2026 World Cup power levels, he goes deep into the top 10:

The rankings are based on a combination of performance and potential for the 2026 World Cup, and how teams are performing against pre-tournament expectations:

1. France 🇫🇷 ↔️

France got off to a slow (emphasis on slow) start as they failed to perform well in their first half against Senegal. However, they picked up steam in the second half, showing the depth of attacking talent that made them one of the pre-tournament favourites. Kylian Mbappe was a big part of that improved spell, scoring twice en route to a 3-1 win, and did the same in a 3-0 win over Iraq.

That saw him surpass Miroslav Klose’s 16 World Cup goals, but unfortunately for the France striker, someone else did the same just a few hours ago – and by a huge margin…

Mbappe failed to add to his tally in the group final against Norway, with the title already in the bag. Instead, his compatriot stole the show, Ousmane Dembele bagging a hat-trick in a 4-1 win. Didier Deschamps’ side are firing on all cylinders at the moment – no team will want to face them.

2. Argentina 🇦🇷 ↔️

Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick for Argentina in their opening game against Algeria (Getty)

This World Cup has been Lionel Messi’s show so far. As he turns 39 this week, he faces questions about whether he can be as influential as he was when Argentina won the 2022 title; answer those questions with emphasis. He scored all three goals in the opening 3-0 win over Algeria, then scored both goals in a 2-0 win over Austria and came off the bench to score six goals in a 3-1 win over Jordan – becoming the first to score in seven consecutive World Cup matches. Although he missed a penalty before the double against Austria, he should be commended for his perseverance in finding the net after becoming the World Cup’s top scorer (19 goals).

Now, you could suggest that Argentina’s one fault so far seems to be relying a little on their aging captain, but the team has played well in general to work for him as much as possible, and we know how much quality the defending champions have. It may emerge, beyond Messi’s individual magic, as the tournament progresses.

3. Spain 🇪🇸 ↔️

Spain top group with win over Uruguay (Getty)

Spain is about to turn things around now, after a tough opening game they drew 0-0 with Cape Verde.

Lamine Yamal took just the first 10 minutes of the World Cup against Saudi Arabia to follow in the footsteps of other world champions at the tournament and join the scoring team, getting the ball rolling in a well-earned 4-0 win. La Roja without a sign. They then ensured they topped the group with a thrilling win over relegated Uruguay.

However, for them to score a goal as they head into the tournament, there is no reason to remove the tag of favorites given to Spain before the World Cup begins, despite that early shock. They slipped in their opening game of the 2010 World Cup (a 1-0 loss to Switzerland) before recovering and going on to win it, mind you.

4. England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 ↔️

Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham ensured England got through a tricky encounter with Panama (Getty)

England haven’t set the world on fire since bailing on their opening win against Croatia. Their narrow draw against Ghana was the type of game that led to the phrase “real test” being used in the footballing sense, and while they bounced back from that result with a 2-0 win against Panama at the top of the group, it’s not a very encouraging performance.

However, Thomas Tuchel’s men have qualified for the group and have done enough to avoid a possible draw with Portugal and then Spain in the first two qualifiers. Jude Bellingham is playing while Harry Kane’s three goals put him in contention for the golden boot, so don’t burn your “It’s Coming Home” t-shirts just yet.

5. Brazil 🇧🇷 ⬆️

Vinicius Jr has four goals so far this World Cup (Reuters)

After their comfortable opening game against Morocco, things have started to look good for Carlo Ancelotti’s Brazil. A thrilling outing against easy opposition in Haiti saw them pick up their first win of the tournament, but it was Scotland where that fear really set in.

Vinicius Jr scored as Matheus Cunha continued his goalscoring form at the World Cup, dismantling the Scots in a 3-0 win to send them into the pack. The result completed their recovery in the group stage as they topped Group C.

There is work to be done defensively when it comes to the knockouts and it has to do with Raphinha’s injury, but Brazil are growing at this World Cup, when Ancelotti’s men are up and firing.

6. Portugal 🇵🇹 ⬆️

Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates after scoring Portugal's third goal against Uzbekistan (Reuters)

It’s all about the quality of the opposition – and boy were they poor in Uzbekistan – but a 5-0 win in their second group game is the standard Roberto Martinez will want his Portugal side to hit from here. They were full of fluid and showed depth behind Cristiano Ronaldo as they kept pushing even after the substitutes arrived. That was much better than their disappointing first leg 1-1 draw with DR Congo, while they finished the group with the most entertaining 0-0 draw you could wish for against the Colombians. It wasn’t perfect, and they would have lost but Davinson Sanchez’s late goal was ruled out, but that spark was still there for the Portuguese. Croatia in the last 32 presents an interesting test ahead of a potentially memorable Last 16 match against Iberian rivals Spain.

Brian Brobbey flies to the Netherlands (PA)

Few would have doubted the quality of their defense and midfield before the tournament but now Brian Brobbey looks to be the answer to Ronald Koeman’s star striker. The Sunderland striker has scored three times in the last two group games, which have seen them top of Group F. Heading into the knockout stages, the best-known non-world champions could be more than a dark horse in the competition.

8. Morocco 🇲🇦 ⬇️

Morocco has entered the knockout stage despite being drawn by Haiti (Reuters)

The Afcon champions (sort of) were impressed by their draw against Brazil and if nothing else, they will remember this World Cup with Ismael Saibari’s goal in the 70th minute of their 1-0 win over Scotland. But the seventh-ranked team in the world showed their first jitters against already defeated Haiti, falling behind twice in the first half before coming back to win 4-2.

Failure to get a top score against the Caribbean minnows proved costly, with their second-placed finish in Group C meaning they face a tough round of 32 test against the Netherlands to kick off their relegation campaign. The Atlas Lions have looked dangerous so far in the tournament but in their bid to prove that their run to the semi-finals in 2022 was no fluke, the Dutch will give them a tough test.

9. Germany 🇩🇪 ⬇️

Germany saw their group campaign end with defeat to Ecuador (Reuters)

Germany entered the competition for the first time in 2014, and have gone through as group winners which should signal the end of an era of failure in the world. However, they are yet to prove themselves as real operators again.

Their first 7-1 win over Curacao was excellent but should be taken with a grain of salt given the quality of the opposition. The Ivory Coast were tricky opponents and Julian Nagelsmann’s side struggled to finish clear chances, at least until Deniz Undav, who grabbed the winner in the dying minutes. But when they faced Ecuador, they showed their failure, being beaten by a team that wanted more despite taking an early lead (and opposition).

There are still plenty of questions to be asked about their depth, squad selection and whether goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, 40, is still up to the job. Those will be answered in the knockouts.

10. Mexico 🇲🇽 ⬆️

Raul Jimenez celebrates his goal for Mexico at the World Cup (Getty)

Replacing their noisy neighbors in the top 10 heading into the knockout stages, Mexico have never put a foot wrong in their home World Cup debut. They recorded three wins on the trot at the top of their group but their credentials as “dark horses” will be tested against Ecuador in the round of 32, who are coming off the back of a win over Germany. Get over that and England could be waiting for them at the Azteca… what an event that would be.