Back by popular demand! You know them, you love them: My 2026 FIFA World Cup Power Rankings, featuring the top 10 in this tournament as of Wednesday.
And I've got a new No. 1.
As a reminder: These are my power rankings. You want some power rankings? Go get your own! These are mine, and they're a work in progress throughout the tournament.
I might get up and say, "Wow, this team is really turning me on!" Or, I might get up and say, "This team is not turning me on."
Netherlands, Croatia, Norway, Mexico and Brazil aren't in my top 10, but things can change. But keep in mind, just as you go up, you can come down as the tournament goes along.
Let's dive into it:
Japan came back twice to earn a draw against Netherlands in its World Cup opener. (Wu Xiaoling/Xinhua via Getty Images)
Odds to win the World Cup: +5500 (15th)
Key player: Forward Takefusa Kubo (Real Sociedad)
Japan impressed with a 2-2 draw against the Netherlands on Sunday in the teams' Group F opener, and the Samurai Blue hope to carry their momentum into their Tunisia match. It could be challenging if Kubo's status is questionable after he was injured against the Dutch.
Group F opponents: Netherlands (2-2 D), Tunisia (June 20), Sweden (June 25)
Folarin Balogun (right) shined in the USA's World Cup opener. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
Odds to win the World Cup: +4000 (12th)
Key player: Forward Folarin Balogun (Monaco)
Nothing beats home cooking, but the United States might need a double helping of it this summer if it wants to contend. So far, so good.
Group D opponents: Paraguay (4-1 W), Australia (June 19), Türkiye (June 25)
Odds to win the World Cup: +5500 (13th)
Key player: Forward Luis Diaz (Bayern Munich)
I see the heat and environment in the United States favoring South American teams this summer. Colombia has shown it can compete with the best at these big tournaments, and it has a star in attack in Diaz who could lead it to the promised land.
Group K opponents: Uzbekistan (June 17), DR Congo (June 23), Portugal (June 27)
(Ayman Aref/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Odds to win the World Cup: +3500 (10th)
Key player: Forward Brahim Díaz (Real Madrid)
Morocco isn't sneaking up on anyone this summer, except maybe Brazil. This isn't an underdog team anymore, and Group C is on notice after a strong performance in its World Cup opener.
Group C opponents: Brazil (1-1 D), Scotland (June 19), Haiti (June 24)
Jamal Musiala (right) will be a key playmaker for Germany. (Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)
Odds to win the World Cup: +1400 (7th)
Key player: Midfielder Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich)
Even a mediocre German team is still German. While manager Julian Nagelsmann's squad lacks truly elite players, it will still be a force to be reckoned with this summer.
Group E opponents: Curaçao (7-1 W), Ivory Coast (June 20), Ecuador (June 25)
Cristiano Ronaldo (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)
Odds to win the World Cup: +800 (4th)
Key player: Forward Cristiano Ronaldo (Al Nassr)
The dynamic surrounding Ronaldo will make or break this tournament for Portugal. The 41-year-old is missing one major trophy in his career, and that's the World Cup. Will the attention he draws be a help or a hindrance? He was held without a goal against DR Congo.
Group K opponents: DR Congo (1-1 D), Uzbekistan (June 23), Colombia (June 27)
Harry Kane starring for England (Getty)
Odds to win the World Cup: +700 (3rd)
Key player: Forward Harry Kane (Bayern Munich)
It pains me to say this, but this is the best England team in decades. With striker Harry Kane leading the attack and Bellingham and Declan Rice in midfield, this could be the year that England breaks through and wins a major international trophy.
Group L opponents: Croatia (4-2 W), Ghana (June 23), Panama (June 27)
Lamine Yamal for Spain (Photo by Marvin Ibo Guengoer - GES Sportfoto/Getty Images)
Odds to win the World Cup: +550 (2nd)
Key player: Forward Lamine Yamal (Barcelona)
This is not your parents' Spain, which won the Euros twice and the 2010 World Cup. It's better. The Spaniards won Euro 2024 and have not lost since March 2024 — plus, only twice since the start of 2023. Nonetheless, it needs to bounce back after a surprising draw against Cape Verde in the teams' World Cup opening match.
Group H opponents: Cape Verde (0-0 D), Saudia Arabia (June 21), Uruguay (June 26)
Kylian Mbappé is shining for France (Photo by Shaun Botterill - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
Odds to win the World Cup: +400 (1st)
Key player: Forward Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid)
The combination of talent, depth and arrogance in this square … it's like a lethal French perfume. Mbappé was in preak form against Senegal, and manager Didier Deschamps' team has everything needed to send him off with a win this summer in his final major tournament in charge.
Group I opponents: Senegal (3-1 W), Iraq (June 22), Norway (June 26)
Lionel Messi (right) still has the magic. (Omar Vega/Getty Images)
Odds to win the World Cup: +850 (5th)
Key player: Forward Lionel Messi (Inter Miami)
In a vacuum, I'd have Argentina higher, but no team has won consecutive World Cups since Brazil way back in 1958 and 1962. But we all saw what Messi and the team did Tuesday against Algeria, and no other team deserves the top spot right now.
Group J opponents: Algeria (3-0 W), Austria (June 22), Jordan (June 27)
