The 2026 FIFA World Cup group stage is finished. Thirty-two teams have advanced to the knockout rounds, and the bracket is now set. There are no redraws and no swaps. Every remaining team knows exactly who stands between them and the final.
According to a report by CBS Sports, France and Argentina sit at the top of the power rankings heading into the knockout phase. Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele have been described as looking incredible as the tournament enters what CBS Sports called its key phase. France holds the number one spot, and a potential round of 16 matchup against Germany adds another layer to their path.
Argentina sits at number two. Lionel Messi officially became the first player in World Cup history to score a goal in seven consecutive World Cup games. The Argentines also have what CBS Sports described as a quite easy path to the quarterfinals, which gives the squad time to build without facing immediate elimination pressure.
Spain ranks third. The assessment from CBS Sports is that the team can only improve in the coming days, though the report notes that other teams currently look to be in better shape. Spain's next opponent is Austria, with a potential round of 16 meeting against Portugal on the horizon.
England moved up one spot to fourth. Harry Kane passed Gary Lineker to become England's all-time leading World Cup scorer, reaching 11 tournament goals. Kane has scored 70 goals combined for club and country this season, which surpassed Cristiano Ronaldo's previous single-season European scoring record.
Portugal dropped one spot to fifth despite being considered one of the most talented rosters in the tournament. CBS Sports noted the team has not yet shown its full potential and that there is not much time left to do so.
Brazil sits sixth, still improving game by game under manager Carlo Ancelotti. Their round of 32 match against Japan is described as the first real test under pressure for the Brazilian squad this tournament.
Norway ranks seventh. CBS Sports noted that many questioned their placement in the top ten before the tournament, but their World Cup performances have justified the ranking. The one disappointment for Norway has been that Erling Haaland did not get to play against France.
Morocco and the Netherlands round out the eighth and ninth spots. The two teams are set to face each other in the round of 32. CBS Sports called it a high-profile match and said it would be a disappointment if Morocco did not advance further.
Among the biggest movers in the updated rankings, South Africa jumped 14 spots and Uruguay dropped 20. Uruguay was identified as one of the major disappointments of the group stage, a result that significantly changed their standing compared to pre-tournament rankings.
The United States men's national team is described as continuing to dream big and closing in on the top 10 of the rankings as the knockout rounds begin.
The fixed bracket format means every team can now map out the exact sequence of opponents needed to reach the final. There are no easy paths left for anyone near the top of the draw.
