ESPN power rankings: France takes top spot as Argentina and Spain follow
France received 12 of 19 first-place votes, bolstered by a weather-delayed victory over Iraq, while Argentina’s perfect record and Messi’s record-breaking form secure second place.
France has been installed as the number one team in ESPN’s FIFA World Cup 2026 power rankings following the completion of the second round of group stage matches. A panel of 19 reporters awarded the French side 12 first-place votes, citing their dominant performances and resilience in the face of significant logistical challenges. The rankings reflect the current state of the 48-team tournament hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
The top spot for France was reinforced by their 3-0 victory over Iraq in Philadelphia, a match that was halted for two hours and 12 minutes due to severe thunderstorms and lightning. Play resumed after spectators were evacuated and the pitch was washed out, with Kylian Mbappé scoring twice and Ousmane Dembélé adding a third goal to secure the win. Despite the disruption, the voters remained confident in Didier Deschamps’ side as the form team of the tournament.
Argentina sits in second place, having secured two wins from two games without conceding a goal. The Albiceleste’s campaign has been defined by Lionel Messi, who has scored all five of his team’s goals, breaking the all-time men’s World Cup scoring record and the combined men’s and women’s record. Messi also played in a record sixth World Cup, and his side received five first-place votes from the ESPN panel, keeping them within striking distance of France in the eyes of experts.
Spain occupies the third position, having drawn with Cape Verde and defeated Saudi Arabia. The voters noted the impact of Lamine Yamal’s return to the starting lineup and the clinical finishing of Mikel Oyarzabal. England drops to fourth after a frustrating 0-0 draw with Ghana, where coach Thomas Tuchel faced criticism for a lack of creative options on the bench despite dominating possession. Germany follows in fifth, having defeated Croatia 4-2, though they will miss defender Nico Schlotterbeck for the remainder of the tournament due to an ankle injury.
The remaining top eight includes Brazil in sixth, Norway in seventh, and Morocco in eighth. Erling Haaland of Norway and Mbappé are tied for second in the Golden Boot race with four goals each. Meanwhile, Cape Verde remains in contention for the round of 32 after drawing with Spain and Uruguay, and the United States defeated Australia 2-0, with Alex Freeman scoring a header. Voting for these rankings concluded before the final group stage matches involving teams such as Brazil, Mexico, and Canada.
