France and Argentina lead 2026 World Cup power rankings as five nations exit
CBS Sports assesses the final standings ahead of the decisive round, highlighting Lionel Messi’s historic goal tally and the struggles of top contenders England and Uruguay.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is approaching the final round of its group stage, with 48 teams competing for places in the knockout phase. According to the latest power rankings from CBS Sports, France and Argentina have established themselves as the tournament’s leading contenders, driven by exceptional performances from their star players.
Lionel Messi has set a new World Cup scoring record with 18 career goals, a milestone achieved after netting five times in just two matches for Argentina. His compatriot Kylian Mbappe is also in formidable form for France, with analysts suggesting his current trajectory could challenge Messi’s newly established record. France is currently ranked number one, viewed as the team to beat as they prepare to face Norway in their final group fixture.
The tournament has seen an unprecedented volume of goals, with 139 scored across the first 45 games. This total surpasses the 136 goals recorded during the 2014 group stage and approaches the all-time single-edition record of 172 set in Qatar 2022. Structural changes, including the expanded 48-team format, the introduction of hydration breaks, and the deployment of the new Adidas Trionda ball, have been cited as key factors in the high scoring volume.
While the top teams advance, five nations have already been eliminated: Panama, Tunisia, Jordan, Haiti, and Turkiye. Turkiye’s exit has been particularly notable, as the team registered 62 shots in two games without scoring a single goal, marking the highest number of shots without a goal by a team in a single World Cup since 1966.
In contrast to the high-scoring trends, England’s campaign has faced scrutiny following a 0-0 draw with Ghana. The result has prompted questions regarding manager Thomas Tuchel’s pre-tournament decisions, specifically the exclusion of Cole Palmer from the squad. Meanwhile, Spain recovered from an opening draw to defeat Saudi Arabia 4-0, while Portugal secured their first win with a victory over DR Congo, aided by a brace from Cristiano Ronaldo.
