Argentina and Messi Are Back on Top: World Cup Power Rankings After Day 6
Day 5 was all about smaller nations finding ways to steal a point against favorites.
Day 6 was the complete opposite, as the biggest stars of the game flexed their muscles, with the likes of Lionel Messi putting on performances for the ages at the World Cup.
The defending champions and runner-ups made their 2026 tournament debuts on Tuesday, and both impressed in their opening victories, seeking another World Cup Final.
How do the 40 teams rank heading into the final day of the first round?
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The I Know They Can Win It All Tier
While other teams have been impressive this tournament, Argentina and France are the only two teams that have shown me that these squads can win the World Cup.
France looked asleep for the first half against Senegal, but when Michael Olise began to take over the talisman role in the offense, it was like a switch was flipped. The attack is too good to be ignored, even when they feel like they’re jogging for the first 30 minutes and look disinterested.
And for Argentina, Lionel Messi proved that he is still standing on a mountain by himself. He scored a hat trick as a 38-year-old turning 39 in a week, and the entire team, like usual, felt energized with him pushing forward. Argentina might be a bit older and not as shiny as France or some other teams, but they know what it takes to win it all, and they have Messi. And if they have Messi, they can win it all.
The Could Go Far This Summer Tier
- 3. Germany
- 4. United States of America
- 5. Sweden
- 6. Norway
- 7. Ivory Coast
- 8. South Korea
- 9. Australia
- 10. Morocco
- 11. Japan
- 12. Netherlands
- 13. Austria
- 14. Brazil
- 15. Mexico
All of these teams had a plan going into their first game and succeeded, by varying levels of success. Norway took down Iraq by a 4-1 scoreline, but their defense did look beatable against a team they were expected to trounce. Still, Erling Haaland is a special player, and they have an overall offense that will make them a dangerous out for anyone in the knockout rounds.
The It’s Not Over Yet Tier
- 16. Scotland
- 17. Senegal
- 18. Spain
- 19. Belgium
- 20. Uruguay
- 21. Algeria
- 22. Cape Verde
- 23. Saudi Arabia
- 24. Ecuador
- 25. Canada
- 26. Switzerland
- 27. Iran
- 28. New Zealand
- 29. Bosnia
- 30. Qatar
- 31. Algeria
- 32. Turkey
- 33. Czechia
- 34. Haiti
- 35. Jordan
I did not expect Spain to be in the same tier as Jordan, Haiti, or their new archrivals Cape Verde after the sixth day of the World Cup, but here we are.
I mulled over bumping Jordan down to the bottom group, but they were relatively impressive against Austria despite the 1-3 defeat. The team has some speed and skill on it, and they played more cohesively than the likes of South Africa in their opener. I’m interested to see what they can do against Algeria in their next game.
The Abyss of Badness Tier
- 36. Paraguay
- 37. Iraq
- 38. Curaçao
- 39. Tunisia
- 40. South Africa
South Africa has not moved from their last day spot since the very first game of the tournament. I have them below Tunisia, who literally fired their coach after losing their first game to Sweden. They have a lot to make up for on Thursday against Czechia.
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This story was originally published June 17, 2026 at 12:10 AM.