USA Are Rocketing Up the World Cup Power Rankings After Beating Australia
It was another huge day in North America, as four more World Cup games took place, with the United States of America opening the quadruple-header with a win over Australia and then confirming their spot as the No. 1 team in Group D with the final match of the evening.
Paraguay gritted out a 1-0 win over a snakebit Turkey squad, which advanced the U.S. as the winner of the group and outright eliminating Turkey before they play their final game against the Americans.
It has been the worst possible tournament for Turkey imaginable, as they’ve held over 70% possession in both of their matches and have flung 50-plus shots at net without any of them going in. It almost felt like a forcefield was keeping the ball from going over the line against Paraguay, with the South American side going down to 10 men right before halftime.
For Paraguay, who have languished at near the bottom of the rankings since getting blown out 4-1 to the U.S. last week, it is a gigantic victory, putting them in a position where a draw or victory in their final game against Australia would send them to the Round of 32.
Over in Group C, Brazil and Morocco both took care of business, setting up a final day where it could come down to goal differential on who tops the group.
While Haiti is now eliminated with Turkey after losing 3-0 to Brazil, Scotland might need to bunker in their final game against the five-time World Cup champions, their three points possibly enough to get them into the knockouts and a date with Mexico in the first round.
Overall, the biggest riser of the day goes to Paraguay. After a week in the dungeon, they finally grabbed some respect following their heroic efforts down a man.
More news: I'm American and Afraid to Admit It: England Can Win the World Cup
More news: Ranking All 48 Teams at the World Cup After the First Round of Matches
World Cup Power Rankings (After Day 9)
- Argentina
- France
- England
- United States of America
- Germany
- Sweden
- Norway
- Ivory Coast
- Brazil
- Colombia
- Mexico
- Morocco
- Canada
- Japan
- Netherlands
- Australia
- Austria
- Switzerland
- Senegal
- Croatia
- Spain
- Belgium
- Uruguay
- Scotland
- South Korea
- Paraguay
- Algeria
- Cape Verde
- Saudi Arabia
- Algeria
- Ecuador
- Iran
- New Zealand
- Portugal
- Ghana
- DR Congo
- Uzbekistan
- Jordan
- Czechia
- Bosnia & Herzegovina
- Iraq
- South Africa
- Curacao
- Panama
- Turkey
- Haiti
- Tunisia
- Qatar
2026 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
This story was originally published June 20, 2026 at 8:48 AM.