.svg&w=384&q=75 "naujapitch logo"){kind=small}
World Cup Power Rankings: Day 13 Insights
Cristiano Ronaldo has finally joined the World Cup. England, meanwhile, look like they’re trying to sneak out of it.
Day 13 brought a Ronaldo double in Portugal’s demolition of Uzbekistan and a goalless grind between England and Ghana. None of it, though, has truly shaken the established order. The heavyweights at the top are settled; it will take something seismic to move them now.
Here’s where the field stands.
1. France (FIFA ranking: 3)
No movement
Someone is going to have to do something extraordinary to knock France off this perch. Right now, they look like a team that has solved its own puzzle.
Since the second half of their opener against Senegal, Michael Olise has been given the keys in the No 10 role. He pulled the strings again in the 3-0 win over Iraq, adding two more assists to a growing highlight reel.
A storm delay in Philadelphia only paused the show. It did nothing to Kylian Mbappe’s rhythm. Two more goals, just as he managed in the previous match, and France cruised into the knockouts. Norway await on Friday to decide who tops the group. Didier Deschamps will miss that game following the death of his mother, but he is expected back for the business end. France look ready for it.
2. Argentina (FIFA ranking: 1)
No movement
Lionel Messi is 38. You wouldn’t know it from this tournament.
He has scored all five of Argentina’s goals across their two wins and, with his double against Austria, became the World Cup’s all-time leading scorer. This is domination, not nostalgia.
Behind him, the defence has quietly stitched together back-to-back clean sheets, though Cristian Romero’s knee injury against Austria is an unwelcome cloud. At some point, other forwards will have to join the party. For now, Argentina are leaning on the greatest of all time — and he’s still carrying them.
3. Germany (FIFA ranking: 10)
No movement
The 7-1 thrashing of Curacao was eye-catching. The 2-1 comeback against Ivory Coast told us far more.
Trailing late, Julian Nagelsmann turned to Deniz Undav. The “supersub” responded with a brace off the bench, the winner arriving in added time after a sharp ball from Felix Nmecha and a ruthless turn-and-finish from Undav.
That victory sealed top spot in Group E and, crucially, marked Germany’s first progression from a World Cup group since they lifted the trophy in 2014. Momentum has finally returned to a fallen giant.
4. Spain (FIFA ranking: 2)
Up 1
Humiliated by a draw with Cape Verde in their opener, Spain came back snarling.
Saudi Arabia felt the response. A 4-0 beating, 22 shots, 2.85 xG, and the sense that the scoreline could have been heavier. This was control bordering on cruelty.
Lamine Yamal marked his first World Cup start with a goal inside 10 minutes and got 45 minutes of valuable tournament rhythm. Mikel Oyarzabal, who barely touched the ball for half an hour against Cape Verde, scored twice. Spain reset their tone. Beat Uruguay on Friday and Group H is theirs.
5. England (FIFA ranking: 4)
Down 1
The swagger of the 4-2 win over Croatia? Gone. In its place: a familiar, flat 0-0 against Ghana.
This was the England many recognise. Slow, predictable, struggling to break down organised, lower-ranked opponents. The excitement and “It’s coming home” noise has dimmed, at least for a few days.
The equation is simple enough: beat Panama in their final group game and they still top the group. The concern is not the maths. It’s the mood.
6. Netherlands (FIFA ranking: 8)
No movement
The Netherlands didn’t just beat Sweden. They shredded them.
Brian Brobbey’s introduction to the starting XI changed the dynamic. He bullied Sweden’s defence, dovetailing with Cody Gakpo and Crysencio Summerville in an attack that looked fluid and ruthless.
With Tunisia to come, a group that looked awkward on paper now appears there for the taking. Top spot beckons.
7. Brazil (FIFA ranking: 6)
No movement
Brazil needed a performance that calmed the nerves. Haiti obliged.
A 3-0 win restored a measure of order after a shaky opener. Matheus Cunha, preferred to Igor Thiago, looked a more natural fit in a fluid front line. It wasn’t a statement against elite opposition, but it didn’t need to be. It was controlled, comfortable, and clean.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side now turn to Scotland, chasing another convincing display to lock down Group C.
8. Morocco (FIFA ranking: 7)
No movement
Expectations back home are enormous after a 2022 semi-final run and an AFCON title. So far, Morocco are carrying that weight well.
A draw with Brazil and a win over Scotland have them well placed in Group C. Ismael Saibari has taken both of their goals with real composure, a calm finisher in a high-pressure campaign.
They may need a sizeable victory over Haiti to be sure of topping the group, depending on Brazil’s result against Scotland. But the real objective is simple: get through. They are on course.
9. United States (FIFA ranking: 17)
No movement
When people start asking if the U.S. can win the World Cup, you know something is stirring.
Maybe that’s premature. What’s not in doubt is how impressive they’ve been. A 4-1 demolition of Paraguay, followed by a 2-0 win over Australia, both without needing Christian Pulisic, speaks to depth and daring.
Mauricio Pochettino has them playing front-foot football with a rotating cast of attackers. They’ve already secured top spot in the group, so Pulisic can be rested against Turkey. The Americans are not just progressing; they’re entertaining.
10. Norway (FIFA ranking: 31)
No movement
Dark horses? They’re starting to look more like a genuine threat.
A 3-2 win over Senegal showcased both their power and their flaws. Norway ran at the (stripped) African champions, created chance after chance, and forced defensive errors. Conceding late took the shine off, but seven goals in two games tells its own story.
Erling Haaland, of course, is the headline. Another double, another defence unable to contain him. The back line is still vulnerable. The attack, though, can overwhelm almost anyone.
11. Colombia (FIFA ranking: 14)
Up 1
Colombia have not been flawless. They have been effective.
Two wins from two, a perfect record, but not a perfect performance. They wobbled against Uzbekistan and made their 1-0 win over DR Congo tighter than it needed to be. None of that matters as much as the fact they’re already through.
With progression secured and a game to spare, the pressure eases ahead of a tantalising clash with Portugal. A draw is enough to top the group. The football, you suspect, will be anything but cautious.
12. Mexico (FIFA ranking: 13)
Down 1
The first team to book a place in the knockout stage, and they did it their way: steady, not spectacular.
A 1-0 win over South Korea followed a similarly controlled victory against South Africa. Two games, two wins, two clean sheets. Mexico have guaranteed top spot in Group A and, crucially, ensured that both their last-32 and potential last-16 matches will be in Mexico City.
They haven’t dazzled yet. They haven’t needed to.
13. Portugal (FIFA ranking: 5)
No movement
Portugal needed a response after a flat opener against DR Congo. They delivered a 5-0 hammering of Uzbekistan, and Ronaldo took centre stage.
Two goals for the captain, and with them a slice of history: the first man to score in six different World Cups. More importantly for Portugal, it quietens — for now — the endless debate over his place in the side.
The caveat is obvious. Uzbekistan’s defence looked overwhelmed and inexperienced. The real examination comes next against Colombia. That will tell us how far this team can really go.
14. Croatia (FIFA ranking: 11)
No movement
Croatia are still clinging to the edge of this tournament.
They survived a couple of scares against Panama before substitute Ante Budimir settled it with a close-range finish in a 1-0 win. It was laboured, not luminous.
This “golden-olden” generation has made a habit of defying doubt — finalists in 2018, semi-finalists in 2022. The early signs here are less convincing, but history says you underestimate them at your peril.
15. Egypt (FIFA ranking: 29)
No movement
At long last, Egypt have a World Cup win.
They were pushed hard by New Zealand, even forced to come from behind, but Mohamed Salah dragged them over the line with a goal and an assist. It was overdue, and it mattered.
There is little so far to suggest a deep run is coming. Yet if they beat Iran on Friday, they top Group G and draw a third-placed side in the round of 32. In a tournament this volatile, that’s a serious opportunity.
16. Japan (FIFA ranking: 18)
No movement
Japan are almost there. A 4-0 dismantling of Tunisia — featuring an Ayase Ueda double — has left them more than 99 per cent likely to progress.
In the 1,000th World Cup match, they recorded their biggest-ever win at the finals and became the first Asian team to score four in a single World Cup game. Tunisia’s struggles temper the hype, but Japan have shown a clear identity: speed, intensity, and a sharp pressing game.
They look like a team who know exactly who they are.
17. South Korea (FIFA ranking: 22)
No movement
This was not the plan.
South Korea’s limp display in a 1-0 defeat to Mexico leaves them on the brink. They created almost nothing in Guadalajara, and Son Heung-min was withdrawn before the hour mark in a symbolic moment of frustration.
They still have the talent to beat South Africa in their final group game. Now they need their stars to prove it.
18. Switzerland (FIFA ranking: 19)
No movement
A late surge, a new name.
Switzerland’s 4-1 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina turned on Johan Manzambi. At 20 years and 247 days, the Freiburg forward became the youngest player to score a double as a substitute in a men’s World Cup match. It felt like a breakout.
Canada are next. A draw sends Switzerland through; a win hands them the group. The stakes are clear.
19. Canada (FIFA ranking: 30)
No movement
Canada didn’t just win their first-ever World Cup game. They made a statement.
Qatar were crushed 6-0 in Vancouver, as Jesse Marsch’s side unleashed the aggressive, front-foot style he demands. Jonathan David helped himself to a hat-trick. Almost everything clicked.
The one sour note was Ismael Kone’s injury, a significant blow. Even so, a draw against Switzerland on Wednesday would be enough to take the co-hosts into the knockouts. Canada have arrived.
20. Ghana (FIFA ranking: 73)
Up 3
Ghana’s week could hardly have gone better.
They followed a last-minute win over Panama with a stubborn, disciplined 0-0 draw against England. They even carried a real threat on the break and might have had a penalty for Ezri Konsa’s challenge on Prince Kwabena Adu, had VAR not effectively gone missing.
Four points from two games all but guarantees a place in the knockouts. This is a team growing in belief.
21. Belgium (FIFA ranking: 9)
Down 1
That FIFA ranking feels like a relic.
Belgium racked up 23 shots, 1.82 xG and 70 per cent possession against Iran. They still couldn’t win. The numbers say they dominated; the reality is a team that looks like half of what it should be.
Kevin De Bruyne’s brilliance and Romelu Lukaku’s record goalscoring tally don’t count for much when the collective is this disjointed. Failing to beat Egypt and Iran leaves them clinging on. Even if they beat New Zealand on Friday, how far can this version of Belgium really go? They badly need Jeremy Doku back and firing.
22. Ivory Coast (FIFA ranking: 33)
Down 1
Ivory Coast have shown they can live with the best — for a while.
They led Germany for more than half an hour and their wide men, Yan Diomande and Amad, have stretched defences. But they couldn’t close out what would have been a statement result.
Even so, The Athletic’s forecast model gives them a 95 per cent chance of reaching the World Cup knockout stage for the first time. They are close to a breakthrough.
23. Uruguay (FIFA ranking: 16)
Down 1
Two games, 44 shots, 3.88 xG, three goals… and only two points. Uruguay’s World Cup has become a lesson in frustration.
They now have to get a result against Spain to survive. Marcelo Bielsa will have imagined a very different path out of Group H.
Uruguay arrived with a high-class midfield and qualification form that matched Brazil and Colombia on points, but their pre-tournament slump has followed them here. The flimsy two-man wall that allowed Cape Verde’s long-range free kick to sneak in summed up their fragility.
24. Algeria (FIFA ranking: 28)
No movement
Algeria have found a weapon: set pieces.
Both of their goals in the comeback win over Jordan came from corners, an edge that could trouble stronger opponents even when chances are scarce. Riyad Mahrez’s return to the starting XI added creativity in open play.
Their meeting with Austria on Sunday will likely decide second place. With a minus-two goal difference, they still have work to do if they want to sneak through as one of the best third-placed teams.
25. Sweden (FIFA ranking: 38)
No movement
Sweden’s World Cup has already shown their split personality.
They dismantled Tunisia 5-1, then suffered the same scoreline in reverse against the Netherlands. That contrast lays bare their level: too strong for weaker sides when Viktor Gyokeres and Alexander Isak are on song, but a step below the top nations and exposed defensively.
26. Senegal (FIFA ranking: 15)
No movement
The start promised more than this.
After a bright first half against France, Senegal have conceded six goals across two games and remain pointless. The positives? Ismaila Sarr’s double against Norway and Ibrahim Mbaye’s strike against France prove they can hurt elite teams.
Defensively, though, errors and injuries have cost them. Edouard Mendy produced big saves against Norway before going off injured after an hour. Now they need a big win over Iraq on Friday and a favourable goal difference to squeeze through as one of the best third-placed sides. The drop in these rankings reflects the danger they’re in.
27. Australia (FIFA ranking: 27)
No movement
Optimism faded quickly.
After beating Turkey 2-0, Australia struggled badly against the United States, especially before half-time. Tony Popovic’s decision to leave out both Turkey scorers, Nestory Irankunda and Connor Metcalfe, from the starting line-up stripped them of pace and threat on the break.
They now face Paraguay with second place on the line. The margin for error has gone.
28. Austria (FIFA ranking: 25)
No movement
Ralf Rangnick tweaked his side against Argentina, bringing in Kevin Danso at the back and Paul Wanner in midfield. The underlying problem remained.
Austria have quality but lack both a prolific striker and an imposing defence — as shown by conceding to Jordan. It’s hard to see exactly where they can consistently hurt top teams.
Their showdown with Algeria on Sunday will decide who takes second place. One of them will have to find a cutting edge.
29. Scotland (FIFA ranking: 41)
No movement
Scotland’s calculators are working overtime.
After edging Haiti 1-0 and then battling bravely in a 1-0 defeat to Morocco, they now face Brazil with a simple, daunting question: how many can they afford to concede and still sneak through as one of the best third-placed teams?
The second-half display against Morocco offered hope that they can trouble the five-time champions. Any positive result on Wednesday would send Scotland into the World Cup knockouts for the first time. That alone is fuel.
30. Iran (FIFA ranking: 20)
No movement
On paper, a draw with Belgium looks like a triumph. On the pitch, it felt like an opportunity missed.
Iran carved out good chances and saw a clever free-kick routine ruled out for a marginal offside. They then failed to take advantage when Belgium went down to 10 men.
The earlier draw with New Zealand may yet prove even more costly. To have any chance of a miracle progression, they need Egypt to ease off in their final Group G match. Hope, at this point, is thin.
31. Ecuador (FIFA ranking: 24)
No movement
Nineteen matches. Two years. No defeats. Ecuador arrived in form and have unravelled on the biggest stage.
A loss to Ivory Coast and a draw with Curacao have left them in serious trouble. They’ve generated 4.08 xG without scoring, a cocktail of wastefulness and misfortune. Enner Valencia, so prolific in Qatar 2022 with three group-stage goals, has not found the same edge at 36.
Now they face Germany on Thursday, hoping Nagelsmann rests players with progression already secured. It’s a slim lifeline.
32. Paraguay (FIFA ranking: 40)
No movement
This was more like the Paraguay many expected.
They started their 1-0 win over Turkey at full tilt, Matias Galarza smashing in from distance after just two minutes. When Miguel Almiron became the first player ever sent off for covering his mouth while speaking to an opponent, they were forced into a siege.
Turkey piled forward. Paraguay held. The defence that looked flimsy against the U.S. stood firm. Losing Almiron to suspension for the Australia match is a major blow, but second place is still in their hands.
33. Cape Verde (FIFA ranking: 67)
No movement
One of the stories of the tournament, and it’s not over yet.
Cape Verde have drawn with Spain and Uruguay, two former world champions, and done it with style. A 40-yard free kick — helped by Uruguay’s dreadful wall — and a moment of ingenuity from substitute Helio Varela delivered a 2-2 thriller against Bielsa’s side.
Now comes Saudi Arabia. Win, and Cape Verde become perhaps the most unlikely knockout team this competition has seen. Even a draw might be enough. It’s already remarkable. It could become historic.
34. Saudi Arabia (FIFA ranking: 60)
No movement
Reality bit hard.
After a spirited draw with Uruguay, Saudi Arabia were dismantled 4-0 by Spain. The scoreline flattered them; Spain’s dominance was total.
Yet the path is still clear. Beat Cape Verde, finish on four points, and they’ll likely be at least third in Group H. Before the tournament, they’d have accepted that scenario without hesitation. Now they must take it.
35. New Zealand (FIFA ranking: 85)
No movement
The old stubbornness is still there.
New Zealand drew all three games in 2010 and had not lost a World Cup match since 1982. Egypt, and Mohamed Salah, ended that run with a 3-1 win, despite Finn Surman giving New Zealand a first-half lead.
Even so, history remains within reach. Beat a faltering Belgium side on Saturday and they will almost certainly reach the knockout stage for the first time. For a team ranked 85th in the world, that would be a landmark.
36. Czech Republic (FIFA ranking: 43)
Up 1
The Czech Republic started fast, then stalled.
Michal Sadilek scored the fastest goal of this World Cup — five minutes and seven seconds — against South Africa, but they couldn’t finish the job. A late equaliser made it 1-1, a result that suited nobody.
They now have to beat co-hosts Mexico in Mexico City to advance. That’s not a task; it’s a mountain.
37. Bosnia and Herzegovina (FIFA ranking: 64)
Up 1
Bosnia and Herzegovina are walking a tightrope.
They led Switzerland before collapsing late in a 4-1 defeat. Now it’s simple: beat Qatar in Seattle on Wednesday and they will almost certainly progress on four points.
There is no safety net.
38. DR Congo (FIFA ranking: 46)
Up 2
DR Congo keep standing tall against bigger names.
They followed their impressive 1-1 draw with Portugal with a narrow 1-0 loss to Colombia, again showing defensive organisation and menace on the break, especially through Yoane Wissa.
Beat Uzbekistan this weekend and four points should carry them into the knockouts. They have earned the right to believe.
39. Qatar (FIFA ranking: 56)
No movement
This was a nightmare.
Six goals conceded to Canada, two players sent off, and a performance that unravelled from the first whistle. Yet, oddly, their task remains straightforward.
Beat Bosnia and Herzegovina in their final group game and they will almost certainly reach the knockout stage on four points. For a side this low in the rankings, that possibility still feels surreal.
40. Curacao (FIFA ranking: 82)
Up 1
A new World Cup, another goalkeeping epic.
Eloy Room produced a 15-save masterclass to earn Curacao a draw with Ecuador and keep their debut campaign alive. At 37, he wrote himself into tournament folklore.
If they beat Ivory Coast, they have a genuine shot at progression. That alone is a staggering sentence.
41. South Africa (FIFA ranking: 61)
Up 2
Improved, but maybe too late.
South Africa fought back to draw 1-1 with the Czech Republic and could argue they deserved more. They needed a win, though, and now face the daunting prospect of beating South Korea to stay alive.
They have shown spirit. They now need an upset.
42. Iraq (FIFA ranking: 57)
Up 2
Iraq have run into a brutal schedule.
Two games, two of the world’s deadliest forwards: Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe. Unsurprisingly, they’ve struggled to cope. Captain Aymen Hussein, who scored against Norway, went off injured after 26 minutes in the loss to France, compounding their problems.
To have any hope, they must thrash Senegal. That feels a distant dream.
43. Uzbekistan (FIFA ranking: 50)
Down 1
Uzbekistan’s World Cup took a heavy blow.
After a promising display against Colombia, they were torn apart 5-0 by Portugal. Ronaldo scored twice, the defence crumbled, and star man Abdukodir Khusanov ended the night in tears.
They were never expected to take much from their first two matches, but the scale of the defeat has damaged both confidence and goal difference. Now they must beat DR Congo and hope other results fall their way. It’s a steep climb.
The eliminated teams
44. Panama (FIFA ranking: 34)
Down 8
Panama are out, but they leave with mixed emotions.
Two 1-0 defeats, to Ghana and Croatia, both decided by fine margins and late moments. They competed, created chances, and will feel they let opportunities slip.
Pride and regret will travel home together.
45. Jordan (FIFA ranking: 63)
No movement
Jordan’s debut ends at the group stage.
They scored in both games, against Austria and Algeria, but couldn’t contain either opponent. Where other newcomers have relied on heroic goalkeeping to stay alive, Jordan lacked that final layer of resistance.
The foundation is there. The edge was missing.
46. Haiti (FIFA ranking: 83)
No movement
Haiti became the first side eliminated, beaten 3-0 by Brazil. The story is bigger than the scoreline.
Drawn into one of the tournament’s toughest groups and unable to play on home soil due to political turmoil, they pushed Scotland hard and might feel aggrieved to have left that game with nothing. Against Brazil, the gulf was always likely to be too wide. Conceding three before half-time, they at least “drew” the second half 0-0.
They face Morocco next, still chasing a first World Cup point since 1974. The dream is modest. The effort has not been.
47. Turkey (FIFA ranking: 23)
No movement
Turkey. The eternal trap.
With Kenan Yildiz and Arda Guler in attack and Ferdi Kadioglu anchoring an experienced defence, they arrived as many people’s dark horses in one of the “easier” groups. They are already out.
Sixty-two shots in two games, no goals. A 1-0 defeat to Paraguay, who played half the match with 10 men, summed it up. Call it bad luck if you like, but if you can’t score in those circumstances, you don’t deserve any.
48. Tunisia (FIFA ranking: 45)
No movement
Tunisia’s campaign has been brutal.
A 5-1 loss to Sweden cost Sabri Lamouchi his job. His replacement, Herve Renard, watched a 4-0 defeat to Japan that was just as one-sided. Two games, minus-eight goal difference — the worst record in the tournament.
The World Cup can be unforgiving. Tunisia have felt every blow.
The favourites are settling, the dark horses are emerging, and the margins for everyone else are shrinking by the day. With the group stage reaching its climax, the real question now is simple: who’s built for the chaos to come?
