2026 World Cup Power Rankings After the Round of 32
The World Cup round of 32 provided one huge upset and a couple of near misses, emphasizing to the teams still alive that no team in the competition should be taken lightly.
Now, 16 nations remain in the pursuit of global footballing glory, with the round of 16 kicking off with Canada vs. Morocco on Saturday.
With the quarterfinals looming, which nations received a boost in the World Cup power rankings and which were sent plummeting after packing their bags?
Stats from Fotmob unless otherwise stated.
48-33 (Eliminated)
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48. Iraq
47. Tunisia
46. Uzbekistan
45. Haiti
44. Jordan
43. Panama
42. Qatar
41. Curaçao
40. New Zealand
39. Czechia
38. Uruguay
37. Saudi Arabia
36. Iran
35. Scotland
34. Korea Republic
33. Turkiye
Check out the previous Power Ranking update to see the analysis for these teams.
32-17 (Eliminated)
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32. Bosnia and Herzegovina
FIFA Ranking: 61
Previous Power Ranking Spot: 28
Bosnia and Herzegovina rode its luck to reach the tournament and then its first knockout-round appearance in the nation's history. But all that good fortune ran out against the United States.
Despite taking on 10 men for the last half hour, the Dragons couldn't make the most of the man advantage or their edge in possession, only having three shots on target out of 10. The Stars and Stripes, by contrast, converted both their shots on target and even scored while a man down.
In what was essentially an away game, Bosnia had the odds against them from the get-go, and that ultimately proved insurmountable.
31. Algeria
FIFA Ranking: 29
Previous Power Ranking Spot: 31
The lack of a clinical edge ultimately doomed Algeria. The Fennec Foxes went toe-to-toe with Switzerland, but they missed both of their big chances, and in a 2-0 defeat, that counts for a lot.
With that loss, they are still looking for their first-ever win in a World Cup knockout. With the nation's brightest star in a generation, Riyad Mahrez, heading for retirement, it might be a while until such an opportunity presents itself again.
30. South Africa
FIFA Ranking: 54
Previous Power Ranking Spot: 29
South Africa dominated its round-of-32 matchup with Canada in terms of possession and passing, but those statistics don't matter for much when you put just one shot on target.
Bafana Bafana's almost miraculous second-place finish in Group A, thanks to a 1-0 win over South Korea, will live long in the memory, marking the nation's first-ever World Cup knockout game. However, that's as good as it got for the team in North America.
29. DR Congo
FIFA Ranking: 41
Previous Power Ranking Spot: 30
DR Congo made England sweat in the round-of-32, opening the scoring through Brian Cipenga after seven minutes and keeping the Three Lions at bay for just over an hour.
A lot of the credit for that must go to goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi, who played the game of his life with five crucial saves.
However, the 31-year-old will be furious that one of the more saveable efforts from the head of Harry Kane practically slipped through his fingertips, giving England a 2-1 lead it wouldn't relinquish.
Getting through a brutal Group K to make the knockouts in the nation's first World Cup appearance is a massive achievement, and the team proved good value against an England side many had tipped as tournament favorites. With that, they get a bump in the Power Ranking, even in defeat.
28. Ghana
FIFA Ranking: 65
Previous Power Ranking Spot: 26
"Stubborn" would be the word to sum up Ghana's tournament. The Black Stars conceded just three goals in four games, but that back-line resilience only counts for so much when you have just four shots on target in total.
Goals proved to be the African nation's undoing, with no shots on target in the round of 32 against Colombia. Los Cafeteros, by comparison, sprayed eight shots on Lawrence Ati Zigi's goal, breaching his resistance once.
Ghana did much better than expected in North America, but the round of 16 proved a bridge too far.
27. Sweden
FIFA Ranking: 37
Previous Power Ranking Spot: 24
Sweden would have been thrilled to make it through Group F up until the point it realized France was waiting in the knockouts.
What looked on paper to be a one-sided contest proved to be just that, with Les Bleus having 61% possession and hitting the target 12 times compared to Sweden's three.
A 3-0 victory could have been a lot more if not for the woodwork, with France's forward corps featuring Kylian Mbappé, Bradley Barcola, Michael Olisé and Ousmane Dembélé practically toying with their opponents.
Sweden's hopes of repeating its trip to third in the 1994 World Cup in the United States fell significantly short, but getting to this stage is still incredible after finishing qualifying with two points and at the bottom of its pool.
26. Cabo Verde
FIFA Ranking: 64
Previous Power Ranking Spot: 32
Wow. The smallest nation to ever feature in a World Cup knockout match almost won in the round of 32—against reigning champions Argentina, no less.
Cabo Verde took La Albiceleste to the wire, twice equalizing against a team chock-full of world-class stars and even threatening to do so for a third time with the clock running down.
Vozinha was once again at the heart of the upset bid, with the 40-year-old making eight saves.
Alas, the fairy tale run has reached its conclusion, but what a story it was.
25. Austria
FIFA Ranking: 23
Previous Power Ranking Spot: 22
Austria's lackluster Group J showing didn't provide much hope for progression through the knockouts, and being matched up against European champions Spain didn't make the possibility much more likely.
While La Furia Roja haven't been as convincing as expected at the tournament, Austria could barely lay a glove on them. Zero shots on target, 0.32 expected goals, and just 10 touches in the opposition box effectively sum up how far off the pace they were in the 3-0 defeat.
24. Australia
FIFA Ranking: 28
Previous Power Ranking Spot: 25
Australia's wait for a first World Cup knockout win continues, with only penalties preventing the Socceroos from reaching that milestone this time around.
The team from Down Under was certainly ambitious against the Pharaohs, but 16 shots only yielded one on target, and their equalizer came via the head of Egypt defender Mohamed Hany.
It wasn't a meek exit by any means, but they will wonder what might have been if the team's shooting radar had been operational.
23. Ecuador
FIFA Ranking: 24
Previous Power Ranking Spot: 23
Ecuador's hopeful "dark horse" run found a difficult barrier to clear when meeting Mexico in front of El Tri's adoring fans.
And so it proved, with a 2-0 victory for the co-hosts consigning the South Americans to the knacker's yard.
La Tricolor put up a good fight, but a lack of quality up front eventually proved their doom in the round of 32.
22. Germany
FIFA Ranking: 12
Previous Power Ranking Spot: 5
The biggest faller in this edition of the World Cup power ranking is Germany, which has tumbled 10 places to 22nd.
The Nationalelf were on the wrong side of the round's biggest upset, losing to Paraguay on penalties after a 1-1 draw across 120 minutes.
Julian Nagelsmann's side was given the benefit of the doubt following a 2-1 defeat to Ecuador in its final Group E match, but that result obviously pointed to more significant flaws than many expected.
Against La Albirroja, they had just six shots on target from 21 efforts, missing two big chances. The stats will say that Germany dominated the contest, but the result paints a very different story.
In addition to exiting the tournament much earlier than expected, Germany is now on the lookout for a new head coach, with Nagelsmann stepping down after a hugely disappointing effort. It might not be a long wait for a replacement, though.
21. Côte d'Ivoire
FIFA Ranking: 31
Previous Power Ranking Spot: 18
Côte d'Ivoire got the points to steal second in Group E, but the performances weren't entirely convincing. Its first-ever knockout round game against Norway wasn't quite as forgiving.
You simply have to take your chances when Erling Haaland is on the opposite team, and the Elephants only put five of their 14 shots on target, missing two big chances.
Norway weren't exactly clinical, but if you give the 25-year-old a sniff, he'll more than likely punish you. He did just that in the 86th minute.
We simply didn't see enough of why Yan Diomande is tipped to be a $100 million player, and more faith should have been placed in Amad Diallo, who was the team's joint-top scorer in the tournament but played just 184 minutes.
20. Senegal
FIFA Ranking: 18
Previous Power Ranking Spot: 21
Senegal's tough Group I meant a third-place finish and qualification was totally forgivable, and the Lions of Teranga's 5-0 victory over Iraq in the final matchday suggested success could still be achieved in the first knockout round.
Up against a Belgium team that had stumbled through Group G, a place in the round of 16 certainly looked possible, and it seemed nailed on after 85 minutes of their contest with the Red Devils, at which point they held a 2-0 lead.
But an almighty collapse in the span of four minutes took the game to extra time, and Youri Tielemans' 125th-minute penalty completed a remarkable comeback victory for the European side.
Senegal will be wondering where it all went wrong, with the defeat especially sore after being stripped of its Africa Cup of Nations title earlier in the year. Some soul-searching is required to fix a serious mentality problem.
19. Japan
FIFA Ranking: 17
Previous Power Ranking Spot: 14
The round of 32 started so well for Japan, with Kaishu Sano putting the Blue Samurai ahead against Brazil after 29 minutes.
However, the Seleção Canarinho are growing into the tournament, and that persistence was evident. Their pressure finally brought results when Casemiro headed home in the 56th minute.
From there, the South Americans continued to pepper Zion Suzuki's goal, and with seconds to go until the final whistle, Japan's resilience and heart were broken by Gabriel Martinelli.
It was a valiant effort, but this Brazil side is finally starting to live up to the nation's reputation in international football, and that's difficult for any side to deal with.
18. Croatia
FIFA Ranking: 13
Previous Power Ranking: 12
Croatia pulled off a second-place finish in Group L at practically the last moment, but final-minute heroics in the round of 32 were spurned by VAR.
The Vatreni looked to have pushed the matchup with Portugal to extra time with the clock reading 90+12 minutes, but Josko Gvardiol's goal was ruled out for offside in the buildup.
Croatia opened the scoring against the Seleção and had an earlier goal ruled out for offside to make it 2-0. It can't have come much closer to sealing the upset win.
However, it wasn't to be, and it marks the last time we'll see Luka Modric take to the world stage.
17. Netherlands
FIFA Ranking: 8
Previous Power Ranking Spot: 8
The Netherlands won Group F but got handed one of the trickiest matchups from the second-placed teams in the round of 32, taking on Morocco.
The Oranje were moments away from a spot in the next phase, but Issa Diop's 91st-minute equalizer forced extra time and eventually penalties, and the Atlas Lions proved to be cooler from the spot.
It was a cruel exit for the Netherlands, although on the balance of play, Morocco deserved to go through at its expense. But the Oranje will look at the more favorable fixtures other first-placed teams earned and curse the luck of the draw.
16-6
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16. Paraguay
FIFA Ranking: 34
Previous Power Ranking Spot: 27
Paraguay is the big riser in the power ranking, jumping 11 spots after an upset victory over Germany.
Despite largely playing second fiddle to the Nationalelf over 120 minutes, La Albirroja showed incredible resilience to keep the Europeans at bay and maintained their composure during the penalty shootout to seal a spot in the round of 16.
In the end, it doesn't matter how you win, as long as you do so. Paraguay won't dwell on the nature of victory, instead looking ahead to a meeting with France to decide how it can frustrate Les Bleus. That looks a much tougher task than doing so against an out-of-sorts Germany side, though.
15. Canada
FIFA Ranking: 30
Previous Power Ranking Spot: 19
It was feared Canada might lose its momentum after leaving its home turf for the United States, but the Maple Leafs are clinging on in the competition and are making history with every win.
While a 1-0 victory over South Africa could and perhaps should have been more, the co-hosts won't care in the slightest, and attention now turns to a round-of-16 fixture against Morocco.
It's difficult to see them taking much from the game, but as long as they remain competitive against the Africa Cup of Nations holders, they can maintain their pride and maybe even sneak a place in the quarterfinal if they can keep the Atlas Lions quiet for 120 minutes.
14. Egypt
FIFA Ranking: 26
Previous Power Ranking Spot: 20
Egypt defied expectations with a second-place finish in Group G (level on points with table-toppers Belgium, no less), and it continues to chart a course for greatness with a spot in the round of 16, the furthest it has been in the competition since 1934.
A kind matchup with Australia allowed the Pharaohs to continue their pursuit of national team history, securing a victory against the Socceroos on penalties. However, with an in-form Argentina up next, the Albiceleste will likely bring the adventure to an abrupt halt.
Still, it's been a fantastic tournament for Egypt, and a fitting way to send its greatest ever player, Mohamed Salah, off to international retirement—unless the Egyptian King has other ideas, of course.
13. USA
FIFA Ranking: 16
Previous Power Ranking Spot: 13
The U.S. men's national team secured a comfortable 2-0 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina in the round of 32 despite playing with 10 men for a third of the game.
There's a lot of credit to be taken from the result and clean sheet given the circumstances, but it doesn't do much to move the needle in power ranking terms.
The Stars and Stripes remain rooted to the spot because a win over the 61st-ranked team in the world should have been par for the course, despite the Europeans proving to be plucky opponents.
Coming up is a Belgium side that boasts a little more quality, and with Folarin Balogun suspended, the gulf in class becomes just a bit wider. Home support certainly makes a difference, but it might not be enough to help the U.S. reach the quarterfinals for the first time since 2002.
12. Belgium
FIFA Ranking: 9
Previous Power Ranking Spot: 17
Belgium seems to be leaving things late in the tournament. It waited until its final group-stage game to pick up its first win, and it held off until the 86th minute to score against Senegal, adding another three minutes later to take the game to extra time.
It even scored with practically the last kick of the game to eliminate the African nation, with Youri Tielemans keeping his head in the 125th minute to smash a crucial penalty home.
Credit must be given to Belgium boss Rudi Garcia, who made some bold calls in the Senegal game but ultimately came away with the 3-2 victory.
On paper, despite some extra minutes in the legs, the Red Devils look slightly overmatched for the U.S., and a resilient streak will stand them in good stead in the round of 16.
11. Norway
FIFA Ranking: 21
Previous Power Ranking Spot: 15
Norway came through a tough group and navigated a tricky round of 32 fixture, but things are about to get much, much tougher.
It will face Brazil in the round of 16, and the South Americans are growing into the tournament with every minute played.
Norway would have hoped to have shown more quality against Ivory Coast, and while a win is a win, it doesn't offer a good platform to take on a team full of world-class players that is steadily improving.
With Erling Haaland around, there's always danger, but he's less likely to get the service he needs up against a quality center-back pairing and with an experienced engine room crowding out Norway's service from midfield.
10. Switzerland
FIFA Ranking: 15
Previous Power Ranking Spot: 16
Switzerland finished top of Group B and cruised through a 2-0 win against Algeria in the round of 32.
Aside from that opening draw with Qatar, it's been plain sailing for the Nati, and minimal energy expended could make the difference in a round-of-16 meeting with an erratic Colombia.
Johan Manzambi's breakout has added a new element to a forward line that has otherwise looked threatening but provided little end product. The 20-year-old now has three goals and two assists in four games, despite playing just 200 minutes.
Manzambi could be the key to the nation's first quarterfinal appearance since 1954.
9. Portugal
FIFA Ranking: 7
Previous Power Ranking Spot: 10
Portugal needed a little assistance from VAR, but a round-of-32 victory against Croatia is still an impressive result against a team that knows how to get things done on the international stage.
While Roberto Martinez still doesn't have the guts to drop Cristiano Ronaldo to the bench, he did at least bring the 41-year-old off the pitch with the Seleção hunting a crucial goal. It meant he was less of a focal point, allowing the team to find the best-positioned player in the box rather than being scared of Ronaldo's wrath if they didn't pass to him.
It's wishful thinking to suggest that it will provide a useful lesson for the Portugal head coach and that he might opt to do the same thing earlier in proceedings next time. But in a tough matchup against Spain in the round of 16, bold calls will be essential, and maybe Martinez will see the light.
8. Colombia
FIFA Ranking: 11
Previous Power Ranking Spot: 9
Colombia was relentless in its pursuit of victory against Ghana, putting constant pressure on the Black Stars' formidable back line throughout the 90 minutes.
In the end, it took just one goal to seal progression, coming courtesy of Jhon Arias. Los Cafeteros might have wanted more, but getting anything against this Ghana team is a feat in itself.
If nothing else, they got the job done in 90 minutes, avoiding the need to put unnecessary minutes in the legs with Switzerland up next on the slate.
Victory against the Europeans would likely set up an all-South American quarterfinal with Argentina. After beating La Albiceleste in World Cup qualifying, Colombia will fancy a first-ever semifinal berth.
7. Morocco
FIFA Ranking: 6
Previous Power Ranking Spot: 11
A slightly harsh fall for Morocco, who finished second in Group C and were minutes away from elimination at the hands of the Netherlands.
The Atlas Lions dominated proceedings against the Oranje, but the fact that they had to wait until the 91st minute to get on the scoresheet and then progressed via penalties isn't exactly convincing.
Canada shouldn't be underestimated in the round of 16, and a disappointing scoring rate could prove to be the African side's undoing, despite the quality it possesses in other areas of the pitch.
6. Mexico
FIFA Ranking: 10
Previous Power Ranking Spot: 6
Mexico continues to be the pick of the co-hosts, claiming a comfortable 2-0 round-of-32 victory over an Ecuador side known for its stingy back line.
A slow-starting England is up next, and with a home crowd roaring Mexico on from the very first whistle, El Tri can stack up a couple of goals early and sit back while England labor through the remaining minutes.
The last two times that Mexico hosted a World Cup it reached the quarterfinals, and it wouldn't be a huge surprise if it did so again.
5. Brazil
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FIFA Ranking: 5
Previous Power Ranking Spot: 7
After a wobbly start, Brazil is starting to look really good, with Carlo Ancelotti getting the best out of Vinicius Junior and the rest of the team becoming sharper and sharper.
While a last-minute goal from substitute Gabriel Martinelli was required to get past Japan, the Seleção Canarinho were all over the Samurai Blue for the majority of the game, and the Asian side managed to find the net once from just two shots on target.
In the end, despite the team's battling qualities, the 2-1 result flattered Japan, and Brazil will be confident of having the personnel to keep Erling Haaland quiet and dominate the midfield battle against Norway.
4. England
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England will be delighted to go up against a more expansive attacking team in the round of 16, having labored against the stout defenses of Panama, Ghana and DR Congo in the last three games.
Against the latter, England came up against a goalkeeper in inspired form, but it was able to break Lionel Mpasi's resolve in the 75th minute.
The equalizer and the winner came from Harry Kane, who has firmly established himself as the favorite for the Ballon d'Or and could yet go on to become the tournament's top scorer.
Mexico might struggle to deal with the Bayern Munich man, but it could also take advantage of an England side that has struggled to get going after kickoff.
Guarding against an early goal will be crucial, as will blocking out the noise from a raucous Azteca crowd.
3. Spain
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FIFA Ranking: 3
Previous Power Ranking Spot: 4
Spain has arrived at the World Cup, knocking three past Austria in the round of 32 and doing so with a vibrant, attacking style of play we all expected from the outset.
The European champions seem to be peaking at just the right time, which is crucial with Iberian neighbors Portugal next on the docket.
Mikel Oyarzabal is quietly joint-fifth in the Golden Boot race, and Lamine Yamal is steadily showing what makes him the brightest young star on the planet. Marc Cucurella, meanwhile, got two assists against Austria and is finally demonstrating the qualities that prompted Real Madrid to pluck him from Chelsea.
On the kinder side of the draw, Spain might be expecting a run to the final.
2. Argentina
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FIFA Ranking: 2
Previous Power Ranking Spot: 2
Argentina hearts were definitely in mouths against Cabo Verde, with the tiny African nation taking them all the way to extra time and even threatening a run through a penalty shootout.
There will be some concerns that La Albiceleste couldn't get a comprehensive victory over the 64th-ranked team in the world, but the Blue Sharks were so impressive during the tournament and were far superior to what that position would suggest.
Still, it makes a round-of-16 matchup with Egypt look less like a slam dunk for Argentina, even with Lionel Messi continuing to defy Father Time to sit at the summit of the Golden Boot chart.
For now, though, the reigning world champions keep their spot at No. 2 in the power ranking, with only one team undeniably better so far in the competition.
1. France
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FIFA Ranking: 1
Previous Power Ranking Spot: 1
France looks practically unstoppable, with a backline that has conceded just twice and a forward corps that has notched 13 goals so far.
Kylian Mbappé is absolutely electric, joint top of the Golden Boot race while also providing two assists. He's hit the woodwork more times than you can count, too.
Meanwhile, Michael Olisé has announced himself in the world-class category, seemingly bending the pace of games to his will and providing show-stopping moments while not neglecting the rest of his teammates.
France has set the standard for everyone else to meet, and aside from Argentina, no one else looks close as it stands.
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