Sport: Soccer Country: Argentina Category: Playoffs

France, England lead early World Cup rankings after first matches

2 sources • 1 min read • Latest: Jun 18, 2026, 4:28 AM

Last updated Jun 18, 2026

France, England lead early World Cup rankings after first matches

Summary

After one round of matches, France and England top the rankings following impressive victories. France defeated Senegal 3-1, showcasing strength across the board. England overcame Croatia 4-2, highlighted by a strong performance from Harry Kane. Argentina, the defending champions, started their title defense with a 3-0 win over Algeria but did not secure the top spot in the initial rankings. The tournament continues with all teams looking to improve their standings after their opening games.

Source Links

Yahoo Sports BBC Sport

Key Details

•France tops the rankings after beating Senegal 3-1.
•England ranks second following their 4-2 win over Croatia.
•Argentina opened with a 3-0 victory against Algeria.
•USA surprising in fifth place after 4-1 win over Paraguay.
•The tournament continues with more matches scheduled.

Latest Updates

4:39 AMYahoo Sports — From one to 48 - every World Cup team ranked after one game
4:28 AMBBC Sport — Best to worst - every World Cup team ranked after one game

What they're saying

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All 48 teams at the World Cup have now played once. BBC Sport's experts have ranked them all, from best to worst. Who is top? Not defending champions Argentina.
— Yahoo Sports