France Lead BBC Sport's FIFA World Cup Round-One Power Rankings

France have been ranked as the best-performing team after the opening round of matches at the FIFA World Cup, according to BBC Sport's expert panel.

England and Argentina follow closely behind, while surprise packages such as Cape Verde and DR Congo earned widespread praise for impressive performances in their tournament debuts.

After watching all 48 teams in action, BBC Sport reporters compiled a complete ranking based on each nation's opening-match performance.

Top 10 Teams

1. France (Group I)

Result: Beat Senegal 3-1

France lived up to the pre-tournament hype with a dominant second-half display. Strong in every position, they look every bit the favourites to lift the trophy.

2. England (Group L)

Result: Beat Croatia 4-2

England produced a brilliant attacking performance led by Harry Kane. They scored four goals and could easily have had more, although defensive concerns remain.

3. Argentina (Group G)

Result: Beat Algeria 3-0

With Lionel Messi inspiring the team once again, Argentina delivered a convincing victory. His presence alone elevates the world champions into the tournament's elite.

4. Germany (Group E)

Result: Beat Curacao 7-1

Any team that scores seven goals in its opening match deserves recognition, regardless of the opposition. Germany announced themselves in style.

5. United States (Group D)

Result: Beat Paraguay 4-1

The surprise entry in the top five. The USA overwhelmed Paraguay with a slick attacking display and benefited from strong home support.

6. Norway (Group I)

Result: Beat Iraq 4-1

Built around Erling Haaland, Norway looked dangerous throughout and played perfectly to their star striker's strengths.

7. Colombia (Group K)

Result: Beat Uzbekistan 3-1

Fast, powerful and creative, Colombia showcased their quality, with Luis Diaz providing the spark that could trouble many opponents.

8. Morocco (Group C)

Result: Drew 1-1 with Brazil

Morocco looked capable of blowing Brazil away during the opening stages before settling for a draw. They appear to have much more to offer.

9. Brazil (Group C)

Result: Drew 1-1 with Morocco

A shaky start raised questions, but Brazil's experience and resilience helped them avoid defeat.

10. Sweden (Group F)

Result: Beat Tunisia 5-1

Sweden combined clinical finishing with midfield creativity to produce one of the most convincing victories of the opening round.

Teams Ranked 11–20

11. Australia (Group D) – Beat Turkey 2-0

12. Spain (Group H) – Drew 0-0 with Cape Verde

13. Netherlands (Group F) – Drew 2-2 with Japan

14. Mexico (Group A) – Beat South Africa 2-0

15. Japan (Group F) – Drew 2-2 with Netherlands

16. Scotland (Group C) – Beat Haiti 1-0

17. Cape Verde (Group H) – Drew 0-0 with Spain

18. Belgium (Group G) – Drew 1-1 with Egypt

19. Egypt (Group G) – Drew 1-1 with Belgium

20. Senegal (Group I) – Lost 3-1 to France

Teams Ranked 21–30

21. Portugal (Group K) – Drew 1-1 with DR Congo

22. Croatia (Group L) – Lost 4-2 to England

23. DR Congo (Group K) – Drew 1-1 with Portugal

24. Switzerland (Group B) – Drew 1-1 with Qatar

25. New Zealand (Group G) – Drew 2-2 with Iran

26. Iran (Group G) – Drew 2-2 with New Zealand

27. Saudi Arabia (Group H) – Drew 1-1 with Uruguay

28. Haiti (Group C) – Lost 1-0 to Scotland

29. South Korea (Group A) – Beat Czech Republic 2-1

30. Uruguay (Group H) – Drew 1-1 with Saudi Arabia

Teams Ranked 31–40

31. Turkey (Group D) – Lost 2-0 to Australia

32. Austria (Group J) – Beat Jordan 3-1

33. Ivory Coast (Group E) – Beat Ecuador 1-0

34. Ghana (Group L) – Beat Panama 1-0

35. Algeria (Group J) – Lost 3-0 to Argentina

36. Jordan (Group J) – Lost 3-1 to Austria

37. Bosnia-Herzegovina (Group B) – Drew 1-1 with Canada

38. Canada (Group B) – Drew 1-1 with Bosnia-Herzegovina

39. Iraq (Group I) – Lost 4-1 to Norway

40. Ecuador (Group E) – Lost 1-0 to Ivory Coast

Teams Ranked 41–48

41. Czech Republic (Group A) – Lost 2-1 to South Korea

42. Uzbekistan (Group K) – Lost 3-1 to Colombia

43. South Africa (Group A) – Lost 2-0 to Mexico

44. Qatar (Group B) – Drew 1-1 with Switzerland

45. Paraguay (Group D) – Lost 4-1 to USA

46. Tunisia (Group F) – Lost 5-1 to Sweden

47. Panama (Group L) – Lost 1-0 to Ghana

48. Curacao (Group E) – Lost 7-1 to Germany

Biggest Surprises of Round One

• Cape Verde held Spain to a goalless draw.
• DR Congo earned a credible draw against Portugal.
• USA stormed into the top five with a dominant win over Paraguay.
• Morocco impressed against Brazil and arguably deserved more than a point.

With one round of matches complete, France, England, and Argentina have set the benchmark, but the emergence of underdogs such as Cape Verde and DR Congo shows that this World Cup could still have plenty of surprises in store.