The 2026 World Cup is storming towards the knockout stages after this year’s bumper 48-team tournament had its first culling.
After a build-up that centred on controversy, greed and conflict, fans have been captivated by some enthralling performances and disappointed by others, with the likes of France and holders Argentina stamping their marks as rightful favourites, while England, Portugal and Brazil have all made slight missteps.
But the group stage is only the beginning – history will be written on the road to the final, with 32 remaining teams now raring to sink their teeth into the drama of knockouts football.
Here’s how every team in the knockout stages stacks up in The Independent’s World Cup 2026 power rankings, delving deeper into the top 10:
Rankings are based on a combination of performance and potential at the 2026 World Cup, as well as how teams are faring relative to pre-tournament expectations:
Advertisement
1. France 🇫🇷 ↔️
Kylian Mbappe is starring for France at this World Cup (Getty)
There was a slightly slow start for France (emphasis on slightly) as they failed to impress in their first half against Senegal. However, they sparked into life in the second half, showing off the depth of attacking talent that made them one of the pre-tournament favourites. Kylian Mbappe was a big part of that improved spell, scoring twice en route to a 3-1 win, and he did the same again in the 3-0 victory over Iraq.
That saw him surpass Miroslav Klose’s 16 all-time World Cup goals, but unfortunately for the France forward, someone else had done the same a few hours earlier – and by a greater margin…
Mbappe failed to add to his tally in their group finale against Norway, with qualification already in the bag. Instead, his compatriot stole the show, with Ousmane Dembele bagging a hat-trick in a 4-1 win. Didier Deschamps’ side are firing on all cylinders at the moment – no team will want to face them.
2. Argentina 🇦🇷 ↔️
Advertisement
Lionel Messi hit a hat-trick for Argentina in their opener against Algeria (Getty)
This World Cup has been the Lionel Messi show so far. Turning 39 this week, he faced questions about whether he could be as influential as he was during Argentina’s 2022 title-winning run; he has answered those questions emphatically. He scored all three goals in the opening 3-0 win over Algeria, then he scored both of his side’s goals in the 2-0 dismissal of Austria and came off the bench to net his sixth of the tournament in a 3-1 triumph over Jordan – becoming the first man to score in seven consecutive World Cup matches. Although he missed a penalty before that double against Austria, he should be commended for his resilience in finding the net thereafter to become the World Cup’s all-time leading scorer (19 goals).
Now, you could suggest that Argentina’s one flaw so far is looking a little bit reliant on their ageing captain, but the team has played well in general to serve him as best as possible, and we know how much quality the defending champions have. It might just show, beyond Messi’s individual magic, as the tournament progresses.
3. Spain 🇪🇸 ↔️
Spain topped the group with victory over Uruguay (Getty)
It took Lamine Yamal just 10 minutes of his first World Cup start against Saudi Arabia to follow in the footsteps of the other global superstars at this tournament and join the goalscoring party, getting the ball rolling for a 4-0 win that properly got La Roja off the mark. They then ensured they topped the group with a spicy win over a collapsing Uruguay side.
Yet to concede a goal as they head into the knockouts, there is no reason to remove the favourites tag bestowed upon Spain before the World Cup began, despite that early shock. They slipped up in their opening match of the 2010 World Cup (losing 1-0 to Switzerland) as well before recovering and going on to win it, remember.
Advertisement
4. England 🏴 ↔️
Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham ensured England came through a tricky encounter with Panama (Getty)
England haven’t exactly set the world ablaze since stoking expectation in their impressive opening win against Croatia. Their drab goalless draw versus Ghana was the exact sort of game that led to the phrase “reality check” being used in a footballing sense, and while they bounced back from that result with a 2-0 win against Panama to top the group, it was hardly the most inspiring performance.
Nevertheless, Thomas Tuchel’s side are through as group winners and have done enough to avoid a side of the draw that could have pitted them against Portugal and then Spain in their first two knockout matches. Jude Bellingham is performing while Harry Kane’s three goals very much puts him in golden boot contention, so don’t go burning your “It’s Coming Home” t-shirts just yet.
5. Brazil 🇧🇷 ⬆️
Vinicius Jr has four goals so far this World Cup (Reuters)
After their sluggish opening performance against Morocco, things have begun to click for Carlo Ancelotti’s Brazil. A delightful outing against an easier opponent in Haiti saw them get their first win of the tournament, but it was Scotland where that fear factor really kicked in.
Vinicius Jr bagged a brace while Matheus Cunha kept up his goalscoring form at this World Cup, dismantling the Scots in a 3-0 win to basically send them packing. The result completed their group-stage recovery as they topped Group C.
Advertisement
There is work to do defensively heading into the knockouts and the injury to Raphinha is concerning, but Brazil are definitely growing into this World Cup, with Ancelotti’s dangermen up and firing.
6. Portugal 🇵🇹 ⬆️
Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates after scoring Portugal’s third goal against Uzbekistan (Reuters)
Caveat it all with the quality of opposition – and boy were Uzbekistan poor – but that 5-0 win in their second group game is the levels Roberto Martinez will want his Portugal side to hit from here. They were more fluid and showed some depth behind Cristiano Ronaldo with the way they kept pushing for more even once the substitutes arrived. That was much better than their uninspiring opening 1-1 draw with DR Congo, while they finished the gorup with one of the most entertaining 0-0s you could wish to see against Colombians. It wasn’t perfect, and they would have lost but for Davinson Sanchez’s late goal being ruled out, but that spark was still present for the Portuguese. Croatia in the last 32 presents an intriguing test before a potentially monumental last-16 clash against Iberian rivals Spain.
7. Netherlands 🇳🇱 ⬆️
Brian Brobbey is flying for the Netherlands (PA)
Few doubted the quality of their defence and midfield pre-tournament but now Brian Brobbey seems to be the answer to Ronald Koeman’s centre-forward puzzle. The Sunderland striker has struck three times in the last two group games, powering them to the top of Group F. Heading into the knockouts, the most renowned nation to have never become world champions may be more than just a dark horse in this tournament.
8. Morocco 🇲🇦 ⬇️
Advertisement
Morocco are into the knockout stages despite a nervy outing against Haiti (Reuters)
The Afcon (sort of) champions impressed with their draw against Brazil and if nothing else they will remember this World Cup for Ismael Saibari’s goal just 70 seconds into a hard-fought 1-0 win over a gritty Scotland. But the world’s seventh-ranked side showed their first real jitters against already-eliminated Haiti, falling behind twice in the first half before recovering to win 4-2.
Failing to score big against the Caribbean minnows has proved costly, with their second-place finish in Group C meaning they face a very tough round of 32 test against the Netherlands to begin their knockouts campaign. The Atlas Lions have looked dangerous so far this tournament but in their bid to prove that their run to the semi-finals in 2022 wasn’t a fluke, the Dutch will seriously test their credentials.
9. Germany 🇩🇪 ⬇️
Germany saw out their group campaign with defeat to Ecuador (Reuters)
Germany are into the knockouts for the first time since winning the tournament in 2014, and they’re through as group winners which should signal the end of an era of failure on the global stage. However, they’re yet to properly prove they are once again real contenders.
Their opening 7-1 win over debutants Curacao was impressive but had to be taken with a pinch of salt given the level of opposition. Ivory Coast were tricky opponents and Julian Nagelsmann’s side found it difficult to finish clear chances, at least until Deniz Undav’s arrival, who snatched a last-gasp winner. But against Ecuador, they showed their fallibility, beaten by a team who simply wanted it more despite taking an early (and controversial) lead.
There are still a lot of questions to be asked surrounding their depth, team choices and whether goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, 40, is still up to the task. Those will be answered in the knockouts.
Advertisement
10. Mexico 🇲🇽 ⬆️
Raul Jimenez celebrates his goal for Mexico at the World Cup (Getty)
Taking the spot of their noisy upstairs neighbours in the top 10 heading into the knockouts, Mexico have hardly put a foot wrong in the early stages of their home World Cup. They’ve recorded three wins on the trot to top their group but their credentials as “dark horses” will be tested against Ecuador in the round of 32, who come into the match off the stunning high of a win over Germany. Get through that and England could await them at the Azteca… what an occasion that would be.
May 27, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; New York Yankees pitcher Camilo Doval (75) delivers a pitch against the Kansas City Royals during the ninth inning at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images
The Pittsburgh Pirates are acquiring right-handed reliever Camilo Doval from the New York Yankees in exchange for two prospects, ESPN reported Saturday.
Doval, 29, is 3-1 with one save and a 4.54 ERA in 44 appearances out of the New York bullpen this season.
The Yankees acquired the former All-Star closer in a deal with the San Francisco Giants at last year’s trade deadline.
Doval is 29-20 with 109 saves and a 3.53 ERA in 341 career games (no starts) with the Giants (2021-25) and Yankees.
Advertisement
According to Cuba-based BeisbolFR.com, the Yankees will receive catcher Omar Alfonzo and outfielder Luis Cruz in the deal. Both were playing for the Pirates’ Dominican Summer League affiliate.
Roy Jones Jr suspects that Errol Spence Jr came away with the results he was searching for, despite losing a unanimous decision to Tim Tszyu last weekend.
This time, though, the former welterweight ruler was fighting at 160lbs after requesting a jump from their originally-agreed catchweight of 158lbs.
Advertisement
But while this allowance should have worked to his advantage it was ultimately Tszyu, a former super-welterweight champion, who seemed physically and athletically superior on the night.
There was also a hint of satisfaction expressed by the American, who was perhaps focusing more on his performance than the actual result.
He did, after all, manage to hear the final bell without incurring any significant injuries, which, given this stage in his life, could be seen as an achievement in itself.
Advertisement
Speaking on ALL THE SMOKE FIGHT, pound-for-pound legend Jones – who had favoured Spence to win – suspects this to be the case.
“Errol is who Errol wants to be; Errol did it like Errol wanted to do it. Errol wanted to prove that he can go back and do exactly what he’s been doing his whole career – taking stuff from people in their hometown.
“And, if he didn’t win it, he still went out on his feet. He had a lot of things he wanted to prove to himself.
“He didn’t get the result [against Tszyu] that we all thought he wanted to get, but he got the results that he wanted – to say: ‘Now, I can rest in peace’.”
During his own post-fight interviews, Tszyu expressed an interest in remaining at middleweight and even called out Erislandy Lara, the division’s WBA champion.
Celebrated climber Nirmal Purja and nine other mountaineers have been confirmed dead after an avalanche on Pakistan‘s Broad Peak, his expedition company said on Saturday.
The confirmation came a day after rescuers located four bodies while searching for the 10-member expedition.
How did Purja and the other mountaineers die?
“It is with profound sadness and immense heartbreak that we confirm that Nirmal Purja tragically lost his life following the avalanche on Broad Peak,” Purja’s company Elite Expeditions said in a social media post.
“We have also received confirmation that other members of the expedition sadly did not survive.”
Advertisement
The climbers had been missing since Thursday, when an avalanche struck the expedition at around 6,600 meters (21,650 feet) on Broad Peak. The party is believed to have been swept away.
Two Pakistan Army Aviation helicopters joined the operation on Friday, while an experienced ground team was deployed to the area where the group was last believed to have been.
Pakistani security sources said four bodies had been located that day, although they had not yet been recovered.
The mountain is the 12th highest in the world and lies near Pakistan’s border with China (file photo)Image: Photoshot/picture alliance
At the time, rescuers were still searching for the remaining members of the group.
The deaths of all 10 climbers were confirmed on Saturday.
Advertisement
The expedition included Purja and five other Nepalese climbers, including several Sherpa guides, as well as mountaineers from four other countries.
They were Pakistani mountaineer Sohail Sakhi, Omani climber Nathira Ahmed, US climber Mallory Geis and China’s Wang Zhong.
Who was Nirmal Purja?
Nirmal Purja, widely known as Nims Dai, was a British-Nepali mountaineer who became one of the best-known high-altitude climbers of his generation.
Advertisement
The 43-year-old served with Britain’s Brigade of Gurkhas and later the elite Special Boat Service before leaving the military to become a full-time mountaineer and guide.
Purja shot to international fame in 2019 when he climbed all 14 of the world’s mountains above 8,000 meters in just over six months, dramatically beating the previous record of nearly eight years.
His feat was chronicled in the 2021 Netflix documentary “14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible,” which helped bring him a global following.
In 2021, Purja was also part of the 10-member Nepali team that completed the first winter ascent of K2, the world’s second-highest mountain.
Advertisement
Before the latest ascent, Purja had posted his hopes for the expedition on X, asking the mountain for safe passage.
What is Broad Peak?
Broad Peak stands at just over 8,000 meters in Pakistan’s Karakoram range, close to the border with China. It is the world’s 12th-highest mountain and lies only a few kilometers from the better-known K2.
Originally designated K3 during the surveying of the Karakoram, its more modern name refers to its unusually wide summit ridge, which stretches for roughly 1.5 kilometers (just under a mile).
The region contains five of the world’s 14 peaks above 8,000 meters and attracts climbers from across the globe, although avalanches and rapidly changing weather make expeditions particularly dangerous.
Edited by: Darko Janjevic, Saim Dušan Inayatullah
Advertisement
Tired of missing our real-time updates? Click here to add us as a Preferred Source on Google. Then tap the “Star” or “Preferred” to keep DW News at the top of your feed.
Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.
Advertisement
Read Next
Advertisement
Advertisement
Don’t miss out on the latest news and information.
Subscribe to INQUIRER PLUS to get access to The Philippine Daily Inquirer & other 70+ titles, share up to 5 gadgets, listen to the news, download as early as 4am & share articles on social media. Call 896 6000.
Advertisement
For feedback, complaints, or inquiries, contact us.
European football’s governing body UEFA said Thursday it would boycott the World Cup should FIFA press ahead with its private investor plan.
“No UEFA national teams will participate in any FIFA competition for so long as these proposals remain alive, unless this proposal has been abandoned in its entirety and binding assurances have been given that FIFA will never again open its governance or competitions to private ownership,” UEFA said in a statement.
“The World Cup cannot be treated as an investment product … No part of it should ever be surrendered to private investors. The World Cup is not for sale.”
FIFA, football’s world governing body, on Tuesday announced plans to create a commercial subsidiary to run its biggest events, such as the World Cup and Club World Cup.
Under the proposal, private investors would be allowed to acquire stakes in the company but would remain minority shareholders, FIFA said.
The governing body hopes to raise up to $4.2 billion based on a valuation of $20 billion for the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) initiative.
If approved, the project could provide each of FIFA’s 211 member associations with a one-off payment of $20 million in early 2027 and increase their funding allocation for the 2027-2030 cycle from $8 million to $20 million.
Advertisement
FIFA president Gianni Infantino on Wednesday described the initiative as a “golden opportunity to turbocharge the development of the game globally”.
However, the proposal has drawn criticism from not only UEFA but also several leading European federations and European Union officials, who view it as another step in the commercialisation of sport and have raised concerns over potential conflicts of interest.
The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) have also expressed concern that the proposal was made public before FIFA’s 211 member associations were fully consulted.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has called on its members to review FIFA’s controversial plan.
Advertisement
Never for sale
UEFA, in its statement Thursday, said that the World Cup was “one of football’s greatest sporting legacies.
It has been built over generations by players, national teams and supporters across every continent.”
“It is both irresponsible and indefensible that a proposal of such significance for football was conceived in secret and brought to the brink of approval without any meaningful consultation with those entrusted with stewarding the game,” UEFA said.
Advertisement
“This is not merely a profound failure of leadership, but an abdication of FIFA’s duty as the custodian of world football.
“National associations around the world are now presented with an ultimatum: accept the irreversible capture of football’s greatest competitions or bear the consequences.
“This is not a ‘democratic decision’, but governance by intimidation – an act of coercion unworthy of an institution entrusted with the stewardship of the global game.”
UEFA added: “Nobody should be in any doubt: UEFA and its national associations will oppose these plans with absolute determination.
Advertisement
“There are moments when institutions are judged not by what they are prepared to accept, but by what they refuse to compromise. This is one of those moments.
“Some things are simply too important to sell. The FIFA World Cup belongs to football. It always will. And so long as Europe has a voice, it will never be for sale.”
Manchester United legends Gary Neville and Rio Ferdinand have never been shy of voicing their opinions on all matters connected to Old Trafford including transfers
18:50, 01 Aug 2026Updated 18:51, 01 Aug 2026
Advertisement
Chelsea have signed Danny Welbeck on a two-year deal from Brighton & Hove Albion. The news comes despite Manchester United legends Rio Ferdinand and Gary Neville believing that he should be back at Old Trafford in a red shirt.
The United academy graduate will bolster Xabi Alonso’s attack at Stamford Bridge this season and add some much-needed experience to a young squad. The 35-year-old’s move to west London comes after he rolled back the years at Brighton last term.
The former United and England forward netted 14 goals and provided two assists across all competitions for Fabian Hurzeler’s team in 2025/26. Welbeck’s performances at the Amex Stadium helped them qualify for the Europa Conference League.
And the frontman will now be pulling on the blue of Chelsea in 2026/27 after agreeing a contract with Alonso’s men until 2028. The experienced striker is expected to join up with his new team-mates on their pre-season tour.
Welbeck has shared his pride at joining the Stamford Bridge club after his move was confirmed on Saturday evening.
He said: “When you hear of the interest from Chelsea, it’s something that fills you with such immense pride. Knowing the history of Chelsea, it’s a club that wants to win trophies and is pushing to do that every single season.
Advertisement
“I’m really honoured to come to a club of this stature at what feels like a really exciting time. I know a few of the boys already and I’ve had fantastic conversations with the manager and already feel that connection. I’ve got that fire in my belly and I’m ready to give it everything for this club to make everyone at Chelsea, and the supporters, proud.”
Speaking to Sky Sports on Thursday, he said: “I said 10 years ago that Manchester United should never have sold Danny Welbeck. He’s gone away and done brilliantly well.
“He’s coming into a little cameo at the end of his career, but he’s a fantastic player. I worked with him obviously as a team-mate, I worked with him with England as a coach and he was fantastic for England.
“And he’s been good in the Premier League as well. It’s a good move for Chelsea and it gives them a real option up front.”
Welbeck had grown frustrated during David Moyes’ reign at United in 2013/14, having frequently been forced to play on the left wing, where he felt he could not show his best qualities.
It soon also became clear that, were he to assume a central striker role under Moyes’ successor, Louis van Gaal, it would not be as the manager’s top choice, as he had not been named in any of his first three league starting line-ups.
He went on to join Premier League rivals Arsenal in August 2014 where he scored 32 goals in 126 appearances – winning two FA Cups under the guidance of Arsene Wenger.
Franco Mastantuono is one of the players in the Real Madrid first team who has been outright informed that he is not in Jose Mourinho’s plans.
The teenager , after all, endured a difficult first season at the club and did not impress as he would have liked with injuries playing a part in keeping him from his best version.
Advertisement
Pressed to look for a departure, the Argentine star seemingly preferred a move back to River Plate but Los Blancos preferred that his next destination be somewhere in Europe.
Advertisement
Serie A sounds strong
As reported byMundo Deportivonow, Mastantuono has agreed to leave to a European club but demands that it be in Italy.
On that front, one club sounds strong, and it is surprisingly the same team Los Blancos face in their first pre-season friendly – Fiorentina.
Out of Mourinho’s plans. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
The player has reportedly conveyed to the manager that he wishes to move to Italy, and Fiorentina are among the most interested of all parties at his doorstep.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Notably, even AC Milan and Napoli have submitted offers for Mastantuono, and everything will come down to his personal decision. The ball is completely in his court and he would prefer to participate in European competitions.
As matters stand, contacts are ongoing between Fiorentina and Mastantuono and it remains to be seen how long they drag on. The Italian club, for their part, do not wish to pressurise the player.
A ‘see you later’
Real Madrid are sending Mastantuono on loan with the intention of counting on him for the long haul, but history is testament that loan departures are seldom as straightforward as they appear.
Serie A bound? (Photo by Marcos Brindicci/Getty Images)
Advertisement
Advertisement
While some, like the case of Brahim Diaz, worked out relatively well, others have not ended as joyously. A return to the club after leaving on loan, moreover, is complicated given that Real Madrid seldom have any constraints in replacing players.
Mastantuono will thus leave with the intention of returning soon, and he will hope it is just a ‘see you later.’
The practicality of the situation, however, is grossly different, and he must thus look to play solid minutes at a high quality to ensure his future at an elite club.
JJ Gabriel made his Man Utd debut at the age of 15 on Saturday and Leny Yoro believes the teenager has a big future in the game.
Leny Yoro was just 16 when he made his competitive debut for Lille and when he moved to Manchester United for £52million in the summer of 2024, he became the most expensive footballer aged 18 or under in the history of the game. So he is well placed to talk about JJ Gabriel.
The United teenager lit up the Strawberry Arena in Stockholm on Saturday with a lively late cameo in the 2-1 win against Atletico Madrid, making his first senior appearance at the age of 15 as his talent continues to bloom.
Advertisement
Gabriel trained regularly with the first team last season and travelled to Trondheim for last weekend’s win against Rosenborg, but this was his first outing for Michael Carrick’s side and even though it was a pre-season friendly, he still caught the eye.
He scored 26 goals in 26 games in the Under-18 Premier League last season and has attracted interest from Barcelona, with United desperate to keep hold of a forward who looks like a generational talent, and Yoro has been impressed.
“He’s a really good player,” he said. “Still really young, still a lot to learn, a lot to improve. He’s really humble, still working, so I’m happy for him to get his first minutes, so I hope for him it’s going to continue like that.”
Advertisement
As a fellow teenage sensation who made waves early in his career, Yoro knows what the attention on Gabriel is going to be like now and can see similarities in his own journey to the one the United youngster is embarking on.
“I can see myself,” he said. “[I would say] stay humble, just want to work, and this is what we need in the team, even for the young guys.
“They’re all doing really well, and JJ is one of them, so I hope he’s going to learn a lot, continue like that, improve, yeah. But he’s really good, a good player.”
FIFA President Gianni Infantino was met with unprecedented backlash following his proposal for the structural reform of the World Cup. Under pressure, he announced that he was withdrawing his plan to sell part of the tournament to private investors. This proposal caused quite a stir internally and even led some members of his team to resign in protest.
Emerse Faé’s contract as manager of the In Ivory Coast’s Elephants expires on August 1. The Ivorian Football Federation has announced that it will not be renewing his contract. He will therefore step down, having led the team to victory in the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations and guided the Ivorians to a historic run at this summer’s World Cup. In Italy, the football world is mourning one of its legends: Franco Baresi, who died at the age of 66.
Lorena Wiebes sprinted to victory on the opening stage of the Tour de France Femmes in Lausanne on Saturday to claim the race leader’s yellow jersey.
The 27-year-old Dutch rider beat Mauritian Kim Le Court into second with European champion Demi Vollering third.
Sprint specialist Wiebes, a two-time former European champion, leads the overall standings by four seconds from Le Court and six seconds to Vollering thanks to bonus seconds on the line.
This was Wiebes’s 10th Tour stage victory overall and the 132nd victory of her career.
Advertisement
Amongst the likely overall contenders, Vollering stole a march on some of her rivals by taking four bonus seconds on the line.
That gave her an advantage over the last two winners of this race, Pauline Ferrand-Prevot and Kasia Niewiadoma, who finished eighth and ninth respectively in the same time as the stage winner.
Other potential contenders, Paula Blasi and Anna van der Breggen conceded an extra eight seconds to Vollering, coming home in 12th and 13th.
Four riders had escaped up the road early on in the 138km stage around Lausanne.
Czech Nikola Noskova, Spaniard Idoia Eraso, Dutch rider Maud Rijnbeek and Frenchwoman Oceane Mahe built up a maximum lead of six minutes but they were reeled in 6km from the finish.
Sunday’s second stage remains in Switzerland and is a hilly 147.9km from Aigle to Geneva.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login