France

France have now won each of their last seven opening matches at major tournaments, including their four most recent World Cup openers since 2014

It is just one fewer victory than they managed across their first 13 participations in the tournament (W5 D3 L5).

Moreover, since the start of the 2018 World Cup, France have played more matches in the tournament than any other nation (15) and have recorded at least five more victories than any other side (W12 D2 L1).

It gives them an 80% win rate – no other team to have played more than one match in that period has a win rate higher than 67%.

1. France (Group I. Beat Senegal 3-1)

France lived up to pre-tournament hype with rampant second-half performance to beat Senegal in their World Cup opener in New Jersey.

They have strength in every position but their most sharpest weapon remains Kylian Mbappe who became France's all-time leading goalscorer with a superb double in the opener.

Mbappe broke Senegal's resistance in the second half with a low strike before rifling home a sensational long-range effort deep into stoppage time.

The Real Madrid forward's second strike lifted him on to 58 goals for Les Bleus - one clear of former record holder Olivier Giroud.

Bradley Barcola had earlier put France 2-0 up before Ibrahim Mbaye pulled one back, but Mbappe's second of the game ended Senegal's hopes of a comeback

It was a display that showed why they are deserved favourites this time around too.

So ranked first is ...

Image source, Getty Images

England's World Cup opener in Dallas was Thomas Tuchel's first as a World Cup manager.

But he revealed the occasion, particularly the emotion of the national anthems, was spoiled by a wall of photographers blocking his view.

"I have to tell you something. I'm begging Fifa to change the position of the photographers in the national anthem, because I could not see my team," the England head coach said. "It was a very special moment today, and I was standing in front of a wall of 50 photographers and I could not see one single player.

"It ruined a little bit my experience.

"It is very emotional. Listen, when I was young, and even when I started coaching, this was too big to dream of, to have this kind of a career.

"I felt the spirit, and what it means to be part of a World Cup. It's just amazing, and I felt very, very alive the last two days. I didn't want to be anywhere else in the world than here."

David James
Former England goalkeeper on BBC Radio 5 Live 606

I thought it was a wonderful victory to start with, and I like how England adapted through the game, especially at half time. What we saw was a new version of this England team.

The peg back was a scoring too early. We did score early which meant Croatia always thought they would get back into the game.

The intensity of the second half start was superb by England and when Rashford came on and put the icing on the cake, it made what was a good game into a fantastic result.

Thomas Frank
Former Tottenham manager on BBC Radio 5 Live

The first round, in the group stages, has been amazing in many aspects. We've already got some fantastic stories. The top dogs, the big players - they have definitely entered the tournament. Really happy with that.

I must say I loved that Messi scored a hattrick in the first game. I think that is incredible.

Argentina's opener delivered Lionel Messi's first World Cup hat-trick, a record-equalling 16th World Cup goal, and another reminder that despite his age,he isn't going away.

Argentina beat Algeria 3-0, and Messi was at the centre of it all.

As the sun dipped behind the Kansas City skyline, the 38-year-old became the first man in history to feature at six World Cups - beating rival Cristiano Ronaldo by a day.

Twenty years ago to the day after his World Cup debut as an 18-year-old at Germany 2006, one of the game's greatest superstars looked as sharp as ever in delivering another spectacular performance on his 200th appearance for his country.

Image source, Getty Images

After disappointing group-stage exits in 2018 and 2022, Germany came into this tournament somewhat under the radar, with the perennial powerhouse considered only seventh favourites to lift their fifth World Cup.

They, however, posted the biggest win in the first set of group stage fixtures by defeating debutants Curacao 7-1 after overcoming brief scare.

Die Mannschaft have now won 10 straight matches since a 2-0 defeat in their qualifier in Slovakia in September and seem to have found a system which brings the best out of Jamal Musiala, Kai Havertz and Florian Wirtz, while Lukas Nmecha is growing in stature all the time.

They looked exciting and dangerous with every attack and wasted chances that would have threatened Hungary's 10-1 win over El Salvador in 1982 as the tournament's biggest win.

4. Germany (Group E. Beat Curacao 7-1)

Any team that scores seven in their opening fixture cannot be ignored - regardless of the (lack of) quality of the opposition.

3. Argentina Group G. Beat Algeria 3-0)

They have Lionel Messi and a team that is lifted by his presence and genius. That's enough to be top three.

2. England (Group L. Beat Croatia 4-2)

Scored four. Could have had more. Brilliant attacking performance led by Harry Kane. Slight concerns at the back.

Image source, Getty Images

Folarin Balogun, 24, announced himself on the biggest stage with a performance that etched his name into the United States football history.

Born in New York, he moved to London with his family when he was a child and came through the ranks at Arsenal's academy.

Promoted to the first team in 2020, Balogun found opportunities hard to come by with the Gunners.

And after making just two Premier League appearances, he was sent on loan to Middlesbrough and then Reims, where he finally broke through.

Balogun's 21-goal haul in Ligue 1 during the 2022-23 season earned him a £35m move to Monaco in the summer of 2023.

That same year, he also switched international allegiance to the US despite playing for England age group sides all the way through to under-21s, earning 13 caps at that level.

Balogun has carried his club form into the World Cup after finishing the 2025-26 season with nine goals in 13 league matches for Monaco and, with this display, showed he has the quality to lead the US attack in the tournament.

Erling Haaland scored twice on his World Cup debut as Norway overcame a spirited Iraq in their opening Group I game at Boston Stadium.

The 25-year-old took his tally to 57 goals in 51 appearances for his country as they made their World Cup return after 28 years, though he was denied the 55th hat-trick in tournament history by Jalal Hassan's fine block late on.

Making their first appearance on the biggest stage in 40 years, Iraq more than held their own in the opening 25 minutes but Norway's Premier League quality proved too much.

Image source, Getty Images

At the age of 67, Brazil's opener against Morocco was Carlo Ancelotti's first game as a head coach at a World Cup.

"This is a beautiful moment for me," said the five-time Champions League-winning boss on the eve of the match.

In the end he was forced to apologise following his team's lacklustre performance in the stifling New Jersey heat.

"I am sorry we didn't play as well as we hoped," said the Italian in his post-match media conference.

The Italian - the first overseas coach to lead Brazil at a World Cup - was brought in after a poor qualifying campaign which saw Brazil's place at the tournament thrown into serious doubt after the team only won three of its first eight qualifiers.

The five-time world champions qualified in the end but not before suffering six defeats in 18 games on the way to finishing fifth in the South American qualifying table.

Their latest indifferent performance will only serve to raise more questions than answers.

9. Brazil (Group C. Drew 1-1 with Morocco)

"Shaky start left us questioning if this was the Brazil of years gone by. But their wily squad refused to be beaten."

8. Morocco (Group C. Drew 1-1 with Brazil)

"Looked like blowing Brazil away in opening 20 minutes. Then appeared to settle for a draw in second half. More in the tank."

7. Colombia (Group K. Beat Uzbekistan 3-1)

"Powerful, quick and with a sprinkle of star dust that is Luis Diaz. Colombia will hurt plenty of teams."

6. Norway (Group I. Beat Iraq 4-1)

"A team who are built around Erling Haaland and are set up to play to his strengths."

5. USA (Group D. Beat Paraguay 4-1)

"Surprise inclusion in the top five. Destroyed Paraguay with a slick performance and have the home crowd on their side."

Image source, Getty Images

Pre-tournament favourites Spain did not get the lift off that they were looking for after being held to a goalless draw by debutants Cape Verde in their opener.

The third-smallest country in terms of population to qualify for a World Cup, Cape Verde were 67th in Fifa's latest rankings and many expected them to be swept aside by second-ranked Spain.

However, the reigning European champions were laboured in attack for long spells and on the occasions Spain threatened the Cape Verde goal, 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha kept them at bay with numerous fine saves.

The introduction of Lamine Yamal as a second-half substitute injected life into his side and the Spain fans inside the stadium, but the Barcelona teenager - making his first appearance for almost eight weeks following his recovery from a hamstring injury - could not produce a decisive moment on his World Cup debut.

Pedri also did all he could to break the deadlock and was the most creative player in the first round in terms of expected assists (1.23). He also won possession in the final third six times, twice as often as any other player at the World Cup.

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

Looked levels above an admittedly very poor South Africa side. Cesar Montes' late red card was a blow though.

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

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

Shock of the tournament so far. But created enough to win their match several times over. They'll still go far.

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

10. Sweden (Group F. Beat Tunisia 5-1)

Have two of the Premier League's most deadly strikers and a midfield with an eye for goal too.

Image source, Getty Images

Scotland head coach Steve Clarke is demanding better from his team with the ball when they face Morocco on Friday.

Despite beating Haiti in their opener, Scotland had less than half of possession against a side ranked well below them.

Clarke says that part of the team's game will have to imrpve against the 2022 semi-finalists.

"We didn't create enough chances against Haiti," he said. "Hopefully we can do that against a really good Moroccan side.

"Sometimes when you play against a team, and I'm pretty sure that Morocco will dominate the ball, but sometimes if you can find the right moments to break and get out and get at them, then you can cause them problems as well.

"Different Scotland, hopefully different in possession and the same resilience and determination in defence."

John McGinn repaid head coach Steve Clarke's faith in him when he fired Scotland to their first World Cup win in 36 years as they edged past Haiti on their return to the men's tournament after a 28-year absence.

Clarke had said pre-match that the selection of Aston Villa captain McGinn instead of Ryan Christie was "probably the hardest decision I've ever had to make" and challenged the 31-year-old to prove him right.

It is safe to say that sending his country to the top of Group C while taking a significant step towards reaching the knockout stage for the first time does just that - even if this was a nerve-shattering night at the Boston Stadium.