From one to 48 - every World Cup team ranked after first game
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- France topped the BBC's 48-team World Cup ranking after beating Senegal 3-1 with a rampant second-half performance, described as 'deserved favourites'
- Argentina were ranked only third despite defending their title with a 3-0 win over Algeria, with BBC crediting Lionel Messi's presence and genius for keeping them in the top three
- USA earned a surprise top-five spot at #5 after dismantling Paraguay 4-1, boosted by a home crowd described as a tangible advantage
- Tunisia made unwanted history by sacking their manager immediately after their 5-1 opening loss to Sweden, cited as evidence of how badly the team performed
- South Africa finished their 2-0 loss to Mexico with nine men, described as 'generous' hosts who 'gave the ball away for fun' in their opening match
- Cape Verde became 'everyone's second team' at the tournament after a surprise 0-0 draw with Spain, with veteran keeper Vozinha singled out as the inspiration
- New Zealand, the tournament's lowest-ranked side, earned a gutsy 2-2 draw against Iran with Elijah Just flagged as a breakout star
Why it matters: With all 48 teams having played once in the expanded World Cup, this snapshot ranking frames France and England as early favourites and signals that even defending champions Argentina depend heavily on Messi's individual quality. The immediate sacking of Tunisia's manager and South Africa's two red cards on opening day underscore the heightened pressure and volatility of a 48-team field.
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