Who are your World Cup 2026 favorites and how did they do in the first week?
One Week Into the World Cup, the Race for the Trophy Is Already Taking Shape
Every FIFA World Cup begins with the same question:
Who is really capable of lifting the trophy?
Before the tournament started, analysts, former players, and supporters identified a familiar group of favorites. Argentina entered as defending champions. France arrived with one of the deepest squads in football. England carried enormous expectations. Brazil hoped to add a sixth star. Germany sought a return to the summit. Portugal dreamed of converting talent into silverware.
One week later, the picture is becoming clearer.
The opening matches do not determine a champion, but they reveal something equally important: which teams look ready for the pressure of a month-long tournament.
Some favorites have immediately justified the hype.
Others have shown flashes of brilliance mixed with lingering concerns.
A few have already discovered that reputation alone wins nothing at the World Cup.
As the tournament enters its second week, here’s a detailed report card on the nations most likely to be competing for football’s greatest prize in July.
Argentina: The Champions Still Look Dangerous
Grade: A+
If there was any doubt about Argentina’s intentions, it disappeared quickly.
The reigning world champions entered World Cup 2026 facing familiar questions. Could they defend the title? Was Lionel Messi still capable of influencing matches at the highest level? Had the golden generation finally begun to age?
The answer so far has been emphatic.
Argentina’s 3-0 victory over Algeria was among the most convincing performances of the opening week. The team looked balanced, confident, and completely in control.
Most importantly, Lionel Messi produced one of the defining moments of the tournament by scoring the first World Cup hat trick of his legendary career.
What makes Argentina especially dangerous is that they no longer appear dependent on Messi alone. The supporting cast looks stronger than ever. The midfield remains organized. The defense appears composed. The attack continues to create opportunities.
The champions look every bit like contenders.
England: Perhaps the Most Complete Team So Far
Grade: A+
Few teams have made a stronger statement than England.
Their thrilling 4-2 victory over Croatia was exactly the kind of performance supporters had hoped to see. England attacked with confidence, controlled large portions of the match, and demonstrated a level of depth that few nations can match.
Jude Bellingham continues to look like one of the tournament’s defining players.
Harry Kane remains one of the world’s most reliable goal scorers.
Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, and England’s supporting cast have all contributed positively.
Perhaps the most encouraging aspect of England’s start has been their maturity. Previous English teams sometimes struggled under the weight of expectations. This squad appears comfortable with pressure.
For the first time in years, many neutral observers are viewing England as a genuine favorite rather than merely a talented outsider.
France: Quietly Effective
Grade: A
France has not generated as many headlines as Argentina or England, but that may actually be a positive sign.
The French opened with a convincing 3-1 victory over Senegal and looked exactly like what they are: one of the deepest squads in world football.
Kylian Mbappé remains one of the most terrifying players in the sport.
The midfield remains strong.
The defense appears organized.
Most importantly, France rarely looked uncomfortable.
The challenge for France has never been talent.
The challenge is maintaining focus and consistency throughout a long tournament.
So far, they appear to be doing exactly that.
Germany: Back Among the Elite
Grade: A
Germany’s opening week has been fascinating.
The 7-1 victory over Curaçao immediately captured global attention. Critics were quick to point out the difference in quality between the two teams, but Germany can only play the opponent in front of them.
What impressed observers was the efficiency.
Germany moved the ball quickly.
The attack looked fluid.
The finishing was ruthless.
Their subsequent victory over Côte d’Ivoire reinforced the impression that Germany has arrived in North America with serious ambitions.
After several disappointing major tournaments, German football appears to be rebuilding its reputation.
This team looks capable of making a deep run.
Brazil: Strong Results, Lingering Questions
Grade: B+
Brazil remains Brazil.
The talent is obvious.
The technical quality is exceptional.
The expectations are enormous.
Yet the first week has left supporters with mixed emotions.
The draw against Morocco was not disastrous. Morocco has proven repeatedly that it belongs among the world’s strongest teams.
However, Brazil did not dominate in the manner many expected.
The subsequent victory over Haiti helped restore confidence, but questions remain.
Can Brazil consistently control midfield?
Will the defense hold up against elite opposition?
Can the attack convert opportunities efficiently?
None of these concerns are major.
But they do prevent Brazil from receiving the highest marks after week one.
Portugal: Plenty of Talent, Room for Improvement
Grade: B
Portugal entered the tournament with one of the strongest squads on paper.
Yet the opening week felt slightly underwhelming.
The draw against DR Congo surprised many observers and highlighted a recurring issue that has occasionally affected Portugal in major tournaments.
The team sometimes struggles to break down organized defensive opponents.
The talent is undeniable.
Bruno Fernandes remains one of the world’s best playmakers.
Rafael Leão can change a match instantly.
The squad possesses tremendous depth.
But Portugal still feels like a team searching for its best version.
The good news is that there is plenty of time to find it.
Netherlands: Entertaining but Vulnerable
Grade: B
The Dutch remain one of football’s most fascinating teams.
Their 2-2 draw against Japan produced one of the tournament’s most entertaining matches. Later, the Netherlands delivered a dominant 5-1 victory over Sweden.
The attack looks dangerous.
The midfield remains creative.
Yet defensive concerns persist.
Against stronger opponents, those weaknesses could become costly.
At their best, the Dutch are capable of beating anyone.
At their worst, they sometimes create problems for themselves.
That inconsistency keeps them slightly below the top tier of contenders for now.
Belgium: Searching for Momentum
Grade: B-
Belgium’s first week has been respectable rather than spectacular.
A draw against Egypt left supporters wanting more.
The squad still possesses quality, but questions continue to follow this generation.
Can Belgium finally fulfill its enormous potential?
For years, the nation has produced world-class players.
For years, expectations have exceeded results.
Kevin De Bruyne remains brilliant.
The squad remains talented.
Yet Belgium still feels like a team trying to prove something.
The second week will be crucial.
United States: Better Than Many Expected
Grade: A
The United States deserves significant credit.
Many observers viewed the Americans as a dangerous outsider rather than a true contender.
The first week may be changing those perceptions.
Victories over Paraguay and Australia demonstrated organization, confidence, and tactical maturity.
The influence of Mauricio Pochettino is becoming increasingly visible.
The Americans press effectively.
They defend with discipline.
They attack with purpose.
Are they among the favorites to win the tournament?
Probably not yet.
Could they make a deep run?
Absolutely.
The United States has become one of the most intriguing stories of the first week.
The Biggest Surprise Among the Favorites
If one contender has exceeded expectations more than any other, it may be England.
The Three Lions entered the tournament with pressure, skepticism, and memories of previous disappointments.
One week later, they look like a team that genuinely believes it can win the World Cup.
That confidence is evident in every performance.
Their challenge now is sustaining it.
The Biggest Concern Among the Favorites
Portugal receives this unfortunate distinction.
Not because the team has performed poorly.
Rather, because the gap between Portugal’s potential and its actual performances remains noticeable.
The talent level suggests a championship contender.
The results suggest a team still searching for consistency.
That can change quickly.
But it remains a storyline worth monitoring.
Who Looks Most Likely to Lift the Trophy Right Now?
If the World Cup ended after one week, the leading contenders would probably be:
Tier One
- Argentina
- England
- France
- Germany
Tier Two
- Brazil
- Portugal
- Netherlands
- United States
Dark Horse Contenders
- Canada
- Morocco
- Norway
- South Korea
- Switzerland
The margins between these teams remain small.
One injury, one red card, or one extraordinary performance can change everything.
That uncertainty is what makes the World Cup special.
Final Thoughts
The first week of FIFA World Cup 2026 has revealed an important truth.
There is no overwhelming favorite.
Argentina looks strong.
England looks dangerous.
France remains formidable.
Germany appears revitalized.
Brazil continues to threaten.
Portugal still possesses enormous potential.
For supporters, that is excellent news.
The path to the trophy remains wide open.
As the tournament moves deeper into the group stage, the contenders will continue separating themselves from the challengers.
The first week gave us clues.
The coming weeks will provide answers.
And if the opening days are any indication, the battle for football’s greatest prize may be one of the most competitive in modern World Cup history.
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