The World Cup last 16 stage is underway and results have gone as expected so far, with France and Morocco overcoming Paraguay and Canada respectively to reach the quarter-finals.Who else but Kylian Mbappe scored the only goal of the game for France, but does the fact they were so subdued for much of the game see them displaced at the top of our rankings?And, after Morocco beat co-hosts Canada 3-0, do we place them amongst the favourites to win the tournament?Well, here’s how our rankings look after day 23. Watch out for two mouth-watering ties later on Sunday with Brazil taking on dark horses Norway and co-hosts Mexico hosting England in what is sure to be a frenzied Azteca atmosphere.The World Cup's hottest ever match | World Cup Daily BriefingLuke Bosher and Felipe CardenasGet free access to the most comprehensive World Cup coverage in The Athletic app1. FranceFIFA ranking: 1➡️Having dismantled four opponents in a row, France were finally nullified in the last 16 by a stubborn Paraguay side, but still made it through with a 1-0 win.Paraguay showed that with unscrupulous methods, France can be got at, and you wonder if better opponents (i.e. Morocco in the quarter-finals) will take note of that and attempt to rile Didier Deschamps’ side.However, France remain clear favourites to win the tournament given the ridiculous attacking talent they possess. Mbappe is level with Lionel Messi in the race for the golden boot with seven goals, while creator-in-chief Michael Olise is top of the assists chart with five.They deservedly remain top of our rankings — and The Athletic’s live projection tool forecasts a 31 per cent chance of them winning the World Cup.2. SpainFIFA ranking: 3➡️If it feels like Spain and star player Lamine Yamal haven’t quite got into full swing yet, that’s probably because expectations around the Euro 2024 winners were so high.They started with a frustrating 0-0 draw with Cape Verde but have now won three consecutive matches — and are yet to concede a goal. Thursday night’s 3-0 victory over Austria was their best display yet, as unsung hero Mikel Oyarzabal brought his tally to the tournament to four with a brace.3. ArgentinaFIFA ranking: 2➡️Argentina made much tougher work of Cape Verde than most expected, twice being pegged back before an own goal in the 111th minute courtesy of Diney sent them through to the last 16 with a 3-2 win after extra time.Having won the 2022 World Cup, it is difficult to overlook Argentina as a serious contender, and with Messi topping the World Cup goalscorer rankings with his seventh of the tournament against Cape Verde, few can argue that he looks far past his best.Messi is still producing great performances (Photo: Megan Briggs/Getty Images)But having had a relatively straightforward group stage, Argentina are yet to be properly tested. World Cup debutants Cape Verde proved their toughest opponents yet, and there will be much more to come from the quarter-final onwards, should they beat Egypt in the last 16.4. BrazilFIFA ranking: 5➡️Brazil made light work of Scotland and Haiti, but there were concerns over their performance in the draw with Morocco, leading some to believe Japan could be a banana skin in the round of 32.Carlo Ancelotti looked the calmest man in Houston, and it was his substitute, Gabriel Martinelli, who scored the added-time winner for Brazil. They matched Japan’s energy and had too much attacking impetus to be denied.5. MoroccoFIFA ranking: 6⬆️ 2The greatest African side ever? Given they have reached successive World Cup quarter-finals (the first African nation ever to do so), plus they probably won AFCON earlier this year, it is hard to argue with that statement.They were given a very tough test, certainly in the early stages, against an all-action Canada side in the last 16 but weathered the storm and ended up comfortable 3-0 winners thanks to some decisive finishing, with three goals from five shots.Can they beat France, in a match-up of deep cultural significance, in the quarter-finals? Much may depend on the fitness of Ismael Saibari, who went off injury against Canada. But in beating the Netherlands and drawing against Brazil, Morocco have already proved they have what it takes to handle big-name opponents.Are Morocco’s class of 2026 the best African side ever? (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)6. EnglandFIFA ranking: 4⬇️ 1Since beating Croatia, England’s games have been tough to watch. Ghana, Panama and DR Congo have sought to frustrate them, and succeeded for long periods, but England’s round-of-32 turnaround win in the last 15 minutes shows they have found some solutions to break down resolute defences.It was their first victory after conceding the opening goal in a World Cup knockout tie since the 1966 final, as Harry Kane’s double put him back into the Golden Boot race — he has five goals to his name — and saved England from a disastrous loss.It doesn’t get any easier in the last 16. Now they must confront co-hosts Mexico at the Estadio Azteca.7. MexicoFIFA ranking: 10⬇️ 1Mexico qualified for the round of 16 with a perfect record and without conceding a goal, following three wins from three in the group stage and a 2-0 win over Ecuador in the last 32. It was their first knockout win in 40 years.Julian Quinones and Raul Jimenez have proved to be dependable goal threats, with five combined, while their home support in Mexico City, at the Estadio Azteca, for the Ecuador game was incredible.It should prove to be an intimidating atmosphere for England in the last 16.The Azteca is a fortress for Mexico (Photo: Yuri CORTEZ / AFP via Getty Images)8. NorwayFIFA ranking: 21➡️Into the last 16 Norway go, for only the third time in their history, for a mouthwatering tie with Brazil.Norway’s defence stood tall against the Ivory Coast, dealing well with set-piece deliveries and crosses. Goalkeeper Orjan Nyland made some crucial saves, including tipping Amad’s late free kick over the bar.Haaland has looked sharp (Photo: Julian Finney – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)Ivory Coast could not contain a Norway attack that scored eight goals in three games in the group stage. It is electrifying in full flow, as seen by Antonio Nusa’s opener and Haaland’s fifth goal of the tournament. The team was well rested after a rotated line-up in their final group match against France, when progression was already ensured.9. PortugalFIFA ranking: 7➡️Despite having arguably the best midfield at the tournament, Portugal haven’t looked convincing and finished behind Colombia in Group K.But against Croatia, Cristiano Ronaldo scored his first World Cup knockout goal with a penalty (and was later substituted) as Roberto Martinez’s side snatched a last-16 spot with a stoppage-time Goncalo Ramos header.That winner came in the 94th minute, but this hugely dramatic game still found time to throw up a Croatian disallowed equaliser 11 minutes later.Meeting Spain next, Portugal will have to find a way to limit the European champions, or they’re likely to be punished.10. ColombiaFIFA ranking: 11⬆️ 1Colombia continue their impressive march, beating a compact Ghana side 1-0 to confirm their spot in the last 16.After topping their group ahead of Portugal, Nestor Lorenzo’s side found themselves among the most favourable pathways to the quarter-finals, facing Ghana in the last 32, before their upcoming clash with Switzerland in the round of 16.They may have to do it without talisman James Rodriguez, who was substituted at half-time against Ghana after suffering from the flu, but what they could lack in experience is more than made up for in Luis Diaz and Jhon Arias’ attacking quality.Switzerland are canny though so Colombia cannot afford to look too far ahead. But the potential to get revenge on Argentina, who beat them in extra time in the final of the 2024 Copa America, is surely at the back of their minds.11. United StatesFIFA ranking: 16⬇️1Mauricio Pochettino’s team continued their group-stage form to join co-hosts Canada and Mexico in the last 16, easing beyond tricky opponents in Bosnia and Herzegovina despite being reduced to 10 men.But they are set to be without Folarin Balogun in their next game after his red card — a critical blow when it comes to their goal threat as they take on Belgium in Seattle.Balogun will miss the last-16 match (Photo: Elysia Su/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images)The U.S. are looking to reach the quarter-finals for just the third time, and to avenge a 5-2 friendly loss to Belgium in March. Should they achieve that, they will play one of Portugal or Spain in the last eight.12. SwitzerlandFIFA ranking: 15➡️Switzerland have suffered last-16 defeat in the past three World Cups, but victory over Algeria in the round of 32 at this expanded edition means they have finally won a knockout game.It was their third victory in a row at this tournament, where 20-year-old midfielder Johan Manzambi has emerged as a breakout star. His mazy run set up Breel Embolo’s opener.Can they go a step further? They will meet Colombia and look capable of beating them.13. BelgiumFIFA ranking: 9➡️Belgium were staring at elimination after going 2-0 down against Senegal in the round of 32. In a surprising move, head coach Rudi Garcia reacted by taking off Kevin De Bruyne and Jeremy Doku, but it proved effective as Belgium somehow revived with two goals in the last four minutes.Youri Tielemans’ penalty in the second half of extra time was the latest goal scored at a World Cup, completing a remarkable comeback. The remnants of their golden generation still have life in them yet.They face the U.S. next, whom they beat 5-2 in a friendly in March.14. EgyptFIFA ranking: 24⬆️ 1Considered among the World Cup’s greatest underachievers before this tournament, Egypt have got rid of that tag on their way to the last 16.Remarkably, Egypt had never won a game on the world’s biggest stage, despite being the most successful team in Africa’s continental tournament, having won the Africa Cup of Nations a record seven times. At the ninth time of asking (stretching all the way back to 1934), that first win finally came against New Zealand in their second group game. And there must be something that agrees with Egypt about teams from Oceania, as they eliminated Australia in the last 32 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in regular and extra time.Argentina is their toughest test yet, but they will surely gain some confidence from their African counterparts Cape Verde, who showed the world champions are far from indestructible.15. ParaguayFIFA ranking: 34⬆️ 1Beating Germany in the last-32 was one of the greatest moments in Paraguayan football history, but repeating that feat against France was a step too far.They barely laid a glove on Didier Deschamps’ side (well, not in a footballing sense, anyway) but proved to be extremely stubborn opponents, perhaps showing the way for how France can be beaten by better sides later in the competition.Considering they were dismantled 4-1 by the U.S. in their opening match, Paraguay had a surprisingly good tournament.Paraguay bid farewell to the World Cup in Philadelphia (Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)16. CanadaFIFA ranking: 30⬇️ 2It’s hard to know how to judge Canada’s campaign. They earned their country’s first ever World Cup point, first ever World Cup win and progressed to the knockout stage for the first time, going out 3-0 to Morocco in the last-16 but only after wasting a string of chances in the first half.However, given how easy their group was and that the only sides they beat in the competition were Qatar and South Africa (plus a draw against Bosnia-Herzegovina), was their run really that impressive given the years of investment and coaching that went into producing a team befitting of a host nation?The biggest win would be a legacy that ensures we regularly see Canada at World Cups in the future.17. Cape VerdeFIFA ranking: 64➡️Cape Verde have gripped the hearts of millions around the world this summer and fittingly departed from the World Cup in style against Argentina.Their journey was magical, first drawing 0-0 with European champions Spain before improbably finishing above Uruguay to progress to the last 16 as a second-placed team, drawing all three of their matches. But they would save their best and most spirited performance until the knockouts, twice coming from behind against Messi and the world champions.Sidny Lopes Cabral celebrates his equaliser (Photo: Jussi Eskola/Soccrates/Getty Images)Vozinha, the breakout star of the World Cup, made eight saves, including an excellent stop to prevent Messi in a one-on-one. Roberto ‘Pico’ Lopes was again outstanding in the heart of defence, but the star of the day was full-back Sidny Lopes Cabral, whose curled finish from an implausible angle will surely be a goal-of-the-tournament contender.Farewell, Cape Verde; on behalf of football lovers around the world, we hope to see you again soon.18. NetherlandsFIFA ranking: 7➡️The Netherlands’ group stage instilled confidence in the team, including a 5-1 win over Sweden. Cody Gakpo, Brian Brobbey and Crysencio Summerville had all combined well in a dangerous-looking attack.But after topping their group, they were unlucky to draw another top-10 ranked team in Morocco. Ronald Koeman changed the setup to play five defenders, and it worked well enough that Morocco needed a late equaliser. But could they have stuck to the same approach that brought group-stage success?After missing three out of five penalties, they were defeated in the shootout. There will be disappointment exiting at this stage of the tournament, leading to Koeman’s resignation.19. GermanyFIFA ranking: 12➡️Germany’s group-stage performances were very promising after two games, a thrashing of Curacao and a late win over the Ivory Coast, but there was cause for concern in their final group game against Ecuador, in which they lost 2-1 despite starting with something close to their strongest XI.They might feel hard done by at losing to Paraguay in the last 32, as Jonathan Tah’s extra-time goal was ruled out for apparent blocking of the goalkeeper, but it shouldn’t have come down to this. Paraguay were beaten 4-1 by the U.S. earlier in the tournament.This is just the latest in a string of early exits for Germany. At their previous two tournaments since winning the World Cup in 2014, they failed to make it out of the group stage. They are usually reliable from the penalty spot at least, but this marked their first shootout defeat in World Cup history. Julian Nagelsmann has since left as head coach.20. JapanFIFA ranking: 17➡️Japan had a likeable team who impressed in the group stages, playing an egoless, exciting brand of football. They were rated so highly that many thought they would trouble Brazil in the last 32, and they did, taking the lead in the match through midfielder Kaishu Sano.Brazil matched their energy and had too much attacking talent to be denied, winning with an added-time goal. What could have been for Japan if they hadn’t suffered injuries before and throughout the tournament to Kaoru Mitoma, Takefusa Kubo and Wataru Endo.21. SenegalFIFA ranking: 18➡️Against Belgium, they were 2-0 up in the 86th minute and somehow ended up losing after Youri Tielemans’ winning penalty in extra time.It was a heartbreaking way to exit the tournament, with some Senegal players moved to tears, coming only months after they were stripped of the AFCON title.Despite the meltdown, they had shown high quality in the game, with Ismaila Sarr’s spectacular goal brought down on his chest and lashed into the back of the net. They proved a considerable test for Belgium and France, against whom they mustered a strong first-half performance in the group stage.Senegal’s players protest the award of Belgium’s late penalty (Alex Grimm/Getty Images)22. Ivory CoastFIFA ranking: 31➡️Ivory Coast exited the World Cup having only lost games to Germany (group stage) and Norway (round of 32). They beat Ecuador and Curacao, showing them to be among the best of the rest, but still with work to do to catch the contending teams.They brought the youngest squad to the tournament, so still have plenty of potential to get out of this group. Amad can go home knowing he had an impressive tournament, following his winner against Ecuador and stunning solo goal in the Norway game. Yan Diomande showed flashes of his brilliance that could earn him a big-money move this summer.But none of their strikers found the net. This was one element of their downfall, with a reliance on Amad and Diomande to create and score.23. CroatiaFIFA ranking: 13➡️After finishing as World Cup runners-up in 2018 and placing third in 2022, Croatia went out in the round of 32 following a late defeat by Portugal.They finished second in Group L behind England, suffering a 4-2 loss to Thomas Tuchel’s side in their opener, but bounced back with wins against Panama and Ghana.All attention turns to 40-year-old 2018 Ballon d’Or winner Modric, as the Croatian legend might have played his last international match. He will be irreplaceable.24. SwedenFIFA ranking: 37➡️It was only at the end of last year that Sweden finished bottom of their World Cup qualifying group behind Kosovo, Slovenia and Switzerland without winning a game.The turnaround since under Graham Potter — beating Ukraine and Poland in the play-offs for a spot in the tournament, a 5-1 win over Tunisia in their opening game and a draw with Japan — is a cause for positivity.With the quality of players they have, such as Alexander Isak, Viktor Gyokeres and Anthony Elanga, they should be more consistent and competitive. But losing to France in the last 32 is no disgrace at all.25. EcuadorFIFA ranking: 25➡️Ecuador’s strength was their defensive resilience, but over four games they struggled to find the net, scoring only twice, including failing to break down Curacao.Both of their goals came in a 2-1 win over Germany, their highlight of the tournament. But in the knockouts, they were unable to match Mexico’s ruthlessness.Enner Valencia, 36, did not get going at the tournament, and the rest of their key players, Moises Caicedo, William Pacho and Piero Hincapie, are all defensive. Hincapie was dismissed in added time against Mexico for covering his mouth in a confrontation.26. GhanaFIFA ranking: 65➡️Ghana entered the World Cup as the 73rd-ranked team in the world, the second-lowest at the tournament behind Curacao. It felt like a false position at the time, and over their four games, they proved they are much better than FIFA gave them credit for.A win over Panama in their opening game gave them the platform for qualification, which was confirmed after a battling 0-0 draw against England, during which they were extremely unfortunate not to be awarded a late penalty.And while Colombia’s talent eventually proved too much for Carlos Queiroz’s side, who lacked the injured Mohammed Kudus’ spark in attack, this feels like a platform from which the West African side can build after inconsistent performances in recent years.27. AustriaFIFA ranking: 22➡️After reaching the knockout stage by the skin of their teeth in a dramatic final group game against Algeria, Austria were well beaten by Spain in the round of 32.Ralf Rangnick’s side did have a goal threat, scoring three times on two occasions in the group phase. But coming up against superior opposition (they also faced Argentina), they weren’t able to truly excel either defensively or offensively at their first World Cup since 1998.28. AustraliaFIFA ranking: 28➡️Australia’s unlikely 2-0 win over Turkey was among the first major shocks of the tournament, and they have proven a spirited side who fight above and beyond the sum of their parts ever since.Set up to soak pressure before springing quick counter-attacks, Tony Popovic’s side were unable to replicate the efficiency in the final third that characterised their opening win in their later matches, though they managed to get back on level terms with Egypt after falling behind.Having eventually been eliminated on penalties by Egypt after reaching the knockout stage in successive tournaments, Australia can hold their heads high.29. AlgeriaFIFA ranking: 29➡️Algeria were disappointing in their round-of-32 match against Switzerland, failing to create clear-cut chances.On the plus side, Riyad Mahrez, 35, scored his first World Cup goals at this tournament, and players like 24-year-old Feyenoord winger Anis Hadj Moussa are coming through to succeed him.However, their key players are not in their prime, and they looked to be behind other African nations such as Senegal, Ivory Coast and Morocco in quality.30. DR CongoFIFA ranking: 41➡️Competing at only their second World Cup, after their first as Zaire in 1974, DR Congo progressed to the knockouts for the first time as one of nine African nations to reach the last 32.A draw with Portugal and a win over Uzbekistan in Group K secured their place as a best third-place team.Against England in the last 32, they started quickly, taking the lead through Brian Cipenga. Goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi looked destined to join Vozinha and Eloy Room but was eventually breached. Even in defeat, DR Congo left a hugely favourable impression on the finals.Brian Cipenga celebrates DR Congo’s opener against England (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)31. Bosnia and HerzegovinaFIFA ranking: 61➡️The win over Qatar and draw with Canada took Bosnia to their first knockout game as an independent nation (they were formerly part of Yugoslavia), marking a good achievement.Despite losing to the U.S., they will forever be remembered for beating Italy in UEFA’s World Cup qualification play-offs.32. South AfricaFIFA ranking: 54➡️Farewell then, to South Africa. After their opening-game defeat by Mexico, it felt like even the most optimistic of souls wouldn’t have thought they’d make it out of the group. Given this was the first time they had qualified for the knockout phase of the World Cup, they will probably view this World Cup as a success.But with any defeat in stoppage time comes a sense of what could have been. They were so close to taking the co-hosts into extra time and potentially penalties, where anything could have happened. Hugo Broos departs as the oldest man to ever coach a team in the knockout stages.33. IranFIFA ranking: 21➡️Iran were left to rue what could have been in their last match against Egypt, when they had an added-time winner disallowed for a marginal offside before hitting the crossbar even later on.A win would have guaranteed their progress to the knockout stages, but instead they were forced to wait for results from elsewhere and hope their three points and zero goal difference would be enough to see them through as one of the eight best third-placed sides. When Algeria scored what looked like an added-time winner in their final group match, Iran were going through, but Austria’s equaliser in the last moments of the game effectively knocked them out.Despite being in military conflict with one of the co-hosts, the U.S., in an unprecedented set of circumstances and having to fly in and out of the U.S. just hours before and after their matches, a decision that was eventually scrapped, Iran performed well in this tournament. To be eliminated without losing a match will undoubtedly sting.34. New ZealandFIFA ranking: 86➡️We will remember New Zealand at this World Cup for breakout star Elijah Just, who scored three goals, and for those Chris Wood touches in the first game against Iran.After that first game, they were overwhelmed by the quality of both Egypt and Belgium, losing comprehensively to both.But they played a part in their first World Cup since 2010, including their own viral sensation in Tim Payne. Their future goal will remain the same: reaching the knockouts for the first time.35. TurkeyFIFA ranking: 27➡️Possibly the most underwhelming team compared to their pre-tournament expectations at this year’s World Cup. Most would have predicted Turkey to progress ahead of Australia and Paraguay. Instead, they were eliminated with a game to spare.They saved face in their final match, scoring their first goals and earning a 3-2 win against the U.S., but it was too late to matter.