Argentina slips to No. 2; Team USA holds steady just outside Top 10

COLUMBIA, S.C. — France has reclaimed the top spot in the latest Sports Social Pulse™ World Cup rankings, as the University of South Carolina’s Social Media Insights Lab continues to track the digital influence of national teams during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Lionel Messi’s historic hat trick against Algeria helped keep Argentina near the top of the Sports Social Pulse rankings, but France edged back into the No. 1 position through consistent audience growth and industry-leading performance on TikTok.

Top 10 Sports Social Pulse Rankings

The Sports Social Pulse rankings evaluate how effectively national teams build audiences, distribute content and generate engagement through their official social media channels. Rankings are published weekly in partnership with Sports Business Journal.

“The biggest difference we’re seeing right now is winning content,” said Clay Owen, professor of practice in the School of Journalism and Mass Communications at the University of South Carolina. “France continues to excel at great video storytelling. Whether it’s players enjoying themselves in a four-wheeler or behind-the-scenes moments in training, @equipedefrance is setting the standard for engaging fans across all platforms.”

Meanwhile, Morocco continues to emerge as one of the tournament’s surprise stories. After defeating Scotland last week and drawing Brazil in its opener, the Atlas Lions remain in the Top 10 while building momentum both on the field and online.

The United States remains just outside the Top 10 at No. 11 after victories over Paraguay and Australia secured a place in the knockout rounds. The Americans have been among the tournament’s fastest-rising digital brands, climbing dramatically from their pre-tournament position and generating strong engagement as excitement builds around the host nation.

Unlike traditional rankings based on wins, losses, or betting odds, the Sports Social Pulse measures digital influence through a proprietary methodology that evaluates audience size, visibility, engagement, growth and cross-platform performance.

The rankings focus exclusively on official national team accounts and do not include individual player accounts.

As the tournament progresses toward the knockout rounds, the Sports Social Pulse rankings provide a unique view of which teams are winning the global battle for attention — where audience growth, engagement and content reach increasingly drive long-term brand value.

About the Sports Social Pulse™

Developed by the Social Media Insights Lab at the University of South Carolina, the Sports Social Pulse™ measures digital influence across sports by analyzing audience size, visibility, engagement, growth, and platform performance. Originally launched for college football and March Madness, the methodology has expanded to track national teams during the FIFA World Cup.

About Sports Business Journal

Sports Business Journal (SBJ), a subsidiary of Leaders Group Sports, is the leading media platform covering the business of sports, providing news, analysis, and data to industry leaders.