World Cup Power Ranking: Where every team stands heading into Russia 2018

Key players: Son Heung-min, Ki Sung-yueng

First match: vs. Sweden (June 18, 8 a.m. ET)

One thing to know: Tottenham standout Son Heung-min is one of the most talented players the squad has ever had, but a tough group assignment will make escaping to the knockout round a tall order.

Key players: Sardar Azmoun, Ehsan Hajsafi

First match: vs. Morocco (June 15, 11 a.m. ET)

One thing to know: Iran just lost their footware sponsorship deal with Nike due to global economic sanctions on the country, leaving the team scrambling for shoes.

Key players: Tim Cahill, Aaron Mooy, Mathew Ryan

First match: vs. France (June 16, 6 a.m. ET)

One thing to know: At 38 years old, Tim Cahill will be one of the oldest players in the tournament, and will be looking to score in his fourth consecutive World Cup.

Key players: Mohammad al-Sahlawi, Fahad al-Muwallad

First match: vs. Russia (June 14, 11 a.m. ET)

One thing to know: In 2002, Saudi Arabia failed to score a goal at the World Cup, losing all three of their matches and leaving the tournament without a highlight. Anything better than that would be a win this year.

Key players: Wahbi Khazri, Ferjani Sassi

First match: vs. England (June 18, 2 p.m. ET)

One thing to know: Tunisia qualified for the World Cup for the first time since 2006 this year, and will be seeking it's first World Cup win since 1978.

Key players: Shinji Okazaki, Shinji Kagawa, Eiji Kawashima

First match: Colombia (June 19, 8 a.m. ET)

One thing to know: Japan was winless in Brazil four years ago, but have a puncher's chance to advance through to the knockout round this year thanks to a competitive group that could get messy.

Key players: Gylfi Sigurdsson, Albert Gudmundsson

First match: vs. Argentina (June 16, 9 a.m. ET)

One thing to know: With a population just over 325,000, Iceland is the smallest country to ever qualify for the World Cup. It's roughly the equivalent of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania making it to the final 32.

Key players: Mikel John Obi, Alex Iwobi

First match: vs. Croatia (June 16, 3 p.m. ET)

One thing to know: Alex Iwobi may be the best kept secret of the World Cup this year, but if for no other reason, watch Nigeria for the fact that they have the best kits in the tournament by a long shot.

Key players: Marcus Berg, Andreas Granqvist, Emil Forsberg

First match: vs. South Korea (June 18, 8 a.m. ET)

One thing to know: Sweden's solid defending carried them to the World Cup, earning their spot over Italy after winning 1-0 on aggregate. It was the first time Italy failed to qualify since 1958.

Key players: Sadio Mane, Moussa Konate

First match: vs. Poland (June 19, 11 a.m. ET)

One thing to know: Senegal is making just its second appearance ever at the World Cup. In their one previous trip to the tournament the country made it all the way to the quarterfinals before falling to Japan.

Key players: Ayoub El Kaabi, Hakim Ziyech

First match: vs. Iran (June 15, 11 a.m. ET)

One thing to know: It's Morocco's first trip to the World Cup in 20 years, and they could be a threat to make the kncokout stage. While Portugal and Spain are heavily favored to escape the group, a big win over Iran to open the tournament could prove vital down the line.

Key players: Mohamed Salah, Ahmed Hegazi

First match: vs. Uruguay (June 15, 8 a.m. ET)

One thing to know: Mohamed Salah scored five of the team's eight goals in qualifying, and will have to keep an impressive offensive pace if Egypt is to advance past the group stage.

Key players: Fyodor Smolov, Anton Miranchuk, Aleksei Miranchuk

First match: vs. Saudi Arabia (June 14, 11 a.m. ET)

One thing to know: Russia hasn't won a match at the World Cup since 2002. The home team's best shot at victory will be come against Saudi Arabia to open the tournament.

Key players: Bryan Ruiz, Marco Ureña

First match: vs. Serbia (June 17, 8 a.m. ET)

One thing to know: Costa Rica's run in the 2014 was unforgettable, with the team somehow winning one of the "groups of death" that consisted of Uruguay, England and Italy. Will they capture a similar magic this year?

Key players: Nemanja Matic, Aleksandar Mitrovic

First match: vs. Costa Rica (June 17, 8 a.m. ET)

One thing to know: Serbia is reponsible for one of the most impressive goals you'll see all year — featuring four passes without the ball touching the ground including a bicycle pass right before the finish. That was against Bolivia — can they do it against World Cup competition?

Key players: Robert Lewandowski, Jakub Blaszczykowski

First match: vs. Senegal (June 19, 11 a.m. ET)

One thing to know: Robert Lewandowski scored a whopping 16 goals for Poland out of the qualifying group — the next closest player in the stage was Denmark's Christian Eriksen with eight.

Key players: Christian Eriksen, Thomas Delaney

First match: vs. Peru (June 16, 12 p.m. ET)

One thing to know: Expect Denmark to essentially live and die by the play of Christian Eriksen, who will be leveling up from his role as creator at Tottenham to all-around showman for his country.

Key players: Mario Mandzukic, Luke Mondric, Ivan Rakitic

First match: vs. Nigeria (June 16, 3 p.m. ET)

One thing to know: Iceland and Croatia split their matches against each other while qualifying for the World Cup. Now paired together in the group stage, one more match between the teams could decide who moves onto the knockout round.

Key players: Haris Seferovic, Granit Xhaka, Stephan Lichtsteiner

First match: vs. Brazil (June 17, 2 p.m. ET)

One thing to know: Brazil is a tough draw in your opening game of the World Cup — chances are you'll know a lot about Switzerland in their first few minutes on the pitch.

Key players: Paolo Guerrero, Alberto Rodríguez, Pedro Gallese

First match: vs. Denmark (June 16, 12 p.m. ET)

One thing to know: Peru was the final team to qualify for the World Cup and enters as one of the hottest teams in international play. It's their first trip to the tournament since 1982.

Key players: Javier Hernandez, Carlos Vela

First match: vs. Germany (June 17, 11 a.m. ET)

One thing to know: Mexico has been eliminated from six consecutive World Cups in the first match of the knockout stage. This could be the year they buck the trend — either with a trip to the quarterfinals or a disappointing finish in the group stage.

Key players: Radamel Falcao, James Rodriguez

First match: vs. Japan (June 19, 8 a.m. ET)

One thing to know: James Rodriguez won the Golden Boot in Brazil four years ago with an astonishing six goals in the tournament. A similar performance this year could help Colombia match their run to the quarterfinals.

Key players: Cristiano Ronaldo, Rui Patricio

First match: vs. Spain (June 15, 2 p.m. ET)

One thing to know: This will be the fourth trip to the World Cup for Cristiano Ronaldo. In each of his three previous trips, he's managed just one goal for his country. Turning his stellar offense on is likely the key to Portugal's potential this year.

Key players: Harry Kane, Deli Alli, Raheem Sterling

First match: vs. Tunisia (June 18, 2 p.m. ET)

One thing to know: All 23 players on the England squad play in the Premier League. After disappointing finishes in the past few World Cups and an embarassing loss to Iceland at Euro 2016, there's plenty for this All-Star team to prove.

Key players: Luis Suarez, Diego Godin

First match: vs. Egypt (June 15, 8 a.m. ET)

One thing to know: Uruguay has won the World Cup twice, and with a favorable group stage schedule, could be poised to make another deep run this year.

Key players: Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero

First match: vs. Iceland (June 16, 9 a.m. ET)

One thing to know: While Messi is certainly the star of the show, Sergio Aguero may hold the key to Argentina's success. In two trips to the World Cup he's yet to score a goal.

Key players: Eden Hazard, Romelu Lukaku, Mousa Dembele

First match: vs. Panama (June 18, 11 a.m. ET)

One thing to know: Aside from England, Belgium brings the most Premier League players to the World Cup this year, with more than half the team playing their club ball in England's top flight.

Key players: Olivier Giroud, Hugo Lloris, Paul Pogba, Kylian Mbappe

First match: vs. Australia (June 16, 6 a.m. ET)

One thing to know: Stacked with talent, France should be a force through the World Cup, but a baffling draw with the USMNT in the team's final tune-up will certainly have French fans concerned heading into their first match.

Key players: Diego Costa, David Silva, Andres Iniesta, Sergio Ramos

First match: vs. Portugal (June 15, 2 p.m. ET)

One thing to know: Spain might be the most complete team in the field, but after crashing out of the group stage in Brazil four years ago and a less-than-stellar showing at Euro 2016, La Roja are definitely out to prove themselves.

Key players: Neymar, Thiago Silva, Philippe Coutinho

First match: vs. Switzerland (June 17, 2 p.m. ET)

One thing to know: Brazil is playing for redemption this year after getting embarassed 7-1 in the 2014 semifinal against Germany. They could face the Germans again in either the first round of the knockout stage, or the final.

Key players: Mesut Ozil, Thomas Muller, Manuel Neuer

First match: vs. Mexico (June 17, 11 a.m. ET)

One thing to know: Should Germany go on to win the tournament this year, it'd be the first time a country has taken back-to-back World Cups since Brazil accomplished the feat it in 1958 and 1962.