ESPN's Ryan O'Hanlon delivers brutally honest report cards for the first wave of eliminated World Cup teams, grading performances on an A-to-F scale despite universal failure. With 47 of 48 teams destined to fall short, the analysis separates disappointing showings from outright disasters. The math is sobering: teams fail to score on 98% of possessions, generating just 12 shots per game while converting only 12% of attempts.

Qatar earned the harshest assessment with an F, becoming the lowest-ranked team ever at 95th in Elo ratings before exiting 99th. Their defensive collapse—10 goals conceded, 72 shots against—exposed the gap between hosting ambition and on-field reality. Tunisia also received an F after firing coach Sabri Lamouchi mid-tournament following a 5-1 opening loss, then losing 4-0 to Netherlands.

Türkiye's F reflected tactical confusion despite talent like Juventus's Kenan Yildiz and Real Madrid's Arda Güler. Manager Vincenzo Montella's post-match comments about unfair losses rang hollow given their 27 long-range shots—six more than any team since 2014. Czechia managed a D- by relying entirely on set pieces, scoring all goals from dead-ball situations while finishing last in a weak Group A.

Panama and Jordan earned C- and C+ respectively for playing ugly but competitive soccer. Panama's conservative approach nearly worked in Group L, while Jordan scored in both matches but couldn't close. Haiti received a C- despite losing all three games, showing promise against Scotland in their opener. The early exits reveal that money, pedigree, and hosting rights mean nothing without basic competence.