FIFA Rankings released on October 7, 2026, show Spain continuing at the top of the men’s world ranking, while Portugal has moved up two places to fifth. Argentina remains second and France stays third. England is fourth, while Brazil and Morocco have dropped to sixth and seventh respectively. The latest changes follow 338 international matches played since the 2026 FIFA World Cup ended on July 19.

Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!

Spain Extends Lead at the Top

Spain has strengthened its position at the top of the FIFA Rankings after winning all four of its recent UEFA Nations League matches. The Spanish team became world champions in July after defeating Argentina 1-0 in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final.

Argentina remains in second place but is now almost 40 points behind Spain. France holds third position, while England remains fourth. FIFA said Spain’s latest run has increased its advantage over the rest of the leading teams.

The Spanish side continues to feature young talent, including Lamine Yamal, as it maintains a long unbeaten run in men’s international football.

Portugal Climbs to Fifth

Portugal is one of the biggest stories in the latest FIFA Rankings. The team has moved from seventh to fifth after winning all four of its recent UEFA Nations League matches.

Under coach Jorge Jesus, Portugal recorded important victories during the latest international window, including away matches against Norway and Denmark. Its rise pushed Brazil down to sixth and Morocco to seventh. Portugal is the only team inside the top 10 to move upward in this edition of the ranking.

The rise gives Portugal its strongest position in the latest ranking and reflects its recent results in international competition.

Switzerland Moves Up to 12th

Switzerland has also made a significant move, climbing two places to 12th. The Swiss team won all four of its recent matches, including three victories by a 3-0 scoreline.

The rise moved Switzerland ahead of Germany and Croatia. Germany is now 13th, while Croatia has fallen to 14th. FIFA noted that Switzerland, like Spain and Portugal, recorded four wins in its recent UEFA Nations League campaign.

Greece, Mali and South Africa Make Progress

Several teams outside the top 20 also recorded notable improvements. Greece climbed five places to 41st after going unbeaten in four matches. The team recorded two wins and two draws, including a 1-0 away victory over Germany and a draw against the Netherlands.

Mali and South Africa each climbed six places. Mali moved to 47th, while South Africa reached 48th. Their progress means Africa now has 10 teams inside the FIFA top 50.

African Teams Continue to Rise

The latest FIFA Rankings show strong movement among several African teams. Mozambique climbed five places to 98th, while The Gambia rose seven places to 109th.

Rwanda moved nine places to 119th, Guinea-Bissau climbed eight to 124th, and Botswana improved six places to 141st. These changes were helped by matches connected to qualification for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.

Guinea-Bissau recorded the biggest points increase in the latest ranking, while Rwanda and the Dominican Republic were the biggest movers by ranking positions, each climbing nine places.

More Teams Improve Their Positions

Other countries also made noticeable gains. Northern Ireland climbed six places to 64th, while Slovenia moved four places to 52nd and Bosnia and Herzegovina rose four places to 57th.

Angola and Haiti each moved up four places. Estonia climbed five positions to 122nd, while the Dominican Republic moved nine places to 135th and Guyana climbed eight to 142nd. Barbados also improved by five places to 174th.

The latest movement reflects results from UEFA and Concacaf Nations League matches as well as African Cup of Nations qualifying games.

338 International Matches Affect the Ranking

A total of 338 men’s international matches have been played since the 2026 FIFA World Cup ended on July 19. These matches have included UEFA Nations League games, Concacaf fixtures and 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

The results have created several changes across the global table, although the top three positions remain unchanged. Spain continues to lead, followed by Argentina and France. Portugal’s rise to fifth is the biggest change among the leading teams.

The next FIFA men’s world ranking is scheduled to be published on November 18, 2026.