In a significant twist in the world of international football, Spain has reclaimed the top spot in the FIFA World Rankings for the first time since 2014, following a series of exhilarating FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers.
Released on Thursday, the rankings reflect a dramatic shift in the pecking order, with world champions Argentina plunging to third place.
The Spanish side leapfrogged Argentina, who had held the top position since April 2023 but have now been overtaken by both Spain and France, the latter moving up to second place.
The latest rankings reveal that Portugal, Croatia, and Italy have all seen slight improvements, rising to 5th, 9th, and 10th places respectively. Brazil has slipped to 6th after a downturn in form, while Germany finds itself in 12th place, down three spots after suffering an unexpected defeat to Slovakia in their qualifying encounter—marking their first time outside the top ten since October 2024.
Slovakia emerged as the standout climbers in this release, soaring ten places to 42nd after opening their World Cup qualifying campaign with consecutive victories, including a notable win against Germany.
Meanwhile, Morocco continues to lead the chasing pack just outside the top ten, having won eight of their last nine matches since the previous ranking update in July.
Other countries making notable gains include The Gambia, Madagascar, Paraguay, Uganda, Libya, Suriname, and the Faroe Islands, all of whom moved up at least five places.
Also making headlines are co-hosts for the upcoming FIFA World Cup 26, Canada, now ranked 26th and up two places, alongside UEFA upstarts Kosovo, who have reached a new high of 91st, climbing four spots.
The latest rankings underscore the changing dynamics of the footballing world, as teams prepare for the upcoming qualifiers and international competitions.
