FIFA Rankings Update: Spain Tops, Egypt Surpasses Nigeria After World Cup

The FIFA World Cup 2026 just wrapped up, but it has already changed the football rankings around the world.

Spain’s thrilling win over Argentina in the final has caused big shifts in the latest FIFA Men’s World Rankings. La Roja now sits at the top, pushing Argentina down after a tournament that saw many teams rising and falling across Europe, Africa, and the Americas.

From Morocco asserting themselves as Africa’s top team to Norway making a surprising jump into the world’s top 20, the new rankings show the biggest winners and losers from an unforgettable World Cup in North America.

Spain Takes the Top Spot

Winning the FIFA World Cup has given Spain a huge reward.

Ferran Torres scored a winner in extra time, leading to a 1-0 victory over Argentina in the final at New York New Jersey Stadium. This victory has brought Spain to the top of the FIFA rankings for the first time since their golden years.

Spain gained a total of 121.17 ranking points during the World Cup, bringing their total to 1,995.88 points. They earned the No.1 spot in world football after showing strong defense and solid tactics to win their second FIFA World Cup title.

Argentina Falls to Second Place

For Lionel Scaloni’s Argentina, the new rankings feel bittersweet.

The defending champions came into the World Cup as the world’s top-ranked team. They almost kept their title and top spot in the rankings. Their impressive journey to a second consecutive World Cup final included a thrilling comeback win against England in the semi-finals.

But Sunday’s tough loss to Spain changed everything. Argentina now sits in second place with 1,970.37 points, ending their time as the world’s top-ranked team despite a great World Cup run.

France, England, and Brazil Move Up

Behind the two finalists, the world’s football giants still hold strong in the rankings.

France remains in third place with 1,948.97 points, keeping their position even after a wild 6-4 loss to England in the World Cup third-place match. England’s exciting win over France gave them a boost of 33.41 points, securing their fourth-place ranking with 1,922.83 points.

Brazil rounds out the top five with 1,804.92 points. Even though they faced a shocking defeat to Norway in the quarter-finals, they still moved up one spot in the rankings.

Morocco Leads Africa

No African team gained more from the World Cup than Morocco.

The Atlas Lions’ amazing journey to the quarter-finals has pushed them to sixth place in the world with 1,803.99 points, confirming their status as Africa’s top team. Their recent rise shows Morocco’s growth as a strong contender in international football. In contrast, Tunisia dropped 12 places to 57th, making them the biggest fallers in this ranking.

Egypt Moves Ahead of Nigeria

The World Cup has also shifted power among Africa’s top teams.

Egypt’s strong performance, reaching the Round of 16 and pushing Argentina in a close 3-2 match, helped them gain enough points to move up ahead of Nigeria to 24th in the world. The Super Eagles stayed in 26th place. Their lack of activity during the tournament, apart from a friendly against Portugal, meant they slipped to fourth in Africa behind Morocco, Senegal, and Egypt.

Norway Rises Dramatically

Norway saw one of the most impressive rises in the rankings.

After a stunning World Cup that included a major upset against five-time champions Brazil, Norway jumped an incredible 12 places. They now sit in 19th place globally with 1,651.29 points, entering the top 20 after one of their best World Cup performances ever.

Top 10 Race Intensifies

The competition just behind the top six remains fierce.

Portugal is in seventh with 1,787.85 points, closely followed by Belgium in eighth with 1,778.36 points. The Netherlands is ninth with 1,775.54 points, with less than three points separating these three European teams. Mexico made a significant jump, rising four places to complete the top 10, now sitting at 10th with 1,754.30 points, pushing Germany and Italy out of the top tier.

Germany and Italy Fall Out of the Top 10

Two of football’s most famous nations find themselves outside the top 10 after the World Cup.

Germany has dropped to 12th with 1,726.22 points, falling behind Colombia but still ahead of Croatia. Italy fell even further, now in 15th place with 1,704.73 points, following a three-place drop in this ranking cycle. Colombia sits in 11th with 1,739.89 points, gaining points from a solid World Cup, while Croatia is 13th with 1,723.05 points, and Switzerland is in 14th, just ahead of Italy.

The United States is in 16th place, rounding out a tightly packed section of the global rankings.

Japan, Senegal, and Uruguay in the Top 20

The final spots in the top 20 show how competitive international football is becoming.

Japan remains the top team in Asia, holding 17th place with 1,673.68 points after another steady international performance. Senegal is in 18th with 1,653.43 points. While the Teranga Lions dropped three places in the rankings, they still rank among Africa’s strongest teams. Norway’s rise puts them in 19th, while Uruguay completes the top 20 with 1,634.70 points, despite falling four places after the tournament.

Spain Begins New Era at the Top

With the rankings locked until the next FIFA update on 7 October 2026, Spain will enjoy their time as the world’s top-ranked team after a dominant World Cup showing. For Argentina, the disappointment of losing both the World Cup and the No. 1 spot will motivate them as Lionel Scaloni prepares for the next challenge, if he stays on as coach. Meanwhile, Morocco’s rise, Egypt’s leap over Nigeria, and Norway’s remarkable breakthrough show that the balance of power in international football continues to change after this transformative World Cup.