Morocco reached a historic high in the latest FIFA men’s world rankings, climbing to eighth place globally in January after its strong run at the Africa Cup of Nations, despite losing the final on home soil.
The Atlas Lions moved up three places to break into the world’s top 10 for the first time since April 1998, marking their best ranking since FIFA introduced the system in 1993.
The update, released after the conclusion of the Africa Cup of Nations, underscored Morocco’s growing stature in international football following its appearance in the continental final.
Spain retained the No. 1 spot in the world rankings, followed by Argentina in second and France in third. England placed fourth, ahead of Brazil, Portugal and the Netherlands.
Morocco’s rise pushed Croatia out of the top 10, with the 2022 World Cup semifinalists dropping to 11th. Belgium and Germany each slipped one place to ninth and 10th, respectively.
Africa’s champions Senegal also made a significant leap, climbing seven positions to 12th worldwide — the best ranking in the West African nation’s history — reinforcing the continent’s increasing competitiveness at the global level.
FIFA Men’s World Rankings, January 2026 (Top 10):
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Spain — 1,877.18 points
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Argentina — 1,873.33
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France — 1,870.00
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England — 1,834.12
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Brazil — 1,760.46
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Portugal — 1,760.38
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Netherlands — 1,756.27
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Morocco — 1,736.57
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Belgium — 1,730.71
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Germany — 1,724.15
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