Spain are the new No1 team on the FIFA/Coca-Cola Men’s World Ranking, ending Argentina’s two-year reign in top spot.
Lionel Scaloni’s side have dropped to third, with France up one place to second. Italy, meanwhile, have returned to the top ten and FIFA World Cup 26™ co-hosts Canada have risen to their highest-ever position. Read on for our full summary of the biggest movers and shakers following September’s ranking update.
Spain have returned to the ranking summit after a making a sensational start to qualifying for World Cup 26. They kicked off their campaign with a 3-0 win in Bulgaria, then made it back-to-back away victories with a 6-0 trouncing of Türkiye. La Roja last topped the ranking back in June 2014, when they were world and European champions.
Argentina – the reigning world champions – booked their ticket to next year’s global finals back in March and had already secured top spot in the CONMEBOL qualifying standings before their final-round defeat to Ecuador. That loss has resulted in them losing their grip as the planet’s top-ranked team, however. La Albiceleste are now third, with France second after back-to-back wins over Ukraine and Iceland.
Italy were involved in perhaps the most exhilarating World Cup qualifier during the September window, as they edged Israel in a 5-4 thriller. That breathless clash came hot on the heels of a 5-0 victory over Estonia in Gennaro Gattuso’s first game in charge. Those wins have taken them into the top ten in the ranking at the expense of Germany, who have fallen three spots to 12th after a shock defeat to Slovakia. Elsewhere, Portugal and Brazil switched positions, with Cristiano Ronaldo and Co leapfrogging the South Americans to move into fifth.
World Cup co-hosts Canada have moved up two places to 26th – their highest-ever ranking position. Jesse Marsch’s team played two friendlies in Europe during the September window and racked up impressive wins against Romania and Wales. Kosovo, meanwhile, stunned Sweden 2-0 in a World Cup qualifier. That victory has taken them to a new high of 91st on the ranking.
Slovakia are the biggest risers on the Ranking, surging ten places to 42nd after their exceptional 2-0 home win over Germany. Seven other nations moved up five or more positions: The Gambia (115th, plus eight), Madagascar (108th, plus seven), Paraguay (37th, plus six), Uganda (82nd, plus six), Libya (112th, plus five), Suriname (131st, plus 5), and the Faroe Islands (136th, plus 5).
