Morocco stays Africa's No.1 in FIFA rankings after 2026 World Cup

The latest FIFA Men’s World Rankings, released after the 2026 World Cup, confirm Morocco as the top African nation, moving up to 6th place globally. Egypt rose to 24th worldwide, securing a spot on the African podium, while Senegal fell three places to 18th and dropped to second in the continent. Nigeria retained its 26th position in the world rankings but slipped to fourth place in Africa. South Africa (Bafana Bafana) climbed six places to 54th globally and 10th in Africa. Ivory Coast (the Elephants) gained two spots to 31st in the world after a 19th‑place finish at the tournament. Ghana’s campaign earned the team a 24th‑place finish in the final World Cup standings and lifted them eight places to 65th in the FIFA rankings, placing them 14th in Africa. The rankings also show Spain as world No. 1, followed by Argentina, France, England and Brazil in the top five. These movements reflect the varied performances of African teams at the World Cup, with Morocco’s quarter‑final run driving its rise and the tournament outcomes reshaping the continental hierarchy.