Last Updated on 27/07/2026 by TinHN Editor
Quick summary: The FIFA World Rankings 2026 have just received their first official update since the World Cup final — Spain has reclaimed the No. 1 spot after winning a second World Cup title, while Argentina drops to No. 2 despite reaching the final. This update was released on July 20, and the next official FIFA World Rankings update isn’t due until October 7, so the table below will hold steady until then.
FIFA World Rankings 2026: Full Top 20 Table
Here’s how the top 20 in the FIFA World Rankings look after the 2026 World Cup, along with each team’s movement compared to the pre-tournament list:
| Rank | Team | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 🇪🇸 Spain | ▲ 1 |
| 2 | 🇦🇷 Argentina | ▼ 1 |
| 3 | 🇫🇷 France | – |
| 4 | 🏴 England | – |
| 5 | 🇧🇷 Brazil | ▲ 1 |
| 6 | 🇲🇦 Morocco | ▲ 1 |
| 7 | 🇵🇹 Portugal | ▼ 2 |
| 8 | 🇧🇪 Belgium | ▲ 1 |
| 9 | 🇳🇱 Netherlands | ▼ 1 |
| 10 | 🇲🇽 Mexico | ▲ 4 |
| 11 | 🇨🇴 Colombia | ▲ 2 |
| 12 | 🇩🇪 Germany | ▼ 2 |
| 13 | 🇭🇷 Croatia | ▼ 2 |
| 14 | 🇨🇭 Switzerland | ▲ 5 |
| 16 | 🇺🇸 United States | ▲ 1 |
| 17 | 🇯🇵 Japan | ▲ 1 |
| 18 | 🇸🇳 Senegal | ▼ 3 |
| 19 | 🇳🇴 Norway | ▲ 12 |
| 20 | 🇺🇾 Uruguay | ▼ 4 |
Note: No. 15 belongs to a team that didn’t play at the 2026 World Cup, so it’s left out of this tournament-focused table.
How Spain Reclaimed No. 1 in the FIFA World Rankings
Spain went into the World Cup ranked No. 2, just behind Argentina. After lifting the trophy, Lamine Yamal’s side picked up the single biggest points gain of the entire update — 121.17 points — pushing their total to 1,995.88 and vaulting them back past Argentina. It’s the second time Spain has sat at No. 1 in 2026 alone.
Why Argentina Dropped to No. 2 Despite Reaching the Final
There’s an odd pattern in FIFA World Rankings history: no team has ever entered a World Cup ranked No. 1 and gone on to win it. Argentina fits that pattern exactly — they were the pre-tournament No. 1, but lost the final 0-1 in extra time. Their point total still rose from the run to the final, just not enough to hold off Spain. It was also Lionel Messi’s last World Cup, closing out his international career as runner-up.
Mbappé’s Golden Boot Keeps France at No. 3
France is the only team in the top four whose ranking didn’t move at all — they stay locked in at No. 3. Kylian Mbappé capped the tournament with 10 goals to win the Golden Boot, extending his own record for World Cup goals and cementing himself as France’s most consistent attacking threat of the tournament.
Where Do the World Cup Co-Hosts Rank?
With the United States, Mexico, and Canada having just hosted the tournament, it’s worth checking in on how the three co-hosts fared in this update:
- Mexico (No. 10, ▲4): Back in the top 10 for the first time since March 2022 — the biggest rankings win of the three co-hosts.
- United States (No. 16, ▲1): A modest gain, but a step forward for the host nation on home soil.
Other Notable Movers in the Latest FIFA World Rankings
- Norway (▲12, up to No. 19): The single biggest riser in this update, powered by a historic run to the World Cup quarterfinals.
- Switzerland (▲5, up to No. 14): The second-biggest gain inside the top 20.
- Colombia (▲2, up to No. 11): A quiet but steady climb following a solid tournament run.
Where African and Underdog Teams Landed in the FIFA World Rankings 2026
Beyond the top 20, this update also rewrote the record books for a few sides. Egypt climbed five places to No. 24 in the FIFA World Rankings 2026 after reaching the Round of 16 — their best position since March 2011, and enough to put them third in Africa behind Morocco and Senegal, and second among Arab nations behind Algeria’s No. 29.
Cape Verde, the smallest nation ever to qualify for a World Cup, sit at No. 64 in the FIFA World Rankings 2026 — still well below their all-time-best 27th (February 2014), but a result their fans could barely have imagined before the tournament, coming off a heartbreaking 3-2 extra-time exit to Argentina in the Round of 32.
Nigeria hold steady at No. 26, and Ivory Coast, Ghana and Tunisia round out Africa’s other ranked World Cup and near-miss sides. FIFA World Ranking movement outside the traditional top tier is exactly where this update tells its most interesting stories.
FIFA World Rankings 2026: Quick Country Lookup
Looking for one specific team in the FIFA World Rankings 2026? Here’s a fast reference for some of the most-searched nations after the July 20 update:
| Country | FIFA Rank | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 🇪🇸 Spain | 1 | ▲ 1 |
| 🇦🇷 Argentina | 2 | ▼ 1 |
| 🇫🇷 France | 3 | – |
| 🏴 England | 4 | – |
| 🇧🇷 Brazil | 5 | ▲ 1 |
| 🇲🇦 Morocco | 6 | ▲ 1 |
| 🇵🇹 Portugal | 7 | ▼ 2 |
| 🇧🇪 Belgium | 8 | ▲ 1 |
| 🇩🇪 Germany | 12 | ▼ 2 |
| 🇭🇷 Croatia | 13 | ▼ 2 |
| 🇨🇭 Switzerland | 14 | ▲ 5 |
| 🇳🇴 Norway | 19 | ▲ 12 |
| 🇪🇬 Egypt | 24 | ▲ 5 |
| 🇨🇻 Cape Verde | 64 | – |
| 🇮🇳 India | 138 | – |
| 🇵🇰 Pakistan | 198 | – |
Note: India and Pakistan don’t compete in FIFA World Cup qualifying rounds tracked above, so their positions reflect the standard FIFA World Rankings 2026 cycle rather than tournament movement.
How Are the FIFA World Rankings Calculated?
Since August 2018, the FIFA World Rankings have used a SUM-points system based on the Elo rating model. After every official international match, teams gain or lose points depending on the result, the strength gap between opponents, and how much weight the competition carries — World Cup matches count for the most. That’s why a team can still gain points even after an early group-stage or knockout exit, as long as it beat a higher-ranked opponent along the way.
You may also see this list called the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking — that’s the official sponsorship name FIFA uses for the same FIFA World Rankings 2026 system described above; there’s no difference in how positions are calculated.
FAQ
When is the next FIFA World Rankings update?
The next official FIFA World Rankings update is scheduled for October 7, 2026, once September and October’s international matches are settled.
Which team made the biggest jump in the latest FIFA World Rankings?
Norway made the biggest jump, climbing 12 places to No. 19 on the back of a historic World Cup quarterfinal run.
How many times has Spain been No. 1 in the FIFA World Rankings in 2026?
Twice. Spain briefly held the top spot earlier in 2026 before Argentina overtook them, and reclaimed No. 1 after winning the World Cup.
Did Mexico’s co-host status help its FIFA World Rankings position?
Mexico gained 4 places to reach No. 10, its first time back in the top 10 since March 2022 — its best rankings showing among the three co-host nations.
What is Egypt’s FIFA ranking in 2026?
Egypt sit at No. 24 in the FIFA World Rankings 2026, their highest position since March 2011, after reaching the Round of 16 at the World Cup.
What is India’s FIFA ranking in 2026?
India are ranked No. 138 in the current FIFA World Rankings 2026, a position set at the July 20 update following a difficult run of results earlier in the year.
Is the FIFA World Ranking the same as the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking?
Yes — FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking is simply the sponsored name for the same FIFA World Rankings 2026 system. Both terms refer to identical team positions and points.