Archive · 8 Oct 2026
Spain Stay Top as Portugal Climbs in Latest FIFA Rankings
FIFA has released a new list ranking men’s national soccer teams.
Spain is still number one after winning four games.
The team has now gone 42 games without losing.
Portugal moved up to fifth after winning four matches.
Other teams, including Switzerland and Greece, also moved higher.
Mali and South Africa made some of the biggest jumps in the top 50.
Many teams’ positions changed after 338 international matches were played.
Those matches included Nations League games and qualifying games.
Spain retained first place after winning all four matches since the previous ranking and extended its unbeaten run to 42 games.
Argentina remained second, followed by France and England; Portugal climbed two places to fifth.
Portugal’s rise pushed Brazil to sixth and Morocco to seventh after Portugal won all four recent Nations League matches.
Switzerland rose to 12th, while Greece jumped five places to 41st after two wins and two draws.
Mali and South Africa each climbed six places, and Africa now has 10 teams in the top 50.
- Who
- Men’s national soccer teams, including Spain, Portugal, Argentina, France and England.
- What
- FIFA released its latest men’s world rankings, with Spain first and Portugal fifth.
- When
- After 338 international matches played since the 2026 FIFA World Cup ended on July 19; the ranking’s publication date is not specified.
- Where
- The rankings cover national teams worldwide.
- Why
- Teams’ positions shifted following recent match results, including Nations League games and Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
- Top-ranked team
- Spain
- Portugal
- Rose two places to fifth after winning all four recent matches.
- Spain’s unbeaten run
- 42 games, described in the article as a record.
- Switzerland
- Rose two places to 12th.
- Greece
- Jumped five places to 41st.
- Biggest top-50 climbers
- Mali and South Africa, each up six places.
- Matches played
- 338 international matches since the 2026 FIFA World Cup ended on July 19.
- African teams in top 50
- 10