FIFA’s World Rankings have been updated following the conclusion of the first international break of the 2026/27 campaign, with changes aplenty.
Spain, in action for the first time since winning the 2026 World Cup, were imperious in their four matches. They defeated England 3-2 at Wembley, beat Croatia twice and also saw off Czech Republic.
England may have been beaten by the world champions in their own backyard, but they bounced back from that disappointment with style, thumping Croatia 7-0 away from home and also beating Czech Republic twice.
Elsewhere, Argentina beat Benin 3-0 in Lionel Messi’s final international match, France went unbeaten in their first four matches with Zinedine Zidane at the helm, and the United States won all four of their games.
But how has the international break affected FIFA’s official rankings? Let’s take a closer look at the top 50…
50th – 41st
Chile just creep into the top 50 after beating Mexico 2-0 away from home. South Africa and Mali have both risen six places to 48th and 47th, respectively, after some strong results during the September-October international break.
Serbia have dropped to 44th after a dismal set of results. They have been beaten in their last six matches, with their last victory coming all the way back in March 2026 when they beat Saudi Arabia.
Scotland were victorious in just one of their first four matches under new manager Sébastien Pocognoli. As a result, they have dropped to 43rd, with Cameroon and Greece above them.
| FIFA Men’s World Rankings | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | Nation | Points | Change |
| 50 | Chile | 1458.97 | -1 |
| 49 | Venezuela | 1465.87 | (-2 |
| 48 | South Africa | 1468.88 | +6 |
| 47 | Mali | 1474.14 | +6 |
| 46 | Panama | 1476.97 | -2 |
| 45 | Slovakia | 1477.34 | 0 |
| 44 | Serbia | 1482.24 | -4 |
| 43 | Scotland | 1483.57 | -1 |
| 42 | Cameroon | 1485.30 | +1 |
| 41 | Greece | 1498.71 | +5 |
40th – 31st
Wales have fallen a place to 39th after two defeats to Denmark and a loss at the hands of Portugal, with Hungary, Poland and Ukraine above them.
Russia are currently banned from FIFA competitions, but they are still able to compete in friendly matches. Wins against Iran and Namibia, as well as a draw against Nigeria, has seen them rise to 35th.
Graham Potter’s Sweden, Paraguay and South Korea are ranked 34th, 33rd and 32nd respectively.
It has been a dismal few months for Turkiye. Big things were expected of them at the 2026 World Cup, but they crashed out of the group stage. They are now ranked the 31st best team in world football after losing all four of their matches during the most recent international break.
| FIFA Men’s World Rankings | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | Nation | Points | Change |
| 40 | DR Congo | 1506.37 | +1 |
| 39 | Wales | 1510.37 | -1 |
| 38 | Hungary | 1511.24 | +1 |
| 37 | Poland | 1514.58 | -1 |
| 36 | Ukraine | 1535.27 | -3 |
| 35 | Russia | 1537.45 | 0 |
| 34 | Sweden | 1543.80 | +3 |
| 33 | Paraguay | 1552.30 | +1 |
| 32 | South Korea | 1562.49 | 0 |
| 31 | Turkiye | 1563.54 | -4 |
30th – 21st
Nigeria have dropped four places to 30th following the international break. They have fallen so far after being beaten 3-0 by Guinea-Bissau, who are ranked 124th. Ivory Coast have gone above the Super Eagles after beating Ghana and Somalia, with Algeria following them.
Canada have risen three spots to 27th after wins against Chile and Peru, with Australia also going up two spots. Egypt, who dumped Australia out of the 2026 World Cup en route to the last 16, are ranked the 25th best side in the world.
Ecuador, Iran, Austria and Denmark just miss out on a place in the top 20.
| FIFA Men’s World Rankings | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | Nation | Points | Change |
| 30 | Nigeria | 1567.97 | -4 |
| 29 | Ivory Coast | 1569.32 | +2 |
| 28 | Algeria | 1574.77 | +1 |
| 27 | Canada | 1575.31 | +3 |
| 26 | Australia | 1580.52 | +2 |
| 25 | Egypt | 1585.86 | -1 |
| 24 | Ecuador | 1587.07 | +1 |
| 23 | Iran | 1597.31 | -1 |
| 22 | Austria | 1600.66 | +1 |
| 21 | Denmark | 1619.62 | 0 |
Question 1 of 20GIVEMESPORT
20th – 11th
Uruguay make the top 20 despite failing spectacularly at the 2026 World Cup. Norway, who made the quarter-finals of this summer’s major tournament, are currently on a three-match losing streak and are ranked 19th as a result.
Japan were crowned Kirin Cup champions for a 12th time in October, defeating New Zealand in the final. They are ranked a place above African giants Senegal.
The United States are ranked 16th in the world after winning all four of their matches in the most recent international break. They defeated Peru, Chile, Mexico and Canada. Italy are ranked 14th, a place behind Croatia, who were thumped 7-0 by England on home turf.
Jurgen Klopp’s Germany have slipped to 13th, with Switzerland and Colombia ranked above them.
| FIFA Men’s World Rankings | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | Nation | Points | Change |
| 20 | Uruguay | 1635.54 | 0 |
| 19 | Norway | 1637.89 | 0 |
| 18 | Senegal | 1658.84 | 0 |
| 17 | Japan | 1684.75 | 0 |
| 16 | USA | 1705.47 | 0 |
| 15 | Italy | 1713.04 | 0 |
| 14 | Croatia | 1714.74 | -1 |
| 13 | Germany | 1717.52 | -1 |
| 12 | Switzerland | 1725.39 | +2 |
| 11 | Colombia | 1735.80 | 0 |
10th – 1st
Rafael Marquez has had a very poor start to his tenure as Mexico manager. He failed to win any of his opening four matches at the helm, with two draws and two defeats. Despite that, El Tri just scrape into the top 10, with the Netherlands and Belgium in ninth and eighth respectively.
Morocco and Brazil have both moved down a place in the latest rankings, with Portugal going up two places to fifth. It was a highly dramatic international break for Seleção das Quinas, with Cristiano Ronaldo leaving the camp early after a disagreement with Jorge Jesus. Portugal were still able to win all four of their matches.
The top four remain unchanged. England are ranked fourth, behind France and Argentina. 2026 World Cup champions Spain are the only team to have over 2000 points and retain top spot.
| FIFA Men’s World Rankings | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | Nation | Points | Change |
| 10 | Mexico | 1738.48 | 0 |
| 9 | Netherlands | 1778.61 | 0 |
| 8 | Belgium | 1779.17 | 0 |
| 7 | Morocco | 1805.34 | -1 |
| 6 | Brazil | 1806.51 | -1 |
| 5 | Portugal | 1807.69 | +2 |
| 4 | England | 1925.59 | 0 |
| 3 | France | 1958.86 | 0 |
| 2 | Argentina | 1972.80 | 0 |
| 1 | Spain | 2011.57 | 0 |
The FIFA Rankings will next be updated on November 18, following the two-week international break that begins in the week commencing November 9. Spain play fourth-placed England in the UEFA Nations League on November 15 in one of the most eagerly-anticipated fixtures.
Rankings are courtesy of FIFA – correct as of 07/10/2026.

