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Argentina have reclaimed the top position in the FIFA Men’s World Rankings, just as the 2026 World Cup gets underway. The timing couldn’t be better for Lionel Scaloni’s squad, who are set to defend their world title.

Champions back on top

In the latest FIFA Men’s World Rankings update released only hours before the 2026 tournament’s kickoff, Argentina have risen two places to regain the No. 1 spot. The Albiceleste have surpassed both France and Spain, entering the competition as the highest-ranked team globally.

This is the first time since July 2025 that the South American champions have held the top spot. Their return to the summit follows a flawless run in their final pre-tournament friendlies, including a commanding 5-0 win over Zambia and a convincing 3-0 triumph against Iceland.

Mixed outcomes for France and Spain

As Lionel Messi and his teammates celebrate their resurgence, France have slipped slightly down the rankings. Les Bleus dropped from first to third after suffering a friendly defeat to Ivory Coast, though they bounced back with a win over Northern Ireland.

Spain, meanwhile, have maintained their strong standing at No. 2. La Roja enjoyed a productive preparation phase, wrapping it up with a 3-1 victory over Peru. England complete the top four, while Portugal climb to fifth under FIFA’s updated Elo-based ranking system.

Hosts and top nations remain steady

Among the 2026 co-hosts, Mexico continue to lead the way, climbing one position to 14th globally. The United States men’s national team have slipped one place to 17th after a recent defeat against Germany, while Canada are ranked 30th as they gear up for their home group-stage matches.

The rest of the top ten remains filled with traditional football powerhouses such as Belgium and Brazil. Morocco continue to fly the flag for African football, achieving a record-high 7th position, with the Netherlands and Germany also holding their places among the world’s elite teams.

Risers and fallers in the rankings

Outside the top ten, Indonesia recorded the biggest leap this period, climbing four spots due to their positive international results. Yemen also made notable progress, earning the most points of any team during the recent international window.

Conversely, Lebanon endured the steepest fall, dropping seven places after losing more than 15 ranking points. At the summit, attention now turns to Argentina, who will aim to justify their No. 1 status when they kick off their World Cup campaign against Algeria in Kansas City.

Can Argentina defend their crown?