Argentina, a hair ahead of France … As at the World Cup in Qatar last December. The Abiceleste, world champion, takes first place in the FIFA rankings (1840.93 points) by moving up one rank. This is the first time in six years that it has found itself in this way leader. The France team also gains a place and climbs to 2nd place (1838.45 pts). The two finalists of the last World Cup benefited from the defeat in Morocco of Brazil, which tumbles from the throne and becomes third.
Thanks to their two victories against the Netherlands (4-0) and Ireland (0-1) in the qualifiers for Euro 2024, the Vice-world champions have come considerably closer to the leader’s chair. While Lionel Messi’s Argentina only scored 2.54 points after his two friendly wins against Panama and Curaçao, against sidekicks, Kylian Mbappé’s Blues scored 15.04 points and are only 2.47 points behind in the standings.
For the rest, Belgium and England, who also had a solid run, complete the Top 5 and have widened the gap with their pursuers, the Netherlands and Croatia. Italy, Portugal and Spain are even further and close the Top 10. The Fifa ranking is calculated with an addition-subtraction system on a total of points, depending on the results and the level of the opponent confronted. This model gives less importance to friendlies and more importance to finals matches. This classification should in particular be used by Fifa to establish the hats for the draw of the groups of the 2026 World Cup scheduled for the United States, Mexico and Canada.
Fifa ranking: 1. Argentina, 2. France, 3. Brazil, 4. Belgium, 5. England, 6. Netherlands, 7. Croatia, 8. Italy, 9. Portugal, 10. Spain.