Morocco’s national football team climbed to a historic 8th place in the latest FIFA Men’s World Ranking following their strong performance at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, marking the Atlas Lions’ highest‑ever global position and their first return to the top 10 in nearly three decades.
The new ranking, published on 19 January 2026, confirms Morocco’s rise of three places, moving from 11th to 8th after reaching the AFCON final on home soil.
It is the country’s best ranking since the system was introduced in 1993 and the first time they have featured in the top 10 since April 1998.
Despite losing the final 1–0 after extra time to Senegal, Morocco’s deep run and consistent results throughout the tournament delivered a decisive points boost, allowing them to overtake Belgium and Germany, who dropped to 9th and 10th respectively.
Their rise also pushed Croatia out of the top 10, with the 2022 World Cup semifinalists falling to 11th.
At the top of the rankings, the global order remains unchanged, with Spain holding first place, followed by Argentina and France. The top seven teams kept their previous positions.
Africa’s strong showing at AFCON had a broader impact across the table. Nigeria, the tournament’s third‑place finisher, surged 12 places to 26th, while Cameroon also jumped 12 spots to 45th after reaching the quarter‑finals—the biggest ranking climbs in this edition.
The next FIFA ranking update is scheduled for 1 April 2026, following the upcoming international window.
