In the wake of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Brazil remains at the pinnacle of the FIFA rankings despite a penalty shootout loss to Croatia in the quarter-finals. Argentina, the eventual champions, has ascended to second place, while Spain dropped to tenth after a Round of 16 exit at the hands of Morocco. This reshuffle highlights the ongoing dynamics of global football powerhouses and the way a single tournament can shift perceived strength across nations.
Morocco notably jumped into the top 10 this update, climbing eleven spots to secure the 11th position and earning the most points among rising teams with 108.85. The surge accompanies a wider pattern of movement by teams that performed strongly in Qatar and those that faced disappointment, underscoring how recent results influence ranking momentum beyond traditional powerhouses.
Canada faced a challenging tournament in Qatar, with only two goals scored across 12 players and seven conceded. The scoreline reflects the broader struggles that some teams faced in matching the highest level of competition, while other nations used the tournament as a turning point for development and consistency on the world stage. Denmark, for its part, saw a notable decline after collecting just one point, dropping 58.46 points in the process and edging closer to mid-table than to the top tier of nations.
The shift in the landscape has the Danish team moving out of the top 10, slipping to 18th place. Meanwhile, Croatia improved its standing and joined the group of teams in the upper tier, climbing to seventh. The race for the podium positions remains tight, with the margins between teams in the top half increasingly slim and the potential for further adjustments to come in the next ranking cycle.
Spain experienced a sharp setback following its Round of 16 exit under coach Luis Enrique, compounding a decline that has carried the team down to tenth place. The result illustrates how a single knockout outcome can reshape perceptions of a national program, regardless of past achievements or historical consistency.
The ongoing classification still shows Brazil holding the lead by a thin margin — just over two points separating it from Argentina. FIFA noted that if the World Cup finalists had won regular time or extra time in their key matches, the rankings could have tilted differently, with France or Argentina potentially occupying the top spot. This nuance underscores how the ranking system rewards consistency across multiple criteria, not just outright tournament success.
In the top 10, two other traditional powers faced downward pressure: Belgium, eliminated in the group stage, and Italy, which did not qualify for Qatar 2022. Both nations dropped two positions, highlighting the volatility that follows a major tournament and the importance of ongoing performances to maintain a top-tier standing.
– Top 10 FIFA rankings:
1. Brazil: 1,840.77 points
2. Argentina: 1,838.38 points
3. France: 1,823.39 points
4. Belgium: 1,781.30 points
5. England: 1,774.19 points
6. Holland: 1,740.92 points
7. Croatia: 1,727.52 points
8. Italy: 1,723.56 points
9. Portugal: 1,702.54 points
10. Spain: 1,692.71 points.