Several European heavyweights have slipped in the latest FIFA rankings after dropping valuable points against African opposition – against all odds.
European giants Germany and the Netherlands were both eliminated on Monday.
FIFA World Cup 2026 has been filled with the story of the ultimate underdogs with African nations continuing to punch well above their weight on football’s biggest stage.
Nine African countries reached the knockout stages with Tunisia the only side to miss out.
Unfortunately, Bafana Bafana’s historic campaign came to an end after a narrow 1-0 defeat to Canada.
However, Hugo Broos’ men have still climbed the FIFA World Rankings since the tournament began.
Meanwhile, Spain, Portugal and Belgium have all fallen down the rankings after suprising results against so-called African ‘minnows’.
Finally, co-hosts Mexico are in red-hot form and have soared into the top 10.
UPDATED FIFA WORLD RANKINGS: TOP 30 – 30 JUNE 2026
| Rank | Team | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Argentina | 1907.40 |
| 2 | France (↑1) | 1906.84 |
| 3 | Spain (↓1) | 1879.58 |
| 4 | England | 1840.46 |
| 5 | Brazil (↑1) | 1804.92 |
| 6 | Morocco (↑1) | 1788.86 |
| 7 | Netherlands (↑1) | 1775.50 |
| 8 | Portugal (↓3) | 1764.86 |
| 9 | Mexico (↑5) | 1736.01 |
| 10 | Belgium (↓1) | 1735.41 |
| 11 | Colombia (↑2) | 1729.30 |
| 12 | Germany (↓2) | 1726.22 |
| 13 | Croatia (↓2) | 1723.05 |
| 14 | Italy (↓2) | 1704.73 |
| 15 | USA (↑2) | 1677.17 |
| 16 | Switzerland (↑3) | 1676.00 |
| 17 | Japan (↑1) | 1673.68 |
| 18 | Senegal (↓3) | 1653.43 |
| 19 | Uruguay (↓3) | 1634.70 |
| 20 | Denmark (↑1) | 1619.47 |
| 21 | IR Iran (↓1) | 1609.85 |
| 22 | Austria (↑2) | 1598.82 |
| 23 | Norway (↑8) | 1594.04 |
| 24 | Ecuador (↓1) | 1592.59 |
| 25 | Nigeria (↑1) | 1585.02 |
| 26 | Egypt (↑3) | 1584.71 |
| 27 | Türkiye (↓5) | 1582.54 |
| 28 | Australia (↓1) | 1581.35 |
| 29 | Algeria (↓1) | 1576.80 |
| 30 | Canada | 1571.34 |
CO-HOSTS MEXICO THE BIGGEST CLIMBERS INSIDE THE TOP 20
Co-hosts Mexico have enjoyed the perfect start to their FIFA World Cup campaign.
They opened with a 2-0 victory over Bafana Bafana. Thereafter, they defeated South Korea 1-0 and completed a flawless group stage with a commanding 3-0 win over Czech Republic.
Mexico finished top of Group A with a perfect nine points and are yet to concede a goal.
As a result, El Tri have climbed five places from 14th to ninth. Meaning, they are now the biggest movers inside the world’s top 20 since the tournament began.
BAFANA BAFANA AMONGST THE BIGGEST CLIMBERS AFTER MAKING HISTORY
South Africa, Morocco, Ivory Coast, Egypt, Cape Verde, Senegal, Algeria, DR Congo and Ghana all reached the Round of 32.
Bafana Bafana climbed six places in the rankings since the tournament began, rising from 60th to 54th.
Ultimately, only Paraguay (up seven places), Ghana and Norway (8) have climbed further than Bafana Bafana have.
EUROPEAN GIANTS SENT PACKING
Morocco continue to lead the way for Africa after climbing up one spot to sixth in the world.
They are the first African team to book their spot in the Round of 16 after defeating the Netherlands 3-2 on penalties after the game finished 1-1 after 120 minutes of action in Monterrey in Mexico.
Prior to this, Paraguay sent Germany packing after stunning the Germans in one of the upsets of the tournament.
They too ended the 120 minutes level on 1-1 before winning the penalty shoot-out 4-3 to send the 2014 world champions home.
AFRICA RISE! AFRICAN TEAMS CONTINUE TO RISE AT THE COST OF EUROPEAN GIANTS
Meanwhile, Egypt have also enjoyed an impressive rise, moving up three spots from 29th to 26th. Additionally, Ivory Coast have also climbed two spots rising from 33rd to 31st.
Several African nations have frustrated Europe’s elite during the tournament.
Cape Verde held Spain to a shock goalless draw, while DR Congo earned an impressive 1-1 draw against Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal.
Those results proved costly for both European giants.
Spain slipped from second to third in the world, while Portugal have dropped from fifth to eighth. This was before their frustrating goalless draw against Columbia.
Additionally, Belgium dropped one place after being held to a 1-1 draw by Egypt and draw against Iran.
DR Congo have climbed five places from 46th to 41st, while Cape Verde are up three places, moving from 67th to 64th.
Meanwhile, Ghana are Africa’s biggest climbers of the tournament. The Black Stars have surged eight places from 73rd to 65th.
Their stand-out performance was holding England to a 1-1 draw in a game many felt they deserved a penalty late on to potentially win it.
Regardless, they are through to the Round of 32 and they are not only Africa’s biggest climbers but they are the joint biggest climbers of the FIFA rankings so far with Norway also rising eight spots from 31st to 23rd in the world.
MINOR BLIMPS IN AFRICA’S FIFA WORLD CUP CAMPAIGN STILL HAS POSITIVES
Unfortunately, Tunisia’s group-stage exit has come at a cost.
The Eagles of Carthage have dropped 12 places after failing to make it out the group stages. The Eagles of Carthage have fallen from 45th to 57th.
However, even the one African side who did not make it out the group stage went out swinging. They upset co-hosts, the United States, 3-2 to finish their tournament on a high.
Meanwhile, Senegal have dropped three places as the African giants fell from 15th to 18th.
However, they are heading into the Round of 32 with plenty of momentum after demolishing Iraq 5-0 in their final Group L encounter.
WHICH AFRICAN TEAM DO YOU THINK WILL GO THE FURTHEST AT FIFA WORLD CUP 2026?
Give us your predictions in the comments section below …
