FIFA rankings October 2026: Morocco seventh in the world and Africa's best, Senegal and Egypt next
After a record-breaking World Cup summer, the Atlas Lions stay inside the global top ten, five African sides sit in the top 30, and Guinea-Bissau make the biggest leap of the month.
Morocco are Africa's highest-ranked men's football team and seventh in the world in the FIFA world ranking published on 7 October 2026. The Atlas Lions hold 1,805.34 points, a whisker behind Portugal and Brazil, while Senegal (18th), Egypt (25th), Algeria (28th) and Côte d'Ivoire (29th) complete the continent's top five.
A record summer for the Atlas Lions
Seventh is only a small step back for a team that has spent 2026 rewriting the record books. During the group stage of the World Cup in North America, Morocco rose to fifth, equalling the highest place any African nation has held, a mark first set by Nigeria in April 1994. Under coach Mohamed Ouahbi they drew 1-1 with Brazil, beat Canada 3-0 in the round of 16 and were the last African side left standing, until France won their quarter-final 2-0.
Morocco left the tournament sixth in the world and climbed back to fifth in late September by overtaking Brazil. A 1-1 friendly draw with Mali on 4 October, together with good results for Portugal and Brazil, nudged them down two places when the October list came out.
- December 2022Morocco become the first African team to reach a World Cup semi-final, in Qatar.
- June 2026A 1-1 draw with Brazil opens their World Cup; Morocco then reach fifth, matching Nigeria's 1994 African record.
- July 2026France end the run in the quarter-finals; Morocco finish the summer sixth in the world.
- 25 September 2026The Atlas Lions overtake Brazil to return to fifth.
- 7 October 2026FIFA's October ranking places Morocco seventh on 1,805.34 points.
Africa's best-ranked men's teams
- Morocco: 7th in the world
- Senegal: 18th, unchanged
- Egypt: 25th
- Algeria: 28th, up one
- Côte d'Ivoire: 29th, up two
- Nigeria: 30th, down four
Further down there was plenty to cheer. Mali and South Africa each climbed six places, to 47th and 48th, and Algeria and Côte d'Ivoire both edged closer to Egypt in the race for third in Africa. Senegal held firm in 18th.
- 7thMorocco's place in the world
- 1,805.34Morocco's ranking points
- 5African sides in the world's top 30
- +35.64Guinea-Bissau's points haul, the month's biggest
Guinea-Bissau make the month's biggest leap
The standout mover was Guinea-Bissau. Their 3-0 win over Nigeria in Bissau, in qualifying for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, earned 35.64 points, the largest haul of any team that played in the window, and lifted them eight places. Only Rwanda, up nine, rose further.
The same game cost the Super Eagles: Nigeria slipped four places to 30th and from fourth to sixth in Africa, despite a 2-1 win over Madagascar in Uyo and a 3-3 friendly draw with Russia. They remain in the world's top 30, with the next window a chance to recover.
Photo: Bryan Berlin — CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Frequently asked questions
What is Morocco's FIFA ranking?
Morocco are seventh in the world on 1,805.34 points in FIFA's men's ranking of 7 October 2026, the highest of any African team.
Who is the best-ranked African team in the FIFA ranking?
Morocco, in seventh place. Senegal are second in Africa and 18th in the world, followed by Egypt (25th), Algeria (28th) and Côte d'Ivoire (29th).
Where are Nigeria in the FIFA ranking?
Nigeria's Super Eagles are 30th in the world and sixth in Africa, down four places after a 3-0 defeat to Guinea-Bissau in AFCON 2027 qualifying.
When is the next FIFA ranking?
FIFA's next men's ranking is due on 18 November 2026. The women's ranking, last published on 20 October, is next updated on 7 December 2026.
Comments
No comments yet.