FIFA Rankings Reveal: Spain Still Reigns, Germany Keeps Elite Status for the 2026 World Cup Draw

Spain’s national team remains unsurpassed at the summit of FIFA’s world rankings published in November, with Germany confirming a spot among the elite for the 2026 World Cup group-stage draw. The rankings will act as the seed map for the Washington-hosted draw on December 5, while the European and intercontinental playoff draws, scheduled at FIFA’s Zurich offices, will be held the following day.

Spain, nicknamed La Roja, continues to lead the rankings after beating Georgia and drawing with Turkey in European qualifying, cementing their World Cup path. Brazil, meanwhile, makes a notable leap into the top five, advancing two places to fifth and displacing Portugal and the Netherlands to sixth and seventh, respectively.

Italy’s heaviness in the form of a 1-4 defeat to Norway proves costly, as the Azzurri tumble three spots to No. 12. They now eye a World Cup berth through Europe’s playoff route, where 16 teams vie for four slots. The rankings also set the stage for the playoff landscape and the crucial matchups ahead.

Germany in the Top Tier

Croatia re-enters the top ten, but the real headline is Germany’s continued presence among the world’s elite, holding the ninth position—the last spot that guarantees participation in the top seeds for the World Cup draw. The United States, Canada, and Mexico—as hosts—will join the top tier alongside Spain, Argentina, France, England, Portugal, Brazil, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany.

Meanwhile, Croatia’s ascent into the top ten is noted, though it doesn’t automatically secure the premier seed, given the German placement at No. 9 in this cycle. The crossover of CONCACAF nations—USA, Canada, and Mexico—into the top tier complements the ongoing global shakeup, with the defending champions Argentina and the reigning European champions France keeping company at the upper echelons.

Best 10 FIFA rankings (November)

1- Spain

2- Argentina

3- France

4- England

5- Brazil

6- Portugal

7- Netherlands

8- Belgium

9- Germany

10- Croatia

World Playoffs and Continental Seeds

The updated FIFA ranking also defines the seed levels for the World Playoffs, scheduled for March, which will determine the last six World Cup berths in 2026. The playoff involves 22 teams—16 European contenders fighting for four European berths and six teams from other confederations contesting two global spots.

Italy sits at the forefront of the European Playoff, aiming to avoid a third consecutive disappointing exit in these playoffs as world champions four times historically. Italy, ranked No. 12 globally, qualified for the playoff after finishing behind Norway in the European qualifiers.

The Italian side will host a semi-final in the European playoff against a Level 4 opponent, potentially North Macedonia—the team that eliminated them in 2022. The playoff winner will advance to a final to meet the winner from a different pathway within the same bracket.

In the global playoff, Congo and Iraq hold seed positions, with Bolivia, Jamaica, New Caledonia, and Suriname unseeded contenders awaiting the draw outcomes to determine who faces whom for a World Cup lifeline.

European playoff levels:

Level 1: Italy, Denmark, Turkey, Ukraine

Level 2: Poland, Wales, Czechia, Slovakia

Level 3: Ireland, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo

Level 4: Northern Ireland, Romania, Sweden, North Macedonia

Continental playoff:

Seeded: Congo, Iraq

Unseeded: Bolivia, Jamaica, New Caledonia, Suriname

USA Surpasses Mexico; Uzbekistan Returns to the Top 50

In CONCACAF, the United States—led by Mauricio Pochettino—edged ahead of Mexico to reach No. 14, becoming the region’s highest-ranked side and widening the gap behind the Mexicans at No. 15. The Americans had productive international breaks, beating Paraguay 2-1 and hammering Uruguay 5-1.

Uzbekistan is back in the top 50 after climbing five spots to No. 50, marking a return to the elite bracket for the first time since October 2016. Under coach Fabio Cannavaro, Uzbekistan registered notable friendlies, scoring wins over Egypt and Iran in the United Arab Emirates.

Additionally, the list features several moves: the Philippines (136), Turkmenistan (137), and Malta (161) all posted similar climbs, with Nigeria (38, +3) and Tunisia (40, +3) among the notable gains. Kosovo also posted a four-spot jump to No. 80, signaling a favorable trajectory as the year unfolds.

Punchline time: If rankings were pizza, Spain would be the crust—always solid and never soggy. And if the draw were a dating app, Germany would be the guy who shows up with an umbrella, just in case the forecast calls for seeding rain. Humor aside, football fans know: every point on the chart is a step closer to the party in 2026.