From Final Heartbreak to Top 10: Morocco’s Stunning Jump in FIFA’s 2026 Rankings

Morocco's historic climb in the FIFA rankings

In January 2026, FIFA released its first monthly world ranking of the year, and Africa got a bright headline: Morocco's memorable rise, even after losing the AFCON final on home soil.

According to the January 19, 2026 ranking, Morocco jumped to 8th in the world, up three places and into the Top 10 for the first time since April 1998, a milestone many called a deserved consolation after the 0-1 final defeat to Senegal.

The surge reflected strong performances in AFCON, where Morocco finished as runners-up and earned 20.23 points in one go, placing them ahead of storied teams such as Belgium and Germany and even nudging Croatia out of the top 10.

African champions and other movers

Senegal, crowned AFCON champions, rose to 12th globally—the best mark in their history, climbing seven spots to underline their status as Africa's leading force.

Elsewhere, Nigeria recorded the largest single-point gain, while Spain retained the world No. 1 slot, followed by Argentina and France in the top three.

Arab world figures also shifted: Algeria moved to 28th (second in Africa after Morocco), Egypt 31st, Tunisia 47th, Qatar 56th, Iraq 58th, and Saudi Arabia 61st.

In the overall list, Morocco's rise continued to resonate, and the January update underscored Africa's growing strength on the global stage.

Punchline time: if rankings were a race, Morocco just brought a camel to sprint in a 100m dash. And yes, the scoreboard now comes with a mini fridge for extra morale.