World Cup winners Spain are back at No. 1 in the FIFA men’s rankings, ending Argentina’s latest spell at the top after beating them 1-0 after extra time on Sunday. Subtle sport, football. One trophy changes hands and the spreadsheet immediately notices.

Luis de la Fuente’s side returned to first place for the first time since January, while Argentina, the 2022 World Cup champions, slipped to second. France stayed third, and England remained fourth despite beating Les Bleus to take the bronze medal.

How Spain reclaimed No. 1

Spain’s rise follows their World Cup final win over Argentina, a result that carried enough ranking weight to move them back above Lionel Scaloni’s team.

The top four now look familiar, if not entirely static:

  • Spain
  • Argentina
  • France
  • England

England’s place did not change even after Thomas Tuchel’s side defeated France in the third-place match. France also held steady in third, which is the sort of outcome that reminds everyone these rankings are not a simple scoreboard with extra paperwork.

Morocco hit a historic high

Brazil moved up to fifth, while Morocco climbed to a record-high sixth in the FIFA list.

Portugal dropped two places to seventh after exiting the World Cup in the Round of 16. Belgium moved up to eighth, trading places with the Netherlands, who fell to ninth.

Mexico also made a notable move, rising four places to enter the top 10.

Norway make the biggest jump

Norway recorded the largest rise in the latest update, climbing 12 places to 19th after reaching the World Cup quarter-finals.

Germany moved in the other direction, falling out of the top 10 and landing in 12th. Croatia sit one place behind them in 13th.

Italy, who did not qualify for the World Cup, slipped to 15th. Not playing the tournament, it turns out, is not ideal for ranking momentum.

Tunisia take the biggest hit

Tunisia had the steepest fall, dropping 12 places to 57th.

Elsewhere in the table:

  • Egypt climbed five places to 24th
  • Paraguay rose seven places to 34th after reaching the World Cup last 16
  • Cabo Verde moved up three places to 64th after reaching the Round of 32
  • Ghana climbed eight places, moving to 65th

The latest FIFA men’s rankings show a World Cup shake-up below the top tier, even as several familiar powers stayed near the front.