Portugal has suffered a significant drop in the FIFA ranking, falling from fifth to seventh place in an update marked by Spain's ascent to the top of the table. The world champions claimed the lead after defeating Argentina in the final of the 2026 World Cup, held in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
The national team, eliminated by Spain in the round of 16 of the tournament, lost two positions in the world hierarchy, overtaken by Brazil and Morocco, which rose to fifth and sixth places, respectively. This setback places Portugal in a position it has not occupied since April 2025, reflecting the impact of its early exit from the main international football tournament.
Spain, which prevailed over Argentina 1-0 after extra time in the final of the 2026 World Cup, climbed from second to first place, relegating the South Americans to second. France and England remain in the top four, but swapped their positions, with France in third and England in fourth. Among the other top teams, Mexico's entry into the top 10 stands out, replacing Germany, which was eliminated by Paraguay in the round of 32 and fell out of the top 10.
Cape Verde, one of the sensations of this World Cup edition by reaching the round of 16 in its debut, climbed three places to 63rd position, remaining the second-best Portuguese-speaking team, just behind Brazil. Angola, Mozambique, Guinea-Bissau, Macau, São Tomé and Príncipe, and Timor-Leste remain in their usual positions, with no significant changes.
The updated ranking from FIFA reflects the recent dynamics of world football, with Spain leading with 1,995.88 points, followed by Argentina with 1,970.37 and France with 1,948.97. Portugal now has 1,787.85 points, behind Brazil (1,804.92) and Morocco (1,803.99), which benefited from their performances in the 2026 World Cup.
This new classification reveals the instability of the rankings caused by the World Cup, where unexpected results and the performance of the host teams altered the established order. Portugal will now have to work to regain ground and re-establish itself among the best national teams in the world. Spain's rise to the top spot confirms the significance of the World Cup victory, while surprises such as Morocco and Cape Verde highlight the increasing global competitiveness in football.
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