Morocco Hits 8th in FIFA Rankings, Highest Ever

Morocco's national football team just made history by climbing to 8th in the FIFA World Rankings, the highest position the Atlas Lions have ever achieved. The team hasn't broken into the Top 10 since April 1998, making this January 2026 ranking a moment of national pride.

The rise comes despite losing the AFCON 2025 final, proving that Morocco's performance throughout the tournament showcased the team's world-class skill and resilience. The Atlas Lions jumped three spots, overtaking traditional powerhouses like Belgium (9th), Germany (10th), and Croatia (11th).

AFCON champion Senegal also made waves, surging seven positions to reach 12th place, their best ranking ever. Nigeria climbed 12 spots to 26th after finishing third, while Cameroon rose to 45th with an identical 12-position leap.

The Ripple Effect

Morocco's achievement signals a broader shift in global football. African teams are no longer outliers in the rankings but legitimate contenders among the sport's elite nations.

The Atlas Lions' World Cup 2022 semifinal run first put the world on notice, and this ranking confirms it wasn't a fluke. Morocco has built a program that consistently competes at the highest level, inspiring young players across Africa and the Arab world.

The top three rankings remained unchanged, with Spain leading, followed by Argentina and France. But the shake-up just below shows how Morocco's steady excellence is rewriting football's traditional hierarchy.

For a nation that has long punched above its weight in international football, this 8th-place ranking validates years of investment in youth development, coaching, and infrastructure. Morocco now stands among football's elite eight, and the Atlas Lions show no signs of slowing down.