Football

FIFA World Ranking: The 50 Best National Teams – Ranked

The FIFA World Ranking has once again shaken up the footballing world, showcasing which nations are rising to the top and which are slipping behind. From dramatic climbs to surprising drops, this list reveals the 50 strongest national teams right now. Starting from number 50, here’s the full breakdown of the best footballing nations on the planet.

50. Slovenia – 1469.76 (▲ +7.1)

Benjamin Sesko
Vitalii Vitleo / Shutterstock.com

Slovenia continue their steady rise with back-to-back wins that push them inside the top 50. Their organized style of play and promising results suggest they are a team to watch in upcoming qualifiers.

49. Tunisia – 1471.10 (▼ -3)

Wahbi Khazri
Marco Iacobucci Epp / Shutterstock.com

Tunisia suffered a slight dip in form, losing ground after mixed results. Despite a solid defensive core, they will need sharper finishing to climb further.

48. Romania – 1474.46 (▼ -4.76)

Romania national football team
Seba Tataru / Shutterstock.com

Romania lost momentum after a poor result that cost them valuable points. Their inconsistency keeps them from breaking into higher positions despite glimpses of quality.

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47. Scotland – 1474.68 (▼ -5.62)

Andy Robertson
Maciej Rogowski Photo / Shutterstock.com

Scotland endured a setback, dropping after a defeat offset their earlier progress. The Scots remain competitive, but their lack of consistency against top sides hurts their standing.

46. Venezuela – 1477.02 (▲ +0.18)

Venezuela
A.RICARDO / Shutterstock.com

Venezuela edged slightly upwards thanks to a narrow win. With talented forwards coming through, they remain capable of surprising more established nations.

45. Côte d'Ivoire – 1483.45 (▼ -3.82)

Serge Aurier
A.Taoualit / Shutterstock.com

The Ivory Coast slipped after a run of mixed results, showing both promise and flaws. They remain a strong African side, but stability will be key in their upcoming fixtures.

44. Nigeria – 1484.26 (▲ +2.91)

Victor Osihmen
Vitalii Vitleo / Shutterstock.com

Nigeria saw a modest gain after collecting crucial victories. Their attacking firepower remains their biggest strength as they push for more consistency.

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43. Paraguay – 1486.69 (▲ +10.76)

Paraguay
A.RICARDO / Shutterstock.com

Paraguay climbed nicely after earning an important win, giving them momentum. They remain tough to beat and could be a dark horse in regional competitions.

42. Peru – 1489.97 (▲ +6.49)

Peru
A.RICARDO / Shutterstock.com

Peru gained points after resilient draws that showed their defensive discipline. However, they still lack the cutting edge to regularly beat higher-ranked opponents.

41. Czechia – 1492.40 (▲ +0.97)

Tomas Soucek
Photo: wikicommons.com

Czechia made a small improvement, earning points with a balanced run. Their young talents offer hope for a brighter future in international football.

40. Costa Rica – 1493.85 (▲ +34.72)

Costa Rica
Luis Alvarado Alvarado / Shutterstock.com

Costa Rica were one of the biggest movers, jumping 14 places after a string of wins. Their revival shows the resilience of a nation that thrives on team spirit and hard work.

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39. Greece – 1497.82 (▲ +8)

greece
ph.FAB / Shutterstock.com

Greece enjoyed back-to-back wins, giving them a boost in the standings. Their defensive organization continues to be their trademark, frustrating more attacking teams.

38. Hungary – 1500.74 (▼ -2.6)

Dominik Szoboszlai
Stefan Constantin 22 / Shutterstock.com

Hungary slipped slightly after suffering a key defeat. Despite this, their disciplined approach keeps them competitive within Europe.

37. Poland – 1502.40 (▼ -14.95)

Robert Lewandowski
Mikolaj Barbanell / Shutterstock.com

Poland endured one of the biggest drops, falling after disappointing results. Their reliance on individual stars has left them vulnerable when goals dry up.

36. Algeria – 1503.80 (▼ -3.37)

Algeria
Celso Pupo / Shutterstock.com

Algeria lost ground following an inconsistent set of results. With plenty of talent, they remain dangerous but must find more balance.

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35. Russia – 1518.54 (▲ +2.27)

Russia
Maksim Konstantinov / Shutterstock.com

Russia gained a small boost after picking up points through solid performances. Their ability to grind out results keeps them stable in the rankings.

34. Egypt – 1518.79 (–)

Mohamed Salah
mohsen nabil / Shutterstock.com

Egypt stayed level with no change in points. Their strong squad keeps them among Africa’s top contenders even without significant recent movement.

33. Norway – 1519.42 (▲ +22.24)

Erling Haaland Norway
Photo: froarn / Shutterstock.com

Norway jumped five places thanks to consecutive wins. With emerging stars leading the line, their upward trajectory looks promising.

32. Serbia – 1523.03 (▼ -0.88)

Serbia
Vasiljevic Dimitrije / Shutterstock.com

Serbia experienced a slight dip but remain steady overall. Their strength lies in a core of technically gifted players capable of troubling any opponent.

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31. Wales – 1528.93 (▼ -6.64)

Gareth Bale
Photo: Andrew Dowling Photo / Shutterstock.com

Wales slipped two places after a defeat hurt their ranking. Their passionate displays remain a hallmark, but they need results to match the effort.

30. Panama – 1545.08 (▲ +27.42)

Panama
Ringo Chiu / Shutterstock.com

Panama surged impressively with a series of wins, climbing three places. Their determination and improved tactical approach make them a rising CONCACAF side.

29. Sweden – 1545.43 (▲ +9.38)

Sweden
Thomas Persson / Shutterstock.com

Sweden made progress with solid victories that pushed them up a place. Their disciplined football and defensive strength continue to serve them well.

28. Canada – 1548.94 (▲ +17.36)

Alphonso,Davies,
lev radin / Shutterstock.com

Canada moved up after several strong results, climbing two spots. Their young core, led by exciting talents, keeps them firmly in the global conversation.

27. Türkiye – 1553.19 (▲ +1.72)

Arda Guler
Mikolaj Barbanell / Shutterstock.com

Türkiye edged forward with a narrow improvement. They remain a team capable of producing surprises, though consistency is still missing.

26. Ukraine – 1557.21 (▼ -2.6)

Oleksandr Zinchenko and Mykhailo Mudryk
katatonia82 / Shutterstock.com

Ukraine slipped after mixed results in recent matches. Their resilience is clear, but costly draws and defeats hold them back.

25. Ecuador – 1570.68 (▲ +2.73)

Moises Caicedo
lev radin / Shutterstock.com

Ecuador edged higher with two hard-fought draws. Their physical approach and high energy make them difficult opponents.

24. Australia – 1578.57 (▲ +24.02)

Australia
FiledIMAGE / Shutterstock.com

Australia impressed with consecutive victories, climbing two places. Their aggressive style and team unity continue to bring rewards.

23. Korea Republic – 1587.08 (▲ +12.15)

Heung min son
Prakarn Eammart / Shutterstock.com

South Korea made a strong leap thanks to back-to-back wins. Their attacking depth makes them a consistent force in Asia.

22. Austria – 1591.24 (▲ +11.02)

David Alaba
A.Taoualit / Shutterstock.com

Austria gained momentum with two wins that lifted their position. Their balanced approach and solid midfield are paying dividends.

21. Denmark – 1621.24 (▲ +3.7)

Denmark
A.Taoualit / Shutterstock.com

Denmark remain steady after earning points from consecutive victories. Their disciplined and structured style makes them hard to beat.

20. IR Iran – 1624.30 (▼ -13.09)

Iran
Alizada Studios / Shutterstock.com

Iran dropped two places after a disappointing loss offset earlier progress. Despite the setback, they remain Asia’s most resilient defensive side, though consistency against stronger nations is still missing.

19. Switzerland – 1635.08 (▲ +10.33)

Switzerland
Alizada Studios / Shutterstock.com

Switzerland gained momentum with two consecutive wins, climbing a place. Their disciplined structure and ability to upset bigger nations keeps them a dangerous opponent in any competition.

18. Senegal – 1635.10 (▲ +4.78)

Marco Iacobucci Epp / Shutterstock.com

Senegal inched forward with steady results, earning both a win and a draw. Their attacking stars continue to shine, and they remain Africa’s highest-ranked side.

17. Japan – 1641.23 (▼ -11.41)

japan
feelphoto / Shutterstock.com

Japan slipped after a poor run, losing vital points that cost them two places. Their dynamic style is still admired, but defensive lapses have proven costly.

16. Uruguay – 1670.76 (▼ -8.73)

Uruguay
A.RICARDO / Shutterstock.com

Uruguay fell three places after a loss dented their momentum. With a blend of experienced veterans and exciting young talent, they will be eager to bounce back quickly.

15. USA – 1671.04 (▲ +22.23)

christian pulisic
Ringo Chiu / Shutterstock.com

The United States made one of the biggest moves, jumping a spot thanks to a run of victories. Their young squad is maturing fast, and they are becoming a genuine force in CONCACAF and beyond.

14. Colombia – 1679.46 (▲ +0.42)

Colombia
AGIF / Shutterstock.com

Colombia held steady with two draws that earned them a slight boost. They remain a technically gifted side but will need more wins to climb higher.

13. Mexico – 1689.73 (▲ +42.79)

Mexico
Marco Iacobucci Epp / Shutterstock.com

Mexico enjoyed an incredible surge, climbing four spots after an impressive string of wins. Their form highlights their status as one of the strongest and most consistent teams in the Americas.

12. Morocco – 1698.72 (▲ +4.48)

Morocco
Marco Iacobucci Epp / Shutterstock.com

Morocco continued their rise with back-to-back wins, solidifying their place just outside the top 10. Their World Cup heroics are no fluke, and they remain Africa’s most consistent performers.

11. Italy – 1702.58 (▼ -15.73)

Italy
Marco Iacobucci Epp / Shutterstock.com

Italy suffered one of the heaviest drops among the elite, losing crucial points after a poor run. Despite their slip, the Azzurri remain stacked with talent and will look to recover swiftly.

10. Croatia – 1707.51 (▲ +8.85)

Croatia
katatonia82 / Shutterstock.com

Croatia climbed into the top 10 with two important victories. Their golden generation continues to deliver, and their midfield dominance remains among the best in world football.

9. Germany – 1716.98 (–)

Germany
Alizada Studios / Shutterstock.com

Germany held their ground with no change in ranking points. Though inconsistent, they remain a traditional powerhouse with the ability to beat anyone on their day.

8. Belgium – 1736.38 (▲ +0.63)

Belgium
Maciej Rogowski Photo / Shutterstock.com

Belgium maintained their spot with a marginal improvement. Their golden era is entering a new phase, but they still possess the quality to compete with the very best.

7. Netherlands – 1758.18 (▲ +5.74)

Netherlands
Mikolaj Barbanell / Shutterstock.com

The Netherlands pushed upward after a pair of wins. With a blend of exciting young players and tactical discipline, they continue to re-establish themselves among Europe’s elite.

6. Portugal – 1770.53 (▲ +20.45)

Cristiano Ronaldo
Maciej Rogowski Photo / Shutterstock.com

Portugal made the biggest gain inside the top 10, climbing into sixth after two victories. Their depth of attacking options and strong defensive backbone make them serious contenders on the world stage.

5. Brazil – 1777.69 (▲ +1.66)

Brazil National Team
Maciej Rogowski Photo / Shutterstock.com

Brazil gained slightly after solid results, holding on to fifth place. Their attacking brilliance remains unmatched, but defensive gaps keep them from overtaking the European giants above them.

4. England – 1813.32 (▼ -5.88)

England Team photo before af match
ph.FAB / Shutterstock.com

England slipped a place after losing key points. Despite the drop, their squad depth and attacking firepower still make them one of the strongest teams in international football.

3. France – 1862.03 (▲ +9.32)

Mbappe
A.RICARDO / Shutterstock.com

France stayed firmly among the elite after a win and a narrow loss. With world-class talent in every position, they remain one of the biggest threats to reclaim the top spot.

2. Spain – 1867.09 (▲ +12.45)

Spain Celebrating winning the Euros in 2024
Maciej Rogowski Photo / Shutterstock.com

Spain climbed to second thanks to a strong run of form, showcasing their technical dominance. Their balance of youth and experience makes them one of the most dangerous teams in global football.

1. Argentina – 1885.36 (▼ -0.8)

Lionel Messi
Photo: Fabideciria / Shutterstock.com

Argentina held on to the top spot despite a minor points drop. The reigning world champions continue to showcase consistency and resilience, keeping them firmly ahead of their rivals.

Oliver Obel

Oliver Obel – Sports Content Creator & Football Specialist I’m a passionate Sports Content Creator with a strong focus on football. I write for LenteDesportiva, where I produce high-quality content that informs, entertains, and connects with football fans around the world. My work revolves around player rankings, transfer analysis, and in-depth features that explore the modern game. I combine a sharp editorial instinct with a deep understanding of football’s evolution, always aiming to deliver content that captures both insight and emotion.