RABAT, MOROCCO — Morocco has climbed to fifth place in the latest provisional FIFA Men’s World Rankings, becoming the highest-ranked African national team in the world.
The Atlas Lions moved above Portugal and Brazil after a perfect weekend of results during the November international break. The rise confirms Morocco’s status as the leading team on the African continent.
The Climb
Morocco started the international window in seventh place. It first moved up to sixth place after securing an impressive 5-1 victory over Niger in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers on Friday, November 13.
The win in Casablanca gave Morocco 1,805.34 points and pushed it ahead of Brazil, who had suffered a surprise 3-2 defeat to Japan in an international friendly.
Portugal’s result then completed Morocco’s rise. Portugal, who had started the window in fifth place, was beaten 4-1 by Denmark in the UEFA Nations League on Saturday, November 14.
The heavy defeat cost Portugal 10.09 ranking points and saw it drop to seventh place with 1,797.60 points. Brazil now sits in sixth place, leaving Morocco alone in fifth.
A Historic Achievement
The latest position is a historic achievement for African football. Morocco has now matched the highest position ever achieved by an African national team in the FIFA rankings.
Nigeria previously held that record alone, having reached fifth place in April 1994. Morocco first equalled that record in September 2026, before dropping to seventh in October when Portugal climbed above it.
A Remarkable Rise
Morocco’s remarkable rise has been built over the last four years.
It entered the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar ranked 22nd in the world, but climbed to 11th after becoming the first African team to reach the semi-finals of the competition.
The Atlas Lions continued their progress by reaching eighth place in January 2026, returning to the FIFA top 10 for the first time since 1998. They then reached the quarter-finals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which helped them climb further.
Provisional Ranking
The current ranking remains provisional. FIFA is scheduled to publish its next official Men’s World Ranking on November 18, 2026.
Morocco will have another chance to strengthen its position when it faces Niger again on Tuesday, November 17, in its next AFCON qualifying fixture.
For now, Morocco sits fifth in the world, behind only Spain, Argentina, France, and England.
It is a proud moment for the Atlas Lions and for African football as a whole.
