2026 World Cup: The biggest climbers in the FIFA rankings

03.07.26 FT World Cup

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While some national teams dropped in the FIFA rankings after disappointing performances at the World Cup, others seized the opportunity to boost their standings.

Norway is a prime example, climbing 10 spots from 31st to 21st place. Erling Haaland and his teammates reached the round of 16 by defeating Ivory Coast 2-1, and could go even further if they manage to overcome Brazil.

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Ghana, South Africa, and DR Congo also made significant gains in the rankings thanks to their strong tournament performances.

Paraguay and Mexico, both advancing to the round of 16 after defeating Germany and Ecuador respectively in the round of 32, surged by 7 and 5 spots.

Here are the top risers in the FIFA rankings since the start of the 2026 World Cup:

Norway: up 10 places, from 31st to 21st

Ghana: up 8 places, from 73rd to 65th

Paraguay: up 7 places, from 41st to 34th

South Africa: up 6 places, from 60th to 54th

Mexico: up 5 places, from 14th to 9th

DR Congo: up 5 places, from 46th to 41st

Imed Ben Amara |

Editorar, fr

Imed Ben Amara - bilingual sports writer and web editor with experience in football content creation. Since 2021, he has contributed to Foot Africa, providing news coverage and analysis.

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