Spain Stay Top as Portugal Climb Into FIFA Top Five

Spain remain the team to beat in world football. The reigning world champions extended their lead at the top of the FIFA men's world rankings in the October 2026 update after recording four consecutive victories during the latest international window, further strengthening their cushion over Argentina in second.

The leading four nations all held their positions — Argentina second, France third and England fourth — but there was movement below them. Portugal climbed one place into fifth, the only top-10 side to improve, while Brazil slipped to sixth and Morocco to seventh after mixed windows.

Belgium held eighth, the Netherlands ninth and Mexico rounded out the top ten, underlining how quickly rankings can shift on the strength of opponents and results in competitive fixtures.

For Spain, the update is another marker of an era of dominance following their World Cup triumph, with their gap over the chasing pack now wider than ever. For Brazil, the slide is a warning that the road back to the summit will not be a short one.