Argentina will not take over at the top of FIFA's World Ranking this month – despite defeating France to win the World Cup for the first time since 1986. Brazil have held the No. 1 position since February, when they deposed Belgium at the summit. But even though the Selecao failed to make it past the quarterfinals, Argentina's results haven't been enough to overtaken them. Brazil won three games at the World Cup, lost to Cameroon and suffered a penalty shootout defeat at the hands of Croatia. Argentina, meanwhile, won four games, lost one to Saudi Arabia and were twice victorious on penalties – including the final on Sunday as they beat France 4-2 on spot kicks. Argentina won the Copa America in 2021 and are now world champions, but it's not enough for the No. 1 spot. Shootout successes are worth far fewer ranking points than regulation-time wins. If either Argentina or France had won the final within 120 minutes they would have gone to No. 1, but a penalty shootout guaranteed that Brazil could not be overtaken.
Argentina were crowned champions of the world as they beat France in dramatic fashion on Sunday (Dec 18) but, according to FIFA, they are still second to their great rivals Brazil.
Lionel Messi inspired his side to an historic victory in Qatar, beating France on penalties to claim their first World Cup triumph since 1986. But in new FIFA rankings, set to be officially released on Thursday, Argentina have risen only to second, up from third, with Brazil still ahead of them in the pecking order.
That's despite Messi's side winning Copa America in 2021, where they beat Brazil in the final – and on Sunday adding a third World Cup triumph to their collection in Qatar, where Tite's side reached only the quarter-finals.
Brazil, who replaced Belgium at the top of the list earlier this year, remain at the summit, but that would not have been the case had either Argentina or France – who rise a place to third – won the final without needing penalties.
Shootouts, according to ESPN, are worth significantly fewer ranking points, with Argentina's win therefore not enough to see them leapfrog Brazil into top spot.
Argentina will of course take the ranking with a pinch of salt, with the newly crowned champions currently en route to Buenos Aires where thousands of fans are waiting for them in what is set to be an emotional homecoming.
Belgium, having fallen from first place earlier this year, now drop behind Argentina and France and into fourth.
Netherlands are in sixth ahead of high-climbers Croatia, who are set to rise from 12th to seventh. Italy, Portugal and Spain complete the top 10.
Messi winning his maiden World Cup is undoubtedly the major talking point of the tournament, but Morocco's stunning run to the semi-finals is another memorable highlight.
Not only did they become the first African nation to reach the semi-finals, where they were beaten by France, they now stand as the highest-ranked African side at 11th in the world.
It means Morocco – who lost 2-1 to Croatia in the third-place play-off – now sit above Germany in 14th, Mexico in 15th and Uruguay in 16th. It's not Morocco's highest-ever ranking, as they were 10th in 1998, but as recently as 2015 they were as low as 92nd.
Cameroon also enjoy a big rise of 10 places up to 33rd, thanks to their win over Brazil.
The United States takes over as the top-ranking CONCACAF team, up three places into 13th as Mexico falls two into 15th.
Canada and Qatar are the biggest fallers, both dropping 12 places into 53rd and 62nd respectively. Wales slump nine spots into 28th; Denmark are down eight into 18th and Serbia drop eight to 29th.
The new FIFA World Ranking, which is a rolling assessment of results weighted for importance, will be officially published on Thursday.
New FIFA Ranking top 20:
1. Brazil
2. Argentina
3. France
4. Belgium
5. England
6. Netherlands
7. Croatia
8. Italy
9. Portugal
10. Spain
11. Morocco
12. Switzerland
13. USA
14. Germany
15. Mexico
16. Uruguay
17. Colombia
18. Denmark
19. Senegal
20. Japan
