Morocco has reached a historic milestone in its footballing journey, climbing to 8th place in the latest FIFA world rankings released this Monday—the highest position the country has ever held. This three-spot jump reflects years of consistent performance at the top level, marking Morocco’s arrival among the global elite.
The announcement comes just days after the conclusion of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, hosted on home soil. Despite a heartbreaking loss in the final, Morocco’s overall performance throughout the tournament earned the team more than 20 ranking points, bringing their total to 1736.57. The surge cements a new national record, surpassing the brief top 10 appearance from April 1998—a ranking that had never before seemed sustainable. This time, the momentum feels real.
Under the leadership of coach Walid Regragui, the Atlas Lions now sit ahead of football powerhouses like Belgium, Germany, and Croatia. In fact, Croatia has dropped out of the top 10 altogether, slipping to 11th. The shift signals not just Morocco’s rise, but also the reshaping of the global football hierarchy.
On the continental level, Morocco remains the highest-ranked African team. Reigning African champions Senegal now sit 12th globally, while Nigeria—third-place finishers at the CAN—climb to 26th. Cameroon also made a notable leap, jumping twelve places to reach 45th.
FIFA noted that this edition of the Africa Cup of Nations has significantly altered the global rankings landscape. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) now has nine teams in the top 50, up from seven at the end of last year. In contrast, the Concacaf and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) have each seen their top 50 representation shrink to just four nations. UEFA still dominates the rankings, with 26 teams in the top 50, followed by South America’s CONMEBOL with seven. Oceania, meanwhile, continues to have no representation in the top tier.
While the trophy may have slipped away, Morocco’s rise in the rankings is a clear sign of the team’s growing stature on the world stage. The Atlas Lions have not only proven they belong among football’s best—they’ve set a new standard for what’s possible for African nations.
