Argentina reclaim top spot in FIFA World Rankings ahead of World Cup final

Argentina have returned to the summit of the FIFA World Rankings just days before their blockbuster World Cup final showdown against Spain.

Following a dramatic 2-1 comeback victory over England in the World Cup semi-final, Lionel Scaloni’s side climbed two places to claim the No. 1 position with 1,970.37 points. The win earned Argentina a significant 26.90-point boost, propelling them past both Spain and France in the latest live ranking update.

Spain, Argentina’s opponents in Sunday’s final, sit just behind in second place with 1,965.61 points. France, who were knocked out by Spain in the other semi-final, have dropped to third with 1,948.97 points. England remain fourth with 1,889.42 points despite their elimination.

The top 10 is completed by Brazil (5th, 1,804.92 points), Morocco (6th, 1,803.99), Portugal (7th, 1,787.85), Belgium (8th, 1,778.36), the Netherlands (9th, 1,775.54) and Mexico (10th, 1,754.30).

Dramatic Semi-Final Sets the Stage

Argentina booked their place in the final with a stirring fightback against England. Trailing to Anthony Gordon’s 55th-minute opener, the Albiceleste rallied late, with Enzo Fernández equalising in the 85th minute before Lautaro Martínez snatched the winner in stoppage time (90+2).

The victory not only secured Argentina’s second consecutive World Cup final appearance but also restored their status as the world’s top-ranked side. They had entered the tournament as leaders but temporarily lost that position to France during the knockout rounds.

The ‘FIFA Ranking Curse’

Argentina’s return to No. 1 carries an intriguing subplot. Since the modern FIFA Ranking system was introduced, no team that began a World Cup as the world’s top-ranked side has gone on to win the tournament—a statistic often referred to as the “FIFA ranking curse”.

The Albiceleste had secured top spot just before the tournament began, capitalising on stumbles by their rivals: France’s 2-1 loss to Ivory Coast and Spain’s 1-1 draw with Iraq during the final international window. Now, they face a double mission: defending the crown they won in Qatar 2022 while attempting to become the first side to break the historical statistic.

Final Showdown

Argentina and Spain will contest the World Cup final on Sunday, July 19, kicking off at 19:00 GMT. France and England will meet in the third-place play-off the same day.

Should Spain win the final, they could overtake Argentina at the top of the rankings when FIFA publishes its next official update on July 20. For now, however, Argentina stand alone at the pinnacle of world football—a position they will be desperate to validate with a second consecutive world title.