The latest FIFA rankings, updated in real time, have been revealed, focusing on the countries that will advance to the final tournament of the FIFA World Cup 2026. With a 2-1 victory over Japan, Brazil moved up from 6th to 5th place, overtaking Portugal and showing momentum. With this victory, Brazil rose to third place among South American teams behind Argentina and Colombia, and the momentum from the finals was imprinted on the rankings.
Paraguay, who defeated Germany in the penalty shootout, jumped from 41st to 34th place. The match went to extra time and then went to penalties, with the Paraguay goalkeeper making two saves that led to the victory. Norway, which advanced to the last 16 thanks to Erling Haaland's winning goal, jumped from 31st to 21st place.
Haaland scored two goals in this match, demonstrating his team's attacking power. Among Asian countries, Japan maintained its 17th place, followed by Iran in 22nd, Australia in 28th, and South Korea in 31st. Japan will face a powerful country in the first round of the final tournament, and even though they maintain their position as the top Asian team, the tough battle continues.
Argentina maintains its lead in the rankings, followed by France in second, Spain in third and England in fourth. After being eliminated, the Netherlands fell from 7th to 8th place, and Germany fell to 12th place. Although Germany failed to advance to the final tournament, their ranking showed that they were still in good shape.
The Brazil national team coach commented, ``It's natural that the victory was reflected in the ranking, but we will focus on preparing for the next match. '' The ups and downs of the final tournament will have a direct impact on the rankings, and attention will be focused on the impact it will have on the next match. Brazil's rapid advance shows the strength of South American teams, while Norway's Haaland effect is creating a new wave of European players.
Although the Japanese national team maintains its top spot among Asian players, attention will be focused on its future battles as it becomes increasingly difficult for other countries to catch up. In particular, direct confrontations with Brazil and France, which Japan may face, will hold the key to changes in the rankings. Read at Football Channel
