World Cup 2026: Morocco overtake Portugal in live FIFA Rankings after DR Congo shock

Morocco have climbed to a historic sixth place in FIFA’s live men’s world rankings following Portugal’s surprise 1-1 draw against DR Congo in their opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The latest live standings place the Atlas Lions on 1,755.62 points, moving them narrowly ahead of Portugal, who have dropped to seventh on 1,755.09 points. Just 0.53 points now separate the two nations.

The development marks another significant milestone for Moroccan football as the Atlas Lions continue to establish themselves among the world’s elite national teams.

Portugal’s Draw Opens the Door for Morocco

Portugal entered the World Cup as the fifth-ranked team in the world, but their failure to overcome DR Congo came at a cost.

Roberto Martinez’s side surrendered an early lead and ultimately settled for a draw, a result that saw them lose 12.76 ranking points and fall two places in the live standings.

As a consequence, Brazil moved up to fifth place while Morocco advanced to sixth without kicking a ball on Wednesday.

The FIFA ranking system rewards results based on opponent strength, match importance and expected outcomes. Because Portugal were heavily favoured against the lower-ranked Congolese side, the dropped points had a significant impact on their ranking position.

Another Historic Milestone for the Atlas Lions

Morocco arrived at the World Cup ranked seventh in the official FIFA rankings released on June 11.

That ranking already represented the highest position ever achieved by the Atlas Lions since FIFA introduced the world ranking system in 1993.

Their provisional rise to sixth place therefore sets a new benchmark and underlines the remarkable progress Moroccan football has made in recent years.

However, the live rankings remain unofficial and can fluctuate after every international fixture.

FIFA will publish its next official men’s world rankings on July 20 following the conclusion of the World Cup, meaning Morocco must maintain their position throughout the tournament for the achievement to become an official national record.

Strong Start Provides Momentum

Morocco’s rise has been aided by an impressive start to their World Cup campaign.

The Atlas Lions opened their tournament with a highly encouraging 1-1 draw against Brazil, producing one of the standout performances of the first round.

Ismael Saibari gave Morocco the lead before Vinicius Junior equalised for the South Americans, but the North Africans earned widespread praise for their disciplined and confident display.

The result further strengthened the growing belief that Morocco remain one of the most competitive teams on the international stage.

Opportunity to Climb Even Higher

Mohamed Ouahbi’s side will now turn their attention to upcoming Group C fixtures against Scotland on June 19 and Haiti on June 24.

Positive results in those matches could allow Morocco to consolidate their position among the world’s top-ranked nations and potentially strengthen their standing further.

The Atlas Lions also continue to hold the distinction of being Africa’s highest-ranked national team, a reflection of their sustained success since their historic run to the semi-finals of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

With the tournament still in its early stages, Morocco now have the opportunity to transform their provisional ranking rise into an official piece of football history.