France drops to third in FIFA rankings after defeat to Ivory Coast
On June 4, 2026, France lost 1-2 to Ivory Coast in a friendly, dropping from first to third in the FIFA world rankings just before the 2026 World Cup. Argentina reclaimed the top spot, with Spain second. The shift is seen as potentially beneficial, as no pre-tournament top-ranked team has won the World Cup since 1993. Morocco rose to a historic seventh place. France will face Senegal in their World Cup opener on June 16.
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Argentina regains top spot in FIFA rankings, France third, Morocco makes history
As the 2026 World Cup kicked off with the match between Mexico and South Africa, FIFA released its new men's world ranking. Argentina reclaimed the top spot for the first time since July 2025, positioning them as title defenders. France dropped to third place after a defeat to Ivory Coast, despite a win against Northern Ireland. Spain, led by Lamine Yamal, rose to second place. Morocco achieved a historic milestone by moving up to 7th place, surpassing the Netherlands and marking their best-ever ranking. The article, published by Foot Mercato on June 11, 2026, highlights these shifts ahead of the World Cup tournament.
Foot Mercato : Info Transferts Football - Actu Foot TransfertFIFA rankings change hours before World Cup kick-off as new No 1 confirmed
Hours before the 2026 World Cup opening game, FIFA updated its world rankings, with defending champions Argentina reclaiming the No. 1 spot after warm-up wins over Iceland and Honduras. France dropped two places to third, while Spain remained second. England stayed fourth, Portugal fifth, and Brazil sixth. Morocco rose to seventh, its highest-ever ranking since 1993, overtaking the Netherlands. Iran entered the top 20 for the first time at 20th. The rankings will also serve as a tiebreaker for group stage standings and determining the best third-placed teams advancing to the Round of 32. The article notes historical context, such as Brazil being ranked first but exiting in the quarter-finals in 2022, and Germany failing to advance from groups in 2018 despite being top-ranked.
Mirror - FootballFrance drops to third in FIFA rankings after defeat to Ivory Coast; Argentina takes top spot
The French national football team has lost its position as the world's best team in the latest FIFA rankings, falling to third place after a 1-2 defeat to Ivory Coast in a World Cup preparation match. Argentina, which has not played since a 5-0 victory over Zambia on April 1, has taken the lead. Spain also moved ahead of France after drawing 1-1 with Iraq, though Spain could have taken first place with a win. The ranking shift is considered potentially positive for France, as no team leading the FIFA rankings before a World Cup has ever gone on to win the tournament since the ranking's creation in 1993. Brazil nearly broke this trend in 2002 but only reclaimed the top spot after the tournament began. France will play Northern Ireland on Monday, while Argentina faces Honduras and Iceland, and Spain plays Peru before the World Cup starts on June 11.
Foot - actualités, mercato, info & vidéo en continuFrance Loses Top Spot in FIFA Rankings After Defeat to Ivory Coast
France's national football team has lost its number one position in the FIFA world rankings following a 2-1 defeat against Ivory Coast. The loss, which occurred just days before the start of the 2026 World Cup, has raised doubts about the team's form. Argentina has overtaken France to claim the top spot, while Spain also moved ahead despite a draw against Iraq. France now sits in third place, ahead of England, Portugal, Brazil, and Morocco. The team will play a final friendly against Northern Ireland before their World Cup opener against Senegal on June 16. The article also notes a historical statistic: no nation ranked first before the World Cup has ever gone on to win the tournament.
Foot Mercato : Info Transferts Football - Actu Foot TransfertFrance Loses First Place in FIFA Rankings After Defeat to Ivory Coast, But Curse May Be a Blessing
France's 1-2 friendly defeat to Ivory Coast on June 4, 2026, dropped the French team from first to third place in the FIFA world rankings. Argentina regained the top spot, followed by Spain. The article highlights a historical 'curse' where no nation ranked first before a World Cup has gone on to win the tournament, citing Brazil's 2022 quarterfinal exit as a recent example. France, now third, won the 2018 World Cup when ranked seventh. The ranking may still change before the 2026 World Cup (June 11-July 19) as more friendlies are scheduled, including France vs. Northern Ireland. Coach Didier Deschamps downplayed the ranking loss, emphasizing the need for a reaction from his players ahead of their opening match against Senegal on June 16.
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