Argentina Return to World No.1 in FIFA Rankings Hours Before World Cup

Argentina will begin their defence of the World Cup title as the best team on the planet once again. Lionel Scaloni's side have returned to No.1 in the world rankings, just hours before the tournament kicks off in North America. Lionel Messi's men replaced France at the top, having beaten Iceland and Honduras in their warm-up friendlies.

France Slip to Third

France, one of the favourites to win what would be a third World Cup, have fallen two places to third in the latest FIFA rankings. Spain, who drew with Iran before beating Peru, have remained in second place. England are fourth, one spot above Portugal.

Morocco and Iran Rise

Further down the top ten, Morocco continue their rise and have reached seventh, their highest-ever position since the Men's World Ranking was introduced in 1993. In doing so, they overtake the Netherlands, whilst elsewhere in the top 20, Iran have risen to 20th for the first time.

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The world ranking will also serve as the tiebreaker, according to the FIFA competition regulations, to confirm the ranking within the group of two or more teams at the end of the group stage - and to determine which eight teams are the best third-placed teams to advance to the Round of 32, if multiple third-ranked teams are still tied after applying the criteria in steps 1 and 2.

Rankings and World Cup History

Going into the last World Cup Brazil were ranked as the best side in the world, but ultimately fell short as they went out in the quarter-finals at the hands of Croatia. Argentina were second in the rankings when they claimed glory. Four years prior to that for the World Cup in 2018 Germany, then defending champions, were ranked No 1, but failed to even make it out of the groups. Winners France were seventh in the rankings with runners-up Croatia sitting down in 20th.

If rankings are anything to go by then Group D, which includes Turkey, Australia, Paraguay and the host America, is the toughest as it is the only group with no side outside the top 50.