Morocco have become the first Arab nation to enter the top five of FIFA’s men’s national team rankings, climbing two places from their previous best position of seventh. The two-time World Cup quarterfinalists moved ahead of Brazil and Portugal on points on Sunday after strong performances in recent continental matches. Morocco are also the first African and Arab country to reach back-to-back World Cup quarterfinals, with the continent’s top-ranked side eliminated by France in consecutive tournaments.
Key Takeaways: Morocco became the first Arab country to break into FIFA’s top five; the team has maintained a perfect record in qualifying for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations and leads Group A by nine points; its 2025 AFCON title remains under review at the Court of Arbitration for Sport following Senegal’s appeal.
The Atlas Lions’ 2026 campaign did not improve on or match their semifinal run at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where they exceeded expectations to become the first African and Arab semifinalists and one of the tournament’s standout teams. Even so, their recent consistency and rise in the rankings show that Morocco has established itself among the strongest sides in African football. FIFA rankings reflect not only results but also the strength of opponents and performances in major competitions.
Following the World Cup in North America, Mohamed Ouhabi’s side has maintained a 100 percent record in the current round of qualifying for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations. Morocco defeated Niger 5-0 in their latest qualifier on Friday, with a star-studded lineup shining in front of a raucous home crowd in Rabat. As AFCON’s defending champions, they lead Group A by nine points. However, their AFCON title is contentious and is subject to a hearing at the Court of Arbitration for Sport following an appeal by losing finalists Senegal.
Senegal were stripped of this year’s AFCON title and Morocco were declared champions by the Confederation of African Football, despite Senegal beating the hosts 1-0 after extra time in January’s final in Rabat. Senegal walked off the pitch for 14 minutes after a penalty was awarded against them late in regulation time, with several players returning to the dressing room in protest before they resumed play. Morocco missed the spot kick, sending the match into extra time, where Senegal scored the winner. Two months later, CAF’s Appeal Board ruled that Senegal had forfeited the match by walking off the pitch, overturning the result and awarding a 3-0 victory to Morocco. The controversial 2025 title was the northwestern African side’s second AFCON title since 1976. Morocco is also one of the co-host nations for the FIFA World Cup 2030.
Looking ahead, Morocco must complete AFCON 2027 qualifying and await the CAS ruling. If Senegal’s appeal is rejected, the title will remain with Morocco; if accepted, tournament results could be revisited. At the same time, preparations for co-hosting the 2030 World Cup and continued continental success are strengthening the team’s profile. Entering the top five signals that Morocco is setting high ambitions for future major tournaments.
Source: www.aljazeera.com