The latest FIFA Men’s World Rankings for September 2025 have been announced, bringing major changes at the top of the table. Spain are back as the No. 1 team in the world, while defending World Cup champions Argentina have slipped down to third place. France moved up to second, making it one of the closest battles for the top in recent years.
India’s Position
India find themselves at 134th place, slipping one spot from the previous update. The national team did well in the CAFA Nations Cup, finishing third, but that was not enough to lift their world ranking. Head coach Khalid Jamil will be looking for better results in the upcoming fixtures to push India closer to the top 100 in the world.
Spain Back on Top
Spain’s rise to the top comes after a strong start in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, where they recorded important wins against Bulgaria and Turkey. These results boosted their points tally to 1875.37, pushing them just ahead of France and Argentina. This is Spain’s first return to the top of the FIFA Rankings in over a decade, highlighting their rise back to the top level.
Argentina Slip Behind
Argentina, who had dominated the rankings for more than two years, were dragged down to 3rd place after a shock loss to Ecuador in the qualifiers. Even with top players like Lionel Messi and Lautaro Martínez, Argentina’s drop shows how tough international football is. They are now just a little behind France and Spain.
France Climb to Second
France are now ranked 2nd with 1870.92 points, only slightly behind Spain. The French team’s consistency in European qualifiers and their attacking strength under Didier Deschamps have helped them close in on the top spot.
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Top 20 FIFA Rankings (September 2025)
| Rank | Country | Points |
| 1 | Spain | 1875.37 |
| 2 | France | 1870.92 |
| 3 | Argentina | 1870.32 |
| 4 | England | 1820.44 |
| 5 | Portugal | 1779.55 |
| 6 | Brazil | 1779.55 |
| 7 | Netherlands | 1754.17 |
| 8 | Belgium | 1739.54 |
| 9 | Croatia | 1714.20 |
| 10 | Italy | 1710.06 |
| 11 | Morocco | 1706.27 |
| 12 | Germany | 1704.27 |
| 13 | Colombia | 1692.10 |
| 14 | Mexico | 1688.38 |
| 15 | Uruguay | 1673.65 |
| 16 | United States | 1670.04 |
| 17 | Switzerland | 1648.30 |
| 18 | Senegal | 1645.23 |
| 19 | Japan | 1640.47 |
| 20 | Denmark | 1627.64 |
Continental Leaders
- Europe (UEFA): Spain – Rank 1
- South America (CONMEBOL): Argentina – Rank 3
- Asia (AFC): Japan – Rank 19
- Africa (CAF): Morocco – Rank 11
- North & Central America (CONCACAF): Mexico – Rank 14
- Oceania (OFC): New Zealand – Rank 83
Germany Fall Out of Top 10
One of the biggest shocks of this update is Germany dropping to 12th place, moving out of the top 10 for the first time in years. Poor results in the World Cup qualifiers have hurt their standing, raising concerns ahead of the 2026 tournament.
Conclusion
The September 2025 FIFA Rankings highlight how tight the competition has become at the very top. Spain, France, and Argentina are separated by only a few points, and any result in upcoming qualifiers could change the order again. For India, small steps forward will be crucial as they aim to break into the top 100. With World Cup qualification matches continuing, fans can expect more twists in the months ahead.
Written by Kinjal Walantra
