FIFA has published its first men’s world rankings following the 2026 World Cup, providing football supporters with a new official list of the world’s best international teams to disagree with.

Spain have unsurprisingly moved to the top after beating Argentina in the World Cup final, with the runners-up dropping to second.

From there, agreement has proved slightly more difficult.

France remain third despite finishing fourth at the tournament, while England stay fourth despite beating France in the third-place play-off.

Brazil have moved up to fifth after reaching the last 16, where they were eliminated by Norway.

The United States, meanwhile, sit 16th after reaching the same stage on home soil.

The positions prompted the traditional post-ranking debate over how a team which lost earlier can remain above one which progressed further, why recent results have apparently not been given sufficient importance and whether FIFA has correctly identified the world’s fifth-best football team.

FIFA’s rankings are not intended to reproduce the finishing order of the most recent tournament.

Instead, teams gain and lose points through an Elo-based system which takes into account results, the importance of matches, the strength of opponents and the expected outcome.

This has done relatively little to assist the discussion.

Brazil’s position attracted particular attention after their last-16 exit, while England supporters questioned remaining behind a France side they had just beaten.

Argentina’s place directly behind Spain was also assessed against their performances throughout the tournament, rather than solely their run to the final.

The rankings will now remain in place until the next official update in October, providing almost three months for the methodology to be examined carefully.

Alternatively, everyone can continue moving the teams around until the list looks right.