Since the FIFA world rankings were introduced in December 1992, only eight nations have ever held the top position. It’s an exclusive list, dominated by the sport’s most powerful footballing nations, and with the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico fast approaching, the order is already shifting.
In the most recently updated rankings, France overtook Spain to reach the top of the FIFA world rankings for the first time since September 2018, moving two places after impressive March friendly wins over Brazil and Colombia.
With the tournament now weeks away, the rankings are far from settled, and punters tracking the latest shifts can find updated odds on BETDAQ ahead of what could potentially see a new nation take the top spot. Here’s a look at every side that has held the position since the rankings began.
Netherlands
The Netherlands reached No. 1 just once, in August 2011, having built up enough points through their run to the 2010 World Cup final in South Africa, where they lost to Spain. That accumulated credit, combined with Spain losing a friendly to Italy shortly after, was enough to nudge the Netherlands above them in that month’s updated rankings. The spell lasted only 28 days before Spain reclaimed the position, making it the shortest stay at the top in ranking history.
Italy
Italy reached No. 1 on two separate occasions, briefly in 1993 and then again in February 2007 following their 2006 World Cup triumph in Germany. On both occasions, the spell was short-lived, and across their two stints combined, they accumulated 188 days at the summit.
France
France first climbed to No. 1 in late 2001, driven by the generation that won the 1998 World Cup on home soil and Euro 2000 two years later. Zinedine Zidane, Patrick Vieira and Thierry Henry formed the core of a side widely regarded as the best in the world at that point. France returned to the top in August 2018 after winning the World Cup in Russia, and their latest move to No. 1 in April 2026 is their third spell at the summit. Their total currently stands at 483 days.
Germany
Germany were the first nation to hold the top spot when the rankings launched in 1992, reflecting their dominance across the previous decade, which included three consecutive World Cup final appearances and a tournament win in 1990. They returned to No. 1 on two further occasions, most recently in 2017 after winning the Confederations Cup, and have spent 1,148 days at the top across their three separate stints.
Belgium
Belgium first reached No. 1 in November 2015 despite not having played in a major tournament for over a decade, which drew widespread criticism of the ranking system’s methodology at the time. They went on to hold the position for long stretches between 2018 and 2021, finishing as the year-end No. 1 on five occasions, and their total of 1,442 days places them fourth on the all-time list.
Argentina
Argentina have reached No. 1 on four separate occasions and have spent 1,666 days at the summit in total. Their most recent stint ran from April 2023 until September 2025, following Lionel Scaloni’s side winning the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. They arrive at the 2026 tournament as one of the leading contenders to defend their title, and another victory would put them firmly back in contention for the top position.
Spain
Spain first claimed No. 1 in July 2008 after winning UEFA Euro 2008, the opening chapter of a period that also produced the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012. They hold 2,154 days at the top, the second highest total of all time, and most recently led the rankings from September 2025 until April 2026. Should they go deep in this summer’s tournament, another extended spell at the summit is well within reach.
Brazil
No nation comes close to Brazil’s 5,070 days at No. 1, more than double the total of any other side. Their longest consecutive run came after the 1994 World Cup and stretched all the way until early 2001, nearly seven unbroken years at the top. They returned following the 2002 tournament and held the position until 2007. Despite sitting sixth in the current rankings, Brazil remain one of the most anticipated sides heading into the 2026 tournament, and a first World Cup triumph since 2002 would put them straight back in the conversation.
Written by Dave Thompson
