Morocco Finishes Year 11th in Latest FIFA Rankings as AFCON Campaign Begins
Rabat, The Gulf Observer: FIFA has released its latest monthly world rankings, with Morocco ending the year in 11th place, accumulating 1,716.34 points and narrowly missing out on a spot in the top 10.
Despite lifting the Arab Cup in Qatar, the Atlas Lions fell just short of breaking into the elite group, finishing only 0.54 points behind Croatia, which retained 10th position. With the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) getting underway in Rabat, focus has now shifted to Morocco’s performance in the continental tournament and its potential impact on the team’s FIFA ranking.
Morocco concluded 2024 in 14th place before moving up to 12th in the April 2025 rankings. The team maintained that position in July, climbed to 11th in September, briefly slipped back to 12th, and then returned to 11th in November, a ranking they have retained in the latest update.
At the top of the global standings, Spain continues to lead the FIFA rankings, followed by Argentina, France and England. Brazil and Portugal occupy fifth and sixth positions, respectively, while the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany complete the top nine.
Hopes are running high for Morocco to build on its current standing with a strong showing at the ongoing AFCON, which the team is hosting on home soil. The Atlas Lions opened their campaign with a 2-0 victory over Comoros, securing three valuable points.
The opening match, however, proved challenging, as Comoros offered strong resistance. The first half ended scoreless, with Morocco struggling to break through a disciplined defence. The breakthrough came in the second half when Brahim Díaz found the net, lifting the team’s confidence and opening up further attacking opportunities. Ayoub El Kaabi sealed the win with a spectacular bicycle kick.
Morocco is set to face Mali on Friday before concluding the group stage against Zambia on Monday, as the Atlas Lions look to maintain momentum and strengthen their position on both the continental and global stages.
