Morocco overtake Brazil to reach fifth in FIFA rankings, making African history

Morocco have climbed above Brazil into fifth position in the latest FIFA rankings, establishing a new record for an African or Arab national team.

The Atlas Lions benefited from Brazil’s 1-1 draw with Australia, which saw Morocco provisionally rise to fifth before their opening 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against Gabon in Rabat on Friday.

The ranking represents the highest position ever attained by a national team from Africa or the Arab world. Morocco must avoid defeat against the Panthers and wait for the international break to conclude before the position becomes official.

Following the Gabon encounter, Mohamed Ouahbi’s side will take on Lesotho in Bloemfontein, South Africa, on 29 September in their second AFCON 2027 qualifying fixture.

Morocco are then scheduled to face Ghana in a friendly in Tangier on 4 October, while Brazil will meet Australia again next Tuesday.

Morocco’s steady rise

Morocco’s latest move up the FIFA rankings continues their sustained progress on the global stage in recent months.

A combination of their own results and setbacks suffered by competing nations initially lifted them into the top 10 before they reached a previous best of sixth.

That sixth-place position followed Morocco’s 2026 World Cup campaign, where they finished among the top eight for the second consecutive edition.

The national team’s development has been linked to the mentality established by the country’s football authorities, significant investment in infrastructure and youth development, as well as an extensive scouting network.

The recruitment strategy has also brought a number of talented dual nationals into the squad, strengthening Morocco’s ability to compete against established football nations such as the Netherlands and France.

Morocco’s move into fifth therefore represents another milestone in their continued rise, although their position remains subject to the outcome against Gabon and other results during the current international window.