Ghana’s national football team, the Black Stars, have advanced two places in the latest FIFA World Ranking, continuing their positive trajectory under coach Otto Addo. The team now sits 73rd in the global standings.

This rise follows a successful October 2025 international window, where the team secured two crucial victories in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. Ghana recorded a commanding 5-0 win over Madagascar in Morocco before securing a 1-0 victory against Comoros at the Accra Sports Stadium. These results confirmed the Black Stars’ position at the top of Group I.

Despite this improvement on the world stage, the team’s standing within Africa remains unchanged; Ghana hold 14th place in the continental ranking.

Head coach Otto Addo expressed optimism about the team's continued progress as they look ahead to upcoming friendly matches. The Black Stars are scheduled to face Japan and South Korea next month, fixtures that present an opportunity to further enhance their ranking and build momentum.

The team’s upward movement in the global standings reflects their recent resurgence in form as their preparations for next year’s World Cup continue.

Global picture

Spain (1st) have strengthened their grip on top spot thanks to back-to-back victories, shoring up the position they seized in the previous instalment when they ended Argentina’s reign that stretched back to April 2023. World champions Argentina (2nd, up 1), are hot on their heels, however. The Albiceleste have leapfrogged France (3rd, down 1) after Les Bleus were held to a costly 2-2 draw away to Iceland in the UEFA qualifying tournament.

Germany (10th, up 2) have reclaimed their place in the top 10 after a brief absence. Their resurgence comes at the expense of Croatia (11th, down 2), who dropped two points in a qualifier for next year's global showpiece in Canada, Mexico and the United States. Elsewhere near the top of the ranking, the Netherlands (6th, up 1) edged ahead of Brazil (7th, down 1), capitalising on the Seleção’s stumble in a friendly against Japan.

Amongst the rest of the top 50, Hungary (37th, up 4), Scotland (38th, up 5), Nigeria (41st, up 4) and Romania (47th, up 4) have all reaped the rewards of recent purple patches.

Yet the biggest gains come further down the standings. Niger (108th), Lesotho (144th) and the Faroe Islands (127th) have all climbed nine places. The latter’s impressive FIFA World Cup 26 qualifying run, including a shock victory over Czechia (44th, down 5), has earned them a significant points haul.

Also making headway in this latest update are Kosovo (84th, up 7), who have reached a historic high, as well as Syria (86th) and Liberia (138th), who have both climbed six places. At the other end, Greece (48th) and Sweden (40th) have both fallen eight places after losing their most recent qualifying matches.