How are the Fifa world rankings decided?

[BBC] The Fifa Men's world rankings are used to decide the ranking order of the best national teams in world football. First introduced in 1992, the system is used to depict how strong a team is, and the position of those rankings can be used in tournaments to determine seeding positions in World Cups and more. Only eight nations have ever led the world rankings. France are currently top, while Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain have also spent time at the top of the table. A points system is used to determine the rankings of nations and since 2018, has adopted the ‘Elo’ rating system that is used in chess. BBC Sport have looked at how the rankings work and where every nation competing at the 2026 World Cup is currently ranked. How do the Fifa world rankings work? England are ranked fourth place ahead of the start of the 2026 Fifa World Cup [Getty Images] Since the introduction of the Elo system, the Fifa ranking points of each nation are adapter after every single match they play. In short, the more important a match is and the more difficult an opponent is, the more ranking points are on offer for that match. Fifa uses the following equation to work out how many ranking points are on offer for each specific match. P = Pbefore + I(W – We) P – nation's ranking points after that match Pbefore – nation's ranking points prior to that match I – Importance coefficient of that match, ranked between 5 and 60 W – The result of a match, with 0 for a draw, 1 for a win, 0.5 for a draw or penalty shootout defeat and 0.75 for a penalty shootout victory We – Expected result of a game based on the equation (1/10exp(-(difference in teams ratings before match)/600) +1))) Where are the 2026 World Cup nations in Fifa's World Rankings? Of the 48 nations competing at the 2026 World Cup, 40 of them are ranked in the top 48 of the men's Fifa World Rankings. That includes all of the top 11 and 18 of the top 20, with only Italy (12th) and Denmark (20th) failing to qualify. New Zealand (85th) are the lowest-ranked nation competing, while debutants Curacao (82nd) and Haiti (83rd) also sit outside the world's top 80. Co-hosts Mexico (15th), United States (16th) and Canada (30th) are all ranked inside the world's top 30. The full ranking of qualified teams is as follows: 1. France 2. Spain 3. Argentina 4. England 5. Portugal 6. Brazil 7. Netherlands 8. Morocco 9. Belgium 10. Germany 11. Croatia 13. Colombia 14. Senegal 15. Mexico 16. United States of America 17. Uruguay 18. Japan 19. Switzerland 21. Iran 22. Turkey 23. Ecuador 24. Austria 25. South Korea 27. Australia 28. Algeria 29. Egypt 30. Canada 31. Norway 33. Panama 34. Ivory Coast 38. Sweden 40. Paraguay 41. Czech Republic 43. Scotland 44. Tunisia 46. DR Congo 50. Uzbekistan 55. Qatar 57. Iraq 60. South Africa 61. Saudi Arabia 63. Jordan 65. Bosnia and Herzegovina 69. Cape Verde 74. Ghana 82. Curacao 83. Haiti 85. New Zealand This article is the latest from BBC Sport's Ask Me Anything team. More questions answered... All you need to know about 2027 Women's World Cup Which clubs have the most players at the 2026 World Cup? Why is Fifa giving clubs $355m during the World Cup? Who are the World Cup's record holders?