The Albiceleste returned to the top of the FIFA ranking after results from Spain and France in their pre-World Cup friendlies.
The Argentina national team regained the top position in the FIFA ranking one week before the start of the 2026 World Cup. This followed France's defeat and Spain's draw in preparation matches. The Albiceleste had lost the lead in September of the previous year. According to the AFA, “the Argentina national team, last world champion, regained the first position in the ranking elaborated by FIFA”. The team led by Lionel Scaloni reaches the top of the list before its debut against Algeria in the World Cup.
