During the break, Argentina secured two strong victories: a 1-0 win over Venezuela and a 6-0 triumph against Puerto Rico. Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal managed a 1-0 win over Ireland but drew 2-2 with Hungary, keeping their ranking the same.
Despite Argentina’s success in friendlies, their earlier loss to Ecuador in World Cup qualifying meant they could not surpass Spain, which stays at the top of the FIFA ranking.
In UEFA qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, France drew 2-2 with Iceland, gaining a few points but losing second place to Argentina.
Portugal’s draw against Hungary hindered their progress, leaving them in fifth place, the same as before. England, sitting at fourth, maintained their position after two October wins.
Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal celebrates a goal against Hungary. (Getty Images)
Though Portugal didn’t advance in the rankings, it was a notable window for Cristiano Ronaldo, who scored two goals against Hungary. He reached 41 goals in Qualifiers, breaking Carlos Ruiz’s record to become the top scorer in World Cup qualifying history.
Updated FIFA top 10
The latest FIFA ranking update shows the projected top seeds for the 2026 World Cup group draw include: Mexico, United States, and Canada (host nations), along with Spain, Argentina, France, England, Portugal, Brazil, Netherlands, Belgium, and Italy.
The updated FIFA rankings are as follows:
- 1- Spain
- 2- Argentina
- 3- France
- 4- England
- 5- Portugal
- 6- Netherlands
- 7- Brazil
- 8- Belgium
- 9- Italy
- 10- Germany