The Republic of Ireland remain 59th in the FIFA world rankings after the latest places were revealed late on Monday night. Meanwhile Morocco have achieved their highest FIFA men's world ranking, rising to eighth, despite losing the AFCON final to Senegal, who climbed to 12th. The 2022 World Cup semi-finalists' previous best was 10th in April 1998. Egypt, who reached the semi-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations, climbed four places to 31st, three spots behind Algeria. European champions Spain kept top spot, ahead of World Cup holders Argentina.

Source: Irish Examiner January 20, 2026 20:27 UTC