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The Mexican national soccer team recovered its dignity by rising to 10th place in the FIFA rankings following the conclusion of the 2026 World Cup, putting the bitter taste of the previous tournament in Qatar 2022 behind them. You can see the rankings here: (https://inside.fifa.com/es/fifa-world-ranking/men)
The national team’s return to the world’s top 10 comes after it last held the 10th position in early 2022. Spain takes the top spot, pushing the Argentine national team down to second place in the world following its victory in the recent World Cup. The Netherlands sits in ninth place, while Colombia ranks 11th behind the Mexican national team, sending traditional soccer powerhouse Germany down to 12th.
Mexico ranked 19th in 2024, reflecting a major leap forward driven by its strong World Cup performance. Although the team fell 2–3 to England, it managed to defeat Ecuador’s golden generation, a squad dominated by European club talent.
Mexico endured a disappointing campaign at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, finishing third in its group behind Argentina and Poland. That early exit eliminated the team from the knockout stage and exposed a squad that offered little reason to hope.
Former player Rafael Márquez Álvarez now leads the national team. Márquez began his career with Atlas in Guadalajara before playing for Monaco and joining Barcelona’s star generation in the Spanish League. “Rafa” assumes responsibility for managing Mexico over a four-year cycle leading up to the 2030 World Cup, which Spain, Morocco, and Portugal will co-host.
Translated and edited by Bruce Bernhart
