The Atlas Lions saw their position in the live FIFA World Ranking change following Sunday's 1–1 draw with Mali at the Grand Stade de Tanger.
Morocco had climbed to fifth place earlier in the international window after consecutive victories over Gabon and Lesotho in the AFCON 2027 qualifiers, while Brazil’s defeat to Australia also contributed to their rise.
The latest provisional calculations put Morocco on 1,805.34 points, with Portugal moving ahead after their 2–1 victory over Norway in the UEFA Nations League. Brazil also remained very close to Morocco in the standings.
The Mali Draw Changes the Picture
Morocco took the lead against Mali in the 35th minute, when Abdessamad Ezzalzouli converted a penalty to put the hosts ahead.
The visitors responded after the break, with Gaoussou Diarra finding the equaliser in the 77th minute to secure a 1–1 draw.
The result brought Morocco’s international window to an end with two wins and one draw.
A Strong Qualifying Start
Despite the friendly draw, Morocco's competitive campaign remains perfect.
Mohamed Ouahbi’s side opened their AFCON 2027 qualifying campaign with a 2–0 victory over Gabon in Rabat before producing the same result against Lesotho in Bloemfontein.
Those six points leave the Atlas Lions in a strong position at the beginning of their qualifying journey.
Portugal and Brazil Also Affect the Standings
The movement around Morocco is not solely connected to the draw in Tangier.
Portugal defeated Norway 2–1, gaining ground in the live ranking, while Brazil's position also changed following the latest international results.
With only a few points separating several teams around the top positions, results from other matches can have a significant impact on the provisional order.
The Ranking Remains Provisional
The current figures should not be confused with the official FIFA ranking.
FIFA states that its ranking remains unofficial until all matches have been approved as international A matches. The last official ranking was published on July 20, with the next official update scheduled for October 7, 2026.
That official release will determine Morocco’s confirmed position after the October international window.
For now, the Atlas Lions remain among the world's highest-ranked national teams and will turn their attention back to the AFCON 2027 qualifying campaign when competitive action resumes.