Ghana climb eight places in FIFA rankings after World Cup run

Ghana have moved up eight places to 65th in the latest FIFA World Rankings after an impressive campaign at the 2026 World Cup.

The Black Stars’ rise is the second-largest improvement among the teams in the latest rankings, with Norway making the biggest leap after climbing 12 places.

Ghana’s improved position follows their progress at the World Cup, where they reached the Round of 32 after negotiating a difficult group containing England, Croatia and Panama.

The Black Stars also moved up to 14th in the African rankings, strengthening their standing on the continent as they prepare for the next stage of their international programme, including the upcoming qualifiers for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.

The latest rankings provide further recognition of Ghana’s performances at the World Cup and represent the country’s biggest rise in the FIFA rankings in recent years.

Under head coach Carlos Queiroz, Ghana began their tournament campaign with a victory over Panama before holding England to a draw. They also faced Croatia in the group stage and ultimately progressed to the knockout phase as one of the best third-placed teams.

Their run ended in the Round of 32 with a narrow defeat by Colombia, but their performances across the tournament were enough to deliver a substantial improvement in their position in the global rankings.

The eight-place rise means Ghana now sit 65th in the world, marking a notable improvement from their previous position and giving the national side added momentum as they turn their attention to their next international commitments.

The Black Stars’ progress in the rankings comes after they successfully negotiated one of the more challenging groups at the tournament. Their victory against Panama provided an important result, while the draw with England demonstrated their ability to compete against strong opposition.

Although their World Cup journey ended at the first knockout stage, reaching the Round of 32 represented a significant achievement and has now been reflected in their improved FIFA ranking.

Ghana’s advancement to 14th in Africa is also an important boost for the national team. With the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers approaching, the Black Stars will enter the next phase of their campaign from a stronger position on the continent.

The rankings update also offers encouragement to Queiroz and his players following their efforts in the United States, Canada and Mexico. The team was able to advance from their group despite facing England and Croatia, two sides regarded as difficult opponents, while also securing the required results to reach the knockout stage.

Their eventual elimination by Colombia brought their World Cup campaign to an end, but the impact of their performances has continued through the latest FIFA rankings.

Ghana’s eight-place jump is their most significant improvement in the rankings in recent years and represents a positive outcome from their World Cup campaign.

The Black Stars will now look to build on that progress as they prepare for their forthcoming international assignments. Their rise to 65th in the world and 14th in Africa provides a measure of the progress made during the tournament and gives the team renewed encouragement heading into the next phase of the national team’s programme.

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Andrews Sefa Bamfo
Andrews Sefa Bamfo is a promising young football writer and reporter, recognised as one of the rising talents in African football journalism. He specialises in match reporting, features and on-ground coverage, bringing fresh perspective and energy to the industry.He is educated at the University of Ghana and has gained valuable experience working with one of Ghana’s leading media organisations, TV3, where he developed his skills in both television reporting and football journalism.Andrews’ talent and potential were further recognised when he was selected for the prestigious CAF Young Reporters Programme, where he received advanced media training in partnership with CANAL+. This exposure has helped shape his understanding of modern sports journalism and storytelling.Since then, he has continued to grow in the field and is widely regarded as one of the emerging voices in African football media. He is currently a Staff Writer at African.Football, contributing to the platform’s coverage with insightful reports and engaging content for a global audience.

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