Sport: Soccer Country: England Category: Scores & Results

World Cup 2026 features historic FIFA ranking mismatches

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jun 19, 2026, 11:44 PM

Last updated Jun 19, 2026

World Cup 2026 features historic FIFA ranking mismatches

Summary

The 2026 World Cup, which expanded to 48 teams, has resulted in five of the ten largest FIFA ranking mismatches in tournament history. The most significant mismatch occurs on June 20 between No. 6 Brazil and No. 83 Haiti, marking a 77-place gap. Other notable matches include No. 7 Morocco against Haiti on June 24, and No. 9 Belgium facing No. 85 New Zealand on June 26. These discrepancies reflect the increased number of entries as a result of the tournament expansion.

Source Links

Yahoo Sports

By the Numbers

•Five of the top ten FIFA ranking mismatches are in 2026.
•Brazil faces Haiti on June 20, creating a 77-place ranking gap.
•Morocco battles Haiti on June 24 with a 76-place gap.
•Belgium meets New Zealand on June 26, also with a 76-place gap.
•Germany defeated Curacao with a 72-place gap on June 14.

Latest Updates

11:44 PMYahoo Sports — World Cup mismatches usually aren't that common. They are in 2026.

What they're saying

"
The expanded 2026 World Cup has produced five of the 10 biggest FIFA ranking mismatches in tournament history, and this chart shows where they rank.
— Yahoo Sports

Related Teams & Leagues

Soccer