Ghana currently ranks 65th, climbing eight (8) places after their appearance at the 2026 World Cup.

This is according to the latest FIFA rankings; the Black Stars' current position marks one of the highest rankings in recent years, moving from 73rd to 65th position.

The Black Stars currently occupy 14th place following their 1-0 defeat to Colombia in the Round of 32. Ghana’s climb is the second highest after Norway, who went 12 places up from ranking 31st globally in the June 31st rankings after their stunning quarter-final run.

World champions Spain have reclaimed the top spot, overtaking Argentina after their 1-0 extra-time victory in the World Cup final at the New York New Jersey Stadium. France and England remain third and fourth respectively, while Brazil and Morocco both climbed one place to fifth and sixth.

Morocco, who reached the quarter-finals, remain Africa's highest-ranked team at a record sixth position, followed by Senegal (18th), Egypt (24th), Nigeria (26th), and Algeria (29th).

At the other end of the table, Tunisia suffered the steepest decline among all teams, dropping 12 places to 57th after failing to progress beyond the group stage.

The maiden 48-nation World Cup featured a record-breaking 104 matches, with four countries, Cape Verde, Curaçao, Jordan and Uzbekistan participating in the tournament for the first time.

Following an impressive campaign, Mexico moved up four spots to 10th in the latest rankings, marking their return to the top ten for the first time since March 2022.

Meanwhile, UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin stirred discontent among a group of 13 World Cup teams following his comments regarding the expansion of the global football tournament from 32 teams in 2022 to 48 teams this year.

As quoted in a Slovenian newspaper Delo, he questioned the quality of the tournament. Saying “We have a lot of matches that are completely uninteresting” however adding that in a separate interview that “On the other hand even small countries can participate and feel the pulse of the World Cup, which is a big thing.”

Responding to his remarks, 13 football associations including World Cup debutants Cape Verde, Curacao and Uzbekistan, said they “respectfully but firmly reject” Ceferin’s comments”

“For our countries, there is no such thing as an unimportant World Cup match, “To suggest that these matches are somehow less important is deeply disappointing and fails to recognise the efforts, sacrifices and aspirations of players, coaches, clubs, football leaders and supporters across the world.”

According to them, the joint statement by the 13 teams said all nations participating at the World Cup “deserve respect.”

“Every team has earned its place on merit. Every supporter has the right to dream. Every match carries meaning for millions of people around the world,” the statement said.

“We therefore reject the UEFA President’s comments,” it added.

Other signatories to the statement included the football federations of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Haiti, Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, Egypt, Ghana, Senegal, Ivory Coast and South Africa.

When contacted by AFP for comment, a UEFA spokesperson did not explicitly issue a denial of Ceferin’s comments but referred reporters to an interview the European football chief gave last week, where he made no mention of the expansion of the World Cup.