Al-Akhdar exited the group stage and ranked 38th

Wednesday, July 22, 2026

Al Jazeera - Sports:

Sports

The International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) published a lengthy report on the ranking of the 48 participating teams in the World Cup. Here we will suffice with publishing the ranking of the Arab teams and the matches they played. The 2026 World Cup, the largest world championship ever, concluded with Spain being crowned champion for the second time in its history, after an impressive campaign in 8 matches in which it conceded only one goal. Meanwhile, Argentina, the champion of the 2022 Qatar edition, lost the final this time by a clean goal, settling for the runner-up position. England achieved its best World Cup performance since winning the title on home soil in 1966, after securing the bronze final match against France with an exciting 6-4 result at Miami Stadium, thanks to a hat-trick by Bukayo Saka.

The report notes that teams eliminated from the same round are ranked according to the following criteria, in order:

* Total points achieved in all matches of the tournament (matches decided by penalty shootouts are considered draws)

* Goal difference in all matches of the tournament.

* Total goals scored in all matches of the tournament.

* If two or more teams remain tied after applying these criteria, they share the same position in the final ranking.

7: Morocco

The Atlas Lions failed to repeat their historic achievement of reaching the semi-finals in Qatar 2022, after clashing again with France, but this time in the quarter-finals. Morocco finished the group stage second in Group C after drawing with Brazil and beating Scotland and Haiti. Then Wahbi's men continued their journey by eliminating the Netherlands and Canada, one of the two host nations, before their journey ended with a 2-0 loss to Didier Deschamps' team in Boston.

Notably, Switzerland ranked same as Morocco (7th), as Switzerland exited the tournament against Argentina in the quarter-finals after conceding two late goals. The Swiss team had topped Group B after beating Bosnia and Herzegovina and Canada, and drawing with Qatar. They then advanced by defeating Algeria and then Colombia on penalties. Reaching the quarter-finals is Switzerland's best achievement since 1954.

15: Egypt

Egypt's World Cup run changed the world's view of the Pharaohs, as they overcame the disappointment of exiting the group stage in the 2018 edition and reached the round of 16. In this edition, Egypt achieved its first ever win in the tournament's history, before also recording its first win in the knockout stages. The Pharaohs almost pulled off one of the biggest World Cup surprises when they took the lead against Argentina in Atlanta, but Mohamed Salah and his teammates could not hold on, as the world champions rallied and secured the match with another dramatic comeback in the final minutes.

30: Algeria

Algeria faced defending champions Argentina in its first match, which threw it off balance, losing 0-3. But it soon dispelled doubts with a 2-1 win over Jordan, then a thrilling 3-3 draw with Austria. However, it then lost the challenge in the round of 32 to Switzerland 2-0.

38: Saudi Arabia

The Asian representative started its tournament campaign with a promising 1-1 draw against Uruguay in Miami, having been ahead. But a loss to Spain was followed by a goalless draw with Cape Verde, leaving it in fourth place in Group H.

41: Qatar

The Asian champion salvaged a draw with Switzerland in its opening match in Group B, but finished the tournament in fourth place after subsequent defeats to both host Canada and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

44: Jordan

Jordan was drawn in a tough Group J alongside Argentina, Algeria, and Austria, and suffered three defeats in its first World Cup appearance. Nevertheless, 'Al-Nashama' managed to find the net in all three matches, leaving their attacking mark on their historic first appearance on the world stage.

International Sports Competitions

47: Tunisia

The Eagles of Carthage had their worst World Cup participation, suffering a heavy 5-1 defeat to Sweden in the group stage opener. Despite changing the coach and appointing Hervé Renard instead of Sabri Lamouchi, results did not improve, with a 0-4 loss to Japan followed by a 1-3 loss to the Netherlands.

48: Iraq

Iraq ended a 40-year absence from the World Cup, but its return was short-lived as the Lions of Mesopotamia were eliminated in the group stage after three consecutive heavy defeats to Norway, France, and Senegal.