Tonight’s international friendly matches are widely considered final preparations for the upcoming World Cup in June. However, for France, who have already secured victories in their two friendlies this month (2-1 against Brazil, 3-1 against Colombia), the outcome of the Spain-Egypt fixture holds particular significance. A less-than-dominant performance by the Spanish side could result in France overtaking them in the FIFA world rankings.
Should Spain fail to clinch a win against Egypt this evening, they stand to lose enough points to drop to the second position in the FIFA standings. This scenario would propel France back to the coveted number one spot, an achievement they haven’t held since 2018. Specifically, a draw would cost Spain 2.73 points, while a defeat would result in a loss of 7.73 points, potentially relegating them to second or even third place, behind Argentina.
FIFA Rankings as of March 31, 2026 (pre-matches):
- Spain: 1879.12 points
- France: 1877.32 points
- Argentina: 1873.96 points
- England: 1832.62 points
- Portugal: 1759.61 points
Consequently, if Spain does not emerge victorious tonight, France would lead the FIFA rankings heading into the World Cup. While a ranking shift from a friendly might seem minor, it provides a crucial boost in confidence leading into the major competition, especially as France would be asserting a superior position over a strong contender and the reigning European champion. Do you believe France will reach the final for the third consecutive World Cup?