Which National Teams Are Climbing Fastest in the FIFA 2025 Rankings? | OneFootball

The football landscape is changing fast in 2025, and the FIFA rankings are one way to show this, as they measure the best-performing national teams in a global game where such assessments can be otherwise difficult to make.

Traditionally, Argentina, Brazil, and France hold the leading positions, but the global scene might be about to change. Several less famous teams have shown bright progress and experienced strategic evolution, so let’s learn more about the rising stars.

Angola: The Massive Breakout

Reaching 85th on the FIFA Rankings is a historical event for Angola. The country’s national team climbed 32 positions after its strong performance in the Confederation of African Football and the World Cup Qualifiers. Angola used to be an underdog in on betting sites like NonGamStopBookmakers, and hardly anyone predicted its dramatic evolution. Angola’s success is driven by strategy and collaboration with Portuguese clubs, sharing their skills with emerging players. The football association in the state focused on hiring foreign players (especially European ones) who can transfer valuable experiences and bring a fresh breath to the squad.

Liberia: Football Upgrade

Another unexpected twist to FIFA Rankings came from Liberia, which climbed 10 spots and appeared in 142nd place in the rating. The national team still cannot claim a leading position, but its recent successes cannot go unnoticed.

The squad secured its achievements with victories in recent games, including in World Cup qualifying, which made it competitive on the continent. Liberia is strongly supported by the FIFA Forward Programme, which concentrates on educating younger athletes. If Liberia continues investing in the sports sector, it has the chance to appear in the top 100 in the upcoming years.

Indonesia: The Driving Force in Southeast Asia

Strong team performance in the AFC World Cup Qualifiers and a triumph in a match against Vietnam attracted football fans’ attention. Indonesia moved to the 134th position on the ranking and climbed eight places, which is a pretty good start.

Indonesia hosted the FIFA U-17 World Cup in 2023, and this event generated significant investments in infrastructure. The national team actively uses it for future development, which is complemented by hiring high-class coaches, such as Patrick Kluivert, and focusing on engaging young talents.

The Comoros Islands: The Story of Underdog Success

The country has never been as high in the FIFA Rankings as it was in 2025 when it climbed to the 108th position. Victories over favourites and obviously stronger contenders, such as Ghana and Tunisia, improved the national team’s reputation on the continent and laid a foundation for further evolution.

The country invests in searching for talented footballers, and the best members of the Comoros’ team eventually join leading European clubs.

Ghana: The Star Shining Again

After several years of poor performance and a lack of football financing, Ghana is looking to restore its dominance in Africa. Its national team appeared in the 74th position of the FIFA Rankings, and focusing on educating the existing members helped the state achieve this goal. Top players from Ghana play in top-tier European teams as they have done in the past.

Why Are the Teams Rising?

The countries listed above haven’t historically boasted strong football national teams. Many say that luck and random circumstances allowed them to win more matches, but this is far from the case. Instead, many countries focus on improving their sports infrastructure, which mainly concerns developing states.

Indonesia and the Comoros Islands became more successful due to the increased investments in the sector and focus on youth engagement. Angola has chosen another way and partnered with Portugal for an exchange of experience, and this approach helped it gain more success.