Kenya FIFA Ranking: Harambee Stars Drop to 114th, Lowest Since 2018

Kenya have dropped to 114th in the FIFA Men's World Ranking, their lowest position in more than eight years. The latest list, released in October 2026, shows Harambee Stars losing five places after a winless run in their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.

Kenya now hold 1,168.67 ranking points. The last time they sat this low was July 2018, when they were 115th. Earlier this year, the team had climbed to 109th, so the new ranking wipes out the progress made in mid-2026.

Why Kenya dropped in the FIFA ranking

Two AFCON 2027 qualifiers caused the fall. On 26 September, Kenya drew 1-1 with Eritrea at Nyayo National Stadium, needing a late equaliser from Ryan Ogam to avoid defeat. Because Eritrea are ranked 184th, the draw cost Kenya 6.46 points and pushed them down to 113th.

Five days later, Kenya lost 1-0 to Guinea in Conakry. Guinea are ranked 82nd, so the defeat was less costly in points, but it was enough to send Harambee Stars down one more place to 114th. Across the two matches, Kenya lost 9.94 points in total.

Kenya also played Rwanda to a goalless draw on 5 October. That match was a friendly that FIFA did not count as an official international fixture, so it had no effect on the ranking.

Kenya's FIFA ranking in 2025 and 2026

Kenya's ranking has moved up and down over the past year. In November 2025, the team slipped from 109th to 113th. In June 2026, back-to-back fixtures against Lesotho, a 1-1 draw followed by a 4-0 win in Pretoria, lifted Kenya from 111th to 109th with roughly 1,185 points.

The September and October 2026 results have now reversed that climb. For coach Benni McCarthy, who has been rebuilding the squad, the drop adds pressure ahead of the remaining AFCON qualifiers, especially with Kenya co-hosting the tournament next year.

How Kenya compare with East Africa and the rest of Africa

Uganda remain the highest-ranked team in East Africa at 87th after a 1-1 draw away to Tunisia and a 1-0 home win over Libya. Tanzania are just behind Kenya in 115th after losing to Guinea-Bissau and drawing with Madagascar.

Across the continent, Morocco are the top African side in seventh place worldwide. Senegal (18th) and Egypt (25th) follow, while Mali and South Africa were among the biggest movers in Africa, each climbing six places.

How the FIFA ranking works

Every official international match changes a team's points. FIFA's formula looks at three things: the result, the importance of the match and the strength of the opponent. A win in a World Cup or AFCON qualifier is worth more than a friendly win, and beating a highly ranked team earns more than beating a lower-ranked one.

The system also punishes poor results against weaker teams. That is why the home draw with Eritrea hurt Kenya far more than the narrow away defeat to Guinea. To climb back above 109th, Harambee Stars need wins in competitive matches, not just friendlies.

Why the ranking matters for Harambee Stars

FIFA rankings are used to seed teams in some qualifying and tournament draws. A lower ranking can place Kenya in a tougher pot, which means stronger opponents in future competitions. Rankings also affect how the team is viewed by sponsors, players and fans.

Still, one list is only a snapshot. The best way to judge progress is to watch the trend across several updates. If Kenya can turn draws into wins in the coming qualifiers, the points lost in this window can be recovered quickly.

Frequently asked questions

What is Kenya's current FIFA ranking?

As of the October 2026 update, Kenya are 114th in the FIFA Men's World Ranking with 1,168.67 points.

What was Kenya's best FIFA ranking?

Kenya's best FIFA ranking is 68th, reached in December 2008. Their lowest was 137th in July 2007.

Which East African team is ranked highest?

Uganda are the top-ranked East African side, sitting 87th in the October 2026 list.

How often does FIFA update the ranking?

FIFA publishes a new men's ranking after each international match window, so the list changes several times a year.

This article was updated on 10 October 2026 to reflect FIFA's latest ranking. Check FIFA's official ranking page for the newest list after each international window.