The March FIFA window was a massive success for Les Bleus. France faced two high-caliber opponents and emerged victorious in both, defeating Brazil and Colombia. These wins provided a significant points boost, allowing them to leapfrog both Spain and Argentina in the standings.

Conversely, Luis de la Fuente’s men saw their ranking suffer. While they gained 1.94 points from a dominant 3–0 win over Serbia, the subsequent stalemate against Egypt proved costly, resulting in a loss of 2.73 points and the loss of their throne.

Argentina also enjoyed a perfect record this window, but the caliber of their opposition limited their progress. Lionel Scaloni’s men gained only 0.63 points from a 2–1 victory over Mauritania and 0.86 points from a 5–0 thrashing of Zambia. The Albiceleste, who held the top spot for much of the post-World Cup era, now sit firmly in third.

How each star performed

Mbappe proved to be the catalyst for France’s climb to the top of the FIFA rankings. The Real Madrid forward was in world-class form during the 2–1 victory over Brazil at the Gillette Stadium, where he scored the opening goal and was named Man of the Match, leading Les Bleus through their toughest test of the window.

In Argentina, Messi continued to be the heartbeat of his team during their 5–0 rout of Zambia. The captain provided the assist for Julian Alvarez’s opener before finding the net himself for the second.

In a moment that captured the headlines, Messi waived his chance to score a second from the penalty spot, instead handing the ball to Nicolas Otamendi, allowing the veteran to score in his emotional final appearance for the national team on Argentine soil.

It was a more frustrated window for Yamal and Spain. The Barcelona starlet struggled to make an impact, failing to record a goal or an assist in the 3–0 win over Serbia or the disappointing draw against Egypt.

Beyond the pitch, Yamal made waves by calling out a section of the crowd following controversial chants during the game vs Egypt, marking a difficult end to a window that saw Spain lose their world No. 1 status.

France‘s decision to have Mbappe out of the starting lineup has nothing to do with health concerns. Instead, Didier Deschamps is looking to give the rest of the squad an opportunity to showcase themselves in the last friendly of the FIFA international break in March.

The French national team will put together a completely different lineup from it’s last outing, when Mbappe propelled France past Brazil at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough. Every player that started that game will now be on the bench, and Mbappe is no exception. Still, the French star could make his way to the field if his team needs him against Colombia.

Mbappe’s stats with national team

According to Transfermarkt, Mbappe has played 95 games for France’s senior team, scoring 56 goals for “Les Bleus”. Most likely, he will play his 100th game for France during the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup, as Mbappe chases his second world championship and his country’s third.

Mbappe set to welcome new coach

So far in his career, Mbappe has only had one manager at the international level. With Deschamps set to leave France after the World Cup, Mbappe is in for a new experience when a new manager takes over the French national team.

According to a report from ESPN, Zinedine Zidane has reached a verbal agreement to be the next manager, meaning two of the best players to ever represent France could soon be working together in a player-coach dynamic.

Colombia tried to respond after going down early, pressing high and creating a few chances, including a strong opportunity for Luis Diaz that was blocked by Jonathan Lacroix. France’s defense held firm, while the French attack remained dangerous on counters.

The match also saw key substitutions, including the introduction of Kylian Mbappe for France, who tested Colombia’s backline. Colombia will take lessons from this friendly ahead of upcoming fixtures, while France leaves Northwest Stadium confident and prepared for future challenges in the World Cup.

[Watch Colombia vs France online in the US on Fubo]

A marquee international friendly clash is on deck as Colombia looks to rebound from a 2-1 setback against Croatia, stepping into a far tougher test against France. Led by star winger Luis Diaz, Colombia aims to regain momentum.

However, the challenge won’t get any bigger than this against World Cup runner-up France, who enters fresh off a statement 2-1 win over Brazil and continues to look every bit like a title contender behind Kylian Mbappe, who is starting on the bench today against Colombia.

When will the Colombia vs France match be played?

Colombia take on France in a 2026 friendly game this Sunday, March 29, with the match kicking off at 3:00 PM (ET). Follow our liveblog of Colombia vs France and don’t miss a single thing!

Colombia vs France: Time by State in the USA

ET: 3:00 PM
CT: 2:00 PM
MT: 1:00 PM
PT: 12:00 PM

How to watch Colombia vs France in the USA

This Friendly clash between Colombia and France will be available for viewers in the USA on Fubo. Other options: DirecTV Stream and ESPN Deportes.

Momentum is split heading into this afternoon’s kickoff: Colombia are looking to bounce back from a tough loss to Croatia, while France arrive brimming with confidence following a dominant victory over Brazil.

All eyes would be on James Rodriguez. The Colombian captain remains the focal point of Nestor Lorenzo’s squad, despite a quiet outing against Croatia.

Confirmed lineups for Colombia and France

In addition to the creativity of James and Luis Diaz, Lorenzo is making a change between the posts. Alvaro Montero will replace Camilo Vargas, whose costly error led to Croatia’s second goal last match.

Colombia: Montero; Munoz, Sanchez, Cabal, Mojica; Lerma, Rios; Arias, Rodriguez, Diaz; Suarez.

Didier Deschamps tinkered much with the XI that dismantled Brazil. The were several changes in defense, where Lucas Digne will step in for Lucas Hernandez. Also, one of the surprises is Kylian Mbappe not starting today as Deschamps is rotating players against Colombia.

France: Samba; Kalulu,, Lacroix, T. Hernandez, Digne; Kante, Zaire-Emery; Akilouche, Cherki, Doue; Thuran.

H2H: Colombia vs France

This marks the fourth friendly meeting between these two nations. France took the first two encounters with a narrow 1-0 win, but Colombia famously stunned the French at the Parc des Princes with a 3-2 comeback victory in their last meeting.

France’s 2-1 victory over Brazil earned Didier Deschamps’ team 3.96 points, enough to push the reigning world champions down to third place. Mbappe played a decisive role, scoring a standout goal. The cancellation of the Finalissima and the lower coefficient of recent opponents have impacted Argentina’s position, after they had already lost the top spot to Spain following 29 months at No. 1.

The current ranking reflects a tight race at the top. Spain lead with 1877.18 points, followed by France with 1873.96, while Argentina sit third with 1873.33. Portugal climb to fifth place and could strengthen their position with a win in their next match against Mexico, even without Cristiano Ronaldo due to injury. Brazil drop to sixth, while England remain fourth.

The top 10 of the ranking

The most relevant movements are those already mentioned, but this is a list to monitor closely ahead of the World Cup, as it includes the main contenders for the title. Here is the top 10:

1. Spain (1877.18)
2. France (1873.96)
3. Argentina (1873.33)
4. England (1834.12)
5. Portugal (1760.38)
6. Brazil (1756.49)
7. Netherlands (1756.27)
8. Morocco (1754.59)
9. Belgium (1730.71)
10. Germany (1724.15)

Expectations for the end of the window

Beyond the battle at the top, the update also reflects interesting movement among other teams in the region. Chile are the South American side that gained the most ground, moving up three positions to 52nd after a win over Cabo Verde.

It is important to note that this ranking remains provisional in terms of its full statistical impact. The official FIFA ranking will be released once the entire international window concludes, when all match results are accounted for, including Argentina’s game at La Bombonera, which could help them recover lost ground.

The most important could be related to Rio de Janeiro and the matchup the Dallas Cowboys will play at Maracana Stadium since, unlike what happened in 2024 and 2025, it could not be held in Week 1.

Last year, the Kansas City Chiefs faced the Chargers on September 5, while two seasons ago, the Eagles played against the Packers on September 6. Now, there could be a plot twist.

Brazil 2026 international game might suffer important change

The game in Brazil that the Cowboys will play in 2026 cannot be scheduled for Week 1 due to legal issues, according to a report from Adam Schefter during a special appearance on The Pat McAfee Show.

“I don’t think they’re allowed to do Fridays. The Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961 prohibits NFL games on the second Friday in September to the second Saturday in December. Labor Day is Monday, September 7. So, the NFL cannot violate the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961 and schedule a game Friday night this year.”

The big difference is that, in 2024 and 2025, the games the NFL scheduled in Brazil were in the first week of September. Now, the calendar arrangement made the NFL kickoff scheduled for the second week of September. Because of this, there cannot be a game on Friday and the league had to move to a Wednesday–Thursday tandem.

When is 2026 NFL kickoff?

The 2026 NFL kickoff is scheduled for Wednesday, September 9, when the Seattle Seahawks will host an opponent to be determined. The tradition of having the opening game at the home stadium of the defending Super Bowl champions remains in place.

Then, on Thursday the 10th, the Los Angeles Rams and the San Francisco 49ers will face off in Melbourne in the first regular-season game in Australia. This indicates that the league has decided to use the Wednesday and Thursday slots since the NFL legally cannot do so on Friday.

Brazil looked off their game once again. With Neymar Jr. out of the lineup to face France, the “Verde-Amarela” struggled and registered yet another loss. The 2026 FIFA World Cup is approaching, and Carlo Ancelotti can’t figure out his side, still. Brazil’s next test will be against Croatia at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida.

France didn’t look at their best, either. But when you have Kylian Mbappe on the team, anything can happen. That was the case as the French ace opened the scoring and helped his team prevail in New England. France will face Colombia in their next game on March 29th at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland.

The forward’s absence is not a last-minute decision. Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti did not include him in the squad for the March international friendlies, including matches against France and Croatia.

The decision is largely tied to his physical condition, as he is still working his way back to full fitness after recent injuries and ongoing muscle issues. While he has returned to club action, Brazil’s staff have opted for caution.

Is Neymar injured or resting?

Neymar has been dealing with lingering physical issues since suffering a serious knee injury in 2023, and although he has returned to club action, he has not yet reached full match fitness.

Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti made it clear that only players at 100% condition were selected for the March international friendlies. His absence is therefore precautionary rather than tactical.

He has also struggled with muscle fatigue in recent weeks, which limited his rhythm and prevented the coaching staff from fully evaluating him ahead of the squad announcement.

For Brazil, the decision reflects a long-term approach. With the 2026 FIFA World Cup on the horizon, the priority is ensuring that the forward can return at full strength rather than risking setbacks in a friendly against France.

How did Neymar get injured?

Neymar suffered a serious knee injury after rupturing his ACL during a match in 2023. The Brazilian star was injured while playing in a World Cup qualifier against Uruguay, when he landed awkwardly following a challenge and immediately showed signs of discomfort.

Medical tests later confirmed a torn anterior cruciate ligament, along with damage to his meniscus, an injury that typically requires surgery and a lengthy recovery period.

This setback sidelined him for several months and forced him into an extensive rehabilitation process. Even after returning to action, players recovering from ACL injuries often need additional time to regain full match fitness and confidence.

According to L’Equipe, France fear that Kylian Mbappe could arrive at the World Cup due to an “unprecedented” knee discomfort. Reports indicated that he had been playing “on one leg” for Real Madrid over the past six weeks, struggling especially when accelerating on the field.

He is set to begin an accelerated treatment process to avoid a more serious injury or surgical intervention and is expected to miss at least three matches. The three-game absence serves to evaluate his physical response, as the French star’s priority remains staying healthy to participate in the World Cup.

Mbappe remains a fundamental piece for France, especially with a complicated group featuring Norway, Senegal, and potential playoff teams such as Bolivia, Iraq, or Suriname. Mbappe serves as the captain and anchor of the national team following Antoine Griezmann’s retirement from international competition.

A knee that won’t fully recover

Since December, Mbappe has been dealing with inflammation in a ligament in his left knee. While the club has not released an official medical report, he has missed several training sessions and already sat out important matches.

He completed 90 minutes against Osasuna and Benfica in Lisbon, although his performances showed clear physical limitations. Before those matches, he did not feature against Real Sociedad, and according to L’Equipe, sources close to the club indicated that the French forward had been operating at only 60 to 70 percent of his full capacity.

From Real Madrid’s perspective, Mbappe’s situation was not the only concern. Álvaro Arbeloa was also without Dean Huijsen, Jude Bellingham, Éder Militão, Dani Ceballos, and Rodrygo Goes, who was suspended in the Champions League.

The conversation took place in a video with content creator Reysa, who asked Julian to name his favorite players from several countries, including Spain, Germany, Uruguay, France, Colombia, Brazil, and Argentina, with one clear rule: he was not allowed to choose Lionel Messi.

The Atletico de Madrid forward ultimately selected Pedri for Spain, Jamal Musiala for Germany, Luis Suarez for Uruguay, Antoine Griezmann for France, Juan Fernando Quintero for Colombia, Neymar for Brazil, and Enzo Fernandez for Argentina.

Julian’s selections reflected a blend of established stars and players from his own generation. Pedri and Musiala have already proven themselves at the highest level despite their young age, while Enzo Fernandez has been a close teammate for Julian with Argentina and during their shared connection to River Plate earlier in their careers.

Possible reasons for not choosing Mbappe, Yamal, and James

The most striking aspect of the list was the absence of Mbappe, who is widely regarded as one of the best players in the world and a global superstar. However, choosing Griezmann made sense, given his historical importance to France and his strong connection to Atletico de Madrid, where Julian now plays.

In the case of Lamine Yamal, the explanation appears to be stylistic and experiential. While Yamal is still developing and has enormous potential, Pedri is already a fully established midfielder with a refined style, serving as a central figure for both Barcelona and Spain.

As for Colombia, the decision to favor Juan Fernando Quintero over James Rodriguez raised eyebrows, but it carries a clear emotional context. Quintero is closely linked to River Plate, Julian’s boyhood club, and left an indelible mark with legendary performances, most notably in the 2018 Copa Libertadores final at the Santiago Bernabeu against Boca Juniors, a moment that remains iconic in South American soccer history.