If you’re hunting for fifa scores for today, you’ve likely realized that January in a World Cup qualifying cycle is a weird, frantic time. We are currently in early 2026. The 2026 World Cup—hosted by the US, Mexico, and Canada—is looming like a giant on the horizon.
Honestly, the "scores" you see today aren't just numbers; they are the final desperate gasps of teams trying to book their flights for June. Today, January 17, 2026, the global football calendar is split between intense club derbies and critical international tournament windows.
The Big Ones: Africa Cup of Nations and Global Action
Right now, the heavy lifting in the international scene is happening at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). If you're looking for FIFA-sanctioned competitive scores today, this is where the blood and thunder are.
Algeria just put on a clinic. They faced Sudan and walked away with a 3-0 victory, looking every bit like the giants they are. Meanwhile, Burkina Faso managed to scrape past Equatorial Guinea with a 2-1 win. It wasn't pretty, but it counts.
Here is the quick breakdown of the scores that rolled in earlier today:
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- Algeria 3-0 Sudan (Group E)
- Burkina Faso 2-1 Equatorial Guinea (Group E)
- Côte d’Ivoire 1-0 Mozambique (Group F)
- Cameroon 1-0 Gabon (Group F)
- Egypt 1-0 South Africa (Group B)
You notice a pattern? A lot of 1-0 grinds. That’s tournament football for you. Nobody is playing "Joga Bonito" when their knockout dreams are on the line.
Why Today’s Scores Feel a Bit Different
You might be asking, "Wait, where are the World Cup qualifiers?"
Basically, we just finished a massive UEFA and CONMEBOL window in late 2025. Argentina, Brazil, and Colombia have already sealed their spots. Spain is sitting at the top of the FIFA rankings, holding off the world champions Argentina by a hair.
Because we are in the middle of January, the big European leagues are also hogging the spotlight. If you're checking your phone for scores, you’re probably seeing the Manchester Derby result. Manchester United and Manchester City just went into the tunnel at half-time locked at 0-0.
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It’s a cagey affair. City is dominating possession, but United's low block is holding firm. This result doesn't impact the FIFA world rankings directly, but it tells you everything about the form of the players who will be starring in the World Cup in just a few months.
Club vs. Country: The January Tug-of-War
Most fans don't realize that fifa scores for today are influenced by the massive friction between club managers and national team coaches.
Take the Egyptian squad. They played Nigeria in a high-stakes match today, but half their stars are being "monitored" by their Premier League clubs who want them back healthy for the title race. This tension usually leads to lower-scoring, more tactical games.
Other Notable Results Today:
- Real Madrid 3-1 Pachuca (FIFA Club World Cup context - lingering results)
- Central Coast Mariners 1-2 Brisbane Roar (A-League action)
- Newcastle Jets 4-5 Macarthur FC (A total goal-fest for the neutrals)
The State of the FIFA Rankings
As of today, the top of the pile remains largely unchanged since the December update.
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- Spain (Still #1 after a stellar 2025)
- Argentina (The reigning champs are breathing down their necks)
- France
- England
- Brazil
Morocco is currently the team to watch. After winning the FIFA Arab Cup in late 2025, they are sitting at 11th. One or two more wins in this AFCON cycle and they will crack the Top 10 for the first time in nearly thirty years.
What You Should Do Next
Checking scores is fine, but if you want to stay ahead of the curve for the 2026 World Cup, you need to look at the "points lost" column. Teams like Malaysia and Cameroon have been sliding lately.
If you're following a specific team, keep an eye on the FIFA Match Centre. It's the only place that updates the "Live Ranking" points in real-time. A 1-0 win over a higher-ranked opponent today could move a team up three or four spots by Monday.
Get your calendars ready for the March international window. That is when the final UEFA playoffs happen. That's when "scores for today" will mean the difference between global glory and watching the World Cup from a sofa in London or Rome.
Keep an eye on the injury reports coming out of the AFCON matches tonight. Several key players for European clubs have already picked up knocks, and that is going to shift the betting lines for the Champions League matches next month.