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The U.S. women’s national team will finish the year as the top-ranked squad in the world, according to the FIFA rankings that were released on Friday morning.
The U.S. women’s national team will finish the year as the top-ranked squad in the world, according to the FIFA rankings that were released on Friday morning.
Spain moved up a spot to second place, as did Germany to third place. England dropped two spots to fourth.
Sweden (5th) and Canada (6th) maintained their positions, while Brazil (7th, +1) and Japan (8th, -1) swapped places. Korea DPR (9th) were ahead of the Netherlands (10th, +1), whose return to top 10 saw France (11th, -1) drop out of it for the first time in its history.
Sweden (5th) and Canada (6th) maintain their lofty positions, while Brazil (7th, +1) and Japan (8th, -1) swapped places. Korea DPR (9th) are ahead of the Netherlands (10th, +1), whose return to top 10 sees France (11th, -1) drop out of it for the first time in their history.
There was considerable movement in the top 50. The most notable breakthroughs have come from Poland (28th, +4), which recorded the biggest gain in terms of points, and Belarus (50th, +5). Indonesia (97th, +7) and Estonia (99th, +8) made even bigger gains in breaking into the top 100.
Beyond that, Bangladesh (132nd, +7, 1097.55 points) and Saudi Arabia (166th, +8, 877.08 points) continued to head in the right direction, attaining its highest points totals in the process. Ten other teams also had cause to celebrate: Poland (1697.07 points), Zambia (1412.37 points), Cambodia (1150.75 points), Namibia (1111.61), Uganda (1028,58), Kenya (1020.22), Pakistan (950.27), Bhutan (866.32), Andorra (773.87) and Madagascar (694.47). Saudi Arabia attained its highest ever ranking, as will Northern Ireland (44th, +1) and Cabo Verde (129th, +1)
Click here to see the full ranking.
The next ranking will be published on March 6, 2025.
Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 28 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.
