December 16 – World champions Spain have secured the top spot in the FIFA Women’s World Rankings for the first time, knocking off ranking leaders Sweden who themselves had only had a short time at the top after displacing the USA in August. The US had held an unbroken six year run at the top.
Such is the new fluidity and competitiveness of the rankings that Sweden dropped to fifth spot after a four-month period of competition that saw them fail to qualify for European Nations League final four and the 2024 Olympics. It will be the first Olympics ever that Sweden have not had a women’s team in competition.
FIFA reports that since the last rankings were published in August, more than 400 international matches have taken place, the record for the number of fixtures fulfilled in an equivalent period.
The period was made up mainly of qualifying competitions for UEFA, AFC, CAF and Concacaf confederation finals, with OFC representatives competing at the Pacific Games.
Spain are only the fourth team in football history to top the rankings. The USA move up a spot to second while France moved into third spot (a rise of two places), ahead of England.
European nations fill six of the top seven slots and 14 of the top 20. Brazil are Conmebol’s highest performer at 11th(down two places), while Japan lead the Asian contingent at 8th and Nigeria are the lead African nation at 34th.
FIFA said six nations either appear for the first time (Central African Republic and Macau) or reappear (Korea DPR, American Samoa, Madagascar and Bahamas) in the ranking which is now at a new record of 192 nations. Six other national sides are just one match away from gaining their first ranking.
To see the full ranking click here.
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