FIFA Releases New World Rankings

[The Third Dukes]

The following is the official FIFA World Rankings Top 25 as of a few minutes ago. The number in parentheses is the squad's ranking in the previous month. The number after the comma is the number of "computer points" they have. The FIFA World Rankings take into account results from the past 8 years, weighing recent results most heavily and noting the prestige of the match. Ties in the rankings are unbroken.

1. Brazil (1), 835

2. France (2), 813

3. Spain (3), 792

4. Czech Republic (11), 762

5. Holland (5), 748

6. Mexico (4), 743

7. United States (9), 735

8. England (13), 733

9. Italy (10), 729

10. Turkey (5), 723

11. Argentina (5), 722

12. Portugal (22), 715

12. Germany (8), 715

14. Greece (--), 710

15. Denmark (15), 706

16. Cameroon (12), 702

16. Ireland (14), 702

18. Nigeria (16), 697

19. Sweden (18), 686

20. South Korea (20), 670

21. Iran (19), 664

21. Saudi Arabia (24), 664

23. Croatia (20), 662

24. Japan (23), 660

24. Belgium (17), 660

Dropped out: #25 Paraguay

Top 5 by official FIFA division:

AFC (Asia)

1. South Korea (2)

2. Iran (1)

2. Saudi Arabia (4)

4. Japan (3)

5. Jordan (5)

CAF (Africa)

1. Cameroon (1)

2. Nigeria (2)

3. Senegal (3)

4. Morocco (5)

5. Egypt (4)

CONCACAF (North America)

1. Mexico (1)

2. United States (2)

3. Costa Rica (3)

4. Jamaica (4)

5. Honduras (5)

CONMEBOL (South America)

1. Brazil (1)

2. Argentina (2)

3. Paraguay (3)

4. Uruguay (4)

5. Colombia (5)

OFC (Oceania)

1. Australia (1)

2. New Zealand (2)

3. Tahiti (3)

4. Solomon Islands (4)

5. Fiji (5)

UEFA (Europe)

1. France (1)

2. Spain (2)

3. Czech Republic (7)

4. Holland (3)

5. England (8)

MOVERS AND SHAKERS (those who had a difference of seven spots or more from last month):

Biggest jumps: Czech Republic (11-4), Portugal (22-12), Greece (35-14), Ivory Coast (69-62), Trinidad (77-63), Cuba (80-66), Libya (82-70), Ghana (89-71), Angola (85-78), Congo Brazzaville (107-97), Panama (120-106), St. Kitts (120-108), North Korea (125-114), Cape Verde (146-134), Surinam (154-147), St. Vincent and the Grenadines (163-153)

Biggest falls: Belgium (17-24), Bosnia (64-73), Iceland (65-75), Burkina Faso (73-80), Bosnia (75-82), Austria (70-86), Kenya (79-86), Liberia (106-113), Azerbaijan (112-119)

CREDIT: FIFA.com

Well, it's fun to see the Czechs back in the top five -- just in time for their traditional World Cup qualifying collapse. Greece moving up is no shock, but the degree is astonishing -- most teams don't make that kind of move in a year! On the other side, Belgium may have fallen too much for their poor Euro showing, and it's fun to see England, Italy, and Germany all behind Uncle Sam once again. Two points separating Mexico and the US -- CONCACAF's balance of power may change as we know it.

Comments?

[Asuka's Gonna Kill You]

Damn US and Mexico are pretty high up there. Italy and England need to get the heck up that ranking list and there chance will be the world cup for sure, but at least the best are at the top.

[therockbox]

My how the mighty have fallen.

England, Germany, Italy, Argentina and Portugal, all pretty low down the list. Good for Greece though, but what have the USA done of significance?

[Asuka's Gonna Kill You]

I was going to say the same, although I haven't seen US since the world cup, and there they did actually play pretty damn good. Then again that shouldn't get them so high up there, so god knows.

[lafunky xxvii]

My how the mighty have fallen.

England, Germany, Italy, Argentina and Portugal, all pretty low down the list.  Good for Greece though, but what have the USA done of significance?

←

Did you not see that England moved up 5 places?

[The Third Dukes]

Courtesy USSoccer.com, since it's been asked:

Nov 17 02 -- USA 2-0 El Salvador

Jan 19 03 -- USA 4-0 Canada

Feb 8 03 -- USA 0-1 Argentina

Feb 12 03 -- Jamaica 1-2 USA

Mar 29 03 -- USA 2-0 Venezuela

May 8 03 -- USA 0-0 Mexico

May 26 03 -- USA 2-0 Wales

Jun 8 03 -- USA 2-1 New Zealand

CONFEDERATIONS CUP in France:

Jun 19 03 -- Turkey 2, USA 1

Jun 21 03 -- Brazil 1, USA 0

Jun 23 03 -- USA 0, Cameroon 0

Jul 6 03 -- USA 2-0 Paraguay

CONCACAF GOLD CUP in USA:

Jul 12 03 -- USA 2-0 El Salvador

Jul 14 03 -- USA 2-0 Martinique

Jul 19 03 -- USA 5-0 Cuba

Jul 23 03 -- USA 1-2 Brazil

Jul 26 03 -- USA 3-2 Costa Rica

Jan 18 04 -- USA 1-1 Denmark

Jan 28 04 -- Holland 1-0 USA

Mar 13 04 -- USA 1-1 Haiti

Mar 31 04 -- Poland 0-1 USA

Apr 28 04 -- USA 1-0 Mexico

Jun 2 04 -- USA 4-0 Honduras

WORLD CUP QUALIFIER:

Jun 13 04 -- USA 3-0 Grenada

Jun 20 04 -- Grenada 2-3 USA

So the USA are 16W4D5L since World Cup 02, including a five-match winning streak. Given that World Cup 02 bumped them up to T9, and given their respectable showings in the big games (their losses are to Argentina, Turkey, Brazil, Brazil, and Holland, all by one goal), maybe 7th position is warranted? Maybe?

Edited July 7, 2004 by Dukes

[gunnar hendershow]

The only teams the US has lost to since the World Cup with the exception of Turkey are ranked above them if I recall. And we haven't lost all that much lately.

[fourstarfizzle]

Courtesy USSoccer.com, since it's been asked:

Nov 17 02 -- USA 2-0 El Salvador

Jan 19 03 -- USA 4-0 Canada

Feb 8 03 -- USA 0-1 Argentina

Feb 12 03 -- Jamaica 1-2 USA

Mar 29 03 -- USA 2-0 Venezuela

May 8 03 -- USA 0-0 Mexico

May 26 03 -- USA 2-0 Wales

Jun 8 03 -- USA 2-1 New Zealand

CONFEDERATIONS CUP in France:

Jun 19 03 -- Turkey 2, USA 1

Jun 21 03 -- Brazil 1, USA 0

Jun 23 03 -- USA 0, Cameroon 0

Jul 6 03 -- USA 2-0 Paraguay

CONCACAF GOLD CUP in USA:

Jul 12 03 -- USA 2-0 El Salvador

Jul 14 03 -- USA 2-0 Martinique

Jul 19 03 -- USA 5-0 Cuba

Jul 23 03 -- USA 1-2 Brazil

Jul 26 03 -- USA 3-2 Costa Rica

Jan 18 04 -- USA 1-1 Denmark

Jan 28 04 -- Holland 1-0 USA

Mar 13 04 -- USA 1-1 Haiti

Mar 31 04 -- Poland 0-1 USA

Apr 28 04 -- USA 1-0 Mexico

Jun 2 04 -- USA 4-0 Honduras

WORLD CUP QUALIFIER:

Jun 13 04 -- USA 3-0 Grenada

Jun 20 04 -- Grenada 2-3 USA

So the USA are 16W4D5L since World Cup 02, including a five-match winning streak.  Given that World Cup 02 bumped them up to T9, and given their respectable showings in the big games (their losses are to Argentina, Turkey, Brazil, Brazil, and Holland, all by one goal), maybe 7th position is warranted?  Maybe?

←

The only teams the USA have beaten there that seem to have much respect are Mexico & Paraguay, Poland also maybe. The rest are crap really.

[lazy_arse]

The FIFA ranking are a load of crap. USA and Mexico in the top 10 in the world? Spain 3rd best? I dont think so.

I think this is all down to the fact that FIFA count friendlies where teams like England dont care about the match and thats where they lose points. Teams like USA and Mexico only play other crap teams and can easily get wins and thus go up the FIFA rankings.

[Asuka's Gonna Kill You]

I disagree. Its not like the US are a bad team, they did great in the world cup. Maybe they don't deserve to be so high, but they certainly deserve to be somewhere up there. The top two are certainly right though, no changing that for sometime either.

[Cactus Drags]

America do not deserve to be in the top 10. OK, so they've won a lot, but look who they're playing. England are up against the top teams in Europe most of teh time, America play the likes of Cuba, El Salvador and Martinique. What's more, when they do play against top class teams such as Brazil and Holland, they lose! How is that right?

[Asuka's Gonna Kill You]

Yeah but so do England most of the time :ohwell: (and well Italy and Germany too)

Maybe the rankings are out of place but its not like it matters that much.

Edited July 7, 2004 by JohnnyPerfect

[J-Rod]

lafunk the question is why the fuck did they move up 5 places. I mean what did they do. Let's see,

Lost to France

Won against Switzerland

Won against Croatia

I mean what sort of achievement is that beating Switzerland and Croatia. Anyone can do it! And how the fuck are Spain 3rd?!?

[Cactus Drags]

It's not just on Euro 2004 dummy.

[edcq]

where's peru?

[Asuka's Gonna Kill You]

Also Spain show be there. I think they have been there for sometime, and because they haven't really lost that many they should still be there. Plus anyone below them hasn't done enough to get above them, that's why they haven't move from the spot.

[Herr Matzat]

My how the mighty have fallen.

England, Germany, Italy, Argentina and Portugal, all pretty low down the list.  Good for Greece though, but what have the USA done of significance?

←

i am to lazy to read it all but maybee it is also about wemons soccer were the US is pritty strong. at least whiole flying throu it i havent seen anny male only ristriction. (on the other hand germany won the wemons world cup so that still dossent make to much sens)

Edited July 8, 2004 by Michael Matzat

[gunnar hendershow]

i am to lazy to read it all but maybee it is also about wemons soccer were the US is pritty strong. at least whiole flying throu it i havent seen anny male only ristriction. (on the other hand germany won the wemons world cup so that still dossent make to much sens)

←

IIRC, USA Women's is number one in the rankings.... either that or two.

[Guest Wrestling_Man]

I'm not that big into soccer, because I'm an American, but if they beat Brazil, if they EVER beat Brazil, then I'd consider them a dangerous team when they face other teams. But Brazil is the best team in soccer today.

[Emperor Fuckshit]

No...not Belgium...this isn't fair...no...that's not fair...there was time now!