The Roar
The Roar

Advertisement

Spain stays at world No.1, Brazil up to fourth

8th October, 2008
4

European champion Spain extended its lead as the world’s No.1 football nation in the latest FIFA rankings published today. Italy and Germany remain second- and third-ranked.

Brazil is South America’s best, climbing two places to No.4 overall, while pushing the Netherlands and Croatia down a place each. Argentina remains ranked seventh.

Australia has reached its highest position in more than two years, up five spots to No.34.

Japan however leads the Asian Confederation at No.32.

The one change in the top 10 nations has Russia returning at No.9 at the expense of fellow Euro 2008 semifinalist Turkey, which drops three places to No.13. The two traded places in the elite group last month.

Cameroon continues to rise as the leading African nation, climbing two places to No.12, two places above England.

Israel climbs three to reach its best-ever ranking of No.16.

The United States is once more best among CONCACAF countries, climbing seven places to No.21, while Mexico holds steady at No.24.

Advertisement

New Zealand is the big mover at No.54. Its two World Cup qualifying match wins over Oceania rival New Caledonia helped lift the Kiwis up 57 places.

Other nations rising to best-ever placings were Lithuania, up 17 places to No.37, and Macedonia, up 10 to No.46 after beating Scotland in a World Cup qualifier. The Scots suffered the biggest drop in status among leading nations, down 10 places to No.26.

A total of 125 international matches played in the past month, including 106 qualifiers for the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa, counted toward the rankings.

The next standings are due November 12.
1. Spain (1) 1,643 points.
2. Italy (2) 1,365.
3. Germany (3) 1,336.
4. Brazil (6) 1,280.
5. Netherlands (4) 1,258.
6. Croatia (5) 1,223.
7. Argentina (7) 1,200.
8. Czech Republic (8) 1,111.
9. Russia (12) 1,076.
10. Portugal (9) 1,075.
11. France (11) 1,035.
12. Cameroon (14) 1,027.
13. Turkey (10) 1,021.
14. England (15) 982.
15. Bulgaria (16) 969.
16. Israel (19) 961.
17. Greece (18) 945.
18. Romania (13) 927.
19. Ukraine (26) 893.
20. Uruguay (22) 887.
21. USA (28) 861.
22. (tie) Egypt (21) 860.
22. (tie) Paraguay (25) 860.
24. Mexico (32) 841.
25. Ghana (20) 839.

Adds:
34. Australia (39) 737.

close