Japan have surpassed Australia as the No.1 ranked soccer team in Asia in the latest FIFA rankings. The Blue Samurai’s 1-0 extra-time win over Australia in the Asian Cup final catapaulted the side 12 spots to No.17 in the world.
But it wasn’t all bad news for the Socceroos who lifted five spots themselves to world No.21.
» Who are Asia’s top team now? View the current FIFA rankings to find out!
World Cup winner Spain lead the monthly rankings.
African champions Egypt plummeted from the top 10, down to No.33, because the value of their January 2010 title dropped more than one year on.
Spain head an unchanged top nine, followed by the Netherlands, Germany, Brazil and Argentina. Greece rose one place to No.10.
World Cup quarterfinalist Ghana now leads African teams, and climbed one to No.15.
The United States stayed at No.18 to lead CONCACAF teams. Oceania’s best was New Zealand at No.64.
The Asian Cup offered valuable ranking points to climb the standings with semi-finalists South Korea up seven to No.32 and Uzbekistan up 31 to No.77.
Host country Qatar, which also will stage the 2022 World Cup, rose 15 to No.90 after reaching the quarterfinals.
FIFA rankings
1. Spain (1).
2. Netherlands (2).
3. Germany (3).
4. Brazil (4).
5. Argentina (5).
6. England (6).
7. Uruguay (7).
8. Portugal (8).
9. Croatia (9).
10. Greece (11).
11. Norway (12).
12. Russia (13).
13. Italy (14).
14. Chile (15).
15. Ghana (16).
16. Slovenia (17).
17. Japan (29).
18. United States (18).
19. France (18).
20. Slovakia (20).
21. Australia (26)
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