In a significant shift, Spain, the Women’s World Cup champions, have claimed the coveted top spot in the latest FIFA rankings, marking their first ascent to this position. Following their 1-0 victory over England in the World Cup final, Spain becomes the fourth team to hold this esteemed rank.
The previous leaders, Sweden, have dropped to fifth, allowing the USA to move up one spot to second place, while France climbs two positions into third. England maintains its fourth-place standing in the rankings.
In terms of the UK nations, Scotland experiences a two-place slide to 25th, Wales drops three spots to 32nd, and Northern Ireland holds the 46th position.
The top 10 is completed by Germany, the Netherlands, Japan, North Korea, and Canada. Brazil, facing a disappointing World Cup performance, falls out of the top 10, settling at the 11th spot after a two-place descent.
Noteworthy additions to the rankings include Central African Republic at 145th and Macau making their debut at 173rd. North Korea reclaims its spot at ninth after re-entering the international scene in September 2023, winning 10 out of 12 fixtures since.
The women’s game continues to gain global attention, with the rankings now featuring a record 192 nations. December’s notable climbers include Namibia, ascending 14 places to 126th by rank, and Tanzania, the biggest movers by points, gaining 68.24 to secure the 146th position.
As the international women’s football landscape evolves, stay tuned for the next rankings update in March, with more nations expected to join the list.
