World champions Spain have kept their number one spot in the December FIFA/Coca-Cola Women’s World Ranking after winning the UEFA Women’s Nations League. Germany, who reached the Nations League final, have jumped two places to third, while the USA remain second.
The ranking now includes a record 198 teams, with Chad and Libya appearing for the first time. Spain’s victory over Germany helped them stay in front, while the USA beat Italy in friendlies but lost to Portugal in October.
Other changes in the top 10 include Sweden dropping two places to fifth after losing to Spain, France falling to seventh, and Canada down to tenth. Brazil and North Korea have moved up, to sixth and ninth respectively.
Outside the top 50, Nicaragua, Burkina Faso, and American Samoa each rose 16 places, with American Samoa gaining the most points since the last ranking. Paraguay fell five places to 46th, while Mali, Egypt, India, Cameroon, and the Solomon Islands all slipped a few spots.
Chad and Libya are the newest entries, competing in the FIFA Unites: Women’s Series™, bringing the total number of nations in the ranking to 198. Poland, Venezuela, Cabo Verde, and Saudi Arabia have reached their highest-ever positions.
