The senior national team of Brazil will embark on its bid to win a sixth world title as the highest ranked team in the world of football, having maintained its top position in the latest FIFA /Coca-Cola World Ranking released today, Thursday, October 6, 2022.
In beating Ghana and Tunisia in their two friendlies last week, the Seleçao widened the gap between themselves and their nearest challengers, Belgium (2nd), who lost to Netherlands (8th) in the Nations League.
The last international break before Qatar 2022 in September saw Brazil beat two World Cup-bound African teams, Ghana and Tunisia 3-0 and 5-1 respectively.
According to the latest ranking, Argentina (3rd) was followed by reigning world champions France (4th), followed by England (5th). The only change in the top 10 was Italy (6th, plus 1) which leapfrogged Spain (7th, minus 1), which drop down a place.
There is more movement further down the Ranking as Croatia (12th, plus 3) rose three places, while IR Iran (20th, plus 2) moved into the top 20, followed closely by Serbia (21st, plus 4), who gained four places.
The biggest movers were teams which failed to qualify for Qatar 2022, namely Scotland (40th, plus 5) and Azerbaijan (123rd, plus 5), both five places higher. Honourable mentions should also go to Algeria (37th, plus 4), Georgia (78th, plus 4), Mauritania (103rd, plus 4) and Suriname (139th, plus 4), all of whom ascended four places.
Some 172 international matches were played in September 2022. A total of 53 UEFA Nations League matches and 119 friendlies were played in the last international break before the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™, which begins on 20th November.
Even though the matches were meant to give the 32 qualifiers for the upcoming world finals one last dress rehearsal, the matches also had an impact on the latest FIFA/Cola-Cola World Ranking.
Black Stars drop to 61st
According to FIFA, Ghana played the most matches (5) while Azerbaijan recorded the biggest move by points (plus 19.55).
Despite playing the most matches during the period under consideration, the Black Stars of Ghana dropped one place in FIFA’s latest world rankings as the four-time Africa Cup of Nations winners are now 61st, after being previously ranked 60th. This means the Black Stars are still the least ranked country heading into the 2022 World Cup.
On the continent, the Black Stars are ranked 11th, with Senegal maintaining top spot. Morocco, Tunisia, Nigeria and Algeria complete Africa’s top five. The next FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking will be published on 22nd December 2022.
Notable facts about the latest rankings
Leader – Brazil (unchanged)
Moves into top 10 – None
Moves out of top 10 – None
Matches played in total – 172
Most matches played – Ghana (5)
Biggest move by points – Azerbaijan (plus 19.55)
Biggest move by places – Azerbaijan, Scotland (plus 5)
Biggest drop by points – North Macedonia (minus 16.69)
Biggest drop by places – Norway (minus 6)
Newly ranked teams – None
Teams that are no longer ranked – None
Inactive teams that are no longer ranked – None
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