February 21 – In a time of little international football Belgium have remained top of the FIFA ranking. Palestine moved up the ranking following their success in January’s Bangabandhu Cup.
There was no movement in the top 20 of the ranking. Only 15 friendlies were played since December, the last ranking. Belgium, for a thirteenth consecutive time, hold top spot. They first topped the ranking in September 2018 on the back of reaching the World Cup semi-finals. World champions France, in second place, and South American giants Brazil, in third place, complete the top three. The troops of Gary Southgate sit in fourth place.
Palestine moved up to 103rd, leapfrogging Estonia, Trinidad and Tobago, Mozambique and Kenya after winning the Bangabandhu Cup, They defeated Burundi in the final of the six-team tournament, that included Mauritius, Seychelles, Sri Lanka and the hosts Bangladesh as well.
Later this month, international football returns with, notably, the play-offs for Euro 2020 and the first matches in South America’s marathon qualification campaign for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Contact the writer of this story, Samindra Kunti, at moc.l1734786327labto1734786327ofdlr1734786327owedi1734786327sni@o1734786327fni1734786327