August 12 – After a long period of covid-inactivity, international has exploded over the summer with Euro 2020, the 2020 Copa America, the 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup, as well as qualifiers for Qatar 2022.
A total of 348 international matches have been played since the last FIFA ranking, resulting in a number of significant changes.
Although Belgium were knocked out in the quarter finals of Euro 2020, they have hung on to their top spot. Previously second ranked France – who like Belgium didn’t progress to the final Euro 2020 rounds – swopped positions with Copa America finalists Brazil.
Argentina, who bet Brazil in the final, moved up two places to sixth in the ranking. Euro 2020 winners Italy saw the biggest points move in the rankings as they climbed into fifth spot.
The rankings are particularly notable for the move by Concacaf’s Gold Cup finalists into the top 10. The winners the USA (something of a surprise having released a number of key players before the finals), jumped up 10 places to 10th, while the losing finalists Mexico move up two place to ninth.
The Gold Cup proved to be very competitive and Asian champions Qatar, who were guesting in the competition, benefitted from a run that saw them knocked out by the US in the semi-final. However, their performances were impressive enough to move them up 16 places in the ranking to 41 – still probably well below the position they would command if the ranking was on current form only.
FIFA Rankings at 12 August 2021
To see the full rankings click here.
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