August 19 – USA have returned to the top of the world women’s rankings thanks to their Olympic gold medal triumph over Brazil in Paris earlier this month.
Emma Hayes has got off to a golden start as USWNT boss, returning the Americans to the top spot after a gap of a year and knocking World Champions Spain off their perch, who lost 71 points after being knocked out by Brazil in the Olympic semi-finals and failing to beat Germany to Olympic bronze. Spain now sit third behind USA and England.
USA are joined by Nicaragua as the biggest winners of the FIFA rankings update, with both sides jumping up four places to first and 111th respectively.
Meanwhile, France have dropped to a record-low tenth place in the rankings after a disastrous Olympic campaign saw them earn an eight-place, 91-point drop to the lowest ranking since records begun. Regarded as the second best team in the world in the last update, their quarterfinal loss to then-ninth-ranked Brazil means they stay in the top ten by the skin of their teeth.
The French are joined by North Macedonia as the biggest losers, who dropped eight places to 131st in the world standings.
Despite not playing a single game since the last update due to complications with Team GB and Olympic football, England have jumped up to second place after France’s misfortune.
The rest of the top ten is made up of fourth-place Germany (2014 points), who landed a bronze medal at the Olympics, followed by Sweden (1986 points) in fifth and Canada (1982 points), who jumped up two places despite the ‘drone-spying’ controversy at the Olympics.
Japan (1974 points), silver medalists Brazil (1970 points) and Korea DPR (1944 points) place seventh, eighth and ninth, with France (1938 points) clinging to tenth place armed with a slender ten-point lead over the Netherlands (1928 points) in 11th.
After a difficult Olympic group stage, Nigeria remain the top-ranked CAF team at 36th in the world.
To see the full rankings, click here.
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at moc.l1735103382labto1735103382ofdlr1735103382owedi1735103382sni@g1735103382niwe.1735103382yrrah1735103382