The March 2014 FIFA World Ranking is out and there are no changes to the Top 5. Defending Copa America champions Uruguay have switched places with Europe’s Switzerland while Belgium have broken into the Top 10. Italy and Brazil remain eighth and ninth respectively.
In the Top 20, two teams have done big jumps: England are now 12th whereas Russia occupy the 19th place. There is good news for Mexico but bitter rivals USA have been demoted to 14th.
Surprisingly, Egypt who lost 7-3 on aggregate to Ghana in the CAF World Cup qualifying playoffs have made a massive jump. Ranked 26th, they are among the best three African nations in the world. Meanwhile, the United States’ group G contenders, Ghana, are still outside the Top 30 despite moving two places up.
Let's take a look at March 2014's five best placed teams in each zone, lined up respectively (in brackets, their world ranking).
CAF’s Top 5: Ivory Coast (24th); Algeria (25th); Egypt (26th); Cape Verde (33rd); Ghana (35th)
CONCACAF’s Top 5: USA (14th); Mexico (20th); Panama (29th); Costa Rica (34th); Honduras (36th)
CONMEBOL’s Top 5: Argentina (3rd); Colombia (5th); Uruguay (6th); Brazil (9th); Chile (15th)
OFC’s Top 5: New Zealand (90th); New Caledonia (118th); Tahiti (138th); Solomon Islands (165th); Vanuatu (180th)
AFC’s Top 5: Iran (42nd); Japan (48th); Uzbekistan (55th); Korea Republic (60th); UAE (61st)
UEFA’s Top 5: Spain (1st); Germany (2nd); Portugal (4th); Switzerland (7th); Italy (8th)
April 10, 2014 is the date set for the next FIFA Rankings. Where is your country ranked?
