What is the latest FIFA World Ranking? Which countries are considered among the world's 50 best football nations this month?

The much-criticized FIFA World Ranking developed a new criteria in the aftermath of the 2018 World Cup. In the hopes of presenting a more logic chart, World Football's governing body explained in their August 2018 FIFA Ranking press release:

"The formula, which was approved by the FIFA Council in June after a lengthy period of testing, relies on adding/subtracting points won or lost for a game to/from the previous points total rather than averaging game points over a given time period as in the previous version of the ranking.

"The changes, of which there are several, include the fact that inactive teams now preserve their points totals, with no devaluation of older games. Points are dropped, however, from losing or drawing against weaker opposition, with the only exception to this rule being matches in knockout rounds of major competitions such as the FIFA World Cup™."

Note: this article is updated on a monthly basis since the release of the new formula. Please scroll to the bottom to view the current Top 50 FIFA World Ranking.

April 2019 FIFA World Ranking

While the top five remains the same for the most part, there has been a change in position for England. After an impressive run in March that saw them score five goals in their opening two Euro 2020 qualifers, the Three Lions have moved up a spot, climbing into fourth. This means Croatia now resides in fifth while the first, second, and third spot still goes to Belgium, France, and Brazil.

The only other change in the top 10 saw Uruaguay move up a spot into sixth, bumping Portugal into seventh. Argentina remains in 11th while Germany has moved up three spots and is now the 13th ranked nation in the world.

Where is USA in the list and who is the biggest climber?

USMNT moved up a spot into 24th but still trail 18th-placed Mexico in the CONCACAF standings. As for the biggest climber, that honor goes to Istrael who advanced from 92nd to 84th.

February 2019 FIFA World Ranking

No changes in the world's Top 20 due to lack of international matches played since the start of the year. Qatar, however, came out as the biggest winners by jumping 38 places to occupy the 55th spot. The surprise 2019 AFC Asian Cup champions have gone levels ahead of their average 82nd position since the creation of the chart. Their Asian counterparts, Japan, also made the most of their Asian Cup runners-up status by going 23 places up, hence breaking into the world's Top 30.

Elsewhere Panama, who lost 3-0 to the USMNT in January, slipped five places onto 76th but the U.S. (25th) and Mexico (17th) keep their title as second and first respectively in the CONCACAF zone. In Africa, it's bad news all over as continental leaders Senegal (24th), Tunisia (28th), Morocco (43rd), Nigeria (46th), Congo (51st), Ghana (52nd), and all the other countries in CAF's 16 best ranked nations have all gone one, two or three places down in the February 2019 FIFA World Ranking. 


November 2018 FIFA World Ranking

It's an unchanged Top 10 in the November 2018 FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking but Portugal, now sixth, have traded their seventh spot with CONMEBOL's Uruguay. 

There's good news for the Messi-less Argentines who leapfrogged Colombia into 11th and reduced the gap over Denmark to seven points only. Elsewhere, the Senegalese (23rd) are the highest-ranked African nation. The United States complete the list of the 25 best football nations according to the chart.

Tunisia, whose performance at the FIFA World Cup was abysmal, recorded the biggest demotion by point (22). However, no country did worse than Benin and Russia in November 2018. Both dropped seven places. 

The FIFA World Ranking's Top 50 can be viewed at the bottom of this article.


October 2018 FIFA World Ranking

France's dominance atop the world ranking did not last for too long. World Cup 2018 bronze medalist Belgium have dethroned Les Bleus, according to FIFA's criteria. 

In the UEFA Nations League, both France and Belgium are doing well. With a game in hand, the Red Devils are poised to open a three-point lead over Switzerland (6) and Iceland (0) in League A's Group 2. In Group 1, the World Cup champions kept the Netherlands and Germany in check on Matchday 2 and 3 with 2-1 wins. French and Belgian football is enjoying an era of young talents and solid results.

Meanwhile, Neymar's Brazil (3rd), Luka Modric's Croatia (4th), Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal (7th), Switzerland, Spain, and Denmark have not moved places in the October 2018 edition of the FIFA Ranking's top 10. 

Where are Mexico and USA in CONCACAF and the world?

It's minus one for both. El Tri is now 16th in the world while the USMNT has fallen into the 23rd position. Costa Rica (37th), Jamaica (53rd), and Honduras (62nd) did not record any move. They wrap up CONCACAF's list of the five best-placed nations. 

Changes in the CONMEBOL zone

Whereas Argentina (12th) keep further dropping out of the Top 10, Colombia are diligently making their way into it. James Rodriguez's side, third in South America, has jumped three places and now occupies the 11th position on the FIFA Men's Ranking.

Where are African nations in the FIFA Men's Ranking?

There's a little bit of good news for Nigeria who have gone four places up. However, they remain only 44th on the chart while the highest-ranked African nation is Tunisia (22nd) who are still outside the Top 20. Senegal maintain their second spot in the CAF zone which translates into 25th in the world. Congo DR (46th) and Morocco (47th) complete CAF's Top 5.

When is the release of the next FIFA Men's Ranking?

The next edition of the FIFA Men's ranking is scheduled for November 29, 2018. AFC's Top 4 -- made of World Cup 2018 participants Iran (30th), Australia (42nd), Japan (50th), and Korea Republic (53rd) -- will be hoping to continue their ascension in the standings come next month. 


September 2018 FIFA World Ranking

For the first time in history, FIFA has two teams sharing the number one spot in their world ranking!

What does the Top 10 look like in September 2018?

Belgium has moved up one place to join France at the number one spot, becoming the joint-highest ranked nation in the world in the month of September. There were little changes elsewhere, with England retaining the sixth spot. Denmark has been overtaken by Spain, with the Scandinavian side moving into 10th. Germany has moved from 15th to 12th to edge closer to a top-10 return.

How are Mexico and USA doing in September 2018?

Mexico continues to lead the CONCACAF table, moving up one spot to 15th in the world. USA, on the other hand, has not moved at all and remains in the 22nd position.


August 2018 FIFA World Ranking

After conquering the world in Russia, Les Bleus have also conquered the FIFA World Ranking for the first time since 2002! 

Who is in and out of the Top 10 in August 2018?

With the new system, reigning world champions France have moved from 6th to 1st on the table. World Cup 2018 runners-up Croatia and fourth-placed England have, along with Uruguay and Denmark, broken into the Top 10. Meanwhile, Last 16 victims Argentina have joined fellow South American side Chile out of the Top 10. Germany and Poland, who both surprisingly crashed out of Russia 2018 in the group stages, also follow the Albiceleste and La Roja out of August's FIFA World Ranking Top 10.

Where are Mexico and USA ranked in August 2018?

The two CONCACAF heavyweights head the ranking in the CONCACAF zone. El Tri, who yet again suffered a Round of 16 World Cup elimination, are 16th in the world but 1st in their region. The USMNT, meanwhile, must content themselves with the 22nd position in the world after missing out on this year's biggest sports tournament.

What is the current FIFA World Ranking Top 50?

RankNegaraPoin+/-Pos.
0Bahamas Women11110
 
0Afghanistan Women8840
 
0Iraq Women8730
 
0Kuwait Women8700
 
0Qatar Women8640
 
0Macau Women8130
 
0Libya Women7610
 
0Chad Women11210
 
0Central African Republic Women11000
 
0Eritrea Women10600
 
0Cape Verde Islands Women9510
 
0Saudi Arabia Women8450
 
0Gibraltar Women8130
 
0Sudan Women7650
 
0Liechtenstein Women5690
 
0Djibouti Women5400
 
1Brazil18411
 
1USA Women20871
 
2Belgium18172
 
2Sweden Women20663
 
3Argentina17743
 
3Germany Women20652
 
4France17604
 
4England Women20524
 
5England17285
 
5France Women20235
 
6Italy17267
 
6Spain Women19988
 
7Spain17156
 
7Canada Women19977
 
8Netherlands16958
 
8Netherlands Women19956
 
9Portugal16779
 
9Brazil Women19909
 
10Denmark166710
 
10Korea DPR Women194010
 
11Germany165011
 
11Japan Women191811
 
12Croatia164615
 
12Norway Women191113
 
13Mexico164512
 
13Australia Women190312
 
14Uruguay163913
 
14Italy Women186515
 
15Switzerland163616
 
15China Women186316
 
16USA162714
 
16Iceland Women185114
 
17Colombia161117
 
17Korea Republic Women184918
 
18Senegal158418
 
18Denmark Women184717
 
19Wales157019
 
19Austria Women179420
 
20Iran156522
 
20Belgium Women179119
 
21Serbia156425
 
21Switzerland Women177821
 
22Morocco156423
 
22New Zealand Women174422
 
23Peru156121
 
23Portugal Women174227
 
24Japan156024
 
24Ireland Republic Women173926
 
25Sweden155320
 
25Scotland Women172823
 
26Poland154926
 
26Russia Women171724
 
27Ukraine153727
 
27Colombia Women170625
 
28Korea Republic153028
 
28Czech Republic Women168928
 
29Chile151029
 
29Argentina Women166031
 
30Tunisia150830
 
30Finland Women165529
 
31Costa Rica150434
 
31Wales Women165330
 
32Nigeria149831
 
32Poland Women165232
 
33Russia149635
 
33Ukraine Women164534
 
34Austria149333
 
34Vietnam Women164433
 
35Czech Republic149232
 
35Mexico Women162336
 
36Hungary149237
 
36Serbia Women162335
 
37Algeria148941
 
37Costa Rica Women160537
 
38Australia148939
 
38Chile Women158439
 
39Egypt148640
 
39Romania Women158140
 
40Scotland148045
 
40Chinese Taipei Women158138
 
41Canada147543
 
41Thailand Women155541
 
42Norway147336
 
42Slovenia Women154945
 
43Cameroon147138
 
43Jamaica Women154542
 
44Ecuador146444
 
44Hungary Women154344
 
45Turkey146042
 
45Nigeria Women153846
 
46Mali144946
 
46Slovakia Women153443
 
47Paraguay144950
 
47Uzbekistan Women152447
 
48Côte d'Ivoire144352
 
48Myanmar Women151848
 
49Ireland Republic144047
 
49Northern Ireland Women151650
 
50Qatar144048
 
50Papua New Guinea Women151249
 
51Saudi Arabia143853
 
51Paraguay Women150951
 
52Greece143849
 
52Venezuela Women149452
 
53Romania143554
 
53Philippines Women148353
 
54Burkina Faso143255
 
54South Africa Women146254
 
55Slovakia142651
 
55Belarus Women144755
 
56Finland140659
 
56Haiti Women144656
 
57Venezuela140456
 
57Panama Women143357
 
58Bosnia and Herzegovina140457
 
58Cameroon Women141759
 
59Northern Ireland139758
 
59Ghana Women141760
 
60Panama139361
 
60Croatia Women141062
 
61Ghana139360
 
61India Women140658
 
62Iceland138463
 
62Greece Women140461
 
63Slovenia138465
 
63Bosnia and Herzegovina Women139263
 
64Jamaica137962
 
64Côte d'Ivoire Women137964
 
65North Macedonia135964
 
65Jordan Women137566
 
66Albania135466
 
66Uruguay Women137468
 
67South Africa135068
 
67Turkey Women137367
 
68Iraq134370
 
68Ecuador Women137165
 
69Montenegro134167
 
69Iran Women136570
 
70United Arab Emirates133869
 
70Israel Women136169
 
71Cape Verde Islands133673
 
71Fiji Women134672
 
72Bulgaria133574
 
72Equatorial Guinea Women134473
 
73Congo DR133472
 
73Albania Women134271
 
74El Salvador133171
 
74Peru Women133474
 
75Oman132075
 
75Trinidad and Tobago Women131875
 
76Israel131776
 
76Morocco Women131676
 
77Uzbekistan131077
 
77Hong Kong Women131477
 
78Georgia130782
 
78Tunisia Women129978
 
79China130578
 
79Azerbaijan Women129681
 
80Honduras130280
 
80Algeria Women128879
 
81Gabon130279
 
81Zambia Women128380
 
82Bolivia129681
 
82Mali Women127382
 
83Guinea129083
 
83Guatemala Women126083
 
84Jordan129086
 
84Senegal Women125884
 
85Bahrain128185
 
85Laos Women125885
 
86Curaçao127984
 
86Bahrain Women125486
 
87Haiti126988
 
87Guyana Women124888
 
88Zambia126787
 
88Malta Women123691
 
89Uganda126190
 
89Malaysia Women123290
 
90Syria125689
 
90Egypt Women123093
 
91Benin124791
 
91Montenegro Women122487
 
92Luxembourg124493
 
92Bulgaria Women122492
 
93Armenia123492
 
93Tonga Women122194
 
94Palestine123494
 
94Guam Women121896
 
95Kyrgyzstan123095
 
95Cuba Women121897
 
96Vietnam122797
 
96Estonia Women1217106
 
97Belarus122196
 
97Indonesia Women1214101
 
98Equatorial Guinea121698
 
98Bolivia Women121398
 
99Samoa Women121299
 
100Congo120999
 
100Kazakhstan Women120689
 
101Kenya1202102
 
101Faroe Islands Women1204100
 
102Madagascar1201105
 
102Lithuania Women120195
 
103Mauritania1198107
 
103Nepal Women1195102
 
104Trinidad and Tobago1195101
 
104Puerto Rico Women1187103
 
105New Zealand1194103
 
105Solomon Islands Women1181105
 
106India1192104
 
106New Caledonia Women1176107
 
107Kosovo1187106
 
107Tahiti Women1175108
 
108Tajikistan1186109
 
108Cook Islands Women1175109
 
109Estonia1185110
 
109Dominican Republic Women1173110
 
110Cyprus1184108
 
110Moldova Women1169111
 
111Thailand1175111
 
111Kosovo Women1166113
 
112Korea DPR1170112
 
112Congo Women1161114
 
113Kazakhstan1167114
 
113Congo DR Women1159115
 
114Mozambique1165116
 
114United Arab Emirates Women1158104
 
115Namibia1164117
 
115Nicaragua Women1158116
 
116Guinea-Bissau1161115
 
116Luxembourg Women1150117
 
117Sierra Leone1160113
 
117El Salvador Women1149118
 
118Guatemala1157118
 
118Honduras Women1146119
 
119Angola1156120
 
119Latvia Women1142112
 
120Libya1154121
 
120Cambodia Women1142120
 
121Niger1153119
 
121Togo Women1138121
 
122Faroe Islands1147125
 
122Vanuatu Women1133122
 
123Azerbaijan1147127
 
123Gambia Women1124123
 
124Malawi1145122
 
124Cyprus Women1121124
 
125Zimbabwe1139123
 
125Kyrgyzstan Women1121125
 
126Gambia1137124
 
126Ethiopia Women1118127
 
127Togo1129126
 
127Zimbabwe Women1116127
 
128Sudan1127127
 
128Georgia Women1113126
 
129Comoros1123127
 
129Mongolia Women1112127
 
130Tanzania1120127
 
130Palestine Women1099127
 
131Antigua and Barbuda1117127
 
131North Macedonia Women1096127
 
132Central African Republic1117127
 
132St. Kitts and Nevis Women1091127
 
133Philippines1115127
 
133Suriname Women1089127
 
134Latvia1114127
 
135Turkmenistan1100127
 
135Gabon Women1080127
 
136Solomon Islands1096127
 
136Guinea Women1079127
 
137Rwanda1094127
 
137Turkmenistan Women1075127
 
138Ethiopia1091127
 
138Sierra Leone Women1074127
 
139Suriname1077127
 
139Armenia Women1068127
 
140St. Kitts and Nevis1077127
 
140Bangladesh Women1055127
 
141Burundi1076127
 
141Burkina Faso Women1051127
 
142Nicaragua1072127
 
143Eswatini1071127
 
143Angola Women1037127
 
144Lithuania1070127
 
144Tajikistan Women1034127
 
145Hong Kong1062127
 
145American Samoa Women1030127
 
146Malaysia1062127
 
146Benin Women1021127
 
147Lesotho1061127
 
147Namibia Women1012127
 
148Botswana1056127
 
148Bermuda Women1008127
 
149Kuwait1053127
 
149Kenya Women992127
 
150Liberia1050127
 
150Botswana Women984127
 
151Andorra1035127
 
151St. Lucia Women982127
 
152Indonesia1034127
 
152Tanzania Women980127
 
153Dominican Republic1032127
 
153Timor-Leste Women974127
 
154Maldives1026127
 
154Barbados Women967127
 
155Yemen1024127
 
155Sri Lanka Women955127
 
156Afghanistan1023127
 
156Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Women951127
 
157Chinese Taipei1018127
 
157Syria Women9430
 
158Myanmar1008127
 
158Malawi Women941127
 
159Papua New Guinea1007127
 
159Maldives Women939127
 
160Pakistan Women9280
 
161New Caledonia996127
 
161Uganda Women924127
 
162Tahiti995127
 
162Dominica Women911127
 
163Fiji989127
 
163Rwanda Women895127
 
164Vanuatu986127
 
164Liberia Women891127
 
165South Sudan984127
 
165Seychelles Women885127
 
166Barbados982127
 
166Niger Women878127
 
167Cuba979127
 
167Cayman Islands Women854127
 
168Malta978127
 
168Grenada Women849127
 
169Bermuda977127
 
169Lesotho Women847127
 
170Puerto Rico974127
 
170Belize Women840127
 
171Guyana969127
 
171Guinea-Bissau Women835127
 
172St. Lucia966127
 
172Mozambique Women820127
 
173Grenada964127
 
173Antigua and Barbuda Women804127
 
174Moldova961127
 
174Burundi Women799127
 
175Nepal955127
 
175Eswatini Women799127
 
176Belize951127
 
176U.S. Virgin Islands Women793127
 
177Cambodia949127
 
177Bhutan Women777127
 
178Saint Vincent and the Grenadines945127
 
178Curaçao Women771127
 
179Montserrat941127
 
179Andorra Women751127
 
180Mauritius932127
 
180British Virgin Islands Women736127
 
181Chad930127
 
181Aruba Women729127
 
182Macau922127
 
182Comoros Women725127
 
183Mongolia914127
 
183Madagascar Women691127
 
184Dominica912127
 
184Anguilla Women688127
 
185Bhutan911127
 
185Turks and Caicos Islands Women665127
 
186Sao Tome e Principe908127
 
186South Sudan Women650127
 
187Laos906127
 
187Mauritius Women363127
 
188American Samoa900127
 
189Cook Islands899127
 
190Brunei Darussalam898127
 
191Samoa894127
 
192Bangladesh884127
 
193Djibouti875127
 
194Pakistan867127
 
195Cayman Islands866127
 
196Liechtenstein862127
 
197Tonga862127
 
198Timor-Leste860127
 
199Seychelles860127
 
200Eritrea856127
 
201Aruba855127
 
202Bahamas855127
 
203Somalia855127
 
204Gibraltar852127
 
205Guam838127
 
206Turks and Caicos Islands832127
 
207Sri Lanka825127
 
208U.S. Virgin Islands824127
 
209British Virgin Islands809127
 
210Anguilla791127
 
211San Marino762127