While USMNT have plummeted to 18th place, the 2010 World Cup champions Spain have made advancements in their road to reclaiming the number one spot from Germany

The latest Fifa world ranking has been released and European giants Germany retains their number one spot. The 2014 World Cup champions leapfrogged the 2010 champions Spain in the July rankings after beating Argentina 1-0 in the final at the famous Maracana stadium, and see their spot at the summit remain untouched.

The runners-up from the tournament in Brazil, Lionel Messi’s Argentina, strengthen their hold on second place, whilst the World Cup’s third-placed nation Netherlands remains in third.

James Rodriguez’s Colombia, which reached the quarter-final stage only to lose 2-1 to the host nation, is in fourth, Belgium fifth, and Luis Suarez’s Uruguay are in fifth.

La Furia Roja, who dropped out of this year’s World Cup in the group stage, are tied in seventh place with five-time champions Brazil. France are in the 10th position, FIFA World Cup, World Cup 2014, Fifa rankings, Germany, Argentina, Netherlands, Spain, USAPortugal are 11th, Chile 12th, with England unable to climb out of 20th.

The biggest changes came outside the top ten with the US national team dropping from 15 to 18, despite enjoying a successful tournament, reaching the round of 16.

Costa Rica’s record-breaking World Cup campaign, in which Los Ticos only missed out on a semi-final spot to Netherlands on penalty shootout, have seen themselves climb to 15. Croatia, who were ranked 17th in July, are now in 16th, whilst Mexico jump from 18 to 17.


CAF's Top 5: Algeria (24), Ivory Coast (25), Nigeria (33), Ghana (36), Egypt (38)


CONCACAF'S Top 5: Costa Rica (15), Mexico (17), USA (18), Honduras (43), Panama (63)


CONMEBOL's Top 5: Argentina (2), Colombia (4), Uruguay (6), Brazil (7), Chile (12)


AFC's Top 5: Japan (44), Iran (48), Uzbekistan (51), Jordan (56), Korea Republic (57)


UEFA'S Top 5: Germany (1), Netherlands (3), Belgium (5), Spain (7), Switzerland (9)