Aug 25 – In a seismic shift, Sweden has ended the United States’ more than six-year reign atop the FIFA women’s rankings, following their historic victory at the World Cup. Spain, riding high after their maiden World Cup triumph, also made significant strides by surpassing the U.S. to secure the second position in the rankings.
Spain’s remarkable ascent propelled them from sixth to second place, firmly relegating the U.S. to the third spot. While England, the tournament runners-up, and France, who reached the quarter-finals, retained their fourth and fifth positions respectively in the latest rankings unveiled on Friday.
Sweden, initially positioned at third before the World Cup, has now etched their name alongside Germany as the only teams to have commanded the top spot in the rankings. This accomplishment followed their compelling victory over co-hosts Australia, where they secured the bronze medal.
The United States, holders of the number one position since June 2017 and the victors of consecutive World Cups in 2015 and 2019, faced an unprecedented dip. This marks the first instance since the introduction of FIFA rankings in 2003 that the U.S. finds itself outside the top two spots.
The U.S. team’s World Cup journey took an unexpected turn as they were eliminated by Sweden in a dramatic shootout during the Round of 16, resulting in their poorest World Cup performance to date.
Despite their fourth-place finish at the World Cup, Australia encountered a dip in rankings, sliding down one position to the 11th spot. In contrast, Japan’s impressive quarter-final run allowed them to re-enter the top 10 at the eighth position. Co-hosts New Zealand, however, held their ground at 26th after their group stage exit.
Germany experienced a decline, dropping four places to claim the sixth position, while Olympic champions Canada also slipped three spots to secure the 10th rank. Both teams faced unexpected setbacks as they failed to progress to the knockout stages of the competition.
A noteworthy mention goes to World Cup debutants Morocco, who staged a remarkable surge, advancing 14 places to secure the 58th spot in the rankings. This underlines their significant progress in the international women’s football arena.
The dynamic shifts in the FIFA women’s rankings reflect the evolving landscape of women’s football, where emerging forces challenge established norms and longstanding hierarchies. As teams continue to showcase their prowess on the global stage, the rankings serve as a testament to the sport’s growth and competitive spirit.
