Thursday 09 March 2017, 08:55

Status quo maintained as South Americans stay top

With only four 'A' international games considered for the March edition there are few changes in the latest FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking. South American heavyweights Argentina and Brazil remain in first and second respectively, while reigning FIFA World Cup™ champions Germany stay third.

The top 20 are unchanged from February except for two notable exceptions. Poland (12, plus 2) reached their best ever world ranking, joining Wales in joint 12th position for March. Egypt meanwhile (20, plus 3), broke into the top 20 while Iceland (23, minus 3) fell  thanks largely to a 1-0 defeat in a friendly against Mexico played on 8 February. An honourable mention goes to Burkina Faso (36, plus 2) who, like Poland, reached their best ever position in the Ranking.

Top 50 unchallengedThere were several small changes across the top 50 for March. Most notably three teams improved their position by three or more ranks: Egypt (20, plus 3), Senegal (28, plus 3) and the Czech Republic (42, plus 4). With no new teams breaking into the top 50, last month’s regional composition remains untouched: UEFA has 26 top 50 teams, CAF 11, CONMEBOL 8, CONCACAF 3, AFC 2 and OFC 0.

February’s continental leaders claimed the same honours for March: Argentina (1, unchanged), Germany (3, unchanged), Mexico (17, unchanged), Egypt (20, plus 3), Iran (33, minus 1), and New Zealand (112, minus 1).

The next FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking will be published on 6 April 2017.

Leader

Argentina (unchanged)

Moves into top 10

none

Moves out of top 10

none

Matches played in total

4

Most matches played

Andorra, Bermuda, Canada, Honduras, Iceland, Jamaica, Mexico, San Marino (1 match each)

Biggest move by points

Burkina Faso (plus 42 points)

Biggest move by ranks

Suriname (plus 9 ranks)

Biggest drop by points

Myanmar (minus 30 points)

Biggest drop by ranks

Myanmar (minus 13 ranks)

Newly ranked teams

none

Teams that are no longer ranked

none

Inactive teams, not ranked

none