Germany up to second, Spain back in top ten - FIFA/COCA-COLA WORLD RANKING
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There are some notable changes in the October edition of the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking. At the top, Germany (2nd, up 1) have reclaimed second spot and trail leaders Argentina (1st, unchanged) by just 18 points. Belgium (3rd, down 1) complete the top three. Other climbers in the top ten include Portugal (4th, up 2) and Spain (6th, up 5), while Colombia (5th, down 1) and Brazil (7th, down 2) have lost ground. Spain’s re-entry after three months is down to two wins in qualifiers for UEFA EURO 2016, while Wales (8th, up 1) and Austria (11th, up 2) have achieved their highest-ever rankings, with the latter having already qualified for next year’s tournament.
The biggest movers in the top 50 are Norway (34th, up 35) and Cape Verde Islands (41st, up 15). A number of teams outside the top 50 have also made big leaps, namely Liberia (95th, up 65), South Sudan (144th, up 54), Nicaragua (95th, up 44), the Central African Republic (126th, up 42), the Cook Islands (166th, up 39), Georgia (110th, up 37), American Samoa (164th, up 35), Samoa (162nd, up 34), Finland (64th, up 28), Mauritania (89th, up 25), Antigua and Barbuda (83rd, up 22), Aruba (115th, up 22) and Burundi (113th, up 21).
The results of 149 international 'A' matches have been taken into account in the October edition of the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking, of which 48 were World Cup qualifiers in the CONCACAF (12), Asia (30) and Oceania (6) zones, and 75 were qualifiers for confederation championships in Europe (50) and Africa (25). The other 26 matches were friendlies. This takes the total number of matches evaluated so far this year to 668.
The next FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking will be published on 5 November 2015.
Summary
Leader
Argentina (unchanged)
Moves into top ten
Spain (6th, up 5)
Moves out of top ten
Romania (13th, down 6)
Matches played in total
149
Most matches played
American Samoa, Cook Islands, Gabon, Samoa, Tonga (3 matches each)
Biggest move by points
Norway (up 243 points)
Biggest move by ranks
Liberia (up 65 ranks)
Biggest drop by points
Romania (down 134 points)
Biggest drop by ranks
Cyprus, FYR Macedonia (down 28 ranks each)