Argentina reclaim top honour, Chile reach all-time high - FIFA/COCA-COLA WORLD RANKING
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| AFP |
2014 FIFA World Cup™ runners-up Argentina are the new team at the top, according to the April 2016 edition of the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking.
La Albiceleste’s recent performances in World Cup qualifying have helped them end Belgium’s five-month-long reign at the summit of football’s world ranking which began when the Red Devils snatched pole position from Argentina back in November 2015. Close behind, Chile move into third (up two places), Colombia fourth (up four) and Uruguay jump to ninth (up two) to strengthen the South American grip on the top ten.
A total of 171 games have been taken into account for the April edition of the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking, which includes 51 qualifiers for Russia 2018, 60 continental qualifiers and 60 international friendlies.
Costa Rica (25th, up eight), Turkey (13th, up seven) and Mexico (16th, up six) have all enjoyed impressive gains near the top for April. A little further down the table, Australia (50th, up 17), Egypt (44th, up nine) and Norway (49th, up two) break into the top 50 at the expense of Trinidad and Tobago (53rd, down four), Serbia (55th, down five) and Finland (61st, down 15).
The two most outstanding performers for April hail from the African continent. Guinea-Bissau (up 45) have climbed the most positions by rank, while Morocco (131 points) enjoy the biggest move by virtue of points.
Celebration of firsts
A few teams will celebrate in April having registered their best-ever positions on the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking. Congratulations go to Chile (3rd, up two), Hungary (18th, up one), Northern Ireland (26th, up two), St Kitts and Nevis (92nd, up 29), Chad (97th, up 30), Kyrgyzstan (100th, up five), Guinea-Bissau (102nd, up 45), Belize (114th, up five), Philippines (116th, up 19) and Comoros (159th, up 14).
The next FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking will be published on 5 May 2016.
Summary
Leader
Argentina
Moves into top ten
Uruguay (9th, up 2)
Moves out of top ten
Austria (11th, down 1)
Matches played in total
171
Most matches played
El Salvador, Iraq, Panama, Syria, Trinidad and Tobago, United Arab Emirates (three matches each)
Biggest move by points
Morocco (plus 131 points)
Biggest move by ranks
Guinea-Bissau (up 45 ranks)
Biggest drop by points
Cape Verde Islands (minus 169 points)
Biggest drop by ranks
Aruba (down 24 ranks)