[worldsoccer-Jeff]

The new FIFA Coca-Cola Rankings are out. The rankings itself is not worth much, me thinks. However, the is one group that likes them alot, FIFA. As posted before, the Coca-Cola Rankings are a vital part of the formula used by FIFA to seed teams at the World Cup. Once again, I have crunched the numbers and this is the real FIFA rankings.

Seeding Rankings for the FIFA 2006 World Cup
update-April 23, 2003

1. Brazil.....................42.33
2. Germany................38.50
3. Spain.....................31.50
4. England..................30.17
5. Italy.......................29.83
6. Mexico....................29.00
7. Denmark.................27.17
8. Argentina................26.33
9. USA........................26.00
10. France..................24.67
11. Netherlands...........23.33
12. Turkey..................23.33
13. Korea Rep.............22.67
14. Belgium................21.83
15. Paraguay..............19.50

The new FIFA rankings have not changed the seedings much from last month. Argentina's two place drop is a big help to the USA. The gap between Argentina and the USA is now down to one place in the FIFA Rankings. England's has moved up in both rankings.

Also, I have drop Russia and added Sweden as the last UEFA team to be included.

All of this is very early. The FIFA Confederations Cup will play a big role in the FIFA Rankings. The USA can jump as many as three or more spots in the rankings and pass Argentina and prehaps Denmark.

This is just a update. I have already had lengthy debates in other threads, but if you have questions, just post them.

[sch2383]

We are higher than France, thats all that matters.

[scoonie45]

if there's one ranking system in all of sports that is more useless than the FIFA rankings, I've yet to be made aware. anyone who thinks the USMNT could beat France in a home and home is kidding themselves, and the same is true for Mexico vs. France or England or whoever else. they're worthless and misleanding.

[worldsoccer-Jeff]

Originally posted by scoonie45
if there's one ranking system in all of sports that is more useless than the FIFA rankings, I've yet to be made aware. anyone who thinks the USMNT could beat France in a home and home is kidding themselves, and the same is true for Mexico vs. France or England or whoever else. they're worthless and misleanding.

I agree 100%, but that's not the point. The FIFA rankings are worthless to everyone on Earth, except for FIFA. And seeing how it's FIFA that runs the show, what's importiant to them should be importaint to us.

Ignoring the FIFA Rankings is like a college football coach saying, "I think the BCS ranking is crap. The BCS is misleading." Now, coach might be right. But if coach wants to keep his job he will be sure to do what it takes to impress the poll voters and jack up his computer ratings in order to be 1 or 2 at the end of the year.

The FIFA rankings are the same. Totally worthless to everyone except the people who matter.

[worldsoccer-Jeff]

BTW, you may note that I did not post the FIFA rankings. I posted the seeding ranking for the next world cup. FIFA does not release them. However the formula is know and I have imputed the new FIFA rankings with the other numbers.

This is, thankfully, the only place that the FIFA rankings effect anything on the field

[MarioKempes]

Originally posted by scoonie45
if there's one ranking system in all of sports that is more useless than the FIFA rankings, I've yet to be made aware. anyone who thinks the USMNT could beat France in a home and home is kidding themselves, and the same is true for Mexico vs. France or England or whoever else. they're worthless and misleanding.

Yes, the rankings are misleading. No, they aren't worthless. And I do believe that the US could win a home and home with France. Would they? Possibly. But they definitely could. And the US certainly played better than France in J/K.

[RevdUp]

Originally posted by scoonie45
if there's one ranking system in all of sports that is more useless than the FIFA rankings, I've yet to be made aware. anyone who thinks the USMNT could beat France in a home and home is kidding themselves, and the same is true for Mexico vs. France or England or whoever else. they're worthless and misleanding.

??
Do you think Cameroon can beat France??

[Bruce S]

Originally posted by worldsoccer-Jeff
BTW, you may note that I did not post the FIFA rankings. I posted the seeding ranking for the next world cup. FIFA does not release them. However the formula is know and I have imputed the new FIFA rankings with the other numbers.

This is, thankfully, the only place that the FIFA rankings effect anything on the field

Jeff, I believe that seedings at the WC take into account performances from the last several WCs. Hence, there is approximately ZERO chance that we will be seeded at the next WC. Zero, as in 000000000000000000000000000000000000000000.
It is a shame to spread disinformation like this that will work up the spleen of posters.

[Davids26]

Originally posted by Bruce S
Jeff, I believe that seedings at the WC take into account performances from the last several WCs. Hence, there is approximately ZERO chance that we will be seeded at the next WC. Zero, as in 000000000000000000000000000000000000000000.
It is a shame to spread disinformation like this that will work up the spleen of posters.

Bruce I believe you're mistaken. If you remember back to before Korea/Japan, the seeded teams were Korea, Japan, Brazil, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and Argentina.

We all might not remember how England wasn't exactly happy that they were not a seeded team seeing as how they had won a World Cup before, and Spain has always been known for underachieving in the tournament. They couldn't figure out how the Spaniards were seeded and they weren't. Then they read the fine print and saw that the FIFA rankings determined the seeds for the World Cup and they weren't based on past performances. Which if you think about it in principle is a good idea seeing as how England's World Cup triumph was 36 years before Korea/Japan.

The point I'm trying to make is that unless FIFA changes what they did in 2002 (which is possible) the FIFA rankings will be the deciding factor in the teams seeded for the World Cup Draw.

[um_chili]

Originally posted by worldsoccer-Jeff
I have crunched the numbers and this is the real FIFA rankings.

Thanks for the info Jeff. For those who dismiss out of hand the possibility that the US could be seeded in the next WC, it's important to remember that seedings are a result of a formula, not anyone's opinion about "merit."

On that note, Jeff, could you tell us briefly what the formula FIFA uses for seedings is? If I recall correctly, it's FIFA rankings, then performance in the last three wc's, then perhaps something else. Regardless, as you pointed out above, there's plenty of time to go and much can happen in the interim. A bad showing in the Confeds Cup could sink us.