Defending World and European champions Germany still top the FIFA Women's World Ranking, despite a challenge from the USA who are ranked second and trail Silvia Neid's team by only 30 points. There are no changes in the top four, with Norway and Brazil third and fourth respectively. However, the remaining six teams in the top ten have shifted slightly, most notably France (5th) who climb two places to make it into the top five. Korea DPR (7th) drop one place, while China PR (8th) improve their ranking by one position. This year's Algarve Cup has already had an effect on the ranking; Germany underlined their domination at international level with 5-0 and 3-0 wins over Finland and Sweden respectively. Meanwhile, the USA defeated Denmark, but only managed a goalless draw with China PR, who have seen former FIFA Women's World Player runner-up Sun Wen return to the fold. Norway's loss of 35 rating points in this edition of the ranking may be explained by their two draws with Sweden and Finland in Portugal earlier this month. Elsewhere in the ranking, Senegal jump a huge 14 ranks to 80th, gaining the most rating points in the process (+101). Morocco (58th) make a welcome return to the FIFA Women's World Ranking, whilst Equatorial Guinea (119th) appear for the first time. The ranking currently features 125 teams, who are evaluated according to a number of factors, including match results, home advantage, significance of match and strength of opposition. The ranking is published four times per year. According to the Big Count survey published by FIFA in 2001, 22 million women and girls around the world play football. Complete ranking : http://www.fifa.com/en/womens/statistics/index/0,1624,All-13,00.html
I don´t care so much about rankings. Football matches are decided on pitch and not on paper. That´s an impressive number. I think most of them play at US colleges.
I just noticed that none of the teams that participated in the West Asian Women's Championship got included into the rankings. How many matches does it take to get into the rankings. Jordan has played more then their share of matches and should be included. Bahrain, Iran, Syria & Palestine played four matches in that tournament. Maybe the Arab Championship will help to put these teams in the next rankings.
Jordan must play against a country that is already ranked to get into the rankings . All these Arab countries you mention are not ranked and just playing against other non ranked nations will never let them be ranked. If they meet countries like Egypt , Algeria and Morocco in the Arab Championship they can get ranked
Seeing Senegal jumping up is good news. Seeing Senegal reminds me that as the civil wars in some countries in Africa have stopped and reconstruction continues, we can only hope that there will be more investment in sports for women in particular, soccer. While it's not nearly as important as education and health, of course, it would be nice too. I hope this year's participation of Angola and Cote d'Ivoire will be a turning point for sports in both of those countries. Angola's situation is normalizing but they still need a lot of help. Same thing with Côte d'Ivoire. Still a lot of problems there but I hope this surge of interest in soccer will benefit the women. But first let's educate them and keep them in good health. I hope Liberia will be another example of a country getting back on its feet and where women's soccer may flourish in sub-Sahara Africa. I'm encouraged by the participation in more events by the teams in the Maghreb and the rest of the Arab world.
European teams make progress (FIFA.com) 19 May 2006 The latest FIFA Women's World Ranking sees FIFA World Cup holders and reigning European champions Germany remain in pole position ahead of Olympic champions the USA, whose two wins over Japan help to reduce the gap by a quarter. The most significant gain by any of the high fliers is recorded by Sweden (5th, up 1), who head their FIFA World Cup qualifying group thanks to two recent victories and seem almost to have guaranteed their ticket to next year's FIFA Women's World Cup in China PR. After making their first ever top 5 appearance in the March ranking, France (6th, down 1) are forced to make way for their Scandinavian rivals. Behind the elite teams, up-and-coming European nations are among the most notable climbers in terms of points and rankings. Finland (16th, no change) take 21 points to close in on Australia, Spain (20th, no change) gain 15 points, while Scotland (27th, up 2) add 34 to their points total. However, even that impressive achievement is overshadowed by the Slovenians (62nd, up 9). who secure 39 points thanks to resounding victories over neighbours Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina to boost their overall position in the ranking. Lower down the list, Equatorial Guinea, who only made their debut in the ranking in March, have reason to celebrate thanks to a FIFA World Cup qualifier victory that catapults them into the top 100 (89th, up 30). Now including a record 129 teams, the most since its introduction in July 2003, the ranking is drawn up on the basis of a range of factors including result, home advantage, importance of match and opponents' strength. It appears four times a year. According to the Big Count survey conducted by FIFA in 2001, 22 million women and girls around the world play football. - The next FIFA Women's World Ranking will be published on 15 September 2006. http://www.fifa.com/en/womens/statistics/index/0,1624,118028,00.html?articleid=118028
FIFA Ranking May : http://www.fifa.com/en/womens/statistics/index/0,1624,All-14,00.html 6 new countries : Netherland Antilles, Aruba, Antigua/Barbuda, St Kitts/Nevis, Lebanon and Tunisia. Tunisia enter on number 86 after many good matches in the Arab Women`s Championship. Two countries dropping out : Botswana and Swaziland.
I was hoping for a few more African countries. I think the following countries should have been added: Benin, Ivory Coast, Kenya & Togo. Togo played four matches for this tournament was has played in previous championships as well. Benin & Kenya should definitly be added for the next rankings since they will participate in the next round.
Yes, true about Tunisia. There is a big gulf between some of the teams on display in the AWC. I see that Morocco is still in it for a spot in the World Cup. Still a ways to go too.
When FIFA changes its ranking system for the men will they change it for the women as well? How do you think that will affect the rankings?
The Men`s rankings are now more like the Women`s rankings. Womens rankings have had a period of 4 years like the men will have from July. I have no information about a change in the Women`s rankings.
it's very difficult to determine the relative weights to assign to a confederation in the female game.... concacaf has 3 sides, usa, canada, mexico of considerable value, but the rest are difficult to rate....are they like the 2nd line african sides, discounting nigeria and ghana...who knows... uefa has more good sides, but are they superior to concacaf, collectively... and south america, brasil is dominant, while argentina is improving, where does the rest of comnebol fit.... the federation factor appiled in the mens game has more stability... because there are so few matches between the lesser lights of the female game, a true metric is hard to establish
New FIFA ranking for September : Top 20 : 1 Germany 0 2223 5 2 USA 0 2200 3 3 Norway 0 2062 -7 4 Brazil 0 2053 0 5 Sweden 0 2032 7 6 France 0 2007 -13 7 Korea DPR 0 1999 0 8 China PR 0 1989 8 9 Denmark 0 1955 -19 10 Italy 0 1932 -12 10 Canada 1 1932 23 12 England 0 1921 13 13 Japan 0 1916 9 14 Russia 0 1911 24 15 Australia 0 1892 26 16 Finland 0 1876 14 17 Ukraine 2 1834 29 18 Netherlands -1 1815 -10 19 Czech Republic 2 1805 37 20 Spain 0 1793 0 http://www.fifa.com/en/womens/statistics/index/0,1624,All-15,00.html
New FIFA ranking for December : 1 Germany 0 2229 6 2 USA 0 2184 -17 3 Norway 0 2075 13 4 Sweden 1 2037 2 5 North Korea 2 2024 25 6 Brazil -2 2016 -37 7 France -1 1991 -16 8 Denmark 1 1975 20 9 China -1 1970 -19 10 Japan 3 1950 34 http://www.fifa.com/en/womens/statistics/index/0,1624,All-16,00.html http://www.fifa.com/en/womens/statistics/index/0,1624,128410,00.html?articleid=128410
A record high for amount of teams at 140. Jordan, Luxemburg, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Guinea-Bissau & Comoros were all added & Turkey returned to the rankings. Indonesia is no longer ranked.
FIFA Ranking Method http://www.fifa.com/en/womens/statistics/rank/procedures.html?static=2 I'm wondering about those teams that do not play during a quarterly ranking period. Do they automatically lose points?
There is bound to be more juggling for position in the next three rankings before the WC as teams play lots of games in preparation. But I don't think we will see much change in the top 10.
I agree with you toepunt. At the Algarve Cup alone four of the top eight National Teams are scheduled to play each other just in Group B. March 7, 2007 France (FRA) : Denmark (DEN) Germany (GER) : Norway (NOR) March 9, 2007 France (FRA) : Germany (GER) Norway (NOR) : Denmark (DEN) March 12, 2007 Norway (NOR) : France (FRA) Denmark (DEN) : Germany (GER)
Re: FIFA Ranking Method Every result within 4 years count , but I believe they lose points for a match gradually after 1, 2 and 3 years after a match is played.
Thumbs down. What a shock. the Matildas are still ranked 15th, after finishing second to China at the 2006 AFC Wmen's Asian Cup. An overhaul should be in order for next year.
Maybe because 5 World Cup/Gold Cup wins from 2003 dropping out from the rankings and USA only played two World Cup qualifiers this time and one was a draw at ordinary time ?
The quality, or lack thereof, of the opposition is an important factor in the calculation of points. I believe.