The latest FIFA women’s football rankings brought some tough news. Portugal found itself slipping down to 23rd place. This shift came after a challenging run in the recent European Championship. The team managed just one draw and suffered two defeats across their three group stage matches.
The new list, released this Thursday by football’s global governing body, shows a direct impact of tournament performance. Portugal was overtaken by Finland, now sitting at 22nd. Finland climbed four spots after their European Championship campaign. They finished that tournament with a win, a draw, and one loss, a slightly better outcome.
At the very top of the ladder, there’s a new queen of the football world. Spain, the reigning world champion, has taken the number one spot. They moved past the United States to claim the top position. It’s a surprising turn, especially since “La Roja” lost the European Championship final to England in a tight match, drawing 1-1 before falling 3-1 in a penalty shootout.
Speaking of England, the “Lionesses” successfully defended their European title. This victory helped them jump from fifth to fourth in the global women’s football pecking order. Their coach, Sarina Wiegman, now boasts an impressive record. She has won three European titles as a coach: two with England and one previously with the Netherlands.
The top three teams in the world are now Spain, followed by the United States, and then Sweden, who jumped up three spots. After them come England, Germany (who dropped two places), France (who climbed four), and Brazil (who surprisingly fell three spots despite winning the Copa América). Rounding out the top ten are Japan, Canada, and South Korea, each dropping one place.
Football fans can mark their calendars. The next FIFA women’s ranking update is scheduled for December 11.