USWNT remains No. 1 in final FIFA rankings before 2023 women's World Cup begins
The U.S. women go into next month's World Cup as the No. 1 team in the world. Again.
The USWNT has been ranked No. 1 since June 2017. The four-time World Cup champions have held that spot for all but 10 months since March 2008, and have never been ranked lower than No. 2.
Germany, Sweden, England and France rounded out the top five in the rankings released Friday, the last before the World Cup begins July 20 in Australia and New Zealand. Up-and-coming Spain rose one spot to No. 6, its highest yet, while Olympic champion Canada dropped one place, to No. 7.
Among the USWNT's group-stage opponents, the Netherlands dropped one spot, to No. 9, while Portugal remained at No. 21. Vietnam climbed one spot to No. 32, the highest-ranking ever for the World Cup debutante.
The USWNT will attempt to become the first team, men's or women's, to win three consecutive World Cups. The U.S. women open the World Cup July 22 in Auckland against Vietnam, then play the Netherlands, which will be a rematch of the 2019 Final, July 27 in Wellington. The USWNT wraps up Group E play against Portugal Aug. 1 in Auckland.
Top 50 FIFA women's soccer rankings
| RK | Team | Total Points | Previous Points | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | USA | 2090.03 | 2091.38 | -1.35 |
| 2 | Germany | 2061.56 | 2068.12 | -6.56 |
| 3 | Sweden | 2049.71 | 2064.67 | -14.96 |
| 4 | England | 2040.76 | 2055.82 | -15.06 |
| 5 | France | 2026.65 | 2021.02 | 5.63 |
| 6 | Spain | 2002.28 | 1997.65 | 4.63 |
| 7 | Canada | 1996.34 | 2001.56 | -5.22 |
| 8 | Brazil | 1995.3 | 1972.99 | 22.31 |
| 9 | Netherlands | 1980.47 | 1991.45 | -10.98 |
| 10 | Australia | 1919.69 | 1917.91 | 1.78 |
| 11 | Japan | 1916.68 | 1917.33 | -0.65 |
| 12 | Norway | 1908.25 | 1905.58 | 2.67 |
| 13 | Denmark | 1866.25 | 1851.25 | 15.00 |
| 14 | China PR | 1854.49 | 1856.98 | -2.49 |
| 15 | Iceland | 1854.4 | 1851.77 | 2.63 |
| 16 | Italy | 1846.5 | 1845.93 | 0.57 |
| 17 | Korea Republic | 1840.27 | 1840.68 | -0.41 |
| 18 | Austria | 1813.56 | 1808.69 | 4.87 |
| 19 | Belgium | 1795.67 | 1804.02 | -8.35 |
| 20 | Switzerland | 1765.9 | 1772.27 | -6.37 |
| 21 | Portugal | 1745.13 | 1752.53 | -7.40 |
| 22 | Republic of Ireland | 1743.59 | 1742.25 | 1.34 |
| 23 | Scotland | 1735.87 | 1724.17 | 11.70 |
| 24 | Russia | 1717.06 | 1717.06 | 0.00 |
| 25 | Colombia | 1702.64 | 1703.61 | -0.97 |
| 26 | New Zealand | 1699.7 | 1706.96 | -7.26 |
| 27 | Czechia | 1690.16 | 1692.47 | -2.31 |
| 28 | Argentina | 1682.45 | 1682.45 | 0.00 |
| 29 | Finland | 1676.76 | 1667.33 | 9.43 |
| 30 | Wales | 1665.82 | 1659.76 | 6.06 |
| 31 | Poland | 1662.26 | 1660.91 | 1.35 |
| 32 | Vietnam | 1648.89 | 1643.66 | 5.23 |
| 33 | Ukraine | 1644.63 | 1644.97 | -0.34 |
| 34 | Serbia | 1622.42 | 1620.35 | 2.07 |
| 35 | Mexico | 1621.8 | 1621.8 | 0.00 |
| 36 | Costa Rica | 1596.94 | 1601.47 | -4.53 |
| 37 | Chinese Taipei | 1578.28 | 1573.65 | 4.63 |
| 38 | Romania | 1564.03 | 1562.43 | 1.60 |
| 39 | Slovenia | 1556.25 | 1552.25 | 4.00 |
| 40 | Nigeria | 1554.94 | 1540.96 | 13.98 |
| 41 | Chile | 1553.22 | 1553.22 | 0.00 |
| 42 | Hungary | 1544.83 | 1542.44 | 2.39 |
| 43 | Jamaica | 1536.81 | 1536.81 | 0.00 |
| 44 | Thailand | 1530.56 | 1527.39 | 3.17 |
| 45 | Northern Ireland | 1523.83 | 1526.21 | -2.38 |
| 46 | Philippines | 1512.97 | 1496.23 | 16.74 |
| 47 | Slovakia | 1512.7 | 1522.13 | -9.43 |
| 48 | Paraguay | 1505.2 | 1503.44 | 1.76 |
| 49 | Uzbekistan | 1498.55 | 1491.37 | 7.18 |
| 50 | Myanmar | 1487.58 | 1519.04 | -31.46 |