'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Ahead of its annual congress on Thursday, FIFA, the international governing body of football, released the men’s world rankings for the month of April.
With all but three spots seized for the Qatar World Cup, this month’s ranking seems to be a tad kinder towards the already-qualified nations.
Italy and Portugal have respectively been penalized and rewarded for their World Cup qualifying play-off performances.
Costa Rica, despite failing to seal automatic qualification, have been awarded for their exceptional 2-0 win over the USA. 31st-placed Costa Rica, who are the latest ranking’s biggest gainers (top-50) with 39.03 points, will face New Zealand in the play-offs. Having lost 24.57 points since the FIFA Rankings in February 2022, 42nd-placed Australia are the biggest losers in the top-50.
With the trend analysis out of the way, let’s take a quick look at teams at the top of the food chain. Now, without further ado, let’s check out the ten best teams on FIFA’s World Rankings for the month of April.
Stats via: FIFA
#10 Netherlands - 1658.66 points
The Netherlands qualified for the World Cup in Qatar at the end of 2021 itself, meaning they have only made friendly appearances since then.
In late March, Holland played two friendly fixtures, against Denmark and Germany. They comfortably registered a 4-2 win over the Danes but couldn’t find a way to get the better of the Germans, only managing a 1-1 draw.
The results have allowed them to gain 4.93 points since the world rankings in February 2022 and remain in 10th place.
#9 Mexico - 1658.82 points
Edging out the Netherlands by 0.16 points, Mexico have seized ninth position in the FIFA world rankings for the month of April. The Mexicans have dethroned Denmark (now 11th) in ninth place to become the only new entrant in the latest top-10 list.
Mexico, who have gained 10.92 points since February 2022 rankings, have secured automatic qualification for the Qatar World Cup. They drew with the USA and won against Honduras and El Salvador to secure qualification in March.
#8 Portugal - 1674.78 points
Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal have booked their ticket to the World Cup for the sixth consecutive time. It was not a straightforward road, as they had to overcome two rounds of qualifiers, but they attained their goal nonetheless.
Courtesy of their play-off wins over Turkey and North Macedonia, Portugal have gained 14.53 points in April’s rankings, becoming the highest gainers in the top 10.
#7 Spain - 1709.19 points
Luis Enrique’s Spain ensured automatic qualification to the Qatar World Cup in 2021 itself. Since then, they have played only a couple of friendlies, winning both of them comfortably.
First, they registered a 2-1 win over Albania and then followed it up with an emphatic 5-0 victory over Iceland. Their friendly triumphs have won them 4.44 points since February 2022 world rankings, keeping them in seventh place.
#6 Italy - 1723.31 points
European champions Italy were handed a shock 1-0 defeat in their World Cup qualifying play-off semi-final against North Macedonia. And to no one’s surprise, that embarrassment has reflected on the FIFA world rankings for the month of April.
They have somehow managed to remain sixth in the rankings, but have lost 17.46 points, making them the biggest losers in the top 10.
#5 England - 1761.71 points
England confirmed their World Cup berth last year itself, allowing them to play without any worries since then.
The Three Lions have only played a couple of friendly fixtures this year, securing wins in both.
Their first clash was against Switzerland, where they came from behind to seal a 2-1 win. Gareth Southgate’s team then took on Ivory Coast and inflicted a 3-0 defeat upon the African nation.
Two solid performances have earned them 6.19 points, keeping them in fifth place.
#4 Argentina - 1765.13 points
Only 3.42 points ahead of England sit Lionel Messi’s Argentina. La Albiceleste, who had ensured World Cup qualification in 2021 itself, played their last two CONMEBOL qualifiers in March.
Lionel Scaloni’s side took on Venezuela and Ecuador in their last two matches, but could not manage to get six points out of the fixtures.
They secured a solid 3-0 win over Venezuela in the first match but were then held to a 1-1 draw by Ecuador. FIFA has not taken their draw kindly it seems, as they have deducted 1.86 points for the same.
#3 France - 1789.85 points
Reigning world champions France seem to be all decked up for the grand event in Qatar. They have excellent individual quality at their disposal, play as a unit on the pitch, and are getting the results they need.
Since securing qualification for Qatar in 2021, Les Bleus have partaken in two friendly fixtures, winning both. They beat Ivory Coast 2-1 before putting five goals past South Africa in a 5-0 win.
The pair of victories have allowed them to gain 3.70 points in the latest world rankings.
#2 Belgium - 1827 points
Belgium ensured 2022 World Cup football in November 2021 itself, meaning they have not had competitive football since then.
In 2022, they have only played a couple of friendlies against the Republic of Ireland and Burkina Faso. They grabbed a 3-0 win against the latter but were held to a 2-2 draw by the Irishmen.
The stalemate has seen them lose 1.45 points and drop to second place for the first time in close to three-and-a-half years.
It will be interesting to see how they respond to the slip when international football returns with the UEFA Nations League in June.
#1 Brazil - 1832.69 points
Roberto Marinez’s Belgium have been leading the FIFA world rankings since October 2018. Having chased them for years, Tite’s Brazil have finally dethroned the Belgians at the summit, emerging as the best FIFA men’s football team.
The South American nation played their last two CONMEBOL qualifiers in March, securing emphatic wins in both.
First, they took on Chile and hammered them 4-0 at home. They then made the trip to Bolivia and secured the same scoreline.
The twin wins saw them top the CONMEBOL table with 45 points, six points ahead of second-placed Argentina. They also broke Argentina's 2002 World Cup qualifying record of (43) of accumulating most points in World Cup qualifying (45).
Their successes have also won them 9.27 points, helping them clinch the top spot for the first time in almost five years.
