Matildas claim AFC no.1 ranking, move into world Top 5

For the first time since May 2010, the Asian Football Confederation as a new number one team with Australia claiming the position with a historic best world number 5 ranking.

Australia’s move up four places and into the world elite comes on the back of their strong performances at this month’s 2016 AFC Women’s Olympic Qualifiers.

Number 5 is Australia’s highest ranking since the FIFA Women’s World Rankings were introduced on 16 July 2003 and the highest ranking for an Australian national team.

During the tournament, the Matildas claimed four wins and one draw against AFC counterparts Japan, Vietnam, Korea Republic, DPR Korea and China.

As well as their highest ever world ranking, the Matildas have amassed their best ever points total of 2014 – beating their previous best of 1968.

[MORE | Lachy France: How the world rankings are calculated]

The qualifiers saw Japan and DPR Korea, who had alternatively held the AFC no.1 spot since 25 March 2005, drop to second and third in the AFC, respectively.

Alongside Australia, China were the other big winners from the qualifiers  with the Rio bound Steel Roses gaining an incredible 65 points and moving up 5 places to number 12.

The rankings took into account matches from the Olympic Qualifiers for CONCACAF, UEFA, OFC and the AFC, 2016 Algarve Cup and the new SheBelieves Cup. While the top 3 of USA, Germany and France remained unchanged, with Japan’s fall, England moved up a place into fourth.

Other big moves in the Top 20 included Pia Sundhage’s Sweden rising two spots to sixth, while Norway falling to 11th, making room for Canada in the top ten. Meanwhile Switzerland also moved up a spot to 19th, courtesy of their 2-1 win over Norway.

The next FIFA Women’s World Ranking will be published on 24 June 2016.

Rankings Notes