The women’s World Cup champions, Spain, have attained the top spot in the FIFA rankings for the first time, surpassing the second-placed United States, as announced by the world governing body on Friday.
This achievement makes Spain the fourth team to reach the summit of the rankings, following the U.S., Germany, and Sweden.
Spain secured their ascent to the top after winning the World Cup final against England in August, moving up four spots to second. Their remarkable performances in the Women’s Nations League solidified their position.
Having topped their group with five wins, including victories over Sweden, Spain qualified for the Nations League Finals in February, where they will face the Netherlands in the semifinals.
The USWNT rose to second place in the rankings, with France in third. Both the U.S. and France also qualified for the Nations League Finals, facing Germany and each other in the semifinals, respectively.
European champions England are in fourth place, while Sweden dropped to fifth after finishing third in their Nations League group.
The rankings now include a record 192 nations, with the additions of the Central African Republic and Macau and the return of North Korea (ninth), American Samoa, Madagascar, and the Bahamas.