Fans Confused As FIFA Rankings Rate World Cup Teams

FIFA has just posted the new world rankings for international football – and the new places for their teams are confusing many European fans.

The seeding covers four teams who have yet to qualify for World Cup 2018 in Russia and who are awaiting the play-offs draw.

But the new rankings mean the seeded teams will not face each other in the games that decide which teams fill the remaining berths in Europe’s quota for Russia.

Denmark (19), Croatia (18), Switzerland (11) and Italy (15) are the seeded teams. They will play Northern Ireland (23), Republic of Ireland (26), Sweden (25) or Greece (47).

The draw tookplace on Tuesday (October 17) with the two-legged ties to be played in November.

Germany are the world’s number one international side, followed by Brazil and Euro 2016 champions Portugal. Argentina, who played Germany in the final take fourth place in the world rankings.

2018 World Cup seeds

Peru (10), who have a play-off against New Zealand (122), and Spain (8) both joined the top 10, replacing Switzerland and Colombia. For Peru, 10^this the country’s highest ever ranking.

Turkmenistan was the highest climber – rising 22 places to 114.

The team with the worst performances are Lithuania (145) and Ecuador (60), both dropping 25 places in the rankings.

Tonga, Somalia, Gibraltar, Eritrea, Bahamas and Anguilla share the lowest ranking of 206.

Russia, Germany, Brazil, Portugal, Argentina, Belgium, Poland and France are the top-seeded teams in the World Cup 2018 draw and will not face each other in the first group round.

Another ranking is due in November.

FIFA Top 20 International Team Rankings – October 2017

Source FIFA

See the full table of 206 rankings