England Football Online
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FIFA Rankings Overview

Index

Matches 2002-14

England Football Online
World Rankings
1966-78 1990-02
1978-90 2014-26
Summary 2002-14
The ranking for each year is as at 31 July.
A yellow background highlights the top team, green highlights those teams that are in a higher position than the previous year and red highlights those that are in a lower position than the previous year. A yellow number indicates the team's highest ever ranking at that time.
Country 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Argentina G4 G4 G4 G4 G2 2 2 2 G2 1 1 1 2
Austria G6 G6 G6 G6 G7 G8 G8 G8 G8 G8 G8 G8 G8
Belgium G5 G6 G6 G6 G7 G8 G8 G8 G8 G8 G7 G8 G2
Brazil 1 1 1 1 G2 1 1 1 G2 G3 2 3 4
Bulgaria G6 G5 G5 G5 G5 G5 G5 G5 G5 G5 G5 G5 G6
Cameroon G5 G5 G5 G5 G6 G6 G6 G6 G6 G6 G6 G6 G7
Croatia G5 G4 G4 G4 G5 G5 G5 G5 G5 G5 G4 G5 G6
Denmark G3 G3 G2 G2 G4 G5 G5 G5 G4 G4 G2 G3 G4
DPR Korea G8 G8 G8 G8 G8 G8 G8 G8 G8 G8 G8 G8 G9
England G2 4 G3 G3 G2 G2 G2 G2 G3 G3 G3 2 G3
France G3 G2 3 4 2 3 G2 G2 G3 G2 4 G2 G2
Germany 2 3 4 G2 3 G2 G3 G3 3 4 G3 G3 1
Ghana - - - - - - - - G2 G2 G3 G3 G5
Hungary G8 G8 G8 G8 G8 G7 G7 G7 G8 G8 G8 G8 G9
Italy G4 G4 G4 G4 1 4 4 4 G3 G3 G2 G2 G3
Korea Republic 4 G2 G2 4 G3 G4 G4 G4 G4 G4 G4 G4 G7
Mexico G4 G4 G4 G3 G6 G6 G6 G6 G6 G5 G5 G6 G5
Netherlands G3 G3 G2 G2 G4 G3 3 3 2 3 G3 G3 3
Paraguay - - - - - - - - G2 G2 G2 G2 G3
Peru G7 G7 G6 G6 G7 G7 G8 G8 G7 G7 G7 G7 G8
Poland G8 G8 G8 G8 G8 G7 G7 G7 G7 G7 G7 G7 G8
Portugal G6 G6 G6 G7 4 G2 G2 G2 G3 G3 G5 G4 G4
Republic of Ireland G7 G7 G7 G6 G7 G7 G7 G7 G7 G7 G7 G7 G9
Romania G7 G7 G7 G7 G8 G8 G8 G8 G7 G7 G8 G7 G8
Senegal G2 G2 G2 G2 G4 G4 G4 G4 G4 G4 G4 G4 G5
Spain G2 2 2 3 G3 G3 G2 G2 1 2 3 4 G4
Sweden G4 G5 G5 G4 G6 G6 G6 G6 G6 G6 G6 G6 G7
Turkey 3 G3 G3 G3 G4 G4 G4 G4 G4 G4 G4 G4 G6
Ukraine - - - - G2 G2 G3 G3 G4 G4 G4 G4 G5
United States G2 G2 G3 G4 G5 G4 G4 G4 G5 G6 G6 G5 G5
Uruguay G6 G6 G7 G7 G8 G8 G7 G7 4 G2 G2 G2 G3*

* Uruguay were top from October 2013 until the 2014 World Cup.

Games included in the statistics below are those where a country has challenged a team above them (Won or Failed)
and those where they have been challenged by a team below them (Lost or Held).

Performance Statistics 2002-04
  Rank Challenges Challenged Rank Challenges Challenged Rank
Country 2002 Won Failed Lost Held 2003 Won Failed Lost Held 2004
Argentina G4 - 1 - - G4 - - - - G4
Austria G6 - - - - G6 - - - - G6
Belgium G5 - 2 1 - G6 - - - - G6
Brazil 1 - - - 2 1 - - - 1 1
Bulgaria G6 1 - - 1 G5 - 2 - - G5
Cameroon G5 - - - - G5 - - - - G5
Croatia G5 1 - - 1 G4 - 2 - 1 G4
Denmark G3 - - - - G3 1 1 - 1 G2
DPR Korea G8 - - - - G8 - - - - G8
England G2 1 - - - 4 - - 1 1 G3
France G3 1 - - - G2 1 1 - 1 3
Germany 2 - - 1 - 3 - - 1 1 4
Hungary G8 - - - - G8 - 1 - - G8
Italy G4 - - - - G4 - - - 2 G4
Korea Republic 4 - 1 - - G2 1 - 1 - G2
Mexico G4 - - - - G4 - 1 - - G4
Netherlands G3 - - - 1 G3 1 2 - - G2
Peru G7 - 2 - - G7 1 - - - G6
Poland G8 - - - - G8 - 1 - - G8
Portugal G6 - - - - G6 - 1 - - G6
Republic of Ireland G7 - - - - G7 - - - 1 G7
Romania G7 - - - - G7 - - - 1 G7
Senegal G2 - - - - G2 - - - - G2
Spain G2 1 - - - 2 - - - 1 2
Sweden G4 - - 1 - G5 - 1 - 1 G5
Turkey 3 - 1 2 - G3 1 1 1 1 G3
United States G2 - - - - G2 - - 1 1 G3
Uruguay G6 - - - 2 G6 - - 1 - G7

Team of the Season 2002-03 - CROATIA
Emphatically held off Belgium's challenge with a four-goal victory and then beat Sweden in Stockholm to return to Group 4.

Team of the Season 2003-04 - FRANCE
A stunning 3-0 victory against Germany in Gelsenkirchen was the highlight of the season, taking them up to third place.
Although they failed to beat Brazil to claim the top spot, they resisted a further challenge from the Netherlands in Rotterdam.

England found themselves relegated on successive days. When France beat Germany, they dropped into Group 2 and, on the
very next day, they lost at home to Denmark to concede that status, too.

Performance Statistics 2004-06
  Rank Challenges Challenged Rank Challenges Challenged Rank
Country 2004 Won Failed Lost Held 2005 Won Failed Lost Held 2006
Argentina G4 - 1 - - G4 - 1 - - G2
Austria G6 - - - - G6 - - - - G7
Belgium G6 - - - - G6 - - - - G7
Brazil 1 - - - 2 1 - - - - G2
Bulgaria G5 - 2 - - G5 1 - - - G5
Cameroon G5 - - - - G5 - - - - G6
Croatia G4 - - - 3 G4 - - - 1 G5
Denmark G2 - - - 1 G2 - - - 2 G4
DPR Korea G8 - - - - G8 - - - - G8
England G3 - 1 - 1 G3 - 1 - 1 G2
France 3 - - - - 4 - - - 2 2
Germany 4 - 2 1 1 G2 - 1 1 - 3
Hungary G8 - - - - G8 - - - - G8
Italy G4 - - - - G4 - 1 - - 1
Korea Republic G2 1 - - - 4 - 1 - - G3
Mexico G4 1 1 - 2 G3 - - 2 - G6
Netherlands G2 - - - 1 G2 - - - - G4
Peru G6 - - - 1 G6 - - - - G7
Poland G8 - - - - G8 - - - - G8
Portugal G6 - - 1 - G7 - - - - 4
Republic of Ireland G7 1 - - - G6 - - - - G7
Romania G7 - - - - G7 - - - - G8
Senegal G2 - - - - G2 - - - - G4
Spain 2 - - - - 3 - - - - G3
Sweden G5 - 2 - - G4 - 1 - - G6
Turkey G3 - 1 - - G3 1 1 - - G4
United States G3 - 1 1 - G4 1 - - 1 G5
Uruguay G7 - 1 - - G7 - - - - G8

Team of the Season 2004-05 - MEXICO
After holding off Sweden's challenge, they climbed into Group 3, at the expense of the United States in a World Cup qualifier, before a
terrific run to the semi-finals of the Confederations Cup. Argentina beat them on penalties, but it was not enough to dislodge them
in the rankings. A final challenge saw them take on the hosts, Germany in the third place play-off, but they lost by the odd goal in
seven after extra time.

Team of the Season 2005-06 - UNITED STATES
Beat Mexico to reverse the previous season's defeat and then held off the challenge of Italy, who went on to win the World Cup.

Performance Statistics 2006-08
  Rank Challenges Challenged Rank Challenges Challenged Rank
Country 2006 Won Failed Lost Held 2007 Won Failed Lost Held 2008
Argentina G2 1 - 1 - 2 - 1 - - 2
Austria G7 - - 1 - G8 - 1 - - G8
Belgium G7 - - 1 - G8 - 1 - - G8
Brazil G2 1 1 - - 1 - - - 1 1
Bulgaria G5 - 1 - - G5 - 1 - - G5
Cameroon G6 - - - - G6 - - - - G6
Croatia G5 - - - - G5 - 2 - - G5
Denmark G4 - - 1 - G5 - 1 - - G5
DPR Korea G8 - - - - G8 - - - - G8
England G2 - - - - G2 - 1 - - G2
France 2 1 - 1 1 3 - - 2 3 G2
Germany 3 - - - - G2 - - 1 - G3
Hungary G8 1 - - - G7 - - - - G7
Italy 1 - - 1 1 4 1 1 1 2 4
Korea Republic G3 - - 1 - G4 - - - - G4
Mexico G6 - - - - G6 - - - 1 G6
Netherlands G4 1 - - 1 G3 3 - - 2 3
Peru G7 - - - 1 G7 - 1 1 - G8
Poland G8 1 - - - G7 - - - 2 G7
Portugal 4 - - - 1 G2 - 1 - - G2
Republic of Ireland G7 - - - - G7 - - - - G7
Romania G8 - - - - G8 - - - - G8
Senegal G4 - - - - G4 - - - - G4
Spain G3 - - - - G3 1 - - - G2
Sweden G6 - - - - G6 - 1 - - G6
Turkey G4 - - - - G4 - - - 1 G4
Ukraine G2 - 2 - - G2 - 2 1 - G3
United States G5 1 - - - G4 - - - - G4
Uruguay G8 - 1 - - G8 1 - - - G7

Team of the Season 2006-07 - FRANCE
Although they ended the season a place lower than when they had started the season, France spent five months at the very top,
thanks to a satisfying 3-1 victory against Italy in the European Championship, just two months after losing the World Cup Final on
penalties to them. Argentina then came to Paris and took the top spot. France resisted the challenge of Ukraine, but Brazil's
subsequent takeover from Argentina at the top meant that France dropped down a further place to third.

Team of the Season 2007-08 - NETHERLANDS
After brushing aside the challenges of Bulgaria and Croatia (3-0 away), the Dutch hit top form in time for the European Championship
finals. Ukraine relinquished their Group 2 status with a 3-0 defeat, before the Netherlands stunned both World Cup finalists from 2006
with emphatic victories, 3-0 against World Champions, Italy and 4-1 against France, taking them up to third. In the five rankings
matches during the season, the Netherlands scored 15 goals, with just one conceded.

Performance Statistics 2008-10
  Rank Challenges Challenged Rank Challenges Challenged Rank
Country 2008 Won Failed Lost Held 2009 Won Failed Lost Held 2010
Argentina 2 - - - 1 2 - 1 1 - G2
Austria G8 - - - - G8 - 1 - - G8
Belgium G8 - - - - G8 - - - - G8
Brazil 1 - - - 3 1 - - - 3 G2
Bulgaria G5 - - - - G5 - - - - G5
Cameroon G6 - - - - G6 - - - - G6
Croatia G5 - - - - G5 - - - - G5
Denmark G5 - - - 1 G5 1 1 - 1 G4
DPR Korea G8 - - - - G8 - - - - G8
England G2 - - - 2 G2 - 2 - - G3
France G2 - 1 - - G2 - 1 - - G3
Germany G3 - 1 - - G3 - - - - 3
Hungary G7 - 1 - - G7 - - 1 - G8
Italy 4 - 2 - - 4 - 1 - - G3
Korea Republic G4 - - - - G4 - - - 1 G4
Mexico G6 - - - - G6 - - - - G6
Netherlands 3 - - - - 3 - - - 2 2
Peru G8 - - - - G8 1 - - - G7
Poland G7 - - - - G7 - - - - G7
Portugal G2 - 1 - - G2 - 1 - - G3
Republic of Ireland G7 - - - - G7 - - - - G7
Romania G8 - - - - G8 1 - - 1 G7
Senegal G4 - - - - G4 - - - - G4
Spain G2 - - - - G2 1 - - 1 1
Sweden G6 - 1 - 1 G6 - 1 - - G6
Turkey G4 - - - - G4 1 - - - G4
Ukraine G3 - 1 - - G3 - - 1 - G4
United States G4 - - - - G4 - - 1 - G5
Uruguay G7 - - - - G7 - - 1 - 4

Team of the Season 2008-09 - BRAZIL
A static season with only eight challenges, none of which were successful. Brazil resisted three attempts to dislodge them from the
top spot, but brushed each of them aside emphatically, thrashing Portugal 6-2 and Italy twice (2-0 and 3-0) before ending the season
by retaining the Confederations Cup and installing themselves as favourites for the following year's World Cup.

Team of the Season 2009-10 - SPAIN
The European Champions served notice of their future intent by leaping into second place with victory against Argentina. They then
went to Paris and beat off the French challenge with a 2-0 win, before heading to South Africa to claim the biggest prize of all; the
World Cup, and with it, the number one spot in the rankings.

Brazil again resisted three challenges (from Argentina, England and Portugal), but again they were unable to convert their top
ranking into the ultimate prize. For the second successive World Cup, they fell at the quarter-final stage.

Performance Statistics 2010-12
  Rank Challenges Challenged Rank Challenges Challenged Rank
Country 2010 Won Failed Lost Held 2011 Won Failed Lost Held 2012
Argentina G2 1 - - 3 1 1 - 1 1 1
Austria G8 - - - - G8 - - - - G8
Belgium G8 - - - - G8 1 - - - G7
Brazil G2 - 3 1 - G3 2 1 1 - 2
Bulgaria G5 - - - - G5 - 1 - - G5
Cameroon G6 - - - 1 G6 - - - - G6
Croatia G5 - - - - G5 1 1 - 1 G4
Denmark G4 - 2 - - G4 2 - - - G2
DPR Korea G8 - - - - G8 - - - - G8
England G3 - 1 - 1 G3 - 1 - 1 G3
France G3 1 - - - G2 1 1 - - 4
Germany 3 - - - 1 4 1 - 2 1 G3
Ghana G2 - - - 1 G2 - - 1 - G3
Hungary G8 - - - - G8 - 2 - - G8
Italy G3 - - - 1 G3 1 2 - 1 G2
Korea Republic G4 - - - - G4 - - - - G4
Mexico G6 1 - - - G5 - - - 1 G5
Netherlands 2 - - - 1 3 - 1 2 1 G3
Paraguay G2 - 1 - 2 G2 - - - - G2
Peru G7 - - - - G7 - - - - G7
Poland G7 - 1 - - G7 - - - 1 G7
Portugal G3 - - - 1 G3 - - 2 - G5
Republic of Ireland G7 - - - - G7 - - - 1 G7
Romania G7 - - - - G7 - - 1 - G8
Senegal G4 - - - - G4 - - - - G4
Spain 1 - - 1 - 2 - - - 2 3
Sweden G6 - - - - G6 - - - - G6
Turkey G4 - - - - G4 1 1 1 - G4
Ukraine G4 - 1 - - G4 - 1 - 1 G4
United States G5 - - 1 - G6 - 1 - - G6
Uruguay 4 - 3 - - G2 - - - 1 G2

Team of the Season 2010-11 - ARGENTINA
Revitalised after a disappointing World Cup, they ruthlessly took Spain's top spot from them in a 4-1 victory, and then defeated
both Brazil and Paraguay. Uruguay were also resisted, but managed to end Argentina's
Copa América challenge by beating them
on penalties.

Team of the Season 2011-12 - BRAZIL
Stormed back into contention after a miserable 2010-11, when they found themselves in Group 3. Beating Ghana took them back
up to Group 2 and the first Supercl´sico de las Américas gave them the opportunity to leap straight back to the top, when they
defeated Argentina on aggregate. Argentina regained the top spot, however, in a seven-goal thriller in East Rutherford at the end
of the season.

Denmark also rose two groups over the course of the season, when two European Championship victories took them from Group 4
to Group 2. A qualifier against Portugal and then a shock victory against the Netherlands in their opening match of the tournament
enabled their progression, though it was not enough to take them into the quarter-finals.

Performance Statistics 2012-14
  Rank Challenges Challenged Rank Challenges Challenged Rank
Country 2012 Won Failed Lost Held 2013 Won Failed Lost Held 2014
Argentina 1 1 - 1 2 1 - - 1 2 2
Austria G8 - 1 - - G8 1 1 - - G8
Belgium G7 - - 1 - G8 - - - - G2
Brazil 2 1 1 2 5 3 - - - - 4
Bulgaria G5 - 1 - - G5 - - - - G6
Cameroon G6 - - - - G6 - 1 - - G7
Croatia G4 - - 1 - G5 1 - 1 - G6
Denmark G2 - - 1 1 G3 - 1 - - G4
DPR Korea G8 - - - - G8 - - - - G9
England G3 2 - - 1 2 - 1 1 - G3
France 4 - 3 - 2 G2 - - - 1 G2
Germany G3 - - - - G3 - 2 - 2 1
Ghana G3 - - - - G3 - - 1 1 G5
Hungary G8 - 1 - - G8 - 1 - - G9
Italy G2 1 4 1 1 G2 1 2 - 2 G3
Korea Republic G4 - - - - G4 - 1 2 - G7
Mexico G5 - 1 1 - G6 2 2 - 1 G5
Netherlands G3 - 1 - 1 G3 1 1 - 2 3
Paraguay G2 - 1 - - G2 - 1 - 1 G3
Peru G7 - - - - G7 - - - - G8
Poland G7 - - - - G7 - - - 1 G8
Portugal G5 1 - - - G4 1 2 - 1 G4
Republic of Ireland G7 - 1 - 1 G7 - 2 1 - G9
Romania G8 1 - - 1 G7 - - - 1 G8
Senegal G4 - - - - G4 - - - - G5
Spain 3 - 1 - 5 4 - - 1 - G4
Sweden G6 - - - 1 G6 - - - 2 G7
Turkey G4 - 2 - - G4 - 2 1 - G6
Ukraine G4 - - - 1 G4 - - - 1 G5
United States G6 1 - - 1 G5 1 2 - 2 G5
Uruguay G2 - 5 - - G2 1 - - 2 G3

Team of the Season 2012-13 - ENGLAND
In a hectic season of 31 challenges, England celebrated the FA's 150th anniversary by storming into second place, for the first time
since 1969. They beat Italy, first of all, after losing to them on penalties in the European Championship. This took them from Group
3 to Group 2, from where they then took second spot from Brazil, before resisting a subsequent challenge in Rio de Janeiro.

Brazil were involved in nine challenges, in total, five of which were successful defences of their position. Spain also resisted five
challenges, whilst Uruguay made five challenges and all were unsuccessful.

Team of the Season 2013-14 - MEXICO
Once again there were 31 challenges. Mexico were one of the few teams to better their position over the season, beating Korea
Republic and Croatia to rise up by two groups. They also held off Cameroon's challenge, though they were unable to
dislodge the United States and Portugal. In the World Cup, they narrowly failed to reach the quarter-finals, with the Netherlands snatching victory against them.

DPR Korea did not play any teams above them in the rankings after the 1966 World Cup. Consequently, they remained in the lowest group.

Senegal did not take part in any challenges with teams above or below them in the rankings after reaching the 2002 World Cup
quarter-finals.
 

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