FIFA rankings: Banyana Banyana jump after WAFCON victory

July 2022 was a busy month for women’s football with five major tournaments taking place across the globe.

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In addition to the UEFA Women’s EURO 2022, continental championships were held in Africa, South America, North America and Oceania, all serving as qualifying events for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023.

Since 17 June 2022, when the FIFA Women’s world rankings were last published, no fewer than 221 matches have been played, generating considerable movement in the standings.

And while USA, recent winners of the CONCACAF Women’s Championship, remain the team to catch, the Stars and Stripes have a new pursuer in the shape of Germany. The EURO 2022 runners-up move ahead of Sweden whose own European title ambitions came to an end in the semi-finals.

Freshly crowned continental champions, England moved up four places ahead of France. Drops for the Netherlands, Canada, and Spain are the other significant changes in this edition’s Top 10.

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Like the Lionesses, South Africa also moved up four places on the back of their title triumph at the 2022 CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.

That jump saw Banyana Banyana move to second in Africa, surpassing Cameroon.

Semi-finalists at that tournament, Zambia are this edition’s most-improved side after surging 23 places. Nigeria, who surprisingly went down 1-0 to the She-polopolo in the match for third place, registered the biggest decline in terms of points (minus 69.33).

Another notable improver in this edition is Jamaica, who achieved their highest-ever placing, following their third-place at the Concacaf Championship. Also enjoying all-time highs are Iceland, the Republic of Ireland, Portugal and Zambia.

Four new teams have joined the rankings since June 2022: Cambodia (120th), Turkmenistan (137th) Timor-Leste (152nd) and Guinea-Bissau (169th), giving the August 2022 edition a record-breaking 185 FIFA member associations.

The next edition of the FIFA Women’s world rankings will be published on 13 October 2022, ahead of the draw for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 on Saturday, 22 October 2022 in Auckland/Tāmaki Makaurau.

Leader – USA (unchanged)
Moves into top 10 – None
Moves out of top 10 – None
Matches played in total – 221
Most matches played – England, Philippines, Senegal (9 each)
Biggest move by points – Zambia (plus 89.78)
Biggest move by ranks – Zambia (plus 23 places)
Biggest drop by points – Nigeria (minus 69.33)
Biggest drop by ranks – Mexico (minus 10 places)
Newly ranked teams – Cambodia, Turkmenistan, Timor-Leste, Guinea-Bissau
Teams that are no longer ranked – None

Top 10 in the latest FIFA Women’s rankings:

1. USA

2. Germany

3. Sweden

4. England

5. France

6. Netherlands

7. Canada

8. Spain

9. Brazil

10. Korea DPR

Top 10 in Africa (overall in brackets)

1. Nigeria (46th)

2. South Africa (54th)

3. Cameroon (59th)

4. Ghana (60th)

5. Ivory Coast (64th)

6. Equatorial Guinea (73rd)

7. Morocco (76th)

8. Tunisia (78th)

9. Algeria (79th)

10. Zambia (80th)