Japan Reaches Top Five in FIFA Women’s Rankings; Tanzania and Kenya Impress
Japan returns to the top five of the FIFA Women’s Rankings for the first time since 2015, while Tanzania and Kenya are significant climbers in the standings. The number of teams has reached a record 196, with the USA maintaining the No.1 position. Future rankings are expected to reflect further diversity and growth as qualifiers for the World Cup 2027 commence.
The first FIFA/Coca-Cola Women’s World Ranking of 2025 has brought significant changes, with Japan advancing to the fifth position, marking its highest ranking since 2015. Notably, Tanzania and Kenya have made substantial progress within the standings. This latest ranking includes a record 196 teams, with Djibouti making its debut at the 195th position.
The United States continues to hold the top position despite a recent 2-1 loss to Japan in the SheBelieves Cup final. Spain follows in second place, while Germany and England occupy the third and fourth spots, respectively. Japan’s rise to fifth displaces Sweden, Canada, and Brazil, who have each dropped one position, landing in sixth, seventh, and eighth, respectively. Korea DPR and the Netherlands maintain their positions in ninth and tenth place.
In addition to the top rankings, several other teams have made notable advances. Puerto Rico surged to 81st (up four places), Montenegro to 84th (up four), and El Salvador to 85th (up five) in the rankings. Teams such as Nepal (99th), UAE (112th), Cabo Verde (125th), and Cyprus (127th) also experienced significant improvements.
Africa has demonstrated impressive growth as Tanzania and Kenya, now at 138th and 142nd, respectively, are the biggest climbers of this edition, each moving up seven spots. Other African nations, including Burkina Faso and Benin, also improved their ranks by five places each, now positioned at 132nd and 147th respectively.
The forthcoming June rankings are anticipated to reflect further shifts in global representation, with Chad, Eritrea, Libya, and Sudan nearing their first-ever inclusion in the rankings. As qualifying matches for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027 commence, additional adjustments in team standings are expected.
In conclusion, Japan’s ascent to the top five signifies a noteworthy achievement in women’s football, coupled with impressive advances by Tanzania and Kenya. The overall participating nations now stand at a record number, illustrating the growing global engagement in women’s football. Future rankings will likely showcase further changes, especially with the upcoming qualifiers for the World Cup 2027.
Original Source: www.nation.com.pk
