While 2024 served up a record-breaking 1,181 international encounters, only 21 of those fixtures took place since the November edition of the FIFA/Coca-Cola Men’s World Ranking™ went to press. This limited action means that changes to the December standings are few and far between.
Just as they did in 2023, Argentina (1st) sign off for the year in top spot, with France (2nd) and Spain (3rd) joining them on the podium. As for those in the chasing pack, England (4th), Brazil (5th), Portugal (6th), the Netherlands (7th), Belgium (8th), Italy (9th) and Germany (10th) all retain their places in the upper echelons of the ranking. Indeed, that lack of movement is mirrored throughout the top 100, where there is not even the slightest bit of jostling for position.
The prize for the biggest climbers in the latest instalment of the ranking goes to Vietnam (114th, up 2),. Elsewhere, Hong Kong, China (155th, up 1) have amassed the most points (4.18) in climbing up one place.
However, the pair aren’t the only sides to close out the year on a high, with another 10 of the 211 ranked teams also making some limited headway, rising one place to their present position: The Gambia (125th), India (126th), Solomon Islands (147th), Lesotho (149th), Singapore (160th), Cuba (163rd), St Lucia (167th), Malta (168th), American Samoa (187th) and Gibraltar (196th).
Having contested more matches than anyone else in the ranking in 2024, Angola – who lined up no fewer than 21 times – have registered the biggest climb over the past 12 months, progressing a jaw-dropping 32 places to their current perch of 85th. The Palancas Negras, who have clearly taken inspiration from the sprightly antelopes to whom they owe their nickname, are pursued most closely by Jordan (64th, up 23) and Fiji (148th, up 20) by this measure.
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The next edition of the FIFA/Coca-Cola Men’s World Ranking will be published on 3 April 2025.
Leaders Argentina (unchanged)
Moves into top 10 None
Moves out of top 10 None
Matches played in total 21
Most matches played Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Timor-Leste (3 matches each)
Biggest move by points Hong Kong, China (up 4.18 points)
Biggest move by ranks Vietnam (up 2 ranks)
Biggest drop by points Myanmar (down 4.80 points)
Biggest drop by ranks Indonesia, Myanmar (down 2 ranks)
Newly ranked teams None
Teams that are no longer ranked None
Inactive teams, not ranked Eritrea
Credit: FIFA
