The recent flurry of pre-2018 FIFA World Cup Russia friendly matches has left its mark on the latest FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking. While positions are maintained at the very top of the table, where Germany (1st, unchanged) and Brazil (2nd, unchanged) still lead the way, the Russia-bound duo of Poland (8th, up 2) and Uruguay (14th, up 3) have succeeded in making strides within the top 20.
Wales (18th, up 3) have also climbed into that elite group, while further down the ranking El Salvador (72nd, up 13), Azerbaijan (105th, up 21), New Zealand (120th, up 13), Kosovo (141st, up 11) and Papua New Guinea (166th, up 14) have all registered significant gains.
There is also cause to celebrate for Syria (73rd, up 3), Lebanon (79th, up 3), Kosovo (141st, up 11) and Gibraltar (195th, up 1), with all four having ascended to their best-ever positions on the global ladder.
The ranking makes less pleasant reading for Spain (10th, down 2), who have swapped places with the Poles, as well as for Tunisia (21st, down 7) and the Turks and Caicos Islands (206th, down 4), who have slumped to the bottom of the table after joining Anguilla, the Bahamas, Eritrea, Somalia and Tonga on zero points.
The next FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking will be published on 19 July 2018.
FIFA Rankings:
Leader Germany (unchanged)
Moves into top 10 None
Moves out of top 10 None
Matches played in total 74
Most matches played Botswana, Madagascar (4 games each)
Biggest move by points Azerbaijan (up 76 points)
Biggest move by ranks Azerbaijan (up 21 ranks)
Biggest drop by points Tunisia (down 102 points)
Biggest drop by ranks Guyana (down 18 ranks)
Newly ranked teams None
Teams that are no longer ranked None
Inactive teams, not ranked None