The U.S. women’s national team fell to fifth place in the latest FIFA rankings. This is the lowest figure since FIFA began ranking women’s teams in 2003.
This ranking is one step lower than the 4th place last March.
Before 2024, the U.S. women’s team had never been ranked lower than No. 2 in the world, but the team fell three spots in six months. This is the biggest shakeup the USWNT has seen in the standings ahead of the Paris Olympics in July. .
Spain, France and England round out the top three, in that order, with Women’s World Cup runners-up England falling to third place. Germany took fourth place, ahead of American women.
From 2003 to 2023, the United States remained firmly in the top two, and from 2008 to 2014, and from 2017 to June 2023, the team was firmly in first place.
However, after an unexpected exit from the 2023 World Cup, the women’s team fell to third place for the first time in August 2023. In December, it rose again to second place, showing signs of recovery.
However, since December 2023, the 2015 and 2019 World Cup winners have continued to decline, ranking fourth in March 2023 and currently fifth in June.
Former Chelsea manager Emma Hayes, who has been appointed as the team’s new coach and will make her Olympic tournament debut, says there is plenty of reason to be hopeful.
“If we can perform at the highest level, we have an opportunity to do something,” Hayes said last month. “But we have work to do. The reality is that the world game is there and the rest of the world is not as afraid of America as it once was. That’s valid.”
The USWNT opens its Olympics against Mexico on July 13 at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey, and then plays Costa Rica on July 16 at Audi Field in Washington, D.C. They beat South Korea in two friendlies this month. At the SheBelieves Cup in April, the USWNT defeated Japan 2-1 and then Canada in a penalty shootout.
Canada, Brazil and South Korea DR all finished in the top 10, which pushed the Netherlands out of the top 10 for the first time since 2017.
Germany defeated Iceland and Poland in the Euro qualifiers last April.
Germany is currently unbeaten in Group A4, having beaten Austria, Iceland and Poland twice.
They have also already qualified for the 2025 Euros with two games remaining and have scored 13 goals, second behind Spain (15).
