Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: Despite their recent FIFA Women’s World Cup heroics, Japan have failed to break into the planet’s top three following the release of the latest FIFA Ranking.
Norio Sasaki’s side, who enjoyed a memorable campaign before being beaten by the USA in the final, remain ranked fourth, while the Americans have replaced Germany as the world’s leading women’s team. Losing quarter-finalists France are third.
There were, however, moderate climbs for three of Asia’s other representatives at the global gathering in Canada.
Quarter-finalists Australia climbed one place to be ranked ninth in the world, China, who lost to the USA in the last eight, improved by two positions to go 14th and the Korea Republic side which exited at the Round of 16 stage rose one spot to 17th overall.
The continent’s fifth World Cup hopeful, Thailand, fell one place to find themselves 30th.
DPR Korea, who did not compete at the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup are ranked eighth globally, and Indonesia, having re-entered the ranking after a lengthy period of inactivity, rose 59 places to 79th.
AFC Ranking – Team – Global Ranking – Change
1 – Japan – 4 - No Change
2 – DPR Korea – 8 - No Change
3 – Australia – 9 - Up 1
4 – China – 14 - Up 2
5 – Korea Republic – 17 - Up 1
6 – Thailand – 30 - Down 1
7 – Vietnam – 35 - Down 1
8 – Chinese Taipei – 39 - No Change
9 – Myanmar – 43 - No Change
10 – Uzbekistan – 45 - Down 1
11 – Jordan – 53 - Up 1
12 – India – 56 - Down 1
13 – Iran – 58 - No Change
14 – UAE – 73 - No Change
15 – Hong Kong – 75 - No Change
16 – Indonesia – 79 - Up 59
17 – Philippines – 83 - Down 1
18 – Bahrain – 86 - No Change
19 – Guam – 87 - Down 1
20 – Laos – 90 - No Change
21 – Malaysia – 91 - Down 2
22 – Palestine – 100 - Down 1
23 – Kyrgyzstan – 110 - Up 28
24 – Nepal – 112 - Down 3
25 – Bangladesh – 123 - Down 4
26 – Sri Lanka – 124 - Down 4
27 – Lebanon – 126 - Down 4
28 – Maldives – 128 - Down 3
29 – Pakistan – 130 - Down 4
30 – Afghanistan – 132 - Down 4
31 – Qatar – 133 - Down 4
32 – Bhutan – 138 – Down 4
33 = Kuwait, Syria, Iraq, Macau*, Singapore****– 142- Down 4
** Inactive for more than 18 months and therefore not ranked
Photo: FIFA / Getty Images