Qualifying for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™, which saw 820 matches played in total, has drawn to a close and yet the situation at the top of the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking remains unchanged, with Spain leading the way ahead of Germany, Argentina and Colombia.

Thanks to their two wins over Sweden in the European play-offs, Portugal have managed to secure fifth position and have climbed back into the top ten along with World Cup hosts Brazil, who won their friendly matches against Honduras (41st, down 7) and Chile (15th, down 3) and are currently sitting tenth.

Belgium (11th, down 6) and England (13th, down 3), however, have had mixed fortunes, with both teams remaining unbeaten in the World Cup qualifiers but then losing two friendlies on home ground.



All teams in the top 20, except for Ukraine (18th, up 2), have booked their tickets to Brazil next year and just three teams outside of the top 50 have managed to qualify for the 2014 showpiece, namely Cameroon (51st, up 8), Korea Republic (54th, up 2) and Australia (59th, down 2).

Armenia (34th, up 4), Venezuela (35th, up 2), Afghanistan (129th, up 4), the Philippines (133rd, up 4) and Guam (169th, up 2) have all reached their highest position since the introduction of the ranking in 1993.

Summary


Leader
Spain (unchanged)
Moves into top ten
Portugal (5th, up 9)
Brazil (10th, up 1)
Moves out of top ten
Belgium (11th, down 6)
England (13th, down 3)
Matches played in total
93
Most matches played
Jordan (4 matches)
Biggest move by points
Cuba (up 149 points)
Biggest move by ranks
Cuba (up 27 ranks)
Biggest drop by points
Guyana (down 140 points)
Biggest drop by ranks
Guyana (down 36 ranks)