The United States Women’s National Team (USWNT) closed 2024 at the top of the FIFA/Coca-Cola Women’s World Rankings, affirming their global dominance. They are closely followed by Spain (2nd), who climbed one spot, and Germany (3rd), which rejoined the podium after a thrilling 4-3 friendly win over England (4th, -2). This latest update, which includes results from 176 matches, featured notable changes among the top 10 teams, including the Netherlands (10th, +1) replacing France (11th, -1) for the first time in ranking history.
Significant moves were also seen in the top 50, with Poland (28th, +4) recording the largest points gain (+47.00). Meanwhile, Belarus (50th, +5) broke into the top 50, signalling their growing strength. In the top 100, teams like Indonesia (97th, +7) and Estonia (99th, +8) made remarkable progress. Saudi Arabia (166th, +8) celebrated its highest-ever ranking, demonstrating the rapid rise of women’s football in developing nations.
Beyond the top 100, teams like Bangladesh (132nd, +7) and Madagascar achieved record-high rankings, reflecting the increasing competitiveness of women’s football globally. However, Laos (down 16 places) experienced the biggest setback, highlighting the challenges faced by smaller footballing nations. The rankings also welcomed a new entrant, Gibraltar (185th), bringing the total to a record 195 ranked teams.
With the next ranking update scheduled for March 6, 2025, anticipation is high as nations aim to capitalize on their recent performances. The growing number of teams and shifting dynamics in global women’s football signal an exciting future for the sport.
