Spain Tops FIFA World Rankings Ahead of 2014 World Cup; Brazil Breaks into Top Three
With just days to go before the 2014 FIFA World Cup kicks off in Brazil, the latest FIFA national team rankings have been released, confirming Spain’s continued reign at the top of the global football hierarchy.
The reigning world and European champions, La Roja, maintain the No. 1 position, ahead of perennial contenders Germany, who sit in second. Host nation Brazil, buoyed by strong recent performances and home advantage, has leapfrogged Portugal to claim third place in the latest update.
Portugal now sits fourth, with Argentina completing the top five, making South America well-represented among the tournament favourites. Switzerland’s impressive form sees them placed sixth, followed by Uruguay, Colombia, Italy, and England rounding out the top ten.
Despite several African teams participating in the World Cup, including Algeria, Ivory Coast, and Nigeria, none feature in the top 20 of the global rankings—a reflection of inconsistent performances in recent international fixtures.
The United States, meanwhile, is ranked 13th, ahead of World Cup opponents Ghana and Germany. European sides dominate the list, with nine of the top ten hailing from UEFA nations, reinforcing their traditional strength heading into the tournament.
FIFA World Rankings – Top 20 (June 2014):
Spain
Germany
Brazil
Portugal
Argentina
Switzerland
Uruguay
Colombia
Italy
England
Belgium
Greece
United States
Chile
Netherlands
Ukraine
France
Croatia
Russia
Mexico
The rankings will serve as a final benchmark before the world’s best teams face off in Brazil starting June 12, where hosts Brazil take on Croatia in the opening match in São Paulo.
