In the latest FIFA Women’s Rankings, Japan re-entered the top five for the first time in eight years, while Tanzania and Kenya made the largest climbs, both advancing seven spots. The top ten remains led by the USA, followed by Spain, Germany, and England. The record number of teams competing indicates a rising global interest in women’s football, particularly from African nations.
The first FIFA/Coca-Cola Women’s World Ranking™ of 2025 has notable milestones, with Japan achieving its first top-five position since 2015. Additionally, Tanzania and Kenya made significant advancements in the rankings. The edition includes a record 196 teams, welcoming Djibouti at the 195th position.
Despite losing 2-1 to Japan in the SheBelieves Cup final, the USA holds the No. 1 ranking, followed by Spain, Germany, and England in second, third, and fourth places, respectively. Japan ascends to fifth place, a gain of three spots, which impacts Sweden, Canada, and Brazil, pushing them down to sixth, seventh, and eighth places, respectively. Korea DPR and the Netherlands remain unchanged at ninth and tenth.
Several teams made impressive progress outside the top tier. Puerto Rico, Montenegro, El Salvador, Nepal, UAE, Cabo Verde, and Cyprus experienced notable improvements, each gaining four to six spots.
Tanzania and Kenya are recognized as the most improved teams, climbing seven positions to 138th and 142nd, respectively. Other African nations like Burkina Faso and Benin also advanced, each rising five spots in the rankings.
With the upcoming June rankings, further representation from African teams is anticipated, as nations such as Chad, Eritrea, Libya, and Sudan are close to their first official rankings. As FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027™ African qualifiers progress, further shifts in global standings are expected.
Japan’s resurgence into the top five of the FIFA Women’s Rankings marks a significant achievement, reflecting their competitive strength. The advancements of Tanzania and Kenya further highlight the growing prominence of African teams in women’s football. With a record number of teams participating, the upcoming June rankings may lead to even more changes as other nations strive for top positions.
Original Source: www.nation.com.pk
