US women World Champion soccer team also number 1 in FIFA/Coca-Cola rankings of July 2015

Quarter-finalists France retain a narrow advantage in third place over Japan, despite the latter making it all the way to the final. The leading pack now has a new challenger in the shape of England, who have attained their highest-ever position after reaching the semi-finals and defeating Germany in the match for third place.

Elsewhere in the top ten, Sweden have lost further ground by slipping to seventh, while World Cup hosts Canada have dropped out of the top ten altogether after just two wins in five games against lesser-ranked teams, falling three places to 11^th.

In addition to England, three teams are now in their highest-ever position: Colombia (25^th, up 3), Costa Rica (34^th, up 3) and Cameroon (43^rd, up 10). Cameroon beat two higher-ranked teams in Ecuador and Switzerland and only lost by one goal to Japan and China PR respectively. Six teams (Indonesia, Congo, Moldova, Kyrgyzstan, Gabon and Kenya) have re-entered the ranking after long periods of inactivity, which means that 141 teams are currently ranked – the highest total since December 2007.

The next FIFA/Coca-Cola Women’s World Ranking will be published on 25 September 2015.

Click here to view the complete ranking

To find out more about the calculation of the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking click here

Leader USA
Moves into top ten Norway (10th, up 1)
Moves out of top ten Canada (11th, down 3)
Matches played in total 138
Most matches played USA (11)
Biggest move by ranks Cameroon (43rd, up 10)
Biggest drop by ranks Ecuador (54th, down 6), Zimbabwe (104th, down 6)
Newly ranked teams Indonesia, Congo, Moldova, Kyrgyzstan, Gabon, Kenya
Teams that are no longer ranked Singapore, Lesotho.

Source: FIFA media release

Oral Ofori

Oral Ofori is Founder and Publisher at www.TheAfricanDream.net, a digital storyteller and producer, and also an information and research consultant.