Two of the top 10-ranked sides in the world met when Spain beat England in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup final, and there were shock results for teams further down the list earlier in the tournament.
Morocco began the tournament as the second-lowest ranked team of all the nations taking part but progressed from their group at the expense of Germany, who were considered the second-best team in the world.
The 2019 world champions the USA started at No.1 but were knocked out in the round of 16 on penalties by third-ranked Sweden.
The Sporting News looks at the state of play in terms of the world rankings following the 2023 Women’s World Cup.
MORE: Analysing Spain’s triumph
FIFA rankings for Women’s World Cup teams
Dethroned World Cup holders USA currently sit at the top of the world rankings, a position they have held continuously since 2017 and overall for a staggering 5,638 days as of the latest ranking release on June 9.
But with the updated rankings expected to be released imminently, the effect of their early exit on the placings is about to be discovered.
The only other team that has been ranked number one since the rankings were introduced has been Germany, who had their longest spell at the top between 2003 and 2007.
The lowest-ranked…
