With just 22 matches played, all friendlies, since the December edition, it is no surprise to see few significant changes in the first FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking of 2018.
Germany remain at the summit of a static top ten, while Iceland (20, up 2) are the only team to enter the top 20, with the Netherlands (21, down 1) dropping out.
Croatia (15th, up 2) also made some ground, and there were more substantial rises further down the order. Tunisia (23rd, up 4), for example, built on the gains made during their successful FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign, while Kuwait (174, up 15), Sudan (124, up 12), and El Salvador (90, up 10) all registered double-digit jumps.
Congratulations are also due to Chinese Taipei (134, up 1), Lebanon (84, up 1), and Palestine (75, up 5), all of whom reached their best-ever Ranking positions.
*The next FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking will be published on 15 February 2018.
Leader
Germany
Moves into top ten
None
Moves out of top ten
None
Matches played in total
22 (14 of which were in 2017)
Most matches played
Bahrain, Oman, United Arab Emirates (5 matches each)
Biggest move by points
Tunisia (up 77 points)
Biggest move by ranks
Kuwait (up 15 ranks)
Biggest drop by points
Haiti (down 204 points)
Biggest drop by ranks
Suriname (down 32 ranks)
Newly ranked teams
None
Teams that are no longer ranked
None
Inactive teams, not ranked
None