Peru have climbed into the top ten of the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking for the first time in an edition marked by the recent, decisive FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
The Peruvians, who qualified for an Intercontinental Play-off against New Zealand, were joined in the Ranking’s upper echelons by Spain, who climbed from 11th to 8th on the back of an impressive conclusion to their unbeaten qualifying campaign.
As a result of the latest ranking, Pot 1 for the Russia 2018 draw on 1 December has been decided. Russia, Germany, Brazil, Portugal, Argentina, Belgium, Poland and France make up the top seeded teams.
The ranking table makes pleasant reading for many European nations, with Germany holding on to top spot and France (7, up 1), England (12, up 3), Denmark (19, up 7), Scotland (29, up 14) and Austria (39, up 18) among others making significant gains.
The Austrians are one of four new entries to the top 50, where they are joined by Czech Republic (46, up 12), Morocco (48, up 8) and World Cup qualifying sensations Panama (49, up 11). That shake-up has left UEFA with 28 teams in the top 50, up one on last month, a rise that comes at the expense of CONMEBOL, who drop down to eight.
Peru’s historic rise will compensate for that, and Los Incas are one of five nations celebrating their best-ever Ranking position this month. Sharing that distinction are Palestine (84, up 7), Luxembourg (93, up 8), Comoros (127, up 14) and Chinese Taipei (143, up 8).
*The next FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking will be published on 23 November 2017.
Leader
Germany
Moves into top ten
Spain (8th, up 3), Peru (10th, up 2)
Moves out of top ten
Switzerland (11th, down 4), Colombia (13th, down 3)
Matches played in total
113
Most matches played
86 teams with two games each
Biggest move by points
Denmark (up 153 points)
Biggest move by ranks
Turkmenistan (up 22 ranks)
Biggest drop by points
Ecuador (down 119 points)
Biggest drop by ranks
Ecuador, Lithuania (down 25 ranks each)
Newly ranked teams
None
Teams that are no longer ranked
None
Inactive teams, not ranked
None