FIFA World Ranking: Belgium to take over No. 1 spot from Argentina

Coming from their third position, Belgium will take over the No. 1 spot in the FIFA World Ranking in November following a 3-1 home win against Israel on Tuesday.

With Germany losing in the Republic of Ireland and current No. 1 Argentina losing at home to Ecuador and drawing in Paraguay, the win against Israel put them in the top spot for the first time in their history.

The victory puts Belgium on 1,440 ranking points in the next ranking, which will be released on Nov. 5, with Germany in second on 1,388 and Argentina falling to third on 1,383.

Belgium were as low as 66th in the ranking in 2009, so moving to the very top in the space of six years is a remarkable achievement.

The difference in ranking points was enough that if Belgium had lost at home to Israel they would have dropped out of the top three below Portugal into fourth.

Read also: FIFA Rankings: Nigeria moves up one place

Wales’ short spell in the top 10 will come to an end next month, as they drop seven places from 8th to 15th. Chile will be the big climbers inside the top 10, climbing four places to 5th. Austria will hit a new all-time high, climbing a place into 10th.

Uruguay will rise eight places from 20th to 12th, with Italy up four from 17th to 13th.

New FIFA Ranking Top 20

1 – Belgium

2 – Germany

3 – Argentina

4 – Portugal

5 – Chile

6 – Spain

7 – Colombia

8 – Brazil

9 – England

10 – Austria

11 – Switzerland

12 – Uruguay

13 – Italy

14 – Romania

15 – Wales

16 – Netherlands

17 – Czech Republic

18 – Turkey

19 – Croatia

20 – Bosnia-Herzegovina

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