128 international games were played this month, with 113 national teams moving their ratings in the FWR football ranking. The most important games (K=1,25) were played in South America, where the WC2022 qualifiers finally started with the matchdays 1 and 2. Good start for Brazil and Argentina with two wins. Brazil (wins against Venezuela and Peru) remains in the third position in the FWR football world ranking but it is now closer to France and Belgium. Argentina, defeating both Ecuador at home and Bolivia away, entered the top 10, moving up from position 12 to 9. An important win for Ecuador against Uruguay (that was in the top 10 before this match) allows to climb 6 positions (from 39 to 33). Uruguay slip instead out of the top 10 (from 8 to 12). A bad start for Venezuela and Bolivia, that lose both the inaugural games. Venezuela, that was still in good position after the good Copa America in Brazil, has lost 11 position (from 24 down to 33), while Bolivia remains in the last position between the south american teams (now 71th).
Important games also in Europe, with the Euro 2021 play-off semifinals as well as the matchdays 3 and 4 of the Uefa Nations League. Hungary is the team with the best progress of the month (+62,120 points and +12 positions, now on position 43). The Hungarians started with the important away win 3-1 in Bulgaria, winning the Euro play-off semifinal. After that, another important away win in Sebia and a draw in Russia keeping them running for a promotion to league A of the Nations League. Important results also for Luxembourg (+10, now on position 105). After a disappointing defeat in a friendly match against Liechtestein, they achieved two consecutive wins at home against Cyprus and, above all, away against Montenegro. Good improvement in ranking also for Scotland 40th (+7), Austria 24th (+7), Malta 160th (+7), Slovenia 56th (+6) and Georgia 67th (+6). In the top ten, the defeat against England has cost Belgium the first position, now reached by France, after a draw against Portugal and a win in Croatia in Nations League. Portugal after the draw against France secured a large win against Sweden and climbed two positions (from 7 to 5).
African teams were preparing for the AFCON qualifiers scheduled in November. 27 of the top 30 african teams in the FWR ranking played at least one friendly match this month. Mali was the team with the best progress, defeating Ghana 3:0 they have risen until the 66 position of the ranking (+5). After the defeat against Mali, Ghana defeated the Asian Champions Qatar 5:1 three days later.
In the North, central America and caribbean, a remarkable double win for Panama in two friendlies against Costa Rica, with Panama moving +7 positions (from 83 to 76) while Costa Rica slip down from position 54 to 60.
Updated rankings: http://worldranking.altervista.org/
Games played: http://worldranking.altervista.org/Matches/2020-10-15.htm
OM+ Football World Ranking 