Football World Ranking – April 2021 update

The Fifa break in March, as expected, has caused a lot of changes in the new ranking. Unfortunately the World Cup qualifiers in South America and in Asia were postponed to june, except for few games in Asia, because of the persistent travel restrictions for the COVID-19 pandemic. But the WC qualifiers started as planned in Europe and North America. Also the final matchdays 5 and 6 of the AFCON qualifiers were played, and 23 of the 24 participants of the next African Cup of Nations finals are now decided. A total of 187 international games was played (friendlies included).
The biggest increment in points for the new ranking was obtained by the Armenia national team. The european qualifiers for the next World Cup had three matchdays. After the first win with only one goal margin against Liechtestein, the armenians winned also the games at home against Iceland and Romania, climbing from the previous 83th place to the actual 68th. Belgium is the new number 1 of the ranking after two wins against Wales and Belarus and a draw against Czech Republic. In the top ten, three consecutive wins for Italy, that keeps the fifth place, and for Denmark (+5, now on the 8th place). The biggest upset of the month was the match Germany-North Macedonia, were the North Macedonia gained 54,657 points in a single game (+11, now on place 51). The second biggest upset was the Luxembourg’s win in Ireland (+49,541 points). Luxembourg gained 7 places in the new ranking (now on place 103). Good start in these qualifiers also for Cyprus (+10, now on place 104), Serbia (+7, now on place 25) and Turkey (+6, now on place 24). A bad start instead for the Republic of Ireland (-13, now 64th) and Estonia (-13, now 122th).
In the Concacaf section of the qualifiers, Saint Kitts & Nevis was the team with the best progression (+10, now on place 144) after two wins against Bahamas and Puerto Rico. Curaçao and Suriname also achieved two wins and increased both seven places (now on 94th and 121th). A draw against Montserrat cost 3 places to El Salvador now on the 85th place on the ranking, while Guatemala has a little increment after 2 wins against British Virgin Islands and Cuba.
In the AFC qualifers, notable win for Saudi Arabia (5:0 against Palestina) that is now on place 61 (+6). Despite a weaker opponent (Mongolia) Japan has gained 10 points in the only match valid for the WC qualifiers (scoring 14 goals!), and other 9 points after a 3:0 win against the Korea Republic in a friendly match. Now Japan is on place 26 (+3 compared to the previous ranking).
In Africa, final decisive games for the qualifiers: out of the 33th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations are South Africa, Zambia, Uganda, Congo DR and Congo. The biggest increment in points between the african teams was for the Cape Verde Islands (+56,613 points, up from place 102 to 95) after notable wins against Mozambique (away) and Cameroon (at home). Increments over the 40 points for Sudan, Guinea-Bissau, Zambia, Kenya, Ethiopia and Rwanda (despite this Zambia and Rwanda missed the qualification). The decisive game between Sierra Leone and Benin was postponed due to a COVID-related dispute, so the 24th team is stil unknow. List of the qualified teams with their actual ranking:

23	Algeria
35	Senegal
36	Nigeria
45	Tunisia
46	Morocco
47	Ivory Coast
54	Egypt
60	Ghana
65	Cameroon
66	Mali
71	Burkina Faso
92	Gabon
93	Guinea
95	Cape Verde
100	Zimbabwe
106	Mauritania
117	Equatorial Guinea
118	Sudan
119	Guinea-Bissau
123	Gambia
126	Malawi
130	Ethiopia
146	Comoros

Still to be decided: Sierra Leone (125) or Benin (86)

Full updated ranking here

also confederation rankings available:

http://worldranking.altervista.org/

Football World Ranking – November 2020 update

With 159 international games played, the FIFA international match window of November was the more intensive since the COVID-19 pandemic was declared. Competitive games are came back in Africa too, after Europe and South America.
As expected, the WC qualifiers in South America were those with the greatest impact for the ranking. Brazil secured other two wins, after the two achieved in october, against Venezuela and Uruguay reaching the first position in the new ranking, followed by Belgium and France. The difference in points is very small at the moment. The fourth ranked nation, England, has more than 100 points gap, followed now by Italy and Spain (both qualified for the Nations League Finals). Between the South American national teams, good progress also for the Ecuadorians (+10, now on position 33). Colombia national team falls instead out of the top ten (14th, -6) and Peru in 34th (-11). The match with the biggest points exchange of the month was Ecuador-Colombia, ended 6:1, with 45,314 points gained by Ecuador and losed by Colombia.
In Europe, the more impressive progress this month is for the Armenia national team, that has obtained the promotion for the league B in Nations League with two wins against Georgia and Macedonia. Armenia is now ranked 83th (+12). Hungary qualified for the Euro finals beating Iceland, and secured the promotion for the league A in Nations League with a draw against Serbia and a win against Turkey. Hungary is now 38th (+5). Bad results this month for Georgia, that first miss a possible historic qualification for the european championships, losing with the North Macedonia, then lose again at the home stadium against Armenia and ends with a draw against Estonia. After these results, they dropped in the ranking until the position n. 78 (-11).
The African continent returns back with the AFCON qualifiers (matchdays 3 and 4). The biggest improvement of the month was for the Equatorial Guinea, that has winned both the games against Libya, climbing 13 places until the current 117th. Sierra Leone, with two draws against the high-ranked Nigeria, climb 11 places (now 120th). Nigeria has losed instead 8 positions, dropping at place 40. A positive month for Egypt (+7), Burundi (+11), Cameroon (+6), Comoros (+7) and Sudan (+7). South Sudan has obtained an upset win aginst Uganda improving 44,566 points in the new ranking (now on place 175).

Updated rankings at: http://worldranking.altervista.org/

FWR football world ranking – october 2020 update

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

Fotball World Ranking September 2020

After many months of interruption, the national team’s football finally resumed this month despite all the problems related to the COVID-19 restrictions. The UEFA nations league 2020/2021 started with the matchdays 1 and 2. All the games were played under closed doors, many teams lost some player because of its positivity, and even a team (Czech Republic) had the whole team and staff forced to the quarantine after the first game, with a completely new team deployed for the second match.
However all the games were played as scheduled and the ranking for the european teams moved. The nations league has, for the FWR ranking, an importance factor lower than the continental qualifiers, but bigger than the friendlies. This was enough to see some interesting movement in the new ranking.
Portugal is the team with the better points increment of the month (+38,379). With the two wins against Croatia and Sweden, both teams with a good ranking, they climbed 3 positions until the 7th place of the current FWR ranking. Two wins for Belgium and France too, that preserve the first and second place in the ranking. Italy, that initially scored a draw against Bosnia-Herzegovina, has mantained is fifth place thanks to a brilliant win in the second match against Netherlands. England too remains stable at 4th place with a little increment of points.
The bigger increment in ranking’s position is for the Faroe islands (+6) with two wins in their league D games against Malta and Andorra they gained from the position 146 to 140. Good increments too for Russia (+5, from 22 to 17), Montenegro (+5, from 79 to 74), Greece (+4, from 55 to 51) and Romania (+4, from 45 to 41). Cyprus was instead the team that lost the great number of points and positions, losing both the home games against Montenegro and Azerbaijan. -42,661, down from position 101 to the current 111. San Marino remains largely the worst team in Europe losing both the games, the first in Gibraltair and the second at home with Liechtestein.
The next update will be after the FIFA international window of october, were are scheduled the EURO2021 play-offs and the matchdays 3 and 4 of the Uefa Nations League. Some friendly match too start again too reappear in the match calendar. Regarding the WC2022 qualifiers, no news at the moment from the South American confederation, so the october games are still scheduled. The confederations of North, central america and caribbean and the Asian football confederation announced already that all the games originally scheduled in october are postponed to 2021.

games played in september

new ranking 2020-09-09

new ranking UEFA

Update about the international football resuming

The COVID-19 pandemic has brutally interrupted any activity of the international football starting from the FIFA window in March. Many competitions scheduled in this summer were postponed or cancelled.
What is the situation today? Many confederations have planned the potential resuming of their activities. The situation about the COVID-19 is evolving and nothing is sure in the near future, but we all hope to see soon the national teams back on the pitch.
This are the plan for the various confederations at the moment for the rest of this year:

UEFA – it should be the first confederation to have competitive games starting from september, the only confederation to mantain an international window in this month. The UEFA nations league will start from 3 september, 2020. There will be 2 matchdays in september, 2 in october and 2 in november (schedule here). After the end of the league stage, the finals are scheduled in september and october 2021. In the international window of march 2021 are scheduled the play-offs for the postponed European championship, scheduled now in june 2021.

COMNEBOL – The Copa America 2020 was also postponed in the summer 2021. On 10 July 2020, FIFA announced that the CONMEBOL qualifiers in September 2020 were postponed, with the qualifiers starting in October 2020. CONMEBOL also requested FIFA to include a replacement international window in January 2022 in order to complete the qualifiers in March 2022. The proposal was approved by FIFA on 18 August 2020.
Schedule here .

CONCACAF – The qualifers for the World Cup 2022 should start in october. The draw for the first round was completed and here there is the schedule for the first and the final round (octagonal).
The Concacaf Road to Gold Cup Qualifiers were due to be played in the March 2020 and June 2020 FIFA match windows which were suspended. There will be now a centralized Gold Cup preliminary round for those teams which had been due to play the Road to Gold Cup Qualifiers. This will take place in the United States in the week before the commencement of the Gold Cup group stages. The 2019/20 Concacaf Nations League Finals will now take place in the FIFA match window of March 2021, at a venue in the United States to be determined.

CAF – The African Football Confederation has announced a new schedule for the AFCON qualifiers and the World Cup qualifiers. The AFCON finals were postponed to january, 2022.

AFC – the remaining games for AC2023 and WC2022 qualifiers were originally posponed to october and november 2020, but recently the AFC has postponed again to march 2021. A new calendar is not yet published.

OFC – the Oceanian Football Confederation has the less busy calendar. Due to the evolving situation, the decision was to prudentially postpone the beginning of the World Cup qualifiers to 2021. The details and format are still unknown. Unfortunately the OFC Nations Cup, originally scheduled in june 2020, was definitely cancelled. Here the proposal from the OFC for the WC qualifiers.

 

FWR Ranking – aggiornamento 20 novembre 2019

Terminata anche la finestra internazionale Fifa di Novembre, esce un nuovo aggiornamento della nostra classifica mondiale comprendente tutte le partite internazionali disputate fino al 19/11/2019. In questo periodo si sono disputate partite ufficiali in 4 continenti su 6. Importanti verdetti in Europa, dove si sono conclusi i gironi di qualificazione al prossimo europeo 2020, ed in Nord America con la conclusione della fase a gruppi della prima Concacaf Nations League della storia. Per quanto riguarda l’europeo 20 delle 24 finaliste sono ora note, e tra queste c’è l’Italia. L’Italia, che dopo la mancata qualificazione alla fase finale del mondiale 2018 partiva da una disastrosa 33ma posizione in classifica nel Settembre 2018, ha vinto tutte e 10 le partite di questo girone di qualificazione chiudendo con un appariscente 9-1 rifilato all’Armenia, ed è piano piano risalita nel ranking occupando in questo momento la 12ma posizione. E’ ovvio che per arrivare nelle prime posizioni occorrerebbe arrivare in fondo alla prossima fase finale dell’europeo, cosa che non sarà facile vista l’agguerrita concorrenza. Comunque la prossima estate sarà indubbiamente interessante vista la concomitanza del massimo trofeo continentale nelle due confederazioni più forti, Europa e Sud America, che farà si, verosimilmente, che le gerarchie nelle prime posizioni verranno pesantemente rimodellate. Per il momento resiste in testa il Brasile, che dopo la vittoria nella Coppa America casalinga in estate ha disputato solo amichevoli, mentre da queste qualificazioni europee escono in positivo Belgio ed Inghilterra che ora sono rispettivamente seconda e terza. In calo invece la Francia campione del mondo, ex n.1 del ranking per qualche mese, che ha sì centrato la qualificazione alla fase finale dell’europeo, ma ha ottenuto solo 1 punto su 6 contro la Turchia (che è ora risalita in 27 ma posizione) e prima era stata eliminata nel girone della Uefa Nations League. La Francia è ora al 9o posto del ranking. Per conoscere le ultime 4 finaliste dell’europeo bisognerà aspettare i play-offs che si disputeranno in Marzo.

Le 20 nazioni qualificate direttamente alla fase finale:

Le nazioni impegnate nei play-off che si disputeranno nel Marzo 2020:

In Nord America, la fase a gruppi della Nations League ha decretato 12 delle 16 qualificate per la prossima Gold Cup 2021, e le partecipanti ai play-off che decideranno  le ultime 4 finaliste (il sorteggio è in programma l’11 dicembre). Ovviamente sono ora note anche promosse e retrocesse delle 3 serie in cui è suddivisa la Nations League.
Vediamo prima la Concacaf Nations League A, classifica finale: la prima di ogni girone disputerà il torneo finale che si disputerà nel Giugno 2020. Prime e seconde di ogni girone sono inoltre qualificate per la Gold Cup 2021. Le terze classificate retrocedono in Nations League B, ma sono qualificate per la finale del play-off di qualificazione per la Gold Cup.

Nations League B: le prime classificate di ogni gruppo hanno conquistato la promozione in League A e la qualificazione diretta per la prossima Gold Cup. Le seconde restano in League B ma si sono qualificate per la semifinale del play-off per la Gold Cup (forza Montserrat!). Le quarte invece sono retrocesse nella Nations League C.

Infine la Nations League C dove c’è gloria solo per le prime classificate di ogni gruppo che vengono promosse in Nations League B e si qualificano per la semifinale play-off per la qualificazione alla Gold Cup. Ricordiamo che il Guatemala partiva dall’ultima serie a causa del ban della Fifa che l’aveva estromessa dalle qualificazioni dello scorso anno (qualificazioni che si erano svolte “una tantum” e solo per la prima edizione). Tutte le altre squadre invece rimangono nel limbo della serie C.

questo il “line-up” della prossima edizione di Concacaf Nations League al netto di promozioni e retrocessioni:

In Asia, altre due giornate per il secondo turno di qualificazioni ai mondiali del 2022, questo è l’unico continente in cui le qualificazioni per il prossimo mondiale sono già entrate nel vivo (e del resto, il percorso da fare è molto lungo). A livello di ranking FWR, la nazionale che ha tratto maggiore guadagno dalle partite di questo mese è stata quella Malese, che è passata dal 147mo al 126mo posto (+21). Mese da dimenticare invece per la Palestina che con due sconfitte (dannosa in particolare quella contro lo Yemen) scende dalla 104ma alla 130ma posizione (-26). Di seguito le classifiche provvisorie dei vari gironi:

Passiamo all’Africa, dove sono iniziati i gironi di qualificazione alla Coppa d’Africa 2021. dopo il preliminare di ottobre, sono rimaste in lizza 48 squadre divise in 12 gruppi. In questo mese di Novembre si sono disputate le prime due giornate. Ottima partenza per il Madagascar, con due vittorie su due partite, mentre il Gambia con la vittoria in Angola seguita dal pareggio casalingo contro la RD del Congo è riuscito ad aggiudicarsi il titolo di best mover assoluto del mese nel nostro ranking, visto che è risalito dalla poszione n.146 alla n.122 (+24). Di seguito le classifiche provvisorie dei vari gironi:

Per quanto riguarda il Sudamerica soltanto amichevoli in questo mese (notevole la vittoria in Giappone del Venezuela per 4 a 1),  mentre in Oceania non ha giocato nessuna squadra eccetto la Nuova Zelanda, che torna così a disputare incontri internazionali dopo quasi un anno e mezzo, con 2 sconfitte però sia in Irlanda che in Lituania.

Classifica FWR aggiornata al 20/11/2019: worldranking.altervista.org

(prossima data di pubblicazione: 20/12/2019)
Nazionali che hanno giocato dopo il precedente aggiornamento: 194
Attuale primo in classifica: Brasile (invariato)
Nazioni in classifica: 220 (invariato)
Miglior progresso del mese: Nicaragua +24 (da 146 a 122)
Peggior calo del mese: Palestina -26 (from 104 to 130) e Nicaragua -26 (da 138 a 164)

FWR RANKING – classifica di Novembre, 2019

Con la classifica di Novembre, appena pubblicata sul nostro sito worldranking.altervista.org , terminerà l’attuale abitudine di aggiornare le classifiche tassativamente al primo giorno di ogni mese. Per poter essere più tempestivi nel fornire gli aggiornamenti abbiamo infatti deciso, da ora in avanti, di pubblicare i prossimi ranking nei giorni immediatamente successivi agli appuntamenti che contano, e cioè le finestre internazionali Fifa e le competizioni ufficiali (campionati continentali o Coppa del Mondo). E’ comunque previsto di rispettare la data del primo del mese dopo quelle mensilità in cui verranno giocate solo amichevoli, in maniera da non lasciare lunghi periodi senza aggiornamenti.
Il prossimo aggiornamento verrà pubblicato il 20/11/2019, al termine della finestra per le nazionali di Novembre.

Classifica aggiornata al 01/11/2019: worldranking.altervista.org

(prossima data di pubblicazione: 20/11/2019)
Nazionali attive nell’ultimo periodo: 190
Attuale primo in classifica: Brasile (invariato)
Nazioni in classifica: 220 (invariato)
Miglior progresso del mese: Nicaragua +20 (da 158 a 138)
Peggior calo del mese: Suriname -22 (from 103 to 125) e Moldova -22 (da 138 a 160)

Football World Ranking – Ottobre 2019

E’ online la classifica di ottobre, con numerosissimi cambiamenti nel ranking. Tutti questi cambiamenti sono dovuti all’elevato numero di partite ufficiali disputate nel mese di settembre, ma anche ad un’aggiornamento nel metodo di calcolo che ha comportato il ricalcolo di tutti i mesi precedenti. Best mover del mese è risultata la nazionale delle Isole Cayman, che grazie alle due vittorie nella Conacacaf Nations League, guadagnano ben 95,684 punti, passando così dal 206mo al 197mo posto.

Football World Ranking – classifica di Settembre 2019

Poche amichevoli di preparazione, per alcune delle nazionali che durante le finestre internazionali di Settembre saranno invece impegnate in importanti competizioni ufficiali, hanno determinato un mese di Agosto con poche modifiche alla nostra classifica, com’è del resto abituale in questo periodo. L’unico motivo di un certo interesse per le nazionali dell’area mediorientale erano i campionati della federazione regionale WAFF, disputati in Iraq a partire dagli ultimissimi giorni di Luglio. La vittoria della competizione è andata al Bahrein, che grazie ai punti incamerati diventa la squadra best mover del mese, passando dalla posizione n.102 alla n.90.
Ma l’attenzione è già tutta catturata dal prossimo ranking. In questo mese di Settembre infatti si giocheranno qualificazioni ai mondiali in Africa ed Asia, qualificazioni al campionato europeo ed inizierà la Concacaf Nations League. Tutte partite ad alto coefficiente che modificheranno sicuramente in maniera importante le posizioni in classifica.

Potete visionare la classifica aggiornata qui: classifica

Sul sito potete trovare le classifiche per confederazione, i dettagli delle partite conteggiate nel ranking, le classifiche dei mesi passati ed altro: http://worldranking.altervista.org/

Coppa d’Africa 2019 – come ha influito nella classifica

Inseriamo qui i movimenti in classifica delle 24 nazionali impegnate nella Coppa d’Africa 2019 da poco conclusa. La vincitrice della competizione è anche quella che ha preso il primo posto tra le nazionali africane. Gran progresso anche per il Madagascar rivelazione del torneo.

http://worldranking.altervista.org/History/2019_caf_africancupofnations.htm