The Bula Boys of Fiji have dropped two spots in the latest FIFA World Ranking, now sitting at 150th place following a heavy 7-0 defeat to New Zealand in the World Cup Qualifier semifinal held last month in Wellington.
In contrast, New Zealand has made a significant leap, rising three places to 86th, the highest rank the team has achieved since October 2013. This improvement comes after victories over Fiji and New Caledonia in qualifying matches.
Meanwhile, Samoa also witnessed progress in the rankings, moving up three spots to 189th—its highest position since 2017. The top of the global rankings remains competitive, with Argentina maintaining its lead thanks to strong performances, including a 1-0 victory against Uruguay and a convincing 4-1 win over Brazil. Following them are Spain, now in second place after overtaking France, which is ranked third, while England and Brazil hold the fourth and fifth spots, respectively.
The Netherlands currently ranks sixth, having moved up one place, while Portugal has slipped to seventh. Belgium, Italy, and Germany complete the top ten, although Croatia and Morocco are close contenders for those positions.
The next FIFA/Coca-Cola Men’s World Ranking is set to be released on July 10, providing teams an opportunity to improve their standings based on upcoming performances.
Despite the setback for Fiji, the continuing support and dedication of the players and staff can lead to recovery in future matches, reminding fans that every opportunity is a stepping stone towards progress.
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