Fiji has made significant progress in the latest FIFA World Ranking, jumping four spots to become the second highest ranked team in the Oceania region. Under the guidance of coach Rob Sherman, the Bula Boys are now ranked 146th, their best position since 2011.
The improvement in ranking follows Fiji’s recent victory over the Solomon Islands, where they won 1-0 on October 10 during the FIFA World Cup qualifiers, allowing them to surpass their regional rivals.
In another notable movement, New Zealand has climbed the rankings to 91st, marking its highest position since 2016 thanks to victories against Tahiti and Malaysia.
New Caledonia and Vanuatu also saw their rankings rise, both moving up five spots to 155th and 157th respectively after winning their World Cup qualifying matches. Conversely, Papua New Guinea continues to fall in the rankings, dropping to 171st, which is its lowest position since 2018.
On a global scale, the top three teams are closely bunched together. Argentina remains in first place, but their lead over France in second and Spain in third has decreased. England, Brazil, and Belgium maintain their positions at fourth, fifth, and sixth respectively. Portugal climbed to seventh, while Italy moved up to ninth, both making small gains within the top ten. The Netherlands and Colombia slipped to eighth and tenth, respectively, while Germany advanced to eleventh.
The next FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking is scheduled for release on November 28, 2024.
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