Filipinas stay at No. 53 in world rankings ahead of Fifa World Cup draw

FILE–Filipinas in the AFF Women’s Championship 2022. –PFF PHOTO

The Philippine women’s football team remained at No. 53 in the latest Fifa world rankings released before the draw for the 2023 Women’s World Cup takes place next week.

Coach Alen Stajcic’s side gained a slight increase in points with 1,483.06, up by more than three, but kept the same position it had in the previous tally released in August.

With no movement, the Filipinas will be placed in Pot 4 of the World Cup draw slated Oct. 22 in Auckland, New Zealand.

Pot 4 contains five of the lowest ranked teams that secured World Cup berths along with three qualifiers from the inter-confederation playoffs.

The Filipinas attempted to climb up into a higher pot in the previous two months, facing New Zealand to a 2-1 loss last month in California before facing Costa Rica recently in the latter’s capital of San Jose.

The Philippines drew 1-1 last Oct. 7 before suffering a 2-1 defeat four days later.

Defending two-time World Cup champion United States remained at No. 1, followed by Sweden, Germany, Euro 2022 winner England and France.

North Korea remains the highest-ranked nation under the Asian Football Confederation despite failing to qualify for the World Cup at No. 10 with Japan (No. 11), Australia (No. 13), Asian Cup winner China (No. 15) and South Korea (No. 17) completing the top five.