Belgium retains year-end No. 1 spot in FIFA rankings
Belgium players pose before the Euro 2020 group I qualifying soccer match between Belgium and Cyprus at the King Baudouin stadium in Brussels, Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2019. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
ZURICH— Belgium will end the year as FIFA’s top-ranked team after winning all 10 of its games in 2019.
Retaining its year-end No. 1 spot, Belgium extended its lead over World Cup champion France going into a four-month break for the top national teams.
Article continues after this advertisementBrazil, England and Uruguay are unchanged as Nos. 3-5. World Cup runner-up Croatia is No. 6, trading places with European champion Portugal at No. 7.
Spain, Argentina and Colombia complete the top 10.
Mexico, at No. 11, is the best-ranked CONCACAF team. The United States is No. 22.
Article continues after this advertisementSenegal is Africa’s top team at No. 20. No. 28 Japan replaces Iran as Asia’s highest ranked team.
World Cup host Qatar moved up two spots to No. 55 after winning its latest qualifying game for the 2023 Asian Cup.
