With the World Cup just around the corner, the standings provide an early snapshot of the teams setting the pace as attention inevitably shifts to FIFA’s expensive mega-event next summer.
December’s rankings follow 42 international matches, with the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025 accounting for the bulk of the late-year movement.
However, there was little change at the top. Argentina remains second, France third, and the rest of the top ten – England, Brazil, Portugal, Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and Croatia – all end the year exactly where they started the month.
Just outside that group, Morocco is getting closer. Fresh from winning the Arab Cup in Doha, the AFCON hosts are just one ranking point behind Croatia in tenth place.
Jordan were among the most upwardly mobile sides in December, climbing two places to 64th after reaching the Arab Cup final. During their run in Qatar they played six matches – the joint highest total of any country in the window – and the reward came in the form of a tangible rise in the standings.
Elsewhere, Vietnam and Singapore have risen three places each, but the broader picture from 2025 belongs to Kosovo – while their position remains unchanged at 80th in December, no team has collected more ranking points over the year. Seven wins and two draws from ten matches saw a total gain of 89.02 points and a rise of 19 places since January, the biggest overall rise of any country.
Norway and Suriname also ended the year better than where they started it, while another dozen teams improved their position on the calendar by double digits. At the other end of the scale, Malaysia saw the sharpest decline, both in points and places, while Palestine recorded the largest single point increase.
In confederation terms, the top 50 remains largely stable. UEFA continues to dominate with 26 teams, followed by seven from CONMEBOL and CAF, and five from Concacaf and the AFC. No new teams entered the rankings this month, none dropped out and Eritrea remains inactive.
Contact the author of this story, Harry Ewing, at force.l1766409673laboratory1766409673ofdlr1766409673are1766409673sni@g1766409673it’s him.1766409673year1766409673
#Spain #closes #top #mens #world #rankings #World #Football