ZURICH: The concluding 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ qualifiers have left their mark on the latest FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking, with Senegal and the winners of the European zone play-offs among the biggest climbers.

The Lions of Teranga have risen to 23rd – their highest-ever position on the global ladder – on the back of securing their first World Cup place since 2002. They are now the top-ranked African nation, having leapfrogged fellow Russia 2018 qualifiers Tunisia (27th, up one) and Egypt (31st, down one).

Europe’s play-off kings are also on the up, with Switzerland (eighth, up three), Denmark (12th, up seven), Croatia (17th, up one) and Sweden (18th, up seven) having climbed a combined total of 18 places. The Swiss have, as a result, returned to the top ten, while the Swedes have earned this edition’s highest points tally following their 1-0 aggregate win over four-time world champions Italy.

The Italians (14th, up one), for their part, are one of four top 20-ranked teams to miss out on Russia 2018, with Chile (10th, down one), Wales (19th, down five) and the Netherlands (20th, unchanged) making up that unfortunate quartet.

The ranking’s top five – Germany, Brazil, Portugal, Argentina and Belgium – will be heading to the global finals, and all have maintained their positions from the October edition. They will, though, be mindful of Spain looming in the rear-view mirror, with La Roja having moved into sixth, passing France and Poland on the way.

Elsewhere, Palestine (82nd, up two), Luxembourg (84th, up nine) and Chinese Taipei (135th, up eight) have all joined Senegal in reaching their best ranking positions to date. There are also notable leaps for Korea DPR (114th, up 18), Lebanon (87th, up 13), Burkina Faso (44th, up 11), and Indonesia (154th, up 11).

The next FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking will be published on 21 December 2017.

Click here to view the complete ranking.
To find out more about the calculation of the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking click here

Leader Germany (unchanged)
Moves into top 10 Switzerland (8th, up 3)
Moves out of top 10 Peru (11th, down 1)
Matches played in total 98
Most matches played Panama, Estonia (3 games each)
Biggest move by points Sweden (up 126 points)
Biggest move by ranks Korea DPR (up 18 ranks)
Biggest drop by points Brazil (down 136 points)
Biggest drop by ranks Laos (down 22 ranks)
Newly ranked teams none
Teams that are no longer ranked none
Inactive teams, not ranked none

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