What Are The FIFA World Rankings?

Most football fans passionately follow both their national team and a domestic club, celebrating victories and reliving iconic moments. But fewer consider the system that ranks international teams and determines which is officially the best in the world.

Behind every win and loss, FIFA’s World Ranking (FWR) provides a structured method for comparing teams globally. More than just a list, the rankings influence World Cup seedings, qualification draws, and international tournaments. Calculated through a points-based system, they reflect team performance over time.

Understanding how the rankings work is essential for grasping their impact on international football. This article breaks down the FIFA World Rankings, explaining how they are determined and why they matter in shaping the global game.

What are the FIFA World Rankings?

FIFA World Rankings or FWR, first came into play in December 1992. The published listing was intended to serve as a reliable method of ranking its member nations. In turn, this data could be used to easily compare teams, seed competitions, such as the FIFA World Cup, and select individuals for specialist awards. 

The archetypal formula for generating rankings was devised by Markus Lamprecht and Dr. Hanspeter Stam who were two Swiss lecturers. They created a system of ranking results between FIFA affiliated teams, and their system, despite being complex, was the most simple to date.

Positions within the rankings were based on the results of matches played between FIFA affiliated A teams. Points were collated over an 8 year period and focussed on FIFA-recognised games. Rankings were updated every couple of months meaning that results were not always accurate or up-to-date. 

The formula awarded points for winning, drawing and losing. Points were also given for goals scored and conceded, points added for away matches, regional strengths and weaknesses. Points were also given for the importance of the match being played. For example, friendlies received a lower point score than a World Cup Final game. 

Whilst the principles were simple, there was a considered backlash to the introduction of the FWR. A lack of clarity and perceived imbalances between the confederations left FIFA with the need to refine their methodology and address the issues that were provoking the fans. 

Changes To The FIFA World Rankings

In response to criticism that the rankings were not accurate, FIFA updated the formula in 1999. Several changes were made which ultimately increased the complexity of the formula. When it grew in intricacy, it also gained a more respected accuracy that sated those who had been unhappy before. For a time. 

Further changes came into force after the 2006 World Cup. Fans had voiced their criticism of the previous formula, believing it still to be inaccurate. The formula was revised once more and simplified. Some of the most significant changes implemented saw the removal of the home and away advantage and a change in the length of the evaluation period – cut from eight to four years. 

Following the close of the 2018 World Cup, FIFA introduced several new updates to the rankings system. The weighting applied to each confederation was abolished, as was the allocation of points for the margin of victory and the home and away games. 

A new model, widely known as “SUM” was introduced in 2018. This system continuously adds or subtracts points from a team’s total rather than averaging game points over time. 

The most recent changes took place in 2021, FIFA determined that points teams had acquired would be rounded to two decimal places, rather than the nearest integer. 

Whilst the rankings system has undergone several revisions, it still functions to serve the same basic principle, to produce an accurate overview of FIFA’s national sides. Currently all 211 national associations are ranked.  

How Are The FIFA World Rankings Calculated?

This formula has been developed to improve accuracy for all confederations and ensure understanding. 

The FIFA formula for calculating the rankings, termed as “SUM,”consists of an algorithm which is expressed as: P = Pbefore + I * (W – We). 

And, whilst this may look complicated, it’s not unfathomable.  

P=Before

P=Before stands for points “before match.” This is the current accumulated point score for the national side.  

I

The second part of the algorithm is represented as I, and it relates to the importance of the match. There are nine levels of importance. The lowest level being a friendly (with a 05 point score), rising to World Cup Final matches from Quarter Final onwards (with a 60 point score). The full breakdown can be seen below.

I= 05 Friendly matches played outside of International Match Calendar windows

I= 10 Friendly matches played during International Match Calendar windows

I= 15 Group phase matches of Nations League competitions

I= 25 Play-off and final matches of Nations League competitions

I= 25 Qualification matches for Confederations final competitions and for FIFA World Cup final competitions

I= 35 Confederation final competition matches up until the QF stage

I= 40 Confederation final competition matches from the QF stage onwards; all FIFA Confederations Cup matches

I= 50 FIFA World Cup final competition matches up until QF stage

I= 60 FIFA World Cup final competition matches from QF stage onwards.

(W – We)

The third aspect of the algorithm is represented with (W – We). W denotes the outcome of the game. One point is awarded for a win, 0.5 for a draw and 0 points for a loss. The final element is We, which is the expected result based on the current rankings of both teams.  

Perhaps the most complex aspect of the formula, this part essentially represents who won the game and who was expected to win based on their rankings as the game kicked off. 

So, if Argentina (ranked first in January 2025) were to play San Marino (currently ranked last in the same month) and San Marino won, it would negatively impact the points total of Argentina in a significant way. In much the same way, San Marino would see a hugely profitable return on their own score. Obviously, the closer in eminence the two teams are, the less of a consequence it has. 

Why Do The FIFA World Rankings Matter?

FIFA World Cup Rankings do matter. World Cup Ratings matter to national sides, those that play for their country and the adoring fans that follow them. The FWR directly impacts seedings in World Cup and Continental competitions.

FIFA rankings determine the way in which teams are apportioned into pots during the group stages of competitions. A high-ranking team is placed as the top seed in the group, paired with lower-ranking teams. 

Being ranked as top seed means teams are more likely to progress to the later stages of the tournament. This alone gives national sides the impetus to climb to the highest echelons of the FIFA World Rankings, certainly in the run up to major tournaments. 

It’s not just seedings and draws that are impacted by a side’s position in the rankings. National pride and global recognition are elevated with each step up the rankings ladder. The kudos that accompany the top spots escalates national sides, and their players to global stardom, earning respect from fans at all corners of the globe. 

Adoration from the home fans and respect garnered from the footballing community matters and can provide a limitless boost to any national side. Funding, sponsorship and corporate sponsorship can flourish too,  if your home team is progressing through the ranks, or maintaining an enviable position. 

Because the FIFA rankings carry such a significance within the international aspect of the game, some countries have adopted a process that’s become known as ‘ranking gaming.’ Tactics such as organising friendlies against opponents considerably lower down the ranks allows for easy wins that reduces the likelihood of losing points. 

Criticisms, Controversy and Evolution

Despite more than thirty years of the FIFA World Cup Rankings and several redressings and refining of the methodologies, FIFA continues to experience criticisms of their ranking system. 

FIFA has attempted to address the condemnation and reform system over time.The 2018 overhaul was the product of a two year analysis and saw several changes being introduced. 

When the ranking system first began FIFA updated scores every few months. This meant that positions were not always accurate, and was one of the major criticisms by fans. If a couple of games had been played in between updates, teams could be several places away from their actual position for a few games. 

Before the 2018 World Cup draw, rankings had not been updated. This impacted the positions of Tunisia and Egypt. As a result, Tunisia, rather than Egypt were placed into Pot One for the group stages. Egypt should have ranked higher but the system had not been updated at the time of the draw.

Many believe there is a continued bias, one that was established at the inception of the ranking system, towards association nations that play more matches within their confederations. Asian and African teams play fewer matches against highly ranked teams than their European counterparts. 

Others believe that the system fails to take into account a side’s long-term performance and focuses mainly on the short-term. There may be times when a team encounters a brief moment at the higher end of the table only to find themselves under performing during international tournaments and competitions. 

Interesting Trends and Facts

There’s no doubt as to which team is the most eminent when they raise the FIFA World Cup trophy gloriously above their heads. But for those four long years in between each tournament there is always ongoing debate and dissection about which team will ultimately raise it next time. 

The FIFA rankings were never designed to fuel footballing debate between ardent fans but they provide statistical evidence to back-up or dispel passionate points of view. They also work to bring to light teams, both giant and miniscule, that buck the trends or defy expectations. 

Without FIFA rankings the world may never have realised that when Brazil hosted the World Cup in 2014, they were positioned at their lowest ever ranking since records began in 1993 – an unbelievable 19th. This is the team that has won the World Cup a record five times and has secured top of the table status since records began. Closer inspection would reveal that this was due to their lack of competitive matches but a statistic that could drop the jaw of any football fan.

In 1994, England dropped seven places without losing a game! This drastic fall caused by their games having a lesser ranking due to being friendlies.

Russia, hosts of the 2028 World Cup advanced their way to the quarter-finals despite entering the tournament with a world ranking of 70. They were knocked out by Croatia who were beaten by France in the final.

In 2024, the rankings suggested that Germany had positioned themselves in the 13th spot with America only slightly behind them in 16th place. Many would do a double-take seeing these teams so closely ranked, arguing that America’s ranking appears generous.  

This same year saw England nestled between Spain (third place) and Brazil (fourth place). 

There is not much statistical data on hand to suggest that England are a stronger team than their South American counterparts, yet England gained a place after their success when they reached the FIFA European Finals.

It’s also notable that Iran, a side that has never progressed past the group stages in the World Cup, were ranked 20th in July 2024. Whilst it is unlikely that they would fare well against teams that sit considerably lower than them in the table, they have performed exceptionally well against other Asian teams.

The Future of FIFA Rankings

Prior to 2018 some sides were less likely to engage in friendlies in the run up to tournaments. By avoiding friendlies, and potential losses, teams could find themselves placed in a higher pot. Changes made in 2018 saw FIFA put an end to this. 

Post 2018, there is no reward for failing to engage in friendlies. This will potentially lead to a rise in these games and reward fans with more opportunities to watch their team play. More friendlies may lead to an increase in revenue and funding opportunities for sides, making this revision a popular one for fans and players. 

Data-driven systems play a pivotal role in the game that means so much to so many. Understanding and evaluating team performance against other international teams allows the fans to measure progress, understand team strengths and deepen their sense of national pride. 

FIFA have worked to progressively update and refine the methodologies behind the rankings, ensuring they attempt to iron-out areas that have warranted derision and criticism. 

Some of these modifications have driven positive change to the system but many believe the fundamental issue – that the system is still not accurate – remains to this day.