The ranking for each year is as at 31 July. A yellow background highlights the top team, green highlights those teams that are in a higher position than the previous year and red highlights those that are in a lower position than the previous year. A yellow number indicates the team's highest ever ranking at that time.

Country

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

2026

Argentina

2

3

1

1

G3

G3

G2

G2

G2

1

-

-

-

Austria

G8

G8

G7

G7

G8

G8

G8

G8

G8

G9

-

-

-

Belgium

G2

G2

G3

G3

3

4

4

2

3

G3

-

-

-

Brazil

4

2

4

2

G2

G2

G3

G2

G2

G2

-

-

-

Bulgaria

G6

G6

G6

G6

G7

G7

G7

G7

G7

G8

-

-

-

Cameroon

G7

G7

G7

G7

G8

G8

G8

G8

G8

G10

-

-

-

Colombia

G2

1

3

4

G3

G3

G3

G3

G3

G4

-

-

-

Costa Rica

G2

G2

2

3

G3

G3

G3

G3

G3

G6

-

-

-

Croatia

G6

G6

G6

G5

2

3

3

G2

1

3

-

-

-

Denmark

G4

G4

G4

G4

G5

G5

G5

G4

G4

G5

-

-

-

DPR Korea

G9

G9

G9

G9

G10

G10

G10

G10

G10

G11

-

-

-

England

G3

G3

G4

G4

4

2

2

3

4

G2

-

-

-

France

G2

G2

G2

G3

1

1

1

1

2

2

-

-

-

Germany

1

4

G2

G2

G4

G4

G5

G5

G4

G4

-

-

-

Ghana

G5

G5

G5

G5

G6

G6

G6

G6

G6

G7

-

-

-

Hungary

G9

G9

G9

G9

G10

G10

G10

G10

G10

G11

-

-

-

Italy

G3

G3

G2

G2

G4

G5

G5

G4

G5

G6

-

-

-

Korea Republic

G7

G7

G7

G7

G9

G9

G9

G9

G9

G10

-

-

-

Mexico

G5

G5

G5

G5

G7

G6

G6

G5

G5

G5

-

-

-

Morocco

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

4

-

-

-

Netherlands

3

G2

G2

G2

G5

G5

G4

G6

G6

G2

-

-

-

Paraguay

G3

G3

G3

G3

G4

G4

G4

G4

G4

G5

-

-

-

Peru

G8

G8

G8

G8

G9

G9

G9

G9

G9

G9

-

-

-

Poland

G8

G8

G8

G8

G8

G8

G8

G7

G7

G8

-

-

-

Portugal

G4

G4

G4

G4

G5

G4

G4

G3

G3

G2

-

-

-

Republic of Ireland

G9

G9

G9

G9

G10

G10

G10

G10

G10

G11

-

-

-

Romania

G8

G8

G8

G8

G9

G9

G9

G9

G9

G10

-

-

-

Russia

-

-

-

-

G2

G2

G2

G2

G2

G3

-

-

-

Senegal

G5

G5

G5

G5

G6

G6

G6

G6

G6

G7

-

-

-

Spain

G4

G4

G3

G2

G3

G2

G2

4

G2

G3

-

-

-

Sweden

G7

G7

G8

G8

G2

G3

G3

G5

G5

G6

-

-

-

Turkey

G6

G6

G6

G6

G6

G6

G6

G6

G6

G7

-

-

-

Ukraine

G5

G5

G5

G6

G7

G7

G7

G8

G8

G9

-

-

-

United States

G5

G5

G5

G5

G6

G7

G7

G7

G7

G8

-

-

-

Uruguay

G3

G3

G3

G3

G2

G2

G2

G3

G3

G4

-

-

-

Games included in the statistics below are those where a country has challenged a team above them (Won or Failed)
and those where they have been challenged by a team below them (Lost or Held).

Performance Statistics 2014-16
	Rank	Challenges		Challenged		Rank	Challenges		Challenged		Rank
Country	2014	Won	Failed	Lost	Held	2015	Won	Failed	Lost	Held	2016
Argentina	2	1	1	1	-	3	1	1	-	-	1
Austria	G8	-	1	-	-	G8	1	1	-	-	G7
Belgium	G2	-	-	-	-	G2	-	-	1	1	G3
Brazil	4	1	-	1	2	2	-	-	-	2	4
Bulgaria	G6	-	-	-	-	G6	-	-	-	-	G6
Cameroon	G7	-	-	-	-	G7	-	-	-	-	G7
Colombia	G2	1	1	-	1	1	-	-	2	-	3
Costa Rica	G2	-	-	-	1	G2	1	1	-	2	2
Croatia	G6	-	-	-	-	G6	-	-	-	-	G6
Denmark	G4	-	-	-	1	G4	-	-	-	-	G4
DPR Korea	G9	-	-	-	-	G9	-	-	-	-	G9
England	G3	-	-	-	-	G3	-	-	1	-	G4
France	G2	-	1	-	-	G2	1	-	1	1	G2
Germany	1	-	-	1	-	4	-	-	-	1	G2
Ghana	G5	-	-	-	-	G5	-	-	-	-	G5
Hungary	G9	-	1	-	-	G9	-	1	-	-	G9
Italy	G3	-	-	-	-	G3	1	2	-	1	G2
Korea Republic	G7	-	-	-	-	G7	-	-	-	-	G7
Mexico	G5	-	-	-	-	G5	-	-	-	-	G5
Netherlands	3	-	-	-	-	G2	-	1	-	-	G2
Paraguay	G3	-	-	-	-	G3	-	1	-	-	G3
Peru	G8	-	-	-	-	G8	-	-	-	-	G8
Poland	G8	-	-	-	1	G8	-	-	-	1	G8
Portugal	G4	-	-	-	-	G4	-	-	-	-	G4
Republic of Ireland	G9	-	1	-	-	G9	-	2	-	-	G9
Romania	G8	-	-	-	1	G8	-	-	-	1	G8
Senegal	G5	-	-	-	-	G5	-	-	-	-	G5
Spain	G4	-	-	-	1	G4	1	1	-	1	G3
Sweden	G7	-	-	-	1	G7	-	-	1	1	G8
Turkey	G6	-	-	-	-	G6	-	-	-	1	G6
Ukraine	G5	-	1	-	-	G5	-	1	-	-	G5
United States	G5	-	1	-	-	G5	-	-	-	-	G5
Uruguay	G3	-	1	-	-	G3	-	1	-	-	G3

Team of the Season 2014-15 - COLOMBIA
Following the World Cup, the lead changed hands three times. Argentina gained swift revenge for their final defeat by beating
Germany, 4-2 in Dusseldorf, but just weeks later, their arch rivals, Brazil proved that their 7-1 World Cup semi-final thrashing
was soon to be consigned to history. Colombia then made a meteoric rise, having just reached the World Cup quarter-finals
 for the first time. They defeated Brazil in the Copa América and rose to the summit. Argentina knocked them out on penalties,
 but it wasn't enough to knock them off the top.

Team of the Season 2015-16 - COSTA RICA
Despite the last three World Cups being won by European teams, these rankings had been dominated by South America during
the period, purely because Argentina had beaten each of the World Champions, within a few months of them winning the title, and
the subsequent lack of key matches between the two continents. This season created the great Atlantic divide, with Costa Rica
banishing France (the last lingering European hope in the top four) to the second group as they proved that their own World Cup
performances were no flash in the pan.

Performance Statistics 2016-18
	Rank	Challenges		Challenged		Rank	Challenges		Challenged		Rank
Country	2016	Won	Failed	Lost	Held	2017	Won	Failed	Lost	Held	2018
Argentina	1	1	-	1	1	1	-	-	2	1	G3
Austria	G7	-	-	-	-	G7	-	-	-	-	G8
Belgium	G3	-	1	-	-	G3	-	-	-	1	3
Brazil	4	2	-	1	1	2	-	-	-	3	G2
Bulgaria	G6	-	-	-	-	G6	-	-	-	-	G7
Cameroon	G7	-	-	-	-	G7	-	-	-	-	G8
Colombia	3	-	1	2	1	4	-	1	-	1	G3
Costa Rica	2	-	-	-	-	3	-	1	1	-	G3
Croatia	G6	1	-	-	-	G5	1	1	1	-	2
Denmark	G4	-	-	-	-	G4	-	-	-	1	G5
DPR Korea	G9	-	-	-	-	G9	-	-	-	-	G10
England	G4	-	2	-	-	G4	1	2	-	-	4
France	G2	-	-	1	1	G3	2	-	-	-	1
Germany	G2	-	-	-	-	G2	-	2	-	-	G4
Ghana	G5	-	-	-	-	G5	-	-	-	-	G6
Hungary	G9	-	1	-	-	G9	-	-	-	-	G10
Italy	G2	-	-	-	2	G2	-	1	-	1	G4
Korea Republic	G7	-	-	-	-	G7	-	-	1	-	G9
Mexico	G5	-	2	-	-	G5	-	-	1	-	G7
Netherlands	G2	-	-	-	1	G2	-	-	2	-	G5
Paraguay	G3	-	-	-	-	G3	-	-	-	-	G4
Peru	G8	-	-	-	-	G8	-	-	-	-	G9
Poland	G8	-	-	-	-	G8	1	-	-	-	G8
Portugal	G4	-	-	-	2	G4	-	2	-	1	G5
Republic of Ireland	G9	-	-	-	-	G9	-	-	-	-	G10
Romania	G8	-	-	-	-	G8	-	-	-	-	G9
Senegal	G5	-	-	-	-	G5	-	-	-	-	G6
Spain	G3	1	2	-	1	G2	2	-	-	1	G3
Sweden	G8	-	-	-	1	G8	-	-	-	-	G2
Turkey	G6	-	1	-	-	G6	1	-	-	-	G6
Ukraine	G5	-	-	1	1	G6	-	-	-	-	G7
United States	G5	-	-	-	-	G5	-	-	1	-	G6
Uruguay	G3	-	1	-	-	G3	-	-	-	1	G2

Team of the Season 2016-17 - BRAZIL
A quiet year with Brazil reinstating themselves at the top after the previous season's slide. There were convincing World Cup qualifying
victories against Colombia and Argentina, although they lost top spot once again to the Argentines in a friendly in Melbourne.

Team of the Season 2017-18 - SPAIN
Spain made the most dramatic leap back up to the top by thrashing both Costa Rica, and (most impressively) the leaders, Argentina,
by 5-0 and 6-1, respectively. Although they lost their coach to Real Madrid on the eve of the World Cup, they remained unbeaten
in the tournament (only losing on penalties to the hosts, Russia), but their neighbours from France were the ultimate winners.

Performance Statistics 2018-20
	Rank	Challenges		Challenged		Rank	Challenges		Challenged		Rank
Country	2018	Won	Failed	Lost	Held	2019	Won	Failed	Lost	Held	2020
Argentina	G3	-	2	-	1	G3	1	-	-	-	G2
Austria	G8	-	-	-	-	G8	-	-	-	-	G8
Belgium	3	-	-	-	1	4	-	-	-	1	4
Brazil	G2	-	-	-	2	G2	-	-	1	1	G3
Bulgaria	G7	-	-	-	-	G7	-	-	-	-	G7
Cameroon	G8	-	-	-	-	G8	-	-	-	-	G8
Colombia	G3	-	-	-	1	G3	-	1	-	-	G3
Costa Rica	G3	-	-	-	-	G3	-	1	-	-	G3
Croatia	2	-	-	1	1	3	-	-	-	-	3
Denmark	G5	-	-	-	-	G5	-	-	-	-	G5
DPR Korea	G10	-	-	-	-	G10	-	1	-	-	G10
England	4	1	1	-	-	2	-	-	-	-	2
France	1	-	-	-	1	1	-	-	-	-	1
Germany	G4	1	1	1	-	G4	-	-	1	-	G5
Ghana	G6	-	-	-	-	G6	-	-	-	-	G6
Hungary	G10	-	-	-	-	G10	-	-	-	-	G10
Italy	G4	-	1	1	1	G5	-	-	-	-	G5
Korea Republic	G9	-	-	-	-	G9	-	-	-	1	G9
Mexico	G7	1	1	-	-	G6	-	-	-	1	G6
Netherlands	G5	1	1	1	1	G5	1	-	-	-	G4
Paraguay	G4	-	2	-	-	G4	-	-	-	-	G4
Peru	G9	-	-	-	-	G9	-	-	-	-	G9
Poland	G8	-	-	-	-	G8	-	-	-	-	G8
Portugal	G5	1	-	-	2	G4	-	-	-	-	G4
Republic of Ireland	G10	-	-	-	-	G10	-	-	-	-	G10
Romania	G9	-	-	-	-	G9	-	-	-	-	G9
Russia	G2	-	1	-	-	G2	-	1	-	-	G2
Senegal	G6	-	-	-	-	G6	-	-	-	-	G6
Spain	G3	1	-	-	-	G2	-	-	-	1	G2
Sweden	G2	-	-	1	-	G3	-	1	-	-	G3
Turkey	G6	-	-	-	1	G6	-	-	-	-	G6
Ukraine	G7	-	1	-	-	G7	-	-	-	-	G7
United States	G6	-	1	1	1	G7	-	1	-	-	G7
Uruguay	G2	-	1	-	-	G2	-	-	-	1	G2

Team of the Season 2018-19 - PORTUGAL
Still finding it difficult to climb these rankings, because their successes have mainly been in Europe, but the European
Champions added another trophy with the inaugural Nations League title.

Team of the Season 2019-20 - ARGENTINA
The coronavirus pandemic meant that there were no ranking games at all of significance in the first half of 2020, but in the
preceding year, Argentina reversed their Copa América semi-final defeat to put themselves back into contention to challenge
the top four by beating Brazil in the Superclásico de las Américas. The only other noteworthy result was the re-emerging
Netherlands putting four past the declining Germans in Hamburg.

Performance Statistics 2020-22
	Rank	Challenges		Challenged		Rank	Challenges		Challenged		Rank
Country	2020	Won	Failed	Lost	Held	2021	Won	Failed	Lost	Held	2022
Argentina	G2	-	-	-	3	G2	-	-	-	3	G2
Austria	G8	1	-	1	-	G8	-	-	-	-	G8
Belgium	4	1	1	-	2	2	-	1	-	-	3
Brazil	G3	1	-	-	1	G2	-	-	-	3	G2
Bulgaria	G7	-	-	-	-	G7	-	-	-	1	G7
Cameroon	G8	-	-	-	-	G8	-	-	-	-	G8
Colombia	G3	-	4	-	-	G3	-	3	-	2	G3
Costa Rica	G3	-	-	-	-	G3	-	-	-	-	G3
Croatia	3	-	4	1	-	G2	1	1	-	-	1
Denmark	G5	1	-	-	1	G4	-	-	-	-	G4
DPR Korea	G10	-	-	-	-	G10	-	-	-	-	G10
England	2	-	-	1	2	3	-	-	-	-	4
France	1	-	-	-	2	1	-	-	1	3	2
Germany	G5	-	1	-	1	G5	1	1	-	1	G4
Ghana	G6	-	-	-	-	G6	-	-	-	-	G6
Hungary	G10	-	-	-	-	G10	-	-	-	-	G10
Italy	G5	1	-	-	-	G4	-	-	1	1	G5
Korea Republic	G9	-	-	-	-	G9	-	-	-	-	G9
Mexico	G6	1	-	-	-	G5	-	-	-	-	G5
Netherlands	G4	-	-	2	1	G6	-	1	-	1	G6
Paraguay	G4	-	2	-	-	G4	-	3	-	-	G4
Peru	G9	-	-	-	-	G9	-	-	-	-	G9
Poland	G8	1	1	-	-	G7	-	1	-	-	G7
Portugal	G4	1	2	-	1	G3	-	-	-	-	G3
Republic of Ireland	G10	-	-	-	-	G10	-	-	-	-	G10
Romania	G9	1	-	1	-	G9	-	-	-	-	G9
Russia	G2	-	1	-	-	G2	-	-	-	-	G2
Senegal	G6	-	-	-	-	G6	-	-	-	-	G6
Spain	G2	1	-	-	2	4	-	2	-	-	G2
Sweden	G3	-	1	2	-	G5	-	-	-	-	G5
Turkey	G6	-	1	-	-	G6	-	-	-	-	G6
Ukraine	G7	-	-	1	-	G8	-	1	-	-	G8
United States	G7	-	-	-	-	G7	-	-	-	-	G7
Uruguay	G2	1	1	1	2	G3	-	2	-	1	G3

Team of the Season 2020-21 - SPAIN
Aside from the respective continental triumphs of Argentina and Italy, there were few countries that took great strides up these rankings, but Spain twice held off the challenge of a Ronaldo-inspired Portugal and gradually built up confidence before putting five past Croatia in the European Championship. It was a campaign that ended for them at the semi-final stage in an agonising penalty shootout defeat against the eventual champions, Italy, despite Spain creating more chances.

Team of the Season 2021-22 - CROATIA
Following almost a year, and 17 matches in which teams were unable to dislodge their higher-ranked opponents, two nights in June finally produced some movement. Germany put five goals past the European Champions, whilst Croatia, who had been slowly sliding since their 2018 World Cup Final defeat, finally exacted their revenge, at the fourth attempt, on a lethargic French team in Paris and dethroned the World Champions from the top of the rankings.

Performance Statistics 2022-24
	Rank	Challenges		Challenged		Rank	Challenges		Challenged		Rank
Country	2022	Won	Failed	Lost	Held	2023	Won	Failed	Lost	Held	2024
Argentina	G2	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	1	-
Austria	G8	-	-	-	-	G9	-	-	-	-	-
Belgium	3	-	1	-	1	G3	-	1	-	-	-
Brazil	G2	-	1	-	-	G2	-	1	-	-	-
Bulgaria	G7	-	-	-	-	G8	-	-	-	-	-
Cameroon	G8	-	-	1	-	G10	-	-	-	-	-
Colombia	G3	-	-	-	1	G4	1	-	-	1	-
Costa Rica	G3	-	1	2	-	G6	-	-	-	-	-
Croatia	1	-	-	-	2	3	-	-	-	-	-
Denmark	G4	-	-	-	-	G5	-	-	-	-	-
DPR Korea	G10	-	-	-	-	G11	-	-	-	-	-
England	4	-	-	-	-	G2	-	-	-	1	-
France	2	-	-	-	1	2	-	-	-	1	-
Germany	G4	1	1	-	-	G4	-	-	-	1	-
Ghana	G6	-	-	-	-	G7	-	-	1	-	-
Hungary	G10	-	-	-	-	G11	-	-	-	-	-
Italy	G5	-	-	-	-	G6	-	-	-	-	-
Korea Republic	G9	1	-	1	-	G10	-	-	-	-	-
Mexico	G5	1	1	-	-	G5	-	1	-	-	-
Morocco	-	-	-	-	1	4	-	-	-	-	-
Netherlands	G6	-	2	-	2	G2	-	1	-	-	-
Paraguay	G4	-	1	-	1	G5	-	1	-	-	-
Peru	G9	1	-	-	-	G9	-	-	-	-	-
Poland	G7	-	1	-	-	G8	-	-	-	-	-
Portugal	G3	-	1	-	-	G2	-	-	-	-	-
Republic of Ireland	G10	-	-	-	-	G11	-	-	-	-	-
Romania	G9	-	-	-	-	G10	-	-	-	-	-
Russia	G2	-	-	-	-	G3	-	-	-	-	-
Senegal	G6	-	-	-	-	G7	-	-	-	-	-
Spain	G2	-	-	-	2	G3	-	-	1	-	-
Sweden	G5	-	-	-	-	G6	-	-	-	-	-
Turkey	G6	-	-	-	-	G7	-	-	-	-	-
Ukraine	G8	-	-	-	-	G9	-	-	-	-	-
United States	G7	-	1	-	-	G8	1	-	-	-	-
Uruguay	G3	-	-	-	-	G4	-	-	-	-	-

Team of the Season 2022-23 - CROATIA
A season dominated by the first winter World Cup in the northern hemisphere, saw Croatia enter the tournament in first place, but an ageing squad still made the semi-finals before losing to the eventual winners, Argentina. They followed that up by reaching the Nations League Final, impressively beating the hosts in Rotterdam, but lost out to Spain on penalties in yet another near miss.

Performance Statistics 2024-26
	Rank	Challenges		Challenged		Rank	Challenges		Challenged		Rank
Country	2024	Won	Failed	Lost	Held	2025	Won	Failed	Lost	Held	2026
Argentina	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Austria	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Belgium	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Brazil	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Bulgaria	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Cameroon	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Colombia	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Costa Rica	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Croatia	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Denmark	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
DPR Korea	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
England	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
France	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Germany	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Ghana	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Hungary	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Italy	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Korea Republic	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Mexico	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Netherlands	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Paraguay	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Peru	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Poland	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Portugal	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Republic of Ireland	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Romania	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Russia	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Senegal	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Spain	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Sweden	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Turkey	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Ukraine	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
United States	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Uruguay	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-