England Football Online
Contact Us Page Last Updated 16 November 2014
 
 
FIFA Rankings Overview

Index

Matches 1978-90

 England Football Online
World Rankings		 1966-78 2002-14
1990-2002 2014-26
Summary 1978-90
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 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990
Argentina 1 1 3 2 G3 G3 G3 G4 1 1 2 3 2
Austria G2 G2 G2 G2 G2 G2 G2 G2 G3 G3 G3 G3 G4
Belgium - - - - - - - - 4 4 4 G2 G4
Brazil 3 G2 1 1 G2 G2 G2 G2 G2 G2 G2 2 G3
DPR Korea G5 G5 G5 G5 G5 G5 G5 G5 G5 G5 G5 G5 G6
England G5 G5 G5 G4 G2 G2 G3 G3 G2 G2 G3 G3 4
France - - - - 4 4 3 3 3 3 3 4 G3
German Democratic Republic G4 G4 G4 G4 G4 G4 G4 G4 G5 G5 G5 G5 G6
Hungary G5 G4 G4 G5 G5 G5 G5 G5 G5 G5 G5 G5 G6
Italy 4 3 4 4 1 1 2 2 G3 G3 G2 G2 3
Mexico G4 G5 G5 G5 G5 G5 G5 G5 G2 G2 G2 G2 G3
Netherlands 2 G2 G2 G2 G3 G4 G4 G4 G4 G4 G4 G4 G5
Peru G2 G2 G2 G2 G3 G3 G4 G3 G4 G4 G4 G4 G5
Poland G2 4 G3 G3 3 3 G2 G2 G5 G5 G5 G5 G6
Portugal G4 G4 G4 G4 G4 G4 G4 G4 G4 G4 G4 G4 G5
Spain - - - - - - - - G2 G3 G3 G3 G3
Sweden G3 G4 G4 G4 G4 G3 G3 G3 G3 G2 G3 G3 G4
Uruguay G4 G4 G4 G4 G4 G4 G2 G2 G3 G3 G3 G3 G4
USSR G4 G3 G3 G3 G2 G2 4 4 G3* G3 G2 G2 G3
West Germany G2 2 2 3 2 2 1 1 2 2 1 1 1
Yugoslavia G3 G3 G2 G2 G3 G3 G3 G3 G5 G5 G5 G5 G2

* USSR were top from August 1985 up until the World Cup in June 1986.

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 1978-80
  Rank Challenges Challenged Rank Challenges Challenged Rank
Country 1978 Won Failed Lost Held 1979 Won Failed Lost Held 1980
Argentina 1 - - - 2 1 - 1 2 - 3
Austria G2 - - - - G2 - - - - G2
Brazil 3 - - - - G2 1 - - 1 1
DPR Korea G5 - - - - G5 - - - - G5
England G5 - 1 - - G5 - - - - G5
German Democratic Republic G4 - - - - G4 - 2 - - G4
Hungary G5 1 1 - - G4 - - - - G4
Italy 4 1 1 - - 3 - - - 1 4
Mexico G4 - 1 1 1 G5 - - - - G5
Netherlands 2 - 1 3 - G2 - 1 - - G2
Peru G2 - - - - G2 - - - - G2
Poland G2 1 - - - 4 - 1 1 - G3
Portugal G4 - - - - G4 - - - - G4
Sweden G3 - - 1 1 G4 - 1 - - G4
Uruguay G4 - - - - G4 - 1 - - G4
USSR G4 2 1 1 2 G3 - - - 3 G3
West Germany G2 1 - - - 2 1 - - 1 2
Yugoslavia G3 - - - - G3 1 - - 1 G2

Team of the Season 1978-79 - USSR
Defeat in Hungary saw the Soviets drop into Group 5. Three games with Mexico saw them first resist their hosts, then beat them
  to take their place, before holding them again to maintain their Group 4 status. A further victory over Sweden took them into
  Group 3, and they ended the season by holding off Hungary's attempt to rise above them again, in their return fixture.

It was a poor season for the Netherlands, after their appearance in the 1978 World Cup Final. West Germany, Italy and Poland,
in succession, all defeated them by, at least, a two-goal margin and each rose above the Netherlands, who were also unable to
  dislodge their World Cup conquerors, losing to Argentina on penalties, in Berne (though penalties do not count in these rankings).

Team of the Season 1979-80 - BRAZIL
The season began with Brazil leaping back to the top by defeating Argentina in the Copa América and then resisting them
  three weeks later, in the return.

Performance Statistics 1980-82
  Rank Challenges Challenged Rank Challenges Challenged Rank
Country 1980 Won Failed Lost Held 1981 Won Failed Lost Held 1982
Argentina 3 1 1 - - 2 - - 1 1 G3
Austria G2 - 1 - - G2 - 2 - - G2
Brazil 1 - - - 3 1 - - - 1 G2
DPR Korea G5 - - - - G5 - - - - G5
England G5 1 - - - G4 - - - 1 G2
German Democratic Republic G4 - 1 - - G4 - 2 - - G4
Hungary G4 - 1 1 - G5 - 1 - - G5
Italy 4 - - - 2 4 1 - - 2 1
Mexico G5 - - - - G5 - - - - G5
Netherlands G2 - 2 - - G2 - - - - G3
Peru G2 - - - - G2 - 1 1 - G3
Poland G3 - - - 1 G3 1 - - 1 3
Portugal G4 - - - - G4 - - - - G4
Sweden G4 - - - - G4 - 1 - - G4
Uruguay G4 - - - - G4 - - - - G4
USSR G3 - - - 1 G3 - - - 2 G2
West Germany 2 - 2 1 2 3 - 2 - 2 2
Yugoslavia G2 - 1 - - G2 - 1 - - G3

Team of the Season 1980-81 - ARGENTINA
Went to Uruguay for the Copa de Oro and regained second spot from West Germany, but they were unable to reclaim the top
  prize from Brazil, three days later. Brazil defeated West Germany twice, as they reaffirmed their status.

Team of the Season 1981-82 - ITALY
The only successful challenges were in the early stages of the World Cup, and Italy went on to win the tournament after holding off
  Yugoslavia and Peru (during the tournament). victories over each of the top three ranked teams (Argentina, Brazil and West Germany)
  ensured that they were worthy winners.

Performance Statistics 1982-84
  Rank Challenges Challenged Rank Challenges Challenged Rank
Country 1982 Won Failed Lost Held 1983 Won Failed Lost Held 1984
Argentina G3 - - - - G3 1 1 1 2 G3
Austria G2 - 1 - - G2 - 1 - - G2
Brazil G2 - - - 1 G2 1 3 1 - G2
DPR Korea G5 - - - - G5 - - - - G5
England G2 - 1 - - G2 - 1 1 1 G3
France 4 - 1 - 1 4 1 - - 1 3
German Democratic Republic G4 - - - - G4 - - - - G4
Hungary G5 - 1 - - G5 - - - - G5
Italy 1 - - - - 1 - - 1 - 2
Mexico G5 - - - - G5 - - - - G5
Netherlands G3 - - 1 - G4 - - - - G4
Peru G3 - - - 1 G3 - 1 1 1 G4
Poland 3 - - - 2 3 - - 1 1 G2
Portugal G4 - - - 1 G4 - 1 - - G4
Sweden G4 1 1 - - G3 - - - - G3
Uruguay G4 - 1 - - G4 3 1 1 1 G2
USSR G2 - 2 - - G2 1 - - 1 4
West Germany 2 - - - 2 2 1 - 1 1 1
Yugoslavia G3 - - - - G3 - 1 - 1 G3

Team of the Season 1982-83 - SWEDEN
The only team to better their ranking during the season, thanks to a crushing 3-0 defeat of the Netherlands in Utrecht. They
almost climbed again after giving Brazil a scare in a thrilling 3-3 draw in Gothenburg.

Team of the Season 1983-84 - URUGUAY
An eventful season began with a failed attempt to dislodge Peru from Group 3, but two months later, they did exactly that,
winning in Lima, and then holding them off in the second leg on their way to winning the Copa América. Uruguay ended
the season with two further promotions, beating England and Argentina in Montevideo, although they also dropped down
a group by losing in Brazil, to end the season in Group 2.

Performance Statistics 1984-86
  Rank Challenges Challenged Rank Challenges Challenged Rank
Country 1984 Won Failed Lost Held 1985 Won Failed Lost Held 1986
Argentina G3 - 3 1 - G4 - - - 2 1
Austria G2 - 1 - - G2 - - - - G3
Brazil G2 - - - 1 G2 - 1 - - G2
DPR Korea G5 - - - - G5 - - - - G5
England G3 - - - 1 G3 1 - 1 - G2
France 3 - - - - 3 - 1 - 1 3
German Democratic Republic G4 - 2 - 1 G4 1 - 1 1 G5
Hungary G5 1 - 1 - G5 - - - - G5
Italy 2 - - - 1 2 - 1 - - G3
Mexico G5 - 1 - - G5 - 2 - - G2
Netherlands G4 1 - 1 - G4 1 - - - G4
Peru G4 1 - - 1 G3 - - - - G4
Poland G2 - 1 - - G2 - 1 2 - G5
Portugal G4 1 - 1 - G4 1 1 - - G4
Sweden G3 1 - 1 - G3 1 - - - G3
Uruguay G2 - - - 1 G2 - 2 - 1 G3
USSR 4 - - - 1 4 1 - - 1 G3
West Germany 1 - - - - 1 - - 1 3 2
Yugoslavia G3 - - - 1 G3 - - 1 - G5

Team of the Season 1984-85 - PERU
Only one team managed to move up the rankings, without also dropping down to cancel out their climb. victory over Argentina
in a World Cup qualifier took Peru back up to Group 3 and they then held their opponents in the return fixture in Buenos Aires,
seven days later.

Team of the Season 1985-86 - USSR
The USSR took the top spot from West Germany at the beginning of the season with a single-goal victory in Moscow and they
went to the following year's World Cup in Mexico as one of the fancied outsiders. An opening 6-0 win against Hungary seemed
to confirm their intentions, but they were surprisingly dumped out by Belgium in a seven-goal thriller in the last 16.

Performance Statistics 1986-88
  Rank Challenges Challenged Rank Challenges Challenged Rank
Country 1986 Won Failed Lost Held 1987 Won Failed Lost Held 1988
Argentina 1 - - - - 1 - - 1 2 2
Austria G3 - - - - G3 - - - - G3
Belgium 4 - - - - 4 - - - - 4
Brazil G2 - - - - G2 - 2 - 1 G2
DPR Korea G5 - - - - G5 - - - - G5
England G2 1 - 1 - G2 - 1 1 - G3
France 3 - - - - 3 - 1 - - 3
German Democratic Republic G5 - - - - G5 - - - - G5
Hungary G5 - 2 - - G5 - - - - G5
Italy G3 - 1 - 1 G3 1 1 - 2 G2
Mexico G2 - - - - G2 - - - - G2
Netherlands G4 - - - 3 G4 - 1 - 1 G4
Peru G4 - - - - G4 - - - - G4
Poland G5 - 1 - - G5 - 1 - - G5
Portugal G4 - 1 - - G4 - - - - G4
Spain G2 - 1 1 - G3 - 1 - - G3
Sweden G3 1 - - 2 G2 - 2 1 - G3
Uruguay G3 - - - - G3 - - - - G3
USSR G3 - 1 - - G3 1 1 - 1 G2
West Germany 2 - - - 1 2 1 1 - 5 1
Yugoslavia G5 - - - - G5 - - - - G5

Team of the Season 1986-87 - SWEDEN
Defeated England to rise to Group 2 at the beginning of the season and then impressively resisted challenges by beating
the USSR in Tbilisi, and Italy in the European Championship.

Team of the Season 1987-88 - WEST GERMANY
In a busy season, West Germany held on to their second place by beating France and England, and then resisted Sweden
and Brazil (in Brasilia). There was a failed attempt to dislodge Argentina from the top in Buenos Aires, but back home in
Berlin, they managed to beat Argentina and reclaim the crown. They ended the season by hosting the European Championship,
and although they didn't win it, they did resist a fifth challenge of the season, from Italy, to end the campaign at the top of the
rankings.

Performance Statistics 1988-90
  Rank Challenges Challenged Rank Challenges Challenged Rank
Country 1988 Won Failed Lost Held 1989 Won Failed Lost Held 1990
Argentina 2 - - 1 - 3 - - - 2 2
Austria G3 - 3 - - G3 - 2 - 1 G4
Belgium 4 - - 1 - G2 - - 1 2 G4
Brazil G2 2 - - 1 2 - - - 1 G3
DPR Korea G5 - - - - G5 - - - - G6
England G3 - - - - G3 - 1 - 1 4
France 3 - - - - 4 - - - - G3
German Democratic Republic G5 - - - - G5 - - - - G6
Hungary G5 - - - - G5 - - - - G6
Italy G2 - - - 2 G2 - 2 - 2 3
Mexico G2 - - - - G2 - - - - G3
Netherlands G4 - - - - G4 - 2 - 1 G5
Peru G4 - 1 - - G4 - 2 - - G5
Poland G5 - - - - G5 - - - - G6
Portugal G4 - 1 - - G4 - - - - G5
Spain G3 - - - - G3 1 - - - G3
Sweden G3 - - - 1 G3 - 1 - - G4
Uruguay G3 - 1 - 1 G3 - 1 - 2 G4
USSR G2 - 1 - 1 G2 - 1 - 1 G3
West Germany 1 - - - 1 1 - - - - 1
Yugoslavia G5 - - - - G5 - 1 - - G2

Team of the Season 1988-89 - BRAZIL
Began by resisting Austria's challenge, but then rose up to fourth by beating Belgium in Antwerp. before ending the season
  by taking Argentina's second spot on their way to victory in the Copa América.

Team of the Season 1989-90 - SPAIN
Only one of the 14 challenges made in the season was successful; Spain managing to rise above Belgium at the end of the
  World Cup group stage. Unfortunately, they were knocked out of the competition in their very next match, by Yugoslavia, and,
  thus, failed to maintain their Group 2 status.

DPR Korea did not play any teams above them in the rankings after the 1966 World Cup and, consequently,
remained in the lowest group.

GI