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New Delhi: Spain sit atop the FIFA men's world rankings published on Friday, while Germany are back on track to be a top-seeded team in the World Cup finals tournament draw on December 5, which also involves US President Donald Trump.
Germany jumped two places to No. 10 after successive wins in a World Cup qualifying group against Luxembourg and Northern Ireland. Germany's top-10 position was in danger after the opening qualifier loss against Slovakia.
Meanwhile, Croatia, runner-up at the 2018 World Cup and a semifinalist in the 2022 edition, slipped to No. 11 after drawing one of its games against the Czech Republic last week.
The 12 top-seeded countries in the 48-team draw will be the three co-hosts - the United States, Canada and Mexico - along with the nine highest-ranked direct qualifiers in the updated FIFA rankings for November.
World number nine Italy is set to head to the European playoffs in March as runner-up in a qualifying group led by Norway. That means the No. 10-ranked team is likely to avoid other top-seeded nations in the draw for the June 11-July 19 showpiece event.
Spain lead defending champions Argentina, followed by No. 3 France, England, Portugal, the Netherlands, Brazil and Belgium in eighth.
FIFA rankings will decide the World Cup draw seedings through pots 2 and 3, while pot 4 will include the six lowest-ranked direct qualifiers plus six place holders awaiting the winners of the playoffs in March.
Meanwhile, the Indian men’s football team slumped to 136th in the FIFA rankings, the lowest in nine years, after a draw and defeat to Singapore, which ended their hopes of qualifying for the 2027 Asian Cup.
The Blue Tigers slipped two places from the previous 134th to languish one place below Kuwait and a spot above Botswana.
India's previous worst ranking was in October and November 2016, when it was placed at 137. India achieved their best-ever ranking of 94 in February 1996.
