England Leapfrog Germany As Spain Retain Top Spot In FIFA Women’s Rankings Shake-up

England have climbed to third in the latest FIFA/Coca-Cola Women’s World Ranking, overtaking Germany following a statement victory over world leaders Spain.
Despite suffering a recent home defeat to the Lionesses on the road to the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027™, Spain remains the world’s number-one ranked team.

However, the chasing pack is closing in. England’s rise to third place marks a significant shift in the top-flight hierarchy, fueled by their qualifying form for next year’s tournament in Brazil.
The United States hold firm in second place after a mixed three-match friendly series against Japan. The “Nadeshiko” were the standout performers of the month, climbing three places to fifth after winning all six matches to claim the AFC Women’s Asian Cup title.

The latest rankings reflect a busy period of 276 international fixtures, dominated largely by World Cup qualifying action. While England celebrated a rise, other European powerhouses faced a slide:
• Germany dropped to fourth, displaced by the ascending Lionesses.
• Sweden fell three places to eighth following a disappointing qualifying run that included a draw and a defeat.
• The Netherlands returned to the top 10 for the first time in over a year, climbing to tenth at the expense of Korea DPR, who slipped to eleventh. The Dutch rise follows an impressive four-point haul against France.
Global Risers and Record Highs
Beyond the elite, several nations reached their highest-ever positions. Kosovo proved to be the most improved team by points, gaining over 58 points to reach 81st place. Other nations entering “unchartered territory” include:
• Türkiye (51st, up 7)
• El Salvador (78th, up 8)
• Nepal (87th, up 2)
• Saudi Arabia (160th, up 1)
American Samoa provided one of the most remarkable stories of the update. Despite failing to qualify for the World Cup, the islanders jumped 17 places to 120th. They have now climbed a total of 33 spots since August 2023.
Departures and Disappointments
It was a difficult month for the Solomon Islands, who suffered the biggest points drop, and Suriname, who fell 14 places in the rankings.
Meanwhile, the total number of ranked teams has decreased to 197. The British Virgin Islands have been officially removed from the standings after failing to contest a fixture for four years—the first team to drop out of the rankings since the 2023 World Cup.
The next update, which will likely track the final preparations for the 2027 World Cup in South America, is scheduled for publication on 16 June 2026.