(Reuters) – Newly crowned women’s European champions England rose to fourth in the latest FIFA rankings published on Friday, with four-times World Cup winners United States holding on to the top spot.
The rankings come after a busy month for women’s football in which continental championships for Africa, North America, South America and Oceania took place alongside the Euros, as part of qualifying for the 2023 Women’s World Cup.
The United States won their ninth CONCACAF W Championship title in July to remain in first place, a spot they have occupied since 2017.
England’s Euros win on home soil pushed them up four spots from eighth, while runners-up Germany leapfrogged losing semi-finalists Sweden into second.
South Africa moved up to 54th off the back of their first Women’s Africa Cup of Nations title, while Zambia, who reached the tournament’s semi-finals, were the most improved side in the rankings, rising 23 places to 80th.
Copa America Femenina winners Brazil remained in ninth place.
Joint World Cup hosts Australia and New Zealand were 12th and 22nd.
(Reporting by Aadi Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Peter Rutherford)
