Spain top FIFA Women's World Ranking for first time. © Getty Images

In the four months since the last FIFA/Coca-Cola Women's World Ranking was published in August, more than 400 international matches have been played. Never before have so many matches been played in such a short space of time.

Qualifying matches for the Women's Olympic Football Tournament Paris 2024 and matches in the UEFA Women's Nations League were on the agenda for European teams. Meanwhile, the nations of the AFC, CAF and Concacaf zones, meanwhile, were involved in qualifying matches for their respective continental tournaments, while the OFC representatives - except Aotearoa New Zealand - took part in the Pacific Games. 

All this action inevitably had an impact on December's FIFA/Coca-Cola Women's World Ranking, the last to be published until 2023. For the first time, reigning world champions Spain (1st) took the top spot. They are only the fourth team in the history of the game to reach the coveted position, joining the USA (2nd, up 1), Germany and Sweden. France (3rd, up 2) completed the podium. 

It was the biggest moment for a Spanish side whose only previous medal to date was a bronze at the UEFA Women's European Championship in 1997. Spain's FC Barcelona, meanwhile, are the reigning UEFA Women's Champions League winners. 

England (4th) remains just below these three high-flyers, ahead of former leaders Sweden (5th, down four places). Germany (6th), the Netherlands (7th), Japan (8th), Korea DPR (9th) and Canada (10th) complete the top ten, in which Brazil (11th, down 2) no longer feature. 

Spain celebrates their epic victory at the 2023 FIFA World Cup in Sydney. © Getty Images
Spain celebrates their epic victory at the 2023 FIFA World Cup in Sydney. © Getty Images

Elsewhere in the top 50, Italy (14th, up 3), the Philippines (38th, up 6) and Uzbekistan (47th, up 3) made notable advances. The biggest moves, however, came further down the rankings, where Congo DR (102nd, up 9), El Salvador (104th, up 11) and Namibia (126th, up 14) all made significant progress. 

As well as Spain's La Roja, the Philippines, Haiti (51st), Cambodia (116th) and Cabo Verde (131st) have reached their highest-ever rankings. 

Six nations make their debut (Central African Republic and Macau) or their return to the world ranking (Korea DPR, American Samoa, Madagascar and Bahamas), bringing the number of teams listed to 192 - a new record. With six more national teams just one match away from the cut, the list could grow even further in March. 

Top Ten (total points/previous points):

1. Spain (2066.05/2051.84).

2. USA (2045.12/2051.21).

3. France (2021.69/2004.17).

4. England (2014.19/2030.14).

5. Sweden (1998.09/2069.17).

6. Germany (1987.25/1987.67).

7. Netherlands (1986.84/1984.5).

8. Japan (1978.01/1961.35).

9. South Korea (1950.87/1940).

10. Canada (1948.58/1944.84).