Brazil remain top of the rankings in the latest IBSA update ©IBSA

Brazil have retained their position as the number one blind football side in the world in the latest rankings update provided by the International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA).

The South American nation, the reigning Paralympic champions, remain ahead of Argentina, China and Spain in an unchanged top four.

Iran have overtaken Turkey into fifth place after they finished as runners-up at the Asian Championships in Kuala Lumpur in December.

Morocco are still in seventh and Mexico have taken eighth place from Japan thanks to a strong performance at the American Championships, where they were fourth.

The big movers outside the top ten are Britain, up four places to 12th, Mali, who have risen from 27th to 18th after they were second at last year's African Championships, and Egypt.

Costa Rica are one of seven new teams on the updated IBSA rankings list ©IBSA
Costa Rica are one of seven new teams on the updated IBSA rankings list ©IBSA

The Egyptian side have enjoyed the largest rise, moving up from 31st to 19th.

The new rankings list includes 49 teams, a 16 per cent increase from the 42 which made up the standings this time last year.

Cape Verde, Ireland, Costa Rica - who won the Central American Championships in Guatemala in November 2017 - Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and Nicaragua are the teams to have entered the rankings.

The list takes into account results at all major tournaments in 2017, including regional and sub-regional championships in Africa, America, Asia, Central America, Europe and South-East Asia.