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FIFA women's world rankings - April 2021: USWNT stay stop & Netherlands rise

By Jamie Spencer

The USWNT remain top of the latest FIFA women's world rankings
The USWNT remain top of the latest FIFA women's world rankings / Catherine Steenkeste/Getty Images
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The United States remain top of the FIFA women’s world rankings, asserting their dominance with the highest points total since the last edition seen since 2013.

European champions Netherlands have replaced France in the top three, who have dropped a spot to fourth. Sweden and England stay fifth and sixth respectively, Brazil are seventh, Australia are down two to ninth and previously unranked North Korea return to the top ten, despite still not playing a game since March 2019.

England haven't fallen despite defeats to France & Canada this month
England haven't fallen despite defeats to France & Canada this month / Marc Atkins/Getty Images

Back-to-back reigning World Cup champions, the USWNT have won six and drawn once since the last rankings update, keeping them top by a significant margin ahead of Germany.

Netherlands, meanwhile, impressively thrashed Australia 5-0 to round off the April internationals and were also victorious over Germany earlier this year. Third place matches a highest ever ranking for the Dutch, which they previously achieved off the back of reaching the 2019 World Cup final.

Elsewhere, just outside the top 10, Japan, Norway and Spain have all fallen a place each.

Ukraine are the biggest fallers in the top 50, slumping 7 places to 31st. They lost a Euro 2020 playoff to Northern Ireland this week, who have climbed one rung on the ladder to 48th.

An impressive Netherlands are up into the top three
An impressive Netherlands are up into the top three / BSR Agency/Getty Images

FIFA women’s world rankings: top 30 – April 2021

1. USA (-)

2. Germany (-)

3. Netherlands (+1)

4. France (-1)

5. Sweden (-)

6. England (-)

7. Brazil (+1)

8. Canada (-)

9. Australia (-2)

10. North Korea (new)

11. Japan (-1)

12. Norway (-1)

13. Spain (-1)

14. China (+1)

15. Italy (-2)

16. Denmark (-2)

17. Iceland (-1)

18. Belgium (-1)

19. South Korea (-1)

20. Switzerland (-1)

21. Austria (-1)

22. New Zealand (-)

23. Scotland (-2)

24. Finland (+1)

25. Russia (-2)

26. Colombia (-)

27. Czech Republic (-)

28. Mexico (-)

29. Portugal (+1)

30. Poland (-1)

Northern Ireland have risen to 48th after qualifying for Euro 2022
Northern Ireland have risen to 48th after qualifying for Euro 2022 / Charles McQuillan/Getty Images

These FIFA rankings will be used for the seedings for the group stage at the delayed 2020 Olympics in Japan this summer. That means the United States and Netherlands joins hosts Japan in pot one as the highest seeds. Sweden, Great Britain, whose place is determined by England, and Brazil will be in pot two.

A strong pot three with Canada, Australia and China, ensures that no group at the Olympics will be an easy one, with New Zealand, Chile and Zambia making up pot four.

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