The U.S. Women’s National Team dropped to fifth place in the latest FIFA rankings, its lowest ranking since FIFA began ranking women’s national teams in 2003.
This is one point down from fourth place in March of this year, and the downward trend continues.
Prior to 2024, the U.S. women’s team had never been ranked lower than No. 2 in the world rankings, but the team has dropped three places in six months, the biggest shakeup in the rankings for the U.S. women’s national team heading into the Paris Olympics in July.
Spain, France and England completed the top three places, with Women’s World Cup runners-up England dropping to third place. Germany overtook the United States Women’s National Team for fourth place.
From 2003 to 2023, the U.S. women’s team held the top two spots, and from 2008 to 2014 and again from 2017 to June 2023, the team held a firm hold on the No. 1 spot.
However, after their unexpected elimination from the 2023 World Cup, the women’s team dropped to third place for the first time in August 2023. However, they showed signs of recovery by climbing back up to second place in December.
However, since December 2023, the 2015 and 2019 World Cup winners have continued to drop in the rankings, to fourth place in March 2023 and now fifth place in June.
Former Chelsea manager Emma Hayes, the team’s new head coach who will be making her Olympic debut, said there was plenty of reason for hope.
“If we’re performing at our best, we have a chance to accomplish something,” Hayes said last month, “but we have work to do. The reality is that the world game is as it is, and the rest of the world doesn’t fear the United States the way it once did. And that’s right.”
The U.S. Women’s National Team next plays two Olympic warm-up matches, against Mexico at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey, on July 13 and Costa Rica at Audi Field in Washington, D.C., on July 16.
They defeated South Korea in two friendlies earlier this month, and at the SheBelieves Cup in April, the U.S. Women’s National Team beat Japan 2-1 and then beat Canada in a penalty shootout.
World Cup winners Spain maintained their position at the top of the list, while Canada, Brazil and South Korea all made it into the top 10, while the Netherlands fell outside the top 10 for the first time since 2017.
