The USWNT has dropped to No. 4 in the latest FIFA rankings released on Friday, marking the first time the program has fallen out of the top three since the establishment of the rankings in 2003.
In its announcement, FIFA said the USWNT drop is thanks to the team’s 2-0 loss to Mexico in the group stage of the CONCACAF W Gold Cup, though the team later went on to win the tournament.
Spain retained the top spot in the rankings, with England moving up two spots to No. 2, France staying at No. 3, and the U.S. dropping two spots to fourth.
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— FIFA Women’s World Cup (@FIFAWWC) March 15, 2024
How did recent results impact rankings?
The formula used to compute FIFA rankings is weighted to bias recent results, and the impact of that formula can be seen throughout the top spots.
Spain benefited from their UEFA Nations League win over France in February. France, on the other side of that final, did not lose any ground despite the loss to Spain. England’s 5-1 win over Italy and 7-2 victory over Austria in February provided the momentum to send the Lionesses to second place on the rankings for this edition.
The USWNT had never dropped below third place on the FIFA rankings in the team’s history, which in itself was a new low following the 2023 World Cup. Since the establishment of the women’s rankings in 2003 and until August 2023, the U.S. had never been outside of the top two.
While the loss to Mexico may have been costly on the rankings, ultimately it may have served as a necessary gut punch for the USWNT as it entered the knockout stages of the Gold Cup, defeating Colombia, Canada and Brazil en route to the trophy.
Why do these rankings matter?
The FIFA rankings are often used to determine seeding or pots for international events. Notably, this includes the Olympics, which the USWNT will participate in this summer.
Still, the U.S. drop may not have much of an effect on the upcoming 2024 draw — England/Great Britain did not qualify for the tournament, and France will be serving as host, so the USWNT’s drop to fourth may not actually have too much impact.
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(Photo: Brad Smith/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images)
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