Where are Japan and Saudi Arabia in the FIFA rankings?
The 2022 World Cup in Qatar has already proved to be a potential shock edition, and Germany was the latest team to feel the pain.
Do you like your underdog stories in sport? Well going on what we’ve seen in the first few days of the Qatar World Cup, this could be the tournament for you to keep an eye on.
On Tuesday, Day 3, we watched as Lionel Messi and Argentina were humbled by the Saudi Arabians. And then around 24 hours later Japan came back from a goal behind to defeat the historical big guns, Germany. So where do Japan, and Saudi Arabia, for that matter, sit in the global FIFA rankings? Let’s have a look...
Japan jubilation follows Saudi celebrations
— AS USA (@English_AS) November 23, 2022
Qatar adds early shocks to World Cup history bookshttps://t.co/M0tQRXO9LY pic.twitter.com/vHrzpSi400
Japan: 23rd in world rankings
To give you an idea of the surprise, Germany are in 11th. So, it’s maybe not as big a shock as we first thought when Japan are in 23rd. Then again, the way both teams collect FIFA points, and a cursory look at where all the players ply their club trade, it certainly is.
Yep, that actually happened 🇸🇦@SaudiNT_EN | #FIFAWorldCup
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) November 23, 2022
Saudi Arabia: 53rd in world rankings
Argentina are deemed to be the 4th best nation in the world, and were (possibly remain) many people’s favourites for this World Cup. The Saudis are, wait for it, 53rd in the rankings, one place below Qatar, cough, and mingling with the likes of Northern Ireland, Greece and Burkino Faso.
Where were you Messi?
The current FIFA rankings
From the top four of Belgium, Brazil, France and Argentina, to the lower regions of Guam, Anguilla and San Marino, you can check out all those in between with the official FIFA rankings.