ZURICH: Egypt leads the African nations and climbs one place to No. 9 on the FIFA rankings, as Spain ends the year it won its first World Cup top of the list and finishes No. 1 for the third straight year.
The Netherlands, which lost to Spain in July’s final, is second while Germany has moved ahead of Brazil into third since last month.
The United States tops the CONCACAF region, rising six places to No. 18.
Argentina and England stay fifth and six. Australia drops six places to No. 26 but still heads the Asian confederation.
One of the biggest movers over the last year has been Montenegro, which has soared to No. 25 from No. 74.
Russia, which won the right to host the 2018 World Cup earlier this month, stays at No. 13, while 2022 host Qatar drops a place to No. 114.
