Belgium top first rankings since pandemic shutdown

ZURICH, Sept 17, (AP): The first FIFA men’s world rankings for five months were still led by Belgium on Thursday after the shutdown of European teams during the coronavirus pandemic ended in September.

Belgium lead an unchanged top four nations from 2018 World Cup winners France, Brazil – which have yet to play in 2020 – and England.

Portugal, the reigning European and UEFA Nations League champions, rose two places to No. 5.

Rankings after the November international break will decide seedings when FIFA draws the European qualifying groups for the 2022 World Cup in early December.

The 10 highest-ranked European teams will be top-seeded in groups where only the winners will advance directly to the finals tournament in Qatar. Three more teams will qualify through playoffs scheduled in March 2022.

Currently, Germany are the ninthbest European ranked No. 14, and No. 15 Switzerland would take the last topseeded place in the draw. Denmark are next at No. 16.

Senegal are the top-ranked African nation at No. 20, and No. 28 Japan lead Asian confederation teams.

World Cup hosts Qatar are ranked No. 55. Rankings 1. Belgium (1) 2. France (2) 3. Brazil (3) 4. England (4) 5. Portugal (7) 6. Uruguay (5) 7. Spain (8) 8. Croatia (6) 9. Argentina (9) 10. Colombia (10) 11. Mexico (11) 12. Italy (13) 13. Netherlands (14) 14. Germany (15) 15. Switzerland (12) 16. Denmark (16) 17. Chile (17) 18. Sweden (17) 19. Poland (19) 20. Senegal (20) (Previous position in parentheses)