FIFA men's ranking: Top 20 national teams heading to the World Cup

The World Cup is football's premier competition that is played once every four years. Players across the world compete for their country's glory and pride. The World Cup has been around for about 84 years, with countless matches played by great teams worldwide. This article details FIFA men's ranking, including information about the respective national teams.

For equity, games are scored with the modern system of three points for a win and one for a draw. The knockout stages give the winner an extra three points for each match. With all these competitions come the rankings and rivalries that have existed for decades.

Top 20 FIFA men's ranking 2022

According to most recent statistics, men's FIFA rankings are often analyzed by the games played, won, lost, drawn, total points, and the fact that the team is heading to the World Cup in 2022.

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20. Wales

The Wales national football team has entered every World Cup since 1950, but to date, it has only qualified for two finals tournaments: 1958 and 2022. In 1958, they reached the quarter-finals and were eliminated by Brazil. However, the Welsh team has stars like Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey, who are expected to lead the country's team to the World cup finals in Qatar in 2022.

19. South Korea

The team made their debut in 1954 and has appeared consecutively in every world cup since 1986. Despite initially going through five World Cup tournaments without winning a match, South Korea became the only Asian team to reach the semi-final stages of the World cup.

Without a doubt, their biggest star, Son Heung-min, will lead his team as they aim to win the world cup's knockout rounds for the third time.

18. Mexico

Mexico's national team has been in the World Cup since its inaugural in 1930, entered 16 tournaments, but has failed to qualify for the finals on 3 occasions. Nevertheless, Mexico's front three, Chucky Lozano, Raul Jimenez, and Tecatito Corona, are majestic and in full flight to compete in the World Cup 2022 competitions.

17. Ecuador

The team has appeared in three FIFA World Cups, the world's premier football tournament for national football teams, with an upcoming fourth appearance in 2022. Ecuador is the youngest team in CONMEBOL qualifying and is regarded as the best in South America. Besides, they have proven it by qualifying in the fourth position.

16. Ghana

The Ghana national team has qualified four times in the FIFA World Cup tournaments; 2006, 2010, 2014, and 2022. In 2006 they were the only African team to advance to the Second Round of the FIFA World Cup and were the sixth nation in a row from Africa to progress beyond the group stages of the World Cup.

Ghana rose swiftly up in the rankings not for what they did on the pitch but because they lost 4-1 to Japan in the Kirin Cup. This squad does not look fantastic at the moment but adds Premier League talent to it by Eddie Nketiah and Tariq Lamptey.

15. Serbia

Serbia stunned world football when they nipped ahead of Portugal in the final seconds of UEFA qualifying to book an automatic spot in Qatar. In terms of the group stages, beating Brazil would be a greater achievement than even taking down Portugal, thanks to the likes of Dusan Vlahovic, Dusan Tadic, and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic. They are the team's best weapons.

14. The United States

The United States has participated in World Cup competitions from 1990 to 2014 but did not qualify for the 2018 competitions. As a result, black Friday will take on a new meaning for the United States if England humbles their men's national team in Qatar.

13. Portugal

Portugal has appeared at the tournament seven times. On their debut appearance in 1966, they recorded their highest-ever finish, third place. Additionally, the team appeared in the previous five editions of the World Cup and lost to Uruguay.

Portugal rarely does things the easy way, and a group containing Uruguay, South Korea and Ghana certainly has the potential to provide some banana skins. Cristiano Ronaldo is desperate, however, to win the World Cup in what is likely to be his final appearance at the tournament, so expect him to be leading from the front in Qatar

12. Croatia

Croatia's national football team have appeared in the FIFA World Cup on five occasions, in 1998, 2002, 2006, 2014, and 2018, since gaining independence in 1991. Before that, from 1930 to 1990, Croatia was part of Yugoslavia. Their best result thus far reached 2018 final, where they lost 4-2 to France.

Luka Modric continues to perform at very high levels as he begins his preparations for a fourth World Cup. The Real Madrid man will lead a squad that is transitioning slowly away from the golden generation that brought them success through the 2010s.

11. Denmark

Denmark, which reached the Round of 16 in the 2018 edition, will be playing its sixth World Cup in Qatar. It is contesting successive World Cups for the second time in history. The last time Denmark played successive World Cups was in the 1998 and 2002 editions.

Euro 2020's surprise package could have done without having to take on defending world champions France in the group stages. Still, given their recent form, Kasper Hjulmand's side will certainly approach the game with confidence.

10. Belgium

Belgium has appeared in the final tournament of the FIFA World Cup on 14 occasions, the first being at the first FIFA World Cup in 1930, where they finished in 11th place. So while Belgium's group consisting of Croatia, Morocco, and Canada is far from daunting, the Red Devils will be aware of what will likely be waiting for them in the last 16.

9. Senegal

Senegal has appeared in the finals of the FIFA World Cup on two occasions, in 2002, where they reached the quarter-finals, and in 2018. The Champions of Africa may have been in Pot Three for the draw, but they will be the second-favourites to win their group after being placed alongside Qatar, the Netherlands and Ecuador.

Though none of those games will be a formality, Sadio Mane, Edouard Mendy and Kalidou Koulibaly as individuals are far better than any players Qatar or Ecuador can call upon.

8. The Netherlands

The Netherlands has appeared in 3 World Cup finals, and the 2022 competition will seemingly be their fourth. After appearing in two consecutive World Cup finals in 1974 and 1978, the team had their biggest World Cup streak in the 1990s, reaching three straight tournaments.

It is no secret that every team in the draw wanted to face Qatar from Pot One, and so the Netherlands will be thrilled to find themselves in Group A. Though Senegal looks like their biggest rivals in terms of topping the group, the Oranje should be confident of progressing as the winners.

With Virgil van Dijk and Matthijs de Ligt, they potentially have the best central defensive duo in the competition.

7. Uruguay

Uruguay won their most recent title in 2011. Additionally, Uruguay is the holder of four FIFA World Cup Championships. Therefore, in what looks to be the most open group, Uruguay could easily top the competition and be at the bottom.

They will certainly be tested by a Ghana side that will be out for revenge after Luis Suarez's antics back in 2010, while Portugal and South Korea both have iconic forwards leading the way.

6. Spain

Spain is one of the eight national teams to have been crowned world champions, having participated in 16 of 22 FIFA World Cup and qualifying consistently since 1978. Spain also won three continental titles, appearing at 11 of 16 UEFA European Championships.

Spain was the unlucky top seed who were drawn alongside Germany from position two, setting up a titanic battle in the opening round. La Roja should still make it through but coming against Hansi Flick's side increases the possibility of them doing so as runners-up.

5. England

England first entered the FIFA World Cup in 1950 and has participated in the World Cup Finals tournament 15 times, including the 2018 World Cup in Russia. England won the World Cup once in 1966 World Cup on home soil.

Although England is undoubtedly the strongest side in their group, they could have done without facing opponents who will be more driven than most to beat them at an early stage.

4. Germany

Germany has been to the World Cup more often than any other country. However, after being seeded in the second position, Germany knew they were potentially in for a tough draw, so being forced to take on Spain in the group stages will not phase Hansi Flick.

Japan, Costa Rica, and New Zealand are some of the teams Germany should win against during the FIFA men's ranking 2022.

3. France

They are the reigning champions despite having a poor four-year interim spell. However, they lost the Nations League group stage in Rotterdam, Euro 2020, and World Cup qualifier against Turkey, Ukraine and Bosnia. Furthermore, they lost a two-goal lead against Switzerland in the final 10 minutes of the Round of 16 clashes at the Euros.

2. Argentina

Argentina's national team has been the runners up three times: 1930, 1990 and 2014. Since their inception in 1902, the Argentina national team has appeared in five FIFA World Cup finals, including the inaugural finals in 1930 and 1978. Based on FIFA men's ranking by country, they are among the best teams globally, with a higher possibility of winning the 2022 World Cup.

Which country is no 1 in FIFA rankings?

Well, today, most countries have taken the initiative of nurturing soccer talents by coming up with facilities such as youth systems and academies. But even though that is the case, there ought to be a winner in every set competition. Brazil's national team is not an exception, as they top the list the FIFA men's latest rankings as of 2022.

1. Brazil

Brazil is considered the best team in World Cup history and an exciting powerhouse team in the football world. They are the only country to have appeared in every final tournament 22 times, from 1930 to 2022.

They qualified for the World Cup 2022, and the Qatar competition awaits them. The 2022 squad, coached by Tite and propelled by Neymar, might bring the Cup home.

Who is the lowest-ranked FIFA team as of 2022?

San Marino is currently ranked as the worst national team with 763.82 points after Anguilla, which has 790.74.

Coming up with a compiled list displaying the most recent FIFA men's ranking is somewhat difficult. This is because most of the mentioned national teams have talented soccer players who have time and again proven that their expensive contracts are not in vain.

Sportsbrief.com has recently published a story about Bayern Munich, featuring its 2022 lineup, new players, coach, owners and transfer. Bayern is one of the most successful clubs in Europe and has often invested in talent and quality players.

The German giants brought in a couple of signings to replace the departed ones and bolster their squad. Sadio Mane, Matthijs de Ligt, Ryan Gravenberch and Noussair Mazraoui are among the key additions.