The latest FIFA/Coca-Cola Women’s World Ranking, released in early 2025, marks a historic milestone with a record 196 teams included. This edition sees Nepal break into the top 100, climbing four places to 99th, while Japan re-enters the top five for the first time in over nine years, and African nations such as Djibouti, Kenya, and Tanzania make significant strides.
Nepal’s Historic Climb and USA’s Continued Reign Nepal’s rise to 99th marks a significant achievement for the nation, reflecting their recent progress on the international stage. Meanwhile, despite a setback in the SheBelieves Cup final, where they suffered a 2-1 defeat at home, the United States continues to top the rankings. Japan’s victory in the tournament has propelled them three places up to 5th, marking their highest position since December 2015. Below the USA, Spain (2nd), Germany (3rd), and England (4th) maintain their spots as the closest challengers. Sweden (6th), Canada (7th), and Brazil (8th) have all dropped a place, while Korea DPR (9th) and the Netherlands (10th) remain unchanged.
Remarkable Gains for Nepal and African Teams Djibouti has entered the rankings for the first time at 195th, a landmark achievement for the nation. Meanwhile, Kenya (142nd) and Tanzania (138th) are this edition’s biggest movers, both climbing seven places. Nepal’s steady rise to 99th further underscores their growing presence in women’s football. Burkina Faso (132nd) and Benin (147th) also enjoyed notable five-place jumps, contributing to a strong showing for African teams. With upcoming fixtures in June, Chad, Eritrea, Libya, and Sudan are on the verge of their first-ever rankings appearance, setting the stage for further African breakthroughs.
Global Movement Beyond the Top 10 Beyond the upper echelons, several teams have made significant progress. Puerto Rico (81st), Montenegro (84th), El Salvador (85th), the United Arab Emirates (112th), Cabo Verde (125th), and Cyprus (127th) all climbed at least four spots. Cyprus recorded the highest jump among these, moving up six places.
With more international fixtures on the horizon, the next update in June 2025 promises further shifts, particularly for emerging teams aiming to make their mark on the global stage.
