Brazil retain top spot at FIFA world ranking despite quarterfinal finish
Brazil will retain their position at the top of the FIFA World Ranking this month, despite Argentina clinching FIFA World Cup title on Sunday, their first since 1986 and third overall.
As per ESPN, Brazil have held the top spot since February this year, after dethroning Belgium. Despite Brazil being eliminated from the tournament in quarterfinals, Argentina’s World Cup triumph is still not enough to overtake them.
Brazil won three games in the tournament and suffered a loss to Cameroon. They crashed out of the global footballing event after losing to Croatia in quarterfinals. But Argentina won four games, losing only the opening game against Saudi Arabia. In the finals, they beat France by 4-2 on penalties.
Argentina are not number one despite Copa America win in 2021 and this World Cup win. Shootout wins are worth fewer ranking points than regulation-time wins. Had France or Argentina won within 120 minutes, including 30 minutes of extra-time, they would have gone number one.
