Some 124.20 points separated the two teams at the top of the last FIFA/Coca-Cola Women’s World Ranking, the biggest such gap ever. Over the last few weeks and matches, however, that gap has shrunk. Bronze medallists at the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament Tokyo 2020, USA (1) may have fallen from their pedestal, but they still occupy the throne.

Moving into second place behind the Stars and Stripes, just 21.53 points adrift, are Sweden (2, +3), the side who took silver at Tokyo 2020 and beat USA 3-0 in their opening group match. Never have the Scandinavians climbed so high in the Ranking.

Buoyed by their Olympic gold, Canada (6, +2) are now sixth, while Germany (3, -1) have dropped a place to third and France (5, -2) two places to fifth. Netherlands (4) are non-movers at fourth.

Korea DPR (9, +2) are back in the top ten, and Spain (10, +2) climb into it for the first time ever. Both sides have profited from falls for Japan (13, -3), who won just one match – against Chile (37) – at Tokyo 2020, and Australia (11, -2), whose quarter-final defeat of Great Britain was not taken into account when calculating the points.

Elsewhere, Zambia (94, +10) shot back into the top 100 and into their highest ever position thanks to their 4-4 draw against China PR (17, -2) in the group phase at Tokyo 2020, a result achieved despite nearly 90 Ranking places separating the two sides before the game.

The next FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking will be published on 10 December 2021.