January 03-2014
The Iranian national soccer team has dramatically moved up 12 slots in the FIFA monthly soccer ratings to be ranked the 33rd best team in the world.
That means Iran is no longer ranked fourth and last in its four-team World Cup group, but is now ranked third.
Iran has not played any games this past month so it wasn’t entirely clear how it improved so much and gained 70 points for a total of 720. But the rating system is based partly on well Iran’s opponents do, so if some of its opponents moved up, the multiplier would boost Iran as well.
Iran was ranked 45th in the world last month with 650 points. This month it is ranked 33rd in the world with 720 points.
Of the top 100 teams in FIFA, the governing body of international soccer, only Saudi Arabia rose as much as 12 slots this month.
The result is that in Iran’s World Cup group, Nigeria, ranked 37th in the world—down one slot from last month—is now at the bottom of the group. Iran is third. Bosnia moved up two slots to 19th in the world and is still second in the group.
Argentina, of course, leads the group. It was and is ranked third in the world.
The year 2013 ended with Spain ranked first in the world. This is the sixth year to end with Spain in the top position.
