Qatar back among top 50 in FIFA rankings, Belgium end 2021 as the top-ranked team

Tribune News Network Doha While Belgium have concluded 2021 as the best team in the world, Qatar have bounced back into the top 50 and are ranked 48th acco...

Tribune News NetworkDohaWhile Belgium have concluded 2021 as the best team in the world, Qatar have bounced back into the top 50 and are ranked 48th according to the men’s rankings published by football governing body FIFA on Wednesday.The winners of the FIFA Arab Cup 2021, Algeria (29th +3) jointly made the best progress in terms of places, along with Qatar (48th + 3), who finished third at the tournament, and Thailand (115th +3). Ranked 57 at the start of the year, Qatar are now at 48, ahead of Ghana (52), Saudi Arabia (51) and Cameroon (50th).Just in terms of last month, the most improved Asian team are Indonesia (164th + 11.13 points). The comeback for Qatar has been due their consistent performaces in the last six months including the FIFA Arab Cup 2021. Following on their successes at the CONCACAF Gold Cup 2021 tournament and the joint FIFA 2022 Asian World Cup and AFC 2023 Asian Cup qualifiers, earlier, Qatar had shot up the world rankings from 58th to 42nd making them the highest mover on the chart, but they have also reached their highest-ever position since the system’s inception. Qatar had maintained their spot at 55 in FIFA world rankings, it emerged on June 11.Meanwhile, Belgium continue to stay at the top despite their failure to win a first major trophy. The golden generation featuring stars such as Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne and Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku lost in the semi-finals of the Nations League to World Cup holders and eventual winners France. Belgium have a best 1,828.45 points to lead the standings for a fourth consecutive year with Brazil just behind on 1,826.35.France are third with European champions Italy sixth behind England and South American champions Argentina. Spain, Portugal, Denmark and the Netherlands complete the top 10 going into the World Cup year of 2022.The rankings will determine the seeding posts for the Qatar tournament meaning Germany, ranked 12th, could well receive a tough draw as a second seed.Iran, 21st, are the best side in Asia, one behind Senegal who are the strongest African nation going into the continental championship held in Cameroon next month.The United States are the best North and Central American side in 11th while New Zealand top Oceania in 110th.Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, only 352 full internationals were played in 2020. Not since 1987 (323 matches) had so few games been played in a calendar year. By contrast, planet football made up for lost time in 2021 with a record breaking 1116 matches played.And while the quantity of games changed radically from one year to the next, the top ranked team in the FIFA/ Coca-Cola World Ranking has remained the same! For the fourth year in a row, Belgium (1st) end the calendar year in pole position, albeit only just ahead of Brazil (2nd)by 2.1 points. France (3rd) complete the podium for 2021.For their part, Canada (40th) are the year’s ‘Most Improved Side’ having picked up no fewer than 130.32 points over the last 12 months. Their journey to the semi-finals of the 2021 Gold Cup as well as impressive results in FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 qualifying have been major factors in their rise.Winners of UEFA EURO 2020 and the Copa America 2021 respectively, Italy (6th + 115.77 points compared to December 2020) and Argentina (5th +108.51 points compared to December 2020), have also seen their points tally increase dramatically this year.The same goes for the USA (11th + 103.51 points compared to December 2020) and England (4th + 85.52 points compared to December 2020). Equatorial Guinea (114th + 59.78 points compared to December 2020) made the most impressive progress among African teams, while Saudi Arabia (51st + 81.71 points compared to December 2020) did the same in Asia.However, just in terms of last month, the most improved Asian team are Indonesia (164th + 11.13 points). Winners of the FIFA Arab Cup 2021, Algeria (29th +3) jointly made the best progress in terms of places, along with Qatar (48th + 3), who finished third at the tournament, and Thailand (115th +3). The next rankings are published February 10.