Spain stays atop FIFA rankings

World champions Spain remain top of the FIFA football world rankings followed by Argentina who climbed from fourth to second place.

Following World Cup qualifiers, the September rankings released by football governing body FIFA Thursday has little resemblance to the previous month’s order — with the exception of Spain’s pole position.

Germany slipped from second to third, while Italy after qualifying for the next year’s World Cup moved up from sixth to fourth.

Belgium leapt from 10 to six and Uruguay advanced from 12th to seventh. World Cup hosts Brazil gained one place to eighth, while Portugal left the top 10, moving from seventh to 11th.

Outside of the top 10 England also moved down three to 17th. Both USA and Sweden meanwhile jumped several places to 13th and 22th respectively.

FIFA rankings (leading 10): 1. (1) Spain 1514 points 2. (4) Argentina 1263 3. (2) Germany 1261 4. (6) Italy 1199 5. (3) Colombia 1180 6. (10) Belgium 1159 7. (12) Uruguay 1126 8. (9) Brazil 1067 9. (5) Netherlands 1058 10. (8) Croatia 1051.