The Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), the governing body of the international soccer, has devised an innovative method for ranking of all the senior national teams of all FIFA member associations. The FIFA World Rankings were introduced in August 1993 to appraise the relative strength of all its associate members at regualr intervals. The rating and rankings of teams are deducted by dividing total international matches and total points scored by a particular team up to a particular date.

FIFA Rankings of Top 50 Teams*

While ranking a team, FIFA considers various factors like results and performances in the World Cup finals matches, World Cup preliminary matches, FIFA Confederations Cup matches, Continental Championships final matches, Continental Championship preliminary matches, as well as Friendly matches. However, scores are awarded to teams according to importance of the matches and relative strengths of teams in a particular match. But , FIFA ranking have been the subject of considerable debate, ever since its inception in 1993. To rectify its ranking system, FIFA has brought up few changes in rankings of team from Jun 2009. Earlier FIFA Rankings considered the performances of teams over a long 8 year period, now it has been reduced to 4 years, so that the teams performing well in the last 2-3-4 years get the rankings they deserve.

As of July 2009, the former World Champions Brazil is on the top in the FIFA Rankings, followed by the world champions Spain, and Netherlands. The Italy ranks 4th, while Germany and the Russia rank 5th and 6th respectively in the latest FIFA rankings. Other teams in top 10 FIFA Rankings include England (7), Argentina (8), France (9), and the Croatia (10).

* FIFA Rankings of teams as on Jun 2009.