FIFA rankings: Belgium end year on top, China 76th

World
Europe

Belgium will end the year as No. 1 ahead of world champions France in the global rankings released by FIFA on Thursday.

Belgium, beaten by France in the World Cup semi-finals, edge Didier Deschamps' team by one ranking point.

Belgium has 1,727 points by FIFA's calculations to 1,726 for France. Brazil comes in third at 1,676.

FIFA noted on their website that France, who ranked No. 9 last Christmas, was the year's "Best Mover" after a "stellar 2018... having gained more points (165) since December 2017 than any other nation."

The governing body of world football also noted that Europe and Asia have gained top-50 places at the expense of Africa.

Europe has 31, an increase of two, Asia is up one to three and Africa is down three to five top-50 representatives.

China, ranked No.76, are the seventh best country in Asia after Iran, Australia, Japan, South Korea, Saudi Arabia and Syria.

The next FIFA World Ranking will be published on February 7, 2019.

Screenshot from FIFA website

FIFA world rankings: Top 10 (December 20)

1. Belgium

2. France

3. Brazil

4. Croatia

5. England

6. Portugal

7. Uruguay

8. Switzerland

9. Spain

10. Denmark

Source(s): AFP