Brazil was last worse in 2016
©IMAGO
After successful international matches in October, Germany returned to the top 10 of the FIFA world rankings, which are used for the World Cup group draw. National coach Julian Nagelsmann’s national team climbed two places to tenth place thanks to victories against Luxembourg (4-0) and Northern Ireland (1-0).
This means that Germany once again has a good chance of being placed in pot one with the nine best teams and the three hosts USA, Mexico and Canada if they successfully qualify for the World Cup group stage draw on December 5th in Washington.
With two wins in the two remaining World Cup qualifying games in November in Luxembourg and against Slovakia, the DFB team would book their World Cup ticket as group winners. At the same time, draw pot one would most likely be secured if Italy, currently three points behind Norway, did not win Group I. The four-time world champion is currently ninth in the world rankings, better placed than Germany, but without the direct World Cup ticket the path to draw pot one remains blocked.
In the complicated calculation process for the seeding list, the November ranking after completion of the qualifying round is decisive. The first group Croatia, which fell behind Germany to eleventh place in the world rankings, and Morocco, which has already qualified for the World Cup, are also still involved in the fight for draw pot one.
Slipping into draw pot two could cause sporting and organizational problems. An early World Cup duel in the summer of 2026 against a top team like Spain, Argentina, France or England, who continue to lead the world rankings, would then be just as possible as placement in Group A with Mexico. Nagelsmann would like to avoid this because of the difficult climatic conditions.
Brazil continues to slip in the FIFA world rankings
While the Albiceleste made up a place in the world rankings and is second, their big rivals Brazil continue to decline. The Seleção were overtaken by the Netherlands and are now in seventh place. It is the worst placement since August 2016, shortly after the embarrassing preliminary round exit from the Copa América Centenario.
