>>> How many points do Vietnam need to make history in World Cup qualifiers?
Accordingly, Vietnam collected 13 points in the month thanks to their good performance in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers, thereby moving up three spots from No. 97 to 94 in the world. Coach Park Hang-seo’s side defeated the UAE 1-0 and then drew Thailand 0-0 after two World Cup qualifiers in November.
Vietnam’s score in FIFA rankings increased from 1245 points in October to 1258 this month, helping the Golden Stars overcome Cyprus (1251 points) and Kyrgyz Republic (1240 points) to rank 94th in the world.
This is the highest rank for the Vietnamese team in the FIFA rankings in the past 20 years, having been ranked 84th in 1998.
In addition, the national squad also surpassed Kyrgyz Republic to be ranked 14th in Asia.
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Vietnam also move up one spot to be ranked 14th in Asia. (Photo: AFC)
In contrast, Vietnam’s bitter rivals Thailand have been deducted 15 points, dropping four spots, from No. 109 to 113 in the world. It is understandable as the War Elephants lost to Malaysia and drew against Vietnam in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers in November. Another Southeast Asian team, Malaysia, rose four places, from No. 158 to 154 after their two victories, over Thailand and Indonesia, in Group G of the World Cup 2022 Asian Qualifiers.
Vietnam and Malaysia are currently sitting in the top two places in Group G and the two teams will play each other on the next matchday of the World Cup qualifier, March 31, 2020.
As such, Vietnam are still at the top rankings in Southeast Asia, followed by Thailand and the Philippines, respectively.
In Asia, Iran have lost their status as the continent’s No. 1 side in the FIFA rankings to Japan for the first time since December 2014. Iran dropped six places from 27 to 33 in the latest world rankings, while Japan still maintain their 28th place.
There is little movement in the world’s top 10, with Croatia climbing up one position up to sixth, while Portugal drop down to seventh on the list, while Belgium continue to be the world's No. 1 team with a total of 1,765 points, followed by France (1,733), Brazil (1,712), England (1,661) and Uruguay (1,645).
