There are very few changes in the first edition of the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking of 2015, with football having come to a halt in many places over the New Year period.


In a statement, FIFA explained that only 16 friendlies have been included since December’s installment, 11 of which took place in 2014.

In total, 845 matches were played in 2014 – a record for a FIFA World Cup year. The top 45 countries in the ranking remain unchanged, with Germany continuing to lead the way ahead of Argentina and Colombia.

There are 146 non-movers in the 209 teams. Bahrain have made the biggest gain thanks to wins over Saudi Arabia and Jordan, moving up 12 places to 110th in the process. The only teams to climb more than three places are Lebanon (122nd, up 4) and Vietnam (133rd, up 4), while the Faroe Islands have achieved their highest-ever position of 103rd since the ranking was introduced in 1993.

The biggest fallers this month are Iraq (114th, down 11) and Jordan (93rd, down 12).

More movement is to be expected in the February edition of the world ranking, which will take into account all of the results from the CAF Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea and the AFC Asian Cup in Australia.

The next rankings will be issued on 12 February, a period during which Portugal will not be playing any international fixtures.