USWNT drops to lowest FIFA rankings after World Cup failure - ESPN

25.08.2023 - 11:09 espn.com

Sweden have knocked the United States off the top of the FIFA women's rankings for the first time in more than six years. The U.S., who had held the No.

1 spot since June 2017 and won back-to-back World Cups in 2015 and 2019, slipped out of the top two for the first time since FIFA introduced the rankings in 2003. — Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) The USWNT recorded their worst performance at a World Cup after being knocked out by Sweden in a penalty shootout in the round of 16.

Meanwhile, Spain climbed from sixth to second after winning their first World Cup last weekend, while runners-up England and quarterfinalists France remained fourth and fifth respectively in the latest rankings published on Friday.

Sweden, who were third before the World Cup, joined Germany as the only other team to have led the rankings after beating tournament co-hosts Australia to win bronze.

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Spanish football chief Luis Rubiales refused to resign on Friday after a week of widespread criticism for his unsolicited kiss on the lips of player Jenni Hermoso following Spain's Women's World Cup triumph. Rubiales, 46, had been expected to step down as president of the Spanish football federation (RFEF) after government ministers and figures within sport demanded his resignation and world football's governing body FIFA opened disciplinary proceedings against him. But he was defiant in a speech at an emergency meeting of the football federation. "I will not resign, I will not resign, I will not resign," shouted Rubiales "A consensual 'peck' is enough to get me out of here? I will fight until the end," he added.

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