Emma Hayes' USWNT have ended 2024 on top of FIFA's international rankings after claiming Olympic gold
Article continues below
Article continues below
Article continues below
USWNT end 2024 as No. 1 in FIFA rankingsEmma Hayes' squad won gold at Paris GamesEngland fall out of top threeFIFAWHAT HAPPENED?
Following a summer capped by Olympic gold and a 20-match undefeated streak, the U.S. women's national team ends 2024 atop FIFA's international rankings, released Friday.
It has been four months since FIFA’s last update, and Emma Hayes’ squad has cemented its place at the summit. In her first year as head coach, the Englishwoman led the team to a 13-0-2 (W-L-D) record across all competitions, highlighted by two strong performances in their November-December camp – where they defeated the Netherlands 2-1 and drew England 0-0.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE
Elsewhere in the rankings, reigning World Champions Spain sit second, while Germany surpassed England to take the final spot in the top-three for the calendar year.
Rounding out the top 10 are the Lionesses at No. 4, Sweden at No. 5, Canada at No. 6, Brazil at No. 7, Japan at No. 8, Korea DPR at No. 9 and the Netherlands at No. 10.
DID YOU KNOW?
In June's edition of the rankings prior to the Paris Games, the USWNT had fallen all the way down to fifth place – their second-consecutive drop in the rankings after a disappointing showing at the 2023 FIFA World Cup.
Since, though, they've claimed the top spot in both August, and now, December.
Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR THE USWNT?
Emma Hayes' squad returns to the pitch in February for the SheBelieves Cup, where they will play Colombia, Australia and Japan. Until then, the players and staff alike are taking a break away from the field before returning in 2025.
