FIFA set to review world ranking system
FIFA has confirmed it will review its ranking system after all the 2018 World Cup qualifying games. The system, which is based on each country’s results over a four-year rolling period, is used by FIFA to decide the seedings at World Cups.
According to the Times report, the current ranking system works against countries such as England, who play a large number of friendly internationals. It rewards those who play hardly any matches out of competition, which explains why Poland and Switzerland are ranked in the world top ten but Spain and France, as well as England, are below them.
The top seven qualifying nations plus hosts Russia, will be seeded in December’s draw for the 2018 tournament.
“FIFA is reviewing the FIFA Coca-Cola World Ranking system and will take a decision after the completion of qualification for the 2018 FIFA World Cup if any changes are to be made to improve the ranking,” the source quotes a FIFA spokesperson as saying.