Vietnam extend gap with Thailand on FIFA world ranking

Vietnam players (in red) play Thailand in the second leg of the AFF Cup final on January 16, 2023. Photo by VnExpress/Giang Huy

Since the last update of the FIFA ranking in December, Vietnam earned 1.06 more points and ascended to 95th in the world, 16th in Asia, remaining first in Southeast Asia with 1,229.69 points.

The results of the AFF Cup last year also contributed to the ranking of both Vietnam and Thailand. Vietnam finished second at the tournament, with four wins, three draws and one loss. Meanwhile, Thailand won the tournament with five wins, two draws and one loss, which helped them accumulate more points.

However, in the two friendlies last month, Thailand lost 1-3 to Syria and 0-2 to UAE, which cost them 7.87 points. In total, Thailand lost 1.52 points and dropped three places to 114th in the world, 21st in Asia and second in Southeast Asia.

Vietnam are currently 19 places ahead of Thailand in the ranking. This is not the biggest gap between the two teams. In August 2021, Vietnam sat 28 places above Thailand.

This is Vietnam's longest period in the top 100 of FIFA, which began on November 29, 2018.

In Asia, Japan are still the top team, followed by South Korea and Australia.

The 2022 World Cup champions Argentina, with two friendly wins against Panama and Curacao, moved to number one in the world. World Cup runner-up France also moved into second place, pushing Brazil to third.