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DIDIER DESCHAMPS
“YOU CAN
ALWAYS IMPROVE”
ENGLISH EDITION WWW.FIFA.COM/MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2019
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LETTER FROM A FIFA LEGEND
Dear readers of FIFA 1904,
I am sometimes in awe of the impact that the game has had on my believe they could achieve anything. It was a pivotal moment in
life and where it has taken me. If I were to pick my two favourite football and in women’s sport.
childhood football moments, I’d first choose what I imagine so
many of my peers, and so many of you, have experienced and After playing, I entered coaching following the completion of a
enjoyed, and that’s playing with my family. I spent hours in the university degree in education. I quickly realised that football has
yard with my three brothers and I remember loving being outside, the power to have a much greater impact on young people’s lives
competing with them and enjoying football. than anything I could teach them in a traditional academic setting.
I hope that, as a FIFA Legend, I can grow and expand the impact
My second standout memory came when I was 12 and I saw the US of the game to deliver this experience to more youth players and
women’s national team play for the very first time. Unfortunately, ensure everyone has access to football!
their games were not televised back then. I remember, as I sat in
the stands with my parents, that I loved watching how hard they I’d like to help FIFA in its work to leverage the FIFA Women’s World
„HEAD GAMES“ / Variance Films / Everett Collection / Keystone
played, how competitive they were and how physical the game was. Cup and other events to encourage more football associations to
I remember Michelle Akers got a red card and then shortly after- invest in programming for women and girls. This will make a positive
wards, the coach was sent off. It was the most intense sporting impact not only on football, but also on communities, as football
atmosphere I had ever been a part of and I loved every second of it! teaches young people so much more than just playing the game.
In the car on the way back to our hotel, I told my parents “I am
going to play for that team one day”. I am really looking forward to the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2019
in France! There is nothing more exhilarating than playing (or
And I did! While simply playing in a World Cup is incredible and a watching) our game on the world stage.
dream for any player, the FIFA Women’s World Cup 1999 on home
soil was bigger than a childhood dream come true! The event and Yours in football,
our team inspired a generation of young girls to dream big and Cindy Parlow Cone
FIFA 1904 / 1
CONTENTS
FANS
8 Emotions, passion, commitment – the world of the fan in
pictures from the football hothouses of Buenos Aires and
London.
16 Whether at the stadium or at home: fans use various digital
channels to follow football and get closer to other fans. A
closer look at “second screens”.
8 22 From the humble fan on the terraces to the recipient of
16 corporate hospitality, supporters have changed down the
years.
24 FIFA interviews Didier Deschamps about France’s triumph at
the 2018 FIFA World Cup™ and the different players’
contributions to their victory.
31 The FIFA Fan Award pays special tribute to the fans.
32 You thought you knew every stadium? We take a look at six
unique arenas.
Marco Di Lauro/Getty Images, Peter Kovalev/TASS/Getty Images, Hulton Archive/Getty Images, Curto de la Torre/AFP
24
22
COVER PICTURE
Our cover picture shows
Didier Deschamps, who has
won the World Cup both as a
player and a manager.
2 / FIFA 1904
36
FOOTBALL IN PICTURES
4 THE MONTHS IN PICTURES Captivating Draw for the
FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019™ – FIFA Club
World Cup UAE 2018 player escorts being greeted.
36 FIRST LOVE Bobrek Coal Mine in Bytom, Poland.
47 47 A CAREER IN PANINI STICKERS Ruud Gullit
54 THEN AND NOW From Mexico City to Moscow.
58 PHOTO ARCHIVE Brazil welcomes the Jules Rimet Trophy.
Tomasz Tomaszewski/VISUM, Bongarts/Getty Images, Popperfoto/Getty Images, Andreas Rentz/Bongarts/Getty Images Fatih Aktas/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images
58
56
THE WORLD OF FOOTBALL
43 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE “I am convinced that we are 40 FIFA NEWS AND THE FIFA/COCA-COLA
starting a year that will forever change the way women’s MEN’S AND WOMEN’S WORLD RANKINGS
football is perceived,” says Gianni Infantino ahead of the FIFA
Women’s World Cup 2019™. 48 NEWS FROM FIFA MEMBER ASSOCIATIONS
56 A FIFA LEGEND’S CAREER Dario Šimić
61 CARTOON Mordillo
62 INNOVATIONS The FIFA Technical Study Group’s report: a
completely new approach.
54
56
64 PUBLICATION DETAILS
FIFA 1904 / 3
THE MONTH IN PICTURES
Done and dusted
The Draw for the FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019™
attracted a global audience (Paris, 8 December 2018).
4 / FIFA 1904
Dean Mouhtaropoulos, Getty Images
FIFA 1904 / 5
THE MONTH IN PICTURES
In the thick of it
FIFA Club World Cup UAE 2018 player escorts are greeted with a
high five from Sameh Derbali (centre). Derbali’s Espérance de Tunis
side went on to lose 3-0 to local outfit Al Ain at the Hazza bin
Zayed Stadium on 15 December 2018.
6 / FIFA 1904
Michael Regan, Getty Images
FIFA 1904 / 7
FANS
THROUGH
THICK
AND THIN
Reinaldo Coddou H.
8 / FIFA 1904Experiencing your team’s highs and lows is all part and parcel of being a
fan, but what is it actually like to support a club through thick and thin?
We get right to the heart of the matter, starting with portraits from two
capital cities, London and Buenos Aires – hotbeds of football both.
By Alan Schweingruber
FIFA 1904 / 9It’s not always easy being a fan. Nick In England, the view in the provinces is
Hornby, author of Fever Pitch and one of that London clubs tend to look down their
Arsenal’s most famous supporters, writes noses on the rest. This naturally cuts no
in the foreword to the reissue of his classic ice with the capital-dwellers themselves,
book: “When Birmingham City scored who are far too busy to worry about such
their 89th-minute winner, I felt all the old matters. Besides, there is usually a derby
familiar feelings associated with Arsenal going on somewhere, such as Arsenal v.
losing – the disbelief, the nausea, the Tottenham – one of the oldest and most
determination never to put myself through famous rivalries – or Millwall v. West Ham.
such a wretched experience again.” The Anyway, football supporters are not exact-
occasion was the 2011 League Cup final, ly known for beating around the bush. As
and the sentence perfectly sums up the Millwall’s notorious fans are wont to
suffering endured by die-hard fans when chant: “No one likes us, we don’t care.”
things are not going well for their team. It
also illustrates how their mood can be Enjoy the photos!
shaped entirely by the proceedings on the
pitch.
Of course, Hornby still goes to Arsenal
games – not because he is a masochist,
but because he is still a fan at heart, every
week craving that all-important win, those
crucial three points, or maybe simply the
buzz that comes from watching your team
do well. Just like thousands of other fans
in London, which is home to many top
clubs and players. The UK capital has 11
professional football clubs, six of which
play in the cash-rich Premier League. The
only equivalent city with a greater number
of clubs that play at a professional level is
Buenos Aires, where a staggering 67
teams ply their trade.
With so many clubs, stadium-sharing
would seem to be a sensible option here
and there, but that would be reckoning
without the blinkered passion of fans in
the Argentinian capital. Waking up on
matchday and anticipating going to your
team’s stadium is all part of the support- It’s hardly the best vantage point in the ground, but something exciting must
er’s ritual, so it is hardly surprising that 60 have been happening on the pitch while this supporter was trying to beat the
of the 67 clubs in Buenos Aires have their half-time rush. After all, this was the final match of the 2017/18 season in the
own ground – none of which is alike. In Isthmian League Premier Division – the seventh tier of England’s football pyramid
the two most famous arenas, those of – and Dulwich Hamlet from South London were playing host to rivals Margate
River Plate (Estadio Monumental) and from the Kent coast. The match, which took place on 28 April, finished 1-1.
Sam Mellish
Boca Juniors (La Bombonera), there is also
world-class football to be enjoyed.
10 / FIFA 1904Posters, bottles, TVs, a set of scales, boxes crammed with
souvenirs and assorted paraphernalia: tourists and fans can
wander into this converted garage in Boca, the most famous
district of Buenos Aires, and maybe chance upon a rare find.
The makeshift shop is bedecked in the colours of yellow and
blue in honour of Boca Juniors, the club for whom a promising
player called Diego Maradona once strutted his stuff.
Marco Di Lauro/Getty Images, Reinaldo Coddou H.
Such cries seldom reach the players’ ears, but no matter: passion
for the game is what counts wherever a match is played in the
Argentinian capital. This snap was taken in 2009 before a derby
match between Atlético Vélez Sarsfield and Huracán.
FIFA 1904 / 11FA Cup ties are always a bit special given their one-off nature, and the names of the
two teams drawn against each other are often sewn into scarves for sale, as shown
here on 7 January 2018. The meeting between London clubs Tottenham Hotspur and
AFC Wimbledon in that year’s third round ended up 3-0 in the Lilywhites’ favour.
Robin Pope
12 / FIFA 1904The Clásico de Avellaneda is one of the most
famous derbies in Buenos Aires, as both clubs
involved (Club Atlético Independiente and
Racing Club de Avellaneda) have long been
among the top teams in Argentina. Their
rivalry is particularly fierce, as the two stadiums
are a mere 300 metres apart.
Even in the football-mad Argentinian capital,
the game has to take a rest at some point.
That time is generally in May, during the
autumn, when the identity of the Primera
División’s champions has already been
known for some weeks. An opportunity,
then, to take some pictures in the streets of
Reinaldo Coddou H., Not Released (NR)
the colourful Boca district: taking a break
from football clearly never enters the minds
of the youngsters there.
FIFA 1904 / 13This photo, taken on 9 February 2016, is one of
the last shots of West Ham’s legendary Upton
Park ground. Some home fans can be glimpsed
through the panes of the Bobby Moore Stand
during the FA Cup fourth round replay against
Liverpool, which the Hammers won 2-1 to
secure their passage to the next round. The
stadium was pulled down later that year.
This stand, which holds just 150 spectators,
is located in the grounds of Argentinian
club Victoriano Arenas, whose fans had
cause for celebration on many occasions
last season: the Greater Buenos Aires team
gained promotion to the Primera C
Metropolitana, the fourth tier of
Argentina’s football league.
Marco Di Lauro/Getty Images, Reinaldo Coddou H.
FIFA 1904 / 1516
/ FIFA 1904
FANS
iStock (1) / Illustration FehlbaumThe modern fan uses every digital avenue to follow his or her team.
Kitted out with a smartphone, video projector, computer and games
console, the stay-at-home supporter hardly misses anything on
matchdays – in fact, quite the opposite.
By Perikles Monioudis
ALWAYS
CLOSE TO THE ACTION
Those who cannot afford a ticket to the stadium or live far away All the more so as TV consumption of football continues to decline,
from their favourite team don’t have to miss out on anything in while platforms such as Twitter and Facebook successfully compete
the digital age, apart from the actual “live” experience. In fact, for broadcasting rights in sports, as with American football’s NFL.
social platforms now offer a plethora of photos, videos, pictures
and information that fans in the stadium simply would not have Yet conversely, this is actually leading to change on the other side:
time for. with the direct encouragement of the fans, the pros, clubs and
associations are also going digital. They are addressing the fans
It is true to say that we can now speak of a new kind of fan, one directly: the gap between fans and teams has long been bridged
who doesn’t so much rely on television reporting on matchday, digitally and information no longer flows in one direction towards
but instead often engages with football in the same place they the fan, but is mutual, and shared between all interested parties.
also listen to music or play games: in cyberspace. This space not
only blurs reality and virtuality, it also extends across the globe, As a recent study has suggested, in the UK, fans aged between 16
blending the local, regional and international aspects of football. and 24 still mostly talk about football face to face (89% of re
spondents), but they also actively exchange views on private social
DIGITAL FOOTBALL platforms such as WhatsApp (54%). They post something about
The upshot of this is a new role for fans, who are no longer just football on the latter media several times a day (8%), once a day
passive viewers of a game or a team. On the contrary, with their (10%), once a week (25%) or once a month (15%). In other words,
iStock (1) / Illustration Fehlbaum
contributions on social networks and platforms, they are now one in four fans in this age group posts about football once a
actively involved in what they perceive to constitute football. In this week on private social platforms.
world, the single TV or radio commentator for a game also dis
appears – replaced by the voices of many thousands of fans who VIRTUAL FOOTBALL
interpret events on and off the pitch. They are multicultural, diverse Posts include memes, GIFs, videos and commentaries – including
and, in a manner of speaking, authentic – unfiltered, in any case. during the game. The “second screen” phenomenon, whereby
FIFA 1904 / 17fans watch the game at home on TV while using a second screen
(e.g. a tablet) for replays or constantly updated match statistics, is
highly popular. More than two thirds of UK fans aged 25 or under
follow their team this way.
The transition to the virtual game, to football gaming, is thus a
small step for many young people – if it’s a step at all. Thus in the
UK, three out of four 16-to-19-year-olds enjoy the game on their
consoles, while only two out of three actually play football. As a
result, a broad-based scene in which the contents of virtual games
are posted has long since developed on digital platforms. A virtual
Ronaldo scores a virtual dream goal in a virtual game, and in the
digital age, this virtual achievement can potentially reach as many
people as Ronaldo’s real-life dream goals.
It is not uncommon for professional footballers themselves to
devote their free time to the virtual game. They follow their virtual
market value, the value attached to them by game designers as a
track record and considered by gamers around the world as
authoritative. It sometimes happens that professional players are
dissatisfied with the playing strengths assigned to their virtual
namesakes and take to social media to express their displeasure.
The modern fan can be close to his or her team thanks to the
diverse digital and interactive options. What is more, these fans
are a vital part of what football means today, and it is safe to say
that they will become even more important in a whole range of
different ways going forward.
iStock (1) / Illustration Fehlbaum
FIFA 1904 / 19SNAPSHOT 20 / FIFA 1904
Monument to victory
When World Cup-winning coach Didier Deschamps (centre) and his
squad walked onto the training pitch at Clairefontaine-en-Yvelines in
France, they were greeted by a giant replica of the World Cup trophy
and two huge gold stars in recognition of Les Bleus’ achievement in
Russia (12 November 2018).
Franck Fife/AFP FIFA 1904 / 21FANS
ALL CHANGE IN THE STADIUMS
From the humble fan on the terraces to the recipient of corporate
hospitality, supporters have changed in line with the game and its
stadium standards down the years.
By Perikles Monioudis
You’ve probably seen them on the old
newsreels – soberly clad spectators
enthusiastically watching the action from
the terraces, the men wearing stiff hats,
smoking cigarettes or pipes and holding
aloft umbrellas or shading their eyes from
the sun with folded newspapers, and the
boys shaking their rattles. Yes, attending a
football match in days of yore was a leisure
pursuit principally for males.
GOODBYE TO THE TERRACES
The first notable innovation introduced by
fans was bringing a transistor radio to
games in order to find out as much as
possible about the match they were watch-
ing, as well as keep tabs on the scores in
other games being played around the
country. Half-time refreshments might
have consisted of a sandwich or piece of
fruit brought from home: occasionally, a
hip flask would be passed around.
It certainly bears no comparison with the
matchday experience in stadiums today,
when you might miss the start of the
Joy among gentlemen The 1954 World Cup semi-final between West Germany and Austria thrilled
second half because you had to queue those fortunate enough to be in the crowd at the St. Jakob Stadium in Basel, Switzerland.
22 / FIFA 1904Up close and personal These Socceroos fans weren’t about to miss their chance for a picture with
their hero, Tim Cahill, at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
separately for a snack and a beer. Still, at
least modern fans have their own seat to
go back to: the older ones will probably
not lament the passing of the days when
they risked losing their standing position
by taking a break.
MORE DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION
The transistor radio gave way to the
smartphone long ago, of course, but a
more significant development has been
the rise in awareness of diversity and
inclusion. For some time now, stadiums
have been accessible to all, including
disabled people and – at least in the vast
majority of countries – women and girls, a
trend that has gone hand in hand with the
growing popularity of the women’s game.
Parents can often be seen sitting with
their kids in the family section of the
ground, and some stadiums have a crèche
for tiny ones.
Thankfully, safety has also improved
considerably in the wake of tragedies such
as those in the Hillsborough and Heysel
stadiums, where fans were trampled or
crushed to death. A positive development,
for sure, and all part of the general drive
to make football an all-inclusive sport that
can be enjoyed to the fullest – by everyone
who loves the game.
iStock (2) / Montage Fehlbaum
FIFA 1904 / 23David Ramos / FIFA via Getty Images
Final preparations Didier Deschamps fine-tunes his plans
as he waits for the press conference before the World Cup
final (Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow, 14 July 2018).
24 / FIFA 1904“IT’S NOT ABOUT
JUST PICKING THE
BEST 23 PLAYERS”
Russia 2018 proved to be Didier Deschamps’ finest hour
in his coaching career so far as he returned home with
the World Cup trophy. In this interview with FIFA 1904,
the Frenchman explains how he plotted his young
team’s path to glory as well as the role of certain players
in their success.
How would you describe the football that we saw at the World Cup role of a coach is to forge a group because you are holed up together
in Russia? for a long time, 24 hours a day. Altogether, we spent 51 days together
Didier Deschamps: First of all, the vast majority, if not all of the teams, so, obviously, as well as the football side of it all, there is also the
were very well organised at the back, which obviously led to very human angle with players who need to be able to live together and
difficult and tight matches. At previous World Cups, the biggest teams work towards a common objective. The group always has to come first,
had the luxury of growing into the tournament. That was not really the and my first major decision came when I had to name my final squad
case in Russia – you had to be ready straight away, right from the start of 23. In all honesty, naming a squad of 23 players for a major compe
of the group stage. Every single team was extremely well prepared tition, whether it’s for a World Cup or a European Championship, is
physically as well. Of course, that will not win you football matches – not about just picking the 23 best players. It’s about forging the best
that will always come down to creativity and individual talent – but possible group to go as far as possible in the tournament.
these days, players are increasingly able to put the effort in time and
time again, which led to very intense matches played at a high tempo, Naming Benjamin Pavard and Lucas Hernandez as your first-choice
a lot of one-on-one duels, and therefore little space. Players had to be full-backs, even though they had little experience at this level,
faster and even more technically sound. was regarded by many to be a major risk. Why did you make that
decision?
You also won the World Cup as a player in 1998. Speaking honestly, For two reasons: first of all, because I picked them, and secondly
what are the differences between the top-level players in the modern because they were better than the other two. They both definitely have
game and the players from your generation? a different profile to the usual full-back in the modern game. Unfortu-
The players of today’s generation don’t have the exact same personal nately, when some people analyse a full-back’s game, they look far too
ities, the same characters or the same interests as we did during my much at his attacking play, but when you are building a team, a full-back
playing days, but they are at a very high level. I had a very young team is first and foremost a defender. And these two – Benjamin Pavard and
at the World Cup, but they had an enormous amount of quality. This Lucas Hernandez – are different as they are both centre-halves by trade.
generation is very carefree, very generous and very enthusiastic. But the They are both perfectly capable of playing as full-backs, as they did at
FIFA 1904 / 25youth level, and they are both excellent defenders, both on the
ground and in the air. They are both extremely fit players, as you saw
during the tournament. Both of them were decisive. Thanks to them,
we had an even more solid and stronger defence.
How important is N’Golo Kanté in terms of providing balance in
defence or attack?
In South America, they call it “the number 5”, even though in Europe
it is usually a centre-half who wears the number 5 shirt. But this
position is more of a defensive midfielder role. At its origins, it’s
not purely a defensive position, but this player sits in front of the
centre-backs and also leads the transition from defence to attack. So
N’Golo Kanté obviously had a vital role to play, not just in terms of
protecting the defence, something he does very, very well by reading
the game to break up the opposition play, but also by using the ball
well to get us on the front foot. It’s a role that doesn’t get the credit
it most certainly deserves. It’s often like that in football. The more
creative players – the attackers, of course – steal the headlines, but
any coach will tell you that it is this player who is often the first name
on the team sheet. He is a key figure because he is at the heart of the
game and is the link between attack and defence.
Another unsung hero who had a key role – even though he didn’t
score a single goal in Russia – was Olivier Giroud. How would you
explain his contribution to Les Bleus?
When you play with one centre forward, you need to have players
with different profiles in your squad, and Olivier is more of a target
man. You can’t expect him to bring the ball down and beat two or
three players; that’s not why he is on the pitch. And often, very often,
you only realise just how important he is when he’s not there on the
pitch. He may not have scored any goals, but he had his fair share
of assists and he was heavily involved in the latter stages of our
build-up play. He is a player who works defences very hard, and he
was also important in terms of our defensive work. He is excellent in Double success Deschamps lifts the World Cup. Left, in 1998 as captain
of France (Saint-Denis, 12 July 1998), right, as manager of Les Bleus in
the air and as a target man up front, but he is also vital for us when Moscow on 15 July 2018.
we are defending. He is a real team player, he never stops working
and when we lose the ball, he acts as the first line of defence. He
really puts the effort in – everyone does, but some less than others
– and that is why he is so important. He was very important in our
team’s organisation and set-up.
And did you work on anything specific with Paul Pogba, who shone
in Russia?
Some people have an image of Paul that is far removed from reality.
Patrick Hertzog / AFP
From the very first moment he joined the squad back in 2013, Paul
has always put the team first, even though he can give you the
impression that he is focused on himself, which isn’t true at all. Paul
also played in the 2014 World Cup and at EURO 2016. He’s now 25
26 / FIFA 1904and in his prime, so he sets an example for the younger players and is
also one of the most experienced members of the squad. He has
taken on the role of a leader off the pitch, and he has often had
things to say, quite rightly so. If you do speak up and your attitude
doesn’t match your words, you won’t be taken seriously. But you
can’t say that about Paul. By sitting down and talking to him, I was
able to take a huge weight off his shoulders – his relationship with
the media. I believe that he has sometimes been unfairly criticised
and as soon as he felt that flak, those attacks, he wanted nothing
more to do with the media. He had to repair that relationship
because it’s part of his job. The media will always have the right to
criticise, to be tough on you. You have to accept that, even though it
may hurt. Repairing that relationship made him cooler and calmer,
which then helped him to obtain respect and recognition for how he
is on the pitch. But that’s because he made the first move. He led
the group towards its goal.
What kind of influence can players have when you are preparing
for a big match? For example, if you are gearing up to face a
particular player, such as Lionel Messi for example, do you speak
about him with all of your players or just with the players who
will have the most to do with him, or do you do nothing so as to
avoid worrying them?
We have a lot of little chats. Obviously I, as the coach, make the
decisions, but before I make those decisions, I have to speak to my
players first. I won’t be able to convince or force a player to do
something if he doesn’t agree with me. At the World Cup, I did
something that admittedly wasn’t very instructive for everyone – I
had a squad of 23 players, so of course all 23 players were involved
– but my coaching team and I held a smaller meeting with the
11 starting players on the eve of the match so that we could talk
about various situations. Again, it may go against the coaching
manuals – and of course, on the day of the match, everyone knew
what they had to do – but as only the 11 starting players were in
that meeting, there was a little less wasted time and a little more
concentration. Also, we often had some very interesting discussions
and they asked me questions about the opposition, their positioning
on the pitch, and that was something I greatly appreciated and
something that was important and enriching. We certainly didn’t win
any matches in those meetings but they helped to give the players
the answers before they even stepped out onto the pitch. It goes
without saying that the coach has an important role to play, but you
are nothing without your players. The pitch belongs to them and they
need to decide what they have to do. Of course, you have to do drills
and work on the training pitch, but it’s good to talk. As a player, I
Franck Fife / AFP
was also able to get involved in such discussions. If the coach has all
of the information to hand, he can make decisions and players have
to adapt, but it is also vital that a coach is able to adapt as well. You
FIFA 1904 / 27have to adapt to the players, and I for one don’t believe that you can
force or convince a player to do something if he or his team-mates
don’t agree.
When you were getting ready for the final against Croatia, what
were the Croatian strengths that you wanted to counter?
There were many of them. Croatia are so strong in the centre of the
pitch with two excellent players: Luka Modrić and Ivan Rakitić. They
aren’t just creative but also intelligent. They will leave their position
in midfield to cut off an angle for a pass, or to prevent an opponent
being able to pick out a pass, especially in the middle of the pitch,
and they also link up very well with Mario Mandžukić, who flicks on
towards the wingers who will already be on the move. They had done
all of that in their other matches, so we were aware and keen to take
steps to nullify that threat. That’s the defensive side of the game, but
to win football matches you have to score goals. Croatia had more
possession than us but that wasn’t a case of us just saying: “OK, you
can have the ball”. It’s about how you match up. There is always a
discussion about teams who have more possession and teams that
don’t. In reality, we realised possession doesn’t always equate to
efficiency. If a team has more possession than its opponent, and
if they are efficient and if they score more goals, all is well. But
sometimes you have the ball less, and that was indeed the case for
us in certain matches, but that didn’t stop us from being more
dangerous and more clinical.
Italy, Spain and Germany have all recently been knocked out of
the World Cup at the end of the group stage just four years
after winning the title. Does that concern you at all ahead of the
2022 World Cup in Qatar?
As soon as we got back to the dressing room after the final, I said to
my players: “As of this evening, you are no longer the same because
you are now world champions”. They won’t change, but the way
people look at them certainly will. But amid that euphoria, the need
to sit down and analyse can get forgotten. People tend to think that
it’s easy once you have done it, that you’ll be able to do it again, but
the opposition will also analyse what they did well and not so well,
and it’s very difficult to maintain that level of performance. The
objective is to stay at that level and even to push on because you can
always improve something while continuing to do what you did well,
but that doesn’t just apply to us because others will also make
progress by building on their strengths. But taking stock and learning
from what you did is just as important – if not even more important
– after experiencing success.
Interview conducted by Fabrice Jouhaud
28 / FIFA 1904Gratitude Deschamps and Kylian Mbappé know what Catherine Ivill / Getty Images they mean to each other (Kazan Arena, 30 June 2018).
Peruvian passion 40,000 boisterous Peru
supporters followed their team in Russia –
and were rewarded with the FIFA Fan
Award for their efforts.
30 / FIFA 1904FANS
ULTIMATE
FANS
The FIFA Fan Award is about to enter its fourth year. What would football
be without its genuine supporters? By Perikles Monioudis
There is no shortage of awards these Hillsborough disaster. This moving ges- Some 40,000 fans made the 14,000-
days for teams, individual players and ture put sporting rivalry aside for a few kilometre journey from Peru to the land
coaches who gain plaudits thanks to their minutes. of the 2018 hosts and provided colourful
titles and trophies, but for the fans – who and boisterous support. With their pas-
are the lifeblood of the game – recogni- The 2017 award was won by fans of sion and commitment, they lit up the
tion is rather thin on the ground. Thank- Celtic, whose final home game of the tournament and were an inspiration to
fully, FIFA attempted to put this right in season fell on the 50 th anniversary of lovers of football all over the world.
2016 by creating its Fan Award, the recip- their triumph in 1967, when they became
ients of which are chosen every year by the first British club to win the European Who will win the 2019 FIFA Fan Award?
the fans themselves on FIFA.com. Cup. Celtic fans honoured their team, That’s up to the fans themselves.
who were known as the Lisbon Lions as
BUILDING BRIDGES the final took place in Portugal’s capital,
The first FIFA Fan Award in 2016 went with a 360-degree tifo display around
to the supporters of Borussia Dortmund Celtic Park.
and Liverpool, who together memorably
belted out the latter’s unofficial anthem PERUVIANS TRAVEL EN MASSE
You’ll Never Walk Alone, a song that TO RUSSIA
was first sung by supporters of The Reds When you’ve been waiting for a certain
at home games back in 1963 and has event to happen for the best part of four
since travelled around the world, tran- decades, you have to seize the opportu-
scending language barriers. Fans of the nity when it comes along – which is
German club have also adopted the precisely what Peru fans did when their
anthem, and when the two sides met team qualified for a FIFA World Cup™
Carlos Garcia Rawlins/Reuters
for a UEFA Europa League tie at Anfield after a 36-year absence. They did so in
in April 2016, they joined Liverpool style too, travelling to Russia in their
supporters to give a wholehearted rendi- droves and criss-crossing the vast country
tion of the tune in a show of solidarity to to support La Blanquirroja wherever they
commemorate the 27th anniversary of the played.
FIFA 1904 / 31FANS
STUNNING
VIEWS
For many fans, the weekend is all about a trip to the
match. It’s not always about famous, high-tech arenas
though. We have picked out six unique venues that maybe
aren’t quite so well known.
By Alan Schweingruber
Envato (1)
32 / FIFA 1904ESTADIO HERNANDO SILES
(BOLIVIA)
The Bolivian national stadium, surrounded
by tower blocks in the centre of La Paz, is
one of the highest in the world, standing
at around 3,600m above sea level. It
currently has a capacity of more than
41,000. At this altitude, it is hard to
breathe without a period of acclimatisation,
which goes a long way towards explaining
why teams such as Brazil, Chile and
Argentina have all succumbed to defeat in
important matches here. In 1963, Bolivia
won the Campeonato Sudamericano
(now the Copa América) on home soil.
Thirty-four years later they hosted it
again... and finished as runners-up.
ESTÁDIO MUNICIPAL DE BRAGA (PORTUGAL)
Filippo Manaresi, Alex Livesey/Getty Images
There are very few people in Portugal who have never heard of Sporting Braga’s stadium,
which was carved out of the Monte Castro quarry high above the city. There are only
two steep stands, one on each side of the pitch, which are connected and supported by
80 steel cables. A scoreboard hangs on the face of the rocks behind one of the goals,
and there is a spectacular view over Braga behind the other. The stadium, which hosted
matches during EURO 2004, was the brainchild of architect Eduardo Souto de Moura and
has a capacity of more than 30,000.
FIFA 1904 / 33MMABATHO STADIUM
(SOUTH AFRICA)
This stadium in Mafikeng is undoubtedly
one of the world’s most unique stadiums,
not least due to the eye-catching layout of
its stands. The stadium holds almost
60,000 fans, some of whom no doubt
make their way home with rather sore
necks after watching a match from some
unusual angles. Built in 1981, the stadium
is now primarily used as a training ground
by local university teams.
KAOHSIUNG NATIONAL STADIUM
(CHINESE TAIPEI)
Whenever Japanese architect Toyo Ito’s
ideas become reality, the result is always
interesting to say the least. Building work
on this snake-shaped stadium, which
began in 2006, took three years to com-
plete. It’s not just the design that makes
this stadium that hosted the World Games
in 2009 special, however, but also the
ecological principles behind it: the roof
holds almost 9,000 solar panels, providing
enough energy to run the entire arena.
Any extra power is then sold on to the
Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images
state-owned electricity company. Even the
raw materials used to build the stadium
are recyclable. The stadium has a capacity
of over 40,000 and is currently home to
Taiwan Power Company FC.
34 / FIFA 1904STADION KANTRIDA (CROATIA)
Even though this small stadium dates back
to 1912 and HNK Rijeka have had to look
for a new home ground, special mention
must go to this breathtakingly stunning
arena. Sitting proudly above the harbour
town of Rijeka, the stadium has slipped
out of the public eye recently as it has not
hosted a single game in the past three
years. There is no denying the beauty of
its clifftop location, however, as it affords
incredible views out over the Adriatic.
When it was in use, the stadium had a
capacity of slightly more than 10,000 –
but happily, there are plans to build a
brand-new stadium in exactly the same
spot.
Matthew Lewis/Getty Images, Fashion Industries/Alamy
THE FLOAT @ MARINA BAY (SINGAPORE)
With space for a new stadium in Singapore not exactly easy to come by, a floating pitch
was simply placed in the bay itself. This facility has been used not only for football matches
but also for other sporting events and national celebrations. A 30m-high fence around the
pitch also helps to ensure that wayward balls don’t make a splash landing in the surround-
ing water. The stand – on dry land – has space for some 30,000 people, and tickets for the
Singapore Grand Prix are always in great demand.
FIFA 1904 / 3536 / FIFA 1904
FIRST LOVE
PLACE Bobrek Coal Mine in Bytom, Poland
DATE 19 February 2015
TIME 14:32
PHOTOGRAPHER Tomasz Tomaszewski
VISUM
FIFA 1904 / 37Wanda. Creating unique experiences to
inspire future generations of football fans and
players in China and all over the world.
www.wanda-group.comPRESIDENT´S MESSAGE
THE LEVEL OF WOMEN’S FOOTBALL IS INCREDIBLY HIGH
I have been working in football for over two Future document is to double, to 60 million, For all the plans for the future, may this be
decades now, and ever since the beginning, the number of female football players by the time when everyone praises the FIFA
I have often heard variations of the same 2026. Or that we established a dedicated Women’s World Cup France 2019™ for what
statement: “The future of the game lies in Women’s Football Division, which drafted it already is: the year’s biggest and most
women’s football”. While I certainly do not FIFA’s first comprehensive strategy to fascinating football competition. Period.
question the sincerity of anyone who says develop the women’s game.
this, I reckon it is about time we viewed the
matter in a different light. My point here is that, although the future
clearly promises much in terms of growth
Because it seems to me that spending so and success, women’s football is the game
many years predicting the same future might of the present — and I cannot think of a
be an indication that we have a persistent better moment to showcase this than now,
problem now, in the present. It is a problem in 2019. I challenge anyone to watch any of
of perception: so many people have grown the 52 matches at this year’s FIFA Women’s
so used to treating women’s football as an World Cup™ and come to a different
ever-evolving supporting act that they may conclusion.
well be missing out on the main attraction.
I am convinced that we are starting a year
Mind you, I am not being naive when I say that will forever change the way women’s
that: it is obvious that there is massive room football is perceived. The eyes of football
Michael Regan / FIFA via Getty Images
for development and improvement in fans from around the world will be on
women’s football and that there is a huge France in a few months’ time and I am quite Yours in football,
gap to be covered in comparison with the sure that, for those who are not familiar
men’s game. As the FIFA President, I know with the women’s game, the reaction will
this very well. I must know. It was not for be of collective awe at how far it has
any other reason that one of the key goals already come, at how incredibly high its
presented in our FIFA 2.0: The Vision for the level already is. Gianni Infantino, FIFA President
FIFA 1904 / 39FIFA NEWS
INFANTINO AT G20 SUMMIT
During a speech at the G20 summit in Buenos Aires, FIFA FIFA Football for Schools Programme and mentioned several
President Gianni Infantino presented football to the world’s examples from the countries present where the sport is already
most powerful leaders as a force for good that has the potential helping to achieve these objectives, such as the use of football
to help them address some of the challenges faced in modern to teach life skills in schools across the world, integration of
society. On this note, he highlighted that “there are at least five migrants through football projects and football clinics that
areas where football can convey a message of hope and be address violence against women. “Football can bring us
used as a powerful tool: economic growth, which includes together and make the world a more prosperous, educated,
infrastructural development, education, health, gender equality equal and perhaps even peaceful place. These are also the
and integration, particularly for immigrants and refugees.” priorities of world leaders, and FIFA is honoured to be a credible
During his address, the FIFA President also presented the and reliable partner for them,” he added.
Li Ming / imago
40 / FIFA 1904SPAIN JOIN U-17 WOMEN’S
WORLD CUP ROYALTY
Spain were crowned FIFA U-17 Women’s
World Cup champions for the first time in their
history with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over
Mexico in the final. New Zealand wrapped up
their historic performance at Uruguay 2018 by
finishing with the bronze medal after a 2-1 win
over Canada in the match for third place. “It’s
indescribable. I can’t begin to tell you what it
feels like because it hasn’t sunk in yet. This is a
special, absolutely one-of-a-kind moment and
we know what it means for girls all over the
world and for Spanish women’s football. It’s
massive,” said Spain coach Toña Is after the
victory.
GLOBAL STRATEGY FOR WOMEN’S FOOTBALL
FIFA has launched its first-ever global strategy for women’s Speaking about the strategy’s launch, Secretary General Fatma
football, which charts the course for how FIFA will work with Samoura said: “As FIFA’s first female Secretary General, I am
confederations and member associations (MAs), clubs and proud to launch our first-ever global strategy for women’s
players, the media, fans and other stakeholders to realise the full football. The women’s game is a top priority for FIFA and via our
potential that exists within the women’s game. FIFA strongly new strategy, we will work hand-in-hand with our 211 member
believes that women’s football brings one very important associations around the world to increase grassroots participa-
benefit to the many young girls and women involved in the tion, enhance the commercial value of the women’s game and
game – empowerment. Encouraging empowerment through strengthen the structures surrounding women’s football to
football, growing the game, getting more girls involved at an ensure that everything we do is sustainable and has strong
earlier stage and keeping women in football longer are all key results. Most importantly, it will make football more accessible
elements of FIFA’s Women’s Football Strategy. to girls and women and encourage female empowerment,
a subject of great importance, now more than ever before.”
YOUTH OLYMPIC FUTSAL TOURNAMENTS
The Women’s Youth Olympic Futsal Tournament Buenos Aires Brazil picked up the gold medal in the Men’s Youth Olympic
Maddie Meyer / FIFA via Getty Images
2018 was a landmark competition for two reasons, as the Futsal Tournament. Beaten finalists Russia also enjoyed an
discipline made its Olympic debut and FIFA organised its first eye-catching campaign, boasting superb team organisation and
women’s futsal competition. That context made Portugal’s run a genuine physical presence. Meanwhile, Egypt surprised many
to gold a historic one, as were the silver and bronze medals by taking a well-deserved bronze medal.
collected by Japan and Spain respectively. Together with Bolivia
and Thailand, the three medallists were a cut above the other
five teams in the competition.
FIFA 1904 / 41FIFA NEWS
UN SPORTS FOR CLIMATE ACTION FRAMEWORK
The UN Climate Change Secretariat launched the new Sports for for Climate Action Framework, and I am pleased to confirm that
Climate Action Framework, which was developed with the FIFA will support the vision outlined in the new framework,”
sports sector. The aim of the new framework is to gather sports said FIFA Secretary General Fatma Samoura.
organisations, teams, athletes and fans in a concerted effort to
raise awareness and spark action to meet the goals of the Paris FIFA had previously joined the UN Climate Change Secretariat’s
Agreement on climate change. Climate Neutral Now initiative in 2016, becoming the first
international sports organisation to do so. By joining that
“Our commitment to protecting our climate remains unwavering. campaign, FIFA had pledged to continue to strive to become
We recognise the critical need for everyone to help implement greenhouse gas emission-neutral by the mid-21st century, and
the Paris Agreement and accelerate the change needed to reach committed to measuring, reducing and offsetting all of its own
greenhouse gas emission neutrality in the second half of the greenhouse gas emissions at the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™.
21st century. FIFA welcomes the UN’s development of the Sports
FIFA COUNCIL TAKES KEY DECISIONS MATCH OFFICIALS APPOINTED
FOR FRANCE 2019
The eighth meeting of the FIFA Council was held in Kigali, The FIFA Referees Committee has selected 27 referees and
Rwanda, where the members of FIFA’s strategic and decision- 48 assistant referees, representing 42 different countries, for
making body discussed a number of pivotal aspects regarding the FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019™. The journey to
the future of FIFA competitions. In order to continue and the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2019™ began for an initial group
strengthen the consultation process concerning the possibility of female referees and assistant referees from all over the world
of establishing an overhauled FIFA Club World Cup, as well as in September 2015, when FIFA officially started its Road to
a worldwide Nations League, the FIFA Council agreed to set France 2019 women’s refereeing project. As part of this project,
up a task force. This task force will operate under the direction preparatory seminars have taken place over the last three years
of the Bureau of the Council, which consists of the FIFA for referees and assistant referees, focusing on protecting
President and the confederation presidents, and will present players and the image of the game, as well as on consistency in
its proposals at the next FIFA Council meeting, scheduled to interpreting the Laws of the Game. Technical expertise, football
take place in Miami from 14 to 15 March 2019. understanding, fitness and the ability to read the game and
teams’ tactical approaches to each match have been the main
The packed agenda for the gathering in Kigali included decisions topics covered at these seminars.
related to FIFA tournaments scheduled for the upcoming years,
chief among them a 100% increase in prize money for the FIFA The FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019 will be played from
Women’s World Cup France 2019™, as well as the approval of 7 June to 7 July in Grenoble, Le Havre, Lyon, Montpellier, Nice,
the regulations for an invigorated FIFA Forward Development Paris, Reims, Rennes and Valenciennes. The final will take place
Programme over the course of the 2019-2022 cycle. in Lyon on Sunday, 7 July 2019.
The complete list of match officials is available here:
https://bit.ly/2Ca4u1p
42 / FIFA 1904Vastly experienced German
referee Bibiana Steinhaus is one
of the officials appointed for the
FIFA Women’s World Cup 2019™.
Matthias Kern / Getty Images
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involving passengers from around the world.FIFA/COCA-COLA WOMEN´S WORLD RANKING
Rank Team + / – Points Rank Team + / – Points Rank Team + / – Points Rank Team + / – Points
1 USA 0 2123 55 Slovenia -1 1424 109 Cook Islands 1159 Cyprus ** 1120
2 Germany 0 2057 56 Belarus -3 1423 110 Solomon Islands -5 1153 Armenia ** 1104
3 France 1 2046 57 Venezuela -3 1421 111 Georgia -5 1138 Guinea ** 1077
4 England -1 2021 58 Trinidad and Tobago -6 1414 112 Luxembourg -3 1136 Eritrea ** 1060
5 Canada 0 2006 59 Turkey 1 1410 113 Samoa 1130 Gabon ** 1052
6 Australia 0 1999 60 IR Iran -2 1408 114 Zambia 2 1119 Sri Lanka ** 971
7 Netherlands 3 1987 61 Northern Ireland 0 1398 115 Mongolia 1118 Pakistan ** 926
8 Japan -1 1984 62 India -3 1395 116 Ethiopia -5 1117 Syria ** 921
9 Sweden 0 1976 63 Ecuador -1 1393 117 Suriname -5 1113 Liberia ** 877
10 Brazil -2 1964 64 Israel -1 1392 118 Singapore -11 1093 Iraq ** 873
11 Korea DPR 0 1938 65 Peru 0 1380 119 Nicaragua -6 1092 Kuwait ** 870
12 Spain 0 1920 66 Greece 1 1376 120 Burkina Faso -6 1062 British Virgin Islands ** 867
13 Norway 0 1902 67 Bosnia and Herzegovina 1 1370 121 FYR Macedonia -6 1056 Qatar ** 864
14 Korea Republic 0 1880 68 Côte d’Ivoire 1 1363 122 American Samoa -5 1047 Cayman Islands ** 849
15 China PR 0 1871 69 Azerbaijan 1 1360 123 Kosovo -5 1035 Belize ** 825
16 Italy 1 1859 70 Equatorial Guinea -16 1356 124 Tajikistan -5 1031 Bhutan ** 771
17 Denmark -1 1842 71 Kazakhstan 0 1351 125 Bangladesh 1009 Burundi ** 519
18 Switzerland 0 1832 72 Fiji 9 1350 126 Namibia -6 1006 Gambia * 1183
19 New Zealand 1 1819 73 Haiti -1 1349 127 St Lucia -6 992 Cambodia * 1069
20 Scotland -1 1810 74 Philippines 0 1347 128 St Kitts and Nevis -6 989 Central African Republic * 1056
21 Belgium 2 1803 Uruguay -1 1347 129 Bermuda -6 987 Timor-Leste * 981
22 Iceland 0 1798 76 Bulgaria -1 1340 130 Barbados -6 984 Togo * 962
23 Austria -2 1797 77 Hong Kong 0 1330 131 Tanzania -6 976 Niger * 891
24 Ukraine 1 1728 78 Albania -2 1325 132 Maldives -6 960 Comoros * 837
25 Russia 1 1713 79 Morocco -1 1300 133 St Vincent and the Grenadines -6 956 Macau * 813
26 Colombia 1 1700 80 Guatemala 1288 134 Lebanon 943 Libya * 761
27 Mexico -3 1698 81 Guam 1 1282 135 Kenya -6 921 Turks and Caicos Islands * 704
28 Finland 3 1672 82 Faroe Islands 2 1272 136 Dominica -6 913 Anguilla * 697
29 Thailand -1 1670 83 Algeria -3 1271 137 Rwanda -6 896
Wales 0 1670 84 Indonesia -5 1270 138 Grenada -6 892
** Inactive for more than 18 months and therefore not
31 Czech Republic 1 1668 85 Mali 4 1267 139 Afghanistan -6 884 ranked.
32 Portugal 1 1665 86 Tonga 1249 140 US Virgin Islands -6 874 * Provisionally listed due to not having played more
than five matches against officially ranked teams.
33 Republic of Ireland -3 1663 87 Senegal -2 1245 141 Uganda -6 873
34 Poland 1 1656 88 Guyana -2 1244 142 Mozambique -5 867
35 Vietnam 1 1638 89 Malaysia -2 1243 143 Lesotho -5 850
36 Argentina 1 1631 90 New Caledonia 1239 144 Malawi -5 837
37 Costa Rica -3 1630 91 Bolivia -2 1232 145 Eswatini -5 804
38 Chile 1 1601 92 United Arab Emirates -1 1230 146 Antigua and Barbuda -5 784
39 Nigeria -1 1586 93 Latvia -1 1224 147 Botswana -5 755
40 Chinese Taipei 0 1577 Cuba -5 1224 148 Curaçao -5 752
41 Romania 2 1549 95 Moldova -2 1222 149 Andorra -5 747
42 Serbia 0 1543 96 Montenegro -2 1220 150 Aruba -5 742
43 Hungary 2 1524 97 Tahiti 1218 151 Madagascar -5 693
44 Myanmar 0 1519 98 Estonia -3 1213 152 Mauritius -5 358
45 Slovakia 1 1509 99 Congo -3 1196 Uzbekistan ** 1557
46 Cameroon 3 1499 100 Zimbabwe -3 1192 Tunisia ** 1313
47 Paraguay 1 1494 101 Malta -3 1187 Bahrain ** 1278
Last updated: 7 December 2018
48 South Africa 2 1480 102 El Salvador -2 1179 Laos ** 1273
49 Papua New Guinea 1479 103 Lithuania -2 1176 Egypt ** 1256
50 Ghana -3 1452 104 Puerto Rico -1 1175 Honduras ** 1152
51 Croatia -1 1446 105 Dominican Republic -3 1169 Angola ** 1134
52 Jordan 5 1442 106 Palestine -7 1167 Kyrgyz Republic ** 1134
53 Jamaica 11 1436 107 Vanuatu -3 1161 Sierra Leone ** 1132
54 Panama 12 1433 108 Nepal 0 1160 Congo DR ** 1132
http://www.fifa.com/worldranking
FIFA 1904 / 45FIFA/COCA-COLA MEN’S WORLD RANKING
Rank Team + / – Points Rank Team + / – Points Rank Team + / – Points Rank Team + / – Points
1 Belgium 0 1727 57 Ecuador 0 1382 113 Bahrain 0 1178 169 Fiji 0 981
2 France 0 1726 58 Finland 0 1378 114 Zimbabwe 1 1175 170 Moldova 0 979
3 Brazil 0 1676 59 Bolivia 0 1374 115 Sierra Leone 1 1172 171 St Lucia 0 976
4 Croatia 0 1634 60 Albania 0 1372 116 Philippines -2 1171 172 Cambodia 0 970
5 England 0 1631 61 Burkina Faso 0 1371 117 Mozambique 0 1167 173 Grenada 0 968
6 Portugal 0 1614 62 Slovenia 0 1369 118 Thailand 0 1160 174 Cuba 0 963
7 Uruguay 0 1609 62 Honduras 0 1369 119 Kazakhstan 1 1159 175 Chad 0 956
8 Switzerland 0 1599 64 Mali 0 1363 120 Tajikistan -2 1158 176 Bermuda 0 952
9 Spain 0 1591 65 Côte d’Ivoire 0 1356 120 Guinea-Bissau 1 1158 177 Guyana 3 951
10 Denmark 0 1589 66 Guinea 0 1354 122 New Zealand 0 1157 178 Dominica -1 950
11 Argentina 0 1582 67 Algeria 0 1347 123 Togo 0 1136 179 Puerto Rico -1 948
12 Colombia 0 1575 68 FYR Macedonia 0 1343 124 Chinese Taipei 0 1134 180 St Vincent and the Grenadines -1 946
13 Chile 0 1565 69 Saudi Arabia 0 1335 125 Angola 0 1131 181 Liechtenstein 0 937
14 Sweden 0 1560 70 El Salvador 0 1327 126 Antigua and Barbuda 0 1126 182 Malta 0 926
14 Netherlands 0 1560 71 Panama 0 1326 127 Sudan 0 1120 183 Macau 0 925
16 Germany 0 1558 72 South Africa 0 1325 127 Turkmenistan 0 1120 184 Laos 0 923
17 Mexico 0 1540 72 Cape Verde Islands 0 1325 129 Nicaragua 0 1119 185 São Tomé and Príncipe 0 920
18 Italy 0 1539 74 Syria 0 1322 130 Malawi 0 1115 186 Bhutan 0 917
19 Wales 0 1525 75 Uganda 0 1320 131 Kosovo 0 1113 187 Aruba 0 916
20 Poland 0 1518 76 China PR 0 1317 132 Latvia 0 1112 188 Mongolia 0 915
20 Peru 0 1518 76 Belarus 0 1317 133 Andorra 0 1111 189 Seychelles 0 911
22 Austria 0 1509 78 Canada 0 1314 133 Lithuania 0 1111 190 Cook Islands 0 908
23 Senegal 0 1505 79 United Arab Emirates 0 1309 135 Yemen 0 1106 190 American Samoa 0 908
24 Romania 0 1501 80 Curaçao 0 1306 136 St Kitts and Nevis 0 1105 192 Guam 0 907
25 USA 0 1497 81 Lebanon 0 1296 137 Rwanda 0 1094 192 Bangladesh 0 907
26 Tunisia 0 1493 82 Oman 1 1295 138 Tanzania 0 1087 194 Gibraltar 0 905
27 Slovakia 0 1483 83 Zambia -1 1292 139 Myanmar 0 1085 195 Brunei Darussalam 0 903
28 Ukraine 0 1482 84 Congo 0 1280 139 Burundi 0 1085 196 Timor-Leste 0 900
29 IR Iran 0 1481 85 Gabon 0 1277 141 Hong Kong 0 1078 197 Samoa 0 896
29 Serbia 0 1481 86 Luxembourg 0 1276 141 Eswatini 0 1078 197 Djibouti 0 896
31 Venezuela 0 1478 86 Cyprus 0 1276 143 Comoros 0 1076 199 Pakistan 0 888
32 Paraguay 0 1476 88 Iraq 0 1271 144 Solomon Islands 0 1073 200 Montserrat 0 887
33 Republic of Ireland 0 1474 89 Georgia 0 1269 145 Botswana 0 1071 201 Sri Lanka 0 886
34 Bosnia and Herzegovina 0 1472 90 Israel 0 1265 146 Lesotho 0 1069 202 US Virgin Islands 0 881
35 Northern Ireland 0 1465 91 Kyrgyz Republic 0 1264 147 Afghanistan 0 1068 203 Cayman Islands 0 874
36 Costa Rica 0 1464 92 Trinidad and Tobago 0 1260 148 Equatorial Guinea 0 1063 204 Tonga 0 868
37 Iceland 0 1452 93 Qatar 0 1258 149 Guatemala 0 1061 204 Eritrea 0 868
38 Scotland 0 1446 94 Benin 0 1257 150 Liberia 0 1051 204 Somalia 0 868
39 Turkey 0 1443 95 Uzbekistan 0 1251 151 Ethiopia 0 1049 207 British Virgin Islands 0 867
40 Morocco 0 1440 96 Estonia 0 1242 152 Maldives 0 1046 208 Turks and Caicos Islands 0 864
41 Australia 0 1436 97 India 0 1240 153 Suriname 0 1037 208 Anguilla 0 864
42 Czech Republic 0 1435 98 Faroe Islands 0 1238 154 Dominican Republic 0 1036 210 Bahamas 0 858
43 Greece 0 1428 99 Palestine 0 1236 154 New Caledonia 0 1036 211 San Marino 0 854
44 Nigeria 0 1427 100 Vietnam 0 1229 156 Mauritius 0 1022
44 Montenegro 0 1427 101 Mauritania 0 1222 157 Tahiti 0 1020
46 Bulgaria 0 1425 101 Armenia 0 1222 158 Kuwait 0 1018
46 Norway 0 1425 103 Haiti 0 1219 159 Indonesia 1 1003
48 Russia 0 1424 104 Libya 0 1217 160 Belize 1 1002
49 Congo DR 0 1420 105 Kenya 0 1210 161 Nepal 1 1001
50 Japan 0 1414 106 Madagascar 0 1209 162 Barbados -3 998
Last updated:
51 Hungary 0 1412 107 Azerbaijan 0 1206 163 Vanuatu 0 996 20 December 2018
51 Ghana 0 1412 108 Niger 0 1205 164 South Sudan 0 994
53 Korea Republic 0 1405 109 Korea DPR 0 1196 165 Singapore 0 991
54 Jamaica 0 1404 109 Jordan 0 1196 166 Gambia 0 986
55 Cameroon 0 1394 111 Namibia 0 1191 167 Malaysia 0 985
56 Egypt 0 1393 112 Central African Republic 0 1180 168 Papua New Guinea -1 984 http://www.fifa.com/worldranking
46 / FIFA 1904You can also read
