The USWNT returned to the top of the FIFA world rankings after a 12-month absence after winning Olympic gold in Paris.

The United States rose from fifth place to the top of the rankings, replacing world champions Spain, who had fallen to third place after finishing fourth at the Games.

England climbed from third to second place and Germany, bronze medallists in Paris, remain fourth.

France has lost the most places, falling from second to tenth place after losing to Brazil in the Olympic quarter-finals.

Sweden moved up one place to complete the top five, and Canada rose from eighth to sixth place.

The United States was knocked off the top spot in the FIFA world rankings last August after being eliminated in the round of 16 of the 2023 World Cup. This was the first time the team had not topped the world rankings since March 2017.

In March, the United States dropped to fourth place – the first time the team has fallen out of the top three since the rankings began in 2003. They then dropped to fifth place in June.

New head coach Emma Hayes led the USA to Olympic gold in its major tournament debut at Paris 2024. Hayes’ team defeated Brazil 1-0 in the final, putting the USWNT atop the Olympic podium for the first time since London 2012.

The USA are the biggest climbers in the latest round of FIFA rankings, along with Ecuador and Nicaragua, who also rose four places each.

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(Franck Fife/AFP via Getty Images)