MUSCAT: The International football governing body, Fifa, announced on Thursday the latest Fifa World Ranking for December 2023. Red Warriors remained in the same position as they were placed in the 74th spot with 1,324 points and it was almost the similar in the previous year as the Sultanate of Oman football team stayed in the 75th position with 1,321 points. Oman’s best spot in the Fifa World Ranking was back to 2004 as the team had managed to be in the 50th spot internationally and in the 8th position in the Asian continent under supervision of the coach Milan Macala.
The national team is currently undergoing a training camp in Abu Dhabi under watchful eyes of Croatian coach Branko Ivankovic. The team is eyeing a good show in the upcoming AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023. Red Warriors will play two friendly games against China on December 29 and meet UAE on January 6, 2024. At the Asian Cup, Oman are in Group F with Saudi Arabia, Thailand and Kyrgyzstan teams.
At the global level and following one year after winning the Fifa World Cup Qatar 2022, Argentina reserved the top spot in 2023 with 1,855 points while the World Cup runners-up France are positioned second with 1,845 points and England are third with 1,800 points. For the rest spots up to 13, there has been no significant movement. Panama registered a historical record in this year as they rose 20 spots over the course of the year despite that they stayed at the same position in the 41st place with 1,475 points.
Ahead of the Asian showpiece of AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023 in Doha in next January, favourites Japan will be ranked as the top Asian side. The Samurai Blue managed to remain in the 17th spot with 1,620 points. Iran came second in Asia with 1,565 points at 21st spot internationally while South Korea are in 23rd spot with 1,550 points. The hosts of AFC Asian Cup and Asian Cup defending champions Qatar came sixth in Asia and at 58th position globally with 1,407 points.
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