FIFA Ranking - October 2024 - Sneak Peek

Hi everyone, with this quick post I just wanted to show the intention to keep this site alive by taking a sneak peek at the FIFA ranking for October 2024 and of course to say a big thank you to what Ed did for us and on this site. Also a big thanks to Margot for making it possible for this site to be continued and allowing me access to publish.

While it wasn't customary for Ed to publish the ranking before FIFA (maybe there was a reason?), but as I have been calculating it myself for years and years, I think even due to this site, I thought this would be the easiest to start with.

With there having been very few friendlies, and with me not currently having any reason to suspect any of those will be excluded, I don't expect the ranking that will be published on 24 October to be very different from the following.

There's not many big changes in the top 20 apart from Uruguay (L-D) down 3 places and Switzerland (L-D) down 2 places. Other notables: Greece (W-W) up 18 points and 6 places, Tunisia (L-D) down 11 places, Côte d'Ivoire (W-L) down 7, and besides Greece, good upset wins for Bolivia and Peru (1-0 versus Colombia, and 1-0 versus Uruguay respectively).

On the UEFA 2026 World Cup qualifying front there's seemingly no changes, with the Netherlands being in danger of missing the quarter finals, but they should still get one of the 4 FIFA ranking places behind England and Belgium, with Switzerland and Denmark probably vying for the last seeding place.

Finally, with this post I reluctantly start a new era, but I hope it will continue in the same spirit as before. Please give me some time to get my software up-to-date (I had to build in a quick "copy" function this afternoon to produce the table below) and to go through what Ed has been doing over the past years. As I had suggested on this site earlier, if you're interested and have content to publish here, I'm happy to do that together with others, so feel free to contact me.

Pos   Country                          Points    +/-      +/-

  1   Argentina                        1883.50     0    -5.52

  2   France                           1859.85     0     7.93

  3   Spain                            1844.33     0     7.91

  4   England                          1807.83     0    -9.45

  5   Brazil                           1784.37     0    12.35

  6   Belgium                          1761.27     0    -6.87

  7   Portugal                         1752.68     1     0.54

  8   Netherlands                      1748.24    -1   -11.71

  9   Italy                            1729.40     1     3.09

 10   Colombia                         1724.37    -1   -14.34

 11   Germany                          1703.59     2    11.39

 12   Croatia                          1701.36     0     1.76

 13   Morocco                          1681.57     1     5.44

 14   Uruguay                          1680.37    -3   -20.97

 15   Japan                            1645.09     1     5.49

 16   Mexico                           1640.67     1     5.00

 17   Switzerland                      1631.38    -2    -9.62

 18   United States                    1630.97     0    -1.22

 19   Iran                             1627.58     0     4.66

 20   Senegal                          1627.13     1     6.26

 21   Denmark                          1617.34    -1    -4.37

 22   South Korea                      1589.93     1    17.32

 23   Austria                          1589.17    -1     8.80

 24   Australia                        1552.77     1     8.47

 25   Ukraine                          1552.37    -1     4.08

 26   Türkiye                          1548.15     0     9.63

 27   Ecuador                          1536.32     0     0.89

 28   Sweden                           1530.41     0     2.23

 29   Wales                            1528.96     0     2.43

 30   Egypt                            1526.25     1    10.60

 31   Poland                           1523.19    -1    -1.89

 32   Hungary                          1519.33     0     8.28

 33   Serbia                           1511.16     2     6.08

 34   Russia                           1508.73     0     0.00

 35   Canada                           1507.27     3     4.97

 36   Nigeria                          1503.29     3     5.27

 37   Algeria                          1496.94     4    10.90

 38   Peru                             1494.24     5    11.03

 39   Panama                           1493.80    -2    -8.75

 40   Côte d'Ivoire                    1493.57    -7   -15.55

 41   Slovakia                         1489.88     1     3.99

 42   Greece                           1487.42     6    18.25

 42   Romania                          1487.22     3     5.82

 44   Venezuela                        1482.47    -4    -6.09

 45   Czechia                          1480.39     1     7.20

 46   Qatar                            1478.60    -2    -3.09

 47   Tunisia                          1478.52   -11   -26.34

 48   Norway                           1473.50    -1     1.34

 49   Cameroon                         1472.12     4    13.60

 50   Costa Rica                       1465.57     0    -0.51

 51   Scotland                         1461.34     1    -0.41

 52   Slovenia                         1459.59    -1    -3.39

 53   Chile                            1455.22    -4   -12.76

 54   Mali                             1454.84     0    -0.32

 55   Paraguay                         1440.78     2    16.80

 56   Iraq                             1434.40    -1    -1.51

 57   Democratic Republic of Congo     1431.30     1    14.40

 58   Uzbekistan                       1429.26     2    16.20

 59   Saudi Arabia                     1422.67    -3   -10.49

 60   South Africa                     1415.98    -1     0.91

 61   Jamaica                          1405.36     0     2.41

 62   Burkina Faso                     1399.80     1    12.30

 63   Ireland                          1395.61    -1     0.98

 64   Jordan                           1380.75     4     3.22

 65   Albania                          1379.29     2     1.38

 66   Finland                          1374.58    -2    -9.78

 67   Georgia                          1365.56    -1   -12.65

 68   United Arab Emirates             1361.34     1   -15.88

 68   North Macedonia                  1361.01     4     9.83

 70   Iceland                          1353.18     1    -2.57

 71   Northern Ireland                 1345.06     2     5.42

 72   Cape Verde Islands               1340.87    -7   -38.30

 73   Ghana                            1338.73    -3   -21.70

 74   Bosnia and Herzegovina           1324.43     1    -7.96

 75   Montenegro                       1323.20    -1    -9.49

 76   Bahrain                          1313.80     0    -1.70

 77   Honduras                         1312.66     0     1.36

 78   Guinea                           1312.45     4    14.16

 78   Bolivia                          1312.36     5    18.61

 80   Oman                             1305.99    -2    -3.28

 81   Israel                           1303.65    -2    -4.14

 82   Angola                           1298.75     3    17.66

 83   El Salvador                      1297.99    -3    -9.05

 84   Bulgaria                         1295.11    -3    -7.57

 85   Gabon                            1294.11    -1     1.23

 86   Haiti                            1283.67     0     5.11

 87   Uganda                           1269.79     3    12.15

 88   Equatorial Guinea                1266.68     6    16.11

 89   Luxembourg                       1262.08    -2     0.13

 90   Curaçao                          1260.87    -2    -0.51

 91   New Zealand                      1258.11     4    11.03

 92   China                            1257.29    -1     3.52

 93   Syria                            1252.19    -1    -0.73

 94   Zambia                           1251.83    -1    -0.95

 95   Benin                            1250.96    -6    -6.72

 96   Thailand                         1231.75     4     8.70

 97   Belarus                          1231.10     0     2.03

 98   Mozambique                       1229.01     1     2.98

 99   Armenia                          1222.74    -3    -7.69

100   Palestine                        1218.43    -2   -10.56

100   Kosovo                           1218.22     4    12.26

102   Trinidad and Tobago              1214.81    -1     1.56

103   Kyrgyzstan                       1207.08     2     5.97

104   Guatemala                        1201.34     3     0.92

105   Tajikistan                       1196.98    -2   -11.03

106   Kenya                            1195.36    -4   -13.60

107   Kazakhstan                       1186.46     2    -6.75

108   Comoros                          1185.98    10    26.34

109   Madagascar                       1180.00    -1   -16.56

110   Sudan                            1176.20    10    21.70

111   North Korea                      1175.14     0    -7.87

112   Tanzania                         1173.84    -2   -14.40

113   Namibia                          1173.81    -8   -27.50

114   Mauritania                       1168.43    -2   -10.60

115   Lebanon                          1167.49     0     0.00

116   Guinea-Bissau                    1166.34    -1     0.32

117   Zimbabwe                         1162.48     7    27.50

118   Azerbaijan                       1161.80    -5   -11.36

119   Vietnam                          1161.11    -3    -0.27

120   Congo                            1159.42    -3    -0.91

121   Sierra Leone                     1149.81     4    15.55

122   Libya                            1148.70    -1    -5.27

123   Togo                             1147.91    -4   -10.90

124   Estonia                          1145.52    -2     5.13

125   India                            1133.78     1     0.27

126   Rwanda                           1130.04     4     6.72

127   Cyprus                           1127.51    -4    -9.55

128   Gambia                           1125.62     7    16.56

129   Central African Republic         1125.26    -1    -5.44

130   Indonesia                        1118.87    -1    -5.30

131   Niger                            1114.73    -4   -17.66

132   Nicaragua                        1114.28    -1    -3.76

133   Malaysia                         1113.92    -1    -3.72

134   Malawi                           1111.16    -1    -6.26

135   Kuwait                           1106.42    -1    -5.20

136   Surinam                          1105.29     2    10.90

137   Latvia                           1093.82     0    -4.15

138   Faroe Islands                    1091.52     2     2.01

139   Burundi                          1089.49    -3   -12.30

140   Botswana                         1088.45     7    38.30

141   Lithuania                        1082.36    -2    -8.53

142   Dominican Republic               1071.88     4    14.13

143   St. Kitts and Nevis              1069.25    -2     1.00

144   Turkmenistan                     1065.42     0     0.00

145   Philippines                      1053.09     2     3.06

146   Fiji                             1051.41     4    13.12

147   Solomon Islands                  1050.99    -3   -13.12

148   Ethiopia                         1049.28    -3   -14.16

149   Liberia                          1048.86    -6   -16.11

150   Moldova                          1040.83    -1    -1.98

151   Afghanistan                      1034.37     0     0.00

152   Lesotho                          1032.79     0    -1.23

153   Puerto Rico                      1021.62     0     0.00

154   Yemen                            1021.24     0     0.00

155   New Caledonia                    1020.83     5    11.91

156   Antigua and Barbuda              1020.58    -5   -14.13

157   Vanuatu                          1015.52     5    10.02

158   Hong Kong                        1015.10    -1    -2.56

159   Tahiti                           1009.52    -1    -7.31

160   Eswatini                         1009.19    -1    -2.98

161   Guyana                           1008.68    -5   -11.30

162   Singapore                        1008.26     0     0.00

163   Maldives                         1003.48     0     0.00

164   St. Lucia                         997.86     0     0.00

165   Myanmar                           992.51     2     3.53

166   Cuba                              990.18    -1    -1.56

167   Bermuda                           986.53     3    13.19

168   Taiwan                            985.66    -2    -5.68

169   Malta                             980.50     2     8.61

170   Andorra                           977.96    -1    -3.74

171   Papua New Guinea                  972.32    -3   -11.91

172   South Sudan                       955.67     0   -12.15

173   Barbados                          955.21     2    11.11

174   St. Vincent and the Grenadines    954.86     0     9.05

175   Grenada                           947.22    -2     0.51

176   Nepal                             935.93     0     0.00

177   Chad                              933.39     0     0.95

178   Mauritius                         927.57     0     0.00

179   Belize                            925.02     3    11.60

180   Montserrat                        924.14     0     0.00

181   Cambodia                          921.20    -1     1.50

182   Bhutan                            904.06     0     0.00

183   Dominica                          903.54    -2   -13.19

184   Brunei                            900.75    -1    -6.08

185   Bangladesh                        896.71     0     0.00

186   Samoa                             890.77    -1   -10.02

187   Laos                              889.62     0     0.00

188   Mongolia                          883.57     0     0.00

189   American Samoa                    883.17     0     0.00

190   São Tomé and Príncipe             878.09     0     0.00

191   Cook Islands                      877.53     0     0.00

192   Djibouti                          875.13     0     0.00

193   Macao                             871.52     0     0.00

194   Cayman Islands                    866.71     1     9.34

195   Aruba                             863.29    -1    -5.11

196   Eritrea                           855.56     0     0.00

197   Timor Leste                       850.83     0     6.08

198   Gibraltar                         848.32     1     5.92

199   Pakistan                          842.59     0     0.00

200   Tonga                             835.64     0     0.00

201   Liechtenstein                     834.15     3     6.96

202   Seychelles                        831.19     0     0.00

203   Somalia                           829.81     0     0.00

204   Sri Lanka                         827.86    -3    -3.53

205   Guam                              821.91     0     0.00

206   Bahamas                           818.58     0     1.33

207   Turks and Caicos Islands          803.98     0     1.17

208   British Virgin Islands            780.30     1   -10.33

209   US Virgin Islands                 779.71    -1   -12.44

210   Anguilla                          769.31     0   -12.77

211   San Marino                        737.04     0    -9.01

I'm ready to pass this blog on to others. @Homer and @dopeisland: could you mail me at margot.lagendijk@gmail.com. I'm not familair with this blog to get in contact with you another way. 

thanks, Margot

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About me:

Software engineer, happily unmarried and non-religious. You won't find me on Twitter or other so called social media. Dutchman, joined the blog in March 2018.

I'm very sorry to let you know that Ed Jägers died unexpectedly on the 19th of august 2024. Therefore there won't be anymore football blogs. If anyone wants to take over, please contact margot.lagendijk@gmail.com.

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About me:

Software engineer, happily unmarried and non-religious. You won't find me on Twitter or other so called social media. Dutchman, joined the blog in March 2018.

FIFA ranking: September 2024 probable ranking

Here is the probable September 2024 ranking, to be published on Thursday September 19th. In the September window we see a varied menu of matches:

- the 12 qualification groups for the AFCON 2025 in Morocco start with the first two match days;

- the CONCACAF Nations League 2024/2025 starts with the first two match days for the groups in leagues A and B and even a third match day in the 3-team groups in league C;

- in the qualification for the AFC Nations Cup 2027 in Saudi Arabia the third stage is played: 3 home-and-away play-offs between the stage 1 losers;

- in World Cup 2026 qualification Asia starts with stage 3, a group stage with 3 groups of 6 teams. The first two match days in a total of 10 are played (until June next year). The group winners and runners-up qualify for the World Cup. Group numbers 3 and 4 progress to stage 4;

- in World Cup 2026 qualification South America continues where they left off last November: match days 7 and 8 in a total of 18 match days are played (until September next year). Group numbers 1 to 6 in the final  group standing qualify for the World Cup, number 7 qualifies for the IPO;

- in World Cup 2026 qualification Oceania starts with stage 1, two one-off semi-finals and a final between the 4 lowest ranked OFC-teams. The winner qualifies for stage 2;

- the UEFA Nations League 2024/2025 starts with the first two match days for all groups in all leagues;

- several friendlies (partly in tournament form like the Merdeka tournament in Malaysia and the Intercontinental Cup in India).

After the window there is a home-and-away play-off scheduled between Brunei Darussalam and Timor-Leste, to qualify for the South East Asian Championship 2024.

FIFA ranking: September 2024 probable results

Here are the probable results of all 199 played and currently scheduled matches up to and including September 15th, used to calculate the September 2024 probable ranking. The results are generated using elo ratings. Also the already played matches since July 15th, (probably) counting for the September ranking, are presented.

Qualification World Cup 2026: 10.000 simulations (August 2024)

In the upcoming September window four new tournaments will start. Here is the last simulation report in a series of four, regarding the qualifications for the World Cup 2026.

In the qualification tournaments for the World Cup 2026 Asia has progressed to stage 3, a group stage consisting of 3 groups of 6 teams each. The draw of the groups was held on June 27th with seedings based on the June 2024 FIFA ranking. This stage is played in a double round robin format, with 2 match days in each of the September, October, November 2024 plus the March and June 2025 windows.

The group winners and runners-up of each group (6 teams in total) qualify for the World Cup. The group numbers three and four qualify for the next stage 4. Asia has 8 direct berths in 2026.

UEFA Nations League 2024/25: 10.000 simulations (August 2024)

In the upcoming September window four new tournaments will start. Here is the third simulation report in a series of four, regarding the UEFA Nations League 2024/25.

In this competition there are 4 leagues. Leagues A to C consist of 4 groups with 4 teams per group. League D consists of two groups of 3 teams. All groups are played in a double round-robin format.

The group stage of this competition will be played on six matchdays in the September, October and November windows. In March next year the new introduced quarterfinal round with 4 home-and-away play-offs between the winners and runners-up of the 4 league A groups will be played, with group winners drawn against a runner-up from another group and playing the second leg at home. The draw for all play-offs is on November 22nd. The winners of the quarter finals advance to the Final Four in June 2025.

CAF Nations Cup 2025 qualification: 10.000 simulations (August 2024)

In the upcoming September window four new tournaments will start. Here is the second simulation report in a series of four, regarding the CAF Nations Cup 2025 qualification.

The CAF Nations Cup 2025 will be played next year in Morocco. Once again the original scheduling of the AFCON in the Summer needs adjustment. This time it's not the expected weather conditions in the host country, but FIFA's expanded Club World Championship next Summer that's forcing the reschedule. The 'normal' alternative (January/February 2026) was further compromised because of the expansion of the league stage of UEFA's Champions League and Europa League with two extra match days ultimo January. The final dates were after ample deliberations therefore set to December 21st 2025 to January 18th 2026.

CONCACAF Nations League 2024/25: 10.000 simulations (August 2024)

In the upcoming September window four new tournaments will start. Here is the first simulation report in a series of four, regarding the CONCACAF Nations League 2024-2025, played until March next year.

The CONCACAF Nations League 2024-25 is the fourth edition of the CNL and will have the same format as the previous edition, played only a year ago:

- league A consists of 16 teams, with the top 4 (according to the CONCACAF ranking of March 2024: Mexico, USA, Panama and Canada) receiving a bye to the quarterfinals. The other 12 teams were drawn on May 6th in two groups of 6, where they will play 4 matches (2 home and 2 away) in a pre-determined schedule against some other group opponents. The numbers one and two from each group play the home-and-away quarter finals against one of the four top dogs in November. The quarter final winners qualify for the Final Four, to be played in March 2025.

- league B consists of 16 teams in 4 groups of 4. They will play a double round-robin against all other group opponents in the September, October and November windows.

- league C consists of the remaining 9 CONCACAF members. They will play in 3 groups of 3 in a double round-robin, with 3 match days in each of the September and October windows.

The matches per FIFA window in leagues B and C will be played in centralized venues to minimize the chance of travelling problems in the Caribbean region.

FIFA ranking: July 2024 final preview

FIFA will publish the July ranking next Thursday July 18th.

I have included the forfeited WC-qualifier Congo - Niger. There is yet no decision taken by FIFA regarding the postponed WC-qualifier Cuba - Cayman Islands, so I excluded that one from this preview.

This weekend there are still 3 matches to be played: tonight the third place play-off Canada - Uruguay in the Copa America 2024 and tomorrow the two continental finals, in the Copa Argentina - Colombia and in the EURO 2024 Spain - England.

FIFA ranking: July 2024 probable ranking (II)

Here is the probable July 2024 ranking, to be published on Thursday July 18th. All results up until yesterday July 2nd are included. Still scheduled matches are: 

- EURO 2024, quarter finals and beyond;

- the Copa America 2024, the knock-out phase starting with the quarter finals;

- the last group stage matches in the COSAFA Cup 2024, plus the knock-out phase, starting with the semi finals.

The postponed WC qualifier Congo-Niger has last week indeed been awarded 0:3 to Niger, because of a no-show of Congo on June 6th in Kinshasa (Congo DR). This match is also included in this second ranking preview.

FIFA ranking: July 2024 probable ranking

Here is the probable July 2024 ranking, to be published on Thursday July 18th. At least, that's what I expect since FIFA doesn't publish a schedule of publication dates of rankings on their site anymore. It contains the matches in the upcoming three final continental tournaments and the last preparatory friendlies for teams from CONMEBOL and CONCACAF: 

- EURO 2024, starting tomorrow with host Germany versus Scotland;

- the OFC Nations Cup 2024, starting Saturday with host Vanuatu versus Solomon Islands. From this 8-team tournament New Caledonia has recently withdrawn, due to the ongoing political unrest in the French overseas territory;

- the Copa America 2024, starting June 20th with Argentina - Canada.

This preview is calculated with elo-predicted results for all 103 currently played and scheduled and according to my method included matches. See the probable results for a list of which scheduled matches are currently included.

FIFA ranking: July 2024 probable results

Here are the probable results of all 103 played and currently scheduled matches up to and including July 14th, used to calculate the July 2024 probable ranking. The results are generated using elo ratings. Also the already played matches since June 12th, (probably) counting for the July ranking, are presented.

FIFA ranking: June 2024 final preview

FIFA will publish the June ranking next Thursday June 20th. I expect yesterday June 11th though as the deadline for this ranking instead of the normal June 16th.

I have excluded both postponed WC-qualifiers Congo - Niger and Cuba - Cayman Islands from this preview, because there's yet no decision taken by FIFA regarding these cases.

This ranking will be used as seeding ranking for the draw of the third stage in Asian qualification for the World Cup 2026, scheduled for June 27th.

UEFA EURO 2024 simulations (May 2024)

The UEFA EURO 2024 will be played between June 14th and July 14th in Germany. It's a 24-team tournament in the now known format with 6 groups of 4 teams and with, besides the group numbers one and two, the four best group numbers three also progressing to the first knock-out round, the round of 16.

The complete tournament schedule plus already scheduled friendlies with UEFA teams involved in the June window are simulated.

Qualification World Cup 2026 10.000 simulations (May 2024)

In the qualification tournaments for the World Cup 2026 Asia plays the final two matchdays for their first group stage in the upcoming June window. The 18 group winners and runners-up of the 9 groups qualify for stage 3 of Asian qualification: another group stage with 3 groups of 6 teams to start  this Autumn, playing a full 10MD-long double round robin schedule to conclude in June next year. Draw for this stage will probably be done somewhere in July with seeding based on the June 2024 ranking.

Africa continues in June their 10 MD-long group stage with match days 3 and 4, while North and Central America and the Caribbean starts with the first two match days in their only 4MD-long single round robin stage 2 group stage.

FIFA ranking: June 2024 probable ranking

Here is the probable June 2024 ranking, to be published on Thursday June 20th. In the upcoming June window matches will be played for:

- match days 5 and 6 (to a finish) in the groups for AFC World Cup 2026 qualification stage 2;

- match days 1 and 2 in the groups for CONCACAF World Cup 2026 qualification stage 2;

- match days 3 and 4 in the groups for CAF World Cup 2026 qualification stage 1;

- lots of preparatory friendlies for the continental finals starting mid June: EURO, Copa America and OFC Nations Cup.

There are a few uncertainties around this ranking.

FIFA ranking: June 2024 probable results

Here are the probable results of all 192 played and currently scheduled matches up to and including June 11th, used to calculate the June 2024 probable ranking. The results are generated using elo ratings. Also the already played matches since April 1st, (probably) counting for the June ranking, are presented.

FIFA ranking: April 2024 final preview

FIFA will publish the April ranking next Thursday April 4th. I expect the cancelled Asian World Cup qualifier between Korea DPR and Japan in Pyongyang to be awarded 0:3 to Japan and to be included into this ranking.

With regard to the continental final tournaments this Summer the final qualification berths were divided as follows:

- Poland, Ukraine and debutant Georgia qualified for the EURO;

- Samoa qualified for the OFC Nations Cup;

- Costa Rica and debutant Canada qualified for the Copa America.

The US of A won for the third consecutive time the CONCACAF Nations League Final Four.

FIFA ranking: April 2024 probable ranking

Here is the probable April 2024 ranking, to be published on Thursday April 4th. A very diverse offering of matches in the upcoming March window:

- match days 3 and 4 in the groups for AFC World Cup 2026 qualification;

- CONCACAF World Cup 2026 qualification starts with the stage 1 home-and-away play-offs between the 4 lowest ranked CONCACAF teams;

- the three qualification play-off paths for the EURO 2024 with two one-off semi finals and a final in each path;

- the two one-off qualification play-offs for the Copa America 2024, played in the USA;

- a three-team qualifier group for the OFC Nations Cup 2024, played in Tonga;

- qualification for the AFCON 2025 starts with preliminary play-offs between the eight lowest ranked African teams;

- the Final Four in the CONCACAF Nations League 2024, played in the USA;

- the two-legged play-off between Lithuania and Gibraltar, deciding which team remains in league C and which team relegates to league D of the UEFA Nations League 2024/25;

- lots of friendlies, both singularly scheduled and in tournament form, with the prototype of the new FIFA Series staged in 4 countries.

FIFA ranking: April 2024 probable results

Here are the probable results of all 161 played and currently scheduled matches up to and including March 31st, used to calculate the April 2024 probable ranking. The results are generated using elo ratings. Also the already played matches since February 12th, (probably) counting for the April ranking, are presented.

Qualification World Cup 2026 10.000 simulations (March 2024)

In the qualification tournaments for the World Cup 2026 only Asia continues their group stage in the upcoming March window. Africa and South America have a break until respectively June and September. 

North and Central America and the Caribbean will start their qualification campaign with a first stage this March, consisting of two home-and-away play-offs between the four lowest ranked teams. The two winners will progress to stage 2 and join the 28 teams who got a bye, in a group stage with a single round robin format, starting in June. The draw for the first two stages was staged last January with a seeding based on the December 2023 ranking.

UEFA EURO 2024 simulations (March 2024)

In 2024 five of the six confederations have scheduled their continental championship for national teams. Here's the fifth and last in this series of simulation reports: Europe.

The UEFA EURO 2024 will be hosted by Germany. It's a 24-team tournament in the now known format with the four best group numbers three also progressing to the first knock-out round, the round of 16.

Qualified already are 21 teams (the host plus the group numbers one and two of ten qualification groups). The final 3 berths are determined this March in three play-off paths, in two one-off semi finals and a final per path. Compared to the EURO 2020 qualification play-offs league D no longer has it's own path, which I consider a logical thing to do.

Copa America 2024 simulations (February 2024)

In 2024 five of the six confederations have scheduled their continental championship for national teams. Here's number four in this series of simulation reports: North, Central and South America.

The Copa America 2024 was initially intended as the continental championship of South America, edition number 48 of this oldest continental championship in the football world. However, in January 2023 a new strategic partnership was signed between CONMEBOL and CONCACAF and with that came a second combined 'Copa of the Americas' (after the Copa America Centenario in 2016). Again 6 CONCACAF teams (besides the 10 CONMEBOL members) were able to qualify for the tournament. It will be hosted by the United States. It is yet unknown if this one is the first of a combined Americas Cup from now on.

OFC Cup of Nations 2024 simulations (February 2024)

In 2024 five of the six confederations have scheduled their continental championship for national teams. Here's number three in this series of simulation reports: Oceania.

The OFC Cup of Nations 2024 is the first continental final tournament in 8 years. The 2020 edition was first postponed and later in 2021 completely cancelled because of the strict COVID-19 measures in the Pacific island area. New Zealand was appointed to host that version.

The 2024 version now is hosted in Vanuatu and will be played from 15 to 30 June 2024. A separate qualification stage in March is played in Tonga between the four lowest ranked OFC-nations in the December 2023 ranking. This to decide one team that qualifies for the group stage proper.

Of the 4 lowest ranked teams American Samoa withdrew, so a single round robin group stage is played between Samoa, Cook Islands and host Tonga.

FIFA ranking: February 2024 final preview

FIFA will publish the February ranking this Thursday February 15th. The Asian and African Cup of Nations, played last month in Qatar and Cote d'Ivoire respectively, both left their mark on this ranking.

The Asian Cup was won by host Qatar yesterday for a second consecutive time. In the final against Jordan they needed three penalties (all correctly given, according to people who saw the match) to win 3:1.

The African Cup (with a buck load of surprises throughout the month) will see the final tonight between host Cote d'Ivoire and Nigeria. This is how the points and positions of both teams could change in the ranking:

	CIV			NGA
result	pts	pos		pts	pos
CIV win	1494,515	39		1522,195	28
CIV PSO win	1484,515	42		1522,195	28
NGA PSO win	1474,515	44		1530,298	27
NGA win	1472,618	45		1540,298	26

Elo predicts a draw after extra time with the host prevailing after a penalty shoot-out.

FIFA ranking: February 2024 probable ranking

Here is the probable February 2024 ranking, to be published on Thursday February 15th. No upcoming international window, but instead two continental championships in Asia and Africa to be played until then. The Asian Cup of Nations 2023 and the African Cup of Nations 2023, both originally scheduled for last summer, will start next weekend. A large batch of preparatory friendlies is already underway.

FIFA ranking: February 2024 probable results

Here are the probable results of all 151 played and currently scheduled matches up to and including February 11th, used to calculate the February 2024 probable ranking. The results are generated using elo ratings. Also the already played matches since December 18th, (probably) counting for the February ranking, are presented.