Arr, the USWNT be walkin' the plank, say farewell to their spot atop FIFA world rankings after a World Cup blunder.
2023-08-25
Arrr! The lasses o' the United States women's national team were ousted from their perch atop FIFA's world rankings by none other than Sweden! 'Tis a rare sight, mateys, as the USWNT hath not seen a day without bein' the No. 1 fer over six long years!
The United States women's national team (USWNT) has lost its top spot in FIFA's world rankings, falling to third place. This comes after Sweden defeated the USWNT in the round of 16 at the 2023 World Cup. It is the first time the US team has dropped out of the top two in the FIFA rankings since their introduction in 2003. Spain now holds the second spot, with England and France completing the top five.The USWNT's fall from the top spot is a result of their disappointing performance at the World Cup, where they experienced their earliest exit after winning the tournament in 2015 and 2019. In the match against Sweden, they lost 5-4 in penalties, with Megan Rapinoe missing her kick. Sweden ultimately emerged victorious in the matchup.
Following their elimination, the USWNT faced criticism from various sources, including analysts Carli Lloyd and Alexi Lalas, and even former President Donald Trump. Co-captain Lindsey Horan admitted that the team did not get the best out of every player during their preparations for the tournament.
In response to their World Cup exit, coach Vlatko Andonovski resigned from his position. Andonovski had been the head coach since 2019. The USWNT will now have to regroup and work towards reclaiming their position at the top of the rankings.
Overall, it is a significant blow to the USWNT to lose their top spot in the world rankings. However, they have proven in the past that they are capable of bouncing back from setbacks and achieving success. Time will tell how this setback will impact their future performances on the international stage.