Sitting less than 15 places behind New Zealand at 162nd in the world is the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ Qualifiers – OFC Stage 1 winners Samoa, who have made a 34 position leap up the standings.
American Samoa are sitting in the region’s third spot just two places behind their Samoan neighbours after moving 35 places up the standings and they’re followed by Cook Islands who have flown up 39 spots – both nations achieving their highest ever position in the world rankings.
The three nations, along with Tonga and Gabon, have been the most active national sides in the latest rankings cycle with three matches each.
New Caledonia round out the regional top five at 169th in the world while 2012 OFC Nations Cup champions Tahiti have reclaimed their place behind their fellow Francophones after Fiji fell eight positions to 189th.
Despite playing three matches during the recent Stage 1 qualifiers, Tonga’s three successive losses has seen them drop further down the rankings to 200, where they sit ahead of Vanuatu at 201 and Papua New Guinea at 206.
The latest FIFA World Rankings were released on Thursday 1 October.
To view the full FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking for OFC click here.

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