Russia will be the worst ranked team when it hosts the World Cup next summer, marking the first time in history when the host nation has the lowest ranking of all the tournament participants.
The Russian national squad is now ranked 65 in the FIFA ranking. It qualified automatically as the tournament host.
The next lowest ranked teams are Saudi Arabia in 63rd, South Korea in 62nd, first-time World Cup participant Panama in 49th and Morocco in 48th.
As hosts, Russia was automatically placed into the first seeding pot for the draw, which takes place on Dec. 1. The first pot is reserved for the highest-ranked participants, including Germany which holds top spot and Brazil in second place.
If the World Cup was not held in Russia, the country’s team would be in the fourth seeding pot among the weakest teams.
The qualification for the international tournament wrapped up on Nov 16, with Peru becoming the last team to make the 32 finalists that will compete in Russia when it hosts the World Cup from June 14 to July 15 next year.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
