U.S. Drops to 28, Brazil to 18, in Final 2012 FIFA Ranking

FIFA on Wednesday released its end-of-year international rankings, which saw World and European champion Spain complete a full year at the summit, while Brazil plummeted to No. 18 and the UnitedStates fell one spot to No. 28.

Brazil’s steady fall has had much to do with the fact that it is only playing non-competitive games, but a miserable November saw the Selecao lose toArgentina, which remains at No. 3, and draw with Colombia, which rose to No. 5.

Spain is first, while Germany is No. 2, Italy is No. 4, England is No. 6, and then Europe fills every placethrough Switzerland at No. 12. Ivory Coast is Africa’s highest-ranking country at No. 14, Mexico is No. 15, and Japan leads Asia at No. 22.