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Article continues belowArticle continues belowArticle continues below<script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script><ul><li>USWNT knocked out of World Cup by Sweden</li><li>Drop to third in world rankings</li><li>Sweden take top spot ahead of Spain</li></ul>

Six-year reign over! USWNT slip out of top two in FIFA world rankings for the first time after disastrous 2023 Women’s World Cup campaign

The United States have dominated the women’s game in recent times, with back-to-back global crowns secured in 2015 and 2019. They were, however, to endure a <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/womens-world-cup-2023-groups-fixtures-results-knockout-stage-final/blt20718e348f22d7ce" target="_blank">disastrous defence of that prize at the 2023 World Cup</a> – as they suffered a <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/watch-millimetres-var-penalty-drama-uswnt-out-world-cup-megan-rapinoe-sophia-smith-kelley-o-hara-shootout/blt30e2f2eb2f07c6c5" target="_blank">shock defeat to Sweden in the round of 16</a>.

WHAT HAPPENED?

That setback has seen them <a href="https://www.fifa.com/fifa-world-ranking/women?dateId=ranking_20230825" target="_blank">tumble from the summit of the world rankings</a> and into third place – with this the first time since records began in 2003 that they have not occupied a top-two standing. Sweden have replaced them as the best side on the planet, with World Cup winners Spain moving into second. <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/lionesses-england-overachieved-womens-world-cup-final-disappointment/blt7ec003da8292be40" target="_blank">England, who were beaten finalists in Australia and New Zealand</a>, sit fourth.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

The USWNT have topped the charts since June 2017 and are, along with Germany, one of only two sides to have filled the No.1 spot prior to Sweden climbing the rankings. They have spent a total of 5,715 days in first place, more than three times as many as 2003 and 2007 World Cup winners Germany (1,701).

AND WHAT'S MORE

The U.S. had been <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/like-sick-joke-for-me-megan-rapinoe-reacts-missing-crucial-penalty-final-uswnt-outing/blt8058ea1e765e6543" target="_blank">looking down on the rest of the world</a> for 75 months prior to the latest ranking update, with that run seeing them fall narrowly short of beating their own record for time spent at No.1 – which currently stands at 81 months between March 2008 and December 2014.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

Six-year reign over! USWNT slip out of top two in FIFA world rankings for the first time after disastrous 2023 Women’s World Cup campaign | Goal.com

The USWNT have slipped out of the top two in the FIFA world rankings for the first time, with their six-year reign in the No.1 spot coming to an end.