Spain have predictably climbed to the top of the pile after their World Cup-winning run but the All Whites, who finshed 22nd at the 32-nation finals, are the biggest movers following a pre-tournament friendly win over Serbia and draws against Slovakia, Italy and Paraguay at the cup.
New Zealand’s highest ever ranking is 47th, which came in August 2002 after the All Whites beat Australia 1-0 to win the OFC Nations Cup and qualify for the 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup.
Beaten World Cup finalists the Netherlands rose two spots to second place, overtaking Brazil who fell from first to third.
Germany and Argentina, who improved two places each, round out the top five while Uruguay climb 10 places to sixth after their charge to the World Cup semi-finals.
Italy (11th) drop out of the top 10 while France, another big name to fall at the group stage in South Africa, plummet 12 places to 21st, their lowest ranking in 12 years.
Story courtesy of NZF Media.
For the latest news on NZ Football visit www.nzfootball.co.nz