News / Sports

Team Melli maintains place as Asia’s best in fresh FIFA rankings

Saturday, 13 August 2016 2:34 PM [ Last Update: Saturday, 13 August 2016 2:34 PM ]

Iran's national football team

The national Iranian men’s soccer team has maintained its position as the best Asian squad in the latest edition of FIFA rankings, and nestled in the world’s 39th spot.

According to the latest monthly rankings released by the world’s soccer governing body on Thursday, the Iranian team, domestically known as Team Melli, accumulated 647 points and stayed put as the top soccer outfit in Asia.

Other Asian teams were South Korea, which upheld its position and claimed the 48th slot in the latest FIFA rankings with 609 points, followed by Japan and Uzbekistan, which landed in the 49th and 55th places respectively with 595 and 560 points.

Japan climbed eight positions in the global rankings of national soccer teams, and Uzbekistan moved up one.

Argentina remains the top-ranked soccer team in the world, with 1,585 points.

Belgium earned 1,401 points to win the second position, while third-place Colombia collected 1,331 points. Germany also maintained its place and stood fourth with 1,319 points.

Iran national football team departed Tehran for the Italian capital city of Rome on Saturday to hold a 12-day camp in Coverciano, also known as Casa Italia.

Carlos Queiroz men are slated to face newly-promoted Serie B side SPAL on August 19, four days before taking on Serie B youth XI team.

Team Melli is preparing for its opening match at the third round of AFC matches for 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification on September 1, when it will play against the national Qatari men’s soccer team at Azadi Stadium in western Tehran.

The Persians will face China five days later at Shenyang Olympic Sports Center Stadium in the northeastern Chinese city of Shenyang.

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