After finishing 2022 in the 167th place, Malta ended 2023 in the 172nd place in the Coca-Cola/FIFA World Rankings.

In 2023, Malta played ten matches, winning two friendly matches against Luxembourg away from home and at home against Gibraltar, losing the eight games in the EURO 2024 qualifiers

In Europe, Malta is ranked 52nd. Lying just ahead of Malta is Moldova (155) and Andorra (164) while lying behind Malta are Gibraltar (201), Liechtenstein (203) and San Marino (210).

Malta is due to play friendly matches in March and May/June before the UEFA Nations League commitments in September, October and November. The draws for the UEFA Nations League will be held on February 8.

Meanwhile, a year on from tasting glory at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™, Argentina (1st) are still on top of the world as 2023 draws to a close. France (2nd) and England (3rd) round off the year-end podium and there has been no significant movement in the top 13.

Following victories over Venezuela (50th, down 1) and Mexico (15th, down 1), Colombia (14th, up 1) have leapfrogged the Mexicans in the standings. Despite their drop, the Venezuelans can take heart from having clung on to their place in the year-end top 50.

Though Panama’s ranking remains unchanged this month (41st, up 83.92 points), Los Canaleros can pride themselves on having made the largest leap in 2023, having risen 20 spots over the course of the year. The next biggest climbers compared to 2022 are Moldova (155th, up 19 places and 63.72 points) and Malaysia (130th, up 15 places and 56.27 points).