Serbia Falls to 44th in FIFA Ranking After Six Losses
Veljko Paunovic's side slipped from 40th to 44th in FIFA's live projection. Serbia last ranked lower in June 2017.
In October 2022, Serbia sat 21st in the FIFA world ranking. In October 2026 it stands 44th, more than twice as low. After the latest international break, the team coached by Veljko Paunovic dropped four places from 40th.
FIFA updates the standings of all national teams live on its official website, and that display shows Serbia’s new position. As Sport Klub reports, this is a live projection, not an officially published edition of the ranking. The placing will become official once all matches played during the break are verified.
What is behind the drop?
A run of defeats. Serbia has lost six matches in a row, four of them competitive. The first two came this summer, ahead of the World Cup: 3-0 against Cape Verde and 5-1 against Mexico.
Losses to Greece, Germany and, twice, the Netherlands followed, the second one away from home. We reported on the 2-1 defeat to the Netherlands, when Paunovic was unhappy with the refereeing.
In the Nations League, the team played four matches and lost every one. It scored three goals and conceded eight, a goal difference of 3-8. Three goals in four games is less than one per match, while eight conceded averages two.
How bad is 44th place by historical standards?
Not the worst, but the lowest in nine years. Serbia was last ranked lower in June 2017, when it held 50th place. The all-time low came in September 2015, at just 66th, so the current position is 22 places better than that bottom.
Compared with October 2022 and 21st place, the fall is 23 positions. The team’s number on the list has more than doubled.
Who sits around Serbia on the list?
Directly above is Scotland in 43rd, one place higher. Cameroon, Greece, DR Congo and Wales are also ranked above Serbia. Greece is among them, and Serbia lost to them during this run.
Right behind Serbia are Slovakia, Panama, Mali, South Africa and Venezuela. Because this is a live projection, the number 44 should be read as the current standing until it is verified.
For a team that was 21st four years ago, six straight defeats and four lost Nations League matches go a long way toward explaining the slide. The final placing will be known once FIFA confirms all results from the break.
