Zambia’s Copper Queens have dropped five places to 70th in the latest FIFA/Coca-Cola Women’s World Rankings released on Tuesday, 20 October 2026, slipping from their previous position of 65th in the June update.
The latest ranking reflects a difficult period for the Zambian women’s national team, who endured a disappointing group-stage exit at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) before suffering a 2-1 defeat to Uganda in the first leg of their second-round qualifier for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
However, the Copper Queens responded in the return leg on 13 October, defeating Uganda 4-1 in Lusaka to secure a 5-3 aggregate victory and advance to the third round of Olympic qualifying. Despite that recovery, Zambia have slipped in the latest global standings and remain behind several African rivals.
Nigeria are Africa’s highest-ranked side in the latest update, sitting 43rd globally, while South Africa occupy 59th place. WAFCON champions Cameroon have climbed to 62nd, followed by Morocco in 64th and Ghana in 65th, leaving Zambia sixth among the African teams listed in these positions.
The rankings come at an important stage for the Copper Queens as they look to rebuild momentum following their WAFCON disappointment and build on their progress in the Olympic qualifiers. Their next international assignments will provide opportunities to improve their standing and strengthen their position on the global stage.
At the top of the rankings, Spain have consolidated their position after an impressive October international window against the United States. The reigning world champions defeated the Americans 2-0 in Washington, DC, before playing out a 2-2 draw in Chester, Pennsylvania, extending their lead at the summit to almost 80 points.
The United States remain second, with Germany in third place, followed by England and Japan to complete the global top five.
Malawi were among the biggest movers in the latest rankings, climbing an impressive 49 places to reach 104th in the world following their remarkable run to the 2026 WAFCON final. Although the Scorchers lost the title decider to Cameroon, their continental campaign secured qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil, marking their first appearance at the tournament.
Cameroon also enjoyed a rise, moving up nine places to 62nd after claiming the continental title. Their progress underlines the impact of their WAFCON triumph on their position in the global rankings.
Elsewhere, Denmark returned to the world’s top 10 for the first time in 16 years, climbing two places to 10th after drawing 1-1 with Canada before winning their second friendly 4-3. Slovenia also moved up two places to a record-high position of 36th following their progress in the European qualifying play-offs for the 2027 Women’s World Cup.
For Zambia, the five-place drop represents a setback in the rankings, even as the team continues its pursuit of Olympic qualification. The Copper Queens will now look to turn their recent victory over Uganda into renewed momentum as they prepare for the challenges ahead.
