China advances into top 50 in FIFA ranking

World soccer governing body, FIFA, has released its latest rankings on September 1. China rose to 48th place with 572 points, 3 ranks up from August.

Top 10 teams remain unchanged since few A-level international games were held in the past month, when the Athens Olympics took center stage. China Radio International reported Thursday.

Brazil tops the table, while France and Spain stand the 2nd and 3rd.

This is the second consecutive month in which Ari Haan's squad has been upgraded. In August, they were promoted 13 positions, from 64th to 51st, thanks to great performances in the Asian Cup, in which they clinched the runner-up spot behind Japan.

Japan still leads Asian soccer, ranking 18th with 695 points, followed by powerhouses Iran and South Korea in the 21st and 23rd positions respectively.

Source: China Radio International