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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Soccer: Spain ends year No. 1 in world rankings; U.S. No. 14


Associated Press

ZURICH — Spain has been ranked No. 1 in the year-end FIFA standings for the second straight year.

In rankings published Wednesday, the European champion maintained the leading status it took over last month from South American champion Brazil.

The Netherlands and world champion Italy stayed third and fourth as the top 10 remained unchanged.

Cameroon leads the African nations at No. 11, the United States tops the CONCACAF region at No. 14 and Australia heads the Asian confederation at No. 21.

World Cup qualifier New Zealand drops five places but still leads Oceania at No. 82.

Algeria, which also will play in the World Cupnext year, continued its rise to No. 26 — its best since the rankings were launched in 1993.