Harambee Stars register drop in FIFA rankings
By Collins Amanga, October 26, 2023
Kenya Football National Team, Harambee Stars, have experienced a drop in their position in the most recent FIFA rankings.
Stars have dropped from 109th to 110th with a total of 1186.85 points.
Harambee Stars fall
This drop followed a four-place decline in the previous month’s rankings. Harambee Stars’ historical best ranking was 68th, while their lowest position was 137th, with an average ranking of 102.
This decline comes despite recent performance, including a 2-2 draw against Russia, which is currently banned by FIFA from international football due to its invasion of Ukraine.
Harambee Stars only recently returned to international action after their FIFA suspension was lifted. They have played matches against Iran, participated in a four-nation tournament in Mauritius, and faced Qatar, South Sudan, and Russia.
Harambee Stars in FIFA events
Looking forward, Harambee Stars are gearing up for the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, where they have been placed in Group F. They will compete against Seychelles, Burundi, Gambia, Gabon, and Côte d’Ivoire.
The first leg of these qualifiers is scheduled for November 13 to November 21, 2023. Group winners in this competition will secure direct qualification to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, while the four best runners-up will advance to the CAF Play-Off tournament, where one team will earn a spot in the World Cup.
This marks a significant return for the Kenyan national team to CAF and FIFA competitions after a year-long suspension, and they are eager to make their presence felt on the international stage.
In the FIFA rankings, Argentina continues to hold the top spot, with France and Brazil following in second and third place, respectively. Argentina, the winners of the FIFA World Cup in 2022, played two qualifiers for the next edition, with captain Lionel Messi leading the charge. France has been performing strongly, securing a spot in the 2024 European Championship and registering wins against the Netherlands and Ireland. Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal has also made progress, climbing two spots to sixth.
The FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking underwent a significant change in August 2018 when FIFA introduced a new model called “SUM.” This model calculates rankings by adding or subtracting points gained or lost for each game in comparison to the previous point totals. The relative strength of opponents plays a crucial role in determining these points, with the expectation that higher-ranked teams should perform better against lower-ranked teams.