U.S. still tops women's soccer rankings

NYON, Switzerland, March 12 (UPI) -- The United States, coming off a win at the Algarve Cup, remained atop the FIFA world women's soccer rankings released Friday.

The U.S. team defeated world No. 2 Germany 3-2 in the cup final this month, solidifying its hold on the FIFA top spot. The United States has topped the rankings, released about every three months, since December 2007.

The U.S. women gained 17 ratings points since the previous rankings release and totaled 2,227 points. Germany has 2,158 points and Brazil (2,124) and Sweden (2,064) are third and fourth, respectively.

The only changes in the Top 10 involved two teams moving up one spot each into ties with other teams. Japan gained five points and is tied with North Korea for fifth at 2,015 points. Norway (1,991) remained in seventh.

France picked up one point, enough to tie England, which lost eight points, for eighth at 1,969. Canada (1,947) jumped from 12th to 10th but Denmark (1,941), China (1,937) and Italy (1,933) are all right behind.

FIFA rating points are determined over three years of matches, with later matches and games against higher-ranked opponents more heavily weighted. The next FIFA world women's ranking is to be released May 28.