The Rank bank and hope for the hosts

Rank Analysis (As per data 09/06/23)

25 games banked and, generally, the higher ranked teams are holding true to their prominence. There have been 16 cases in which the higher ranked team has triumphed over lower ranking teams...but there has been a fair few anomalies. On four occasions, lower ranked teams have defeated higher ranking teams and on five occasions lower ranked teams have scuppered a draw.

Probability of higher ranked team beating lower ranked team: 64%

Probability of lower ranked team drawing with higher ranked team (or vice versa): 20%

Probability of lower ranked team beating higher ranked team: 16%

The highest ranked team is USA (1)

The lowest ranked team is Zambia (77)

The anomalies  

Of the four occasions in which lower ranked teams have prospered, three of which have, surprisingly, involved the host nations:

New Zealand (26) 1-0 Norway (12) - 14 ranked places the difference

New Zealand (26) 0-1 Philippines (46) - 20 ranked places the difference

Colombia (25) 2-0 South Korea (17) - 8 ranked places the difference

Australia (10) 2-3 Nigeria (40) - a massive 30 ranked places the difference

Of the five occasions in which higher/lower ranked teams have drawn:

Nigeria (40) 0-0 Canada (7) - a huge 33 places the difference

France (5) 0-0 Jamaica (43) - a whopping 38 places the difference

Switzerland (20) 0-0 Norway (12) - 8 ranked places the difference

USA (1) 1-1 Netherlands (9) - 8 ranked places the difference

Argentina (28) 2-2 South Africa (54) - a substantial 26 ranked places the difference

Hope for the hosts

Though the host nations have taken the biggest statistical defeats, it IS worth remembering that the mens World Cup in 2022 was won by an Argentine side - ranked #3 - that was defeated by Saudi Arabia in the group stages; ranked a monumental 48 places lower. Where there is shock...there is often awe.   

Obituaries - 4

Republic of Ireland (22)

Costa Rica (36)

Zambia (77)

Vietnam (32)

*Morocco (72) are now the lowest ranked side still in the competition. 28 teams remain.