Brazil will go to this year’s World Cup as the top-rated team after extending its lead over second-place Belgium in the latest FIFA rankings released Thursday.
Brazil won its two warm-up games in September — against Ghana and Tunisia — while Belgium lost to the Netherlands in one of its two Nations League games.
Argentina stayed at No. 3 and 2018 World Cup champion France is still at No. 4.
The World Cup in Qatar starts on November 20.
Host Qatar will be the 50th-ranked team, just ahead of No. 51 Saudi Arabia. Ghana will be the lowest ranked team at No. 61.