Belgium risks being overtaken by the Netherlands in the FIFA rankings

In the twilight of the King Baudouin Stadium, the Red Devils conceded a late goal to France. Michael Olise scored the only goal in the 88th minute, sealing a 0‑1 defeat that costs Belgium 5.17 points in the live FIFA ranking.

Points lost and reduced lead

The defeat cost the Red Devils 5.17 points, while the Netherlands, victorious 2‑1 in Serbia, regained 3.81 points. According to the FIFA ranking updated on September 29, Belgium still occupies eighth place with 1,779.63 points, just ahead of the Netherlands with 1,778.65 points, a gap of 0.98 point.

Upcoming fixtures and stakes

The the Oranje will travel on Thursday evening to Thessaloniki to face Greece in the Nations League, while the Red Devils will only play on Friday against Turkey in Sclessin. Coach Mark van Bommel, at the helm of the Oranje, will look to consolidate his team's progress. A Dutch victory in Greece could allow the Netherlands to temporarily overtake Belgium in the live ranking, but Belgium will be able to respond the next day against Turkey.

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When the last official FIFA ranking was published on July 20, Belgium had a lead of 2.82 points over the Oranje. The next official ranking will be published on October 7, leaving suspense about the final position of the two nations.

The tweet that circulated shows the Belgian and French flags accompanied by the abbreviation FRA, reminding that Belgium's loss brings the two countries within less than a point of each other. This situation highlights the volatility of the FIFA ranking, where each result can change the ranking by a few tenths.