By Joiner Martinez
The U.S. women’s soccer team returned to the top spot in the FIFA world rankings after winning gold over the weekend at the Paris Olympics.
Mallory Swanson’s goal helped secure the team’s fifth gold medal and first since the 2012 London Olympics with a 1-0 win over Brazil in Saturday’s final.
With this result, the Americans dropped out of fifth place and ended a 12-month absence from first place.
England moved up to second place ahead of Spain, Germany, Sweden and Canada, while Brazil moved up to eighth place.
But the team that had the worst fall was France, which dropped from second to tenth place due to the host nation’s poor performance in the group stage and was eliminated by Brazil in the quarter-finals. It is their lowest position in five years.
Emma Hayes’ return to England as USWNT coach adds a special touch to the matchup, according to The Associated Press. Hayes, known for her successes at Chelsea, will face Wiegman, another of the most respected coaches in women’s soccer. Both were in contention for FIFA’s Best Female Coach award in 2023, with Wiegman narrowly winning.
The USWNT’s rise to the top is great news for women’s soccer. Their journey inspires millions around the world. With their determination and talent, the Americans continue to prove why they are an unstoppable force in the sport.
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