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Article continues belowArticle continues belowArticle continues below<script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script><ul><li>USWNT end 2024 as No. 1 in FIFA rankings</li><li>Emma Hayes' squad won gold at Paris Games</li><li>England fall out of top three</li></ul>

USWNT finish 2024 as FIFA No. 1 after Paris Gold in 2024 Summer Olympics and undefeated run under Emma Hayes

SheBelieves Cup

Japan

Following a summer capped by Olympic gold and a 20-match undefeated streak, the U.S. women's national team ends 2024 atop <a href="https://inside.fifa.com/fifa-world-ranking/women" target="_blank">FIFA's international rankings</a>, released Friday.It has been four months since FIFA’s last update, and Emma Hayes’ squad has cemented its place at the summit. In her first year as head coach, the Englishwoman led the team to a 13-0-2 (W-L-D) record across all competitions, highlighted by two strong performances in their November-December camp - <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-us/lists/uswnt-player-ratings-netherlands-alyssa-naeher/blt11973446d09494c7" target="_self">where they defeated the Netherlands 2-1 </a>and drew<a href="https://www.goal.com/en-us/lists/uswnt-player-ratings-england-naomi-girma-emma-hayes/blt43e0d5f24ee0bb63" target="_self"> England 0-0.</a>

WHAT HAPPENED?

Elsewhere in the rankings, reigning World Champions Spain sit second, while Germany surpassed England to take the final spot in the top-three for the calendar year.Rounding out the top 10 are the Lionesses at No. 4, Sweden at No. 5, Canada at No. 6, Brazil at No. 7, Japan at No. 8, Korea DPR at No. 9 and the Netherlands at No. 10.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

In June's edition of the rankings prior to the Paris Games, the <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-us/lists/uswnt-lionesses-tumble-fifa-womens-world-ranking-spain-remain-top/bltb47325c4ab2d7d90" target="_self">USWNT had fallen all the way down to fifth place</a> - their second-consecutive drop in the rankings after a disappointing showing at the 2023 FIFA World Cup.Since, though, they've claimed the top spot in both August, and now, December.

DID YOU KNOW?

Emma Hayes' squad returns to the pitch in February for the SheBelieves Cup, where they will play Colombia, Australia and Japan. Until then, the players and staff alike are taking a break away from the field before returning in 2025.

WHAT NEXT FOR THE USWNT?

USWNT finish 2024 as FIFA No. 1 after Paris Gold in 2024 Summer Olympics and undefeated run under Emma Hayes | Goal.com

Emma Hayes&apos; USWNT have ended 2024 on top of FIFA&apos;s international rankings after claiming Olympic gold

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