Emma Hayes' USWNT reclaim top spot in FIFA world rankings after winning Olympic gold

Winning Gold in Paris at the 2024 Olympic Games is now paying dividends in other ways for Emma Hayes' squad. FIFA announced Friday that the U.S. women's national team are now back at the top of its world rankings.

After dropping from third to fifth in June's edition of rankings - the lowest the U.S. have ever been since FIFA's introduction of the system - the USWNT are back at No. 1 for the first time in 12 months.

Under the guidance of Hayes, who has only been in charge of the program since late May, the U.S. reclaimed the top spot in world rankings after a 1-0 victory over Brazil in the gold medal match in Paris.

With that came the team's fifth gold and seventh overall medal of the Olympic Games. The U.S. have not been ranked No. 1 by FIFA since June, 2023.

England's Lionesses have also moved to the No. 2 spot in the rankings, while FIFA World Cup-holders Spain dropped two spots into third.

Host nation France dropped eight spots in the rankings, from second to 10th, the largest movement between any side in the rankings.

The USWNT return to action this October, when they take on Iceland and Argentina in a pair of international friendlies.