The Persians are 51in the world and fourth in Asia, with 578 points. Australia is the best Asian team with 862 points followed by Japan (753) and South Korea (746).
In the leading pack, the Netherlands (4th, down 2) slipped out of the top three for the first time since June 2010. Climbers Germany (2nd, up 1) and Uruguay (3rd, up 1) are now the closest challengers to leaders Spain (1st, unchanged). The third-place ranking of ‘La Celeste’ is the country’s highest ever in its long and successful football history.