World Rankings 2026 Update - Ukraine, Australia stay atop respective tables

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

IFCPF Releases Updated Men’s and Women’s World Rankings as Pathways to the 2026 World Cups Take Shape

AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS (FEB. 2, 2026) -- The International Federation of CP

Football (IFCPF) has published its updated Men’s and Women’s CP Football World Rankings, reflecting results from sanctioned international and regional competitions and providing an accurate snapshot of current national team performance.

The IFCPF World Rankings are maintained to:

- provide a realistic comparison of national teams

- support seeding and qualification pathways for international tournaments

- recognise worldwide participation and development

- promote CP Football at a global level

Ranking Updates

Across both the men’s and women’s rankings, several nations have recorded changes in position following recent international and regional competition, highlighting the increasing competitiveness and depth of CP Football across all

regions.

In the Men’s World Rankings, the top three remain unchanged, with Ukraine and Iran maintaining their respective positions inside the top two after regional tournament wins in 2025. England has claimed sole position of fourth after reaching the final of the

IFCPF Men’s Euros, while the United States of America will enter its home Men’s World Cup in sixth after its triumph at the IFCPF Copa América in Uruguay.

Despite losing the IFCPF Women’s Intercontinental Cup Final in August, Australia remains the top-ranked women’s team in the world. The Netherlands has displaced Ireland inside the top four with its fourth-place finish in Loughborough, with Japan

remaining alongside Australia and the United States inside the top three.

The full rankings are available at:

- Men’s World Rankings: https://www.ifcpf.com/mens-ranking

- Women’s World Rankings: https://www.ifcpf.com/womens-ranking

Pathway to Major International Competition

The updated rankings will inform qualification pathways for IFCPF’s premier

international events.

- The 2026 IFCPF Men’s World Cup will feature the top 16 ranked teams, based on the updated world rankings.

- The 2026 IFCPF Women’s World Cup will be delivered as an invitational tournament, supporting growth, competitive balance, and broader international representation as the women’s game continues to expand

globally.

- In addition, men’s teams ranked 17–32 will compete in the 2026 IFCPF World Championships, providing a critical international platform for emerging and

developing nations.

As IFCPF continues its long-term strategic planning, the strengthening of competitive men’s and women’s programs worldwide remains central to the federation’s vision.

“The World Rankings are more than a snapshot of results - they reflect the strength, depth, and global maturity of CP Football,” said IFCPF CEO Ashley Hammond. “As we build toward the 2026 IFCPF Men’s and Women’s World Cups, these rankings

underscore the quality of competition worldwide and the sport’s readiness to deliver elite, world-class international events.”

Further details regarding host locations and competition dates for the 2026 IFCPF World Championships and IFCPF Men’s and Women’s World Cups will be confirmed and communicated in due course.

Looking Ahead

The IFCPF World Rankings are calculated using a transparent, performance-based points system that recognises results from sanctioned international, regional, and development competitions. Points are accumulated across a rolling four-year cycle,

ensuring the rankings reflect both recent performance and sustained participation at the international level.

With continued expansion across regions and growing participation in both the men’s and women’s game, the rankings underline CP Football’s ongoing development and readiness for the next phase of international competition.

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Note to editors: Interviews will be considered upon request. 

About IFCPF

The International Federation of CP Football (IFCPF) is the global governing body for CP Football, responsible for the regulation, development, and delivery of the sport worldwide. IFCPF oversees international competition pathways across the men’s and women’s

game, including regional championships, World Championships, and the Men’s and Women’s IFCPF World Cups. The federation works in partnership with national federations, member nations, and regional bodies to grow participation, strengthen high-

performance pathways, and deliver elite international events.

Through its governance, competition, and development frameworks, IFCPF is committed to advancing inclusion, opportunity, and excellence in CP Football on a

global stage.

Media Contact:

Rachel Crumbley

International Federation of CP Football

Email: rcrumbley@ifcpf.com

Website: www.ifcpf.com