2 Jul 2009

Brazil regain number one world ranking

6:44 am on 2 July 2009

The newly crowned Confederations Cup football champions Brazil have regained the world number one ranking, improving four places to relegate the European champions Spain to second place followed by the Netherlands and Italy.

Australia have been officially recognised among the world's elite after their ranking soared to a 16th, by far their highest ever ranking, after qualifying for successive World Cups for the first time.

The All Whites have dropped 18 places to number 100.