🌍 The Universal Index: Nations

Each country’s national team ranked within its sport, all on one scale since 1946: men’s and women’s football, basketball, rugby union, cricket, ice hockey, handball, volleyball, baseball and athletics. A side’s number is how far it stands above the best eight in its sport that week.

Looking for a nation’s total sporting merit, every sport rolled into one score? See the Zone Zero Cup.

Games through 13 Oct 2026 · history every Tuesday since 1946

Today's board

Every side across all codes, with places moved. Pick a code or a continent to narrow it.

How this is measured

Universal = 1500 + 100 × z, where 1500 is the average of the top eight sides in that sport that week. Arrows show places gained or lost since 13 Oct 2026. Under a code filter the first column is the position within that code and the overall position keeps its own column. The continent is that of the side’s own governing body, so Australia sits in Asia for football, basketball, handball and volleyball and in Oceania for rugby, cricket, ice hockey and baseball.

All codes Men's football Women's football Men's basketball Women's basketball Rugby union Cricket Men's ice hockey Men's handball Men's volleyball Baseball Athletics

ContinentAll Africa Asia Europe North America South America Oceania

Country

Sort by

Spain men's football

–+157 over #2 · #1 overall · 1 in code · last major 2026 · 6 Oct '26

1762

universal

Denmark men's handball

–+171 over #2 · #3 overall · 1 in code · last major 2025 · 30 Jan '26

1715

universal

Spain women's football

–+50 over #2 · #5 overall · 1 in code · last major 2023 · 13 Oct '26

1690

universal

Poland men's volleyball

–+29 over #2 · #9 overall · 1 in code · last major 2018 · 26 Sep '26

1631

universal

Switzerland men's ice hockey

–#12 overall · 2 in code · 31 May '26

1616

universal

Italy men's volleyball

–#15 overall · 2 in code · last major 2025 · 23 Sep '26

1602

universal

Finland men's ice hockey

–#17 overall · 3 in code · last major 2026 · 31 May '26

1591

universal

England men's football

–#18 overall · 3 in code · last major 1966 · 6 Oct '26

1589

universal

Germany men's basketball

–#19 overall · 2 in code · last major 2023 · 30 Aug '26

1587

universal

England cricket

–#23 overall · 3 in code · last major 2022 · 27 Sep '26

1567

universal

France women's basketball

–#24 overall · 2 in code · 13 Sep '26

1565

universal

Ireland rugby union

1#25 overall · 3 in code · 18 Jul '26

1563

universal

Serbia men's basketball

–#27 overall · 4 in code · last major 2002 · 31 Aug '26

1551

universal

France men's volleyball

1#31 overall · 3 in code · last major 2024 · 26 Sep '26

1545

universal

France men's handball

1#32 overall · 2 in code · last major 2020 · 17 May '26

1544

universal

France rugby union

1#33 overall · 4 in code · 18 Jul '26

1543

universal

Spain women's basketball

1#35 overall · 3 in code · 13 Sep '26

1541

universal

Russia men's ice hockeysuspended

–#36 overall · 5 in code · last major 2018 · suspended

1534

universal

France men's football

–#38 overall · 4 in code · last major 2018 · 5 Oct '26

1530

universal

Germany men's handball

–#42 overall · 3 in code · last major 2007 · 30 Jan '26

1522

universal

England women's football

–#43 overall · 3 in code · last major 2025 · 13 Oct '26

1521

universal

Russia men's volleyballsuspended

–#45 overall · 5 in code · last major 2012 · suspended

1512

universal

Great Britain athleticsindividual

–#47 overall · 4 in code · last major 2024 · 21 Sep '25

1505

universal

Russia athleticsindividualsuspended

–#48 overall · 5 in code · last major 2015 · suspended

1503

universal

Belgium women's basketball

–#50 overall · 5 in code · 10 Sep '26

1499

universal


–1	Spain men's football+157 over #2	–1	1762	2344	2026	6 Oct '26
–3	Denmark men's handball+171 over #2	–1	1715	2457	2025	30 Jan '26
–5	Spain women's football+50 over #2	–1	1690	2415	2023	13 Oct '26
–9	Poland men's volleyball+29 over #2	–1	1631	2254	2018	26 Sep '26
–12	Switzerland men's ice hockey	–2	1616	2214	none	31 May '26
–15	Italy men's volleyball	–2	1602	2218	2025	23 Sep '26
–17	Finland men's ice hockey	–3	1591	2195	2026	31 May '26
–18	England men's football	–3	1589	2211	1966	6 Oct '26
–19	Germany men's basketball	–2	1587	2101	2023	30 Aug '26
–23	England cricket	–3	1567	124	2022	27 Sep '26
–24	France women's basketball	–2	1565	2126	none	13 Sep '26
up 125	Ireland rugby union	–3	1563	2133	none	18 Jul '26
–27	Serbia men's basketball	–4	1551	2059	2002	31 Aug '26
down 131	France men's volleyball	–3	1545	2130	2024	26 Sep '26
down 132	France men's handball	–2	1544	2253	2020	17 May '26
down 133	France rugby union	–4	1543	2093	none	18 Jul '26
down 135	Spain women's basketball	–3	1541	2086	none	13 Sep '26
–36	Russia men's ice hockeysuspended	–5	1534	2237	2018	suspended
–38	France men's football	–4	1530	2160	2018	5 Oct '26
–42	Germany men's handball	–3	1522	2219	2007	30 Jan '26
–43	England women's football	–3	1521	2283	2025	13 Oct '26
–45	Russia men's volleyballsuspended	–5	1512	2134	2012	suspended
–47	Great Britain athleticsindividual	–4	1505	2186	2024	21 Sep '25
–48	Russia athleticsindividualsuspended	–5	1503	2220	2015	suspended
–50	Belgium women's basketball	–5	1499	2017	none	10 Sep '26
up 451	Germany women's football	–5	1496	2265	2016	13 Oct '26
down 152	England rugby union	–5	1492	2004	2003	18 Jul '26
down 153	Sweden men's ice hockey	–6	1492	2091	2018	28 May '26
down 154	Croatia men's handball	–4	1492	2177	2004	1 Feb '26
–58	Germany athleticsindividual	–6	1476	2150	2025	21 Sep '25
–59	Italy baseball	–6	1476	1615	none	16 Mar '26
–61	France women's football	–6	1472	2251	none	10 Oct '26
–63	Sweden men's handball	–6	1450	2127	1999	30 Jan '26
–64	Czech Republic men's ice hockey	–7	1449	2027	2024	28 May '26
–65	Portugal men's handball	–7	1449	2126	none	30 Jan '26
–67	Portugal men's football	–5	1445	2104	2016	4 Oct '26
–68	Iceland men's handball	–8	1431	2111	none	1 Feb '26
–71	Scotland rugby union	–6	1424	1908	none	18 Jul '26
–78	Israel baseball	–12	1388	1493	none	10 Mar '26
–79	Norway men's handball	–9	1376	2069	none	16 May '26
up 182	Turkey men's basketball	–6	1358	1970	none	31 Aug '26
–85	France men's basketball	–7	1354	1968	none	30 Aug '26
–86	Slovenia men's volleyball	–8	1353	1965	none	26 Sep '26
–88	Great Britain baseball	–15	1345	1449	none	9 Mar '26
–89	Spain baseball	–16	1344	1457	none	25 Feb '25
–91	Netherlands baseball	–18	1341	1423	none	10 Mar '26
–94	Germany baseball	–19	1336	1411	none	6 Mar '25
–95	Spain men's handball	–10	1335	2042	2013	16 May '26
–96	Czech Republic baseball	–20	1334	1363	none	10 Mar '26
–102	Germany women's basketball	–9	1323	1896	none	13 Sep '26
–105	Hungary women's basketball	–10	1302	1883	none	10 Sep '26
–107	Slovenia men's handball	–11	1288	2010	none	17 May '26
–108	Poland athleticsindividual	–9	1287	2024	2022	21 Sep '25
–109	Sweden women's football	–8	1287	2159	1984	13 Oct '26
–112	Netherlands men's football	–8	1275	2031	1988	4 Oct '26
–113	Slovakia men's ice hockey	–8	1269	1897	2002	26 May '26
–114	Switzerland men's football	–9	1261	2025	0	6 Oct '26
–116	Germany men's volleyball	–10	1244	1875	none	22 Sep '26
–117	Russia women's basketballsuspended	–11	1244	1847	1992	suspended
–119	Lithuania men's basketball	–10	1238	1932	none	31 Aug '26
–122	Hungary men's handball	–13	1233	1977	none	17 May '26
–124	Serbia women's basketball	–13	1230	1836	none	21 Jun '25
–125	Spain men's basketball	–11	1229	1928	2019	31 Aug '26
–126	Italy women's basketball	–14	1225	1827	none	9 Sep '26
–128	Belgium men's football	–10	1220	2009	0	5 Oct '26
–130	Germany men's ice hockey	–9	1207	1873	none	25 May '26
–133	Georgia rugby union	–9	1200	1772	none	15 Mar '26
–134	Serbia men's handball	–14	1200	1941	1986	17 May '26
–135	France athleticsindividual	–11	1197	1998	2025	21 Sep '25
–136	Norway men's ice hockey	–10	1196	1839	none	31 May '26
–137	Belgium men's volleyball	–13	1173	1818	none	23 Sep '26
–138	Bulgaria men's volleyball	–13	1173	1813	none	19 Sep '26
–139	Czech Republic men's volleyball	–13	1173	1749	1966	21 Sep '26
–140	Finland men's volleyball	–13	1173	1740	none	26 Sep '26
–142	Serbia men's volleyball	–13	1173	1768	2000	21 Sep '26
–143	Ukraine men's volleyball	–13	1173	1801	none	20 Sep '26
–145	Romania men's volleyball	–20	1157	1711	none	22 Sep '26
–149	Turkey men's volleyball	–23	1131	1644	none	16 Sep '26
–150	Greece men's volleyball	–25	1123	1641	none	20 Sep '26
–151	Spain men's volleyball	–26	1110	1631	none	5 Sep '23
–152	Latvia men's ice hockey	–11	1099	1808	none	28 May '26
–155	Germany men's football	–13	1080	1954	2014	4 Oct '26
–156	Denmark women's football	–11	1078	2100	none	12 Oct '26
–157	Norway men's football	–14	1077	1952	0	4 Oct '26
–159	Italy men's football	–15	1075	1951	2021	5 Oct '26
–160	Portugal men's volleyball	–28	1070	1605	none	20 Sep '26
–162	Denmark men's ice hockey	–12	1066	1774	none	26 May '26
up 2163	Netherlands women's football	–12	1066	2091	2017	13 Oct '26
down 1165	Italy athleticsindividual	–13	1064	1955	2025	21 Sep '25
–169	Czech Republic women's basketball	–18	1060	1719	none	7 Sep '26
–170	Russia men's handballsuspended	–15	1058	1884	2000	suspended
–171	Latvia men's basketball	–12	1051	1885	none	30 Aug '26
–173	Netherlands men's volleyball	–31	1050	1584	1996	16 Sep '26
–176	Spain athleticsindividual	–14	1047	1937	2025	21 Sep '25
–177	Russia men's basketballsuspended	–13	1046	1882	1988	suspended
–178	Wales rugby union	–12	1045	1673	none	18 Jul '26
–179	Netherlands athleticsindividual	–15	1044	1934	2025	21 Sep '25
up 1182	Austria men's handball	–16	1040	1835	none	17 May '26
up 1183	Switzerland men's handball	–17	1039	1833	none	17 May '26
up 1184	Lithuania women's basketball	–19	1037	1682	none	29 Jun '25
up 1185	Montenegro men's volleyball	–35	1037	1564	none	6 Sep '23
up 1187	Turkey women's basketball	–21	1034	1680	none	7 Sep '26
up 1188	Croatia men's volleyball	–36	1033	1560	none	8 Sep '23
–198	Italy men's basketball	–15	1024	1868	none	31 Aug '26
–199	Croatia men's football	–19	1020	1914	0	6 Oct '26
up 1202	Italy rugby union	–13	1016	1630	none	18 Jul '26
up 1204	Ukraine athleticsindividual	–18	1015	1905	2024	21 Sep '25
up 1205	Austria men's ice hockey	–13	1015	1721	none	26 May '26
down 25206	Italy women's football	down 114	1014	2057	none	13 Oct '26
–207	Estonia men's volleyball	–40	1010	1541	none	17 Sep '26
–208	Portugal rugby union	–14	1009	1621	none	15 Mar '26
–209	Denmark men's football	–20	1008	1905	1992	4 Oct '26
–210	Slovakia men's volleyball	–41	1005	1537	none	17 Sep '26
–211	Netherlands men's handball	–19	1005	1794	none	17 May '26
–212	North Macedonia men's handball	–20	1004	1793	none	17 May '26
–215	Czech Republic men's handball	–21	999	1788	1967	17 May '26
–216	Latvia men's volleyball	–42	997	1528	none	19 Sep '26
–217	Greece women's basketball	–26	993	1613	none	21 Jun '25
–219	Latvia women's basketball	–27	992	1611	none	18 Jun '23
–220	Poland men's handball	–22	992	1779	none	17 May '26
–221	Sweden men's volleyball	–44	988	1519	none	16 Sep '26
–222	Sweden women's basketball	–28	986	1602	none	22 Jun '25
–223	North Macedonia men's volleyball	–45	986	1517	none	16 Sep '26
up 3226	Norway women's football	–15	980	2034	2000	13 Oct '26
down 1227	Slovenia women's basketball	–29	979	1591	none	21 Jun '25
–231	Slovakia women's basketball	–32	972	1580	none	20 Jun '23
–233	Austria men's football	–23	969	1879	0	4 Oct '26
–234	Italy men's handball	–24	969	1752	none	17 May '26
–235	Montenegro women's basketball	–33	966	1572	none	24 Aug '26
–239	Spain rugby union	–15	964	1557	none	15 Mar '26
–240	Greece men's basketball	–16	964	1831	none	31 Aug '26
–242	Switzerland men's volleyball	–50	963	1493	none	15 Sep '26
down 1248	Croatia men's basketball	–17	947	1820	none	30 Aug '26
down 3251	Great Britain women's basketball	–38	944	1536	none	24 Aug '26
252	Faroe Islands men's volleyball	54	943	1465	none	21 Aug '23
255	Hungary men's volleyball	55	941	1463	none	21 Aug '23
256	Cyprus men's volleyball	56	939	1461	none	20 Aug '23
down 6257	Greece men's football	–24	935	1856	2004	4 Oct '26
down 7261	Portugal women's basketball	–41	929	1513	none	22 Jun '25
down 7262	Ireland cricket	–10	927	73	none	15 Aug '26
down 13273	Slovenia men's basketball	–19	918	1802	none	30 Aug '26
down 13277	Sweden athleticsindividual	–20	909	1796	2025	21 Sep '25
283	Azerbaijan men's volleyball	65	900	1421	none	20 Aug '23
284	Israel men's volleyball	66	899	1426	none	16 Sep '26
down 16286	Greece men's handball	–27	899	1672	none	17 May '26
288	Bosnia and Herzegovina men's volleyball	67	895	1415	none	21 Aug '23
down 18292	Belgium athleticsindividual	–21	889	1776	2024	21 Sep '25
down 18295	Russia men's footballsuspended	–30	887	1823	1960	suspended
down 19302	Turkey men's football	–31	878	1817	0	5 Oct '26
down 19304	Sweden men's football	–32	877	1817	0	5 Oct '26
305	Norway men's volleyball	70	877	1396	none	21 Aug '23
down 20307	Czech Republic athleticsindividual	–23	874	1761	2017	21 Sep '25
down 21309	Finland men's basketball	–20	871	1773	none	30 Aug '26
down 22311	Norway athleticsindividual	–24	869	1756	2024	21 Sep '25
down 23318	Montenegro men's handball	–30	866	1634	none	17 May '26
319	Luxembourg men's volleyball	74	864	1384	none	20 Aug '23
down 27327	Faroe Islands men's handball	–32	858	1624	none	16 May '26
down 27328	Slovenia men's ice hockey	–15	856	1558	none	25 May '26
332	Iceland men's volleyball	77	851	1369	none	21 Aug '23
down 30333	Romania rugby union	–20	850	1394	none	15 Mar '26
down 30335	Poland men's basketball	–22	847	1758	none	30 Aug '26
down 30336	Romania men's handball	–34	846	1612	1974	22 Mar '26
339	Denmark men's volleyball	78	845	1369	none	20 Sep '26
down 41354	Scotland men's football	–39	826	1782	0	6 Oct '26
363	Israel women's basketball	61	815	1336	none	18 Jun '23
down 45365	Belgium rugby union	–24	814	1341	none	15 Mar '26
down 49370	Hungary men's football	–42	810	1771	0	5 Oct '26
374	Albania men's volleyball	87	806	1322	none	20 Aug '23
down 52376	Belarus athleticsindividual	–27	803	1683	2015	24 Jul '22
down 53378	Hungary men's ice hockey	–16	802	1499	none	26 May '26
down 55382	Portugal athleticsindividual	–28	794	1679	2025	21 Sep '25
down 55386	Lithuania men's handball	–39	791	1549	none	22 Mar '26
389	Georgia men's volleyball	91	787	1303	none	20 Aug '23
down 55390	Slovenia men's football	–44	787	1755	0	6 Oct '26
down 56394	Republic of Ireland men's football	–46	781	1752	0	4 Oct '26
down 57398	France men's ice hockey	–17	777	1487	none	8 May '26
down 57399	Kosovo men's football	–47	776	1748	none	4 Oct '26
down 57400	Great Britain men's ice hockey	–18	775	1473	1936	25 May '26
down 57402	Ukraine men's football	–48	774	1747	0	5 Oct '26
down 57403	Ukraine men's basketball	–29	772	1711	none	31 Aug '26
down 57404	Wales men's football	–49	770	1744	0	4 Oct '26
down 57406	Serbia men's football	–50	770	1744	0	4 Oct '26
down 54407	Iceland women's football	up 120	770	1894	none	13 Oct '26
409	Switzerland women's basketball	67	766	1258	none	21 Jun '25
down 59410	Scotland cricket	–14	765	53	none	13 Aug '26
down 59411	Turkey men's handball	–40	765	1518	none	16 May '26
down 56412	Republic of Ireland women's football	up 121	765	1891	none	13 Oct '26
down 83415	Belgium women's football	down 222	761	1888	none	13 Oct '26
down 59416	Netherlands rugby union	–27	760	1264	none	15 Mar '26
down 59417	Greece athleticsindividual	–32	760	1644	2024	21 Sep '25
down 59418	Israel men's handball	–41	759	1510	none	16 May '26
419	Austria men's volleyball	93	757	1272	none	21 Aug '23
down 60420	Bosnia and Herzegovina men's handball	–42	757	1509	none	16 May '26
down 60426	Slovakia men's handball	–43	750	1500	none	17 May '26
down 59427	Poland men's football	–53	749	1729	0	5 Oct '26
down 60429	Georgia men's basketball	–32	748	1696	none	31 Aug '26
down 60430	Bosnia and Herzegovina men's football	–54	745	1727	0	5 Oct '26
down 60432	Netherlands cricket	–16	742	50	none	31 Jul '26
down 60434	Switzerland rugby union	–30	741	1237	none	15 Mar '26
down 60437	Czech Republic rugby union	–31	737	1226	none	11 Apr '26
down 60440	Poland rugby union	–32	734	1223	none	11 Apr '26
down 61442	Slovakia men's football	–56	733	1718	0	6 Oct '26
down 61443	Ukraine men's ice hockey	–19	733	1441	none	8 May '26
down 31444	Finland women's football	up 424	733	1870	none	13 Oct '26
down 51445	Portugal women's football	down 125	731	1869	none	13 Oct '26
down 63446	Poland men's ice hockey	–20	730	1438	none	8 May '26
down 63447	Finland men's handball	–46	730	1479	none	22 Mar '26
down 63448	Ukraine men's handball	–47	729	1477	none	22 Mar '26
down 63449	Estonia men's handball	–48	728	1477	none	21 Mar '26
down 63453	Georgia men's handball	–49	726	1474	none	21 Mar '26
down 62458	Czech Republic men's football	–59	714	1706	1976	6 Oct '26
down 62459	Northern Ireland men's football	–60	714	1706	0	5 Oct '26
down 62460	Israel men's basketball	–35	714	1675	none	30 Aug '26
down 63463	Finland athleticsindividual	–36	713	1596	2007	21 Sep '25
down 63464	Switzerland athleticsindividual	–37	713	1596	2025	21 Sep '25
down 63467	Italy men's ice hockey	–21	708	1404	none	25 May '26
470	Latvia men's handball	52	705	1451	none	22 Mar '26
down 60472	Scotland women's football	up 126	704	1851	none	13 Oct '26
down 64473	Switzerland women's football	down 127	702	1849	none	13 Oct '26
down 67475	Russia women's footballsuspended	down 328	697	1847	none	suspended
476	Belgium men's handball	53	696	1440	none	21 Mar '26
down 67481	Bosnia and Herzegovina men's basketball	–37	687	1659	none	31 Aug '26
down 67483	Croatia athleticsindividual	–38	685	1567	2017	21 Sep '25
down 66487	Austria women's football	–29	681	1835	none	13 Oct '26
492	Kosovo men's handball	56	674	1414	none	22 Mar '26
down 69494	Hungary athleticsindividual	–42	671	1553	2012	21 Sep '25
down 70500	Slovenia athleticsindividual	–45	666	1547	2022	21 Sep '25
down 71505	Montenegro men's basketball	–38	664	1644	none	31 Aug '26
down 46510	Poland women's football	up 132	653	1817	none	13 Oct '26
down 72511	Albania men's football	–69	650	1662	0	6 Oct '26
down 74512	Malta rugby union	–42	650	1092	none	24 May '26
down 73513	Sweden rugby union	–43	650	1100	none	11 Apr '26
down 73517	Hungary men's basketball	–40	648	1634	none	30 Aug '26
down 72519	Georgia men's football	–71	647	1660	0	5 Oct '26
down 76528	Lithuania men's ice hockey	–22	634	1339	none	8 May '26
533	Estonia athleticsindividual	51	632	1513	2008	21 Sep '25
536	Lithuania athleticsindividual	52	629	1510	2017	21 Sep '25
down 84546	Germany rugby union	–49	625	1070	none	15 Mar '26
down 86553	Israel men's football	–74	614	1638	1964	4 Oct '26
554	Albania athleticsindividual	59	606	1498	none	11 Aug '24
down 86555	Israel rugby union	–50	606	1131	none	27 May '23
down 88556	Portugal men's basketball	–44	605	1608	none	31 Aug '26
560	Denmark rugby union	53	601	1030	none	11 Apr '26
563	Luxembourg men's handball	65	600	1332	none	2 Nov '25
565	Bulgaria men's handball	66	598	1316	none	11 Jan '26
down 94570	Estonia men's basketball	–47	595	1601	none	30 Aug '26
down 94572	Iceland men's football	–76	594	1624	0	6 Oct '26
down 96578	Sweden men's basketball	–48	591	1598	none	30 Aug '26
down 102586	Belgium men's basketball	–49	576	1589	none	6 Jul '26
588	Ireland athleticsindividual	63	573	1453	2013	21 Sep '25
down 96589	Wales women's football	up 139	570	1762	none	13 Oct '26
down 109598	Romania men's football	–80	566	1606	0	5 Oct '26
down 109599	Serbia men's ice hockey	–25	566	1220	none	29 Apr '23
609	Czech Republic men's basketball	53	561	1580	none	6 Jul '26
611	Romania athleticsindividual	66	559	1439	2008	21 Sep '25
615	Austria rugby union	62	556	954	none	24 May '26
616	Slovakia athleticsindividual	68	552	1432	2016	21 Sep '25
down 119617	Estonia men's ice hockey	–26	547	1249	none	5 May '26
618	Great Britain men's handball	72	546	1257	none	11 Jan '26
down 125624	North Macedonia men's football	–84	541	1588	0	6 Oct '26
625	Cyprus men's handball	75	539	1259	none	21 Mar '26
626	Bosnia and Herzegovina athleticsindividual	71	537	1416	none	24 Jul '22
629	Croatia rugby union	64	532	928	none	18 Apr '26
635	Azerbaijan athleticsindividual	73	519	1398	none	21 Sep '25
641	Turkey athleticsindividual	76	515	1393	2017	21 Sep '25
646	Iceland men's basketball	57	506	1545	none	31 Aug '26
651	Lithuania rugby union	66	503	886	none	18 Apr '26
down 144652	Finland men's football	–89	502	1561	0	6 Oct '26
656	North Macedonia men's basketball	58	499	1541	none	20 Aug '25
657	Moldova rugby union	68	499	972	none	24 May '25
658	Azerbaijan men's handball	79	497	1385	none	15 Jan '23
down 152661	Belarus men's football	–90	493	1555	0	6 Oct '26
663	Serbia athleticsindividual	80	489	1367	2023	21 Sep '25
down 155667	Romania men's ice hockey	–27	484	1184	none	5 May '26
670	Bulgaria men's basketball	61	483	1531	none	20 Aug '25
671	Latvia athleticsindividual	81	482	1360	none	21 Sep '25
674	Bulgaria athleticsindividual	83	478	1355	2000	21 Sep '25
679	Israel athleticsindividual	85	471	1348	none	21 Sep '25
681	Moldova athleticsindividual	87	469	1364	none	27 Aug '23
683	Cyprus athleticsindividual	88	468	1345	none	21 Sep '25
693	Netherlands men's basketball	65	451	1511	none	30 Aug '26
down 176698	Montenegro men's football	–97	443	1522	0	5 Oct '26
701	Slovenia women's football	49	440	1675	none	13 Oct '26
down 187702	Serbia women's football	down 350	439	1675	none	13 Oct '26
703	Ukraine women's football	51	439	1674	none	13 Oct '26
705	Ukraine rugby union	76	438	933	none	13 Apr '24
down 187706	Czech Republic women's football	down 252	437	1673	none	13 Oct '26
710	Denmark athleticsindividual	94	432	1309	1999	21 Sep '25
713	Austria athleticsindividual	95	424	1300	1948	21 Sep '25
730	Luxembourg rugby union	78	400	853	none	5 Apr '25
down 205737	Spain men's ice hockey	–29	379	1075	none	5 May '26
down 205738	Bulgaria men's football	–106	378	1477	0	6 Oct '26
740	Romania men's basketball	69	374	1463	none	5 Jul '26
743	Great Britain men's basketball	70	372	1462	none	5 Jul '26
745	Malta men's handball	86	372	1151	none	12 Jan '25
762	Slovakia men's basketball	73	344	1445	none	20 Aug '25
down 217769	Estonia men's football	–125	329	1443	0	6 Oct '26
down 221775	Kazakhstan men's football	–127	320	1437	0	6 Oct '26
down 224779	Jersey men's football	–128	312	1439	none	18 Jul '25
783	Armenia men's basketball	78	308	1422	none	20 Feb '25
down 227784	Faroe Islands men's football	–130	308	1429	0	6 Oct '26
793	Switzerland men's basketball	82	297	1415	none	6 Jul '26
down 232797	Croatia men's ice hockey	–30	293	1084	none	2 May '25
down 235807	Netherlands men's ice hockey	–31	277	969	none	5 May '26
down 235809	Northern Cyprus men's football	up 1144	274	1404	0	6 Jun '26
814	Austria men's basketball	88	267	1396	none	6 Jul '26
down 239815	Armenia men's football	–147	262	1399	0	5 Oct '26
816	Turkey women's football	69	260	1555	none	13 Oct '26
819	Azerbaijan men's basketball	90	250	1386	none	23 Feb '25
down 242824	Cyprus men's football	–153	236	1382	0	5 Oct '26
down 242825	Luxembourg men's football	–154	231	1377	0	6 Oct '26
down 242826	Azerbaijan men's football	–155	227	1376	0	4 Oct '26
828	Denmark men's basketball	91	223	1369	none	5 Jul '26
845	Hungary women's football	80	186	1506	none	13 Oct '26
849	Belarus women's football	83	169	1495	none	13 Oct '26
850	Northern Ireland women's football	84	169	1495	none	13 Oct '26
851	Norway men's basketball	95	168	1335	none	16 Aug '25
down 269858	Moldova men's football	–160	157	1327	0	6 Oct '26
down 270860	Isle of Man men's football	–161	154	1341	none	18 Jul '25
down 272866	Malta men's football	–165	134	1313	0	4 Oct '26
down 278875	Lithuania men's football	–168	118	1301	0	4 Oct '26
877	Ireland men's basketball	105	112	1300	none	23 Feb '25
878	Romania women's football	92	110	1456	none	13 Oct '26
879	Kosovo men's basketball	106	107	1297	none	23 Feb '25
880	Slovakia women's football	93	104	1452	none	13 Oct '26
down 291895	Guernsey men's football	–175	71	1384	none	13 Jul '23
down 291896	Latvia men's football	–176	70	1269	0	5 Oct '26
905	Greece women's football	104	44	1411	none	13 Oct '26
906	Bosnia and Herzegovina women's football	105	42	1412	none	9 Oct '26
910	Israel women's football	107	26	1400	none	13 Oct '26
915	Croatia women's football	110	12	1390	none	13 Oct '26
923	Albania women's football	114	-13	1374	none	13 Oct '26
929	Cyprus men's basketball	114	-29	1212	none	6 Jul '26
948	Luxembourg men's basketball	116	-67	1188	none	20 Feb '25
955	Isle of Man women's football	131	-80	1373	none	18 Jul '25
957	Azerbaijan women's football	132	-85	1352	none	9 Jun '26
964	Kosovo women's football	138	-97	1318	none	13 Oct '26
972	Montenegro women's football	142	-130	1296	none	13 Oct '26
down 355986	Andorra men's football	–202	-187	1094	0	4 Oct '26
down 357989	Gibraltar men's football	–203	-193	1091	none	5 Oct '26
996	Albania men's basketball	121	-210	1100	none	23 Feb '25
999	Lithuania women's football	158	-222	1235	none	13 Oct '26
1006	Malta women's football	163	-243	1223	none	9 Oct '26
1014	Luxembourg women's football	169	-258	1211	none	13 Oct '26
1016	Latvia women's football	170	-266	1208	none	10 Oct '26
1022	Estonia women's football	173	-282	1225	none	9 Jun '26
1029	Kazakhstan women's football	176	-305	1180	none	13 Oct '26
1043	Jersey women's football	183	-345	1205	none	17 Jul '25
1044	Faroe Islands women's football	184	-348	1154	none	12 Oct '26
1057	Moldova women's football	192	-401	1118	none	12 Oct '26
down 3981059	Liechtenstein men's football	–232	-410	943	0	5 Oct '26
1075	North Macedonia women's football	202	-465	1107	none	9 Jun '26
down 4091079	San Marino men's football	–241	-489	886	0	6 Oct '26
1080	Bulgaria women's football	204	-496	1087	none	9 Jun '26
1083	Georgia women's football	205	-504	1050	none	12 Oct '26
1087	Liechtenstein women's football	207	-517	1041	none	10 Oct '26
1091	Cyprus women's football	209	-534	1062	none	9 Jun '26
1094	Armenia women's football	211	-555	1016	none	10 Oct '26
1104	Andorra women's football	216	-628	968	none	12 Oct '26
1108	Guernsey women's football	218	-682	929	none	13 Jul '23
1111	Gibraltar women's football	220	-791	859	none	10 Oct '26

The top five in each code

Position within the code on the left, Universal on the right; each leader's cushion over its #2.

Men's football · top 5

Spain men's football

+157 over Argentina · Elo 2344 · last match 6 Oct '26

1762

Argentina men's football

Elo 2228 · last match 6 Oct '26

1604

England men's football

Elo 2211 · last match 6 Oct '26

1589

France men's football

Elo 2160 · last match 5 Oct '26

1530

Portugal men's football

Elo 2104 · last match 4 Oct '26

1445

Women's football · top 5

Spain women's football

+50 over United States · Elo 2415 · last match 13 Oct '26

1690

United States women's football

Elo 2380 · last match 13 Oct '26

1641

England women's football

Elo 2283 · last match 13 Oct '26

1521

Japan women's football

Elo 2278 · last match 13 Oct '26

1513

Germany women's football

Elo 2265 · last match 13 Oct '26

1496

Men's basketball · top 5

United States men's basketball

+16 over Germany · Elo 2118 · last match 31 Aug '26

1603

Germany men's basketball

Elo 2101 · last match 30 Aug '26

1587

Australia men's basketball

Elo 2084 · last match 30 Aug '26

1575

Serbia men's basketball

Elo 2059 · last match 31 Aug '26

1551

Canada men's basketball

Elo 2041 · last match 31 Aug '26

1533

Women's basketball · top 5

United States women's basketball

+174 over France · Elo 2465 · last match 13 Sep '26

1740

France women's basketball

Elo 2126 · last match 13 Sep '26

1565

Spain women's basketball

Elo 2086 · last match 13 Sep '26

1541

Australia women's basketball

Elo 2057 · last match 10 Sep '26

1525

Belgium women's basketball

Elo 2017 · last match 10 Sep '26

1499

Rugby union · top 5

South Africa rugby union

+35 over New Zealand · Elo 2261 · last match 27 Sep '26

1627

New Zealand rugby union

Elo 2190 · last match 12 Sep '26

1592

Ireland rugby union

Elo 2133 · last match 18 Jul '26

1563

France rugby union

Elo 2093 · last match 18 Jul '26

1543

England rugby union

Elo 2004 · last match 18 Jul '26

1492

Cricket · top 5

Australia cricket

+8 over India · Rating 132 · last match 9 Oct '26

1637

India cricket

Rating 130 · last match 11 Oct '26

1629

England cricket

Rating 124 · last match 27 Sep '26

1567

South Africa cricket

Rating 126 · last match 9 Oct '26

1550

New Zealand cricket

Rating 122 · last match 21 Jul '26

1527

Men's ice hockey · top 5

Canada men's ice hockey

+45 over Switzerland · Elo 2266 · last match 31 May '26

1661

Switzerland men's ice hockey

Elo 2214 · last match 31 May '26

1616

Finland men's ice hockey

Elo 2195 · last match 31 May '26

1591

United States men's ice hockey

Elo 2173 · last match 28 May '26

1563

Russia men's ice hockeysuspended

Elo 2237 · last match suspended

1534

Men's handball · top 5

Denmark men's handball

+171 over France · Elo 2457 · last match 30 Jan '26

1715

France men's handball

Elo 2253 · last match 17 May '26

1544

Germany men's handball

Elo 2219 · last match 30 Jan '26

1522

Croatia men's handball

Elo 2177 · last match 1 Feb '26

1492

Egypt men's handball

Elo 2152 · last match 31 Jan '26

1477

Men's volleyball · top 5

Poland men's volleyball

+29 over Italy · Elo 2254 · last match 26 Sep '26

1631

Italy men's volleyball

Elo 2218 · last match 23 Sep '26

1602

France men's volleyball

Elo 2130 · last match 26 Sep '26

1545

Brazil men's volleyball

Elo 2135 · last match 20 Sep '26

1541

Russia men's volleyballsuspended

Elo 2134 · last match suspended

1512

Baseball · top 5

Japan baseball

+23 over Venezuela · Elo 1872 · last match 14 Mar '26

1572

Venezuela baseball

Elo 1786 · last match 17 Mar '26

1549

United States baseball

Elo 1723 · last match 17 Mar '26

1529

Dominican Republic baseball

Elo 1687 · last match 15 Mar '26

1511

Chinese Taipei baseball

Elo 1637 · last match 8 Mar '26

1489

Athletics · top 5

United States athleticsindividual

+141 over Kenya · Elo 2399 · last match 21 Sep '25

1709

Kenya athleticsindividual

Elo 2263 · last match 21 Sep '25

1569

Jamaica athleticsindividual

Elo 2227 · last match 21 Sep '25

1545

Great Britain athleticsindividual

Elo 2186 · last match 21 Sep '25

1505

Russia athleticsindividualsuspended

Elo 2220 · last match suspended

1503

Next up: who is No.1

The chance each leading side holds No.1 when the board is rebuilt next Tuesday.

How this is measured

The No.1 odds replay every game before the next Tuesday ten thousand times through each engine’s update rule, then rebuild the board, decay for idle teams included. Club football’s standing comes from the season ranking, which results move only through the table, so a club’s chance there is an estimate.

Odds as of 14 Oct · refreshed every morning

Every rated fixture for the next two weeks, with our odds: /predictions/games

Strength now: countries across all codes

Each country's best side per code, summed above the field. Higher means strong in more codes.

How this is measured

Strength adds, for every code, how far the country’s best side stands above the elite-eight mean that week: (Universal − 1500) / 100, counted only where positive, with no weights between codes. Men’s and women’s sides count as separate codes. The United Kingdom takes the best of England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and Great Britain in each code; the West Indies cricket side adds to no single member. The same places feed the current-strength layer of the Zone Zero Cup, which adds titles won.

Sort by

United States

6 codes above the field · best women's basketball 1740

7.8

strength

Spain

3 codes above the field · best men's football 1762

4.9

strength

Australia

3 codes above the field · best cricket 1637

2.4

strength

France

5 codes above the field · best women's basketball 1565

2.3

strength

Denmark

1 code above the field · best men's handball 1715

2.1

strength

Canada

2 codes above the field · best men's ice hockey 1661

1.9

strength

United Kingdom

4 codes above the field · best men's football 1589

1.8

strength

South Africa

2 codes above the field · best rugby union 1627

1.8

strength

Poland

1 code above the field · best men's volleyball 1631

1.3

strength

India

1 code above the field · best cricket 1629

1.3

strength

New Zealand

2 codes above the field · best rugby union 1592

1.2

strength

Switzerland

1 code above the field · best men's ice hockey 1616

1.2

strength

Germany

2 codes above the field · best men's basketball 1587

1.1

strength

Argentina

1 code above the field · best men's football 1604

1.0

strength

Italy

1 code above the field · best men's volleyball 1602

1.0

strength

#
1	United States	7.8	6	4	women's basketball 1740
2	Spain	4.9	3	2	men's football 1762
3	Australia	2.4	3	1	cricket 1637
4	France	2.3	5	0	women's basketball 1565
5	Denmark	2.1	1	1	men's handball 1715
6	Canada	1.9	2	1	men's ice hockey 1661
7	United Kingdom	1.8	4	0	men's football 1589
8	South Africa	1.8	2	1	rugby union 1627
9	Poland	1.3	1	1	men's volleyball 1631
10	India	1.3	1	1	cricket 1629
11	New Zealand	1.2	2	0	rugby union 1592
12	Switzerland	1.2	1	1	men's ice hockey 1616
13	Germany	1.1	2	0	men's basketball 1587
14	Argentina	1.0	1	1	men's football 1604
15	Italy	1.0	1	1	men's volleyball 1602
16	Finland	0.9	1	0	men's ice hockey 1591
17	Japan	0.9	3	0	baseball 1572
18	Kenya	0.7	1	0	athletics 1569
19	Ireland	0.6	1	0	rugby union 1563
20	Serbia	0.5	1	0	men's basketball 1551
21	Venezuela	0.5	1	0	baseball 1549
22	Russia	0.5	3	0	men's ice hockey 1534
23	Jamaica	0.4	1	0	athletics 1545
24	Brazil	0.4	1	0	men's volleyball 1541
25	Dominican Republic	0.1	1	0	baseball 1511

All-time peaks

Each side's best week ever in each code, with the date of the week. The filters are the same as on the board above.

All codes Men's football Women's football Men's basketball Women's basketball Rugby union Cricket Men's ice hockey Men's handball Men's volleyball Baseball Athletics

ContinentAll Africa Asia Europe North America South America Oceania

Country

Sort by

Russia men's handball

23 Mar 1993

1897

peak

Denmark men's handball

4 Feb 2025

1828

peak

Soviet Union men's volleyball

26 Nov 1985

1827

peak

Soviet Union men's ice hockey

11 Sept 1984

1799

peak

Soviet Union women's basketball

22 Sept 1970

1776

peak

France men's handball

1 Feb 2011

1772

peak

England men's football

28 May 1968

1765

peak

Spain men's football

29 Sept 2026

1763

peak

Germany men's football

7 May 1991

1761

peak

France men's football

12 Jun 2001

1735

peak

Italy men's volleyball

28 May 1996

1732

peak

Hungary men's football

29 Nov 1955

1732

peak

Sweden men's handball

1 Feb 2000

1731

peak

Netherlands men's football

20 Sept 1988

1710

peak

England cricket

9 Mar 1971

1708

peak

#
1	Russia men's handball	1897	23 Mar 1993	2145
2	Denmark men's handball	1828	4 Feb 2025	2517
3	Soviet Union men's volleyball	1827	26 Nov 1985	2210
4	Soviet Union men's ice hockey	1799	11 Sept 1984	2514
5	Soviet Union women's basketball	1776	22 Sept 1970	2232
6	France men's handball	1772	1 Feb 2011	2328
7	England men's football	1765	28 May 1968	1942
8	Spain men's football	1763	29 Sept 2026	2333
9	Germany men's football	1761	7 May 1991	2022
10	France men's football	1735	12 Jun 2001	2141
11	Italy men's volleyball	1732	28 May 1996	2238
12	Hungary men's football	1732	29 Nov 1955	2010
13	Sweden men's handball	1731	1 Feb 2000	2205
14	Netherlands men's football	1710	20 Sept 1988	1974
15	England cricket	1708	9 Mar 1971	133
16	Germany women's football	1707	3 Oct 2006	2358
17	Romania men's handball	1696	7 Aug 1984	1905
18	Norway women's football	1695	20 Jun 1995	2123
19	Spain women's football	1689	13 Oct 2026	2414
20	Yugoslavia men's handball	1686	7 Aug 1984	1898
21	Czechoslovakia men's handball	1678	3 Mar 1970	1890
22	Czechoslovakia men's volleyball	1677	8 Nov 1960	1928
23	Spain men's basketball	1672	12 Aug 2008	2202
24	Soviet Union men's basketball	1668	14 May 1963	2061
25	Poland men's volleyball	1667	23 Sept 2025	2275
26	Croatia men's handball	1662	7 Aug 2012	2252
27	Belgium men's football	1660	29 Jun 2021	2219
28	Ireland rugby union	1659	26 Sept 2023	2225
29	West Germany men's handball	1655	7 Mar 1961	1772
30	Soviet Union men's football	1654	19 Jul 1966	1918
31	Czechoslovakia men's ice hockey	1651	7 Sept 1976	2297
32	Spain men's handball	1650	23 Jan 2007	2122
33	Yugoslavia men's basketball	1645	4 Jul 1995	2286
34	Sweden men's ice hockey	1639	7 Sept 2004	2234
35	Netherlands men's volleyball	1639	6 Aug 1996	2141
36	Italy men's football	1638	11 Jul 2006	2103
37	England rugby union	1637	24 Feb 2004	2126
38	France rugby union	1635	16 Jun 1987	1768
39	Finland men's ice hockey	1628	16 May 2023	2207
40	Yugoslavia men's volleyball	1626	22 May 2001	2126
41	France men's volleyball	1625	11 Jul 2017	2181
42	Switzerland men's ice hockey	1621	2 Jun 2026	2214
43	Russia athleticsindividual	1619	19 Oct 2004	2192
44	Czechoslovakia women's basketball	1615	25 Sept 1962	1916
45	Wales rugby union	1610	21 Mar 1978	1744
46	Bulgaria women's basketball	1606	2 Oct 1962	1883
47	Lithuania men's basketball	1594	20 Sept 2005	2117
48	East Germany men's volleyball	1594	29 Aug 1972	1996
49	Sweden women's football	1590	3 Dec 1991	1892
50	Serbia and Montenegro men's basketball	1588	19 Sept 2000	2281
51	Denmark men's football	1587	17 Jun 1986	1935
52	Germany men's basketball	1587	1 Sept 2026	2101
53	Czech Republic men's football	1584	29 Jun 2004	2034
54	East Germany athleticsindividual	1581	4 Oct 1988	2009
55	Serbia men's basketball	1580	2 Sept 2025	2122
56	Norway men's handball	1578	10 Nov 2020	2241
57	Poland men's football	1578	14 Oct 1975	1938
58	Sweden athleticsindividual	1578	10 Aug 1948	1630
59	Romania men's volleyball	1576	8 Nov 1960	1793
60	Great Britain athleticsindividual	1574	29 Jul 1952	1677
61	Yugoslavia men's football	1572	12 Jun 1962	1877
62	East Germany men's handball	1570	5 Aug 1980	1834
63	England women's football	1567	15 Aug 2023	2299
64	Spain women's basketball	1565	4 Aug 2020	2171
65	France women's basketball	1565	15 Sept 2026	2126
66	Germany athleticsindividual	1563	21 Oct 2003	2104
67	France women's football	1562	4 Jun 2024	2307
68	Sweden men's football	1562	13 Sept 1994	1955
69	Serbia men's volleyball	1561	13 Jun 2017	2104
70	Poland men's handball	1559	26 Jan 2010	2096
71	Croatia men's basketball	1555	16 Aug 1994	2046
72	Serbia and Montenegro men's volleyball	1553	15 Jul 2003	2013
73	Bulgaria men's volleyball	1553	13 Sept 1949	1558
74	Slovakia men's ice hockey	1549	4 May 2004	2145
75	Yugoslavia women's basketball	1548	18 Jun 1991	2015
76	Greece men's basketball	1548	29 Aug 2006	2073
77	Spain baseball	1545	25 Sept 2012	1528
78	Portugal men's football	1544	2 Aug 1966	1867
79	Czechoslovakia men's football	1542	30 Oct 1962	1859
80	Italy men's basketball	1542	8 Jul 1986	2034
81	France men's basketball	1542	22 Sept 2015	2085
82	Hungary women's basketball	1542	15 Oct 1957	1711
83	Bulgaria men's basketball	1540	20 Jan 1959	1838
84	Belgium women's basketball	1540	8 Sept 2026	2086
85	Israel baseball	1538	25 Sept 2012	1508
86	Hungary men's volleyball	1536	17 Oct 1950	1559
87	Slovenia men's volleyball	1535	17 Jun 2025	2130
88	Netherlands women's football	1532	3 Aug 2021	2261
89	Germany baseball	1529	25 Sept 2012	1494
90	Denmark women's football	1528	17 Aug 1993	1867
91	Scotland rugby union	1528	22 Oct 1991	1701
92	Czechoslovakia men's basketball	1521	14 Jun 1955	1749
93	Latvia men's basketball	1517	25 Feb 2025	2051
94	France athleticsindividual	1514	10 Aug 1948	1599
95	Hungary men's basketball	1513	14 Jun 1955	1740
96	Poland women's basketball	1512	22 Sept 1970	1736
97	Great Britain baseball	1511	25 Sept 2012	1474
98	Czech Republic baseball	1509	25 Sept 2012	1462
99	France baseball	1509	25 Sept 2012	1461
100	Hungary men's handball	1508	11 Mar 1986	1818

Showing the first 100 of 348 peaks; sorting applies to these. Show all 348 peaks

Who gets in, and why

A sport is on this board only if eight nations can beat each other at it, because 1500 is the average of that top eight. Only full-strength national sides count.

In: Men's and women's football, men's and women's basketball, cricket, rugby union, men's ice hockey, men's handball, men's volleyball, baseball from 2006, and athletics (men and women together, from Olympic and World Championships finals). Next: women's handball and volleyball.

Out, and why

Tennis. A national total of Grand Slam last-eight places is too aggregate for a nations board, and the one team competition, the Davis Cup, no longer carries the sport's best. It is rated, and may find a home on the tennis hub.
Women's ice hockey. The elite is two nations, Canada and the United States, not eight.
Rugby league. Too few nations play it at the top level.
Baseball before 2006, men's Olympic football from 1992. Not full-strength sides: amateur rosters before the World Baseball Classic, under-23 teams at the Olympics.
Olympic medal tables. A medal count is not a team. Olympic team matches count inside each sport instead.

Where these numbers come from

TestedTennis and golf replays conserve points, the national Elo engines are zero-sum and the board ignores code order; no backtest is published. About the tiers

Universal = 1500 + 100 × z. 1500 is the average of the top eight sides in that sport that week, and 100 points is one standard deviation of that elite. The scale is calibrated so a 1-in-1000 week scores the same in every code.

Every code except cricket uses the site’s Elo. Basketball, ice hockey, handball, volleyball and baseball are rated on tournament matches only, so their numbers move a few times a year. Basketball counts World Cups, Olympics, continental championships and, since 2017, World Cup qualifiers; men are shown from 1950 and women from 1957. Men’s ice hockey is shown from 1954: World Championships from 1970 count at 60% where Canada or the United States play, because their NHL players were mostly absent, and the 2018 and 2022 Olympics at half weight for the NHL nations; an overtime win scores 0.75 and a shootout win 0.6. Men’s handball (from 1954) and volleyball (from 1949) count World Championships, Olympics and continental championships, volleyball also the World Cup, World League and Nations League, with the margin in sets. Baseball counts only the professional era from 2006: the World Baseball Classic, the Premier12 and the Olympics. With so few games its scores are pulled toward the average, as for the IPL on the clubs board. In football, friendlies count at a reduced weight, halved again from 2018 once the Nations Leagues took over the meaningful dates; invitational cups count as friendlies, and the men’s Olympic tournament is left out from 1992, when it became an under-23 event. A football side that has only ever played in a closed pool, such as the Island Games, starts at 1100 rather than 1500. A regional pool that meets the wider game only rarely can still inflate its leaders: Tahiti, winning Pacific Games after Pacific Games against newcomers, sits in the men’s top ten from 1983 to 1989 (as high as fourth in 1985 and 1986). That reflects Oceania’s isolation in the Elo, not a side among the world’s best. Cricket is one row per nation, blended from Tests, ODIs and T20Is with weights that move with the eras (Tests alone before 1971; T20Is from 2007, gaining weight from 2019), each format read from the site’s ICC ranking replay. A side without Test status is still ranked from its ODIs and T20Is, with its Test share set at the weakest Test side’s level, so associates such as the United States, Scotland and Nepal rank below the Test nations rather than not at all. Its figure is shown as a rating rather than an Elo. Rugby adds the tier-two and tier-three tournaments to the Tests, a newcomer starting at 1100.

Athletics is an individual sport scored as a nation’s total, men’s, women’s and mixed events together. Every final at the Olympics (from 1948) and the World Championships (from 1983) gives 8 points for first down to 1 for eighth, relays like any event. Each championship is then one match between all scoring nations: a nation gains rating for out-scoring the field it was expected to trail, and a nation that scored last time but not this time takes the loss. The boycotted Games of 1976, 1980 and 1984 count at reduced weight; Russia is suspended from November 2015 and neutral athletes are credited to no nation.

A side cannot rise while it is not playing, and after a grace period it fades toward the field. Suspended sides, such as South Africa during isolation and Russia since 2022, carry a “suspended” marker. Names are the era’s own, shown with the flag of the nation. A defunct state such as the Soviet Union or East Germany shows its own flag; a renamed or pre-independence side shows its successor’s.

History runs every Tuesday since 1946, with women’s football from 1991. The current board is refreshed each morning.

Sources: football from the martj42 international results file and API-Football; cricket from the site’s ICC ranking replay; rugby from the site’s rugby Elo and Wikipedia tier-two and tier-three tournament pages; basketball, ice hockey, handball, volleyball and baseball from English Wikipedia tournament pages, and athletics from the English Wikipedia page of every Olympic and World Championships final (CC BY-SA 4.0), one page cited per match or final in the data.